Union Minister for Education Dharmendra Pradhan held a significant meeting with Singapore's Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, focusing on enhancing collaboration in school education, vocational training, and research, as reported by ANI. This discussion is part of Pradhan's broader agenda to strengthen educational ties between India and Singapore during his week-long tour.During their meeting, the two leaders explored ways to strengthen their partnership through three essential pillars: talent, resources, and market engagement. Pradhan underscored India's perception of Singapore as a trusted knowledge partner, particularly in fostering deep tech, startup innovation, and related ecosystems. He stated, "India looks at Singapore as a trusted knowledge partner in further invigorating deep tech, start-up and innovation ecosystems," according to ANI.In a post shared on X, Pradhan highlighted the meaningful conversations he had with PM Wong, emphasising the desire to elevate and expand bilateral cooperation. He wrote, "Called on PM of Singapore, HE Mr. @LawrenceWongST. Had meaningful conversations on elevating and expanding our bilateral cooperation in school education, vocational education and research," ANI reports.Additionally, the education minister mentioned that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and PM Wong had jointly unveiled a framework designed to transform India-Singapore relations into a robust partnership, covering critical and emerging areas. This strategic vision aims to promote mutual benefits and advance both nations' educational landscapes, as per ANI.In a separate engagement, Pradhan also met Singapore's Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan. Their discussions centred on further strengthening the India-Singapore Knowledge Partnership and enhancing bilateral cooperation in the education sector. Pradhan expressed his gratitude for Balakrishnan's friendship and collaborative spirit, noting their agreement to work closely to elevate their educational partnership.As part of his itinerary, Pradhan visited the National University of Singapore (NUS), where he engaged with President Professor Tan Eng Chye. They discussed potential research collaborations between NUS and top Indian higher education institutions, particularly in the fields of medical technology, startups, and digitalisation.Pradhan's visit is not only aimed at enhancing educational ties with Singapore but also forms a crucial part of his broader mission to strengthen cooperation with Australia. This initiative reflects India's commitment to fostering international partnerships that promote knowledge exchange and innovation in education, ultimately benefitting students and institutions across both nations, ANI reports. (With Inputs from ANI)
21 October,2024 03:58 PM IST | SingaporeA helicopter reportedly crashed Sunday in Houston after hitting a radio tower, killing four people on board, including a child, fire officials said. Houston authorities said the aircraft, an R44 helicopter, went down just before 8 pm in Houston's Second Ward, east of the city's downtown, after apparently taking off from Ellington Field about 15 miles away. The identities of the victims and their ages have not yet been released. "PIO is en route to a reported helicopter crash at Engelke & Ennis," the fire department said Sunday evening on X. "The helicopter that crashed in Second Ward was not an HPD helicopter, it was a private touring helicopter," Houston City Councilmember Mario Castillo said on X, although that could not be immediately confirmed. Local media outlets reported a large amount of emergency personnel responding to the scene. Police and fire officials have urged residents near the crash site to call 911 if they find anything on their property that could help in their investigation. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
21 October,2024 03:00 PM IST | Houston | APSeven people are confirmed dead and more than 30 are missing after a boat whose passengers included villagers fleeing from fighting in Myanmar capsized in the Andaman Sea, a rescue worker and local media said Monday. About 30 people have been rescued from the boat, which on Sunday was carrying an estimated 70-75 people to the nearby coastal town of Myeik in Myanmar's southern region of Tanintharyi from the island of Kyauk Kar, which is in an estuary leading to the sea, according to a villager helping rescue operations. The crowded passenger boat set out from Kyauk Kar at 9.30 pm on Sunday and sank near the mouth of the estuary about 15 minutes later, said the villager, speaking to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity because he feared being arrested by the military The cause of the accident was unclear, but the villager said the boat, which normally carries a maximum of 30-40 passengers, was overcrowded with people and commodities, and there were strong currents in the sea. Kyauk Kar is about 520 kilometres south of Yangon, Myanmar's biggest city. It is located near other villages where fighting is taking place between the Myanmar army and pro-democracy guerrillas. Most of the passengers on the boat came from where the fighting had been going on for about a week, the villager said. Myanmar is wracked by violence that began after the army ousted the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi in February 2021. Opponents of military rule launched an armed resistance movement, and large parts of the country are now embroiled in conflict. Tanintharyi region has been a stronghold of the resistance. According to a report of the local research group FE5 Tanintharyi, during September about 20 civilians were killed, 308 people were arrested by the army and about 59,000 people were displaced by the fighting in Tanintharyi region. Dawei Watch, an independent online news service based in Tanintharyi, and other local media have reported that fighting has intensified since last Monday in the villages of Kye and Me Laung Chaung, about 10 kilometres east of Kyauk Kar, after hundreds of army troops marched into them to attack local resistance fighters. The reports also said the military launched airstrikes on Kye village on Wednesday and that many hundreds of people were fleeing to nearby villages and towns for safety. Dawei Watch said the boat's passengers include people who had been trapped on a highway by the fighting, as well as students. The sea route has been the major transportation link for the area's villages since the fighting blocked major roads. Much transport in Myanmar is on rivers or along the sea coast, and accidents sometimes claim dozens of lives. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
21 October,2024 02:26 PM IST | Bangkok | APFollowing a lengthy overnight debate, Pakistan's National Assembly approved the contentious judicial amendment bill early Monday, restricting the chief justice's term to three years. The 26th Constitutional Amendment Bill was passed with the backing of 225 out of 336 members, reported PTI. According to the report, the opposition, including the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and the Sunni-Ittehad Council (SIC), rejected the amendment, arguing that it undermined judicial independence. However, six independent lawmakers associated with the PTI supported the bill, giving the government the necessary 224 votes. On Sunday night, the Senate adopted the law by a two-thirds vote, with 65 in support and 4 against. Now that both Houses of Parliament have passed the bill, it will be sent to President Asif Ali Zardari for assent under Article 75 of Pakistan's Constitution, at which point it will become law. The amendment modifies how the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court is appointed, establishing a special panel to select the Chief Justice from among the three most senior judges. The commission will consist of the current chief justice, four senior Supreme Court justices, two senators, and two National Assembly members, one from the opposition, the news agency report stated. The PTI report further stated that Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar, who introduced the bill in the Senate, argued that the reforms would help expedite justice at the Supreme Court. The amendment also eliminates the automatic promotion of the Supreme Court's senior-most judge to chief justice upon the incumbent's retirement. Following the bill's passing, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif described it as a symbol of national unity and unanimity. "Today's amendment is not just a legal reform, but a new dawn for the nation," he told lawmakers. However, the opposition strongly opposed the move. PTI lawmaker Hammad Azhar described the proposal as a "death blow to judicial independence," claiming that giving the government the power to choose judges would politicise the judiciary. Salman Akram Raja, the PTI leader, called it as one of the darkest events in Pakistan's parliamentary history, the report added. Ali Zafar, a PTI leader who spoke before the Senate, claimed that party members were pressured into supporting the bill, with others absent due to fear of kidnapping. He advised the Senate chairman not to count the votes of any PTI members. Meanwhile, Pakistan People's Party (PPP) president Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, who played a vital role in achieving the bill's passage, said the government was determined to proceed with the modification, despite PTI’s stance.
21 October,2024 01:11 PM IST | Islamabad | mid-day online correspondentAsian shares opened mostly higher today after US stocks reached new records, capping off another successful week. US futures and oil prices also saw gains, according to AP.In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng index was an exception, slipping 0.6 per cent to 20,869.39. In contrast, the Shanghai Composite gained 0.8 per cent to reach 3,288.32, while the A-share index in Shenzhen rose by 2.2 per cent.These gains in mainland Chinese markets followed recent cuts in the one-year and five-year Loan Prime Rates, which serve as benchmarks for lending. According to AP, lower rates can alleviate pressure on borrowers, particularly property developers who have struggled since a crackdown on excessive borrowing a few years back. Zichun Huang of Capital Economics noted that with weak demand as the main issue, substantial government spending will be necessary. The Finance Ministry of China has committed to increasing such expenditures in the coming months. However, Huang expressed scepticism about whether these measures would lead to more than a modest and short-lived boost in activity.In Tokyo, the Nikkei 225 index rose 0.3 per cent to 39,078.33, while Seoul's Kospi surged 0.8 per cent to 2,614.75. Australia's S&P/ASX 200 also increased, climbing 0.7 per cent to 8,340.40.Oil prices have edged higher after experiencing a decline last week. AP reports that concerns had eased regarding a potential Israeli attack on Iranian oil facilities, which could disrupt exports to China and other countries. On early Monday, US benchmark crude was up by 38 cents, trading at USD 69.07 per barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Brent crude, the international standard, rose by 31 cents to USD 73.37 per barrel.The dollar weakened against the yen, falling to 149.23 Japanese yen from 149.57 yen late Friday. The yen has been under pressure lately due to expectations that the pace of interest rate hikes by the Bank of Japan may be slower than previously anticipated. The euro also dipped slightly, trading at USD 1.0865 compared to USD 1.0867.On Wall Street, stocks logged more records on Friday. The S&P 500 rose 0.4 per cent, surpassing its previous all-time high to close at 5,864.67. The Dow Jones Industrial Average edged up by 0.1 per cent to reach 43,275.91, marking yet another record, while the Nasdaq composite climbed 0.6 per cent to 18,489.55.Trading on Wall Street remained relatively calm, with AP noting that the S&P 500 celebrated its sixth consecutive winning week, the longest winning streak of 2024. Solid economic data has raised hopes that the US economy may avoid a painful recession while navigating the highest inflation levels seen in generations. With the Federal Reserve now cutting interest rates to support the economy, many optimistic investors believe stocks could continue to rise.Netflix significantly contributed to the market’s upward momentum, soaring 11.1 per cent after the streaming giant reported stronger-than-expected profits for the latest quarter, despite a slowdown in subscriber growth. This increase offset a 5.2 per cent drop in CVS Health, which indicated that its quarterly profits would likely fall well below analysts' expectations.Traders are now aligning around the expectation that the Federal Reserve will reduce its main interest rate by a quarter of a percentage point at its next meeting in November. According to AP, earlier predictions had suggested a more significant cut of half a percentage point, but positive economic updates have diminished those expectations. Currently, the federal funds rate sits in a range of 4.75 per cent to 5 per cent. (With inputs from AP)
21 October,2024 01:10 PM IST | Bangkok | mid-day online correspondentAs the BRICS summit approaches, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has reiterated the significance of the Russia-India-China (RIC) troika, describing it as an "independent mechanism" that continues to exist despite not convening recently due to various circumstances, as reported by ANI.Lavrov's comments were made in an interview with Argumenty I Fakty, a Moscow-based news outlet, and were shared by the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to visit Russia at the invitation of President Vladimir Putin from October 22-23 to participate in the 16th BRICS Summit in Kazan. This marks PM Modi's second trip to Russia this year, following his earlier visit in July, which was his first bilateral trip since assuming office for a third term.In the interview, Lavrov remarked, "BRICS epitomises the shifts that have long been underway in the global economy." He noted the emergence of new centres of economic growth, which carry increasing financial and political influence. He highlighted the transition of the global development epicentre from the Euro-Atlantic region towards Eurasia and the Asia-Pacific, a trend identified by economists from a private Western bank that led to the formation of BRICS, a term derived from their study based on objective statistical data, as per ANI.Lavrov explained that the formation of BRICS was part of a broader initiative proposed by Yevgeny Primakov in the 1990s, who suggested regular meetings within the RIC troika. While these meetings have not taken place for some time, Lavrov assured that the troika remains a viable entity. He mentioned that Brazil later joined the group, transforming it into BRIC, and South Africa's inclusion established BRICS, representing some of the fastest-growing economies in the world."BRICS has prioritised the needs of its nations, and interest in the grouping continues to grow. It is a consortium where no single nation leads or is led," Lavrov stated, underscoring the group's commitment to enhancing the collective potential of its members and formulating strategies for mutual benefit.He elaborated that BRICS plans and projects are based on real-world needs, with experts from various sectors—such as trade, logistics, and modern communication technologies—working together. Recent gatherings of tax service experts aimed to share experiences and enhance collaboration among member nations.Regarding the future of BRICS, Lavrov indicated that efforts are underway to introduce a new category for partner countries. These countries will enjoy extensive rights and privileges, almost equivalent to those of permanent members, with only a few exceptions. This proposal is set to be presented to BRICS leaders during the Kazan meeting, according to ANI.Lavrov praised BRICS for its focus on cooperation rather than competition, stating, "What makes BRICS and other World Majority or Global East associations that do not include Western countries stand out is that they are not created for the purpose of struggling or fighting with anyone." Instead, these alliances are designed to leverage their competitive advantages, such as geographical location and shared history.The origins of the BRIC grouping date back to 2006, when the leaders of Brazil, Russia, India, and China first met in St Petersburg. After a series of high-level meetings, the inaugural BRIC summit took place in Yekaterinburg, Russia, in 2009. The group was later expanded to BRICS with the inclusion of South Africa in 2010. This year, BRICS welcomed four new members: Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, and the United Arab Emirates.As the summit approaches, the emphasis on collaboration and mutual benefit continues to resonate within BRICS, showcasing its role in the evolving global landscape. (With Inputs from ANI)
21 October,2024 11:49 AM IST | Moscow | mid-day online correspondentIndia's high commissioner to Canada has denied any involvement in the murder of a Canadian Sikh leader who was killed in British Columbia last year even though the Canadian government has named him as a person of interest in the assassination. Sanjay Kumar Verma, who was expelled last Monday along with five other Indian diplomats, said in an interview on CTV's Question Period Sunday that the allegations are politically motivated. "Nothing at all," Verma said when asked if he had any role in in the shooting of Hardeep Singh Nijjar who was killed outside a cultural centre in Surrey, British Columbia on June 18, 2023. "No evidence presented. Politically motivated." Four Indian nationals living in Canada were charged with Nijjar's murder and are awaiting trial. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police went public this week with allegations that Indian diplomats were targeting Sikh separatists in Canada by sharing information about them with their government back home. They said top Indian officials were then passing that information to Indian organized crime groups who were targeting the activists, who are Canadian citizens, with drive-by shootings, extortions and even murder. Verma denied the Indian government was targeting Sikh separatists in Canada. "I, as high commissioner of India, have never done anything of that kind,' he said. Any action taken by Indian officials in Canada was 'overt,' said Verma. In the interview Verma condemned Nijjar's death. "Any murder is wrong and bad," he said. "I do condemn." Verma also pushed back on comments made by Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly that compared India to Russia. She said Canada's national police force has linked Indian diplomats to homicides, death threats and intimidation in Canada. "Let me see the concrete evidence she's talking about," said Verma. "As far as I'm concerned, she's talking politically." India has rejected the Canadian accusations as absurd, and its foreign ministry said it was expelling Canada's acting high commissioner and five other diplomats in response. Verma said 'not a shred of evidence has been shared with us' about the Canadian allegations. The RCMP has said attempts earlier this month to share evidence with Indian officials were unsuccessful. Verma said the RCMP had not applied for the proper visas to visit India. 'A visa needs to be affixed,' he said. 'For any government delegation to travel to another country, you need an agenda to go by. There was no agenda at all." Canada is not the only country that has accused Indian officials of plotting an assassination on foreign soil. The U.S. Justice Department announced criminal charges against an Indian government employee Thursday in connection with an alleged foiled plot to kill a Sikh separatist leader living in New York City. In the case announced by the Justice Department, Vikash Yadav, who authorities say directed the New York plot from India, faces murder-for-hire charges in a planned killing that prosecutors have previously said was meant to precede a string of other politically motivated murders in the United States and Canada. 'An indictment is not a conviction,' Verma said. 'It will follow its judicial process.' India has repeatedly criticized the Canadian government for being soft on supporters of what is known as the Khalistan movement, which is banned in India but has support among the Sikh diaspora, particularly in Canada. The Khalistan movement supports the establishment of an independent Sikh state in India. The Nijjar killing in Canada has soured India-Canada ties for more than a year, but Verma doesn't expect this will impact business relations between the two countries. 'I don't see much impact on non-political bilateral relations,' he said. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
21 October,2024 09:19 AM IST | Vancouver | APIn a major step forward for cancer treatment, Israeli and Japanese researchers have created a highly targeted inhibitor for an enzyme that plays a critical role in helping cancer grow and spread. The findings offer new hope to patients battling aggressive forms of cancer, particularly in the pancreas. The research, a collaborative effort involving the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, the Weizmann Institute of Science, and the University of Tokyo, represents a major breakthrough in targeting an enzyme called Matrix Metallopeptidase 7 (MMP7) which facilitates the invasion of cancer cells into surrounding tissues. MMP7 has structural similarities to other enzymes, which has made developing a drug to specifically block MMP7 without disrupting other essential enzymes a longstanding challenge. But a newly discovered peptide, named D’20, has shown remarkable potential in specifically targeting MMP7 while leaving other similar enzymes untouched. Peptides are short chains of amino acids that can influence many biological processes and are used in medicine to treat conditions like cancer, diabetes, and autoimmune diseases. D’20’s precision could lead to more effective and personalised cancer treatments. The study, led by Professor Norman Metanis and PhD student Hiba Ghareeb from the Hebrew University, along with Professor Irit Sagi from the Weizmann Institute and Professor Hiroaki Suga from the University of Tokyo, utilised a cutting-edge approach called Mirror-Image Random Nonstandard Peptide Integrated Discovery (MI-RaPID). This advanced peptide discovery technology enabled the researchers to identify a new class of molecule—macrocyclic peptides—that can precisely bind to MMP7, thereby inhibiting its activity. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
21 October,2024 09:08 AM IST | Jerusalem | AgenciesIsraeli strikes on multiple homes in the northern Gaza Strip overnight and into Sunday left at least 87 people dead or missing, the territory’s Health Ministry said. It said another 40 people were wounded in the strikes on the town of Beit Lahiya, which was among the first targets of Israel’s ground invasion nearly a year ago. The strikes came as the US is investigating an unauthorized release of classified documents that assess Israel’s plans to attack Iran, according to three US officials. A fourth US official said the documents appear to be legitimate. The documents, attributed to the US Geospatial Intelligence Agency and National Security Agency and marked top secret, indicate that Israel was moving military assets in place to conduct a military strike in response to Iran’s ballistic missile attack on October 1. Hezb officials killed Israeli said it killed three “key” officials in a strike on the group’s intelligence headquarters in Lebanon’s southern Beirut. Elhag Abbas Salameh, Racha Abbas Icha, and Ahmed Ali Hasin were killed in the attack. Man arrested for plot against Israeli embassy German authorities have arrested a man with suspected ties to the extremist group Islamic State who was allegedly planning an attack on the Israeli Embassy in Berlin. The man was detained on Saturday in Bernau, a town just outside of Berlin. A heavily armed elite police unit stormed the suspect’s apartment and police also raided an apartment in the western German town of Sankt Augustin in connection with the case. German authorities acted after receiving a tipoff. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
21 October,2024 08:59 AM IST | Deir Al-Balah | AgenciesDollar-starved Maldives has floated a new foreign currency regulation, limiting types of transactions allowed in foreign currency and imposing mandatory foreign currency exchange controls on tourism establishments and banks. Maldivian economy appears to have taken a hit after calls to Indian tourists to avoid the picturesque island nation as a response to President Mohamed Muizzu’s ‘India Out’ campaign last year. Maldives last month averted a potential default on an Islamic bond payment after India extended a USD 50 million interest-free loan. With its forex reserves not matching its import bill, the island nation’s central bank, Maldives Monetary Authority (MMA) on October 1 introduced a new regulation, requiring all foreign currency income generated by the tourism industry to be deposited in local banks. The MMA published the new rules in the local Dhivehi language. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
21 October,2024 08:50 AM IST | Male | AgenciesRussian air defences shot down more than 100 Ukrainian drones Sunday over Russia’s western regions, Moscow officials said, while 17 people were injured in the Ukrainian city of Kryvyi Rih in a ballistic missile attack. The Russian Defence Ministry said 110 drones were destroyed in the overnight barrage against seven Russian regions. Many targeted Russia’s border region of Kursk, where 43 drones were reportedly shot down. Social media footage appeared to show air defences at work over the city of Dzerzhinsk in the Nizhny Novgorod region, close to a factory producing explosives. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Russia had launched some 800 guided aerial bombs and more than 500 attack drones over Ukraine in the past week. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
21 October,2024 08:44 AM IST | Kyiv | AgenciesADVERTISEMENT
