Latest news with #Mansilla
Indian Express
05-07-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
PM Modi in Argentina: 3 lesser-known facts about India-Argentina relations
Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Argentina on Friday evening (July 4), marking the third stop of his five-nation tour of the 'Global South'. This marks the first bilateral visit by an Indian Prime Minister to the country in 57 years. Landed in Buenos Aires for a bilateral visit which will focus on augmenting relations with Argentina. I'm eager to be meeting President Javier Milei and holding detailed talks with him.@JMilei — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 5, 2025 The Prime Minister paid his respects at the statue of General José de San Martín, regarded as the liberator of Argentina, Peru and Chile from Spanish colonial rule. He will later meet with Argentinean President Javier Milei, as well as the country's top leadership, to review ongoing cooperation and discuss new avenues for bilateral partnerships. India and Argentina celebrated 75 years of diplomatic relations in 2024, and seek to build on cooperation in several areas, including defence, agriculture, mining, oil and gas, renewable energy, trade and investment. Trade in the mineral resources sector is significant, with Argentine reserves of lithium of key interest for India's green energy transition. India was Argentina's fifth-largest trading partner in 2024. Here are three lesser-known facts about bilateral relations between the two countries. As Prime Minister, Indira Gandhi visited Argentina as part of her tour of South American nations in 1968. In a post on X, Congress MP Jairam Ramesh recalled that Indira Gandhi had met Victoria Ocampo in Buenos Aires, conferring upon the latter the honorary degree of Doctor of Literature of Rabindranath Tagore's Visva Bharati University. Indira Gandhi junto a Victoria Ocampo durante su visita a la Argentina. Año 1968. Inventario 301851. — Archivo General (@AGNArgentina) June 18, 2014 Indira Gandhi's tour of South America also saw her visiting Brazil, Uruguay, Chile, Colombia, Venezuela and Guyana, as well as the island of Trinidad and Tobago in under a month. The first recorded visit by an Argentine to India was in 1848. According to Indologist Gustavo Canzobre, Indo-Argentinean relations date back to 1848 when the 17-year-old Argentine Lucio V. Mansilla visited India. Mansilla's writings of his travels across India and East Asia were recorded in the book Diario de viaje a Oriente (1850-51) (Travel Journal to the Orient [1850-51]). Canzobre described Mansilla as a 'dandy' who 'spent all his family business funds on having the very best of lives'. However, Argentine understanding of India and the 'Orient' or East Asia was coloured in a racialised, colonial narrative. 'The city of Kolkata, undoubtedly one of the most beautiful in the world, must be considered under two aspects; first, the houses of the Europeans, which are magnificent, and second, the natives, who are the dirtiest and most disgusting imaginable,' Mansilla wrote in his journal. ('India-Argentina: Past and Present of an Enduring Passion', Gustavo Canzobre, 2018) Tagore's visit to a South American country would leave a transformative impact. In November 1924, Rabindranath Tagore arrived in Argentina en route Peru, where he had been invited to attend the centenary celebrations of the Battle of Ayacucho, which secured Peruvian independence from Spanish colonial rule. However, he fell ill on arriving in Buenos Aires, having just completed a particularly gruelling tour of Europe. The writer, Victoria Ocampo, a patron of the arts and an intellectual who challenged male domination of the literary world, was a fan of Tagore's work and invited him to recuperate at her Buenos Aires estate. During his stay in Argentina, Tagore composed the poetry collection Purabi, which included his reflections on his time spent in the country, according to a release by Visva Bharati University commemorating the centenary of this visit. He dedicated this collection to Ocampo, whom he affectionately called 'Bijoya'. Canzobre described Tagore's influence on Ocampo as deeply significant, impacting the understanding of Indian philosophy in the South American nation, as well as a deep interest in Indian culture, dance, music and yoga. Ocampo translated, promoted and even organised exhibitions of his work. Ocampo's magazine, Sur, was inspired by Tagore's Vishva Quarterly, which promoted cross-cultural dialogue and exchange in a manner previously unknown.
Tom's Guide
27-05-2025
- Automotive
- Tom's Guide
6 things to consider when buying a bike helmet
If you're planning to start cycling more, you need one of the best bike helmets, it's as simple as that. The extra protection you get from a helmet can make all the difference in a crash, and some helmets can now even help to prevent collisions. To get the inside track on everything you need to know about bike helmets, we spoke to Juan Garcia Mansilla, co-founder of UNIT 1, a company that makes smart bike helmets and other cycling accessories. Here's what you need to consider when buying your bike helmet. Price is an obvious place to start, because you might well have a budget available to spend on your bike helmet. 'Prices vary a lot,' says Mansilla. 'You'll find basic helmets starting around $30. More advanced options — those with better materials, more features, or higher safety certifications — can go up to $300 or more. 'In our case, smart helmets with integrated lighting, MIPS [Multi-directional Impact Protection System], crash alerts and other features usually fall in the $150–$230 range.' Bike helmets have to hit certain safety standards depending on where you live, and this is the first thing you should check with any helmet you're considering, especially if you're looking at cheaper helmets. Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. 'In the U.S., the standard is CPSC,' says Mansilla. 'In Europe, it's EN-1078. Both were developed for traditional cycling speeds up to around 15.5 mph/25 km/h. 'For higher-impact protection, there's NTA-8776, a newer and more demanding certification created in the Netherlands, specifically with e-bikes and faster urban riding in mind. 'It tests for impacts up to 28 mph/ 45 km/h. No matter how fast you actually ride, a helmet that's NTA-certified offers a higher safety margin, full stop. 'For additional assurance, some riders also look to independent testing like the Virginia Tech Helmet Ratings, which assess real-world impact scenarios.' Once you've found a helmet that fits your budget and the required safety standard, you need to make sure it's comfortable and fits well — if the helmet is loose, it will reduce how effective it is during impacts. If you ride in hot countries, it's also worth making sure that the helmet has good airflow so it doesn't get uncomfortably sweaty during longer rides. Helmets will work for all kinds of cycling, but there are different features you should prioritize depending on whether you're likely to be riding on the road or trails. 'Road cyclists typically look for something lightweight with maximum ventilation,' says Mansilla. 'Mountain bikers need more head coverage and durability. Urban helmets tend to be cleaner in design, with moderate airflow and visibility-focused features. Technically, any helmet can work across contexts, but one that's built for your type of riding will always perform better.' Bike helmets are getting smarter all the time, and if you have a bigger budget, you can get features that enhance your safety and ride experience. 'Our [UNIT 1's] helmets, for example, include integrated front and rear lights, turn signals, brake lights, a magnetic buckle for ease of use and crash alerts that send your location to an emergency contact if you fall,' says Mansilla. 'These tools are designed to help you avoid collisions and get help faster if one happens.' This is something to consider after you've bought your helmet — when should you think about buying another one? 'After any crash, the helmet should be replaced, even if it looks fine,' says Mansilla. 'Impact can compromise the inner structure in ways you can't see. 'Without a crash, most helmets need to be replaced every three to four years, depending on use. UV exposure, rain, sweat and general wear all break down the materials over time.'
