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
As the first female fighter pilot to join the Indian Air Force's elite 18 'Flying Bullets' squadron, which flies the Indian-made LCA Tejas fighter jets, squadron captain Mohana Singh has accomplished a historic first. Singh recently took part in the historic 'Tarang Shakti' exercise in Jodhpur, where she was crucial in instructing the vice chiefs of the Indian Army and Navy during a historic flight. During this noteworthy exercise, Vice Admiral Krishna Swaminathan and Lt Gen NS Raja Subramani piloted the trainer versions, while Air Marshal Amar Preet Singh flew the LCA Tejas alone. The Ind
Egypt intends to develop Ras Banas, a secluded peninsula on the southern Red Sea coast, to attract large-scale investment. Ras Banas spans 30 kilometres and is one of Egypt's last few undeveloped coastline areas. The government seeks to draw in investments to help alleviate its protracted economic crisis, which has been marked by record inflation, growing debt, and currency depreciation over the last two years. Earlier this year, Egypt sold rights to develop the Ras El Hekma Peninsula on its Mediterranean coast to a UAE sovereign fund for $24 billion, stoking interest in future Gulf invest
On Monday, PM Narendra Modi, accompanied by Gujarat Governor Acharya Devvrat and Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, launched Phase II of the Ahmedabad Metro Rail Project. PM Modi uploaded photographs of himself taking the metro and talking with students. Phase II spans 21 km, connecting the Narendra Modi Cricket Stadium in Motera to Gandhinagar Sector 1 via eight stations, including Gujarat National Law University, Pandit Deendayal Energy University, and GIFT City. The project, which cost Rs. 5,384 crore, is anticipated to improve regional connectivity. With the completion of Phase II, the Ah