vijayawada l tuesday l october 08, 2024 l `9.00 l PAGES 12 l late city EDITION U.S. scientists win nobel medicine prize for discovery of microRNA Victor Ambros and Gary Ruvkun discovered microRNA, the tiny pieces of genetic material that alter how genes work at the cellular level Victor Ambros Gary Ruvkun A new principle of gene regulation: jury Promising weapon in fight against cancer Though each cell in our body has the same set of instructions, called DNA, some turn into brain cells, while others become muscles. That’s because microRNAs regulate genes at cellular level, acting as a switch that turns genes off or on. “Their groundbreaking discovery revealed a new principle of gene regulation essential for multicellular organisms,” the jury said ■ ■ Ambros and Ruvkun discovered microRNAs during their study on two mutant strains of worms. The study’s results were published in 1993 As microRNAs allow us to control the behaviour of genes, they could help in treating various diseases. In cancer patients, they can be used to cause the mutated gene in the cancer cells to stop its activities Dec 10 when nobel laureates are invited to receive their awards CHENNAI ■ MADURAI ■ VIJAYAWADA ■ BENGALURU ■ KOCHI ■ HYDERABAD ■ VISAKHAPATNAM ■ COIMBATORE ■ KOZHIKODE ■ THIRUVANANTHAPURAM ■ BELAGAVI ■ BHUBANESWAR ■ SHIVAMOgGA ■ MANGALURU ■ TIRUPATI ■ TIRUCHY ■ TIRUNELVELI ■ SAMBALPUR ■ HUBBALLI ■ DHARMAPURI ■ KOTTAYAM ■ KANNUR ■ VILLUPURAM ■ KOLLAM ■ TADEPALLIGUDEM ■ NAGAPATTINAM ■ THRISSUR ■ KALABURAGI Amaravati capital and Polavaram India extends $400 mn assistance project find mention in PM-CM meet to Maldives, signs a slew of pacts Naidu requests Modi to enhance allotment of LPG cylinders to State under Ujjwala Yojana E x p r e s s N e w s Se r v i c e @ Vijayawada Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on Monday. They discussed a slew of issues pertaining to Andhra Pradesh, with a focus on funding for construction of Amaravati capital city . It may be recalled that Union Finance Minister Nir mala Sitharaman, while presenting the Budget in July, had announced that `15,000 crore will be arranged for the development of Amaravati. Naidu thanked Modi for approving the Revised Cost Estimates for the Polavaram Project and handholding the State in matters related to resolution of fiscal stress. During the meeting, the Chief Minister sought support on a few issues, including sanction for a few national highway projects critical for the State’s development. In a departure from tradition, the Chief Minister presented Prime Minister Modi an idol of Goddess Lakshmi, instead of Lord Venkateswara | Express Additionally, he requested the Prime Minister to enhance allocation of LPG cylinders to the State under PMUY (Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana) to improve the coverage of the scheme in Andhra Pradesh, and rightfully deliver the intended benefit to about 60 lakh people living below the poverty line (BPL) who were left out from the scheme. He also sought for acceleration of infrastructure projects in the capital city of Amaravati. Naidu apprised Modi on Swarnandhra@2047 vision, which aligns with the Centre’s Viksit Bharat @ 2047 vision, that aims to transform Andhra Pradesh into a $2.4 trillion economy with a per capita income of $43,000 by 2047. The Prime Minister assured all necessary support to the State. Following the meeting, the Chief Minister took to social media platform X and said the meeting with Prime Minister Modi was fruitful. Union Ministers Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu, Pemmasani Chandrasekhar, TDP Parliamentary Chairperson Lavu Sri Krishna Devarayalu, and others were present also present during the meeting. Later, the Chief Minister held a meeting with Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw. Naidu requested for operationalisation of the South Coast Railway Zone, while duly retaining Waltair Division to fulfil the aspirations of the people of Visakhapatnam, sanction of a new railway line from Visakhapatnam to Amaravati with an accelerated target to complete it within two years.  P4 Y e s h i Se l i @ New Delhi iNDIA on Monday took a major step in healing the strained ties with the Maldives by enhancing its development assistance to the cash-strapped nation and signing a slew of pacts, including a `3,000 crore currency swap agreement. After the bilateral talks with the visiting Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a $400 million support to the island nation to overcome its financial challenges. Announcing the details, the Reserve Bank of India said it has entered into a currency swap agreement with the Maldives Monetary Authority (MMA) under the SAARC Currency Swap Framework 202427. Under the pact, the MMA is eligible for financing support from the RBI amounting to $400 million under the US Dollar/ Euro Swap Window and `3,000 crore under the INR Swap Window. Short supply of sand hits construction sector in State K K a lya n K r i s h n a K u m a r Siddu plays the caste census card, sets Oct 18 for cabinet discussion Parties brace for J&K, Security personnel stand outside a counting centre in Jammu, a day before the counting of votes for Jammu & Kashmir Assembly polls on Monday | Pti e x p r e s s ne w s s e r v i c e DRI seizes 808 kg ganja, arrests three E x p r e s s N e w s Se r v i c e @ Vijayawada Sleuths of the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) arrested three persons in connection with illegal transportation of ganja and seized 808.18 kg of the contraband late on Saturday (October 5). Acting on specific intelligence, a team of officials intercepted a truck at Krishnavaram toll plaza near Jaggampeta in East Godavari district on the night of October 5 and found that the truck driver had concealed the marijuana under empty fruit crates. On noticing the DRI officials inspecting the truck, two persons in another vehicle, which was acting as a pilot, crashed the toll gate barrier in an attempt to flee the scene. However, the DRI sleuths managed to apprehend the duo after an hour-long chase. “The driver of the truck and the two other arrested persons confessed that they were transporting the ganja to the neighbouring States. A case has been registered against the three under the provisions of the NDPS Act, 1985, and were remanded to judicial custody for 12 days,” official release read. The sleuths are investigating how the contraband was procured, if they were any mediators, sellers, buyers and other details regarding the case. Centre Mulls review plea in Safari REtreats case Govt may move Supreme Court seeking a review of its recent verdict allowing commercial real estate firms to claim input tax credit on construction costs for their rental buildings | P10 @ Bengaluru Amid the growing demand from leaders of Backward Classes (BC) to implement the socioeconomic and educational survey report, popularly known as caste census, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Monday said a decision on implementing it will be taken after a discussion at the cabinet meeting on October 18. However, Union Minister for Steel and Heavy Industries Kumaraswamy said the Congress is talking about the caste census report to divert attention from the Mysuru Urban Development Authority sites allotment case against Siddaramaiah. He dared the Congress to dissolve the Assembly and go for elections with the caste census issue. After a meeting with ministers, legislators and leaders from Backward Classes, Siddaramaiah said Karnataka was the first state in the country to conduct such a survey during his first tenure as chief minister from 2013 to 2018. The survey report was submitted to the state government in February Siddaramai. ah said legislators and leaders from BC communities have urged him to implement the recommendations of the report. However, sources said even after cabinet discussion, a cabinet sub-committee is likely to be formed to look into the report and give its recommendations. Siddaramaiah said during his first tenure, the H Kantharaj Commission conducted a detailed survey, but its report was not ready then. It was completed when H D Kumaraswamy was chief minister, but he refused to accept it. Later, the BJP government too did not accept the report. express read Days after securing bail, Nandigam Suresh arrested for murder divine spectacle On day four of the Tirumala Brahmotsavams, Lord Malayappa Swamy was taken out in a procession on the Sarvabhoopala Vahanam | Express Guntur: Former MP and YSRC leader Nandigam Suresh was arrested for the second time on Monday, just days after receiving bail in the TDP office attack case. In 2020, an old woman Mariyamma died in clashes between two groups in Velagapudi. The police filed murder charges and Suresh was also included in the accused list. However, after the NDA formed government, Thullur police expedited probe in the case. On the orders of the court, a PT (Prisoner in Transit) warrant was issued against Suresh | P4 The agreement would be valid till June 18, 2027. The SAARC currency swap framework is designed to offer short-term foreign exchange liquidity to member countries experiencing balance of payments stress or foreign exchange shortages. It serves as a temporary solution until more permanent financing arrangements can be made. The bilateral meet saw the signing of several agreements, including the launch of RuPay card in Maldives and enhancing the relationship between the two nations to a Comprehensive Economic and Maritime Security Partnership. Haryana verdict today P r ee t h a N a i r @ New Delhi With the counting of votes for Haryana and J&K assembly elections on Tuesday the , results would hold significance for all major players, coming as they do three months after the Modi government assumed office for the third consecutive term. While Haryana witnessed the first direct contest between the BJP and the Congress after the Lok Sabha polls, the mood is upbeat in the grand old party as most of the exit polls predicted its smooth win. If the exit poll results are validated in Haryana, it will be a shot in the arm for the Congress and the INDIA bloc in the upcoming Maharashtra and Jharkhand elections. The party is hoping to keep up the momentum of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, where a resurgent Opposition INDIA bloc reduced the ruling BJP to 240 seats. For the Congress, victory in Haryana would indicate a strong support from the farmers and the Dalit community, which constitutes 20% of the state’s population. However, a tussle for the chief minister’s post can mar the glory of a Congress victory with former CM Bhupender Singh Hooda and his bete noire Kumari Selja vying for the top post. Despite the exit poll results, the ruling BJP is confident of retaining power for a third term. Apart from the BJP and the Congress, the Aam Aadmi Party, INLDBSP and JJP-Azad Samaj Party are also in the fray . In the keenly watched J&K polls, some pollsters have given an edge to the Congress-National Conference alliance while others predicted a hung assembly These polls are the . first since the abrogation of Article 370. While the BJP is hoping to form the government in ‘Naya Kashmir’ with the help of Independents, the Congress-NC alliance has also begun backchannel talks with other parties. J&K saw the entry of a large number of Independents and smaller parties like the People’s Conference, Apni Party and Awami Ittehad Party (AIP). The PDP, which severed its ties with the BJP in 2018, is hoping to emerge as a kingmaker. On Monday, NC president Farooq Abdullah said he will “accept PDP’s support from the core of his heart”. @ Vijayawada The significant gap between demand and supply for sand, coupled with the delay in implementation of the free sand policy has had a profound impact on the construction industry in NTR and Krishna districts.   Additionally the demand and , supply gap has led to the rise of a black market. With the previous YSRC government proposing to establish three capitals in the State, construction activity in NTR and Guntur districts was largely suspended. However, after the TDP-led NDA formed the government, work in Amaravati capital city resumed. Builders are now waiting for the State government’s promised sand policy which is scheduled to be , implemented from October 15. Speaking to this newspaper, CREDAI (Confederation of Real Estate Developers’ Associations of India) State President YV Ramana Rao said, “The main issue is the lack of supply . The gover nment had announced that sand reaches would be opened from October 16. It will be important to compare price variations with previous years. Moreover, the online server used for booking sand at stock points is experiencing technical difficulties.” Industry leaders have been urging the State government to implement the sand policy on schedule and resolve the online issues to address the growing concerns of both the construction sector and the general public. Speaking on the issue, Principal Secretary for Revenue (Excise), Mining, and Geology Mukesh Kumar Meena said measures are in place to adP4 dress the sand shortage.  c h e c k ma t e Global conflicts take the moolah out of the Amritsar chess industry H a r p r ee t B a j w a @ Chandigarh A bustling industry of chess kits with an international clientele is struggling due to global uncertainty following the Israel and Ukraine wars. Before the wars broke, chess kit manufacturers in Amritsar sold goods worth about `20 crore, of which 75% was exported. Export orders are now down by 70-80%. Wooden chess kits are among the sought-after gift items during Christmas and New Year, yet there is little demand as of now. “Though winter is our busiest season, most of us hardly have any orders,’’ rues Rishi Sharma, a third generation manufacturer, who says his business took a 40% hit last year. He proudly claims he made a chess set for English business magnate Richard Branson in 2021. Amritsar has a small but specialised industry of about 35 medium and small chess manufactures. They employ around 500 highly skilled artisans plus another 1,000 semi-skilled workers to make the wooden pieces and sets. It’s a craft that has been passed from generation to generation. The artisans take great pride in their artistry as they use simple implements to carve the exquisite pieces. For example, the carving of a knight itself takes 5-7 days. The cost of their chess kits range between `5,000 and `25,000 depending on the quality, design, material and craftsmanship. “We were exporting to the US, Canada, the UK, Europe, Australia, Ukraine, Iran and Israel. But with inflation rising Ivory to Red sandalwood to Sheesham Before Independence, chess pieces were carved out of ivory. When ivory was banned, it was replaced with red sandalwood. When that too was prohibited, manufacturers shifted to sheesham. Now that sheesham is on the restricted list, chess pieces are made from Kikkar as well due to global uncertainty, our industry has been affected,’’ says Sharma. The cost of raw material and labour, too, have gone through the roof. Then there is the issue of obtaining a ‘Vriksh Certificate’ from the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). The certification process started in 2018 takes 15-30 days to get as every minute detail of each sheesham tree from where wood for the chess pieces are sourced are to be recorded and shared. “Due to these stringent rules restricting the sale of sheesham, the market share of wooden chess sets has declined sharply says Sharma. ,’’ Surjit Singh Ahuja, another Amritsar-based exporter, says, “when a Netflix web series, The Queen’s Gambit released in the UK in 2020, it was a worldwide hit and our sales went up manifold. The bounce continued till December 2022 before it tapered down.’’