The first Hindu stone temple in Abu Dhabi, inaugurated by PM Narendra Modi, will open its doors to the public on March 1. The Bochasanwasi Shri Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS) Swaminarayan Sanstha spent approximately Rs 700 crore building the temple on a 27-acre site close to Al Rahba. Overseas devotees and VIPs had exclusive access from February 15 to 29, while the temple will now be open to the public from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. every day except Mondays. Built with 18 lakh bricks and 1.8 lakh cubic metres of sandstone from Rajasthan, the temple follows the Nagara style of arc
On Tuesday, PM Narendra Modi recently introduced India's four astronaut designates, elite fighter pilots from the Indian Air Force, selected for the Gaganyaan mission. The four astronauts, IAF’s group captain Prasanth Balakrishnan Nair, group captain Ajit Krishnan, group captain Angad Pratap, and wing commander Shubhanshu Shukla, have undergone extensive training for five years in Russian and Indian facilities. During the ceremony at the ISRO Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre in Thiruvananthapuram, they were awarded “Antrisksh Yatri Pank” (astronaut wings) by PM. He emphasised that ast
The Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) will mentor India's National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) battalion to attain international classification, renewing collaboration in Urban Search and Rescue (USAR). Switzerland established INSARAG, which establishes a global standard and enables nations affected by disasters to prioritise assistance from qualified teams. Swiss experts will guide the NDRF battalion in Ghaziabad to achieve IEC certification over two years, building on prior support from 2008 to 2017. NDRF, with 16 battalions, responds globally, including to the Jap
India and Thailand celebrated a significant cultural exchange as holy relics (20 bone fragments) of Lord Buddha and his disciples arrived in Thailand from India, fostering stronger ties between the two nations. Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar, the governor of Bihar, and Union Minister Virendra Kumar led a delegation of 22 people as they transported the relics, which included those of Arahata Sariputra and Arahata Maudgalayana, to Thailand on an Indian Air Force plane. The Archaeological Survey of India excavated the artefacts in Piprahwa, which date back to the fourth and fifth centuries BC
According to a Morning Consult survey, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has once again cemented his position as the most popular leader in the world, with an impressive 77% approval rating. According to the survey, PM Modi has a sizable advantage over other world leaders, with Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador coming in second with 64%, Swiss President Alain Berset coming in third with 57%, and Poland's Donald Tusk coming in fourth with 50%. According to Morning Consult's approach, opinions from the youth demographic are tracked across polled countries using a seven-day moving
On June 5th, the Bank of England will introduce banknotes featuring King Charles for the first time, prompting businesses to ensure their machines can accept them. King Charles's portrait will adorn all UK banknotes, with existing designs remaining unchanged except for his image and see-through security windows. Despite anticipation, the rollout might be subdued due to the king's environmental concerns, voiced in his 1970 speech against plastic and chemical pollution. New notes will replace worn ones and meet increased demand, aligning with royal guidance to minimize environmental and f
In January, Japan welcomed over 2 million visitors, marking the eighth consecutive month of robust tourism and hinting at a potential record-breaking year. According to data from the Japan National Tourism Organisation (JNTO), the number of foreign arrivals stood at 2.69 million, slightly lower than December's 2.73 million, which set a record for that month. Despite the pandemic-related halt in tourism, currency depreciation fueled Japan's recovery, with tourists spending more than 5 trillion yen in 2023, exceeding government targets. Even though January's arrivals were affected by the
On Monday, British Foreign Minister David Cameron visited the Falkland Islands and pledged to protect the area, demonstrating Britain's steadfast support for the islanders' wish to remain under British sovereignty. Argentina keeps pushing for talks on sovereignty, but the UK sticks to its guns and supports the Falkland Islanders' right to self-determination. Cameron highlighted the UK's unwavering defence commitment to the islands, which will guarantee protection for as long as it is desired. During Cameron's visit to Argentina, the Argentine Foreign Minister appreciated his diplomatic
"Oppenheimer" dominated the nominations with an impressive 13 nods, followed closely by "Poor Things" with 11. While "Killers Of The Flower Moon" amassed nine nominations, it failed to secure any wins. Additionally, “Barbie” also left without any wins at the awards. Oppenheimer, the epic biographical thriller directed by Christopher Nolan, awards including Best Film, Director, Editing (Jennifer Lame), Cinematography (Hoyte van Hoytema), Supporting Actor (Robert Downey Jr.), Actor (Cillian Murphy), and Original Score (Ludwig Goransson). Despite its strong showing, "American Fiction"
The Biden administration intends to relax projected annual standards through 2030 to reduce tailpipe emissions and increase sales of electric vehicles (EVs). The decision was made in response to concerns expressed by automakers and the United Auto Workers (UAW). With an aim of 60% EVs by 2030 and 67% by 2032, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) had originally suggested a 56% reduction in new vehicle emissions by that time. However, under the amended plan, the EPA would reduce the annual emissions standards. Thus, EVs will account for less than 60% of all vehicles produced by 2030.