Saturday, April 7, 2018

New Stem Cell That Could Heal Brain Damage


A newly discovered type of stem cell could help brains repair themselves from injury or even debilitating diseases like Alzheimer’s, according to the latest research.
Called the “G2 quiescent stem cell”, it’s one of several ‘sleeping’ (or quiescent) stem cells in the brain.Like other stem cells, it can produce cells of all different types on demand – whatever the body needs.
If we can work out ways to enable and harness these stem cells, they could eventually be used in place of invasive surgical procedures, according to the two researchers from the University of Cambridge in the UK.
“The brain is not good at repairing itself, but these newly-discovered stem cells suggest there may be a way to improve its ability,” says one of the researchers, molecular biologist Andrea Brand.
“These stem cells are in a dormant state, but once awake, they have the ability to generate key brain cells.”

PM’s meeting with Oli, India, Nepal issue joint statement: 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Nepalese counterpart K P Oli issue joint press statement in New Delhi:
There is a long history of India’s contribution towards Nepal’s development, I have assured PM Oli that this will continue in future, says PM Modi.
“We aim at improving waterways and railways with Nepal. Today we reviewed the progress in various such connectivity projects,” he said.
“We have strong relations when it comes to the aspect of security and are committed towards stopping misuse of our open borders,” Modi said issuing the statement.
“We have agreed to work towards a new railway line to connect Kathmandu (Nepal) with India,” he said.
Oli said, “Nepal attaches great importance to its relations with India, our countries enjoy age old historical ties and have many things to offer to each other.”

Chef Ranveer Brar celebrates Baisakhi with Sakshi Tanwar in EPIC TV’s ‘Tyohaar Ki Thaali’

TKT_SAKSHI___RAVVEER_BRAR
While shooting for the Baisakhi episode of EPIC TV’s Tyohaar Ki Thaali, Sakshi had a surprise visitor, her close friend and celebrity chef – Ranveer Brar. In the spirit of the festival, Ranveer took charge of the kitchen and dished out an impromptu Aate Ka Halwa leaving Sakshi with another superb addition to her diary. Back on popular demand, Ranveer was smitten by the ‘masale dani’ (spices pot) in Sakshi’s kitchen and kept requesting Sakshi to gift it to him, but Sakshi refused to part with an important element of her Tyohaar Ki Thaali kitchen!
   In Tyohaar Ki Thaali, Sakshi Tanwar is on a mission to celebrate India’s festivals. Join her as she celebrates each festival by sharing her long cherished, heirloom recipes of various bhogs & prasads identified with the Gods. Peppered with folklores, legends and Sakshi’s personal anecdotes, Tyohaar Ki Thaali is a show that offers a delectable mix of stories and recipes that will inspire you to cook more!
   Tune in to Tyohaar Ki Thaali every Monday, 10 pm on EPIC TV.

Lessons from Two Decades of Advocacy’

‘Campaigning for Air Quality: Lessons from Two Decades of Advocacy’
ANUMITA ROYCHOWDHURY, NAVROZ K DUBASH
THURSDAY, 12 APRIL 2018 ADD TO CALENDAR
4:00 PM TO 5:30 PM
Conference Hall, Centre for Policy Research
Public debate over the quality of Delhi’s air reliably spikes every winter, along with the readings from air quality monitors. However, public discussion tends to rapidly taper off, even as the air quality remains consistently bad.
The Initiative on Climate, Energy and Environment (ICEE) at the Centre for Policy Research (CPR) is organising a seminar series – Clearing the Air? Seminar Series on Delhi’s Air Pollution – to promote sustained and informed public understanding around the data, impacts, sources and policy challenges involved in clearing Delhi’s air. While we will focus on the Delhi context, the series will also reflect the fact that the problem extends far beyond Delhi. The seminar series will present the work of experts in a range of areas, to help promote informed public discussion about what changes are needed, what is possible, and how to get it done. Clearing the air in terms of knowledge and public information, we hope, will make a small contribution toward actually clearing Delhi’s air.

‘Learning in a Global Context’

The Centre for Policy Research and The World Bank Group invites you to a half-day seminar on Learning in the Global Context. The seminar will focus on the key findings of The World Development Report 2018Learning to Realize Education’s Promise, followed by a discussion on India’s learning agenda.
Education powerfully advances twin strategic goals: ending extreme poverty and boosting shared prosperity. Given that today’s students will be tomorrow’s citizens, leaders, workers, and parents, a good education is an investment with enduring benefits.
But providing education is not enough. What is important, and what generates a real return on investment, is learning and acquiring skills. Without learning, students will be locked into lives of poverty and exclusion, and the children whom societies fail the most are those most in need of a good education to succeed in life. Learning conditions and outcomes are almost always much worse for the disadvantaged.
To realize education’s promise, learning needs to be prioritized, not just schooling. To make learning central to the discourse in education, three complimentary strategies are needed:
1. Assess learning to make it a serious goal
2. Act on evidence to make schools work for learning
3. Align all actors to make the system work for learning
The agenda can be accessed here.

Quake M 6.3 hit PNG

M6.3 – NEW GUINEA, PAPUA NEW GUINEA

Preliminary Earthquake Report
Magnitude6.3
Date-Time
  • 7 Apr 2018 05:48:39 UTC
  • 7 Apr 2018 15:48:39 near epicenter
  • 7 Apr 2018 09:48:39 standard time in your timezone
Location5.841S 142.490E
Depth10 km
Distances
  • 140 km (87 miles) NE (54 degrees) of Lake Murray, New Guinea, PNG
  • 195 km (121 miles) W (270 degrees) of Mount Hagen, New Guinea, PNG
  • 244 km (152 miles) E (82 degrees) of Tanahmerah, Irian Jaya, Indonesia
  • 418 km (260 miles) SSE (152 degrees) of Jayapura, Irian Jaya, Indonesia
  • 657 km (408 miles) NW (308 degrees) of PORT MORESBY, Papua New Guinea

Non – Profit Organisations Impacted

Non-Profit Organisation- Impact

 Many of the Small and medium sized Non Profit Organisations could not conduct impact studies partly because of the budget constraints and partly due to the consultancy available without hands-on sessions and mostly theoretical. We are indicating below a link “charting impact” which contains materials for complete charting impact report.

The guidelines are very clear and simple and we have to collect information only for the following five questions.
1.      What is your organisation aiming to accomplish?
2.      What are your strategies for making this happen?
3.      What are your organisations capabilities for doing this?
4.      How will your organisation know if you are making progress?
5.      What have and haven’t you accomplished so far?
      In fact we have tried with organisations and the results for the fourth and fifth question was revealing and eye opener for the respective management.  We suggest it may be translated in your own language and information may be collected from stake holders and analysed and further necessary action may be taken.
We are also indicating below another link for identifying and strengthening general leadership competencies from three different angles.
This also concentrates on core values and beliefs which will move towards strengthening the frame work.

Thanking You

Yours Sincerely
K.Shivakumar
VK Foundation
Gandhigram Trust

Railway catering 5% GST


5% Uniform rate of GST to apply in all railway catering services in trains or on stations


With a view to remove any doubt or uncertainty in the matter and bring uniformity in the rate of GST applicable to supply of food and drinks made available in trains, platforms or stations, it has been clarified by the Government with the approval of the competent authority that the GST rate on supply of food and drinks by the Indian Railways or Indian Railways Catering and Tourism Corporation Ltd. or their licensees, whether in trains or at platforms(static units), will be 5% without input tax credit.

Khadi Store Location App

Government launches Khadi Store Locator App


The 9th National Board of Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) met today i.e. April 6th 2018 at New Delhi. The Hon’ble Minister of State for MSME, Shri Giriraj Singh launched a mobile phone application for locating 4,000 Khadi stores in the country. There are more than 8,000 Khadistores in India, the rest of stores will also be available on the store locater by the end of this month.
KVIC expects to surpass the sales target of Rs. 5,000 crore by the end of 2017-18 as informed by the Chairman. KVIC is also setting up export cells to promote overseas sales of Khadi products in order to make Khadi an international brand.
The Khadi and Village Industries products are manufactured by about 7 lakh privately owned household units which are funded through schemes like the Prime Minister’s Employment Generation Programme (PMEG

Nepal India Invest

Nepal India’s Switzerland – $400b INVEST Program 2017-37
August24, 2017 (C) Ravinder Singh progressindia2015@gmail.com

Meeting of Industry & Business Leaders of 70 Yrs old Democracy India and Youngest Democracy of the World Nepal last evening was great and historic.

Politically Nepal may be led by Nehru Era Leaders but Nepal Business & Industry is in the hands of present generation of Qualified Globally Engaged Professionals and they are expected to adopt best Infrastructure, Technologies & Services anywhere in the world – bypass mistakes made by senior democracy in the region India.

When my family friend’s son working in Merrill Lynch shifted to Dubai, UAE in 2000 due very low or No Taxes I didn’t believe it to succeed but fact is Wealth of UAE expanded Five Fold from $127b to $597b in 2016. Wealth of India & Nepal in the same period expanded from $1163b to $3099b and $9b to $37b.

SWITZERLAND IN SAME PERIOD EXPANDED FROM $1284b to $3478b.

UAE added $470band Switzerland$2194b to their Wealth when India and Nepal added $1936b and $28b in same period.

NEPAL Should Switch to ‘Wealth Generation Model Of UAE of Attracting Investments in Big Projects – Multipurpose Dams, Urban Infrastructure, Hotels & Healthcare, Education’ because Swiss Model is based over 200 Years of S&T Progress PLUS Open Economy.

Nepal to DrawBlueprint of $400b INVEST Program by 2037.

Fully develop 80,000 MW of Multipurpose Dams – These shall ensure $20b-$40b annual revenue to Nepal on invest of $200b – in addition provide flood protection, Clean Air & Water – Nepal shall have SWITZERLAND like environment to attract Investors & Tourists.

Nepal Hydro Projects Shall Generate $200 Trillion Wealth in 500 Yrs.

Build Electric Railway Network as Public Transport than Motor Vehicles and Integrate with Indian Railways which may have BULLET Train Network fully developed by 2037.

Develop High Quality Hotels, Resorts, Hospitals, Residential Blocksand Industries similar to World’s Best. Adopt Piped Sewerage everywhere than pit toilets.

Develop Agriculture With FOOD PROCESSING at Farm Program. This shall minimize Garbage generation in Urban & Tourist Resorts.

Invest in S&T for Next Generation to Integrate with Global Knowledge Alliances. 

Switch to CNG/LNG Transport & COOKING FUEL than Wood, Coal and Diesel.

Indian Industry, Business & Tourist Shall Contribute Half of Nepal’s Progress.

Ravinder Singh, Inventor & Consultant, INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGIES AND PROJECTS
Y-77, Hauz Khas, ND -110016, India. Ph: 091- 9871056471, 9718280435, 9650421857
Ravinder Singh* is a WIPO awarded inventor specializing in Power, Transportation,
Smart Cities, Water, Energy Saving, Agriculture, Manufacturing, Technologies and Projects

Facebook Take Notice

Avaaz.org – The World in Action
Sign the open letter.
Dear friends, 
It’s official: Facebook and social media are out of control. A quarter of a BILLION Facebook accounts are fake! 87 million of us had our data stolen to help Trump win. Russian disinformation operations generated BILLIONS of shares. On Wednesday CEO Zuckerberg will make history testifying before the US Congress. This is our moment to force government and big internet to commit to fix this mess. Sign the open letter below with one click and Avaaz will deliver it in a massive action outside Congress:  
ADD MY NAME

To Mark Zuckerberg, Internet CEOs and Government Regulators: 
Enough is enough. We call on you to protect our democracies and immediately:
  • Tell the Truth about fake users and disinformation campaigns, including through independent audits.
  • Ban the Bots – ban ALL fake or imposter user accounts.
  • Alert the Public – notify all users EACH time they are exposed to fake or malicious content, and correct the record.
  • Fund the Fact-Checkers – an independent army big enough and fast enough to stem the spread of lies.
Crucial elections are just months away. Facebook’s motto used to be Move Fast and Break Things. Now you need to Move Fast and Fix Things. 
Sincerely, 
ADD MY NAME
It’s not an exaggeration. Everything we love is under threat – from human rights to democracy to the environment. 
This problem is worldwide, with the UN even blaming Facebook for genocide of the Rohingya! But Russia has weaponised it, launching what NATO calls the biggest information war in history. They’ve set up millions of fake users, pages, sites, organisations posing as everything from neo-Nazis to leftist muslim-rights organisations to psychic fortune tellers — all designed to promote the far right, infiltrate the left, and undermine democracy. They’ve generated billions of shares, reaching virtually all of us. 
Facebook says they’re acting fast, but they’ve dragged their feet for months, and they won’t be transparent. Their answer is “trust us”. We can’t afford that anymore, so this Wednesday let’s make sure we get the ball rolling with US legislators and Zuckerberg publicly committing to our call to action — add your name with one click
ADD MY NAME
In many ways, the Russian and far-right disinformation campaigns are the mirror image of our movement. In response to our real movement building global unity, they launch fake movements, pushing lies and deception to divide us. As a result, they’ve seen us as a powerful opponent and constantly targeted Avaaz! This is a battle for the soul of the internet, for democracy itself, for our future. Let’s win it. 
With hope and determination, 
Ricken, Christoph, Nell, Mia, Alaphia, Diego, Fadi, Marie, Jenny, Meetali, Andrew, Nick, Fatima, Danny and the whole Avaaz team.  
MORE INFORMATION: 
Inside the two years that shook Facebook – and the world (Wired)
https://www.wired.com/story/inside-facebook-mark-zuckerberg-2-years-of-hell/ 
Germany starts enforcing hate speech law (BBC News) 
http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-42510868
How Facebook can cut down on fake news without relying on thousands of humans to decide what is true (Quartz) 
https://qz.com/836508/facebook-nasdaqfb-can-stop-spreading-fake-news-without-becoming-an-arbiter-of-truth/ 
Selective Exposure to Misinformation: Evidence from the consumption of fake news during the 2016 U.S. presidential campaign (Princeton University, Dartmouth College, University of Exeter) 
http://www.dartmouth.edu/~nyhan/fake-news-2016.pdf

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