Torbjørn 'Thor' Pedersen left his job, family and girlfriend and embarked on an epic journey on 10 October 2013, with the aim to visit each&nbsp;country in the world without flying. The only three rules he set for himself were spending at least 24 hours in every nation, living off $20 a day, and not returning home until the voyage was complete.&nbsp;

During 10 years of travel, Pederson successfully visited all the countries in the world and started his journey home on 24 May 2023. The last country he visited was Maldives.

Pederson is also the goodwill ambassador for the Danish Red Cross. He told CNN, "There's a historical sense of returning home by ship – people can see it on the horizon and stand and wave as I come down the gangway. And that seems like an appropriate way to complete the project."

ALSO READ |<a href="www.wionews.com/world/taiwan-steps-up-counter-espionage-efforts-after-chinese-infiltration-bids-621650">&nbsp;Taiwan steps up counter-espionage action after Chinese infiltration in military, civil ranks</a>

The 44-year-old celebrated his success in the Maldives. Then, he backtracked to Malaysia via Sri Lanka to board the MV Milan Maersk, a 1,300 feet long container ship. He travelled 33 days to reach his home country, Denmark. "In my cabin, I looked out the porthole in Malaysia, and it dawned on me that every day the view would gradually change until it finally became Denmark," said Pederson.&nbsp;

Pederson walked down the gangway at the Port of Aarhus on 26 July 2023. Roughly 150 people, including his father, siblings, project partners, and many supporters, were waiting for him to celebrate his return. Pederson's wife, Le, was also waiting for him. He proposed to her atop Mt Kenya in 2016, and they married in 2021.

WATCH |&nbsp;49 years of power struggle in Niger | World of Africa

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Pederson used to work in shipping and logistics. His skills from his previous job came in handy on his epic 10-year adventure. However, he went through many hardships to visit all the nations in the world. For instance, it took him four months and many failed attempts to acquire a visa for Equatorial Guinea, one of the world's most difficult countries to access. He encountered months-long visa delays in many countries, like Syria, Iran, Nauru, and Angola.

Pederson survived an intense four-day storm when he was crossing the Atlantic from Iceland to Canada. He also overcame a severe bout of malaria in Ghana. Moreover, he had to reschedule many sailings due to broken ships or exhausting bureaucracy.&nbsp;

Pederson also ran a blog, Once Upon A Saga, and used other social media channels, to document his adventures in different nations. He recently posted a picture on Instagram announcing his return to Denmark.

(With inputs from agencies) 
 
&nbsp;

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

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Torbjørn 'Thor' Pedersen left his job, family and girlfriend and embarked on an epic journey on 10 October 2013, with the aim to visit each country in the world without flying.

Torbjørn 'Thor' Pedersen left his job, family and girlfriend and embarked on an epic journey on 10 October 2013, with the aim to visit each country in the world without flying. The only three rules he set for himself were spending at least 24 hours in every nation, living off $20 a day, and not returning home until the voyage was complete. During 10 years of travel, Pederson successfully visited all the countries in the world and started his journey home on 24 May 2023. The last country he visited was Maldives. Pederson is also the goodwill ambassador for the Danish Red Cross. He told CNN, "There's a historical sense of returning home by ship – people can see it on the horizon and stand and wave as I come down the gangway. And that seems like an appropriate way to complete the project." ALSO READ | Taiwan steps up counter-espionage action after Chinese infiltration in military, civil ranks The 44-year-old celebrated his success in the Maldives. Then, he backtracked to Malaysia via Sri Lanka to board the MV Milan Maersk, a 1,300 feet long container ship. He travelled 33 days to reach his home country, Denmark. "In my cabin, I looked out the porthole in Malaysia, and it dawned on me that every day the view would gradually change until it finally became Denmark," said Pederson. Pederson walked down the gangway at the Port of Aarhus on 26 July 2023. Roughly 150 people, including his father, siblings, project partners, and many supporters, were waiting for him to celebrate his return. Pederson's wife, Le, was also waiting for him. He proposed to her atop Mt Kenya in 2016, and they married in 2021. WATCH | 49 years of power struggle in Niger | World of Africa Pederson used to work in shipping and logistics. His skills from his previous job came in handy on his epic 10-year adventure. However, he went through many hardships to visit all the nations in the world. For instance, it took him four months and many failed attempts to acquire a visa for Equatorial Guinea, one of the world's most difficult countries to access. He encountered months-long visa delays in many countries, like Syria, Iran, Nauru, and Angola. Pederson survived an intense four-day storm when he was crossing the Atlantic from Iceland to Canada. He also overcame a severe bout of malaria in Ghana. Moreover, he had to reschedule many sailings due to broken ships or exhausting bureaucracy. Pederson also ran a blog, Once Upon A Saga, and used other social media channels, to document his adventures in different nations. He recently posted a picture on Instagram announcing his return to Denmark. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Danish man visits all countries in the world without flying, returns home

India's&nbsp;Defence&nbsp;Minister Rajnath Singh will be on a visit to the union territory of Ladakh from Sunday.&nbsp;In this&nbsp;more than one day&nbsp;visit, BRO infrastructure&nbsp;programmes&nbsp;will be&nbsp;the key focus. While&nbsp;being&nbsp;in Ladakh, his visit to the Line of actual control (LAC) can’t&nbsp;be ruled out.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The visit comes even as the Chinese still have not disengaged from other areas of the LAC like Gogra and hot springs.&nbsp;Over the last year,&nbsp;the Chinese forces at the LAC&nbsp;had been growing continuously, raising&nbsp;tensions in the region.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Refusing to defuse the&nbsp;tense&nbsp;situation, the Chinese foreign ministry blamed India for&nbsp;it&nbsp;last week. India was quick to rebut&nbsp;it&nbsp;with the ministry of external affairs,&nbsp;saying, "It is well&nbsp;recognised&nbsp;that it has been the Chinese actions over the last year, including amassing of a large number of troops close to border areas in the western sector and trying to unilaterally alter the status quo along the LAC, which have seriously disturbed peace and&nbsp;tranquillity&nbsp;in the border areas."&nbsp; 
&nbsp; 
Meanwhile,&nbsp;Friday saw the 22nd round of diplomatic level talks,&nbsp;the WMCC or Working Mechanism for Consultation&nbsp;and&nbsp;Coordination. During the talks, both sides decided to hold the 12th round of military-level talks,&nbsp;which the MEA said should be focused on achieving&nbsp;'complete disengagement from all the friction points along the LAC in the western&nbsp;sector in accordance with the existing bilateral agreements and protocols.'&nbsp;

India's Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will be on a visit to the union territory of Ladakh from Sunday. In this more than one day visit, BRO infrastructure programmes will be the key focus.

India's Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will be on a visit to the union territory of Ladakh from Sunday. In this more than one day visit, BRO infrastructure programmes will be the key focus. While being in Ladakh, his visit to the Line of actual control (LAC) can’t be ruled out. The visit comes even as the Chinese still have not disengaged from other areas of the LAC like Gogra and hot springs. Over the last year, the Chinese forces at the LAC had been growing continuously, raising tensions in the region. Refusing to defuse the tense situation, the Chinese foreign ministry blamed India for it last week. India was quick to rebut it with the ministry of external affairs, saying, "It is well recognised that it has been the Chinese actions over the last year, including amassing of a large number of troops close to border areas in the western sector and trying to unilaterally alter the status quo along the LAC, which have seriously disturbed peace and tranquillity in the border areas." Meanwhile, Friday saw the 22nd round of diplomatic level talks, the WMCC or Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination. During the talks, both sides decided to hold the 12th round of military-level talks, which the MEA said should be focused on achieving 'complete disengagement from all the friction points along the LAC in the western sector in accordance with the existing bilateral agreements and protocols.'

India's Defence Minister Rajnath Singh to visit Ladakh 

US President Donald Trump is unable to participate as Chief Guest of <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/trump-unlikely-to-honour-indias-invite-for-republic-day-celebrations-174076">India's Republic Day celebrations</a> next year due to scheduling constraints, the White House has said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had invited President Trump for a bilateral visit to India during their talks in Washington last year.

White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders had, in July, said that Trump has received an invitation to visit India, but no decision has been taken yet.

"President Trump was honoured by Prime Minister Modi's invitation for him to be Chief Guest of India's Republic Day on January 26, 2019 but is unable to participate due to scheduling constraints," a White House spokesperson told PTI on Monday, when asked about Trump's decision on Modi's invitation.&nbsp;

It is said that the annual State of the Union (SOTU) address to both Houses of the US Congress by Trump is likely to be around the time India will celebrate its Republic Day.

The SOTU is normally delivered in the last week of January or first week of February.

The spokesperson said that the US President and Modi enjoy a strong personal rapport and Trump is committed to deepening the India-US relationship.

"The President enjoys a strong personal rapport with Prime Minister Modi developed through two meetings and several phone calls and remains committed to deepening the

US-India strategic partnership," the spokesperson said.

"The President very much looks forward to meeting Prime Minister Modi again at the earliest opportunity," the White House spokesperson said.

Modi and Trump are scheduled to attend the G-20 Summit in Argentina on November 30 and December 1. It is possible that the two leaders might meet and discuss bilateral relationship there.

Every year, India invites world leaders to attend its Republic Day celebrations.

In 2015, the then US president Barack Obama had attended it as the chief guest which was his second visit to India as American president.

This year, leaders from 10 ASEAN countries had attended the Republic Day celebrations.

In 2016, the then French president Francois Hollande was the chief guest of the parade while Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was the chief guest at the celebrations in 2014.

The heads of state and government who have attended the Republic Day celebrations include Nicolas Sarkozy, Vladimir Putin, Nelson Mandela, John Major, Mohammed Khatami and Jacques Chirac.&nbsp;

US President Donald Trump is unable to participate as Chief Guest of India's Republic Day celebrations next year due to scheduling constraints, the White House has said.

US President Donald Trump is unable to participate as Chief Guest of India's Republic Day celebrations next year due to scheduling constraints, the White House has said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had invited President Trump for a bilateral visit to India during their talks in Washington last year. White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders had, in July, said that Trump has received an invitation to visit India, but no decision has been taken yet. "President Trump was honoured by Prime Minister Modi's invitation for him to be Chief Guest of India's Republic Day on January 26, 2019 but is unable to participate due to scheduling constraints," a White House spokesperson told PTI on Monday, when asked about Trump's decision on Modi's invitation. It is said that the annual State of the Union (SOTU) address to both Houses of the US Congress by Trump is likely to be around the time India will celebrate its Republic Day. The SOTU is normally delivered in the last week of January or first week of February. The spokesperson said that the US President and Modi enjoy a strong personal rapport and Trump is committed to deepening the India-US relationship. "The President enjoys a strong personal rapport with Prime Minister Modi developed through two meetings and several phone calls and remains committed to deepening the US-India strategic partnership," the spokesperson said. "The President very much looks forward to meeting Prime Minister Modi again at the earliest opportunity," the White House spokesperson said. Modi and Trump are scheduled to attend the G-20 Summit in Argentina on November 30 and December 1. It is possible that the two leaders might meet and discuss bilateral relationship there. Every year, India invites world leaders to attend its Republic Day celebrations. In 2015, the then US president Barack Obama had attended it as the chief guest which was his second visit to India as American president. This year, leaders from 10 ASEAN countries had attended the Republic Day celebrations. In 2016, the then French president Francois Hollande was the chief guest of the parade while Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was the chief guest at the celebrations in 2014. The heads of state and government who have attended the Republic Day celebrations include Nicolas Sarkozy, Vladimir Putin, Nelson Mandela, John Major, Mohammed Khatami and Jacques Chirac.

Trump not coming to India's Republic Day celebrations: White House

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Danish man visits all countries in the world without flying, returns home

India's Defence Minister Rajnath Singh to visit Ladakh

Trump not coming to India's Republic Day celebrations: White House