Aboard the Swedish Titanic
In the heart of Stockholm, where maritime history echoes through wooden beams and centuries-old nautical tales, the Vasamuseet, stands as a tribute to royal ambition and maritime engineering. Housing the Vasa, a 17th-century warship that sank on its maiden voyage in August 1628, the museum rises dramatically from its custom-built harbour, showcasing the vessel that was miraculously salvaged 333 years later. Vasamuseet, Scandinavia's most-visited museum, receives over 29 million visitors annually. Its modest entrance ushers you into a softly lit, maritime grandeur—a gigantic, ornate masterpiece, that lay dormant yet undamaged beneath icy Baltic waters for centuries.
'Commissioned by the unyielding King Adolphus Gustavus, this maritime colossus was more than a ship; it was a floating declaration of imperial power,' says guide Karl Simon. Designed to carry an unprecedented arsenal of 64 bronze cannons, the Vasa embodied the king's megalomaniacal vision of naval supremacy. Yet beneath its grandeur lurked a fatal flaw. The vessel's destiny was sealed by a tragic ballet of wind and weight. The ship that was meant to slice through waves and strike fear into enemy hearts instead became a wooden monument to the perilous intersection of pride and engineering.
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New Indian Express
6 days ago
- New Indian Express
Air India enters into four new interline partnerships
KOCHI: Air India has entered into interline partnerships with four major airlines from emerging markets, significantly enhancing connectivity to Europe, particularly the Baltic region and parts of Eastern Europe and Central Asia. The partnerships will provide Air India guests seamless travel options to 16 more destinations across six countries in these regions. Conversely, Air India will provide convenient access to more than 30 Indian cities, including Kochi, to the customers of its four partner airlines. Air India signed the interline agreements with airBaltic, Bulgaria Air, Cyprus Airways, and Uzbekistan Airways, on the sidelines of the ongoing 81st IATA AGM in New Delhi. The new partnerships enable a passenger to travel across continents with a single-ticket itinerary that combines Air India flights with those of its partner airlines as well as coordinated baggage allowance & handling. Convenient one-stop connectivity through the four partner airlines: -- airBaltic: Provides access to Riga (Latvia), Tallinn (Estonia), and Vilnius (Lithuania) via Air India's European gateways at Amsterdam, Paris, Copenhagen, Frankfurt, London Gatwick, Milan-Malpensa, Vienna, Zurich, or Dubai. -- Bulgaria Air: Provides access to Sofia via Air India's gateways at London Heathrow, Paris, Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Milan, Zurich, and Tel Aviv, supporting travel to the vibrant Eastern European city. Air India guests can also take further onward connections from Sofia to other Bulgarian cities of Varna and Burgas. -- Cyprus Airways: Provides access to Larnaca (Cyprus) via Air India's European gateways at Paris, Milan, and Dubai, opening one of the Mediterranean's key cultural and economic hubs for Indian travellers. -- Uzbekistan Airways: Provides access to Tashkent from Delhi, Mumbai, and Goa-Mopa (GOX), as well as further onward connections from Tashkent to Bukhara, Qarshi, Nukus, Urgench, Termez, Samarkand, Fergana, and Namangan. Conversely, Air India will provide convenient access to more than 30 Indian cities to the customers of its four partner airlines, including Kochi, Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Amritsar, and Goa.
India Gazette
03-06-2025
- India Gazette
Air India enters 4 new interline partnerships for greater access to Europe and Central Asia
New Delhi [India], June 3 (ANI): Air India, India's leading global airline, on Tuesday announced that it has entered interline partnerships with four major airlines from emerging markets, significantly enhancing connectivity to Europe, particularly the Baltic region and parts of Eastern Europe and Central Asia. The partnerships will provide Air India guests seamless travel options to 16 more destinations across 6 countries in these regions while making India easier to access for the passengers of the respective partner airlines, the company said in a release. Air India signed these interline agreements with Airbaltic, Bulgaria Air, Cyprus Airways, and Uzbekistan Airways on the sidelines of the ongoing 81st IATA AGM in New Delhi, it said. The new partnerships further strengthen Air India's position as a global connector, enabling a passenger to travel across continents with a single-ticket itinerary that combines Air India flights with those of its partner airlines as well as coordinated baggage allowance & handling. The airline, airBaltic, provides access to Riga (Latvia), Tallinn (Estonia), and Vilnius (Lithuania) via Air India's European gateways at Amsterdam, Paris, Copenhagen, Frankfurt, London Gatwick, Milan-Malpensa, Vienna, Zurich, or Dubai. Bulgaria Air provides access to Sofia via Air India's gateways at London Heathrow, Paris, Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Milan, Zurich, and Tel Aviv, supporting travel to the vibrant Eastern European city. Air India guests can also make further connections from Sofia to other Bulgarian cities such as Varna and Burgas. Cyprus Airways provides access to Larnaca (Cyprus) via Air India's European gateways at Paris, Milan, and Dubai, opening one of the Mediterranean's key cultural and economic hubs for Indian travellers. Uzbekistan Airways provides access to Tashkent from Delhi, Mumbai, and Goa-Mopa (GOX), as well as further onward connections from Tashkent to Bukhara, Qarshi, Nukus, Urgench, Termez, Samarkand, Fergana, and Namangan. Conversely, Air India will provide convenient access to more than 30 Indian cities to the customers of its four artner airlines, including but not limited to Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Amritsar, Goa, and Kochi, the release added. 'These four new interline partnerships significantly enhance Air India's global reach and open seamless pathways to vibrant cities across some of the most important emerging markets of today,' said Nipun Aggarwal, Chief Commercial Officer, Air India. 'Our partnerships with airBaltic, Bulgaria Air, Cyprus Airways, and Uzbekistan Airways, bring more travel options and smoother journeys for our growing base of customers worldwide as well as reinforce India's rising status as a key global aviation hub.' (ANI)
Time of India
30-05-2025
- Time of India
Latvia here we come! Rich Indians' ticket to Europe
Mumbai: They don't belong to the club of the ultra-rich who pick a pricey passport of the Global North. They neither feature in the cast of serious characters snooping around for citizenship of a Caribbean or South Pacific nation, to escape the law enforcement authorities in India. They are IT professionals, exporters, physicians, and entrepreneurs - a reasonably affluent lot-looking for a free access and foothold in Europe without surrendering their Indian citizenships or shelling out big money on fancy migration programmes. Settling Abroad Some of them are opting for Latvia, the Baltic country which has joined the game of golden visa in full earnest-positioning itself as the cheapest gateway to the continent. "As of 2024, Indian nationals may account for approximately 10% of all applications to Latvia 's 'Residence by Investment' programme. Following Latvia's 2022 exclusion of Russian and Belarusian applicants, there has been a noticeable shift in the nationalities of applicants and we have seen a rise in demand from Indian families," said Rohit Bhardwaj, country head, India at Henley & Partners which offers investment migration advisory. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Buy Brass Idols - Handmade Brass Statues for Home & Gifting Luxeartisanship Buy Now Undo Wealthy Indians, keen on a plan-B with their children settling abroad, have changed residency with the intention of eventually becoming a citizen of countries like Portugal, Greece, Cyprus, and UAE that levies no personal income tax. The trend deepened with the pandemic, driving many to move wealth and buy jumbo life insurance plans in overseas jurisdictions. (Join our ETNRI WhatsApp channel for all the latest updates) "I would attribute the increased interest in Latvia to two factors: first, the low cash outflow at entry-only ₹60,000 plus fees compared to ₹500,000 for most other European countries; second, faster processing time. Programmes like the Portugal Golden Visa, though superior, have done themselves no favour by changes in rules and long bureaucratic delays," said Vikas Tandon, who had successfully applied for Portuguese golden visa in 2020, and founded the company Golden Homes Portugal, using his expertise to advise others. Live Events Benefits Outweigh Formalities The investment going into private companies identified by Latvian authorities is a sunk cost, with no voting rights and only half of which can be recovered if the visa is relinquished. Instead, some buy homes which would cost ₹250,000. "Latvia supports both routes, with clear legal frameworks and minimal bureaucratic hurdles. While investing in foreign companies involves additional disclosures and compliance with regulations like reporting of ODI, the strategic benefits outweigh the procedural formalities," said Moin Ladha, partner at Khaitan & Co. Under India's forex laws, Indian nationals can invest abroad, including capital and current account transactions. According to Armand Arton, CEO of Arton Capital, a citizenship investment advisory, the majority of its clients interested in accessing the Latvia programme are Indian citizens. "We've observed a 30% year-on-year increase in Indian inquiries since 2023. Many are entrepreneurs and SME owners who desire EU access without high costs associated with Germany or the Netherlands. With several EU nations increasing minimum investment thresholds, or closing programmes, Latvia offers the freedom to live, travel, and work at an attractive price point," said Arton. A few plan to settle at Riga after retirement, said Anurag Manakikar, associate director at Henley, who advised a senior corporate honcho. Greater Awareness While the programme has been there for long, there has been greater awareness as people looked around for options, said Manakikar. What also stoked interest was the high rejection in Schengen visa applications and absence of minimum stay requirement in Latvia. "However, to derive real benefit, a person has to reside or settle in Latvia or any other preferred country. If someone continues to reside in India, he would remain a resident here under the Income Tax Act and FEMA. So, benefits would be confined to non-requirement of visa in Europe," said Rajesh Shah, partner at the CA firm Jayantilal Thakkar & Company. A property investment in Dubai for a UAE Golden visa could work better if tax is the sole consideration for anyone planning to become an NRI. Unlike Portugal's Golden Visa, which requires a minimum stay of only 15 days every 2 years to become eligible for an EU passport (after only 5 years since date of application), a Latvian passport requires becoming a physical resident for almost a decade. Nonetheless, for many, Latvia's low cost is the pull factor.
