Science & Tech Ministry signs agreements under PACE programme

Science and Health

New Delhi, Nov 21 (IANS): The Ministry of Science & Technology on Thursday announced that it has signed agreements under the Patent Acquisition and Collaborative Research and Technology Development (PACE).The PACE programme by the Department of Scientific & Industrial Research (DSIR) fosters collaborative research between Indian industries and R&D organisations, academic institutions, and universities. It emphasises innovative work and supports the development of new technologies focused on the commercialization of products and processes addressing unmet industrial needs.
The ministry notified the signing of two separate tripartite agreements with Devashish Polymers (DPPL), Mumbai and GPS Renewables, Bangalore, and Agarkar Research Institute (ARI), Pune.
The MoU with DPPL aims to develop compounded elastomers and evaluate their performance for diverse applications under this project. The GPS Renewables in collaboration with ARI seeks to scale up and conduct pilot trials for enhanced microbial methane production from agricultural residues using anaerobic fungi.
“The PACE programme represents a cornerstone of DSIR’s commitment to fostering innovation and collaborative research in India,” said Dr. N. Kalaiselvi, Secretary, DSIR & Director General, CSIR.
“Through this initiative, we aim to catalyse the development of new products, processes, and solutions that are not only technologically sound but also have a clear path leading to commercialisation,” Kalaiselvi added.
Kalaiselvi noted that the projects will help address pressing national challenges and contribute significantly to India’s development goals.
Kalaiselvi also underlined the critical role such projects play in fostering industry-academia partnerships to create sustainable solutions and drive the nation’s progress in science, technology, and societal impact.
“DSIR remains committed to nurturing ideas that transform into impactful solutions, and the PACE programme is a testament to this mission. Together, we can drive sustainable industrial growth and technological self-reliance for India,” said Dr. Vipin Chandra Shukla, Scientist-G, & Head PACE.
The PACE programme encourages proposals targeting specific industrial sectors with practical applications. It supports projects demonstrating proof-of-concept to address significant unmet industrial needs, with a duration of one to three years.

Kansas State squares off against George Washington in Charlotte Amalie, Virgin Islands

Technology

George Washington Revolutionaries (4-0) vs. Kansas State Wildcats (3-1)
Charlotte Amalie, Virgin Islands; Friday, 8 p.m. EST
BOTTOM LINE: Kansas State will face George Washington at Virgin Islands Sport & Fitness Center in Charlotte Amalie, Virgin Islands.
Kansas State went 19-15 overall with an 11-6 record in non-conference play in the 2023-24 season. The Wildcats averaged 72.2 points per game while allowing opponents to score 71.1 last season.
George Washington went 15-17 overall with an 11-2 record in non-conference games during the 2023-24 season. The Revolutionaries averaged 76.8 points per game last season, 31.3 in the paint, 10.9 off of turnovers and 7.9 on fast breaks.
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

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La. Small Business Center director explains services

Business News

Interim director of the Louisiana Small Business Development Center Wayne Ricks discussed with Hammond Kiwanis Club on Tuesday the work that goes on at the development center on Southeastern Louisiana University’s campus.The center’s mission is to help start-up and existing businesses grow and prosper. Their center serves individuals interested in starting or expanding a business within the Florida Parishes: Livingston, St. Helena, St. Tammany, Tangipahoa and Washington.

Africa Tech Forum begins in Kigali

Technology

Africa Tech Forum 2024 begins today in Kigali.
This is the second annual forum organized by Eventhive, a West African event services company supporting African businesses. It brings together industry experts, firms, start-ups, and officials to showcase products, explore market opportunities, and discuss Africa’s digital future, including AI, fintech, e-commerce, and cryptocurrency.
The forum highlights Africa’s push for tech independence amid the ongoing US-China influence battle in the region. While partnering with global powers like the US or China can accelerate development, it also risks long-term tech dependency. The Biden Administration has focused on strengthening AI initiatives in strategic partner countries like Kenya and South Africa. Whilst in September, China pledged $50b for green tech and energy at the forum on China-Africa Cooperation and promised to create 1 million jobs across Africa.
While tech independence will remain a popular topic in the coming years, expect African governments to prioritize US and Chinese partnerships over homegrown initiatives. China, with its large investment pledges and broader outreach compared to the US, may be best positioned. However, its growing trade imbalance could risk the sustainability of these commitments. In the long term, diverging tech alignments among African nations, exacerbated by the US-China trade war, risk further fragmenting the continent’s digital ecosystem, undermining inter-African trade and aspirations for tech independence.

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South Korea wants more travellers from Singapore to explore its south-east region

Travel

In an effort to bring more travellers’ attention to destinations beyond popular Busan in the country’s south-east region, the Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) organised a fam trip for Singapore travel agents and media earlier this month.
The activity was part of KTO’s strategy to actively promote the cities of Busan and Ulsan, and Gyeongnam province, or BuUlGyeong, as a combined destination.
KTO organised a fam trip for Singapore travel agents and media earlier this month to spotlight destinations beyond Busan; photo by KTO
The fam trip highlighted a blend of cultural heritage, natural scenery, arts and creativity, local cuisine and outdoor leisure activities across Sancheong, Hapcheon, Hadong, and Gimhae in Gyeongnam province, as well as Ulsan and Busan.
Park Chul-ho, senior director of regional tourism promotion, KTO, said: “The BuUlGyeong region’s blend of urban excitement, natural beauty, and cultural richness creates an ideal destination for Singapore travellers seeking diverse experiences beyond Seoul.”
Lee Kyung Jin, deputy director of KTO (Singapore Office), added: “Singapore travellers are very well-travelled and they have been to South Korea many times. It is about showing them new places and attractions so they want to revisit South Korea.”
Park shared that the top inbound tourist markets to South Korea for 2023 were Japan, China and the US.
“While Singapore ranks behind these top markets, it remains a key focus for us. We will focus on targeted promotions to foster further growth,” remarked Park.
Exploring the south-east region is made possible with Busan’s Gimhae International Airport as a natural jumping point. To further facilitate tourism, a new international airport is being built on Busan’s Gadeok Island, which is expected to open in December 2029.
At present, Singapore Airlines flies to Busan four times a week, while Jeju Air does so seven times a week. In addition, Busan is developing the north port and expanding high-speed rail connections, which will boost access for international visitors, added Park.
When asked how the BuUlGyeong region would appeal to Singapore travellers, travel agents told TTG Asia that they could include certain destinations into their future itineraries.
Syaza Anwar, director, Azza Travel & Tours, which specialises in tours for Muslim travellers, said she usually uses the main cities of Seoul and Busan as a draw to invite travellers to explore other parts of South Korea that are new to them. Attractions such as the Jangsaengpo Whale Culture Village and Sancheong Donguibogam Village would appeal to her customers. With regards to food, she noted that “while there are not many halal restaurants, there are more vegetarian and vegan restaurants these days, so we can still find alternative places for our customers”.
Meanwhile, Busan is stepping up its promotional efforts. Inbound tourism for 2024 is expected to exceed the record set in 2019, indicating that Busan has nearly overcome the effects of the pandemic on tourism, shared Lee Jung-sil, president of Busan Tourism Organization (BTO).
BTO plans to enhance the port city’s branding as an “international tourism city”, further develop its tourism industry through corporate collaboration, and implement market-specific strategies targeting South-east Asia, including Singapore, as well as China, Taiwan, Japan, and the Americas.
“According to a survey of visitors planning to visit Busan, over 60 per cent of both domestic and international respondents listed food as the number one reason for their trip. Moving forward, we plan to strengthen experiential content that combines unique Busan experiences with local cuisine,” Lee added.

Inside the Gerdin Business Building lies undervalued artwork

Business News

The Iowa State Museum staff held an art walk inside the Gerdin Business Building to discuss the beautiful art that is showcased on campus. The tour was led by Caitlin Patton, a museum security and education program assistant.
The art walk first started outside, where the sculpture “Ice Blue” by John Henry is located on the east side of Gerdin. Aptly named, the sculpture is ice blue with a unique feature: depending on the angle you look at it, the piece appears to be leaning over. It seems as though the sculpture would be leaning one way and is lopsided, however, that just depends on the angle that you look at it from. 
Inside the east entrance of Gerdin on the right wall is the first of three colorful murals. These are the “Fields of Endeavor” by Rose Frantzen. The first mural shows three people from Iowa State at the forefront, these are the past, present and future of Iowa State business. Inside this painting are hexagonal shapes that show all the different activities that a business education can incorporate.
The other two murals show this concept as well. The paintings show gears turning, a downtown section of a town and even an entire city. There are also people working together and you can see the bald eagle emblem that appears on the U.S. currency. These paintings show the teamwork and collaboration that happens inside the business world and one of the paintings is focused on people working together.
The last thing shown on the art walk was the statue “Escalita I” by Manuel Neri. I thought this was the coolest piece of art from the art walk. 
“Escalita I” is a statue of a woman that is deliberately unfinished. Instead of being the average hyper-realistic statue, this one lets you interpret what you think of as the “perfect person,” and in my opinion, was the best piece of art inside of Gerdin.
The Iowa State University Museum hosts art walks every month. To learn more about art walks on campus and attend the next one, visit their website.

Biwi No 1 Re-Release: Salman Khan, Karisma Kapoor’s Film To Hit Theatres Again On THIS Date

Arts & Culture, Film & TV

Nostalgia alert! Salman Khan and Karisma Kapoor-starrer ‘Biwi No. 1’ is all set to be re-released in cinema halls. On Thursday, producer Vashu Bhagnani shared the update, disclosing the re-release date of the hit film, which also starred Tabu, Sushmita Sen and Anil Kapoor. The movie was originally released in 1999, and now it will return to theatres on November 29. Excited about the re-release, producer Vashu Bhagnani in a press note said, “Biwi No. 1 holds a special place in our hearts. The movie connected with audiences against all odds and won the hearts of millions. Bringing it back to the big screen gives us a chance to relive the laughter and fun, especially with its amazing star cast. The magic of this film is timeless, and we want every cinegoer to remember the joy of laughter.” Director David Dhawan also expressed equal enthusiasm. “Audiences still talk about the film’s humor and the joy it brought to families. Comedy films are best enjoyed when watched in a group and on the big screen. Re-releasing Biwi No. 1 will give fans a chance to celebrate those memories and introduce new viewers,” he shared.

The comedy drama revolves around the life of Prem as Salman Khan, a successful businessman who is married to Pooja as Karisma Kapoor. Prem’s life takes a dramatic turn when he meets Rupali as Sushmita Sen, a glamorous model, and they begin an affair.

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Unbeknownst to Prem, Pooja is aware of his infidelity and decides to teach him a lesson by pretending to be an ideal wife while planning her own revenge. ‘Biwi No. 1’ received a positive response from the audience and was the second highest-grossing film of Bollywood in 1999. The film’s soundtrack, composed by Anu Malik, became immensely popular, featuring hit songs like ‘Chunari Chunari’, ‘Ishq Sona’ and ‘Mujhe Maaf Karna’.Saif Ali Khan appeared in a special cameo in the film.(Except for the headline, this article has not been edited by FPJ’s editorial team and is auto-generated from an agency feed.)

‘Back in Action’: teaser trailer arrives for Jamie Foxx and Cameron Diaz Netflix film

Arts & Culture, Film & TV

The teaser trailer has arrived for ‘Back in Action‘, the new action-comedy film coming to Netflix.Directed by Seth Gordon (‘Horrible Bosses’), who wrote the screenplay with Brendan O’Brien (‘Neighbours’), the film stars Jamie Foxx, Cameron Diaz, Kyle Chandler, Andrew Scott, Jamie Demetriou, McKenna Roberts, Rylan Jackson and Glenn Close.
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Years after giving up life as CIA spies to start a family, Emily (Diaz) and Matt (Foxx) find themselves dragged back into the world of espionage when their cover is blown.
The film is produced by Jenno Topping, Peter Chernin and Sharla Sumpter Bridgett (‘Ford v Ferrari’, ‘Hidden Figures’, ‘Luther’) for Chernin Entertainment; Beau Bauman (‘Central Intelligence’) for Good One Productions; Seth Gordon for Exhibit A. The executive producers are Jamie Foxx, Datari Turner, Brendan O’Brien and Tim Lewis.Take a look at the key art for ‘Back in Action’ below:Credit: Netflix‘Back in Action’ will premiere on Netflix on 17th January 2025.