Category: Life & Style

To enhance bilateral ties and facilitate travel, Saudi Arabia has announced a 96-hour stopover visa for Indian travelers, along with the issuance of regular visas within 48 hours. Saudi Arabian Minister of Hajj and Umrah, Tawfiq bin Fawzan Al-Rabiah, shared this development during his visit to Delhi, where he addressed the media alongside Union Minority Affairs Minister Smriti Irani and Minister of State for External Affairs, V Muraleedharan.

Al-Rabiah revealed that Indian citizens can now undertake Umrah on business, tourism, and Umrah visas. The Umrah visa, valid for 90 days, allows holders to reside and visit any city in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Highlighting the surge in Umrah pilgrims from India, Al-Rabiah noted a remarkable 74% increase in 2023, surpassing 1.2 million pilgrims. During his meeting with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, discussions centered on facilitating the Hajj pilgrimage by Indian nationals and strengthening the ties between the two nations.

The Haj Committee of India aims to address the possibility of increasing India’s Hajj pilgrimage quota during Al-Rabiah’s visit. Currently set at 1,75,025 for 2023, the committee is optimistic about discussions to raise the quota to at least 2,00,000 pilgrims.

These developments mark a positive stride in the relationship between Saudi Arabia and India, offering enhanced travel opportunities and fostering cultural exchanges between the two nations.

Gujarat’s iconic Garba dance has been inscribed on the Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO. Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel shared this historic news, celebrating the cultural richness and inclusivity embedded in the traditional dance.

This recognition, granted under the 2003 Convention for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage, marks the 15th element from India to join this distinguished list. Garba, a dance deeply rooted in ritualistic and devotional traditions, plays a pivotal role in promoting social and gender inclusivity.

Union Culture Minister G Kishan Reddy expressed the nation’s pride, emphasizing Garba’s symbolic representation of celebration, devotion, gender inclusivity, and social equality. The dance’s inscription is seen as a testament to the Indian government’s relentless efforts to showcase the country’s rich cultural heritage globally.

The UNESCO New Delhi cluster office shared the excitement on social media, proclaiming, “Excited to share that #Garba of Gujarat is now India’s 15th inscription on the @UNESCO Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity!”

Garba, traditionally performed during Navratri to honor feminine energy or Shakti, brings diverse communities together in a celebration of cultural vibrancy. Previous Indian inclusions in the prestigious list include Durga Puja in Kolkata (2021), Kumbh Mela (2017), and Yoga (2016). The inscription of Garba reaffirms India’s commitment to preserving and promoting its rich cultural heritage on the global stage.

Captain Geetika Koul of the Snow Leopard Brigade has become the first woman medical officer in the Indian Army to be deployed at Siachen, the world’s highest battlefield, the Fire and Fury Corps announced on Tuesday.

This achievement follows Captain Koul’s successful completion of rigorous induction training at the esteemed Siachen Battle School. The training, considered a formidable test of physical and mental endurance, covers various aspects such as high-altitude acclimatization, survival techniques, and specialized medical procedures.

In a social media post, the Fire and Fury Corps of the Indian Army declared, “Captain Geetika Koul from the Snow Leopard Brigade becomes the first Woman Medical officer of the Indian Army to be deployed at the world’s highest battlefield, Siachen after successfully completing the induction training at Siachen Battle School.”

Siachen, situated in the northern Himalayas, is renowned not only for its strategic importance but also for its harsh climate and demanding topography. Captain Geetika Koul’s deployment as the inaugural woman medical officer to this extreme battlefield represents a significant stride towards gender inclusion within the Indian Army.

The statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj was unveiled by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Rajkot Fort in Maharashtra’s Sindhudurg district on the occasion of Navy Day.

Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, the visionary leader of the Maratha empire, constructed several coastal and sea forts. The unveiling ceremony highlighted his significant contribution to India’s maritime history, with a special focus on the iconic Sindhudurg Fort. The prime minister paid homage to the legendary leader who is also known as the father of the Indian Navy.

PM Modi attended the Navy Day 2023 celebrations in Sindhudurg where the Indian Navy displayed its operational prowess and capabilities. An ‘Operational Demonstration’ covering a spectrum of naval operations by ships and aircraft was organized at the iconic Sindhudurg Fort on the western seaboard of India.

The event, hosted by Admiral R. Hari Kumar, Chief of the Naval Staff, was witnessed from the Tarkarli beach by senior Centre and State government officials, military dignitaries and the local populace. The event aimed to celebrate and glorify the nation’s rich maritime history and shed light on colonial practices.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the renaming of ranks in the Indian Navy during the Navy Day celebrations in the Sindhudurg district of Maharashtra. The decision reflects a commitment to honoring the legacy of the legendary Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, credited for building the country’s first modern Navy.

Addressing the celebration, PM Modi highlighted the transformative ideals of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, stating that India of today is moving forward abandoning the slavery mentality. The Prime Minister unveiled plans for the epaulettes worn by naval officers to prominently feature the heritage and legacy of Shivaji Maharaj, aligning them with the design of the naval ensign.

“Inspired by the ideals of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, the epaulettes donned by our naval officers will now highlight the heritage and legacy of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj as the new epaulettes will be similar to the naval ensign,” PM Modi announced during the celebration.

Prime Minister Modi also took the opportunity to emphasize the empowerment of ‘nari shakti’ within the armed forces. He commended the Indian Navy for appointing its first woman commanding officer on a naval ship, marking a significant milestone in the country’s defense history.

PM Modi was also witness to an operational demonstration of the Indian Navy, in which ships, aircraft and submarines of the force took part, off the picturesque Tarkarli beach, highlighting the force’s prowess.

Saudi Arabia has introduced stricter regulations for issuing visas for the recruitment of domestic workers from abroad. The Musaned recruitment platform, designed to streamline the domestic labor market, has outlined key criteria for employers seeking to bring in overseas domestic help. Under the new regulations, the minimum age for an individual employer to secure a visa for domestic workers has been set at 24 years.

Under these rules, Saudi citizens, Gulf nationals, foreign wives of Saudi men, their mothers, and holders of Saudi premium residency permits can apply for visas to hire overseas domestic labor. However, the approval is contingent upon the financial capabilities of the employers. These rules were implemented to control the domestic labor market.

The Musaned platform plays a pivotal role in facilitating these transactions, offering a seamless process for wage transfers through digital platforms like STC Pay and Urpay apps. Notably, the platform provides additional services such as the transfer of a house worker’s service between employers, validation of domestic labor contracts, and resolution of disputes. Various categories of domestic workers, including housekeepers, drivers, housemaids, cleaners, cooks, guards, farmers, tailors, live-in nurses, tutors, and nannies, are covered under these regulations.

As the official recruitment channel for domestic labor in the country, Musaned aims to bring transparency and efficiency to the recruitment process, ensuring the rights of both employers and domestic workers.

The Indian Navy has appointed the first woman commanding officer in a naval ship in sync with its philosophy of ‘all roles-all ranks’ for female personnel, Navy Chief Admiral R Hari Kumar said on Dec 1.

The appointed officer, a qualified navigation instructor with a background in training observers, has successfully completed all requisite qualification processes and exams. Admiral Kumar highlighted that she will undergo pre-commissioning training before assuming command of the ship.

Admiral Kumar also shared that the overall strength of women Agniveers has now crossed the 1,000-mark, adding that the Indian Navy’s first batch of Agniveers graduated from the premier-winning establishment, INS Chilka, in March this year.

“And importantly, this (first) batch of Agniveers includes 272 female Agniveer trainees as well…And going further, the second batch of Agniveers had a total of 454 women and I want to say that with the third batch, which has just been inducted, we have now crossed over 1000 women affiliates in the navy,” Admiral Kumar said.

Addressing a press conference ahead of Navy Day, Admiral Kumar said the Indian Navy’s ships, submarines, and aircraft have sustained a high operational tempo in the strategic waters in the last one year.

“Our ships, submarines, and aircraft have sustained a high operational tempo – undertaking missions and tasks encompassing military, diplomatic, constabulary and benign roles,” he said.

One of Virgin Atlantic’s Boeing 787s took off for the world’s first 100% Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) flight from London’s Heathrow to New York’s John F. Kennedy (JFK) International Airport. This milestone comes as a pivotal moment in the airline’s commitment to environmental sustainability.

The fuel used to power the flight is mostly made from used cooking oil and waste animal fat mixed with a small amount of synthetic aromatic kerosene made from waste corn, Virgin Atlantic said. UK’s Transport Secretary travelled on the flight alongside Virgin Atlantic’s Chief Executive Shai Weiss and Virgin’s founder, Sir Richard Branson, making the carrier the first commercial airline to fly across the Atlantic without the use of any fossil-based jet fuel.

SAF is recognized as a key element in the aviation industry’s efforts to curb carbon emissions. However, the cost of SAF production stands at three to five times that of regular jet fuel, presenting a financial challenge for widespread adoption within the aviation sector.

Current regulations prohibit airlines from using a blend of more than 50% SAF on commercial flights, as engine manufacturers and aviation authorities work together to ensure that these new fuels are safe to use in higher concentrations. To execute the flight, a special permit was issued by the UK Civil Aviation Authority, which came after a series of technical reviews including ground tests with 100% SAF on the same type of engines used during the flight.

The industry hopes that the Virgin flight will highlight to governments the need for them to provide financial support to make SAF more readily available.

Hollywood stalwart Michael Douglas was honoured with the Satyajit Ray Lifetime Achievement Award at the closing ceremony of the 54th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in Goa.

The prestigious accolade celebrated Douglas’s outstanding contributions to the world of filmmaking, marking a defining moment in the veteran actor and producer’s illustrious career. The Hollywood star also received a standing ovation from the audience.

“Cinema is one of the few mediums that has the power to unite and transform us. It transcends divisions, whether that be geography, race language and even time,” he said in his acceptance speech. Acknowledging the honour, the acclaimed actor praised Satyajit Ray as a world-class filmmaker. He took the opportunity to express his admiration for Indian cinema, highlighting iconic Hindi films such as ‘RRR,’ ‘Om Shanti Om,’ and ‘The Lunchbox’ as his personal favourites.

Michael Douglas is known for his works like ‘Falling Down,’, ‘The Game,’ ‘The American President’, ‘Fatal Attraction’, ‘Wall Street’, ‘The Ghost and the Darkness’ and ‘A Perfect Murder’ among others.

Singapore and Zurich surpassed New York to become the world’s most expensive cities to live in this year, according to the latest report from the Economist Intelligence Unit. This marks the ninth time in the last 11 years that Singapore has claimed the top spot, while Zurich has made a remarkable leap from sixth place last year to jointly hold the first position.

The sky-high cost of car ownership, pricey alcohol and rising grocery prices saw Singapore pull ahead of the US city, with which it shared the top spot last year. Zurich’s ascent can be attributed to the strength of the Swiss franc and elevated costs in categories such as groceries, household goods, and recreation.

Despite tying with Singapore for the first position last year, New York slipped to third place this year, sharing the spot with Geneva. The study indicates a 1.9% increase in prices in the popular U.S. destination. The Economist Intelligence Unit highlighted that many cities globally are grappling with rising prices due to high inflation, with a 7.4% year-on-year increase in local currency terms for more than 200 commonly used goods and services. Although this figure is slightly lower than the previous year, it remains higher than the trend observed from 2017 to 2021.

Asia experiences relatively lower inflation, explaining why only two Asian cities secured positions in the top 10. Hong Kong, the only other Asian destination in the top 10, was fifth, while Los Angeles was at No. 6.

Paris claimed the seventh spot, Tel Aviv and Copenhagen tied for eighth, and San Francisco rounded out the top 10. Notably, the survey was conducted before the October outbreak of the Israel-Hamas conflict.