Category: Life & Style

Renowned designer Sabyasachi Mukherjee made history by becoming the first Indian to grace the Met Gala carpet, showcasing his signature style and Indian heritage. His unforgettable performance highlighted both his brilliance and his commitment to culture.

He looked well put together and elegant in an embroidered cotton duster coat from his Sabyasachi Resort 2024 line, worn with a white shirt and fitted beige trousers. He wore brown loafers, sunglasses, a matching belt, and jewels from his High Jewellery line, which included tourmaline, pearls, emeralds, and diamonds.

The official Sabyasachi Instagram handle captioned the look, “As the galloping horde of mechanisation, modernization, and uniformity march ever closer; it is craft, that embodiment of human touch, tradition, and diversity that will safeguard culture from the passage of time.”

Meanwhile, Alia Bhatt attended the festivities while wearing a gorgeous Sabyasachi saree. The outfit included a hand-embroidered train and a blouse studded with pearls and emeralds. Her hair was done in an elegant coiffure and accessorised with jewels from the Bengal Royal collection.

This historic event not only attracted admirers but also brought Sabyasachi’s impact on Bollywood fashion to light. With former celebrities like Vidya Balan and Priyanka Chopra wearing his creations, Sabyasachi is pushing the boundaries of Indian fashion internationally.

India and its allies aim to regulate tourism in the Antarctic due to growing worries about its impact on the environment. The 46th Antarctic Treaty Consultative Conference (ATCM) and the 26th Committee for Environmental Protection (CEP) conference, which are both focused on this issue, will be held in Kochi, Kerala, from May 20 to May 30, at the Ministry of Earth Sciences.

The Secretary of the Ministry of Earth Sciences, Ravichandran, emphasised the pressing need for regulation and outlined the difficulties associated with uncontrolled tourism. India suggests more stringent regulations to protect the fragile ecosystem in the area, including the establishment of criteria for travellers to Antarctica.

In order to assist in continuing scientific efforts, India runs two research stations in Antarctica: Maitri and Bharati. The government provides these bases with yearly maintenance funding of about Rs 150–200 crore, which guarantees careful maintenance and garbage disposal.

Since its inception in the 1950s, thousands of people have been to the Antarctic each year as a result of a tourism surge. For the 2022–2023 season, the International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators (IAATO) released several significant figures.

India and its allies are working to encourage environmentally conscious travel to Antarctica, with a focus on limited access and protection.

On Monday, the government of India announced its decision to permit the export of 14,000 metric tonnes of non-basmati white rice to Mauritius. The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) informed people about this export allowance via a notification through the National Cooperative Exports Limited (NCEL).

Although exports of non-basmati white rice have been prohibited since July 20, 2023, exceptions are granted to some nations with government clearance, mainly to meet their requests for food security. This is done to support domestic supplies. Following the announcement’s protocol, NCEL has allocated 14,000 MT to Mauritius and is in charge of managing it.

Previously, Tanzania, Djibouti, and Guinea-Bissau were among the African countries to which India had authorised exports of non-basmati white rice. Furthermore, this rice variety was approved for sale to Nepal, Cameroon, Guinea, Malaysia, the Philippines, and the Seychelles, among other nations.

Well-known Indian cooperative societies like the Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation (GCMMF), also known as AMUL, and the Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative Marketing Federation of India Ltd. (NAFED) support National Cooperative Exports Limited (NCEL) as a multi-state cooperative society.

Britain is embarking on a significant endeavour, investing £200 million to establish Europe’s first high-assay, low-enriched uranium (HALEU) production facility.

This plant is essential to future nuclear energy initiatives that seek to improve energy security and achieve climate goals. Britain is establishing itself as a pioneer in nuclear energy innovation with a targeted nuclear power capacity of 24 gigawatts by 2050, which would account for a quarter of projected electricity consumption.

By 2031, the HALEU factory in Cheshire should be operational and able to meet both domestic and international demand for HALEU fuel. This action not only encourages supply diversification but also lessens dependency on Russian gasoline, which is particularly important given the geopolitical tensions that have arisen since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Meanwhile, the United Kingdom has declared a competition worth £600 million to create the world’s first economically feasible prototype of a fusion power plant, with the goal of connecting it to the grid by 2040. Fusion energy, which is modelled after the sun’s mechanism, presents a viable way to generate electricity without emitting any emissions and with very little radioactive waste.

These programmes demonstrate Britain’s dedication to developing innovative energy solutions, promoting homegrown knowledge, and aligning with international demands for energy sustainability and security.

Scientists have uncovered Mexico’s Taam Ja’ Blue Hole (TJBH) as the world’s deepest, reaching 1,380 feet below sea level. This discovery, revealed in Frontiers in Marine Science, is located in Chetumal Bay off the Yucatan Peninsula and surpasses the previous record-holder, the Dragon Hole in the South China Sea, by 480 feet.

These incredibly deep Karst formations, which are the result of soluble bedrock dissolving, present a challenge to scientific research and push the bounds of knowledge. Blue holes are vertical marine caves that were left over from glacial discharge during the Ice Age. However, the depth of the Taam Ja’ Blue Hole poses a significant challenge.

Reaching the bottom is still difficult because of oxygen depletion and dangerous hydrogen sulphide gas, even with the use of advanced techniques such as echo-sounders and a cutting-edge CTD profile. Initial measurements in 2021 reached only 900 feet, with subsequent expeditions unable to descend further than 1,380 feet.

According to scientific theories, there might be a complex network of caves and tunnels at the bottom. Meanwhile, future expeditions aim to overcome these challenges and delve deeper into this enigmatic abyss.

Indian-origin astronaut Sunita Williams was all set for her third space voyage aboard the Boeing Starliner, scheduled for May 7. A technical issue has caused the launch to be delayed; however, no new date has been announced. Williams, born on September 19, 1965, has spent 322 days in space throughout two space missions since 1998. Known for her calm demeanour, she expressed a mix of excitement and readiness for the upcoming mission despite flying in a new spacecraft.

Williams was chosen for NASA’s commercial crew programme, which aims to certify the Starliner for future crew transport to the International Space Station (ISS). She is a former Navy officer with degrees in physical science.

Before departing for Earth on May 15, the mission plan calls for an eight-day stay on the International Space Station (ISS) to undertake multiple tests and experiments. Boeing’s Starliner test flight, lasting approximately 26 hours, is crucial for achieving certification. If successful, Boeing would join SpaceX in offering personnel transport services to and from the International Space Station.

Boeing aims to make a major contribution to NASA’s transportation needs with six scheduled trips over the next six years, using SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft in addition to the Starliner.

New Zealand’s Antarctic agency recently inked a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Germany’s prestigious Alfred Wegener Institute, marking a significant stride in fostering cooperation in polar science. The foreign minister of New Zealand, Winston Peters, sought to strengthen links between polar and marine science institutions by highlighting Antarctica’s growing geostrategic and scientific importance.

The signing of the Memorandum of Understanding took place during German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock’s official visit to New Zealand, highlighting the significance of cooperation between the two countries in polar research.

Following the initial announcement in 2019, New Zealand revised its plans to upgrade its ageing Antarctica base as a result of rising projected costs.

As a result of China’s construction of its fifth research facility in Antarctica in February, Western nations have expressed concern and attention. Concerns have been raised concerning the possible effects on monitoring capacities, specifically concerning the People’s Liberation Army (PLA).

As the largest scientific organisation in Germany, the Alfred Wegener Institute plays a pivotal role in coordinating the country’s polar research endeavours. In light of the growing interest and activity in Antarctica, the MOU is a step towards improved cooperation and reflects a shared commitment to furthering scientific understanding and tackling the problems associated with the polar regions.

Scientists in Singapore have created a reusable adhesive with strong adhesion to rough surfaces that take inspiration from dried snail mucus and gecko feet. Unlike traditional adhesives, it can support up to 60kg with a palm-sized amount, outperforming gecko feet. Remarkably, it detaches easily when heated, unlike strong adhesives that risk surface damage during removal.

This innovation opens doors for climbing robots and robotic grippers, potentially enabling Spider-Man-like scaling or ceiling clinging for surveys and repairs. Developed by a team at Nanyang Technological University (NTU), the adhesive is based on shape-memory polymers, mimicking snail mucus properties. These polymers return to their original shape after external stimuli, like heat.

The adhesive’s versatility overcomes the adhesion paradox on rough surfaces. It strengthens on rough surfaces in a solid state and softens when in a “rubber” state, conforming to surface irregularities. Mimicking gecko feet, it utilises fibrils for enhanced adhesion, with a palm-sized array supporting 60kg.

Moreover, the adhesive’s materials are cost-effective, utilising off-the-shelf E44 epoxy. Praised for its innovative design, it offers impressive adhesion strength and switchability, making it ideal for temporary attachments.

Sundar Pichai, Alphabet Inc.’s CEO, is on the brink of becoming a billionaire, a rare feat for a tech executive without founding a company. Since taking charge of Google in 2015, Pichai, 51, has overseen remarkable growth, with the stock soaring over 400%, surpassing major market indices like the S&P 500 and Nasdaq.

The recent stellar first-quarter performance, driven by robust growth in the cloud computing division powered by artificial intelligence, propelled Google’s stock to an all-time high. Additionally, the company announced its first dividend, a historic move. The surge in Google’s valuation, along with substantial stock awards, has pushed Pichai’s wealth close to the billion-dollar mark.

Pichai’s journey from humble beginnings in Chennai, India, to Silicon Valley’s upper echelons showcases his determination and talent. Raised in modest conditions, his early fascination with technology, coupled with his father’s profession as an electrical engineer, laid the foundation for his tech career.

Pichai’s academic excellence earned him spots at the prestigious IIT, Stanford University, and the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School. After joining Google in 2004, he led significant projects like Google Toolbar and Chrome, earning praise for his humility and consensus-building skills.

As a result of Alphabet’s earnings report last week, Pichai has been successful in creating shareholder value through his AI investments.

On Tuesday, a senior cabinet member announced that Indonesia is considering providing dual citizenship to individuals of Indonesian descent in order to attract more qualified professionals to the country.

Dual citizenship for adults is not recognised under current Indonesian law; therefore, anyone having two passports must choose one and renounce the other once they reach the age of 18.

Luhut Pandjaitan, the coordinating minister for maritime affairs and investment, announced the government’s plan to award dual citizenship to former Indonesian nationals living abroad, but no further details were provided.

Speaking ahead of Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella’s announcement of a $1.7 billion investment in Indonesia, Luhut emphasised the call to diaspora Indonesians, expressing optimism that the programme will encourage highly trained individuals to return to Indonesia.

According to figures from the Directorate General of Immigration, around 4,000 Indonesians obtained Singapore citizenship between 2019 and 2022. However, the immigration department has yet to react to concerns about the possible acceptance of dual citizenship.

In 2016, President Joko Widodo fired Arcandra Tahar as energy and mining minister when news surfaced that he held both US and Indonesian passports, sparking controversy.