Author: Isla

Preliminary investigations point to excessive pressure caused by fuel accumulation inside the furnace, confirming the incident was preventable. The plant has no union representation, and unions have reportedly been unable to access the site, raising serious concerns about safety oversight and accountability. Systemic failure Official data shows that in 2022, India had 268,747 working factories but only 6,244 safety officers — one for every 40 factories — making effective inspection impossible. Of 4,036 recorded workplace injuries that year, 1,053 were fatal. More than one in four reported incidents ended in death, reflecting both the severity of accidents and likely underreporting.…

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Chongqing”s Southwest University inaugurates a new museum complex on April 14, featuring a memorial hall dedicated to the revered agronomist Yuan Longping (1930-2021). [Photo by Qin Tingfu/for chinadaily.com.cn] Ahead of its 120th anniversary, Chongqing’s Southwest University inaugurated a new museum complex on Tuesday, featuring a memorial hall dedicated to the revered agronomist Yuan Longping (1930-2021). Yuan was an agronomy graduate from the university. He began researching hybrid rice in 1964 and cultivated the world’s first high-yield strain in 1973. His life’s work helped China feed nearly one-fifth of the world’s population with less than 9 percent of the planet’s total…

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Cheers, music, and lights broke through the roof of the Kai Tak Stadium on Friday as fans old and new joined the opening day of the Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens for the “best weekend of the year”.Following eight hours of action, 21 matches, and hundreds of points, the city’s Sports Minister Rosanna Law Shuk-pui and former Australian rugby player Michael Hooper performed the traditional “eye-dotting” ceremony for five dragons on the pitch at the start of a thumping opening ceremony.Accompanied by lights and drums, the dragon dance formed the number “50,” followed by robot dances and large-scale laser projections.The performance…

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Island resort shuts doorsElsewhere, the Anantara World Islands Dubai Resort has ceased operations entirely as of April 10.Operator Minor Hotels said the decision was taken jointly with owner Seven Tides after a broader review of operating conditions.“The closure is the result of a combination of external factors and is not attributable to any single issue,” the company said.“While this is not the outcome we had hoped for, our immediate focus is on supporting our team members through this transition.”The resort had been positioned as a private island escape — one of the more distinctive offerings in Dubai’s hospitality landscape. Source…

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The Allianz Junior Badminton Championship (AJBC) is gearing up for its fifth edition in 2026, marking its return to inspire, develop and celebrate young badminton talents across Malaysia.April 17, 2026 — Organised by Allianz Malaysia Berhad (Allianz Malaysia), the AJBC has grown to become a highly- anticipated grassroots badminton tournament, fostering the development of future badminton champions.“We are committed to supporting the dreams of young athletes and contributing to the growth of badminton in Malaysia. The AJBC is more than just a tournament; it is a stepping stone for young players to achieve their aspirations and reach new heights in…

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The “Beijing Film Panorama”, a flagship segment of the 16th Beijing International Film Festival, opened on Thursday in Beijing, offering audiences a diverse lineup of nearly 260 outstanding Chinese and international films. This year’s selection includes titles nominated for the festival’s Tiantan Award, such as All The Good Eyes and At Work. About 800 screenings will be held at major commercial cinemas, art houses, and theaters across the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region in north China. The panorama, which will run through April 26, features 18 screening units, including a Master Retrospective section, with many films being shown for the first time to…

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Andrew Chang, senior director for Quality and Regulatory Affairs in Science, Policy, and Intelligence under Global Regulatory Affairs, Novo Nordisk, and Steven Falcone, head of AIR-Q, Novo Nordisk, sat down with PharmTech to discuss how the company is navigating GMP mutual recognition, real-time digital monitoring, and the future of pharmaceutical quality management systems.PharmTech: What Does the FDA-EU GMP Mutual Recognition Framework Mean for Novo?Chang: A few years back, the FDA worked with the EU to establish GMP mutual recognition. This framework covers GMP inspections and is largely used for surveillance inspections, though it’s occasionally applied to pre-license and pre-approval inspections…

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AHG General Manager Ramy WaheedBLANTYRE, Malawi — A piece of Malawi’s cultural history is flickering back to life as the iconic Apollo Auditorium reopens after nearly three decades, launching its comeback with the India Film Festival, writes Tionge Hara.Running from April 18 to May 23, the festival marks more than a series of film screenings—it represents a strategic cultural bridge between Malawi and India. The event is being held through a collaboration involving the auditorium, India’s Ministry of External Affairs, and the High Commission of India.Originally opened in 1972, the Apollo Auditorium once stood at the heart of Malawi’s cinema…

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Participation reinforces Dubai’s role as a gateway for capital into the GCC.  Dubai, UAE: Dubai Financial Market (DFM) has concluded a visit to Hong Kong during the HSBC Global Investment Summit, held from April 14 to 16, as part of its efforts to expand international investor engagement. The visit drew significant interest from institutional investors, particularly from Asia, highlighting Dubai’s increasing role in global capital allocation. During the programme, DFM and its listed companies held a series of meetings with institutional investors, intermediaries, and market participants from key global markets. Discussions focused on market access, sector opportunities, and Dubai’s positioning…

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