News in Brief-(2023-09-21)

India tells citizens in Canada to

exercise caution as ties worsen

NEW DELHI, Sept 20: India urged caution on Wednesday by its nationals in Canada, and those planning to visit, as relations deteriorated after each nation expelled one of the other's diplomats in an escalating row over the murder of a Sikh separatist leader. Tension has grown since Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Monday Canada was investigating "credible allegations" about the potential involvement of Indian government agents in the murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar in British Columbia in June. — Reuters

Kishida willing to meet Kim

UNITED NATIONS, Sept 20: Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said Tuesday he was willing to meet North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, seeking a diplomatic path as tensions soar over Pyongyang's weapons programs. — AFP

Scientists rediscover small Brazil tree

RIO DE JANEIRO, Sept 20: A species of small holly tree that was last seen nearly two centuries ago and was feared extinct has been rediscovered pluckily clinging to life in an urban area in northeastern Brazil, scientists said Tuesday. The tree, "Ilex sapiiformis," was found in the city of Igarassu, in Pernambuco state. — AFP

China surpasses US in publishing most influential academic papers

BEIJING, Sept 20: China contributed nearly one-third of the academic papers published in the most influential international journals in 2022, marking the first time China surpassed the United States to secure the top position globally, a report released on Wednesday said. Among the 54,002 papers published last year in 159 journals with the highest impact factors in 178 disciplines, 16,349 were contributed by Chinese authors. — Xinhua