J. D. Vance accepted the Republican party nomination for vice-president with a well-received speech that among other things noted the “incredible people” immigrants from South Asia, including his wife Usha Vance’s family from India.

“I am, of course, married to the daughter of South Asian immigrants to this country, incredible people…, people who genuinely have enriched this country in so many ways,” he said on Wednesday night as he addressed the complex issue of immigration which is at the top of the re-election agenda of former President Donald Trump who has been a strong and vocal opponent of undocumented migrants.

Vance speech was repeatedly interrupted by loud cheering and clapping as he explained Trump’s populist agenda in everyday terms, connecting ideas to real-life experiences, juxtaposing important junctures in his life to economic policies backed by President Joe Biden in his long career in politics spanning more than 50 years as a Democratic Senator and then eight years as President Barack Obama’s vice president.

Vance is married to Usha Chilukuri, the daughter of Telugu immigrants from India. They met at the Yale Law School and married upon graduation. They have three children.

Usha Vance introduced her husband for his acceptance speech on the third night of the Republican convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin with a lead-in from Dn Trump Jr, the former president’s eldest son who was Vance’s strongest advocate in Trump’s inner circle.

“My background is very different from JD’s,” Usha Vance said, referring to her husband by his initials as does everyone else. “I grew up in San Diego, a middle-class community with two loving parents, both immigrants from India and a wonderful sister.”

“Vance had a troubled upbringing. His grandmother raised him as his mother – a single parent – struggled with addiction in Middletown, Ohio. He joined the Marine Corps after the September 11, 2001, terrorist attack and returned to attend college on a special scholarship for US Army personnel. He studied law at Yale and set up a venture capital business. He entered politics in recent years and was elected to public office for the first time in 2022, to represent Ohio in the US Senate,” she said.

“That JD and I could meet at all, let alone fall in love and marry is a testament to this great country,” Usha Vance said.

“It is also a testament to JD and tells you about who he is. When JD met me, he approached our differences with curiosity and enthusiasm. He wanted to know everything about me, where I came from, what my life had been like.”

She added, “Although he’s a meat and potatoes kind of guy, he adapted to my vegetarian diet and learned to cook food for my mother Indian food. Before I knew it, he had become an integral part of my family.” AGENCIES

 One person was killed and six others were injured after a car hit the terrace of a cafe in Paris, the French news channel BFMTV reported, citing police sources.

The accident occurred around 7.30 p.m. on Wednesday evening near the famous Pere Lachaise Cemetery in the 20th arrondissement, reports Xinhua news agency.

The initial toll was one death and three serious injuries, but the number of casualties may rise.

The driver of the vehicle fled the scene, and police arrested a passenger, who tested positive for drugs and alcohol, BFMTV reported, citing police sources.

Police are conducting forensic examinations on the vehicle, with investigations pointing to a “car accident,” the news channel added. AGENCIES

 Singapore’s Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) arrested a 25-year-old foreign suspect and seized 4.15 kg of “Ice” in a recent operation, according to a statement published on Thursday.

Following an intelligence exchange with the Hong Kong Police Force, CNB officers arrested the suspect on Tuesday and found the drugs concealed within the base structure of two ornamental lion figurines, Xinhua news agency reported.

The seized “Ice” is estimated to be worth about 500,000 Singapore dollars ( $373,000), said the statement.

Investigations are underway.Further details are awaited. AGENCIES

 Palestine has rejected an Israeli-US proposal to temporarily reopen the Rafah border crossing, calling instead for an Israeli withdrawal and the establishment of Palestinian sovereignty, said an official source.

A meeting was held last week involving representatives from Palestine, the United States, and Israel to explore the possibility of operating the Rafah border crossing between Egypt and the Gaza Strip, according to the source who requested anonymity, Xinhua news agency reported.

The Israeli side proposed that six Palestinian employees participate in managing the crossing without uniforms or police, and without raising the Palestinian flag, said the source in a statement.

The source explained that the proposal was rejected because it aimed to open the crossing temporarily without Palestinian sovereignty, which contradicts the Palestinian position and international agreements.

According to the source, the Palestinian stance is in line with the 2005 agreement on the Rafah crossing, which requires Palestinian sovereignty, European participation, and a full Israeli withdrawal from the crossing.

The meeting concluded after the Israeli-US proposal was rejected by the Palestinians, and there has been no further dialogue following the meeting, said the source.

The meeting is considered the first between Israel and representatives of the Palestinian Authority to discuss the future of Gaza after the ongoing conflict.

On May 7, the Israeli army announced the imposition of “operational” control over the Palestinian side of the Rafah crossing, which led to the cessation of aid delivery from Egypt into Gaza through the crossing. AGENCIES

 The UK at a UN Security Council meeting on the Middle East has expressed its deep concern about the “risk of regional escalation, in particular along the blue line between Israel and Lebanon”.

UK Permanent Representative to the UN Barbara Woodward, during the meeting on Wednesday, said, “Nine months since the 7 October attacks, at least 120 hostages, alive and dead, remain held in horrific conditions. Innocent Palestinians continue to suffer and die in Gaza. A devastating humanitarian crisis is worsening by the day. There is an imminent risk of famine. And we are deeply concerned about the risk of regional escalation, in particular along the blue line between Israel and Lebanon.”

“In one of his first acts as UK Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer set out the urgent need for an immediate ceasefire, immediate release of all hostages, and an immediate surge of humanitarian aid into Gaza. We strongly support the ongoing efforts of Egypt, Qatar and the United States to this end – the deal on the table… is the best chance to support this,” she said.

Woodward also urged both sides (Hamas and Israel) to show flexibility in negotiations and demonstrate a “clear and firm” commitment to ensure the implementation of the deal.

“We are calling on Israel to protect civilians, to allow unfettered aid into Gaza and to ensure the UN and humanitarian actors have the access and equipment necessary to safely get aid to those who need it most…,” she said.

“… We condemn recent Israeli expansion of settlements. We reject decisions by the Government of Israel to declare 2,357 hectares of land in the West Bank as ‘state lands’ so far this year — the largest of such declarations of state land since the Oslo Accords. Such acts are not only illegal under international law, but also undermine prospects for a two-state solution. We demand a halt to these illegal activities,” Woodward added.

She further said that reports of civilian casualties following Israeli strikes near schools and designated humanitarian zones in Gaza in recent weeks were appalling – as the Foreign Secretary said, urgent measures are needed to protect civilians.

“Peace will be sustainable only if both Israelis and Palestinians recommit to a renewed peace process resulting in a two-state solution, with a safe and secure Israel alongside a viable and sovereign Palestinian State – the undeniable right of the Palestinian people,” she said. AGENCIES

 UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has urged a renewed emphasis on a political resolution to the persistent crisis in Gaza.

“We must refocus on finding a political solution that will end the occupation and resolve the conflict in line with international law, and relevant United Nations resolutions,” Courtenay Rattray, chef de cabinet of the UN secretary-general, told the Security Council debate on Gaza, on behalf of the UN chief.

Rattray highlighted the severe circumstances in Gaza, characterised by ongoing conflict and lawlessness, and raised concerns about the escalating regional instability and the significant crisis in Gaza, Xinhua news agency reported.

Rattray provided a sombre update on the situation, stating, “In recent weeks, Israeli military operations and fighting intensified across Gaza. Rockets continue to be launched by Palestinian armed groups from Gaza towards Israeli population centres.”

“Rafah is in ruins — and the Rafah crossing remains closed, further hampering humanitarian operations,” he added.

He noted the massive displacement within Gaza, where “almost 2 million people have been displaced — nearly the entire population of Gaza — and many of them multiple times.”

Highlighting the breakdown in public order and the increasing threat of a regional spillover, Rattray reiterated the UN’s call for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire and the “immediate and unconditional release of all hostages.”

He stressed the critical need for consistent access to humanitarian aid across all crossing points to ensure the survival and well-being of the civilian population.

Rattray stressed the importance of immediate action to address these crises, stating, “We must change course. All settlement activity must cease immediately.”

He called for the restoration of governance in Gaza under a legitimate Palestinian government and the strengthening of the Palestinian Authority to lead recovery efforts.

The United Nations remains committed to supporting all efforts towards reaching a sustainable peace agreement that adheres to international law and UN resolutions.

Rattray concluded with a call to all parties involved to intensify efforts to end the violence and to work towards a lasting resolution that respects the rights and dignities of all people involved. AGENCIES

 The United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) expressed concern about widespread attacks against civilians, driven primarily by sub-national armed violence involving community-based militia groups in the country.

The UN mission said that between January and March 2024, it documented 240 incidents of violence affecting 913 civilians across the country. Out of these, 468 civilians were killed, 328 were injured, 70 were abducted, and 47 were subjected to conflict-related sexual violence. This represents a 24 per cent increase in the number of violent incidents compared to the same period last year, Xinhua news agency reported.

“Inter- and intra-communal violence by community-based militias or civil defence groups remains the primary source of subnational violence, accounting for 87 per cent of the victims documented across South Sudan,” UNMISS said in a report in Juba, the capital of South Sudan.

According to UNMISS, Warrap State suffered the highest rates of violence among civilians, accounting for 37 per cent of the total number of civilian victims nationwide. Jonglei and Eastern Equatoria states were the next most affected.

The number of documented abductions, however, reportedly decreased by 30 per cent compared to the fourth quarter of 2023 and reported incidents of conflict-related sexual violence went down by 25 per cent.

Nicholas Haysom, special representative of the UN secretary-general for South Sudan and head of UNMISS, noted that although nationwide trends of violence involving the conventional parties to the conflict remained relatively low during the period, military operations and activities involving government security forces and organised armed groups and their respective proxy armed elements continue to place civilians at risk, predominantly in parts of Central Equatoria State.

“We cannot emphasise enough the urgent need for collective action by national, state, and local authorities, as well as community leaders and national politicians, to resolve long-standing grievances peacefully, especially as South Sudan approaches its first elections,” Haysom said.

He stressed building a culture of human rights is fundamental to achieving sustainable security, peace, and democracy. AGENCIES

 Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said that the United States should deal with its “internal crisis” of drug abuse, calling it the biggest US problem.

At his daily press conference on Wednesday, Lopez Obrador underscored the fact that tens of thousands of young people die from drug overdose each year in the United States, but decision-makers prefer to scapegoat migrants, Xinhua news agency reported.

“They have a serious problem. It is the United States’ main problem, that of drug consumption, with the unfortunate death of 100,000 young people each year,” Lopez Obrador told reporters at the National Palace.

“Let them look for an answer to that; let them not look further south,” he added.

His remarks were in response to a reporter’s query about the Republican National Convention in the United States, where migrants were blamed for drug trafficking and other problems.

“Instead of blaming the migrants, why not review the internal crisis in the United States?” he asked.

Lopez Obrador has criticised the United States for not offering financial support to Latin American countries with the largest number of migrants who crossed onto US soil from Mexico. AGENCIES

 After spending $450 million on the Volatiles Investigating Polar Exploration Rover (VIPER) moon rover programme, NASA on Thursday announced cancelling the mission over budget concerns. 

The robotic mission, slated to launch in 2025, aboard an Astrobotic Griffin lander as part of NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services initiative (CLPS). The mission had planned to land near the Moon’s coveted south pole and to spend 100 days in search of ice deposits on the lunar surface.

“We were very confident in the VIPER team. This really gets down to cost and a very constrained budget environment in the US,” said Joel Kearns, Deputy Associate Administrator for exploration at NASA headquarters in Washington, at a teleconference.

Scrubbing the robotic lunar mission will likely save NASA an additional $84 million in development costs.

While noting that the programme was successful thus far, the officials also cited delays to the launch date and the risks of future cost growth.

The rover was originally planned to launch in late 2023, but in 2022, officials requested a delay to late 2024. It was then pushed to September 2025.

In the teleconference, Nicola Fox, associate administrator of NASA’s Science Mission Directorate lauded the VIPER mission officials and said they “worked diligently, even through the pandemic.”

He noted the decision was “very tough” but “based on budgetary concerns in a very constrained budget environment,” Fox added.

The car-sized VIPER — NASA’s first robotic moon rover, will likely be “de-integrated and its scientific instruments reused” in future moon missions.

Meanwhile, the Pittsburgh-based Astrobotic Technology will continue its Griffin Mission One as per its contract with NASA. It is expected to launch in 2025 without the VIPER rover. The launch will provide a flight demonstration of the Griffin lander and its engines.

NASA noted that it will look for “alternative methods” to find the presence of ice at the lunar South Pole.

This includes the Polar Resources Ice Mining Experiment-1 (PRIME-1) — scheduled to land at the South Pole in late 2024. AGENCIES

 More than 77 per cent of Indian startups now invest in advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), internet of things (IoT) and blockchain, a report showed on Thursday.

The trend underscores the rapid technological adoption and innovation across the Indian startup ecosystem, now ranked third globally, following the US and China, according to the report by SAP India, in collaboration with Dun & Bradstreet.

Another significant finding is the emergence of tier 2 and 3 cities as innovation hubs, where 40 per cent of tech startups originate, leveraging local talent and cost advantages.

Cities like Chandigarh, Jaipur, Madurai, Indore, Kochi, Warangal, Hubli, Raipur, Visakhapatnam and Guwahati, among others, host 15 per cent of the country’s tech skill pool.

This tech-driven evolution solidifies India’s global stature as a leading startup powerhouse, supported by robust corporate governance and a conducive regulatory environment, the report noted.

“As companies shift their focus from GMV (gross merchandise value) to GM (gross margin) and seek to forge more sustainable business models with the help of transparent, trusted financial data, technology remains a cornerstone and a key differentiator for startups to achieve these business goals,” said Sanket Deodhar, VP and Head of Digital Natives, SAP Indian Subcontinent.

Around 79 per cent of start-ups believe that adopting enterprise applications integrated with new-age technologies such as AI is essential for scaling and improving unit economics.

Nearly 72 per cent of startups surveyed said that they already have or are looking to invest in new-age technologies.

About 85 per cent of startups believe unit economics is a clear path to profitability and enhancing valuation, the report mentioned.

“India’s startup ecosystem is thriving, fueled by a favourable regulatory environment, a growing middle class, and a tech-savvy youth population. With almost 3 lakh startups and 113 unicorns across diverse sectors, India ranks third globally in its startup ecosystem,” said Avinash Gupta, Managing Director and CEO–India, Dun & Bradstreet. AGENCIES