Category: Life & Style

Kerala’s Kozhikode and Madhya Pradesh’s Gwalior have been declared as City of Literature and City of Music by UNESCO. On the occasion of World Cities Day, observed on October 31, UNESCO unveiled a prestigious list of 55 new creative cities, and Kozhikode and Gwalior made it to the list for their commitment to culture, creativity, and innovative urban planning.

Kozhikode met the stringent criteria, boasting a multitude of literary institutions, extensive experience in organising literary events, and a high level of literary education. The city’s literary activities, characterised by both quality and diversity, secured its place on UNESCO’s Creative Cities list.

Gwalior’s rich musical history, encompassing legends like Tansen and Baliti Bawra, along with the esteemed Gwalior Gharana, earned it this prestigious recognition of the City of Music.

With these latest additions, the UNESCO Creative Cities Network now boasts 350 creative cities in more than 100 countries, spanning seven creative fields: Crafts and Folk Art, Design, Film, Gastronomy, Literature, Media Arts, and Music.

The newly designated creative cities will participate in the UCCN annual conference in Braga, Portugal, from July 1 to 5, 2024, under the theme, Bringing Youth to the Table for the Next Decade.

To celebrate its 20th anniversary, Singapore Airlines on October 29 unveiled plans to expand its services with five additional flights between Hyderabad and Singapore. The event was attended by senior officials from GMR Hyderabad International Airport Limited (GHIAL), key representatives from Singapore Airlines, and various airport stakeholders, who gathered at the terminal to celebrate the airline’s two decades of operation in the region.

These new flights aim to meet the growing demand for comfortable long-haul travel to Singapore, which serves as a convenient transit point for travellers heading to destinations in Australia, New Zealand, and Far East Asia.

The Singapore Airlines Flight SQ 519 will depart from Hyderabad at 11.20 (IST) and arrive in Singapore at 18.20 (Singapore Standard Time). The return flight, Singapore Airlines Flight SQ 518 will depart from Singapore at 8 (Singapore Standard Time) and arrive in Hyderabad at 10.15 (IST).

With these five weekly nonstop flights, passengers travelling from Hyderabad to Singapore and beyond will have increased connectivity options. Additionally, the introduction of wide-body aircraft A350-900 for the daily evening departure flight SQ522/SQ523 will offer an improved coach experience.

Kenya plans to end visa requirements for all Africans visiting the East African nation by the end of the year, said President William Ruto at the Three Basins Climate Change Conference in Brazzaville, Congo, held from October 26 to 28.

“By the end of this year, no African will be required to have a visa to come to Kenya,” said Ruto in his speech, which was met with resounding applause.

President Ruto underscored the potential benefits of eliminating visa requirements for citizens of African countries, emphasising the positive impact it could have on trade and opportunities.

According to a 2022 report by the African Union (AU) and the African Development Bank on visa openness, only three African nations—Benin, Seychelles, and The Gambia—currently allow African travellers to enter without a visa.

The initiative for a visa-free Africa for all Africans is a fundamental aspect of the AU’s Agenda 2063. However, its implementation has faced challenges and been slow to progress.

The AU introduced the African passport in 2016 with the aim of enabling unrestricted travel for all African citizens within the continent, eliminating the need for visas. However, its widespread availability remains limited, primarily due to concerns related to security, smuggling, and potential impacts on local job markets.

In a move to boost tourism, Thailand has waived off visa requirements for travellers coming in from India and Taiwan from November 2023 to May 2024, said a government official in a statement on October 31.

Arrivals from India and Taiwan will be permitted to stay in Thailand for duration of 30 days.

India has emerged as Thailand’s fourth-largest source market for tourism this year, after Malaysia, China, and South Korea, with approximately 1.2 million arrivals.

In September, Thailand had eliminated visa requirements for Chinese tourists. The country had 11 million arrivals from China in 2019.

The latest government data reveals that from January to October 29, Thailand received 22 million visitors, contributing 927.5 billion baht (approximately $25.67 billion) to the country’s economy.

With more airlines and hospitality chains targeting the market, inbound tourism from India showed signs of growth. Thailand is aiming at about 28 million arrivals in 2023.

In October, Sri Lanka announced visa-free entry for India and six other countries, China, Russia, Malaysia, Japan, Indonesia and Thailand, until March 21, 2024, in a bid to boost tourism with immediate effect.

The United Nations World Tourism Organisation has honoured Gujarat’s Dhordo as the ‘best tourism village.’ Located in the Great Rann of Kutch, Dhordo is well-known for hosting the annual Rann Utsav, a vibrant cultural festival that showcases the traditional art, music and crafts of the region.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi shared pictures of his visits to the village in 2009 and 2015 in his congratulatory message on the achievement on X. “Absolutely thrilled” at the development, PM Modi wished a bright future for Dhordo and said that the honour not only showcases the potential of Indian tourism, but also the dedication of the people of Kutch. He even asked people to share their memories, saying that it would inspire others to visit the place.

Piyush Goyal, Union Minister of Commerce and Industry, Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Textiles, also shared pictures of the annual cultural extravaganza of the Rann Utsav at the tent city.

Dhordo, the gateway to the renowned white desert in Gujarat, is set to host the Rann Utsav from November 1, 2023 to February 20, 2024. Located close to the village, the White Desert – one of the largest salt deserts in the world – makes the Rann of Kutch a visual treat. Camel safaris are available here, and visiting on a full moon night is an outstanding experience.

India’s Chief Justice, Dr. Dhananjaya Y. Chandrachud, has received the prestigious Award for Global Leadership from Harvard Law School, adding a remarkable feather to his illustrious cap. This award recognizes his exceptional contributions to law and his unwavering commitment to upholding justice.

Justice Chandrachud, an alumnus of Harvard Law School, has made significant impacts in the legal arena, championing human rights, and fostering judicial accountability. His groundbreaking judgments and progressive legal interpretations have redefined the Indian judiciary’s role, solidifying his reputation as a transformative leader.

Harvard Law School acknowledged Justice Chandrachud’s dedication to the rule of law and his tireless efforts to create an inclusive society. His works in enhancing transparency in the judiciary and his advocacy for equal rights have resonated far beyond Indian borders, establishing him as a global legal luminary.

This accolade from one of the world’s most prestigious legal institutions highlights Justice Chandrachud’s international standing and his influence in shaping legal discourse globally. His leadership extends beyond the courtroom, inspiring legal practitioners and students worldwide.

Justice Chandrachud’s reception of the Award for Global Leadership serves as a testament to his visionary jurisprudence and his unwavering commitment to justice. It is a proud moment for India, as he brings home global recognition, underscoring the country’s legal prowess on the international stage.

Researchers have developed a method that could one day be used to build roads on the moon. Their experiment involved melting lunar soil with focused sunlight to turn it into a more solid substance. The approach, based on proof-of-concept experiments involving lasers and a substance resembling Moon dust and outlined in Scientific Reports on October 12, could be used to build other infrastructure such as landing pads.

Engineer Juan-Carlos Ginés-Palomares and his colleagues, based at the Technical University of Berlin, conducted experiments that involved manufacturing tiles by heating and melting the moon dust substitute. These tiles were then allowed to cool, producing a strong, consolidated piece with an interlocking design that measured around 25 millimeters in thickness. Such tiles could be placed alongside each other to cover a wide area of lunar soil.

In the experiments, the researchers used high-powered carbon dioxide laser beams to heat the dust substitute, replicating the effects of concentrated sunlight. The spot of the beam had a maximum diameter of 100 millimeters and 12 kilowatts of maximum power.

To reproduce this approach on the moon, the scientists suggest using a special type of lens measuring over 7 feet across that would focus sunlight like a magnifying glass. This lens would enable the manufacture of tiles using only sunlight and lunar soil.

On October 16, Madame Tussauds Singapore unveiled a lifelike wax figure of cricket superstar Virat Kohli. Dressed in his official Indian cricket kit, generously donated by the sportsman himself, the figure is showcased in the Sports Zone, alongside figures of legends such as Ronaldo, Yao Ming, and fellow cricketer Sachin Tendulkar.

Widely regarded as one of the greatest contemporary batsmen in international cricket, Kohli is known for his exceptional batting skills, masterful leadership, and fiery on-field personality. He made his debut for the Indian cricket team in 2008 and has since been one of the most important players that help to reinforce India’s status as one of the world’s top cricketing nations.

Virat Kohli, known for his remarkable achievements and leadership in the cricketing world, expressed his gratitude and appreciation for the honour.

The extraordinary lifelike figure, meticulously crafted by a team of skilled artists, will provide fans and visitors with a unique opportunity to get up close and personal with one of India’s most beloved sports icons.

Members and players from the Singapore Cricket Association were one of the first to witness the unveiling right before the ICC World Cup match between India and Pakistan.

Ferrari has begun to accept payment in cryptocurrency for its luxury sports cars in the US, and will extend the scheme to Europe after receiving requests from its wealthy customers.

Many leading corporations have avoided crypto due to the unpredictable nature of Bitcoin and similar tokens, making them unsuitable for business transactions. Inconsistent regulations and significant energy consumption further hinder crypto’s adoption as a payment method. Although Tesla, the electric vehicle manufacturer, started accepting Bitcoin in 2021, it later suspended this option because of environmental issues.

In a media interview, Ferrari’s Chief Marketing and Commercial Officer Enrico Galliera said that cryptocurrencies had made efforts to reduce their carbon footprint through the introduction of new software and a larger use of renewable sources. Due to their green focus, Ferrari hopes to accomplish its target to reach carbon neutrality by 2030, he said.

For the initial phase in the US, Ferrari has turned to one of the biggest cryptocurrency payment processors, BitPay, and will allow transactions in bitcoin, ether and USDC. The carmaker might use other payment processors in different regions. Prices will not change, no fees, no surcharges if you pay through cryptocurrency, the company has assured. Bitpay will immediately turn cryptocurrency payments into traditional currency on behalf of Ferrari’s dealers, so they are protected from price swings.

Actors Allu Arjun, Alia Bhatt, and Kriti Sanon, and the teams of the films RRR, Sardar Udham, Gangubai Kathiawadi and The Kashmir Files received theirNational Film AwardsfromPresident Droupadi Murmu atthe 69th National Film Awards ceremony in New Delhi’s Vigyan Bhawan on October 17. The Dadasaheb Phalke Award, India’s highest film honour, went to legendary actress Waheeda Rehman.

The winners of the National Awards for the year 2021, announced in August, include Rocketry: The Nambi Effect won Best Feature Film.

Alia Bhatt received the Best Actress award for her performance in and as Gangubai Kathiawadi. She shares the award with Kriti Sanon, who was recognised for her performance in the film Mimi, in which she played a surrogate mother. Allu Arjun, who received the Best Actor award for Pushpa: The Rise.

The other winners include Nikhil Mahajan (Best Director – Godavari), Pallavi Joshi (Best Supporting Actress – The Kashmir Files), Pankaj Tripathi (Best Supporting Actor – Mimi), Bhavin Rabari (Best Child Artist – Chhello Show), Vishnu Mohan (Indira Gandhi Award for Best Debut of a Director – Meppadiyan), and Shershaah (Special Jury Award).