News

World's largest modern Hindu temple outside India opens in New Jersey

The world's largest modern Hindu temple outside India, the New Jersey Akshardham, opened on Sunday (Oct 8). This extraordinary architectural marvel, sprawling across a 126-acre tract, has been brought to life through the tireless efforts of artisans and volunteers who dedicated approximately 4.7 million hours to hand-carve about two million cubic feet of stone, AP reported. Comprising four varieties of marble from Italy and limestone from Bulgaria, these precious materials embarked on an incredible journey, traveling first to India and then traversing over 8,000 miles across the world to reach their destination in New Jersey. Once in place, these meticulously carved pieces were assembled like a giant jigsaw puzzle to create this monumental Hindu temple. A symbol of spiritual dedication The New Jersey Akshardham is a project by the Bochasanwasi Shri Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS), a global religious and civic organisation within the Swaminarayan sect.This temple marked the third "Akshardham" or "abode of the divine" built by BAPS, following in New Delhi and Gujarat, where BAPS is headquartered. The organisation, which is celebrating its 50th year in North America next year, oversees a vast network of more than 1,200 temples and 3,850 centres worldwide. Controversy The journey to create the New Jersey Akshardham was not without its challenges. In 2021, a civil lawsuit alleged forced labour, meager wages, and grim working conditions during the temple's construction, sparking controversy and criticism. Despite these hurdles, the temple stands today as a symbol of resilience and faith, drawing devotees and admirers from across the nation.Families from all corners of the country have flocked to the temple campus, eager for a sneak peek. Devotees have been bowing in reverence to each other and to monks in saffron robes.

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Uganda to unleash travel revolution with direct flights to India

In an electrifying revelation, Uganda Airlines, the beacon of national pride, announced its auspicious plan to forge a sky-high connection between the heart of Africa and the vibrant streets of New Delhi, India. Lenny Malasi, the airline’s illustrious Country Manager, spilled the exhilarating news to Money control, painting a vivid picture of this monumental endeavour. “We’re in discussion with the concerned authorities, and approvals should shimmer down like golden confetti in three months, after which we’re poised to unleash direct flights to the bustling hubs of Delhi and Chennai!” Malasi proclaimed with infectious enthusiasm. Fresh from the triumphant launch of their maiden direct service from Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport to Uganda’s Entebbe International Airport on the auspicious day of October 3, Uganda Airlines is beckoning travellers with an introductory fare that starts at a tantalizing $450. Malasi, the maestro behind this aviation revolution, revealed that India stands as a colossal market for Uganda Airlines. A staggering 45,000 Indians call Uganda their second home, and hordes of bright minds embark on educational odysseys in India’s hallowed halls of learning.

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Air Passenger: Important news for Indians going to Canada, now the government has taken a big step, see here

The Government of Canada has launched a campaign to protect students and people going to Canada from Punjab and other states of India from fake travel agents. Dr. Arvind Kumar Kadian, member of the Canadian Association of Professional Immigration Consultants, said that the biggest reason for loot in the name of immigration across the country including Punjab is the absence of any policy or law for immigration services in India. In India, there is a system of registering agencies only for sending workers abroad. He said that 99 percent of the consultants in the country are such who can be called baggy consultants. According to an estimate, only students from Punjab who go to Canada for education spend Rs 68,000 crore every year. According to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRC), 2,26,450 students from India came to Canada in the year 2022 while 3.4 percent students are enrolled in various educational institutions in Canada. According to Dr. Kadian, education of foreign students is a $20 billion industry for Canada. This is a legal activity whereas the market for illegal and child exploitation is huge. Just a few months ago, the matter of deportation of more than 600 Indians, especially Punjabi students, from the country had arisen in Canada. This is not just one case but such cases keep coming. Only after this, raids have been conducted on people running illegal immigration business in Punjab. Here Canada has also started an awareness campaign in this regard. Speaking to journalists in Chandigarh today, Dr. Arvind Kumar Kadian, member of the Canadian Association of Professional Immigration Consultants, said that he had sought information in this regard from the Government of India and various state governments under the Right to Information Act. According to the reply, till now there is no policy in the country for regulation of services like immigration visa, study visa, visitor visa.

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Royal Caribbean names second Icon-class ship – Star of the Seas; to debut in 2025

Royal Caribbean International has unveiled the name of its next Icon Class ship and its inaugural season, set for the summer of 2025. The world’s largest cruise line will follow up Icon’s debut, the start of a new era of vacations, in the boldest way. With the combination of every kind of vacation that’s unique to Icon Class – from the beach retreat to the resort escape and the theme park adventure – the lineup of new experiences and favorites on Star will set the stage for even more ways for every type of family and adventurer to make memories without compromise. Currently under construction in Turku, Finland, the new ship and its features will soon be revealed. “The idea of combining the best of every type of vacation into one ultimate adventure has created more excitement than ever anticipated, and Star of the Seas will be the next bold answer to the record-breaking consumer demand we’ve seen for nearly a year and counting with Icon of the Seas,” said Michael Bayley, President and CEO, Royal Caribbean International. The first look at Icon and Icon Class set the tone in October 2022 when it led to the cruise line’s single largest booking day and highest volume booking week in the brand’s then 53-year history. The unprecedented consumer demand sparked Royal Caribbean to release 2025-2026 vacations on Icon three months ahead of schedule and now Star’s name and debut season. Icon’s highlights include six record-breaking waterslides at Thrill Island’s Category 6 waterpark, seven pools – one for every day of the week; Surfside, a stay-all-day neighborhood for young families; entertainment across air, ice, water and stage; 40-plus ways to dine and drink; and more. Star will also mark another step in this new era as the cruise line’s third ship powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG), combining the use of the cleanest-burning marine fuel available to date with a proven lineup of industry-leading environmental programs on board. With applications ranging from waste heat recovery systems to shore power connection, Royal Caribbean’s most sustainable ship will advance parent company Royal Caribbean Group’s journey to introducing a net-zero cruise ship by 2035.

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Delhi Metro Revolutionizes Travel with WhatsApp Ticketing on All Lines

Delhi Metro commuters will now be able to travel on all corridors of the rapid transit system, including the Gurugram Rapid Metro, using a WhatsApp-based ticketing service, as the DMRC has extended the service on all lines. The service was first launched on the Airport Express Line in May. “The DMRC has now extended this cutting-edge service to cover all lines in the Delhi-National Capital Region (NCR), including the Gurugram Rapid Metro in collaboration with Meta and their authorised partner Pelocal Fintech Pvt. Ltd.,” the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) said in a statement. Since its introduction on the Airport Line, passengers have been experiencing the convenience of this service. Passengers can now simply send a message with the text ‘Hi’ to +91 9650855800 on WhatsApp or scan the provided QR code to effortlessly purchase metro tickets using their smartphones across the whole network, officials said. This user-friendly WhatsApp chatbot is available in both English and Hindi, catering to a wide range of metro riders. “The service now extends its reach across the entire DMRC network covering all stations, including Gurugram Rapid Metro corridor. With the introduction of this WhatsApp-based ticketing system, metro travellers now have the convenience of purchasing tickets with just a single click, from the comfort of their homes or workplaces,” the statement said.

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Namira Salim becomes first Pakistani to travel to space aboard Virgin Galactic

Virgin Galactic competes in the "suborbital" space tourism sector with Jeff Bezos's company Blue Origin, which has already sent 31 people into space. Adventurer Namira Salim became the first Pakistani to travel into space on Friday, riding aboard Virgin Galactic's fifth successful flight in five months, the US company announced. Salim, who previously traveled to both poles and has also parachuted over Mount Everest, was among the first customers to buy a ticket with billionaire Richard Branson's space company after it was founded almost two decades ago. "I love my title 'first Pakistani astronaut,' it's like being a very special princess of the country. Maybe nicer than being a princess," Salim told AFP back in 2012. Virgin Galactic said Salim is also a resident of Monaco and the United Arab Emirates. That makes her the first person from Monaco and the first Emirati woman to travel to space, the company said. American Ron Rosano and Briton Trevor Beattie were also passengers on Friday's trip, dubbed "Galactic 04." Beth Moses, a Virgin Galactic employee, and two pilots were also aboard. Unlike traditional vertical launches into space, Virgin Galactic utilizes a specialized, twin-fuselage aircraft to carry the passenger vessel high in the sky. The mothership then releases the spaceplane, which in turn engages its thrusters to soar into space at speeds approaching Mach-3. Passengers experience a few minutes of weightlessness, where they are free to perform somersaults and gaze out the window at the curvature of the Earth. The craft then glided back down, landing just over an hour after takeoff from Spaceport in New Mexico. Virgin Galactic competes in the "suborbital" space tourism sector with billionaire Jeff Bezos's company Blue Origin, which has already sent 31 people into space using a vertical liftoff rocket. But since an accident in September 2022 during an unmanned flight, Blue Origin's rocket has been grounded. The investigation into the accident was closed at the end of September by the US aviation regulator, which requested the company make changes before its flights can resume.

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