Long-term Schengen visas are now available to Indians, strengthening the value of their passports and enabling smooth travel between 29 European nations. Indians can now access these nations multiple times in two years, extendable by five, without the prior three-month limit. India is now ranked 85th in the world for passport strength. This new policy, which offers a two-year multi-entry visa, helps regular travellers and those who have been to Europe twice in the last three years. However, working locally isn't permitted. After COVID, the Scandinavian areas had a 140% surge, showing a
The ancient Harappan civilisation, trading and production-oriented, flourished around 5000 years ago. While trade is well documented, the practices of manufacturing are not. Excavations also indicate a sophisticated system of production, especially the production of high tin bronze, bead-making, pottery, weaving, and textiles like cotton. Beyond the major cities, such as Harappa and Mohenjodaro, the rural settlements themselves contained workshops and craft centres. One such site, Binjor (4 MSR) near the India-Pakistan border, sheds new light on the Harappan industry. Binjor's excavatio
Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Dubai Executive Council lauded the visionary leadership of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister, and Ruler of Dubai. He praised Dubai's readiness to effectively tackle any challenge and highlighted Dubai's robust crisis response mechanisms, strengthened by government and community support. Sheikh Hamdan led a meeting with government leaders to approve immediate measures to lessen the effects of severe weather and evaluate efforts to alleviate the repercussions. Unde
The United States and Italy have recently announced a collaborative effort to combat the proliferation of misinformation and fake news, particularly originating from foreign governments. This agreement was reached between U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani during a meeting held alongside a gathering of Group of Seven (G7) foreign ministers on the Capri island. This collaboration comes in the wake of a U.S. intelligence assessment released last year, which implicated Moscow in utilising various tactics, including spies, social media, and state
France is getting ready to commemorate World War II soldiers on the 80th anniversary of D-Day, a historic day that saw the Nazis defeated. Omaha Beach will honour the almost 150,000 soldiers from several countries who landed in Normandy on June 6, 1944. Along with the Paris Olympics, French President Emmanuel Macron sees this occasion as "France’s rendezvous with the world." The emphasis is on showing appreciation to elderly veterans, some of whom travel great distances to attend. The leader of the Liberation Mission, Philippe Étienne, stresses the significance of expressing gratitude t
Claudia Sheinbaum, the leading contender for Mexico's forthcoming presidential election in June, has unveiled an ambitious plan to invest $13.57 billion in new energy generation projects up to 2030. This proposal signifies a marked departure from the current administration's emphasis on strengthening the state oil company, Pemex, over renewable energy sources. Sheinbaum's programme is geared towards ramping up wind and solar power generation while modernising five hydroelectric plants. During a meeting with Mexican business leaders on Monday, she stressed the imperative of accelerating the
Gopichand Thotakura, an Indian pilot and entrepreneur, is all set to etch his name in history as the second Indian to venture into space after Rakesh Sharma in 1984. He has been chosen for Blue Origin's NS-25 mission, marking him as the first Indian space tourist. Hailing from Vijayawada, Thotakura holds a bachelor's degree in aeronautical science and oversees Preserve Life Corp., a global centre for holistic wellness and applied health based near Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport in the US. Despite residing in the US, he still retains his Indian passport. The official an
Egypt plans a green energy initiative to construct two solar power stations. The European Union (EU) will provide the $20.60 million (1 billion Egyptian pound) investment. The first project, valued at 550 million Egyptian pounds, will be situated at the Assiut Oil Refining Company, boasting a capacity of 10 megawatts. According to the petroleum ministry's statement, it is slated for completion within 11 months. Another venture set to generate electricity from solar energy is in the works at the Egyptian General Petroleum Corporation (EGPC). This project will have a capacity of 6.5 megaw
India is now home to the world's largest renewable energy park, located in a remote area near Pakistan. The barren land was converted into a 538 square-kilometre renewable energy park spanning five times the size of Paris, originally accessed by a small airstrip without basic infrastructure. Despite its desolate surroundings, the area boasts excellent solar radiation and wind speeds, ideal for renewable energy generation. Adani Green Energy Ltd., headed by Gautam Adani, will invest ₹1.5 lakh crore to generate 30 gigawatts of clean electricity at Khavda. Already, 2 gigawatts have been
On Saturday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi engaged in a discussion with top Indian gamers, focusing on various aspects of the gaming industry. The future of e-gaming and its difficulties were discussed in the talk. With his interesting idea of "Mission LIFE," PM Modi pushed for a game that tackles global climate challenges and encourages players to look into sustainable solutions. In the course of the conversation, PM Modi stressed the significance of fusing Indian values with gaming, proposing themes like cleanliness to raise youth's understanding of society. He praised the inventivenes