World's first all-electric satellites
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A Space Exploration Technologies rocket blasted off from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station on Sunday to put the world's first all-electric communications satellites into orbit.
The 22-storey tall booster soared off its seaside launch pad at 10:50 a.m. EST (0350 GMT), the third flight in less than two months for SpaceX, as the privately owned, California-based company is known.
Perched on top of the rocket were a pair of satellites built by Boeing and owned by Paris-based Eutelsat Communications and Bermuda-based ABS, whose majority owner is the European private equity firm Permira.
Eutelsat and ABS shared satellite manufacturing and launch costs, a business arrangement spurred by technological innovation.
The satellites launched on Sunday are outfitted with lightweight, all-electric engines, rather than conventional chemical propulsion systems, to reach and maintain orbit.
That enabled two spacecraft to be launched aboard one medium-sized Falcon 9 rocket.
"The value of electrical propulsion is that it allows the satellite operator to need much less fuel than when the satellite has chemical propulsion," Eutelsat chief executive Michel de Rosen said in an interview before launch.
"You can have a much lighter satellite, so that, in theory, the cost of your launch is much reduced."
SpaceX, owned and operated by technology entrepreneur Elon Musk, turned the theoretical price cuts into reality, breaking what de Rosen calls "a quasi-monopoly" Europe's Arianespace had on the small satellite launch market.
Terms of the deal were not disclosed, although SpaceX's website lists a Falcon 9 launch as costing $61 million.
The disadvantage of electric propulsion is that it will take the satellites months, rather than weeks, to reach their operational orbits about 22,300 miles (35,800 km) above Earth, high enough to appear virtually parked over a particular part of the globe.
Eutelsat's spacecraft will become part of a 35-member network providing a range of mobile, internet, video and other communications services. The new satellite expands the company's reach into the Americas.
ABS, which currently has six satellites, will position its new spacecraft to also serve customers in Europe, Africa and the Middle East.
The companies are partnering for a second pair of satellites that are due to launch aboard another Falcon 9 rocket later this year. SpaceX also flies cargo missions to the International Space Station for NASA and is working on an upgraded spaceship to fly astronauts as well.
A Space Exploration Technologies rocket blasted off from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station on Sunday to put the world's first all-electric communications satellites into orbit.The 22-storey tall booster soared off its seaside launch pad at 10:50 a.m. EST (0350 GMT), the third flight in less than two months for SpaceX, as the privately owned, California-based company is known.
Perched on top of the rocket were a pair of satellites built by Boeing and owned by Paris-based Eutelsat Communications and Bermuda-based ABS, whose majority owner is the European private equity firm Permira.
Eutelsat and ABS shared satellite manufacturing and launch costs, a business arrangement spurred by technological innovation.
The satellites launched on Sunday are outfitted with lightweight, all-electric engines, rather than conventional chemical propulsion systems, to reach and maintain orbit.
That enabled two spacecraft to be launched aboard one medium-sized Falcon 9 rocket.
"The value of electrical propulsion is that it allows the satellite operator to need much less fuel than when the satellite has chemical propulsion," Eutelsat chief executive Michel de Rosen said in an interview before launch.
"You can have a much lighter satellite, so that, in theory, the cost of your launch is much reduced."
SpaceX, owned and operated by technology entrepreneur Elon Musk, turned the theoretical price cuts into reality, breaking what de Rosen calls "a quasi-monopoly" Europe's Arianespace had on the small satellite launch market.
Terms of the deal were not disclosed, although SpaceX's website lists a Falcon 9 launch as costing $61 million.
The disadvantage of electric propulsion is that it will take the satellites months, rather than weeks, to reach their operational orbits about 22,300 miles (35,800 km) above Earth, high enough to appear virtually parked over a particular part of the globe.
Eutelsat's spacecraft will become part of a 35-member network providing a range of mobile, internet, video and other communications services. The new satellite expands the company's reach into the Americas.
ABS, which currently has six satellites, will position its new spacecraft to also serve customers in Europe, Africa and the Middle East.
The companies are partnering for a second pair of satellites that are due to launch aboard another Falcon 9 rocket later this year. SpaceX also flies cargo missions to the International Space Station for NASA and is working on an upgraded spaceship to fly astronauts as well.
North Korea test fires 2 short-range missiles
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SEOUL, South Korea: North Korea on Monday fired two short-range ballistic missiles into the sea and warned of "merciless strikes" against its enemies as allies Seoul and Washington launched annual military drills Pyongyang claims are preparation for a northward invasion.
North Korea regularly conducts such test firings of missiles, rockets and artillery, and they are often timed to express the country's dissatisfaction with actions by Washington and Seoul. Monday was the start of military drills that will run until the end of April.
Early Monday morning, two missiles launched from North Korea's west coast flew about 500 kilometers (310 miles) before landing in waters off the east coast, according to South Korea's defense ministry. Spokesman Kim Min-seok called the launches an "armed protest" against the South Korea-US drills and a challenge to peace on the Korean Peninsula.
The annual US-South Korean military drills inevitably lead to angry North Korean rhetoric, although the allies say they are purely defensive. The North's rhetoric is meant to show its people that a tough leadership is confronting what its propaganda portrays as outside hostility, but analysts also believe the drills infuriate because they cost Pyongyang precious resources by forcing the country to respond with its own drills and launches.
"The only means to cope with the aggression and war by the US imperialists and their followers is neither dialogue nor peace. They should be dealt with only by merciless strikes," an unidentified spokesman for the North Korean military's general staff said in a statement carried by state media.
He said the US-South Korean drills are aimed at conquering the North's capital, Pyongyang, and removing its leadership.
During the 2013 drills, tension rose amid North Korean rhetoric that included vows of nuclear strikes on Washington and Seoul.
The rival Koreas earlier this year floated the possibility of holding what would be the third summit between their leaders since the countries were divided 70 years ago. But they have been at odds in recent weeks over terms, and prospects seem dim.
North Korea separately told the US that it was willing to impose a temporary moratorium on its nuclear tests if Washington cancels the joint military drills with South Korea. But the US rejected the overture, calling it an "implicit threat."
North Korea last year conducted an unusually large number of missile and other weapons tests, drawing protests from South Korea. The North still proposed a set of measures that it said would lower tensions, but South Korea rebuffed them, saying the North must first take steps toward nuclear disarmament.
The Korean Peninsula remains in a technical state of war because the 1950-53 Korean War ended with an armistice, not a peace treaty. About 28,500 American soldiers are deployed in South Korea as deterrence against potential aggression from North Korea.
North Korea regularly conducts such test firings of missiles, rockets and artillery, and they are often timed to express the country's dissatisfaction with actions by Washington and Seoul. Monday was the start of military drills that will run until the end of April.
Early Monday morning, two missiles launched from North Korea's west coast flew about 500 kilometers (310 miles) before landing in waters off the east coast, according to South Korea's defense ministry. Spokesman Kim Min-seok called the launches an "armed protest" against the South Korea-US drills and a challenge to peace on the Korean Peninsula.
The annual US-South Korean military drills inevitably lead to angry North Korean rhetoric, although the allies say they are purely defensive. The North's rhetoric is meant to show its people that a tough leadership is confronting what its propaganda portrays as outside hostility, but analysts also believe the drills infuriate because they cost Pyongyang precious resources by forcing the country to respond with its own drills and launches.
"The only means to cope with the aggression and war by the US imperialists and their followers is neither dialogue nor peace. They should be dealt with only by merciless strikes," an unidentified spokesman for the North Korean military's general staff said in a statement carried by state media.
He said the US-South Korean drills are aimed at conquering the North's capital, Pyongyang, and removing its leadership.
During the 2013 drills, tension rose amid North Korean rhetoric that included vows of nuclear strikes on Washington and Seoul.
The rival Koreas earlier this year floated the possibility of holding what would be the third summit between their leaders since the countries were divided 70 years ago. But they have been at odds in recent weeks over terms, and prospects seem dim.
North Korea separately told the US that it was willing to impose a temporary moratorium on its nuclear tests if Washington cancels the joint military drills with South Korea. But the US rejected the overture, calling it an "implicit threat."
North Korea last year conducted an unusually large number of missile and other weapons tests, drawing protests from South Korea. The North still proposed a set of measures that it said would lower tensions, but South Korea rebuffed them, saying the North must first take steps toward nuclear disarmament.
The Korean Peninsula remains in a technical state of war because the 1950-53 Korean War ended with an armistice, not a peace treaty. About 28,500 American soldiers are deployed in South Korea as deterrence against potential aggression from North Korea.
Forum for quantifying cyber risk
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Country’s third largest software services firm Wipro has partnered with the World Economic Forum (WEF) to develop a cyber value-at-risk (VAR) framework that will allow organisations to assess threat landscape, the nature of assets needed protection and quality of defences.
As per the Forum’s estimates, if the sophistication of attacks keeps ahead of defensive capabilities, the resultant new cyber regulations and restrictive policies could hurt innovation by about $3 trillion by 2020.
Consequently, business leaders and policy makers have highlighted the need for a framework that would aid them in making better cyber security decisions, Wipro said in a statement.
“The cyber VAR concept suggests that organisations actively consider aspects like value of their assets, profile of attackers and the existing security posture, as they build their cyber risk models,” WEF Partnering for Cyber Resilience Manager (IT Industry) Elena Kvochko said.
Wipro and the WEF partner companies have been working together to evangelise the need for organisations to develop cyber resilience and the importance of quantifying cyber risk, it added.
“While the Cyber VAR framework can be applied across all industries, this has specific relevance to sectors that involve sensitive personal data such as financial services, healthcare and retail and those involving critical national infrastructure, including the transportation and energy sectors,” it said.
Through the framework, an organization can reliably determine and predict the VAR threshold of their cyber exposure.
This allows them to determine whether it makes more business sense for them to transfer the risk to an insurance company, take remedial actions to reduce this VAR, or manage the exposure as part of standard business risks.
“Through this framework, we have been able to help our customers quantify their threats, prioritize business assets and assist them in directing their investments towards better risk mitigation,” Wipro Head Corporate Business Development R. Guha said.
As per the Forum’s estimates, if the sophistication of attacks keeps ahead of defensive capabilities, the resultant new cyber regulations and restrictive policies could hurt innovation by about $3 trillion by 2020.
Consequently, business leaders and policy makers have highlighted the need for a framework that would aid them in making better cyber security decisions, Wipro said in a statement.
“The cyber VAR concept suggests that organisations actively consider aspects like value of their assets, profile of attackers and the existing security posture, as they build their cyber risk models,” WEF Partnering for Cyber Resilience Manager (IT Industry) Elena Kvochko said.
Wipro and the WEF partner companies have been working together to evangelise the need for organisations to develop cyber resilience and the importance of quantifying cyber risk, it added.
“While the Cyber VAR framework can be applied across all industries, this has specific relevance to sectors that involve sensitive personal data such as financial services, healthcare and retail and those involving critical national infrastructure, including the transportation and energy sectors,” it said.
Through the framework, an organization can reliably determine and predict the VAR threshold of their cyber exposure.
This allows them to determine whether it makes more business sense for them to transfer the risk to an insurance company, take remedial actions to reduce this VAR, or manage the exposure as part of standard business risks.
“Through this framework, we have been able to help our customers quantify their threats, prioritize business assets and assist them in directing their investments towards better risk mitigation,” Wipro Head Corporate Business Development R. Guha said.
India’s ‘less aspiring’ fiscal consolidation strategy negative for ratings
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India’s budget could have been more ambitions on the fiscal front, especially given a high public debt burden, and the less aspiring fiscal consolidation strategy is negative for ratings, an analyst at Fitch Ratings said on Monday.
Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Saturday announced a budget that put boosting growth before painful reforms, slowing the pace of fiscal deficit cuts and seeking to put domestic and foreign capital to work.
“The medium-term fiscal consolidation strategy is less aspiring than in the past, which is negative from a sovereign rating perspective,” Thomas Rookmaaker, director at Fitch’s Asia-Pacific Sovereign Group wrote in an email.
“If disinvestment would be treated as a “below the line” financing item, as is international best practice, instead of a revenue item, the fiscal deficit would actually rise from 4.3 per cent in FY15 to 4.4 per cent in FY16,” he added.
Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Saturday announced a budget that put boosting growth before painful reforms, slowing the pace of fiscal deficit cuts and seeking to put domestic and foreign capital to work.
“The medium-term fiscal consolidation strategy is less aspiring than in the past, which is negative from a sovereign rating perspective,” Thomas Rookmaaker, director at Fitch’s Asia-Pacific Sovereign Group wrote in an email.
“If disinvestment would be treated as a “below the line” financing item, as is international best practice, instead of a revenue item, the fiscal deficit would actually rise from 4.3 per cent in FY15 to 4.4 per cent in FY16,” he added.
Effect of nicotinamide mononucleotide on brain mitochondrial
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Mitochondrial dysfunction is a hallmark of neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer's disease (AD), with morphological and functional abnormalities limiting the electron transport chain and ATP production. A contributing factor of mitochondrial abnormalities is loss of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD), an important cofactor in multiple metabolic reactions.
Depletion of mitochondrial and consequently cellular NAD(H) levels by activated NAD glycohydrolases then culminates in bioenergetic failure and cell death. De Novo NAD+ synthesis from tryptophan requires a multi-step enzymatic reaction.
Thus, an alternative strategy to maintain cellular NAD+ levels is to administer NAD+ precursors facilitating generation via a salvage pathway. We administered nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN),an NAD+ precursor to APP(swe)/PS1(ΔE9) double transgenic (AD-Tg) mice to assess amelioration of mitochondrial respiratory deficits.
In addition to mitochondrial respiratory function, we examined levels of full-length mutant APP, NAD+-dependent substrates (SIRT1 and CD38) in homogenates and fission/fusion proteins (DRP1, OPA1 and MFN2) in mitochondria isolated from brain. To examine changes in mitochondrial morphology, bigenic mice possessing a fluorescent protein targeted to neuronal mitochondria (CaMK2a-mito/eYFP), were administered NMN.
Methods: Mitochondrial oxygen consumption rates were examined in N2A neuroblastoma cells and non-synaptic brain mitochondria isolated from mice (3Â months).
Western blotting was utilized to assess APP, SIRT1, CD38, DRP1, OPA1 and MFN2 in brain of transgenic and non-transgenic mice (3-12 months). Mitochondrial morphology was assessed with confocal microscopy.
One-way or two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and post-hoc Holm-Sidak method were used for statistical analyses of data. Student t-test was used for direct comparison of two groups.
Results: We now demonstrate that mitochondrial respiratory function was restored in NMN-treated AD-Tg mice.
Levels of SIRT1 and CD38 change with age and NMN treatment. Furthermore, we found a shift in dynamics from fission to fusion proteins in the NMN-treated mice.
Conclusions: This is the first study to directly examine amelioration of NAD+ catabolism and changes in mitochondrial morphological dynamics in brain utilizing the immediate precursor NMN as a potential therapeutic compound.
This might lead to well-defined physiologic abnormalities that can serve an important role in the validation of promising agents such as NMN that target NAD+ catabolism preserving mitochondrial function.
Depletion of mitochondrial and consequently cellular NAD(H) levels by activated NAD glycohydrolases then culminates in bioenergetic failure and cell death. De Novo NAD+ synthesis from tryptophan requires a multi-step enzymatic reaction.
Thus, an alternative strategy to maintain cellular NAD+ levels is to administer NAD+ precursors facilitating generation via a salvage pathway. We administered nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN),an NAD+ precursor to APP(swe)/PS1(ΔE9) double transgenic (AD-Tg) mice to assess amelioration of mitochondrial respiratory deficits.
In addition to mitochondrial respiratory function, we examined levels of full-length mutant APP, NAD+-dependent substrates (SIRT1 and CD38) in homogenates and fission/fusion proteins (DRP1, OPA1 and MFN2) in mitochondria isolated from brain. To examine changes in mitochondrial morphology, bigenic mice possessing a fluorescent protein targeted to neuronal mitochondria (CaMK2a-mito/eYFP), were administered NMN.
Methods: Mitochondrial oxygen consumption rates were examined in N2A neuroblastoma cells and non-synaptic brain mitochondria isolated from mice (3Â months).
Western blotting was utilized to assess APP, SIRT1, CD38, DRP1, OPA1 and MFN2 in brain of transgenic and non-transgenic mice (3-12 months). Mitochondrial morphology was assessed with confocal microscopy.
One-way or two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and post-hoc Holm-Sidak method were used for statistical analyses of data. Student t-test was used for direct comparison of two groups.
Results: We now demonstrate that mitochondrial respiratory function was restored in NMN-treated AD-Tg mice.
Levels of SIRT1 and CD38 change with age and NMN treatment. Furthermore, we found a shift in dynamics from fission to fusion proteins in the NMN-treated mice.
Conclusions: This is the first study to directly examine amelioration of NAD+ catabolism and changes in mitochondrial morphological dynamics in brain utilizing the immediate precursor NMN as a potential therapeutic compound.
This might lead to well-defined physiologic abnormalities that can serve an important role in the validation of promising agents such as NMN that target NAD+ catabolism preserving mitochondrial function.
Zakir Naik receives Saudi prize
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Riyadh: Dr Zakir Naik, a renowned Indian Islamic scholar and an authority on comparative religion, has received one of Saudi Arabia’s most prestigious prizes from the country’s new King Salman for his service to Islam. King Salman presented the King Faisal International Prize (KFIP) 2015 in five categories yesterday at a glittering awards ceremony here. The KFIP recognises the outstanding works of individuals and institutions in five categories — Service to Islam, Islamic Studies, Arabic Language and Literature, Medicine and Science.
Each prize consists of a handwritten Arabic certificate on the laureate’s achievements, a commemorative 24-carat 200-gramme gold medal and a cheque of USD 200,000. Ministers, members of the Royal Family, senior g vernment officials, academics and elite scholars were present as King Salman honoured Naik for Service to Islam.
“Islam is the only religion that can bring peace to the whole of humanity,” Naik said in a video biography aired at the ceremony. Mumbai-born Naik, 49, is the president of the Islamic Research Foundation in India and one of the world’s most renowned non-Arabic speaking Islamic scholars.
He was awarded the KFIP for his services to Islam for a lifetime’s teaching about Islam, his work on comparative religion and for founding the Peace Channel, a comparative religion TV channel. Naik has been frequently at odds with the West for his views on terrorism.
In 2010, Britain had banned Naik from entering the country, citing his “unacceptable behaviour”. Naik had reportedly said Muslims should beware of people saying Osama bin Laden was right or wrong, adding: “If you ask my view, if given the truth, if he is fighting the enemies of Islam, I am for him.” The other prize winners included Saudi Arabia’s Abdulaziz bin Abdulrahman Kaki in the Islamic Studies category for his research on the cultural heritage of the Muslim holy city of Medina and Jeffrey Ivan Gordon of the United States in the field of medicine for his research which has enhanced understanding of diseases such as obesity — a growing problem in Saudi Arabia.
In the science category — Michael Gratzel of Switzerland — was awarded for his development of solar cells while Omar Mwannes Yaghi of the US was the co-winner for his work in the new field of metal organic frameworks. No prize was awarded in the Arabic Language and Literature category this year.
Each prize consists of a handwritten Arabic certificate on the laureate’s achievements, a commemorative 24-carat 200-gramme gold medal and a cheque of USD 200,000. Ministers, members of the Royal Family, senior g vernment officials, academics and elite scholars were present as King Salman honoured Naik for Service to Islam.
“Islam is the only religion that can bring peace to the whole of humanity,” Naik said in a video biography aired at the ceremony. Mumbai-born Naik, 49, is the president of the Islamic Research Foundation in India and one of the world’s most renowned non-Arabic speaking Islamic scholars.
He was awarded the KFIP for his services to Islam for a lifetime’s teaching about Islam, his work on comparative religion and for founding the Peace Channel, a comparative religion TV channel. Naik has been frequently at odds with the West for his views on terrorism.
In 2010, Britain had banned Naik from entering the country, citing his “unacceptable behaviour”. Naik had reportedly said Muslims should beware of people saying Osama bin Laden was right or wrong, adding: “If you ask my view, if given the truth, if he is fighting the enemies of Islam, I am for him.” The other prize winners included Saudi Arabia’s Abdulaziz bin Abdulrahman Kaki in the Islamic Studies category for his research on the cultural heritage of the Muslim holy city of Medina and Jeffrey Ivan Gordon of the United States in the field of medicine for his research which has enhanced understanding of diseases such as obesity — a growing problem in Saudi Arabia.
In the science category — Michael Gratzel of Switzerland — was awarded for his development of solar cells while Omar Mwannes Yaghi of the US was the co-winner for his work in the new field of metal organic frameworks. No prize was awarded in the Arabic Language and Literature category this year.
China defends docking of its submarines in Sri Lanka
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China today strongly defended the docking of its submarines at Colombo port as well as the high interests rates charged for its loans asserting that these were done at the instance of the previous government, brushing aside concerns expressed by new Sri Lankan Foreign Minister.
"We had the consent of the Sri Lanka side in advance," Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying told reporters responding to Mangala Samaraweera's comments that the new government will not permit the docking of Chinese submarines.
After reports that one of the Chinese submarines docked at the Colombo port during the visit of Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe last year, the new Sri Lankan government said it will not permit such dockings.
"I really do not know what circumstances led to some submarines coming to the port of Colombo on the very day the Japanese Prime Minister was visiting Sri Lanka," Samaraweera had said here last week, disclosing for the first time that the docking coincided with Abe's Colombo visit.
"But we will ensure that such incidents from whatever quarters does not happen during our tenure," said Samaraweera, who held extensive talks with Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and Foreign Minister Wang Yi.
Two submarines - one said to be nuclear powered - docked at the Colombo port last year during Mahinda Rajapaksa regime, a move that raised concerns in India.
Hua reiterated that Chinese submarines were on way to take part in the anti-piracy operations at the Gulf of Aden in Somalia through Sri Lanka and used the ports for re-supply.
"These are normal and transparent activities. It also followed the international practices," she said.
"It is to my knowledge that policy of Sri Lanka side is to support the global anti-piracy campaign. It welcomes the docking of submarines from the friendly countries," it said.
Hua also defended high interest rates charged for China's USD five billion loans to Lanka over which Samaraweera had expressed concern.
"Chinese loans to Sri Lanka are at the request of the Sri Lankan side and based on the principle of mutual benefit. It is an arrangement on the consensus building. The loan arrangement serves the interest of Sri Lanka and its people," she said.
"It (loans) has played a positive role in social and economic development of Sri Lanka," she said.
Hua, however, welcomed Samaraweera's comments terming China as an "all weather friend" and the friendship withstood the test of time.
"We had the consent of the Sri Lanka side in advance," Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying told reporters responding to Mangala Samaraweera's comments that the new government will not permit the docking of Chinese submarines.
After reports that one of the Chinese submarines docked at the Colombo port during the visit of Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe last year, the new Sri Lankan government said it will not permit such dockings.
"I really do not know what circumstances led to some submarines coming to the port of Colombo on the very day the Japanese Prime Minister was visiting Sri Lanka," Samaraweera had said here last week, disclosing for the first time that the docking coincided with Abe's Colombo visit.
"But we will ensure that such incidents from whatever quarters does not happen during our tenure," said Samaraweera, who held extensive talks with Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and Foreign Minister Wang Yi.
Two submarines - one said to be nuclear powered - docked at the Colombo port last year during Mahinda Rajapaksa regime, a move that raised concerns in India.
Hua reiterated that Chinese submarines were on way to take part in the anti-piracy operations at the Gulf of Aden in Somalia through Sri Lanka and used the ports for re-supply.
"These are normal and transparent activities. It also followed the international practices," she said.
"It is to my knowledge that policy of Sri Lanka side is to support the global anti-piracy campaign. It welcomes the docking of submarines from the friendly countries," it said.
Hua also defended high interest rates charged for China's USD five billion loans to Lanka over which Samaraweera had expressed concern.
"Chinese loans to Sri Lanka are at the request of the Sri Lankan side and based on the principle of mutual benefit. It is an arrangement on the consensus building. The loan arrangement serves the interest of Sri Lanka and its people," she said.
"It (loans) has played a positive role in social and economic development of Sri Lanka," she said.
Hua, however, welcomed Samaraweera's comments terming China as an "all weather friend" and the friendship withstood the test of time.
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