One of the most important and thriving industries driving the global economy is lifestyle. It stands as a key contributor, with its consumption in the top 8 economies comprising around 70% of global consumption. Developing economies, especially India and China, are the major growth drivers of the global lifestyle market. This market is notable for haute couture, where expensive clothing brands stand out from mass-produced lines. (in million U.S dollars) Following are the World’s Most Valuable Lifestyle Brands: 1) Nike – United States – (USD 31,307) Origin: The United Sta
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, alongside Union Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, Goa Governor Shreedharan Pillai, and ONGC officials, inaugurated the integrated ONGC Sea Survival Training Centre at Betul. Situated at the expansive ONGC Goa campus of IPSHEM, the centre is India's deepest training facility, offering lifelike simulations for personnel to evacuate a helicopter cabin in crash scenarios. It is expected to train 10,000–15,000 people personally annually. Featuring the country's deepest pool, the facility replicates challenging conditions like mi
On Tuesday, the European Commission is set to unveil its recommendation, advocating for a substantial reduction in the EU's net greenhouse gas emissions by 90% before 2040. As the EU elections approach, this proposed target emphasises the importance of sustaining Europe's vigorous fight against climate change. The Commission's plan has been strongly endorsed in early drafts, with a 90% reduction objective compared to 1990 levels. The EU's 2040 aim is a crucial step towards its ultimate goal of reaching net zero emissions by 2050, which will end Europe's contribution to global climate chang
Shankar Mahadevan and Zakir Hussain, along with their band Shakti, clinched the prestigious Best Global Music Album award for 'This Moment' at the 2024 Grammys. This win marked a significant victory for India on the international stage. Comprising guitarist John McLaughlin, percussionist V Selvaganesh, and violinist Ganesh Rajagopalan, Shakti's fusion of talent and innovation propelled them to the forefront of global music recognition. Released on June 30 of the previous year, 'This Moment’ is an album that consists of eight mesmerising tracks created by McLaughlin, Hussain, Mahadevan, S
Prof. Biman Prasad, the Deputy Prime Minister of Fiji of Indian origin, is set to make history by becoming the first foreign leader to visit Ayodhya's Ram Mandir following the 'Pran Pratishtha' ceremony held at the temple last month. His visit, scheduled for February 8, marks a significant milestone in diplomatic relations between Fiji and India. Paramita Tripathi, JS Indo-Pacific, at the Ministry of External Affairs, welcomed him warmly upon his arrival in Delhi on Sunday. Prof. Prasad's itinerary includes meetings with various Indian ministers during his week-long stay in India from Febr
Senior BJP leader Lal Krishna Advani will be honoured with India's highest civilian award, the Bharat Ratna, becoming its 50th recipient and the 7th during the Modi government. PM Modi tweeted, “I am pleased to share that Shri LK Advani Ji will be conferred the Bharat Ratna. His contributions to India's development are monumental. From grassroots activism to serving as Deputy Prime Minister, his journey exemplifies dedication. He notably served as Home Minister and I&B Minister, with profound insights in Parliament.” Advani, a key figure in Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s government, h
France has emerged as the first European nation to embrace digital transactions from India. Recently, India unveiled its Unified Payments Interface (UPI) at the iconic Eiffel Tower in Paris, marking a significant milestone. Indian tourists visiting the Eiffel Tower can seamlessly purchase tickets using UPI by simply scanning a QR code on the tower's official website. The Indian Embassy in France proudly announced the formal launch of UPI during the grand Republic Day Reception at the Eiffel Tower, echoing Prime Minister Modi's vision of globalising UPI. In 2016, the National Payments Corpo
Indians now have the opportunity to explore 62 countries without the need for a visa. This development is particularly exciting for globetrotters, as Indian passport holders can now travel to destinations such as the Maldives, Oman, Qatar, Zimbabwe, and Jamaica without undergoing the often arduous visa application process. This increased accessibility to global travel reflects India's growing influence on the world stage. The recent release of the Henley Passport Index 2024 (HPI) underscores India's evolving passport landscape, with its global rank reaching 80th place. The HPI, a widely us
On Wednesday, Sri Lanka’s lawmakers passed a bill to regulate online content. The move has sparked fears among opposition politicians and activities of free speech crackdowns. With 108-62 votes in favour, the Online Safety Bill was passed. Its objectives are to "prevent the use of online accounts and inauthentic online accounts for prohibited purposes" and "make provisions to prohibit online communication of certain statements of fact in Sri Lanka." The bill also calls for the establishment of an "Online Safety Commission," a five-person committee that the president will appoint, whos
In a bid to combat the ongoing cholera crisis, Zimbabwe initiated a door-to-door vaccination campaign on Monday, aiming to immunize more than 2 million individuals. The initiative is particularly crucial in densely populated urban areas with inadequate sanitation facilities. As of January 24, the waterborne disease has claimed 452 lives and infected a total of 20,446 people in the southern African nation. Zimbabwe has been grappling with the cholera outbreak since February of the preceding year, with reports indicating that half of the cases involve children, according to the health minist