Canada has ended with immediate effect the popular fast track study visa programme, SDS, a major policy decision that is likely to impact scores of international students, including from India, reported news agency PTI. The processing time for students applying under the Student Direct Stream (SDS) was significantly shorter and approval rates higher, something that will change after Canada ended the scheme on Friday. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in September had announced on X: "We're granting 35 per cent fewer international student permits this year. And next year, that number's going down by another 10 per cent." "Immigration is an advantage for our economy - but when bad actors abuse the system and take advantage of students, we crack down," he added in the post as the Canadian government said it was looking to reduce the number of temporary residents. The move comes amid the ongoing diplomatic row between India and Canada. According to the Indian High Commission here, India is the largest source country of foreign students with an estimated 4,27,000 Indian students studying in Canada. "Canada is committed to giving all international students equal and fair access to the application process for study permits," the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) said in a statement on Friday, reported PTI. Canada's goal is to "strengthen programme integrity, address student vulnerability, and give all students equal and fair access to the application process, as well as a positive academic experience," the statement said, reported PTI. The SDS was launched in 2018 to provide faster processing for eligible post-secondary students, it said, adding, it was eventually opened to legal residents of Antigua and Barbuda, Brazil, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, India, Morocco, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, Senegal, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, and Vietnam. There was a similar Nigeria Student Express (NSE) for prospective university students from Nigeria; it too has ended along with the SDS, the statement said, adding, both the SDS and the NSE initiatives ended on Friday, reported PTI. The IRCC gave a cut off time of 2:00 pm ET on Friday (00:30 IST Saturday), and said all the eligible SDS and NSE applications received before it will be processed under these streams. However, the IRCC said the prospective students can still apply through the regular study permit stream, for which Guaranteed Investment Certificates are accepted as proof of financial support, reported PTI. According to a news portal immigrationnewscanada.ca, the SDS was launched with the goal of simplifying and expediting study permit processing for students from selected countries. The streamlined process allowed eligible applicants from countries such as India, China and Philippines to enter Canada faster, typically within a few weeks, rather than waiting for the standard processing time, which could take several months, it added, reported PTI. Explained another portal, moving2canada.com, "Year 2024 has been a turbulent year for prospective students looking to study in Canada, with significant cuts being made to the number of international students Canada will admit each year. In contrast, many say the fast-tracking of SDS and NSE applications as a means to accept as many students as possible," reported PTI. Under SDS, Indian students' applications were processed within 20 business days and now it may take up to eight weeks, the portal added. Not just for international students, Canada is also stepping back from its previously welcoming immigration stance, especially for low-skilled workers, including a large number from India. On October 24, Immigration Minister Marc Miller outlined the latest immigration strategy saying Canada will admit approximately 3,95,000 permanent residents in 2025, marking a drop of nearly 20 per cent from the 4,85,000 expected this year, reported PTI. The plan also sets a target for temporary immigrants, including international students and foreign workers. Their numbers are expected to drop to about 4,46,000 in 2025 and 2026, down from roughly 8,00,000 this year. By 2027, Canada will accept just 17,400 new non-permanent residents, the new policy suggested. (With inputs from PTI)
10 November,2024 11:16 AM IST | Ottawa | mid-day online correspondentUS President-elect Donald Trump is expected to meet President Joe Biden on Wednesday (November 13) at the White House, a senior official said on Saturday. The meeting will be held at 11 a.m., White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said. "At President Biden’s invitation, President Biden and President-elect Trump will meet in the Oval Office on Wednesday at 11:00 am. Additional details to follow," Jean-Pierre wrote on X. Such a meeting is customary between the outgoing president and the incoming president and is meant partly to mark the start of a peaceful transfer of power under America's democracy, CBS News reported. However, Trump did not host Biden for a sit-down after the 2020 election, when the Republican leader lost his re-election bid. Donald Trump will assume office of the President on January 20. On Tuesday, Trump won the presidential election with at least 301 electoral college votes, surpassing the threshold of 270 over Vice President Kamala Harris. Trump, who also served as the 45th president, will become the second president to serve two non-consecutive terms. The other was Grover Cleveland, who was both the 22nd and 24th president. In his first public address after the poll debacle on Thursday, President Joe Biden told fellow Democrats that everyone gets knocked down but the true test of character is ‘how quickly we get back up’. The President also had a word for Republicans without naming them specifically. “You can't love your country only when you win. You can't love your neighbour only when you agree, something I hope we can do, no matter who you voted for, see each other, not as adversaries, but as fellow Americans, bring down the temperature,” he said. Biden said the American electoral system is sound, can be trusted and transparent, contrary to what President-elect Donald Trump and his allies have sought to drill into American voters since his 2020 election. “I also hope we can later restate the question about the integrity of the American electoral system. It is honest, it is fair, and it is transparent and it can be trusted, win or lose.” President Biden spoke briefly from the White House, just over six minutes, with a clear message to bring down the temperature of a politically divided country. “Campaigns are contests of competing visions. A country chooses one or the other,” he said. The President said he had called President-elect Trump to congratulate him and on January 20 the transfer of power will take place peacefully as it is meant to. He did not mention, but hurt and angry by his defeat in 2020, Trump had skipped Biden’s inauguration and left straight for his Florida home. Biden also had a word of praise for Harris. “She's been a partner and a public servant. She ran an inspiring campaign, and everyone got to see something that I learned early on to respect her character so much. She has a backbone like a ram. She has great character, true character. She gave her whole heart and effort, and she and her entire team should be proud of the campaign they ran,” the President said. Harris was thrust into the presidential race in July after Biden was forced to quit following a disastrous presidential debate with Trump. She inherited the Biden campaign and funds but she had built her own campaign largely in a little over three months. 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
10 November,2024 10:43 AM IST | Washington | IANSSouth Korea’s military said North Korea disrupted GPS signals from border areas for the second-straight day on Saturday, affecting an unspecified number of flights and vessel operations. Tensions between the rival Koreas have escalated as North Korean leader Kim Jong Un flaunts his advancing nuclear and missile programme and engages in electronic and psychological warfare, such as flying thousands of balloons to drop trash and anti-South Korean propaganda leaflets in the South. Aside from North Korea’s weapons demonstrations and non-conventional provocations, there’s growing concern over its reported provision of military equipment and troops to Russia to support President Vladimir Putin’s war on Ukraine. South Korean officials say the deepening military alignment between Moscow and Pyongyang could possibly result in Russian technology transfers that increases the threat posed by Kim’s military nuclear programme. 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
10 November,2024 08:16 AM IST | Seoul | AgenciesAt least 24 people were killed and 46 others injured on Saturday in a suicide bombing at a railway station in Pakistan’s restive Balochistan province, officials said. The explosion ripped through the railway station of the provincial capital Quetta as passengers gathered on the platform before the departure of the Jaffar Express, scheduled to depart for Peshawar at 9.00 am. The suicide bomber had entered the station with luggage, the commissioner said, adding that was difficult to stop a person coming with an intention to carry out a suicide attack. The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), an ethnic Baloch separatist group designated as a terrorist organisation, has claimed responsibility for the attack. Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti condemned the attack, terming it as “a horrific act targeting innocent civilians”, and ordered an immediate investigation. He vowed that those responsible would be pursued relentlessly. 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
10 November,2024 08:14 AM IST | Islamabad | AgenciesJapan’s Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba on Saturday renewed a pledge to build up his country’s military and deepen its alliance with the United States under President-elect Donald Trump. According to Ishiba, breaches of Japanese airspace by Chinese and Russian warplanes earlier this year, not only violated Japanese sovereignty, but also threatened the safety of Japan and are absolutely unacceptable. He said Japan faces growing threats from China’s accelerating military activity around Japanese coasts and from North Korea’s repeated missile firings. The Japan-US alliance is the lynchpin for strengthening Japan’s diplomacy and security, Ishiba said, pledging to elevate Japan’s ties with the United States and work closely with Trump as they agreed during a brief telephone conversation on Thursday. Ishiba took office on October 1, replacing his predecessor Fumio Kishida, but his governing coalition badly lost a recent parliamentary election and could face difficulty pursuing his party’s planned policies and budget plans in coming months. 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
10 November,2024 08:13 AM IST | Tokyo | Agencies“It was a resounding victory, a shift that highlights President Trump’s connection with American voters and the trust he has earned by fighting for them. It’s why, beginning on Day One, President Trump will be better positioned than ever to begin undoing the damage of the past four years and delivering results for the American people,” said Jake Schneider, Rapid Response Director associated with Trump War Room, Team Trump and RNC Research. Trump won 295 electoral college votes as against 226 of Vice President Kamala Harris. He also won the popular vote. He got 74 million popular votes, while Harris received 70 million. In the Senate, the Republican party has 53 seats as it flipped three seats while the Democrats have 46. In the House of Representatives, the Republican party has so far won 212 seats, while the Democrats have 200 seats. “President Donald J Trump won the 2024 presidential election with a historic mandate. As the first Republican to win the popular vote in two decades, he did so by stitching together the broadest, most diverse coalition in modern history,” Schneider said. “Trump gained support in 49 states and the District of Columbia over 2020, the biggest party gain since 1992,” he continued. According to Schneider, Trump had the best Republican showing among 18-29-year-olds since 2004, among Black voters since 1976, and among Hispanic voters since at least 1972. This, according to the Trump supporter, is a historic win. 74 mnTrump’s popular vote count 70 mnHarris’ popular vote count 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
10 November,2024 08:11 AM IST | Washington | AgenciesKelly White, 28, has a unique “family” dynamic. She’s the proud mom of eight “reborn” dolls—lifelike baby dolls that she not only collects but cares for as if they were her own children. Her daily routine includes feeding, dressing, and even Disney movie marathons for her doll brood, which she rotates in a double stroller for park outings and restaurant visits. Kelly’s journey with reborn dolls began after she stumbled upon a YouTube video showing a collection of these ultra-realistic dolls. Initially intended as cosplay props, her first doll, Jennifer, quickly became much more. Now, Jennifer has her own bed in Kelly’s room. Kelly has added seven more dolls to her lineup, each one with its own personality, name, and wardrobe. From making flour-and-water “milk” for her dolls to bedtime lullabies on an ocarina, Kelly’s parenting routine is a full production. And with thousands of dollars invested, her dolls—Jennifer, Summer, twins Molly and Antony, Ashley, Elizabeth, Michael, and baby Adam—are more than just collectibles. She explains that they fulfil her lifelong desire to be a mom, while her financial situation keeps her from adopting real children. Kelly’s attachment to her dolls, however, doesn’t come without judgement. Online critics call it “creepy,” while others just stare. But for Kelly, her dolls bring comfort and the chance to live out her dreams of motherhood, even if her “babies” are vinyl. Return of Zosia, the 17th-century Polish vampire A 17th-century ‘vampire’ was buried with a sickle at her throat and a padlock on her toe, ensuring she’d stay six feet under A fresh wave of intrigue is surrounding the discovery of a 17th-century “vampire” grave in Poland. Researchers stumped upon the skeleton of a young woman from an elite family, christened Zosia by the excavation team, in a cemetery nicknamed the “Field of Vampires”. Zosia’s skeleton, found buried in the “Field of Vampires”; (right) The reconstructed image of Zosia’s appearance. Pics/NY POST A formidable setup sets Zosia apart from about 100 other interred souls: a sickle across her neck and a padlock on her toe. Such medieval-style anti-vampire measures suggest villagers weren’t taking chances with her “afterlife”. Zosia’s appearance has been reconstructed to be both elegant and ominous: pale skin and piercing blue eyes. Not only did she possess high social status, which was confirmed by a silk cap on her head, but Zosia’s skeleton also hints at a physical difference—a telltale marker in superstitious times that could easily fuel fears of vampiric traits. Adding to her mystery, Zosia might not have even been a local, given the Swedish-Polish wars raging during her lifetime. Moo Deng, the Trump card Pic/X Thailand’s beloved baby hippo, Moo Deng, has taken a dip into political punditry. In a viral TikTok video, Moo Deng chose between two watermelon cakes labelled for US presidential candidates Donald Trump and Kamala Harris, going straight for Trump’s slice. The choice has set social media alight, with some calling it a sign of Trump’s “winning charm”. The bat who lived Pic/Huffpost Oregon’s bats are making waves, as a contender named “Hoary Potter” swooped to victory in the Bureau of Land Management’s annual bat beauty contest. Hoary Potter out-charmed rival bats like “Lestat” from Idaho and Utah’s “Sir Flaps-A-Lot”. Known for their swift, leaf-like disguises to evade predators, hoary bats are more than just spooky stars—they’re environmental heroes, munching on insects and keeping ecosystems balanced. Not so Swift Pic/NY POST A Taylor Swift cake was left looking like a masterpiece in distress after losing both hands in transit to Birmingham’s Cake International show. Cock-a-doodle-view Pic/popinquirer.net The Rooster Hotel at Campuestohan Highland Resort in the Philippines, towering at over 114 feet, is an architectural marvel. Created by Ricardo Cano Gwapo Tan, the resort’s 15-room hotel honors the “majestic and strong” spirit of both the rooster and the people. The hotel now holds the Guinness World Record for the tallest rooster-shaped building, signifying pride and resilience. Baring it all Thousands of Brisbane locals stripped naked on the iconic Story Bridge for a one-of-a-kind art shoot event orchestrated by New York artist Spencer Tunick. As part of Brisbane’s Melt Festival celebrating LGBTQIA+ culture, participants transformed the landmark into a living canvas, posing together naked in striking formations.
10 November,2024 07:50 AM IST | Los Angeles | AgenciesQatar has decided to suspend its key mediation efforts between Hamas and Israel, officials stated on Saturday. However, Qatar is expected to resume its role in the mediation process if both sides demonstrate "serious political willingness" to reach a resolution on the ongoing conflict in Gaza, according to an official from Egypt, another key mediator in the matter. According to news agency AP, a diplomatic source briefed on the situation mentioned that both Israel and Hamas, along with the United States, were informed of Qatar’s decision. The source further indicated that as a result of this decision, the Hamas political office in Qatar no longer serves its intended function. Both officials spoke on the condition of anonymity owing to the sensitivity of the issue. A senior Hamas official acknowledged that they were aware of Qatar's decision to pause mediation efforts but noted, “no one told us to leave.” This move comes after growing frustration over the lack of progress in securing a ceasefire deal, AP reported. A senior US official commented on Hamas’ rejection of repeated proposals for hostages’ release, saying, “After rejecting repeated proposals to release hostages, (Hamas) leaders should no longer be welcome in the capitals of any American partner. We made that clear to Qatar following Hamas' rejection weeks ago of another hostage release proposal.” The Israeli Prime Minister's office did not provide any comment on the matter. Meanwhile, in Gaza, Israeli airstrikes killed at least 16 people, including women and children, on Saturday, AP reported, quoting Palestinian medical officials. The strikes come as Israel announced the first delivery of humanitarian aid in weeks to northern Gaza, which has been devastated by the ongoing conflict. Israel's strikes continue There continues to be no end in sight to Israel's military campaigns against Hamas militants in Gaza or Hezbollah in Lebanon. The Israeli military stated it struck command centres and other militant infrastructure in Beirut’s southern suburbs overnight. One of the Israeli airstrikes in Gaza hit a school-turned-shelter in Gaza City's eastern Tufah neighbourhood, killing at least six people, including two journalists, a pregnant woman, and a child, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. The Israeli army confirmed the strike but claimed it targeted a militant from the Palestinian Islamic Jihad group, though no evidence or further details were provided. In southern Gaza’s Khan Younis, seven people, including two women and a child, were killed when an Israeli strike hit a sheltering tent. The Israeli army did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Palestinian medical officials also reported that an Israeli airstrike hit tents in the courtyard of a central Gaza hospital, killing at least three people and wounding a local journalist. The Israeli military body responsible for humanitarian aid, COGAT, announced that 11 aid trucks carrying food, water, and medical supplies reached northern Gaza on Thursday, marking the first delivery of aid to that region since Israel began its latest military campaign last month. However, not all of the aid reached the designated drop-off points. The UN World Food Programme reported that one convoy was stopped by Israeli forces in the Jabaliya refugee camp and ordered to offload supplies. Israel’s ongoing military focus in northern Gaza, particularly in Jabaliya, where Hamas is said to have regrouped, has complicated aid distribution efforts. Other affected areas include Beit Lahiya and Beit Hanoun, located just north of Gaza City. 90 per cent of population in Gaza displaced The aid delivery came just days before a US deadline for Israel to improve its aid deliveries across Gaza, or face the risk of losing access to American military funding. The US has demanded that Israel allow at least 350 trucks carrying essential supplies to enter Gaza every day. A recent report from the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) warned that famine is imminent in parts of northern Gaza. COGAT dismissed the IPC report, claiming it relied on “partial, biased data and superficial sources with vested interests.” The UN estimates that tens of thousands of people remain in northern Gaza, where emergency services have been non-functional owing to the ongoing conflict. The Gaza Health Ministry reported that no ambulances or emergency medical teams are operating in the region. The conflict has left 90 percent of Gaza’s population displaced, with Israeli airstrikes continuing to hit schools and refugee camps, where displaced Palestinians have taken shelter. The Israeli military accuses Hamas of using civilian infrastructure — such as schools, hospitals, and UN facilities — to operate from. More than a year of fighting has resulted in over 43,000 deaths, according to Palestinian health officials. While they do not distinguish between combatants and civilians, more than half of the reported deaths have been women and children. The war began on October 7, 2023, when Palestinian militants launched a deadly attack on Israel, killing approximately 1,200 people—most of them civilians—and taking 250 others hostage. (With AP inputs)
09 November,2024 10:26 PM IST | Deir Al-Balah | mid-day online correspondentTyphoon Yinxing battered the northern Philippines with floods and landslides before blowing away from the country on Friday, leaving two airports damaged and aggravating a calamity caused by back-to-back storms that hit in recent weeks. There were no immediate reports of casualties from Yinxing, the 13th major storm to hit the disaster-prone Southeast Asian archipelago this year. The typhoon, locally called Marce, was last tracked over the South China Sea about 100 km west of the northern Philippine province of Ilocos Norte with sustained winds of up to 150 km per hour and gusts of up to 205 kmph, according to government forecasters. It is expected to weaken further before hitting Vietnam. The typhoon flooded villages, toppled trees and electricity poles, and damaged houses and buildings in Cagayan province, where Yinxing made landfall Thursday afternoon, provincial officials said. More than 40,000 villagers were evacuated to safer ground in the province. 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
09 November,2024 08:03 AM IST | Manila | AgenciesIsraeli residents of “Trump Heights” are welcoming the election of their namesake, hoping Donald Trump’s return to the U.S. presidency will breathe new life into this tiny, remote settlement in the central Golan Heights. During his first term, Trump became the first and only foreign leader to recognise Israel’s control of the Golan, which it seized from Syria in the 1967 Mideast war. Israel thanked him by rebranding this outpost after him. But a large-scale influx of new residents never materialized after that 2019 ceremony, and just a couple dozen families live in Trump Heights, or “Ramat Trump” in Hebrew. Job opportunities are limited, and Israel’s more than yearlong war against Hezbollah militants in nearby Lebanon has added to the sense of isolation. Trump’s election has inspired hope in the community that it will attract more members and also more funding for security improvements. “Maybe it can raise more awareness and maybe some support to help here and help our kids here,” said Yarden Freimann, Trump Heights’ community manager. Ori Kallner, head of the Golan’s regional council, showed off dozens of plots of land, replete with new asphalt roads, lampposts and utility lines, that residents have prepared for future housing developments. 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
09 November,2024 07:57 AM IST | Ramat Trump (Golan Heights) | AgenciesIndia deserves to be included in the list of global superpowers as its economy is currently growing faster than in any other country, Russian President Vladimir Putin said. Addressing the plenary session of the Valdai Discussion Club in Sochi on Thursday, Putin also said Russia is developing relations with India in all directions and there is a great degree of trust in bilateral ties. “India should undoubtedly added to the list of superpowers, with its billion-and-a-half population, the fastest growth among all economies in the world, ancient culture and very good prospects for further growth,” he said. Calling India a great country, Putin said: “Our vision of where and at what pace our relations will develop is based on today’s realities.” 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
09 November,2024 07:51 AM IST | Moscow | AgenciesADVERTISEMENT
