With the geopolitical fallout of the US–Israel strikes on Iran, global tensions are now shaping travel decisions across West Asia. For Indian nationals in the region, the priority is getting home safely. India has advised its citizens in Iran to move towards neighbouring countries such as Azerbaijan for onward flights back.
As geopolitical tensions persist, a new global survey of more than 24,000 residents ranks Melbourne as the world’s most liveable city right now.
More and more women are hitting the road: India’s solo bus travel boom
Women are travelling more than ever on India’s intercity buses. New data shows women’s bus travel has surged 136% since 2019, nearly double the growth in overall passenger traffic. Much of the momentum is coming from Gen Z travellers and passengers from tier-2 and tier-3 towns, signalling a shift toward more independent and solo journeys, with safety signals, peer reviews and live tracking playing a growing role in how women choose to travel.
Badrinath and Kedarnath set a new rule for Char Dham pilgrims
As the Char Dham Yatra begins on April 19, pilgrims heading to Uttarakhand’s sacred Himalayan shrines will encounter a new rule this year. The Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee has decided that non-Hindus will not be allowed inside the Badrinath and Kedarnath temple complexes, with the restriction coming into effect from the upcoming pilgrimage season. The gates of Kedarnath open on April 22 and Badrinath on April 23.
Travel search gets conversational
Travel planning in India is starting to sound more like everyday conversation. New data from MakeMyTrip’s AI assistant Myra shows travellers increasingly using voice queries in regional languages, asking longer, more detailed questions about trips. Many now specify dates, group size, budget and location in a single spoken query, with date-based searches appearing over three times more often in voice than text.
AI plans the trip, but travellers still double-check
Artificial intelligence is quickly becoming a go-to travel companion. A new global survey shows 91% of travellers now use AI-powered planners to build itineraries, pick hotels and map out activities. Yet trust hasn’t fully caught up with usage. While most travellers rely on AI tools, only about a third say they completely trust the results.
The social media debate, part two
Last week, we looked at how governments around the world were reconsidering children’s access to social media: from Australia’s under-16 ban to similar discussions in Europe and India. That conversation is now entering its next phase. As regulators push for stricter rules, the technology to enforce them is rapidly evolving, with new AI-powered age-verification tools using facial analysis, ID checks and digital behaviour patterns to estimate users’ ages. At the same time, platforms are beginning to adapt: WhatsApp has introduced parent-managed accounts for children under 13, allowing messaging with strict parental oversight while limiting features such as channels and AI tools.
ICYMI: A sculpture depicting US President Donald Trump and the child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein recreating a scene from the 1997 film Titanic appeared on the National Mall near the US Capitol.
The genius of the Indian thali
Long before modern nutritionists began talking about balanced diets, Indian kitchens had already perfected the idea on a steel plate. Chef and food stylist Sheeba de Souza explores how the Indian thali, with its mix of flavours, textures and temperatures, reflects centuries of culinary wisdom rooted in Ayurveda, seasonal cooking and intuitive menu design. What may look like a simple assortment of dishes, she argues, is in fact one of the most carefully structured meal formats in the world.
Oscars weekend: Hollywood’s biggest night (pre-dawn) is almost here
The 98th Academy Awards arrive this Sunday at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, with Conan O’Brien hosting the ceremony and presenters including Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Robert Downey Jr., Anne Hathaway and Paul Mescal. For viewers in India, the action begins in the early hours: the red carpet starts at 4:00 am IST on Monday (March 16), followed by the main ceremony at 4:30 am IST, streaming on JioHotstar. Ahead of the big night, here’s a look at the Indian-American Geeta Gandbhir’s historic double nomination, and the spectacle beyond the awards themselves, from the $350,000 nominee gift bags to the lavish Governors Ball feast that follows the ceremony.
Stay tuned to catch all the live updates from the Oscars with CNBC-TV18
