Geologists discovered a long-lost tectonic plate in Borneo, providing new insights into Earth's ancient geological history. According to a study led by Utrecht University geologist Suzanna van de Lagemaat and her supervisor Douwe van Hinsbergen, the plate, dubbed Pontus, dates back an incredible 120 million years. Using geological data from Borneo's mountainous regions, they discovered ancient tectonic activities that sculpted the Earth's crust millions of years ago. Initially, Van de Lagemaat thought she was looking for traces of a known lost plate. However, magnetic analysis in their lab
India is in talks with African and South American countries to assist them in establishing digital payment systems based on the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) paradigm. Ritesh Shukla, CEO of NPCI International Payments Ltd. (NIPL), expects two launches by early 2027. NIPL, the abroad branch of the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), is in talks with a number of countries and is close to reaching an agreement with one. The NPCI, a quasi-regulatory organisation under India's central bank, oversees UPI, which saw roughly 15 billion transactions in August, a 41% increase. NIPL,
Cosmonaut Oleg Kononenko, first-time flyer Nikolai Chub, and NASA astronaut Tracy Dyson successfully returned to Earth from the International Space Station (ISS) on Monday. The Soyuz MS-25/71S spacecraft undocked at 4:36 a.m. EDT and landed in Kazakhstan at 7:59 a.m. EDT, capping a 374-day mission for Kononenko and Chub, and 184 days for Dyson. Kononenko achieved a new record of 1,111 days in space. After landing, NASA and Russian rescue workers quickly assisted the astronauts, and all three appeared to be in good health. Kononenko, the world's most experienced spaceman, turned over comman
The 10-foot-tall tree known as "Sheba" sprang from a seed that was planted approximately 1,000 years ago, between the years 993 and 1202. This old seed probably came from a family tree that was described in the Bible; it was found in the Judean Desert, which is between the West Bank and Israel. Sheba took fourteen years to mature after being unearthed in the course of an excavation in the late 1980s. According to scientists, the tree may have a common ancestor with an ancient species that was famous for making the biblical balm "tsori," which had curative qualities. Sheba was first thought
On September 22, 2024, the 128 Infantry Battalion and Ecological Task Force of the Territorial Army established a new world record by planting more than 5 lakh seedlings in one hour. As part of the prime minister's 'Ek Ped Maa ke Naam' program, the push was carried out by the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change (MoEF&CC). The event occurred from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan. "Bhagidari & Zimmedari" was the name of the campaign that sought to rally the public behind environmental protection and restoration efforts. The event was a success thanks to th
Dhruvi Patel, a Computer Information Systems student from the United States, has won the prestigious Miss India Worldwide 2024 title, marking an important milestone in the longest-running Indian pageant outside India. Dhruvi, who dreams of working in Bollywood and becoming a UNICEF Ambassador, says the crown represents her roots and the ability to inspire others all around the world. Lisa Abdoelhak of Suriname was named first runner-up at the grand finale in Edison, New Jersey, with Malvika Sharma of the Netherlands coming in second. SuAnn Mouttet from Trinidad and Tobago won the Mrs. cate
Rhea Singha, 19, was crowned Miss Universe India 2024 at the pageant's finale in Jaipur on September 22. Rhea won the renowned Taj Mahal Crown after impressing judges with her beauty, intelligence, and grace as she competed against 51 other contenders. Urvashi Rautela, former Miss Universe India, had the honour of crowning her. In a post-win interview, Rhea expressed her thanks and happiness, saying, "I worked hard to earn this title, and previous winners have greatly inspired me." Rhea looked stunning at the crowning event in a peach-toned, sequin-adorned gown with a deep-V neckline, c
NASA has chosen Iceland as a training base for the Artemis II mission, maintaining a long tradition of astronaut training on the Nordic island dating back to the Apollo days. This summer, astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and CSA astronaut Jeremy Hansen trained in geology while exploring Iceland's lunar-like landscape. According to Cindy Evans, Artemis geology training director at NASA, Iceland's geology is similar to the Moon's, including basalt and breccia formations, making it suitable for preparing astronauts for future trips. During training, astronauts exerci
The Indian government has announced the continuation of the Pradhan Mantri Annadata Aay Sanrakshan Abhiyan (PM-AASHA) initiative, with a significant budget of Rs 35,000 crore. This program seeks to obtain higher prices for farmers while also addressing the price volatility of critical goods for consumers. The Union Cabinet, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, accepted the approval of PM-AASHA, which aims to give remunerative rates for farmers while ensuring market price stability for consumers. The whole budgetary commitment under this strategy will last until the 15th Finance Commission
Starting December 1, 2024, Thailand will implement an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) system for visa-exempt visitors, including those from India. This program seeks to simplify immigration procedures and improve tracking of foreign nationals, in line with Thailand's initiatives to improve national security and visitor management. This statement follows Thailand's decision to expand visa exemptions in July 2024. The ETA will apply to nationals of 93 countries who are now visa-free, except travellers from Laos, Cambodia, and Malaysia. Each ETA allows for a single entry and is valid fo