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Dr Rajnikant Dixit, a post-doctoral fellow at the National Institute of Health, Maryland, USA, claims to have discovered a molecule which can help in checking the spread of malaria.
Currently working in the advanced field of mosquito-parasite interaction biology, Dr Dixit has underlined in his research study that the spread of malarial parasite can be checked through genetic engineering.
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Briefing on the Eighth Annual Trafficking in Persons, Ambassador Mark P. Lagon, Director of the Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons said that “According to the U.S. intelligence community, approximately 800,000 people are trafficked across international borders each year. About 80 percent of them are female. Up to half are minors. These figures do not include millions who are trafficked for purposes of labor and sexual exploitation within national borders as well.”
He also pointed out to China, where several slave labor scandals have recently been uncovered. Some of the cases reportedly involve the complicity of Chinese law enforcement officials themselves. All governments must act to ensure that cheap and efficient production of export goods does not come at the expense of the very dignity and fundamental rights of citizens.
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Dr T K Alex is appointed as Director, ISRO Satellite Centre (ISAC), Bangalore. He will take over charge tomorrow (May 31, 2008) from Dr K N Shankara. ISAC is the premier centre of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) responsible for the development of satellite technology.
Dr Alex has made significant contributions to the development of all Indian satellites starting from the very first Indian satellite Aryabhata. He is a Gold Medallist in Electrical Engineering from Kerala University, obtained his Master’s degree in Engineering from Indian Institute of Technology, Chennai and holds a Doctorate in Aerospace Engineering from the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore.
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The Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, underwent an eye surgery early this morning at the Rajendra Prasad Centre for Ophthalmic Sciences, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, for cataract removal in the right eye. He underwent an intra-ocular lens implantation after a brief surgical procedure. The Prime Minister has since returned home. The doctors have said that he can resume his normal work from Monday, 26th May, 2008.
Even after 60 years of independence and democracy, India has over 250 million people living below the poverty line. This forces one to raise questions on the effectiveness of the reforms and development programs initiated by the government. Keeping this in mind, a Round Table Discussion on “Are We Fighting Poverty Effectively?” was organized by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and the Aspen Institute India in the New Delhi today. The seminar was addressed by renowned economist, Prof Abhijit V Banerjee, the Ford Foundation Professor of Economics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology and was attended by some of the best minds in the industry, the government, civil society, international agencies and media.
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“India is making a determined effort to extend basic social security coverage and a number of important measures have been initiated, especially in the informal economy”. This was stated by the Director General of International Labour Organisation (ILO), Mr. Juan Somavia, in his address to the two-day Asia-Pacific Regional High-Level Meeting on Socially Inclusive Strategies to Extend Social Security which got underway here this morning. Mr. Assane Diop, the Executive Director, Social Protection Sector of ILO also applauded India’s ‘path-breaking’ efforts in providing social security coverage through the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme and the Unorganized Sector Workers’ Social Security Bill.
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Skills development and unemployment is a core concern not just in India but worldwide and Public Private Partnerships are the key to realising India’s vast potential in this area and achieving socially equitable and inclusive growth, Sharda Prasad, Director General Employment and Training, Ministry of Labour and Employment, said addressing the ‘Skills World 2008′ summit organized by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and Aspire, a leading Human Capital Management firm in New Delhi yesterday.
Day before yesterday, the cabinet has approved the setting up of a ‘Skills Development Mission’ which will include setting up of 1,500 more ITIs and 50,000 Skills Development Centres, taking the mission to smaller cities and rural areas, Prasad said. As part of the government’s Skills Development Policy, the Labour and Employment Ministry has embarked on setting up Sectoral Councils, he added.
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Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh presented the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) Awards for the Year 2007 to various scientists and engineers in a simple ceremony held here today. The following is the full list of awardees:-
1. SILICON TROPHY for the Best Systems Laboratory: Aeronautical Development Agency, Bangalore
2. TITANIUM TROPHY for the Best Science Laboratory: High Energy Materials Research Laboratory, Pune
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An independent research study commissioned by the National Commission for Minorities finds that there is a strong case for offering Dalit Muslims and Dalit Christians the same constitutional safeguards already available to Hindu, Sikh and Buddhist Dalits.
After a comprehensive survey of the available social scientific literature on the status of Muslim and Christian Dalits, the study concludes that they continue to be subjected to discriminatory and exclusionary practices, including untouchability, even though such prejudice receives no doctrinal support in either Islam or Christianity. However, the forms and intensity of the social humiliation they suffer differ from those faced by their counterparts in other religions.
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Dr. Shan Nair was announced today as the recipient of the 2008 Outstanding 50 Asian Americans in Business Award, presented by the Asian American Business Development Center (AABDC).
The awards honor Asian American entrepreneurs and executives with great achievements in business nationwide. In honor of the recipients, an awards dinner will be held May 28 at The Waldof-Astoria in New York City. The 2008 awards recognize achievements from 2007 and is the first and largest business award program for the Asian American business community.
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The United Nations is taking part in the largest-ever AIDS conference covering Eastern Europe and Central Asia which kicks off tomorrow in Moscow. Some 2,000 participants from 50 countries will gather for three days to assess regional achievements, share results and determine how to tackle the challenge of curbing the epidemic’s regional impact.
Focusing on the theme “Accelerating Access to HIV Prevention, Treatment and Care for All,” the event will be hosted by the Joint UN Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS); the UN-backed Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria; the International AIDS Society; and the Federal Service on Surveillance Protection of Consumer Rights and Wellbeing of the Russian Federation.
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