Category: Life & Style

Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on Thursday signed an Implementation Agreement (IA) with the Australian Space Agency (ASA) for further strengthening of cooperation in space activities between the two countries. This agreement will help to boost coordination between space agencies on crew and crew module recovery for the “Gangayaan” mission, which will be India’s first crewed spaceflight program.

The agreement was signed on November 20 by D.K. Singh, the Director of the Human Space Flight Centre(HSFC) on ISRO’s side, and Jarrod Powell, General Manager of the Space Capability Branch on ASA’s side.

ISRO has launched the Human Spaceflight (“Gangayaan”) program with the objective of demonstrating the capability to carry out Low Earth Orbit in an Indian Crew model with up to three crew members onboard for up to three days to safely recover the module.

ISRO, in a statement, said that The IA will enable the Australian authorities to work with Indian authorities, ensuring support for the search and rescue of crew and recovery of crew module as part of a contingency plan for the ascent phase that aborts near Australian waters. It added that India and Australia will become strategic partners, and both space agencies will work closely and are committed to exploring current and future collaboration activities, it said.

The United States took this initiative of repatriating stolen art from countries across Southeast Asia and South. As a part of it, the US on Wednesday announced returning over 1400 looted artefacts, all of which is worthed at $10 million to India.

Until recently, these looted goods included artefacts that were displayed at the New york Metropolitan Museum of Art, says a report by CNN.

Amongst the items returned to India is a sandstone sculpture of a celestial dancer that was an artefact smuggled from central India to London and then was illegally sold to one of the Met’s patrons and donated to the Museum

In a press release, the Manhattan District Attorney’s office said that the goods were recovered as a part of “online investigations into criminal trafficking networks.” This includes all the items operated by convicted art traffickers Subhash Kapoor and Nancy Wiener. Kapoor is an Antiquities dealer in America who was imprisoned for 10 years and held responsible for running a multimillion-dollar looting network at the front of his New York gallery.

Kapoor was arrested in Germany and later sent to India to face charges for the matter.

William S Walker, Homeland Security Investigations New York Special Agent in Charge, in a press statement, says, “Today’s repatriation marks another victory in what has been a multi-year, international investigation into antiquities trafficked by one of history’s most prolific offenders.” according to the Manhattan DA’s office.

In July, India and the United States signed their first-ever “Cultural Property Agreement” to prevent and control the illicit trafficking of antiquities from India to the US. Secretary of the Ministry of Culture, Govind Mohan, and US Ambassador to India, Eric Garcetti, finalized the agreement, as announced in a press release from the Indian Ministry of Culture.

Indian students have outnumbered all the international students in the United States. This has happened after 15 years that 29.4% of the total international student body are Indians as per a report published by Open Doors 2024 on Monday. With a student count of 331,602, India has overtaken China during the academic year 2023-24. Today, Indians become the biggest source of International students in the US.

 The milestone is accounted as 23% increase from the last academic session when the Indian student count stood at 268,923.

The note shared by the US Embassy on Open Door’s 2024 report says “India is now the leading country of origin for international students in the United States, with over 3,31,602 students studying in the United States.”

Continuing on this, the report says, “The number of Indian students is at an all-time high.” The Open Doors Report, an annual study on international education, reveals that 277,398 students from China, which held the top position for the past 15 years, are studying abroad. South Korea contributes 43,149 students, followed by Canada with 28,998 and Taiwan with 23,157, rounding out the top five.

Mohammed bin Salman, the Crown Prince of Saudi, sent a congratulations message to Navin Rmgoolam on Wednesday, who is now the Prime Minister of Mauritius from this month.

As per the Saudi Press Agency, the prince conveyed “his sincere congratulations and best wishes” to the premier and wished “the friendly people of the Republic of Mauritius further progress and prosperity.”

Ramgoolam was sworn in as the Prime Minister of Mauritius a week ago after his win in the general election. The 77 years veteran politician has reclaimed his fourth term in office. He was previously the Prime Minister between 1995 and 2000 and then consecutively from 2005 to 2014.

As per a report published by the Saudi Press Agency, the International Maritime Organization on wednesday accepted the credentials of Saudi Arabia’s new permanent representative.

During an ongoing meeting in London, the IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez welcomed Kamal Bin Mohammed Al-Junaidi. Rumaih bin Mohammed Al-Rumaih, the Saudi deputy transport minister, also attended the event.

The UK-based UN agency sets the international standards for designing and ensuring safety and security standards. It is also the global maritime authority for building safety protocols for maritime transport.

It aims to reduce pollution through ships while implementing initiatives that preserve the maritime environment while protecting nature.

In December, Saudi Arabia won the majority and became a member of the IMO’s 40-member council for 2024 and 2025.

Representing Saudi Arabia during the IMO events was held by Al-Junaidi, including the signing of the maritime agreements, codes, and treaties.

He will also be putting forward the plans and efforts to develop the maritime transport industry and international trade. By 2030, Saudi Arabia plans to process 40 million containers annually, streamline cargo-handling operations, and promote marine tourism through cruise ships and coastal transportation.

According to the London-based residential developer Barratt London, Indians form the largest group of property owners in London. This group includes individuals who have lived in the UK for generations, as well as non-resident Indians (NRIs). It also comprises investors from other countries, students, and families who travel to the UK for education.

The English and Pakistani people are next in number. It was also noted that Indian investors, who reside in both UK and India are prepared to spend anywhere between GBP 290,000 to GBP 450,000 for a one, two or three-bedroom property in London. Statistically in London 30 percent of sales are made to those investors who use the apartments as rentals in which 30 percent of those buyers come from foreign markets.

A Knight Frank survey revealed that 10% of India’s ultra-high-net-worth individuals (UHNWIs) planned to purchase a new home in 2022. While domestic real estate remains their top choice, their preferred international markets include the UK, UAE, and US. London is preferred by Indian investors because it is regarded as a hub for finance and education and as one of the major international entry points for investors.

Indian homebuyers are validly deciding to invest in the London real estate market because the cost per square foot is very similar between London and Mumbai. Indian buyers are much more interested in the UK residential market because of the higher rate of returns and because it is a safer market in comparison to the UAE or other countries.

Denmark is the first ever country to impose a carbon tax on agriculture. Under the deal, the country aspires to plant one billion trees on farmland over the next 20 years, as stated by the Ministry of the Green Tripartite agreement.

In August, the Ministry incorporated a green deal reached in June between farmers, labor unions, industries, and environmental groups.

One of the major hurdles for lawmakers in Denmark is reducing agriculture emissions, which contribute to the country’s biggest source of greenhouse gases. This aims to cut down on greenhouse gas emissions by 70% by 2030 from 1990 levels.

Oxygen levels in Danish waters have plummeted to critically

PM presented with ‘Key to the City’ of Abuja on arrival in Nigeria

It is PM Modi’s first-ever visit to the West African Region. He is currently on his five-day trip to Nigeria, Guyana and Brazil. From Nigeria, he will be traveling to Brazil.

The Prime Minister arrived in Nigeria on Sunday, his first leg of the three-nation visit. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu presented the invitation, and it is the first-ever visit of an Indian Prime Minister to Nigeria in the course of 17 years.

As per the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), – “Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrives in Abuja, Nigeria. Warmly welcomed by Minister for Federal Capital Territory Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, who presented the prime minister with the ‘Key to the City’ of Abuja. The key symbolizes the trust and honor bestowed on the prime minister by the people of Nigeria.”

In a post by the Nigerian President stated, “Our bilateral discussions will seek to expand the strategic partnership between both countries and enhance cooperation in critical sectors. Welcome to Nigeria, Prime Minister Modi.” Responding to a message on the post by Tinubu

Prime Minister Modi shared pictures of himself deplaning upon his arrival and greeting the dignitaries and the people who had gathered at the airport. In his post, he stated, “Thank you, President Tinubu. Landed a short while ago in Nigeria. Grateful for the warm welcome. May this visit deepen the bilateral friendship between our nations,” Later, Prime Minister Modi shared more pictures of his welcome in Abuja.

Denmark’s Victoria Kjr Theilvig is crowned Miss Universe 2024, becoming the first ever Dane to win the title. The 21-year-old is a competitive dancer, entrepreneur, and aspiring lawyer who won the race against 120 contestants. The annual pageant was held in Mexico City on Saturday night.

For the achievement, she was applauded by her fellow participants. The title was presented to her by Tiara from the reigning title holder Sheynnis Palacios of Nicaragua. The finale event, hosted by “Saved by the Bell” star Mario Lopez and former Miss Universe Olivia Culpo, also featured a performance by singer Robin Thicke.

The pageant started by narrowing down the contestants list to 30 based on Thursday’s preliminary event, including a flamboyant national costume confest. Continuing the semi-finale event, the 30 participants then paraded in swimwear, out of which 12 were asked to advance to the gown contest evening.

After going through all the rounds, the top five contestants have to answer questions based on resilience and leadership. Theilvig was asked how she would live life differently if nobody judged her; she answered, “I live by each day.” Finally, when asked what she would say to all of them watching her at the moment, she said, “Keep fighting … no matter where you come from. I stand here today because I want a change; I want to make history, and that’s what I’m doing tonight.

External Affairs Minister (EAM) Dr. S. Jaishankar unveiled his latest book, Why Bharat Matters, in a grand event in Dubai, drawing significant attention from diplomats, and the Indian diaspora. The book mentions about India’s rising global stature, its strategic priorities, and its evolving role in shaping a multipolar world.

The launch event highlighted the growing relevance of India, in global geopolitics, economics, and cultural diplomacy. Dr. Jaishankar, known for his astute diplomatic acumen and strategic vision, shared his insights on how India is navigating contemporary challenges while leveraging opportunities to enhance its global influence. In Why Bharat Matters, the leader provides a comprehensive analysis of India’s policy shifts, its deepening engagement with the world, and its aspiration to become a significant player in international affairs. The book also sheds light on India’s historical legacy, economic potential, and its contributions to solving pressing global issues such as climate change, sustainable development, and digital transformation.