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Putin holds a portrait of his father, war veteran Vladimir Spiridonovich Putin, as he takes part in the Immortal Regiment march on Victory Day, which marks the 77th anniversary of the victory over Nazi Germany. Photo: Reuters.
Distribution of Indian aid in cash and supplies begins in Sri Lanka
The distribution of aid, including rice and milk powder, received under the Indian Line of Credit to low-income families in Sri Lanka has commenced, the Food Commissioner's Department said on Sunday.
Food Commissioner JP Krishnamurthy said that distribution of the aid to low-income families in all 25 districts, including Nuwara Eliya, Badulla, Mullaitivu, Ampara, and others, has already commenced.
Krishnamurthy said that the Sri Lankan government will provide parcels containing 10 kg of rice each to low-income families selected at the Divisional Secretariat level.
Krishnamurthy said Sri Lanka "received this essential food and medicine stock worth around Rs 2 billion with the intervention of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin.
However, the commissioner mentioned that the current fuel shortage has severely hampered the distribution of aid among the districts.
Sri Lanka is near bankruptcy and has severe shortages of essentials from food, fuel, medicines, and cooking gas to toilet paper and matchsticks. For months, people have been forced to stay in long lines to buy the limited stocks.
Scientists identify new liver and kidney diseases
Scientists have identified a new disease in a ground-breaking discovery that could help patients with unexplained liver and kidney problems.
Researchers at Newcastle University in the UK have established the inherited condition, called TULP3-related ciliopathy that causes kidney and liver failure in children and adults.
There are numerous reasons for kidney and liver organ failure, which if left untreated is life-threatening, but often patients do not get a precise diagnosis which can make their best course of treatment unclear.
Research, published in the American Journal of Human Genetics, has revealed that a faulty gene is the catalyst for increased fibrosis in the liver and kidney, often resulting in the need for a transplant.
"Our finding has a huge implication for better diagnosis and management of kidney and liver disease in some patients," said Professor John Sayer, Deputy Dean of Clinical Medicine at Newcastle.
"What we are now able to do is give some patients a precise diagnosis, which allows their treatment to be tailored to their needs for the best possible outcome," Sayer added.
In the study, experts reviewed clinical symptoms, took liver biopsies and genetic sequencing from scores of patients, where a total of 15 patients from eight families were identified as having this new disease.
Urine samples from these patients were used to grow cells in a laboratory and then investigated to determine the precise defect causing TULP3-related ciliopathy.
Over half the patients in the study had a liver or kidney transplant as their condition had deteriorated significantly.
In these patients, the original cause for their organ failure was unknown until the study.
"We were surprised at how many patients we were able to identify with TULP3-related ciliopathy and this would suggest that the condition is prevalent within those with liver and kidney failure," Professor Sayer said.
"We hope to provide a proper diagnosis for many more families in the future. This work is a reminder that it is always worth investigating the underlying reasons for kidney or liver failure to get to the bottom of the condition.
"Finding a genetic cause of liver or kidney failure has huge implications for other family members, especially if they are wishing to donate a kidney to the patient."
The team will now work with cell lines taken from patients to study more in detail the disease process and to test potential treatments for TULP3-related ciliopathy.
ISRO taking help of doctors to develop human-rated spacecraft for Gaganyaan mission
The Indian Space Research Organisation is taking help of doctors in building its human-rated spacecraft for the Gaganyaan mission, India's first human spaceflight that aims to take astronauts into a low earth orbit.
The ISRO has roped in doctors to understand the impact of the spaceflight on humans and will design the spacecraft accordingly.
The astronauts selected for the mission have also been involved in making of the orbital module.
"There are four astronauts who are part of Gaganyaan. We talk to them. They sit in a cockpit. We ask them to go through this and tell us whether the placing of equipment is correct, whether the lighting is correct or whether the edges are causing discomfort, ISRO Chairman S Somnath said during a brainstorming session with health experts on the use of space technology in emergency medical services.
Somanth said scientists at the ISRO were developing the human-rated spacecraft.
"We also look at various measures of quality to increase the reliability and finally to prove the redundancy, Somnath said, adding that space agencies the world over, including ISRO, have imbibed developing failsafe systems as a culture.
Internet service remains suspended in violence-hit Andhra town
Five days after Amalapuram was rocked by violence over the proposal to rename Konaseema district as Dr B. R. Ambedkar, internet service remained snapped in the town and some other parts of the district.
The internet service disconnected as a precautionary measure after Tuesday's violence to stop spread of false messages on social media has not been restored causing severe inconvenience to people.
During the large-scale violence that rocked the town on May 24 during a protest called by Konaseema Parirakshana Samiti, residences of a state minister and an MLA were set afire and dozens of people including police personnel were injured.
On the suggestion of district Superintendent of Police K.S.S.V. Subba Reddy, District Collector Himanshu Shukla wrote to the State government for disconnecting internet till normalcy was restored in Amalapuram, the headquarters of Konaseema district.
With the Dalit Hakkula Porata Samithi (DHPS) deciding to hold Maha Dharna and a public meeting at Amalapuram on June 2 demanding that Konaseema district be named after B. R. Ambedkar, the internet services are not likely to be restored soon.
Police have beefed up security in the district headquarters town by deploying a huge force.
Bommai dials UP CM, asks about Karnataka pilgrims mishap
Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Sunday rang up his Uttar Pradesh counterpart Yogi Adityanath and enquired about a major accident involving a tourist bus in which seven pilgrims of a family in Bidar district were killed while they were heading to Ayodhya.
According to police, seven people, including three women, were killed and nine grievously injured when their bus collided head-on with a truck today.
In a statement issued by the Chief Minister's office, Bommai condoled the demise of the pilgrims and wished speedy recovery of the injured.
"The district authorities are carrying out the rescue operation. The Chief Minister spoke to Yogi Adityanath over phone regarding the safety of tourists from Karnataka and providing quality treatment to them," the statement read.
It added that the efforts are on to bring the bodies of those killed in the accident.
Mobile telephony service started on Kedarnath trek route
Badrinath-Kedarnath Mandir Samiti chairman Ajendra Ajay on Sunday inaugurated the mobile and data services of Reliance Jio on the Kedarnath trek route.
With this Reliance Jio became the first operator to give mobile and data connectivity on the trek route between Gaurikund and the Himalayan shrine, the telecommunication firm said in a statement.
Pilgrims en route to the temple will now stay connected with their loved ones through voice or video calls, it said.
With a huge number of pilgrims coming this year on Char Dham Yatra, Jio has expanded its network on the Kedarnath trek route to give a superior mobile connectivity experience to devotees, the statement by Reliance Jio said.
After a gap of two years during which the yatra was interrupted due to the Covid pandemic, there is a huge rush of pilgrims this year for the Himalayan temples.
A full capacity tower has been installed at Sonprayag, a very important halt location, in accordance with the plan to install five towers between Gaurikund and Kedarnath, the firm said.
CBI plan to make Waze approver in Anil Deshmukh case unfortunate: Maha Cong
The Maharashtra Congress on Sunday said the effort of the Central Bureau of Investigation to get dismissed policeman Sachin Waze to turn approver in the Anil Deshmukh corruption case was unfortunate.
Waze is the main accused in the Antilia bomb scare and Mansukh Hiran murder case, the party's state unit spokesperson Sachin Sawant reminded.
"Is this conduct appropriate for a national investigating agency? The CBI's role in the Anil Deshmukh case has been questionable. The Rs 100 crore bribery allegation against Deshmukh has no evidence," Sawant claimed.
He said political pressure on Central probe agencies will have far reaching impact on law and justice delivery.
Deshmukh, state home minister at the time, was accused by then Mumbai police commissioner Param Bir Singh of misusing his position to extort money from bars.
Russian troops storm city amid eastern Ukraine bombardments
Russian and Ukrainian troops engaged in close-quarter combat in an eastern Ukraine city on Sunday as Moscow's soldiers, supported by intense shelling, attempted to gain strategic footholds in the region while facing fierce Ukrainian resistance.
Ukrainian regional officials reported that Russian forces were storming the eastern city of Sievierodonetsk, where the fighting has knocked out power and cellphone services and terrorised civilians who haven't fled.
Sievierodonetsk, a manufacturing centre, has emerged as an epi-centre of Russia's quest to conquer Ukraine's industrial Donbas region.
Russia also stepped up its efforts to take nearby Lysychansk, where Ukrainian officials reported constant shelling.
The two cities, with a combined prewar population of around 200,000, are the last major areas under Ukrainian control in Luhansk province, which makes up the Donbas together with neighbouring Donetsk.
Russia is focused on capturing parts of both not already controlled by pro-Moscow separatists.
Russian forces made small advances in recent days as bombardments chewed away at Ukrainian positions and kept civilians trapped in basements or desperately trying to get out safely.
Attacks to destroy military targets throughout the country also caused casualties in civilian areas
Report symptoms of monkeypox, if any: TN govt to people from African nations
Tamil Nadu government has appealed to the members of public who arrive from various countries, including African nations, to report to the local health officer if they have any symptoms of monkeypox, a top official said on Sunday.
Health Department principal secretary J Radhakrishnan said it was due to the strong monitoring mechanism that has been put up in place by the government, it was able to detect COVID-19 cases besides containing its spread.
"We have received the interim guidelines from the Centre on the monkeypox disease. That is people arriving from African countries or Europe, Australia, Canada, and the USA, though did not show any symptom at the airport, but developed some symptoms within 21 days of their arrival, they have to report it to the local health official," he told reporters after inspecting the district government hospital here.
People should be cautious and adhere to the COVID-19 protocols laid out by the government, he said.
"We have been told that the disease will not be severe, but we have to be careful to prevent it. So far, no cases related to monkeypox have been reported in the country," he said.
Noting that the Health Department has strengthened the medical infrastructure in Tamil Nadu, he said it was due to the strong monitoring mechanism the government was able to identify cluster of virus cases that were reported in the State.
Choose special place in your city, town or village to celebrate Yoga Day: PM to people
International Yoga Day events will be organised at 75 major places in the country in view of the 'Amrit Mahotsav' celebrations of 75 years of Independence, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Sunday and urged people to mark the occasion at a special place in their respective cities, towns or villages.
In his monthly 'Mann ki Baat' radio broadcast, Prime Minister Modi said the theme of the 8th International Yoga Day on June 21 would be 'yoga for humanity.
He urged people to celebrate Yoga Day with great enthusiasm, while cautioning that they should take all precautions related to the coronavirus.
"By the way, the situation now is looking better than earlier across the whole world. On account of more and more vaccination coverage, people now are going out more than ever; therefore, a lot of preparations are also being seen all over the world for Yoga Day," Modi said.
He said the Covid pandemic has made people realise the overarching importance of health in their lives.
"People are experiencing how much physical, spiritual and intellectual well-being is receiving a boost through yoga. From the world's top business persons to film and sports personalities, from students to common people, everyone is making yoga an integral part of one's life," he said.
"I do believe that witnessing the increasing popularity of yoga across the world must be making you happy," he said.
After Ram temple in Ayodhya, Kashi, Mathura appear to be waking up: Adityanath
After the construction of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, the temple town of Kashi appears to be waking up, as are Mathura, Vrindavan, Vindhyavasini Dham and Naimish Dham, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said on Sunday.
There has been no communal riot in the state, he told the BJP's one-day state executive meeting in Lucknow and mentioned recent festivals to say that for the first time in the state the namaz on the last Friday before Eid was not held on roads.
Adityanath referred to the inauguration of the Kashi Vishwanath Temple Corridor, to say one lakh devotees visit Kashi every day and the place is proving the significance of its name in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision.
"Ram Navami and Hanuman Jayanti were held peacefully. This was the first time that the last Friday namaz before Eid was not held on the streets. For namaz there is a place of worship, the mosques where their religious programmes can be held," he said.
Mentioning the removal of loudspeakers from religious places, he said, "You must have seen how the unnecessary noise was got rid of."
At the first state executive meeting of the BJP after the assembly polls in Uttar Pradesh, he asked the party workers to start preparing for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls and move forward with the target of winning 75 out of the state's 80 seats.
Projects with over Rs 19,100 cr JICA funding being set up in NE: Official
Various projects involving over Rs 19,100 crore of assistance by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) are being implemented in the North-East region of India, a top official said on Sunday.
Besides its assistance in strengthening infrastructure, the agency is looking at social development projects with a focus on medical infrastructure and enhancing livelihoods, JICA Chief Representative in India Mitsunori Saito said.
"We have several projects in various stages of implementation in the NE region.
"Some projects have been going on for five-six years, while some are relatively new. There are many projects, like bridges, which take longer (time) to complete," Saito told PTI on the sidelines of a conclave here.
He said the JICA is looking for providing financial assistance in social development projects in the region.
It signed an agreement with the Centre in March this year to provide Japanese Official Development Assistance (ODA) loan amounting to approximately Rs 2,942 crore for the Assam Health System Strengthening project.
IIT Delhi study reveals mechanisms driving SARS-CoV-2 evolution in humans
Researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Delhi have revealed the mechanisms driving the evolution of SARS-CoV-2 in humans which can help in better understanding of COVID-19's pathogenesis, immune evasion and emergence of variants of concern.
According to the seven-member research team, CpG (a cytosine followed by a guanine) numbers in virus genomes have been linked to host-switching, the efficiency of virus replication, immune evasion and the ability of a virus to cause disease.
The researchers found that the rate of CpG depletion from SARS-CoV-2 genomes rapidly decreases after the first few months of evolution in humans. The research has been published in a journal, Molecular Biology and Evolution, and is titled "The Slowing Rate of CpG Depletion in SARS-CoV-2 Genomes is Consistent with Adaptations to the Human Host".
"Zinc-finger antiviral protein (ZAP) is a host protein that can bind to CpG-rich regions in SARS-CoV-2, the causative agent of the COVID-19 pandemic, and recruits other host proteins to degrade the viral RNA. Several viruses including HIV-1, Influenza A virus and SARS-CoV-2 prefer to reduce their CpG content (by losing CpGs) to minimise the host immune response, thus allowing better virus replication and survival," Vivekanandan Perumal from the Kusuma School of Biological Sciences, IIT Delhi told PTI.
"The team analysed over 1.4 million full-length SARS-CoV-2 sequences from across the world. They found that the rate of CpG depletion from SARS-CoV-2 genomes rapidly decreases after the first few months of evolution in humans.
Nepal Army chopper lands at likely site of plane crash on tracking pilot's mobile
Amidst inclement weather, a Nepal Army helicopter has located the site where the small plane of a local airline with 22 people on board, including four Indians, has possibly crashed, media reports quoted the country's civil aviation authority as saying on Sunday.
The Twin Otter 9N-AET plane belonging to Nepal's Tara Air took off at 10:15 am from Pokhara, and lost contact with the control tower 15 minutes later, according to an airline spokesperson.
A Nepal Army helicopter carrying 10 soldiers and two employees of the civil aviation authority landed on the bank of a river near the Narshang Monastery, the possible site of the crash, according to My Republica newspaper.
A Nepal Army helicopter has landed on the river bank near Narshang Gumba," Prem Nath Thakur, general manager of the Tribhuvan International Airport was quoted as saying by the newspaper.
Interestingly, the airplane was located after Nepal Telecom tracked down the cellphone of the airplane's Captain Prabhakar Ghimire through the Global Positioning System (GPS) network.
The cell phone of Captain Ghimire of the missing aircraft has been ringing and Nepal Army's helicopter has landed in the possible accident area after tracking the captain's phone from Nepal Telecom, Thakur said.
We have also sent Nepal Army and Nepal Police personnel on foot for the search," he added.
There are four Indian nationals, two Germans and 13 Nepali passengers besides a three member Nepali crew, said Sudarshan Bartaula, a spokesperson at the airlines.
AI-based traffic management system in Delhi soon: Officials
To reduce congestion and facilitate faster vehicular movement, the Delhi Traffic Police has planned an Integrated Traffic Management System (ITMS), officials said.
The new system that works on machine learning and artificial intelligence will also play a vital role in facilitating a quick passage to emergency vehicles such as ambulances and fire tenders, they said.
Also, a command centre to handle operations and monitor the programming will be set up at the Delhi Police Headquarters, they said.
According to the traffic police, the project aims to synchronise all the traffic signals and automatically regulate the signal light. The ITMS will also caution motorists on diversions to be taken in case of any congestion ahead.
This system will also be integrated with all the civic-body run parking lots in order to alert motorists on the free spaces that are available before they could reach the venue. "They can look for updates on the Municipality Corporation of Delhi's mobile application, which will generate a pop up message. It will also be linked with Google maps," SK Singh, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic Headquarters-II), said.
The Delhi Traffic Police signed a Memorandum of Understanding for an integrated traffic management system with the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC), which has further assigned the task to a consultant firm. Currently, the project is in its initial stage, Singh said.
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First Published: May 29 2022 | 7:08 AM IST
