** GII to open office in Bengaluru

The State Government on Monday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Gulf Islamic Investment (GII) group that has shown interest to invest in the State. The GII will open its office in Bengaluru to further strengthen Indo-UAE investment ties, a release from the office of Industries Minister Murugesh Nirani, said.

The MoU was signed in Dubai during the DubaiExpo on Monday in the presence of Mr. Nirani and Higher Education Minister C.N. Ashwathnarayan. “GII’s decision to foray into Karnataka will further strengthen investment ties between India and UAE. GII’s presence in Bengaluru will pave the way for more investments, trade and creation of jobs,” Mr. Nirani said.

** IIT Kanpur team identifies a novel target to treat prostate cancer

The DLX1 protein is found at elevated levels in prostate cancer patients, the reason why the DLX1 protein has been used as a urine-based biomarker. Now the team of researchers led by Dr. Bushra Ateeq, Professor at the Department of Biological Sciences and Bioengineering, IIT Kanpur has found that the DLX1 protein, which is expressed at higher levels in the prostate cancer cells, has a huge role in the growth and development of the tumour and the spread of the cancer to other organs in the body (metastasis).

** 17 Indians triumph in Canada’s snap elections as Trudeau fails to win majority

Seventeen Indo-Canadians, including NDP leader Jagmeet Singh and Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan, won Canada’s parliamentary elections on Tuesday with Liberal Party leader and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau returning to power in the snap polls.

** Flying high: Kempegowda International Airport staff best in Central Asia

Employees of the Kempegowda International Airport (KIA), Bengaluru have been adjudged “The Best Airport Staff in India and Central Asia” at the Skytrax World Airport Awards 2021.

** Veena Reddy takes over as first Indian American head of USAID in India

The acting head of the US embassy, ambassador Atul Keshap, expressed “pride and admiration” at another Indian American being chosen to lead a critical mission component in India, and said this reflects the “accomplishments of Indian Americans in all walks of life in America.

Veena Reddy, a career member of the US senior foreign service, has taken over as the first Indian American mission director of the US Agency for International Development (USAID) in India.

** Indian-origin aeronautical engineer to fly into space

She will be part of Virgin Galactic flight

Sirisha Bandla, a 34-year-old aeronautical engineer, is set to become the third Indian-origin woman to head to space when she flies as part of Virgin Galactic’s first fully crewed flight test on Sunday.

Ms. Bandla, who was born in Guntur, Andhra Pradesh, and brought up in Houston, Texas, will join Sir Richard Branson, the company’s billionaire founder, and five others on board Virgin Galactic’s SpaceShipTwo Unity to make a journey to the edge of space from New Mexico.