Illegal mining near Kaziranga intensified despite SC ban: CEC report
Kaziranga, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is home to around 65 per cent of the endangered one-horned rhino population in the world. It forms part of an important wildlife corridor between the Brahmaputra floodplains and the Karbi Anglong hills.
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Time of India
4 hours ago
- Time of India
This is the only country that starts with the letter ‘Y'; 5 interesting facts
There are some 195 countries in the world but what are the odds that there's only one nation whose name begins with the letter 'Y' and that's Yemen. The country is all about ancient history, beautiful architecture, and deep-rooted culture and traditions. Despite facing several political, financial and other challenges, the country holds an important place in global history. Let's explore five interesting facts about this unique 'Y' country. Home to one of the oldest inhabited cities in the world Do you know Yemen is home to among the world's oldest continuously inhabited cities called Sana'a, which also happens to be the country's capital and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The city is more than 2,500 years old and the Old City of Sana'a is a UNESCO site known for its unique architecture. The multi-story buildings here are decorated with intricate geometric patterns in white gypsum. Legend has it that the city was founded by Shem, the son of Noah, adding to its mythological importance. Yemen's coffee (mocha) relation Not many must be aware of the fact that Yemen played an important role in the history of coffee. The port city of Mocha (al-Makha) on the Red Sea coast used to be the hub for coffee trade in the 15th century. The word "mocha," now associated with the popular chocolate-flavored coffee drink. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 피부에 뚫린 "싱크홀 모공".. 더 무너지기 전에 ''이것''으로 복구하는 방법 피부연구원 수아맘 더 알아보기 Undo Yemenis were among the first to brew coffee, and the country's unique dry-processing method is now world famous. The unique Dragon Blood Tree Yemen isn't just desert as the country has one of the most diverse landscapes in the Middle East. The highlands can receive enough rain to support agriculture while the island of Socotra, often called the 'Galápagos of the Indian Ocean,' is otherworldly. It's home to hundreds of plants including the bizarre-looking Dragon Blood Tree. Traditional Yemini dress Yemen's cultural heritage is extremely rich and well-preserved. Traditional Yemeni dress has a distinctive item worn by Yemeni men. It is called the "jambiya" which is a curved dagger tucked into a ornate belt. It's a symbol of pride and cultural identity for Yemini people. Ongoing conflict However, this beautiful country, in recent years, has been in the news for all the wrong reasons. There's a humanitarian crisis and civil conflict which started in 2014. These conflicts has deeply affected the country's natural beauty. However, even amid adversity, Yemen's people continue to preserve their customs, architecture, and cuisine. International efforts to protect heritage sites, like those in Sana'a and Shibam (another UNESCO site). Yemen may be the only country starting with the letter "Y", but its beauty and uniqueness goes far beyond. With a rich history, cultural depth, and unparalleled biodiversity, Yemen is a true treasure of the Middle East. One step to a healthier you—join Times Health+ Yoga and feel the change
Nylon
6 hours ago
- Nylon
Medaina Festival in Jordan will feature a global lineup of electronic music artists, alongside cultural experiences across Petra and Wadi Rum
Jordan is a land steeped in history and breathtaking landscapes, and is now home to a unique cultural offering that's like no other: the Medaina Festival. Held annually in May, this multi-day event offers a sensory journey that beautifully intertwines the kingdom's ancient grandeur with the pulse of contemporary arts, music, and gastronomy. Forget the usual tourist trails; Medaina invites you to experience Jordan through a different lens, one where the echoes of the past resonate with the beats of the present. Image courtesy of Medaina Festival. The festival unfolds across two of Jordan's most iconic locations: the ancient 'rose-red city' of Petra (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), and the dramatic desertscapes of Wadi Rum. Imagine wandering through Petra's Siq, not just in the daylight, but bathed in the glow of artistic light installations, with music enhancing the majesty of the historic facades. Next, you'll find yourself under the vast, star-studded sky of Wadi Rum, where the silent sentinels of sandstone mountains lay background to captivating performances that range from modern electronic music to traditional Bedouin sounds. Organised by Tithorea, Medaina is more than just a music festival; it's an immersive cultural escape. The days are filled with opportunities for exploration; these include guided tours through archaeological wonders, wellness sessions that draw inspiration from the serene desert environment, and culinary experiences that showcase the rich flavours of Jordanian cuisine. What also sets Medaina apart is its deep respect for the local culture and environment. The organisers work closely with the Jordanian Tourism Board and local communities to ensure the festival honours and respects the historical and spiritual significance of these sites. Sustainability is a further key focus, with efforts made to minimise the festival's ecological footprint. This year's festival runs from May 21st to 26th, 2025, and will feature a global lineup of electronic music artists such as me, Bedouin, Ben Sterling, HVOB and more. These acts will perform alongside Jordanian cultural and artistic offerings. Ultimately, this festival will be a testament to Jordan's growing reputation as a destination that seamlessly blends its rich heritage with modern experiences. Image courtesy of Medaina Festival. You can book local transfers, accommodation packages and cultural activities on Tithorea's website. And to get to Jordan from Singapore, you can splurge on Qatar Airways, Etihad Airways or Emirates, or choose the more affordable Gulf Air or Turkish Airlines (the latter is part of Star Alliance, which Singapore Airlines is also a member of). Keep an eye out for future editions of Medaina Festival – it promises to be an unforgettable journey that's one for the books. You can find out more and book tickets at
Hindustan Times
12 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
UNESCO, MeitY launch exercise to assess India's AI readiness
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), the ministry of electronics and information technology (MeitY), and law firm Ikigai Law (as the implementing partner) have launched a diagnostic exercise to assess India's artificial intelligence (AI) readiness. The exercise will involve UNESCO's AI Readiness Assessment Methodology (RAM), a multi-dimensional tool aligned with the global standards set per the UN agency's 2021 recommendation on the Ethics of AI. The RAM, an extensive questionnaire, will assess India's AI preparedness in legal, socio-cultural, scientific and educational, economic, and technical/infrastructure aspects. Five consultations, each featuring breakout sessions on AI ethics, have been held over seven months as part of the process. A final stakeholder consultation was held in Delhi on Tuesday. People familiar with the matter said participants highlighted the lack of a unified data-sharing policy across states, the Centre, and private players, the lack of data interoperability, and the importance of being cautious with AI outputs. There was consensus that AI cannot function independently of intellectual property. A person aware of the discussions said models such as ChatGPT blur the lines between public domain and copyrighted material, prompting calls to revisit copyright law designed for the print era. The exercise will culminate in a report highlighting what is working, what is missing, and what can be done better by the year-end. 'The report will help us outline a strategy towards a safe, trustworthy, and responsible AI,' said MeitY additional secretary and India AI Mission CEO Abhishek Singh. He added that the exercise is meant to promote a pro-innovation approach with light-touch regulation focused on preventing user harm. Singh said four Indian startups have been selected to build foundation models tailored to local needs. He cited efforts to boost compute capacity to 34,000 GPUs and expand access to datasets through the AI Kosha platform. Ten countries have completed RAM reports. The assessment is underway in 72 others to identify gaps and opportunities in AI readiness, said UNESCO's Eunsong Kim. 'India is quite a unique story in the RAM conversation, because it is vast and diverse. It is also extremely vibrant in the AI ecosystem,' said Kim. Kim explained how the RAM reports benefited other nations, citing Chile's case, where the exercise improved cybersecurity, data protection, and digital policy. The process led to an AI task force and a national AI action plan in Indonesia, which is creating its RAM report. Experts cautioned that India's unique social and cultural complexities demand a deeper, more localised understanding, even as the RAM exercise offers a structured global framework. 'I do not think we fully understand the socio-economic impact AI will have on a country like India,' said Indian Institute of Technology Madras Centre for Responsible AI head B Ravindran. 'We talk about bias mitigation and explainability, often through a Western lens. But bias in India is far more complex than in the US. It is not just black and white, but every shade in between. And we have not systematically recorded that.'
