L’Arbre Blanc (The White Tree) is a unique sculptural tower built for residential purposes. It is designed to look like a tree with branching balconies. Looks poetic! The construction was completed in 2019 and since then, it has gained the reputation of the world’s most beautiful residential buildings.
(PC: L’Arbre Blanc Official/Instagram)
India will host the first Global Big Cat Summit this year, which will see heads of governments and ministers from 95 countries coming together to deliberate on collective strategies for conservation. This is what Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced while presenting the Union Budget 2026–27 in the Lok Sabha.Describing the summit as a major step towards strengthening international cooperation, Sitharaman said it would focus on coordinated action to protect big cats across their natural habitats. “This year, India is hosting the first-ever Global Big Cat Summit, where leaders and ministers from 95 range countries will deliberate on collective strategies for conservation,” she said during her Budget speech.
The initiative is expected to open the door to deeper global collaboration, expanded habitat protection, and a renewed emphasis on sustainable wildlife tourism — developments that could have lasting implications for how, where, and whether big cats survive in the wild.India, home to the largest number of wild tigers in the world, has always taken a leading role in the conservation of big cats, and has always been proactive in implementing schemes like Project Tiger, and the recent reintroduction of cheetahs. The budget announcement is in line with the country’s agenda for conservation at a time when habitat destruction, climate change, and human-wildlife conflict threaten the existence of big cats.Read more: ‘I am leaving America’: IT professional shares why despite having a successful career she is forced to quit USThe move also builds on India’s growing role in global wildlife conservation. Sitharaman highlighted the International Big Cat Alliance, which was established last year, and aims at fostering cooperation among countries that are home to species such as tigers, lions, leopards, snow leopards, cheetahs, and jaguars. The proposed summit is expected to provide a platform for aligning conservation policies, sharing best practices, and mobilising international resources.
Beyond wildlife diplomacy, the Union Budget outlined several tourism and conservation-linked initiatives. The government announced plans to develop ecologically sustainable mountain trails in Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Jammu and Kashmir, as well as in the Araku Valley of the Eastern Ghats and parts of the Western Ghats. Key turtle nesting sites in Odisha, Karnataka, and Kerala will also be developed into conservation-linked eco-tourism trails. The budget further stressed on creating thematic tourism circuits, including bird-watching trails at Pulicat Lake in Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, along with the development of 15 archaeological sites, such as Lothal, Dholavira, Rakhigarhi, Adichanallur, Sarnath, Hastinapur, and Leh Palace, into experiential destinations that integrate heritage conservation with visitor engagement. Read more: Delhi wakes up to dense fog; flight operations disrupted, airport and airlines issue advisoryTo strengthen spiritual tourism, a new Buddhist circuit scheme in the North-East, which will be covering Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Assam, Manipur, Mizoram, and Tripura, was also announced. The initiative will focus on preserving monasteries and temples, thereby improving connectivity, and creating pilgrimage interpretation centres and amenities.Skill development in tourism also received attention, wherein there is a proposal to train around 10,000 tour guides across 20 major destinations under a pilot programme, in collaboration with the Indian Institutes of Management.
BLACKPINK’S Rosé has brushed shoulders with the Grammys world before – from hosting fans at an intimate set at the Grammy Museum in Los Angeles last December to slowly building her presence within the Recording Academy. But this year’s ceremony hit different. The 2026 Grammys marked her first-ever appearance at the main awards night, and it couldn’t have come at a bigger moment in her career.This is also the first time Rosé has been nominated as a solo artist, and she’s already rewriting the record books. She became the first K-pop soloist to score nominations in two major Grammy categories. And later in the night, she’s set to step onto the Grammys stage, another historic first for a K-pop solo act.For a night this personal and career-defining, Rosé kept her red carpet look clean, striking, and quietly powerful. She wore a strapless black mini dress paired with a dramatic white gathered drape that flowed from her waist to the floor, creating a sharp contrast between classic elegance and modern edge. The look felt minimal at first glance, but the sculpted silhouette and bold structure made it anything but simple.The outfit was styled by Aeri Yun, the creative force behind many of Rosé’s most loved fashion moments – from her easy street style to her slightly offbeat, feminine stage looks. Together, they’ve created a fashion identity that’s recognisable without being repetitive, and this Grammys appearance felt like a perfect summary of that journey.She finished the look with sheer tights, pointed heels, and subtle sparkle in the form of Tiffany & Co. jewellery. The glam stayed soft and unfussy, with Rosé letting her bleach-blonde curls take centre stage instead of going heavy on makeup. It was one of those rare red carpet moments where restraint actually made the look stronger.Rosé walked the carpet solo before heading inside for the ceremony, where her song with Bruno Mars, “APT.”, is in the running for Record of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best Pop Duo/Group Performance. It’s tough competition, with names like Kendrick Lamar, Lady Gaga, Billie Eilish, Doechii, Sabrina Carpenter, and Bad Bunny also in the mix.Still, wins or not, this night already feels like a milestone. For Rosé, simply being here – nominated, performing, and owning her space on one of music’s biggest stages, is a moment fans will remember long after the trophies are handed out.
For decades, Jack Kerouac’s most famous work has existed in two forms. The book readers know, and the scroll that most people have only heard about. Now, that original scroll is stepping back into public view. The 37-metre-long typewritten draft of ‘On the Road’ is set to be auctioned in New York this March, and literary historians are paying close attention. Typed in a restless three-week burst in April 1951, the scroll captures Kerouac before edits, before polish, before restraint. It is raw, fast, and reportedly closest to what he actually wanted to say. Experts say artefacts like this rarely surface, and when they do, they reopen old debates about art, ownership, and who gets to decide where cultural history belongs.
The scroll itself is almost as famous as the book. Kerouac taped together long sheets of tracing paper so he wouldn’t have to pause to change pages. Just words flowing, one after another. Heather Weintraub, books and manuscripts specialist at Christie’s, reported that the scroll is “unique and hugely important”. She described it as the only original draft of Kerouac’s masterpiece, and widely viewed as the most iconic physical object linked to the Beat Generation. What’s striking is how different it is from the version published in 1957.
Experts say it offers rare insight into Kerouac’s spontaneous prose method, something he spoke about often but few could truly see until this document surfaced. It isn’t just a draft but evidence of a way of thinking. That’s why the scroll’s appearance at auction feels significant. Around 400 items from the collection will be displayed free to the public at Christie’s Rockefeller Plaza galleries from 6 to 12 March.Alongside the Kerouac scroll, the sale includes Paul McCartney’s handwritten lyrics for Hey Jude, documents linked to the Beatles’ break-up, handwritten Rocky notes by Sylvester Stallone, and a journal kept by Jim Morrison.
This isn’t the first time the Kerouac scroll has stirred controversy. When it was last sold in 2001, Carolyn Cassady, the former wife of Neal Cassady, criticised the sale sharply. She called it “blasphemy”.
Words travel. They cross rivers, climb hills, and change shape as people grow up in different places. Some countries hear many languages every day, but one country hears more than any other on Earth. That country is Papua New Guinea, and its language story feels like a treasure chest waiting to be opened.
Papua New Guinea sits near Australia, in the Pacific Ocean. It may look small on a world map, but it holds 840+ living languages, as per the data from Our World in Data. That means this one country has more languages than Europe and North America combined. Each language belongs to a real group of people, with their own songs, stories, and jokes.
Tall mountains, thick forests, and deep valleys cover the land. For hundreds of years, villages stayed far apart. People met nature more often than neighbors. Over time, each community shaped its own words. A river here or a hill there slowly turned one language into many.
Many languages in Papua New Guinea grew from simple needs. Words for rain, farming, fishing, and family came first. Some languages have special words for types of mud or forest sounds. That shows how closely children and elders listen to their surroundings while they are growing up.
Most children learn a local language at home. At school, many also learn Tok Pisin, a common language that helps people from different regions talk to each other. English is taught too. Switching between languages becomes a normal part of childhood, like switching games.
With more than 700 languages spoken across numerous islands, Indonesia ranks second. Nigeria is next, with more than 500 languages that have been influenced by vibrant civilisations and history. Papua New Guinea continues to lead the world in spoken languages in a single nation.Every language carries feelings, ideas, and memories. When a small language disappears, a piece of the world’s thinking disappears too. Papua New Guinea reminds young minds that listening matters. Even the smallest voice has a story worth keeping.Disclaimer: Language counts are based on widely accepted linguistic research and may change as languages evolve, merge, or fall out of use. The numbers mentioned reflect current best estimates, not fixed totals.
If the Oscars are the elegant older sister who follows all the rules, the Grammys are the rebellious middle child who stays out late, texts back when she feels like it, and absolutely refuses to play it safe. And honestly? We wouldn’t have it any other way.
The 2026 Grammy Awards red carpet didn’t just deliver fashion; it delivered moments. We saw method dressing, nostalgic throwbacks, and enough sheer fabric to wrap the Crypto.com Arena twice over. If you missed the livestream because, well, it was a Monday morning in India, don’t stress. We’ve curated the ultimate style breakdown of the night.
“What it’s like to be a parent: It’s one of the hardest things you’ll ever do but in exchange it teaches you the meaning of unconditional love,” wrote bestselling author Nicholas Sparks, known for exploring deep human emotions in his novels. This quote speaks directly to the heart of parenting. It does not promise ease or perfection. Instead, it offers an honest exchange. Parenting asks for patience, sacrifice, and strength, and in return, it slowly reveals a kind of love that does not depend on success, behaviour, or gratitude.
Parenting tests limits every single day. Sleep breaks, routines change, and personal space shrinks. Decisions feel heavier because they affect another life. Concerns about safety, health, and the future are very much constant. This challenge is genuine and nowhere near a sign of failure. The quote by the author recognises that parenting is challenging since it requires simultaneous emotional, mental, and physical work.
Unconditional love does not mean easy love. It means showing up even when tired, upset, or unsure. Parents learn to love beyond moods and moments. A child is cared for even after mistakes, tantrums, or arguments. Over time, this repeated choice to stay becomes the very clear lesson in what unconditional love truly means.
Parenting is often seen as teaching children. However, children have a significant influence on adults. They use repetition to teach patience. They use vulnerability to teach empathy. A child’s longing for comfort, demonstrates how love functions best when it is present rather than flawless. This lifelong learning comes slowly.
Many parenting sacrifices go unnoticed. Skipped meals, delayed dreams, and quiet compromises are common. These sacrifices are rarely announced. They build a deep emotional bond instead. Love grows stronger because it costs something. The quote reflects this truth without romanticising the struggle.
Unconditional love does not end when children grow up. It evolves. Parents continue to care, worry, and support from a distance. The lessons learned during early years shape relationships for the rest of their lives. Parenting changes how love is given in friendships, families, and even workplaces.
The strength of the quote lies in its honesty. It does not promise joy every day. It promises meaning. Parenting gives a deeper understanding of love that expects nothing back. This message touches the heart because it reflects real experiences and not the ideal images.Disclaimer: This article is for general information and reflection only. It does not replace professional parenting, medical, or psychological advice. Parenting experiences can vary widely based on personal and cultural factors.
Daphne Bridgerton is gentle but firm, and her name comes from Greek mythology, meaning “laurel tree.” The twist, Daphina, keeps the softness but adds warmth. It sounds more global and lyrical, fitting well in today’s multicultural world. The name still carries ideas of growth and quiet strength.
The Union Budget 2026 has been presented, with Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman outlining the government’s roadmap for economic growth. For India’s tourism and hospitality industry, the budget was closely watched by industry people on how the budget announcements will set an agenda for the industry’s next phase of development. From connectivity and infrastructure to targeted tourism initiatives, the announcements offer insight into what lies ahead for hotels, travel companies, investors, and allied sectors.The sector had been seeking stronger budgetary support to boost new air routes, expand infrastructure, and stimulate both domestic and international travel.
Tourism related stocks also were looking positive after the Finance Minister put focus on building indigenous tourism. Shares of travel and tourism companies rose as much as 10 percent after the announcement, as investors bet on the industry growing in coming years.In her speech, the FM proposed developing 15 archaeological sites to promote heritage tourism in the country. Places like Sarnath and Hastinapur will be developed. She also proposed a plan for scaling 10k guides in well known tourist hubs. Comprehensive documentation of this work will be done and extended to a range of spiritual historic sites in the country, so as to better implement preservation efforts while promoting tourism driven economic development.The Budget also outlined plans to introduce mountain train services in states such as Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Jammu & Kashmir. These services are intended to improve connectivity in hilly regions while promoting tourism in areas that are often difficult to access.
In a big infrastructure push, Sitharaman also proposed starting work on seven high-speed rail corridors to connect Indian cities and improve long-distance travel. Announcing the Union Budget 2026, she said these corridors would connect important economic, industrial and cultural nodes of the country to reduce travel time, increase logistics efficiency and growth in a balanced manner.The high-speed rail corridors to be covered by the bill are:Mumbai–Pune,Pune–Hyderabad,Hyderabad–Bengaluru,Hyderabad–Chennai,Chennai–Bengaluru,Bengaluru–Varanasi, andVaranasi–Siliguri.These corridors are intended for enhancing connectivity in western, southern and eastern part of India as well as connecting economic centres to technology hubs.Here’s how the industry leaders reacted:“What stood out for me in this Budget is that it doesn’t treat travel as a one-sided story. Outbound travel needed a course correction, and cutting TCS on foreign tour packages to 2% does exactly that, it takes away a friction that travellers were feeling every time they planned a trip. On the inbound side, the intent is clearly longer-term. What stands out is the emphasis on cultural and experiential travel, whether through developing archaeological sites, strengthening Buddhist circuits, or building skilled local guide networks, tells us the focus is finally shifting to how India is experienced, not just how many people arrive. If this is executed well, it could move Indian tourism from being crowded and transactional to curated and experience-led.”— Karan Agarwal, Director, Cox & Kings“It is encouraging to see the Union Budget recognise tourism as a strategic economic catalyst driving employment, strengthening local enterprise, and contributing to foreign exchange while placing India’s cultural and natural heritage at its core. As one of the country’s most employment-intensive and revenue-generating sectors, tourism has the capacity to play a far more expansive role in India’s growth story, and the Budget’s focus signals a clear intent to unlock that potential responsibly.For Uttarakhand, the emphasis on sustainable and responsible tourism is particularly significant, as the state’s long-term appeal is intrinsically linked to the protection of its forests, rivers, and biodiversity. The proposal to upgrade the National Council for Hotel Management & Catering Technology into a National Institute of Hospitality, alongside structured upskilling of 10,000 guides, will meaningfully enhance service quality and destination interpretation. Initiatives such as the National Destination Digital Knowledge Grid and curated experiences like bird-watching trails further reinforce a model of tourism rooted in knowledge, conservation, and community engagement an approach that aligns strongly with the ethos of Jim Corbett National Park. Overall, the measures outlined lay the foundation for a more resilient and enduring tourism economy, built on skill development, environmental stewardship, and shared community benefit.”– Ayu Tripathi, Director, Aahana Resort“I commend Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on the Union Budget 2026–27 for recognising the strategic importance of medical tourism in India’s healthcare growth story. The announcement of five regional medical tourism hubs is a strong and timely step that will enhance India’s position as a global medical value travel destination. By integrating modern healthcare with AYUSH systems, diagnostics and rehabilitation, the budget lays the foundation for a more coordinated and patient-centric ecosystem. The emphasis on private sector participation and strengthening healthcare capacity will improve service delivery and scalability. While further policy support over time can accelerate global patient inflows, the budget clearly demonstrates a forward-looking approach to building a competitive and resilient medical tourism ecosystem that contributes to economic growth.”– Shaaz Mehmood, Founder, Medijourn Solutions Private Limited“The move to include temple towns in the City Economic Regions is very bold and appropriate. The allocation of ₹5,000 crore per CER over a period of five years will help modernise infrastructure, fuel local trade and tourism and translate rising visitor numbers into higher transaction value revenues. This, in fact, will turn temple towns into self-sustaining engines of economic growth while maintaining the sanctity and culture of these sacred spaces.The budget allocation is a critical enabler for the CHESS- G doctrine, a six-pronged strategic framework introduced by Temple Connect. It determines how effectively the model translates from intent to execution across its core pillars. Targeted investment will ensure better convenience infrastructure, hygiene standards, experience design, safety protocols, sustainability integration, and growth activation. We are speaking of economic growth that is centred on inclusion, enabling livelihoods for local communities like artisans, local vendors, e-auto drivers, MSMEs, temple custodians, as well as amplifying local hospitality and temple tourism. This holistic temple-city development is a foundational pillar of a truly Viksit Bharat. Until now, we were operating like the most organised-unorganised sector. However, the temple ecosystem has a higher scope and needs more financial boost from the various state governments and a higher participation from the Culture and Tourism outfits supporting the cause of Empowered Temple Economy & it’s Ecosystem to become much more organised with targeted allocation, cross-ministerial co-ordinations and structured policy support.”– Shri Giresh Vasudev Kulkarni, Founder of Temple Connect and ITCX International Temples Convention and EXPO
Applying for an India e-visa, or as a matter of fact, applying for an e-visa of any country, is supposed to be a straightforward online process. In reality, for many travellers in early 2026, it has been anything but. What should take minutes has stretched into hours, sometimes days. Reason being repeated crashes, pages stuck in browsing mode, and failed submissions, turning the visa application itself into the first test of patience.Here, in the context of Indian e-via, several travellers attempting to apply for it in January have reported facing persistent technical glitches on the official portal, often getting stuck midway through the application. Pages would load intermittently, only to crash when users clicked ‘Next,’ forcing them to refresh repeatedly and re-enter details from scratch. For families applying together, the frustration multiplied, with applications stalling just as personal or passport information was being submitted.The issue came into sharp focus after one exasperated traveller (aggravating-Stage 261) took to Reddit, asking if the experience was universal or uniquely cursed. “Is it just me? Or the Indian visa online keeps crashing every time?” the post read. “I think I have pressed refresh more than 300x… The times I get through will be around less than 10x and I’m now on my family’s details but when I click next, it crashes again.I am so tired already!!!!! Any tips.” What happened next was a deluge of messages that indicated this was anything but an isolated occurrence. Several people posted very similar experiences of spending days fighting the website on different devices and browsers. “Jan 2026: Absolute terrible experience applying for e-visa. It almost took us three days to lodge two applications,” one commenter wrote.
“Tried different timings, different browsers, IE mode in Internet Explorer, several different devices.” While the complaints were consistent, so were the workarounds, albeit unconventional ones. One of the most widely endorsed solutions was abandoning mainstream browsers altogether.“The only thing that worked for us was the DuckDuckGo browser (freshly installed). First application went smoothly with no crashing,” a user noted, adding that the second application still took an entire night to complete. Some recommended using Microsoft Edge and turning on Internet Explorer mode, which, although seemingly strange in 2026, helped some users. A user also described issues with file size restrictions following the conversion of images to PDF, eventually turning to online compression services simply to get past the point of uploading. Although the process of applying was chaotic for many, once their forms were submitted, approvals were received relatively quickly. “But the processing is pretty quick. Received approval in a day,” one comment noted. Disclaimer: The above article is based on a Reddit post and Times of India has not verified the veracity of the claim
