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Community Health Camps in Pune Cancelled Amid Disease Outbreak

Amid a surge in vector-borne diseases like chikungunya and dengue, community health camps scheduled in Pune have been cancelled. The rising number of patients has led to hospitals operating at full capacity, creating a shortage of beds and staff, officials said. Dr. Vaibhav Gaikwad, district coordinator of the MPJAY and PMJAY health schemes, confirmed that while over 100 health camps had been held to date, the recent outbreak forced the cancellation of camps planned for the last week of September in Pune. However, rural areas and Pimpri-Chinchwad continue to host camps as per directives, with hopes of resuming city camps once the situation stabilizes. Hospitals and medical colleges were earlier instructed to organize free community health camps under government orders, with specific targets based on their size. However, many hospitals, including Noble Hospital and Jehangir Hospital, cite staff shortages and a high influx of serious patients, making it difficult to conduct these camps. Dr. Sanjay Patil, chairman of the Hospital Board of India’s Pune Chapter, emphasized that private hospitals are overwhelmed, further complicating the situation. Many healthcare workers have also fallen ill, exacerbating the strain on hospital resources. Source: Hindustan Times

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Micro Dramas Emerge as China’s New Disruptor in Global Entertainment

After TikTok’s global impact, China’s latest disruptor in the entertainment space is micro dramas—ultra-short fiction content created for mobile consumption. These digital-native shows, typically consisting of 60-100 episodes, with episodes lasting between 30-120 seconds, are capturing global attention. The micro-drama market, excluding China, is already worth $2 billion annually and is expected to double by 2025. China, however, leads the micro-drama revolution, with its market projected to be growing at an astonishing 250% annually. In 2023, the Chinese micro-drama sector grossed $5.2 billion, almost equaling the size of the country’s theatrical cinema market. Platforms like Kuaishou and Douyin (TikTok’s sister app) are driving this boom, delivering professionally produced, highly engaging short-form content. Micro dramas differ from user-generated content on social media platforms like Instagram Reels or YouTube Shorts. These are scripted, professionally-produced shows, with story beats and arcs similar to full-length series, but condensed for on-the-go consumption. They feature a mix of genres, ranging from vampire love stories to time-traveling chefs, appealing to a vast audience. Production costs for micro dramas are relatively low—around a few thousand dollars per episode—and turnaround times are fast, with some shows being produced in just two to three months. The monetization models are varied, including ad-supported video-on-demand (AVOD), subscription (SVOD), and freemium models, which are reminiscent of China’s dominant video game business. Notable players include ReelShort, which dominates the U.S. market with backing from Tencent and Baidu. Chinese micro-drama apps saw significant international traction in early 2024, with 30 million downloads and $71 million in revenue. Despite concerns about the simplicity and formulaic nature of many micro dramas, the format is rapidly expanding across East and Southeast Asia, with growing interest in the U.S. The business is still evolving, with low barriers to entry allowing non-traditional media players to compete with established entertainment giants. As the micro-drama trend continues to grow, it promises to reshape global media consumption, offering a fast, affordable, and scalable way to engage audiences on mobile platforms. Source: Variety. Com

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Punjab Students Spent $3.7 Billion on Education in Canada Last Year, Report Reveals

Punjab students spent a staggering $3.7 billion on higher education in Canada last year, according to the Indian Student Mobility Report (ISMR) 2023-24 by University Living. Despite rising costs and stricter immigration policies, Canada continues to attract Indian students, with Punjab leading the way in contributions. Overall, Indian students spent $11.7 billion on education in Canada during the 2022-23 academic year. The ISMR report highlights Punjab, Maharashtra, and Andhra Pradesh/Telangana as the top contributors to India’s international student population. Canada remains the preferred destination for Indian students, followed by the USA, Australia, and the UK. The overall expenditure by Indian students on international education surged to $60 billion in 2023, up from $37 billion in 2019. This figure is projected to reach $70 billion by 2025, with the number of Indian students studying abroad expected to rise from 11.8 lakh in 2022 to 15 lakh by 2025, growing at an 8% annual rate. Canada’s appeal stems from its strong academic programs, post-study work opportunities, and immigration pathways. Despite new restrictions on study permits, immigration experts believe that the fundamentals keeping Canada attractive for Punjabi students—academic excellence and pathways to settlement—remain unchanged. Saurabh Arora, CEO of University Living, noted that for many Punjabi students, studying abroad is closely tied to future settlement opportunities. Although new immigration rules have led to a drop in applications for the 2024 intake, experts suggest the long-term appeal of Canada remains strong. However, some experts, such as Dr. Vishal Sarin from LPU, warned of the potential economic consequences for Punjab, with the ongoing outflow of students undermining the state’s future workforce. Families selling agricultural land to fund foreign education could threaten Punjab’s long-term stability, Sarin added. Source: Tribune India

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Delhi Ranks 24th Among 31 Cities in Urban Governance Index, Praja Foundation Report Reveals

Delhi has been ranked 24th out of 31 Indian cities in the Urban Governance Index (UGI), according to a report released by the NGO Praja Foundation on Thursday. Despite retaining its rank from 2022, Delhi’s score dropped from 33.8 to 32.11 on a scale of 1 to 100, signaling a decline in its urban governance performance. The biennial analysis attributed Delhi’s poor ranking to policy paralysis, non-formation of key municipal committees, and one of the least empowered mayoral positions among major cities. The city’s rank fell largely due to the non-formation of standing, subject, and zonal committees, as well as a lack of human resource data. Furthermore, other cities improved their scores, contributing to Delhi’s relatively lower ranking. The report is based on research conducted in 43 cities across 28 states and three Union territories, with 2,213 key stakeholders including elected representatives, administrators, academics, and civil society members participating. The UGI measures governance based on four pillars: empowered elected representatives, city administration, citizen involvement, and fiscal autonomy. These are further divided into 13 sub-themes and 42 indicators. The Praja Foundation report pointed out that despite municipal elections in December 2022, Delhi’s governance issues have persisted due to legal and political tussles. The city’s mayor, whose term lasts just one year, lacks executive power over the municipal commissioner and cannot appoint key committee chairpersons. Additionally, Delhi does not provide adequate training or salaries for councillors, and most mid- and senior-level positions in the civic body are filled through external appointments, limiting local authority. The report recommended the devolution of all 18 functions listed under the 12th Schedule of the 74th Constitutional Amendment Act to the Municipal Corporation of Delhi to empower the city administration. Currently, the civic body handles only four of these functions independently.

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Media & Entertainment Stocks Surge; Saregama, Tips Films Rally Up to 20%

Shares of media and entertainment (M&E) companies surged in Wednesday’s intraday trade, with several stocks rallying up to 20%. Companies such as Saregama India, Tips Films, Mukta Arts, Pritish Nandy Communications, and Zee Entertainment Enterprises saw significant gains, supported by strong volumes in an otherwise range-bound market. Among the top performers, Saregama India hit a record high of Rs 622 per share, marking a 17% rally. The stock has soared 80% since April 2024, reflecting strong investor confidence in its evolving business model, which focuses on digital monetization through over-the-top (OTT) platforms and licensing income. Analysts expect the company’s profitability to remain robust due to increasing digital content consumption. Tips Films also hit the upper circuit, gaining 20% and closing at Rs 658. The company, known for producing and distributing films and web series, has projected an ambitious growth path. In its FY24 annual report, Tips Films emphasized its plan to produce 5 to 6 films per year, signaling strong prospects for content demand. Subhash Ghai’s Mukta Arts also saw a 20% rally, reaching Rs 97.09 after the company announced a new agreement with Zee Entertainment Enterprises for the satellite and media rights of 37 films, effective from 2027. Although the transaction value was not disclosed, the deal was reportedly 25% more lucrative than previous agreements. The media sector, as a whole, is experiencing strong growth, with the Indian M&E industry projected to reach Rs 23,800 crore by 2026. Analysts point to growing demand for Hindi films and digital content, alongside expanding revenue from tier-II and III cities and international markets. Shares of Pritish Nandy Communications also hit a 52-week high, locked at a 20% upper circuit at Rs 79.16, driven by the company’s successful ventures in film and digital series production. As per the FICCI-E&Y Report, the M&E sector is expected to grow by 10% annually, reaching Rs 3.08 trillion by 2026, with digital media leading the charge in content consumption. Source: Business Standard

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South Korea Advances Medical Data Exchange and AI-Driven Healthcare Research

South Korea’s Ministry of Health and Welfare (MOHW) is making significant strides in improving medical data exchange as part of its broader mission to enhance the use of health data across hospitals. These efforts include the ongoing development of the Korea Core Data for Interoperability and Transmission standards, alongside the implementation of the digital health record platform MyHealthway, now in its second phase. In addition to these initiatives, South Korea is set to launch a national project this year aimed at integrating the biological data of nearly 800,000 individuals. This ambitious project seeks to enhance health research and innovation by providing a vast pool of biological and medical data for analysis. The MOHW, in collaboration with the Korea Health Information Service, is also working on data-sharing agreements with major hospitals to promote the use of medical data for research purposes. This project aims to foster better utilization of medical information to drive forward medical innovations and improve patient outcomes. In a further push for innovation, an MOHW-led committee recently unveiled a four-year roadmap for establishing a robust medical AI research and development ecosystem. The roadmap emphasizes the need to invest in AI for essential medical care, including emergency services, major diseases, cancer treatment, and the development of AI-powered digital therapeutics, surgical robots, and AI-driven drug discovery. A key component of this roadmap is the creation of a unified healthcare data platform to support ongoing medical AI research. The platform is expected to streamline collaboration among researchers, hospitals, and tech developers, positioning South Korea as a leader in medical AI and healthcare innovation. Source: healthcareitnews

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Josh Bersin Company Unveils 30 AI HR Tech Trailblazers Transforming Human Capital Management

The Josh Bersin Company, a leading human capital advisory firm, has announced the release of two new market analyses, AI Trailblazers and 2025 Outlook, highlighting how artificial intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing the $200 billion global HR technology market. These analyses were unveiled during CEO Josh Bersin’s keynote address, HR Technology 2025: An Existential Change Driven by AI, at the HR Technology Conference. Bersin emphasized that Chief Human Resources Officers (CHROs) who fail to integrate AI into their strategies risk falling behind. AI is already delivering substantial returns across several HR domains, such as talent acquisition, corporate training, and employee services. This growing impact of AI is reshaping HR functions and offering businesses a competitive advantage. In his keynote, Bersin explained that AI is fundamentally transforming HR systems, enabling innovative solutions in talent management, recruitment, internal mobility, and employee experience. As AI-driven platforms like generative AI tools integrate into job applications, learning systems, and HR workflows, the role of HR professionals is being redefined. A significant feature of Bersin’s analysis is the AI Trailblazers list, which identifies the top 30 vendors that are leading the charge in harnessing AI’s potential in HR technology. Notable names include Workday Illuminate, SAP SuccessFactors Joule, ServiceNow NowAssist, and talent intelligence platforms like Eightfold.ai, Gloat, and Draup. The list also features The Josh Bersin Company’s own AI tool, Galileo™, an expert assistant for HR professionals that is already utilized by over 10,000 users. Bersin urged companies to embrace AI in HR by leveraging internal experts to guide their teams through the transition. “AI is the language of the future, and engaging with these trailblazing technologies is essential for staying competitive,” he noted. Attendees of the keynote received complimentary copies of the AI Trailblazers and 2025 Outlook reports, providing a comprehensive view of AI’s transformational impact on HR technology. Both reports are available for download on The Josh Bersin Company’s website. Source: prnewswire

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13th ArdorComm – ‘New Normal – Education Leadership Summit & Awards 2024’ to be held in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, on 15th November 2024

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As the world navigates through rapid shifts in the education landscape, driven by technological advancements and global challenges, it becomes crucial to cultivate future-ready skills and mindsets. In line with this evolving narrative, the 13th ArdorComm ‘New Normal – Education Leadership Summit & Awards 2024’ is set to take place in the vibrant city of Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, on 15th November  2024. Organized by ArdorComm Media Group, this landmark event brings together some of the brightest minds from education, government, and industry, all dedicated to shaping a better future for learners. With the overarching theme, Future-Forward Education: Cultivating Skills and Mindsets in the 21st Century Workplace, the summit will spark critical discussions and explore how education can adapt to meet the demands of a rapidly changing world. Why Andhra Pradesh? As a rising star in India’s educational ecosystem, Andhra Pradesh is rapidly transforming into a hub for innovation in education and skilling. Cities like Visakhapatnam, Amaravati, Vijayawada, and Tirupati host prestigious institutions known for their national and global recognition. The state’s Education Department, in collaboration with forward-thinking leaders, has rolled out initiatives like “Mana Badi Nadu-Nedu,” which pushes digital classrooms, smart learning technologies, and other transformative reforms. Programs like Jagananna Amma Vodi, Vidya Kanuka, and Gorumudda showcase the state’s mission-driven approach to reshaping education, focusing on nurturing global citizens of the future. What to Expect at the Summit? Event Highlights: Date: 18th October 2024 Location: Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh Sessions: 6+ Speakers: 50+ Schools Represented: 75+ Higher Education Institutions: 150+ Government Dignitaries: 10+ Corporate Representatives: 15+ EdTech Startups: 15+ This prestigious summit will provide a space for Academicians, Educators, Edupreneurs, HR professionals, Startups, EdTech pioneers, and Industry leaders to come together, share insights, and engage in transformative discussions. The event’s focus is on creating an ecosystem that not only embraces technological advancements but also addresses the critical need for emotional resilience, career preparedness, and data-driven decision-making in educational institutions. Key Discussion Points Attendees can look forward to discussions on pivotal topics such as: Leveraging AI and EdTech: Enhancing Student Engagement and Personalized Learning Future-Forward Education: Cultivating Skills and Mindsets in 21st Century Workplace Building Emotional Resilience: Integrating Social-Emotional Learning into the Curriculum Data-Driven Decision Making: How Analytics Can Transform Educational Strategies and Outcomes Harnessing Digital Tools:Transforming Traditional Classrooms into Dynamic Learning Environments Preparing Students for Future Careers: Aligning Education with Emerging Industry Trends and Skills ArdorComm Education Leadership Awards 2024 In addition to the summit, ArdorComm Media will celebrate the remarkable achievements of individuals and institutions that have been instrumental in transforming the education sector. From adapting to the “New Normal” to spearheading innovative teaching, learning, and skilling practices, awardees have demonstrated unparalleled dedication to educational excellence. The ArdorComm Education Leadership Awards 2024 will recognize: Preschools Schools Higher Education Institutions Skills & Training Organizations Corporates Startups By honoring these trailblazers, ArdorComm aims to bring recognition and visibility to those shaping the future of education through their commitment to re-skilling, innovation, and global adaptability. Award Nominations and Selection Process The nomination process for the awards is designed to ensure fairness and recognize contributions across various educational segments. Categories include: Preschool Award School Education Award Higher Education Award Skills & Training Awards Corporate Award Startup Award This year’s selection process will highlight innovative initiatives, exceptional leadership, and ground-breaking transformations in teaching and learning practices. For more details visit https://ardorcomm-media.com/elsavisakhapatnam/#awards Join Us in Celebrating Education’s Future The 13th ArdorComm ‘New Normal – Education Leadership Summit & Awards 2024’ promises to be an inspiring event, bringing together thought leaders and visionaries from across the education sector. The event will serve as a platform for dialogue, innovation, and recognition, aimed at setting the stage for a brighter, more sustainable future in education. Whether you’re an educator, policymaker, industry expert, or EdTech innovator, this summit is an unmissable opportunity to engage with peers, share knowledge, and drive impactful change. We look forward to seeing you at this momentous occasion in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, as we work together to forge a path toward the future of education. Be part of the conversation. Be part of the change. Register Now! #ELSAAndhraPradesh #ELSAVizag #ELSAVisakhapatnam #ArdorComm #NewNormal

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Rajasthan Governor Haribhau Bagade Stresses Role of Education in Nation-Building at Ajmer Conference

Rajasthan Governor Haribhau Bagade emphasized the crucial role of education in nation-building, calling on teachers to prioritize the holistic development of their students. Speaking at the All India National Educational Conference in Ajmer, Governor Bagade highlighted that education should not be limited to intellectual skills but should also integrate co-curricular activities to foster well-rounded growth. “These activities help students gain practical knowledge beyond book learning, which is vital for their overall development and success in life,” Bagade stated. He stressed that practical skills and life lessons learned outside traditional classrooms are essential for building a solid foundation in students. The governor also underlined the importance of early childhood education received at home, noting that children acquire valuable skills from their mothers and families. “Children start learning special skills at a young age from their family environment, which greatly contributes to their future growth,” he said. Addressing the broader impact of education on the nation’s future, Bagade urged teachers to embrace cultural values and ideals in the Indian education system. He encouraged incorporating the moral teachings of great personalities like Maharishi Dayanand Saraswati, which, according to him, would enrich students’ education and promote their comprehensive development. “Teachers have a vital responsibility in shaping not just academic growth but the overall character and moral foundation of their students,” Bagade added. He concluded by reiterating that a strong, values-based education is key to driving the progress of the nation. Source: Business Standard

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G-20 Nations Agree on Major Reforms of Global Governance Institutions

In a landmark agreement, the Group of 20 (G-20) nations have committed to pushing for reforms of key global governance institutions, including the United Nations (UN), the World Trade Organization (WTO), and multilateral lenders. The agreement marks the first formal joint effort by the world’s 20 largest economies to modernize institutions established in the post-World War II era. Following a month-and-a-half of negotiations, the G-20 will announce this reform push during a foreign ministers’ meeting proposed by Brazil at the sidelines of the UN General Assembly. The draft communique, seen by Bloomberg News, underscores the urgency to update these institutions to reflect today’s political, social, and economic realities. “There is a growing perception that the United Nations, the Bretton Woods Institutions, and the World Trade Organization are in urgent need of reform,” the communique states. It highlights the need to revamp governance structures to better represent the diversity of member nations and improve their ability to tackle contemporary global challenges. One of the central reform goals includes expanding the composition of the UN Security Council to enhance the representation of underrepresented regions and groups. Additionally, the G-20 emphasizes the importance of transparency, equitable geographic distribution, merit, and gender balance within the UN Secretariat. On the financial front, the G-20 is advocating for increased financing for developing nations to combat poverty and address issues like climate change. The reforms also call for a stronger representation of these nations in global financial decision-making. As for the WTO, the G-20 views it as indispensable to a functional global trade system. The group seeks reforms that enhance trade and investment policies, positioning them as key drivers of global economic growth and prosperity. Brazil’s President, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who is presiding over the G-20 this year, has long championed these reforms, and the joint statement is seen as a significant step forward, even though no timeline for implementation has been agreed upon. Source: TOI

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