Author: AsiaOne

Shankar Mahadevan and Zakir Hussain, along with their band Shakti, clinched the prestigious Best Global Music Album award for ‘This Moment’ at the 2024 Grammys. This win marked a significant victory for India on the international stage. Comprising guitarist John McLaughlin, percussionist V Selvaganesh, and violinist Ganesh Rajagopalan, Shakti’s fusion of talent and innovation propelled them to the forefront of global music recognition.

Released on June 30 of the previous year, ‘This Moment’ is an album that consists of eight mesmerising tracks created by McLaughlin, Hussain, Mahadevan, Selvaganesh, and Rajagopalan. It captivated audiences worldwide with its enchanting melodies and dynamic rhythms.

As the 66th Annual Grammy Awards unfolded in the vibrant city of Los Angeles, Shakti’s resounding victory illuminated the richness and diversity of India’s musical heritage on a global scale. Shakti’s win highlighted their extraordinary musical talent among artists like Susana Baca, Bokante, Burna Boy, and Davido.

During his acceptance speech, Mahadevan extended gratitude to his fellow band members, expressing appreciation for their collective effort. He also acknowledged the unwavering support of his family, friends, and India, eliciting resounding cheers from the audience. Additionally, he dedicated the award to his wife, recognising her as a steadfast source of inspiration throughout his musical journey.

Prof. Biman Prasad, the Deputy Prime Minister of Fiji of Indian origin, is set to make history by becoming the first foreign leader to visit Ayodhya’s Ram Mandir following the ‘Pran Pratishtha’ ceremony held at the temple last month. His visit, scheduled for February 8, marks a significant milestone in diplomatic relations between Fiji and India.

Paramita Tripathi, JS Indo-Pacific, at the Ministry of External Affairs, welcomed him warmly upon his arrival in Delhi on Sunday. Prof. Prasad’s itinerary includes meetings with various Indian ministers during his week-long stay in India from February 4 to 10.

Besides being the Deputy Prime Minister, Prof. Prasad also holds key portfolios, including those of the Minister of Finance, Strategic Planning, National Development, and Statistics for Fiji. During his visit, he is scheduled to visit New Delhi, Goa, and Gujarat, where he is slated to meet with the Minister of State for External Affairs and Education, Rajkumar Ranjan Singh, and EAM, S Jaishankar.

Notably, this isn’t Prof. Prasad’s first visit to India; he previously attended a high-level ministerial session in February 2023, focusing on ‘Strategies for a Sustainable and Decarbonised Future.’ During these discussions, he emphasised the urgent need for global action on decarbonisation, particularly highlighting its profound impact on small developing island nations like Fiji.

Senior BJP leader Lal Krishna Advani will be honoured with India’s highest civilian award, the Bharat Ratna, becoming its 50th recipient and the 7th during the Modi government.

PM Modi tweeted, “I am pleased to share that Shri LK Advani Ji will be conferred the Bharat Ratna. His contributions to India’s development are monumental. From grassroots activism to serving as Deputy Prime Minister, his journey exemplifies dedication. He notably served as Home Minister and I&B Minister, with profound insights in Parliament.”

Advani, a key figure in Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s government, held various ministerial positions and was a member of both Houses of Parliament from 1970 to 2019.

Born on November 8, 1927, in Karachi, Pakistan, Advani has held the position of BJP President since 1980. He served as Home Minister and Deputy Prime Minister under Vajpayee’s leadership (1999–2004), concluding a nearly three-decade parliamentary tenure.

Despite enduring India’s partition tragedy in 1947, Advani’s commitment to a more secular India remained unwavering. As an RSS pracharak, he pursued this vision diligently, particularly in Rajasthan.

Last month, former Bihar Chief Minister Karpoori Thakur was posthumously awarded the Bharat Ratna, 35 years after his demise.

France has emerged as the first European nation to embrace digital transactions from India. Recently, India unveiled its Unified Payments Interface (UPI) at the iconic Eiffel Tower in Paris, marking a significant milestone. Indian tourists visiting the Eiffel Tower can seamlessly purchase tickets using UPI by simply scanning a QR code on the tower’s official website.

The Indian Embassy in France proudly announced the formal launch of UPI during the grand Republic Day Reception at the Eiffel Tower, echoing Prime Minister Modi’s vision of globalising UPI. In 2016, the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) established a UPI as an instant payment system. UPI revolutionised banking by consolidating multiple bank accounts into a single mobile application, facilitating effortless fund transfers and commercial payments.

NPCI’s subsidiary, NPCI International Payments (NIPL), collaborated with Lyra, a distinguished French e-commerce and proximity payments provider, to ensure the widespread acceptance of UPI in France.

India is home to the second-largest group of foreign visitors to the Eiffel Tower. With ambitious plans to extend this service to various merchants in the retail and tourism sectors across France and Europe, the Eiffel Tower emerges as the trailblazer, setting the precedent as the first establishment in France to embrace UPI payments.