Category: Life & Style

On April 6, which is the auspicious day of Ram Navami, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to travel to Tamil Nadu. During his visit, he would pay respect at the Sri Arulmigu Ramanathaswamy Temple in Rameswaram and inaugurate the long-awaited Pamban Bridge. The new construction, India’s first vertical lift railway sea bridge, will replace the existing bridge, which was closed in 2022 owing to serious corrosion.

According to sources, PM Modi is scheduled to travel to Rameswaram from Sri Lanka in April, following a bilateral visit. He is expected to visit Thailand on April 3 and 4 for the BIMSTEC conference.

RVNL built the Pamban Bridge, which spans 2.5 kilometres and cost ₹535 crore. Designed to allow quicker trains and greater cargoes, the bridge intends to improve connectivity between the mainland and Rameswaram.

Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw earlier praised the bridge as a symbol of India’s advancement in engineering and infrastructure. Southern Railway General Manager R N Singh revealed that PM Modi is scheduled to open the bridge on April 6, with further details of his visit to be determined.

According to Numbeo’s 2025 Safety Index, Andorra is the safest country in the world, with an amazing score of 84.7 out of 100. The study compared 146 countries based on a variety of safety criteria, including crime rates, personal security, and public perception. The tiny European country, tucked between France and Spain in the Pyrenees mountains, is famed for its beautiful scenery, robust economy, and almost nonexistent crime.

Andorra’s low crime rate, along with its growing tourism economy and long life expectancy, make it an appealing destination for those seeking protection. The country’s devotion to security has helped it acquire an international reputation.

The UAE ranked second with a score of 84.5 due to stringent rules, modern surveillance, and effective law enforcement. Qatar ranked third with 84.2 points, cementing its reputation as a safe Middle Eastern destination. Taiwan came in fourth position, earning 82.9, owing to low violent crime rates.

Meanwhile, Venezuela was ranked as the most dangerous country, finishing last with a score of 19.3. The rankings show shifting travel habits, with safety-conscious tourists preferring secure places like Andorra, the UAE, and Qatar.

The inaugural Festival of Indian Cinema in Seattle began with a grand opening, honouring India’s rich cinematic tradition and cultural diversity. The inaugural event featured a short documentary about the just finished Mahakumbh, as well as parts from Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s podcast with Lex Fridman. The podcast focused on India’s founding ideals and its central message of unity in diversity.

The three-day event, organised by the Consulate General of India in Seattle in partnership with the Museum of Pop Culture, kicked off on Friday with a special proclamation. In honour of Indian cinema, March 21, 22, and 23 were formally recognised as ‘Indian Cinema Festival Days’ in all 39 communities of King County, including the Greater Seattle area.

The festival’s main attraction is a special photo exhibit called ‘History of Indian Cinema,’ which depicts the evolution of Indian cinema. This show, which includes iconic milestones and great movies, will be on display at MOPOP Seattle until March 23.

King County Executive Dow Constantine hailed India’s vibrant and diversified culture, noting that Indian film had considerably improved the region’s artistic environment.

Three critically acclaimed Indian films—English Vinglish, Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara, and Raksha Bandhan—will be presented at the event.

Admiral Samuel J. Paparo, chief of the US Indo-Pacific Command, just returned from a critical visit to India, where he sought to strengthen military ties and renew a fundamental defence framework between the two countries. From March 16 to 19, Paparo conducted four high-level meetings with Indian leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, and Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan.

The discussions focused on strengthening the US-India strategic alliance and expanding future defence collaboration. Paparo’s visit is part of a larger US-India program called COMPACT, which was announced in February to promote partnerships in defence, trade, technology, and energy. The renewal of the Major Defence Partnership, which was established in 2016 to provide India with access to advanced US military technologies, was a crucial component of the negotiations.

With the deal scheduled to expire next year, both parties are pushing to extend it for another decade. During his visit, Paparo took part in the Raisina Dialogue, India’s flagship global strategic event. On the sidelines, defence officials from the Quad nations (India, the United States, Australia, and Japan) addressed security cooperation.

Thailand has successfully retained its status as the world’s greatest orchid exporter, with shipments totalling 5.43 billion THB (160 million USD) during the last two years. This milestone was confirmed by the Thai Commerce Ministry’s Department of Business Development (DBD), which highlighted the sustained global demand for Thai orchids.

Thailand’s decorative plant exports increased to 9.32 billion THB between 2023 and 2024, with orchids accounting for more than half of the total. This strengthens the country’s position as a major player in the worldwide floral trade. Key markets for Thai decorative plants include the United States, Vietnam, Japan, and Malaysia, where demand remains high.

The industry has also experienced significant corporate activity. There are 2,993 registered firms in the floral, decorative, and perennial plant sectors, with a total registered capital of 17.6 billion THB. In 2023, these enterprises had a total revenue of 91.51 billion THB, with profits increasing to 2.47 billion THB from 1.84 billion THB in 2021.

DBD Director-General Oramon Sapthaweetham stressed the importance of technology in promoting growth. Smart farming and new agricultural practices are lowering costs and increasing efficiency, helping Thai farmers to remain globally competitive.

After a lengthy nine-month stay in the International Space Station, NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Sunita Williams have returned to Earth. Originally slated for only eight days, their mission was extended due to technical concerns with Boeing’s Starliner spaceship, which was deemed unsafe for their return.

Their return flight took 17 hours inside a SpaceX spacecraft, which underwent a fiery re-entry before safely splashing down off the Florida coast. A recovery team lifted the capsule from the ocean, and the astronauts returned smiling alongside crew members Nick Hague and Aleksandr Gorbunov.

NASA officials complimented their perseverance, describing the landing as “beautiful.” Before departing for Houston’s Johnson Space Centre, the astronauts will be medically evaluated. Extended space voyages impair the bones, muscles, and blood circulation, necessitating considerable rehabilitation.

During their unexpected stay, Williams and Wilmore carried out experiments, took spacewalks, and even celebrated Christmas in space. Williams set a record for the longest time spent outside the ISS by a female astronaut.

Despite being regarded as “stranded,” NASA assured them of their safety, stating that backup spacecraft were available in the event of an emergency.

The UAE business jets market was valued at $44.96 million in 2023 and is expected to reach $76.36 million by 2031. The market is estimated to increase at a 6.85% CAGR between 2024 and 2031.

According to DataM Intelligence, this market expansion is being driven by rising demand for private air travel among business executives, government officials, and high-net-worth individuals. The increased demand for luxury, flexibility, and faster travel options has fuelled the growth of the business aviation industry. Companies are launching strategic initiatives to improve operational efficiency, sustainability, and technical breakthroughs, hence increasing market performance.

Several big competitors, like Emirates Executive, Royal Jet, Pristine Jet Charter, and VistaJet, dominate the market. Emirates will move to paperless boarding permits in November 2023, increasing aviation sustainability. Gulfstream Aerospace Corp. extended its completions and outfitting activities in June 2023, investing $28.5 million in facility modernisation. The same month, Gulfstream’s G280 aircraft was approved for operations at France’s Saint-Tropez Airport, demonstrating its operational versatility.

With strong industry improvements and increased adoption of new technologies, the UAE business jet market is poised for significant expansion, solidifying its place as a key participant in the global business aviation environment.

Jammu & Kashmir’s famed Chinar trees, known for their majesty and cultural significance, now have distinct digital identities. In an innovative conservation initiative, the J&K Forest Department, in conjunction with the J&K Forest Research Institute (JKFI), has allocated Tree Aadhaar numbers to hundreds of these ancient trees. Each tree has a digital plate inscribed with a QR code, which, when scanned, provides detailed information.

The effort, which will be started in 2021, intends to monitor and protect China’s declining population carefully. According to official data, 28,560 trees have been geotagged so far. Between 2021 and 2022, 8,000 trees were documented, with an additional 10,000 in 2022-23. This fiscal year, an additional 10,000 trees will be tagged to help establish a comprehensive digital database.

According to the Project Coordinator at JKFI, the digital plates use Geographic Information System (GIS) technology to display important characteristics such as a tree’s location, height, canopy, health status, and any ecological concerns. Unlike traditional marks, the plates are held together with springs rather than nails to prevent damage.

The Chinar, a deciduous species in the Platanaceae family, has suffered a significant reduction throughout the years.

The National Competitiveness Enhancement Commission of Thailand has approved China’s Sunwoda Electronic’s investment of more than $1 billion in the production of electric vehicle (EV) battery cells and energy storage systems. The move is intended to greatly enhance Thailand’s electric vehicle supply chain and speed the country’s transition to sustainable transportation.

Sunwoda Automotive Energy Technology (Thailand) will locate its cutting-edge production facility in the Eastern Economic Corridor. The first phase will involve the development of a lithium-ion battery facility in Chonburi Province, a major industrial region. Construction has already begun, and the initial phase is expected to provide over 1,000 jobs. More hiring is anticipated, particularly for competent Thai engineers and researchers, to sustain long-term expansion.

“This is a significant milestone for Thailand’s EV industry. Locally made EV battery cells would strengthen our manufacturing capabilities and position us as a regional leader in EV and hybrid production,” said BOI Secretary General Narit Therdsteerasukdi.

Sunwoda’s investment is consistent with Thailand’s overall aim to transition from traditional automobile manufacturing to electrification. 

With investment promotion applications reaching a 10-year high of 1.14 trillion baht in 2024, Thailand remains a magnet for foreign investors.

Madhav National Park, in Madhya Pradesh’s Shivpuri district, has been formally recognised as India’s 58th Tiger Reserve. This milestone highlights India’s continuous commitment to wildlife conservation and tiger habitat expansion. The park covers 354.6 square kilometres and has a diversified environment of forests, grasslands, and lakes, making it a perfect habitat for tigers and other species.

Historically, Madhav National Park was a hunting field for Mughal emperors and Gwalior Maharajas. Akbar captured elephants here, and the Scindia dynasty used the area extensively for hunting expeditions. The park was named after Maharaja Madho Rao Scindia and became a national park in 1958 before being designated as a tiger reserve.

Madhya Pradesh currently has nine tiger reserves, making it the state with the most in India. The state continues to play an important role in national conservation efforts, helping to safeguard endangered species and maintain ecological balance.

India presently shelters more than 70% of the world’s wild tiger population, with an estimated 3,682 tigers. The designation of Madhav National Park as a protected reserve strengthens conservation efforts, assuring a safe and sustainable future for these majestic animals while also boosting the region’s biodiversity.