Expat News

Expat News 

Sirish Subash, Ninth Grader, Named America's Top Young Scientist

A ninth grader of Indian descent from Nashville  has been named "America’s Top Young Scientist"  after winning first place in the prestigious 3M and Discovery Education Middle School Science Competition. Sirish Subash's project, PestiSCAND, addresses a pressing concern of pesticide residues that may linger even after washing. His AI-powered handheld device, also called PestiSCAND, allows consumers to check for pesticide residues on fruits and vegetables from the comfort of their homes. This innovative solution is based on alarming data from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which states that 71% of produce items contain pesticide residues. These residues have been linked to serious health risks, such as brain cancer, leukemia, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease. Sirish is a student at Alton C. Crews Middle School in Lawrenceville, US.

Social media Ban For Under-16s Targets Youth Well-being

Australia has enacted pioneering legislation prohibiting children under 16 from accessing major social media platforms, including Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat, and TikTok. This makes Australia the first nation to implement such a comprehensive restriction, aiming to address concerns over the mental and physical health impacts of social media on young people. The legislation imposes stringent penalties on tech companies that fail to comply, with fines reaching up to $50 million for systemic breaches. The responsibility for enforcement rests solely with the platforms. Parents will not face penalties if violations occur. The law is slated for full implementation in 2026, following a trial period beginning in January 2025 to develop effective age verification methods. The legislation has garnered substantial public support, with polls indicating that 77% of Australians favour the ban. Media campaigns, such as News Corp’s "Let Them Be Kids," have amplified calls for action to safeguard children online.

71% of People of Indian Community Own homes in UK 

The Indian community is the least likely to live in social rented housing. Instead 71% have their own homes, and they are the most socially integrated, with more friends from outside their ethnicity than any other minority group. They also come second in educational attainment, after the Chinese. The findings have come in a new report, 'A Portrait of Modern Britain,' published by Policy Exchange, which describes British Indians as 'one of the most successful ethno-religious groups in modern Britain. Also, the report found the Pakistani-Bangladeshi community to have the lowest percentage working in professions and the lowest hourly pay rate, while the Arab and Bangladeshi communities are most likely to be economically inactive. It is social class, rather than race that is considered by all ethnic groups to be the barrier to success in the UK, even though political discourse in Britain talks more about race. The report describes a new group of ethnic minorities, MINTs or 'minorities in towns' to describe those moving out of UK cities to towns and villages, where they are fully integrating with their white counterparts.

Indo-Australia Defence Pact For Air-To-Air Refueling 

Australia and India have taken their defence partnership to new heights with a landmark arrangement, enabling air-to-air refuelling between the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) and the Indian Armed Forces. The pact was announced during bilateral discussions on November 21, 2024 by Australia’s Defence Industry Minister Pat Conroy and India’s Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. The agreement clears the way for RAAF’s KC-30A Multi-Role Tanker Transport aircraft to refuel Indian Armed Forces aircraft, enhancing operational compatibility. Deputy Chief of Air Force, Air Vice-Marshal Harvey Reynolds, signed the arrangement earlier in New Delhi during Australia-India Air Staff Talks. "This agreement allows us to operate seamlessly in various scenarios, fostering trust and mutual understanding," said Reynolds. It’s a tangible step forward in the defence relationship. The KC-30A’s capabilities include supporting Indian Navy P-8I Neptune surveillance aircraft, potentially extending India’s operational reach across the Indo-Pacific. Training and engagement activities between the RAAF and Indian Navy are already underway, and the refuelling capability adds a valuable layer of cooperation.