બુધવાર, 23 ઑગસ્ટ, 2017

UK scientists create world’s smallest surgical robot using low-cost technology



Scientists in the UK have developed the world's smallest surgical robot with low-cost technology used in mobile phones and space industries. The robot, called Versius, mimics the human arm and can be used to carry out a wide range of procedures in which a series of small incisions are made to circumvent the need for traditional open surgery.

These include hernia repairs, colorectal operations, as well as prostate, ear, nose and throat surgery. Such procedures reduce complications and pain after surgery and speed up recovery time for patients. The robot is controlled by a surgeon at a console guided by a 3D screen in the operating theatre. The robot is much easier to use than existing systems, and take up about a third of the space of current machines.

For robots to revolutionise surgery, they need to be versatile, easy to use and small so that surgical staff can move them around the operating room or between operating theatres, or pack them away when they are not being used. “Our robot does all of this and is the first robotic arm to be designed specifically for laparoscopic surgery,” said Martin Frost, chief executive of the Cambridge Medical Robotics.

One of the key benefits of the robot is that it works like a human arm and contains technology that detects resistance to make sure the right amount of force is used when the instruments are inside the patient, ‘The Guardian’ reported.

Researchers used electronics from mobile phones to help the robot “think” and process information, and gear box technology originally designed for the space industry to help it move. The robot is set to be launched next year.

Anti-dumping duty imposed on tempered glass from China


The Finance Ministry has imposed a definitive anti-dumping duty on certain "textured toughened (tempered) glass" imports from China.
"Textured toughened (tempered) glass" is used as a component in solar photovoltaic panels and solar thermal applications.
This product is also known as solar glass, low iron solar glass or high transmission photovoltaic glass.
Gujarat Borosil Ltd, the sole producer of tempered glass in the country, had filed the petition seeking anti-dumping probe on 'textured toughened (tempered) glass' imports from China.
Based on the recommendations of the designated authority in its final findings, the revenue department has imposed anti-dumping duty ranging from $52.85 per tonne to $136.21 per tonne, depending on the producer and exporter from China.


Indian Navy inducts landing craft utility ship


The Navy said the ship would be based in the Andaman and Nicobar command and can be deployed for multirole activities like search and rescue as well as disaster relief operations.

The Navy inducted a landing craft utility ship which will be deployed for a variety of activities including transporting battle tanks and other heavy weapons systems.

The ship - LCU L52 - was commissioned by Lt Governor of Andaman and Nicobar Islands Jagdish Mukhi at an event in Port Blair.

The LCU L52 is the second Landing Craft Utility (LCU) Mk-IV class to be inducted into the Indian Navy. The ship has been indigenously designed and built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE), Kolkata

The primary role of LCU MK-IV ship is to transport and deploy main battle tanks, armoured vehicles, troops and equipment from ship to shore.

The Navy said the ship would be based in the Andaman and Nicobar command and can be deployed for multirole activities like search and rescue as well as disaster relief operations.
It said the ship is capable of transporting various kinds of combat equipment such as main battle tanks Arjun, T72 and other vehicles.

The remaining six ships of the same class are in advanced stages of construction at GRSE, Kolkata and are scheduled to be inducted in the next two years


Rajnath launches digital police portal

 


A digital police portal under the CCTNS project, which aims to create a national database of crimes and criminals, was today launched by Home Minister Rajnath Singh.
Singh said the digital police portal will provide the citizen, facility for online complaint registration and request for antecedent verification.
"The police portal will provide 11 searches and 46 reports from the national database for state police and central investigation agencies. Central investigating and research agencies have also been provided logins to the digital police database to access crime statistics," he said after launching the portal.
The home minister said the Crime and Criminal Tracking Network and Systems Project (CCTNS) has enabled 13,775 out of 15,398 police stations to enter 100 per cent data into the software.
He said as of now the CCTNS national database has around 7 crore data records pertaining to past and current criminal cases.
The CCTNS project will interconnect about 15,398 police stations and additional 5,000 offices of supervisory police officers across the country and digitise data related to FIR registration, investigation and charge-sheets in all police stations.
This would lead to development of a national database of crimes and criminals, the official, privy to the development, said.
The project has been extended by the government for one year till March 2018.
The one-year extension will help the government to comprehensively achieve the remaining goals of the CCTNS, which was conceived by the former Home Minister P Chidambaram when the UPA was in power.
With a total budget of Rs 2,000 crore, a sum of Rs 1,550 crore has been spent till 2016-17.
The inter-operable criminal justice system aims to integrate the CCTNS project with e-courts and e-prison data bases in the first instance and with the other pillars of the criminal justice system, another official said. 

 



Cloud seeding begins


The cloud seeding experiment taken up at cost of 35 crore, called Project Varshadhari, began on Monday. This cloud seeding operation, a first in Magadi and Ramanagaram, aims to condense small water particles by clouds (size less than 10 microns) to droplets of 50 microns, which can constitute rains.

The flight for cloud seeding - BQ-100 Beechcraft - was scheduled to take off from Jakkur Airport at 2.45 p.m. The flight is expected to a one-hour sortie and will spray Silver Iodide, Sodium Chloride and Potassium Chloride to condense the water particles. A committee, comprising meteorologists, experts in cloud physics and hydrologists, will monitor the process.

It was in 2003 that Project Varuna, a cloud seeding project, was launched by the then Minister for Water Resources H.K. Patil

Cloud seeding (also known as weather modification technique) is an artificial way to induce moisture in the clouds so as to cause a rainfall. In this process, either silver iodide, potassium iodide or dry ice (solid carbon dioxide) are spread onto the clouds causing rainfall. These iodide particles rise into the clouds, cause moisture to freeze. These particles act as a base for water vapours to settle on that later crystallises and falls as rain or snow

This method can be used to bring significant amount of rainfall over a specified area especially in location where rain is badly needed.

Swasth Bachche, Swasth Bharat' programme


Prakash Javadekar, Union Minister for Human Resource Development (HRD launched the 'Swasth Bachche, Swasth Bharat' programme, in Kochi, in a function held at Kendriya Vidyalaya at KV NAD, Aluva (Kochi). The programme is an initiative of Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan to prepare a physical health and fitness profile card for more than 12 lakhs of Kendriya Vidyalaya students.

Ensuring quality education for all is the aim of government. Kendriya Vidyalayas in Kerala shows more quality than the Kendriya Vidyalayas of all other states. A system to involve children, a part of household chores is needed, the minister opined.

A Swasth Bachche, Swasth Bharat exhibition was also held along with a display of yoga by children.

About 'Swasth Bachche, Swasth Bharat'

The programme will provide a comprehensive and inclusive report card for children covering all age groups and children of different abilities. Making students, teachers and parents aware about the importance of good health and fitness and encouraging 60 minutes of play each day is an objective of the programme, said a statement from the HRD Ministry.
Swasth Bachche, Swasth Bharat programme also intends to imbibe values of olympics and paralympics among students.


ICMR has signed an MoU with the IVI for vaccine


The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has signed an MoU with the International Vaccine Institute (IVI) for collaborating on vaccine research and development.

The MoU was signed between Soumya Swaminathan, the Director General of ICMR and Secretary, Department of Health Research, Manoj Jhalani, Additional Secretary and managing director, National Health Mission, and IVI Director General Jerome H. Kim.

IVI has been partnering with Indian vaccine manufacturers, research institutes, government, and public health agencies on vaccine development, research, and training. One of the most successful collaborations was with Shantha Biotech on the development of Shanchol, the world’s first low-cost oral cholera vaccine.

The vaccine was licensed in India in 2009 and WHO-prequalified in 2011.


India is a vaccine industry powerhouse that supplies 60% of the world’s vaccines. The signing of the MoU is a continuation of our partnership with India to provide safe, effective and affordable vaccines for people around the world.
Government announces National Sports Awards 2017


The government released the National Sports Awards list, including Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award, Dronacharya Award, Arjuna Award and Dhyan Chand Award, to recognize and reward excellence in sports.

For her superlative performances, Indian women’s cricket team star Harmanpreet Kaur will be honoured with the Arjuna Award, this year. The key player has won hearts with her outstanding performance in the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup in England and earlier. This fact was revealed after the government released the National Sports Awards list, including Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award, Dronacharya Award, Arjuna Award and Dhyan Chand Award, to recognize and reward excellence in sports.

A total of 29 players have been selected to receive the honors from President Ram Nath Kovind at a specially organized function at the Rashtrapati Bhawan on August 29, 2017.

List of 29 players:
1: Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award 2017:
Shri Devendra- Para Athlete
Shri Sardar Singh- Hockey
2: Dronacharya Awards 2017:
Late Dr R Gandhi- Athletics
Heera Nand Kataria- Kabaddi
GSSV Prasad- Badminton (Lifetime)
Brij Bhushan Mohanty- Boxing (Lifetime)
PA Raphel- Hockey (Lifetime)
Sanjoy Chakraverthy- Shooting (Lifetime)
Roshan Lal- Wrestling (Lifetime)
3: Arjuna Awards 2017:
VJ Surekha- Archery
Khushbir Kaur- Athletics
Arokia Rajiv- Athletics
Prasanthi Singh- Basketball
LaishramDebendro Singh- Boxing
CheteshwarPujara- Cricket
Harmanpreet Kaur- Cricket
OinamBembem Devi- Football
SSP Chawrasia- Golf
SV Sunil- Hockey
Jasvir Singh- Kabaddi
PN Prakash- Shooting
A Amalraj- Table Tennis
SakethMyneni- Tennis
SatyawartKadian- Wrestling
Mariyappan- Para-Athlete
Varun Singh Bhati- Para-Athlete
4: Dhyan Chand Award 2017:
Bhupender Singh- Athletics
Syed Shahid Hakim- Football
Sumarai Tete- Hockey
Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award includes a medal and a citation along with a cash prize of Rs 7.5 lakh, while Arjuna, Dronacharya and Dhyan Chand Awards include statuettes, certificates and cash prize of Rs 5 lakh, each.

Former Manipur CM Rishang Keishing passes away

Former Manipur Chief Minister and veteran Congress leader Rishang Keishing died on Tuesday at the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) here, his family members said. He was 97

The four-time Chief Minister, who was admitted to the hospital on July 1 with serious medical problems, died at 8.15pm.

A freedom fighter and member of India's first parliament (1952-57), he retired from the Rajya Sabha as its oldest member in 2014 after serving two terms since being elected to the upper house in 2002.


As Manipur's Chief Minister from 1980 to 1988 and 1995 to 1998, he had also escaped assassination attempts by the militants several times.
SC strikes down instant Triple Talaq

The Supreme Court banned on Tuesday a controversial Islamic practice of instant divorce as arbitrary and unconstitutional, in a landmark verdict for gender justice that will stop Muslim men calling off a marriage on a whim.
In a split verdict, three of the five all-male judges on the case said the practice of saying “talaq”, or divorce, three times in one go – sometimes even over email and WhatsApp – violated women’s right to equality and was not integral to Islam.
The dissenting note came from Chief Justice of India JS Khehar and justice S Abdul Nazeer, who argued instant talaq should be suspended and the government asked to bring a law to regulate the practice within six months. The majority verdict overrides the minority view.


New frog species with pig face discovered in Western Ghats

Indian scientists discovered Nasikabatrachus Bhupathi, a new species of frog that has a snout-shaped nose, just like a pig in West Ghats.

Nasikabatrachus Bhupathi species show comparisons with the Purple Frog (Nasikabatrachus Sahyadrensis) which was discovered in 2003 in Seychelles.

It is soiled-dwelling species of purple frog. It inhabits the eastern slopes of the Western Ghats.


NITI Aayog to launch Mentor India" Campaign



NITI Aayog will launch the Mentor India Campaign, a strategic nation building initiative to engage leaders who can guide and mentor students at more than 900 Atal Tinkering Labs, established across the country as a part of the Atal Innovation Mission. 

Mentor India is aimed at maximizing the impact of Atal Tinkering Labs, possibly the biggest disruption in formal education globally. The idea is to engage leaders who will nurture and guide students in the Atal Tinkering Labs. These labs are non-prescriptive by nature, and mentors are expected to be enablers rather than instructors.

Atal Tinkering Labs are dedicated works spaces where students from Class 6th to Class 12th learn innovation skills and develop ideas that will go on to transform India. The labs are powered to acquaint students with state-of-the-art equipment such as 3D printers, robotics & electronics development tools, Internet of things & sensors etc.

NITI Aayogs Atal Innovation Mission is among one of the flagship programs of the Government of 
India to promote innovation and entrepreneurship in the country to set up the Atal Tinkering Labs across the country. The Mission has / is in the process of setting up 900+ such labs across India and aims to have 2,000 such labs by end of 2017 

ટ્રિપલ તલાકઃ જાણો એ પાંચ જજ વિશે જેમણે આપ્યો ઐતિહાસિક ચુકાદો


મુસ્લિમ મહિલાઓને તીન તલાકમાંથી આઝાદી અપાવનાર ન્યાયધિશ વીશે પણ જાણવુ જોઈએ. આજે (22 August) ભારતના ઈતિહાસમાં એક અનોખો ચુકાદો આવ્યો છે.

જસ્ટિસ ખેહરની અધ્યક્ષતાવાળી બંધારણ પીઠે ત્રણ તલાકને 3-2થી નામંજૂર કર્યું છે. સુપ્રીમ કોર્ટના 3 જજો જસ્ટિસ કુરિયન, જસ્ટિસ જોસેફ, જસ્ટિસ નરીમન અને જસ્ટિસ લલિતે તલાકને ગેરબંધારણીય અને મનસ્વી કરાર આપીને તેને નામંજૂર કરી દીધો છે.  ત્રણ જજોએ ત્રણ તલાકને બંધારણના આર્ટિકલ 14નું ઉલ્લંઘન કરાર કર્યો છે. ન્યાયધિશે કહ્યું કે બંધારણના આર્ટિકલ 14 સમાનતાનો અધિકાર આપે છે. બીજી તરફ, ચીફ જસ્ટિસ ખેહર અને જસ્ટિસ નજીરે લઘુમતીમાં આપેલા ચુકાદામાં કહ્યું કે ત્રણ તલાક ધાર્મિક પ્રેક્ટિસ છે તેના કારણે કોર્ટ તેમાં દખલ નહીં કરે.

જસ્ટિસ જગદિશ સિંહ ખેહર
શીખ સમુદાયમાંથી આવતા દેશના પહેલા ચીફ જસ્ટિસ છે. દેશના 44મા ચીફ જસ્ટિસ છે. 2011માં સુપ્રીમ કોર્ટના જજ બન્યા હતા અને 27 ઓગસ્ટના રોજ નિવૃત્ત થઈ રહ્યા છે.

જસ્ટિસ કુરિયન જોસેફ
ખ્રિસ્તી ધર્મમાંથી આવતા જોસેફનું કેરળ વતન છે. 1979માં કેરળ હાઈકોર્ટમાં વકીલાથ શરૂ કરી. 2000માં કેરળ હાઈકોર્ટના જજ બન્યા. આ હાઈકોર્ટમાં બે વાર કાર્યકારી ચીફ જસ્ટિસ બન્યા. 2010-13 દરમિયાન હિમાચલ પ્રદેશના ચીફ જસ્ટિસ રહ્યા. 8 માર્ચ, 2013ના રોજ સુપ્રીમ કોર્ટના જજ બન્યા અને આવતા વર્ષે 29 નવેમ્બરે નિવૃત્ત થશે.

રોહિંગ્ટન ફલી નરીમન
1956માં જન્મેલા નરીમન માત્ર 37 વર્ષની ઉંમરે સુપ્રીમ કોર્ટના સીનિયર કાઉન્સિલ બન્યા. જોકે તે સમયે આ પદ માટે ઓછામાં ઓછી ઉંમર 45 વર્ષની હોવાની જરૂરી હતી પરંતુ વેંકટચેલૈયાએ ફરીમન માટે નિયમોમાં સંશોધન કર્યા. પશ્ચિમી શાસ્ત્રીય સંગીતમાં રસ ધરાવતા અને તેના ગહન જાણકાર છે. પ્રકૃતિ પ્રેમી છે.

જસ્ટિસ ઉદય ઉમેશ લલિત
1957માં જન્મેલા જસ્ટિસ લલિતે 1983માં બોમ્બે હાઈકોર્ટથી વકીલાત શરૂ કરી. એપ્રિલ 2004માં સુપ્રીમ કોર્ટના સીનિયર એડવોકેટ બન્યા. 2G મામલામાં સીબીઆઈની સ્પેશ્યલ પ્રોસીક્યુટર રહ્યા. 2014માં સુપ્રીમ કોર્ટના જજ બન્યા. 2022માં નિવૃત્ત થશે.  

જસ્ટિસ એસ અબ્દુલ નજીર
1958માં જન્મેલા જસ્ટિસ નજીરે 1983માં કર્ણાટક હાઈકોર્ટમાં વકીલાત શરૂ કરી. 2003માં કર્ણાટક હાઈકોર્ટના એડિશનલ જજ બન્યા અને તેના બીજા જ વર્ષે સ્થાઈ જજ બન્યા. ફેબ્રુઆરી 2017માં સુપ્રીમ કોર્ટના જજ તરીકે નિયુક્ત થયા.

ટ્રિપલ તલાકને સુપ્રીમના 'તલાક'



·       સુપ્રીમની બંધારણીય બેંચનો બહુમતીથી ચુકાદો : ૧૪૦૦ વર્ષ જૂની પ્રથાને ગેરબંધારણીય    ઠેરવી

·      ન્યાયાધીશ કુરિયન જોસેફ, યુયુ લલિત અને નરીમાને પ્રથાને ગેરબંધારણીય માની રદ કરી: શીખ, મુસ્લિમ, હિંદુ મુખ્ય ન્યાયાધીશ જે.એસ. ખેહર, ન્યાયાધીશ અબ્દુલ નજીરે પ્રથાને  મૂળભૂત અધિકાર ગણાવી છ માસ સુધી જ રદ કરી સરકારને કાયદો બનાવવા કહ્યું હતું


સુપ્રીમ કોર્ટમાં મુસ્લિમ મહિલાઓની ઐતિહાસિક જીત થઇ છે. કોર્ટે મુસ્લિમ સમાજની વર્ષો જુની ટ્રિપલ તલાક પ્રથાને રદ કરવાનો આદેશ આપ્યો છે. ૩૯૫ પાનાના પોતાના આદેશમાં સુપ્રીમ કોર્ટની પાંચ જજોની બેંચે ૩/૨થી આ ચુકાદો આપ્યો હતો. આ ઐતિહાસિક ચુકાદાને મુસ્લિમ મહિલાઓે માટે એક મોટી જીત માનવામાં આવે છે.