The Indian Navy has appointed the first woman commanding officer in a naval ship in sync with its philosophy of 'all roles-all ranks' for female personnel, Navy Chief Admiral R Hari Kumar said on Dec 1. The appointed officer, a qualified navigation instructor with a background in training observers, has successfully completed all requisite qualification processes and exams. Admiral Kumar highlighted that she will undergo pre-commissioning training before assuming command of the ship. Admiral Kumar also shared that the overall strength of women Agniveers has now crossed the 1,000-mark, a
One of Virgin Atlantic's Boeing 787s took off for the world's first 100% Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) flight from London's Heathrow to New York's John F. Kennedy (JFK) International Airport. This milestone comes as a pivotal moment in the airline's commitment to environmental sustainability. The fuel used to power the flight is mostly made from used cooking oil and waste animal fat mixed with a small amount of synthetic aromatic kerosene made from waste corn, Virgin Atlantic said. UK's Transport Secretary travelled on the flight alongside Virgin Atlantic's Chief Executive Shai Weiss and
Hollywood stalwart Michael Douglas was honoured with the Satyajit Ray Lifetime Achievement Award at the closing ceremony of the 54th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in Goa. The prestigious accolade celebrated Douglas's outstanding contributions to the world of filmmaking, marking a defining moment in the veteran actor and producer's illustrious career. The Hollywood star also received a standing ovation from the audience. “Cinema is one of the few mediums that has the power to unite and transform us. It transcends divisions, whether that be geography, race language and eve
Singapore and Zurich surpassed New York to become the world’s most expensive cities to live in this year, according to the latest report from the Economist Intelligence Unit. This marks the ninth time in the last 11 years that Singapore has claimed the top spot, while Zurich has made a remarkable leap from sixth place last year to jointly hold the first position. The sky-high cost of car ownership, pricey alcohol and rising grocery prices saw Singapore pull ahead of the US city, with which it shared the top spot last year. Zurich's ascent can be attributed to the strength of the Swiss fr
In a remarkable feat, Norse Atlantic Airways has achieved the historic landing of a Boeing 787 Dreamliner, named Everglades, on Antarctica’s Blue Ice Runway. The Boeing 787 launched on a 'blue ice runway,' measuring 3,000 meters (9840 feet) in length and 60 meters (100 feet) in width, sculpted from the snow and ice. Conducted by Norse Atlantic Airways, the flight, named Everglades, successfully landed at the Troll Airfield in Antarctica on Nov 15. This is the first time a Dreamliner, a widebody aircraft which can carry up to 330 passengers, has made it to the sixth continent. Fligh
Elon Musk's electric car giant, Tesla's most affordable model will make its global debut in Germany. As per a report, the same electric car will also be launched in India subsequently, marking the nation as the first non-European destination for this highly anticipated 2-door model. The Model Y, built on the Model 3 sedan platform, is a battery-electric mid-size crossover SUV manufactured by Tesla Inc. since 2020. Positioned as a more compact and economically accessible alternative to the mid-sized Model X, the Model Y also provides an optional seven-passenger seating capacity with the inc
State Bank of India is set to launch its Yono Global application in Singapore and the US to offer digital remittance and other services to its customers. Vidya Krishnan, Deputy Managing Director of SBI, announced at the three-day Singapore Fintech Festival (SFF), "We are continuing to invest in Yono Global to offer the best services available as we want to give a superior experience to our customers." Krishnan engaged in discussions with Singapore-based digital platform enablers as well as the local regulator and central bank, the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS). Acknowledging the si
The Goal Zero Consortium has launched Singapore’s first fully electric cargo vessel, the Hydromover. The lightweight, 18.5m vessel is equipped with swappable batteries, allowing it to transport up to 25 tonnes of cargo. The all-electric vessel has zero emissions and targets to achieve up to 50% operational cost savings due to improved energy efficiency and lower maintenance costs. Its battery, when depleted, can be swapped within minutes to minimize operational downtime. Singapore has played a pivotal role in advertising sustainable shipping practices, contributing $9 million in fundi
In a significant move to foster international tourism, Malaysia has officially lifted entry visa requirements for citizens of India and China. Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim made the groundbreaking announcement during his closing speech at the annual congress of the People’s Justice Party in Putrajaya on November 26. Starting from December 1, travellers from India and China can enjoy a 30-day visa exemption, a significant policy change in Malaysia's approach to global tourism. While the visa requirement has been removed, the Malaysian government emphasizes that the issuance of visas will s
A bottle of The Macallan 1926 has set the record for the world’s most expensive whisky, having been sold at an auction in London for $2.7 million on November 18. One of the world’s most sought-after bottles of Scotch whisky was auctioned at a record-setting amount at Sotheby’s. The rare 1926 Macallan single-malt whisky featured the label designed by Italian painter Valerio Adami. The bottle was initially expected to fetch between $934,275 and $1.49 million but ended up selling for more than double its estimated price. The sale set a new record for any bottle of spirit or wine sold at