The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is gearing up for a groundbreaking start to 2024 with the launch of its maiden X-ray Polarimeter Satellite (XPoSat), a space-based observatory designed to explore X-ray polarization and its cosmic sources, including celestial entities like black holes, neutron stars, and magnetars.
Scheduled to lift off from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota at 9:10 am on Monday, the PSLV-C58 rocket will carry the primary payload, XPoSat, along with 10 other satellites destined for deployment in low-earth orbits.
XPoSat’s Mission
XPoSat stands as the world’s second X-ray polarimetry mission, following NASA’s launch of the Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer (IXPE) in 2021. Notably, XPoSat will operate within the medium X-ray band, distinguishing it from IXPE, which focuses on the soft X-ray band.
If successful, India will secure its position as the second country globally to launch an advanced astronomy observatory dedicated to studying the intricate dynamics of bright astronomical X-ray sources, particularly black holes and neutron stars.
XPoSat, India’s inaugural dedicated polarimetry mission, will orbit Earth in a low orbit and carry two scientific payloads. The primary payload, POLIX (Polarimeter Instrument in X-rays), will measure polarimetry parameters, including the degree and angle of polarization, in the medium X-ray energy range of 8-30 keV photons of astronomical origin. Additionally, the XSPECT (X-ray Spectroscopy and Timing) payload will provide spectroscopic information in the energy range of 0.8-15 keV.
ISRO’s motivation behind launching this mission lies in the complexity of understanding the emission mechanisms from various astronomical sources, such as black holes, neutron stars, active galactic nuclei, and pulsar wind nebulae.
XPoSat Mission’s Objectives
While existing space-based observatories offer valuable spectroscopic and timing information, the addition of polarimetry measurements, detailing the degree and angle of polarization, promises to enhance astronomers’ understanding of emission processes from these celestial sources. The combination of polarimetric and spectroscopic observations is anticipated to unravel challenges posed by various theoretical models of astronomical emission processes.
The objectives of the XPoSat mission include measuring X-ray polarization in the energy band of 8-30 keV from around 50 potential cosmic sources, conducting long-term spectral and temporal studies of cosmic X-ray sources in the energy band of 0.8-15 keV, and performing polarimetry and spectroscopic measurements of X-ray emissions from cosmic sources within the common energy band.
XPoSat’s instruments
XPoSat carries two major instruments, POLIX and XSPECT, developed by the Raman Research Institute and the Space Astronomy Group of URSC, respectively. POLIX, focusing on the medium X-ray energy band, aims to observe approximately 40 bright astronomical sources of different categories during the planned five-year mission lifetime.
On the other hand, XSPECT, specializing in soft X-rays, provides fast timing and excellent spectroscopic resolution, enabling long-term monitoring of spectral state changes in continuum emission, alterations in line flux and profile, and simultaneous temporal monitoring of soft X-ray emission in the 0.8-15 keV range.
The XPoSat mission marks a significant step for the Indian science community, offering a unique avenue to deepen the understanding of cosmic phenomena through advanced observational techniques.
(With inputs from agencies)
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President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi shared New Year greetings with the country on Monday, wishing for happiness, peace, prosperity and good health for everyone.
‘Welcome New Year with renewed commitment’
Extending her New Year’s wishes, President Murmu said: “Warm New Year greetings to all! May the Year 2024 bring happiness, peace and prosperity for everyone.”
“Let us welcome the New Year with a renewed commitment to contribute to inclusive and sustainable development,” the President of India said in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Warm New Year greetings to all! May the Year 2024 bring happiness, peace and prosperity for everyone. Let us welcome the New Year with a renewed commitment to contribute to inclusive and sustainable development.
In his wish to people on New Year's, PM Modi said: "Wishing everyone a splendid 2024! May this year bring forth prosperity, peace and wonderful health for all."
Wishing everyone a splendid 2024! May this year bring forth prosperity, peace and wonderful health for all.
India welcomed the year 2024 with great enthusiasm and fervour. Last year (2023) was eventful for the country on both national and global fronts.
In September, India hosted G20 Summit in New Delhi and in July, in August the country witnessed successful landing of Chandrayaan-3 on the Moon’s South Pole. The years 2023 brought a lot of significant achievements for India that marked its presence in history.
After bidding adieu to 2023, India is looking forward to 2024 which is already set to mark promising events for the nation, including the inauguration of Ram Temple in Ayodhya on 22 January and the keenly watched 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
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We are celebrating the end of 2023 and the advent of 2024. The year, undoubtedly, has been significant for the country as a myriad of events took place. Some very good, while some others not so much.
And like most others, now is the time for stock-taking.
We sit back and mull over all that happened in the country in 2023 – from India’s highest of highs when it successfully hosted the G20 Summit and reached the moon to its lowest when ethnic violence broke out in Manipur – wreaking havoc and destruction.
As you prepare to ring in the New Year, we present to you our biggest stories from India in 2023 in our yearly wrap.
1) We start off with the biting cold wave that hit Delhi and other parts of north India at the start of the year. Temperatures fell to dangerously low levels, causing the death of 98 people in Uttar Pradesh’s Kanpur. As the mercury fell, people got more worried about the effects of the weather, prompting many to wonder if cold conditions could cause heart attacks and brain freezes.
In our explainer, we delved into the impact winter weather can have on our bodies and what can be done to protect ourselves. Read here to find out more.
2) Besides the cold weather in the country, January was also the year when flyers got the cold feet. That’s because a man was arrested for urinating on a passenger on board an Air India flight headed to Delhi from New York.
The man was later identified as Mumbai-based Shankar Mishra, a 34-year-old employee of US financial giant Wells Fargo. Authorities later stated that the Mumbai resident had committed ‘peegate’ – as the incident was later dubbed – under the influence of alcohol.
3) The Dalai Lama is a revered person across the world. Most times, he’s praised and called a man of peace. However, in March, the revered Tibetan spiritual leader found himself in hot water and was severely criticised by many on social media.
Many netizens called the Dalai Lama creepy; some others said the leader was being funny, while there were few others who went as far as calling him a paedophile and demanding that he be arrested.
But what exactly caused people to get so upset? Read our explainer here about the incident of him, calling a little boy on stage during an event and then planting a kiss on the minor’s lips.
As anger only grew online, the Dalai Lama offered his apologies for the incident. However, it seems that the damage was done.
Tibetan spiritual leader The Dalai Lama faced a lot of flak this year when a video captured him, telling a little boy to ‘suck his tongue’. File image/Reuters
4) In the year 2023, India witnessed a fair share of scandals, controversies and crimes that horrified us. Of the many that took place in India, one stood out for being particularly heinous. In May, a 20-year-old Sahil Sarfaraz repeatedly stabbed his girlfriend, who was then just 16-years-old in Delhi’s Shahbad Dairy area, and then bludgeoned her to death with a stone.
How did the police nab Sahil Sarfaraz for the crime? Read our explainer that details exactly how the Delhi Police was able to track Sarfaraz and put him behind bars.
5) Perhaps, one of India’s lowest moments came in the month of May when violence broke out in the northeastern state of Manipur. It began first on 3 May when a rally descended into violence and a larger conflict in the state, which many dubbed as a state of civil war.
According to government figures, as of 15 September, 175 people have died in the violence. Another 1,108 have been injured while 32 are missing. A whopping 4,786 houses have been burnt and 386 religious structures including temples and churches have been vandalised.
The conflict threw light on the battle between the Meitei community and the Kuki-Naga tribes. In our explainer, we detail the differences between the two groups and what led to the animosity between them.
The conflict also showcased human kind’s worst moment when two women, belonging to the Kuki tribe, were paraded naked. The country was up in arms about the incident, with even Prime Minister Narendra Modi condemning it and saying that the incident had put 140 crore Indians to shame.
6) Away from the main headlines, but yet startling enough came the news that 3.3 per cent of all women in the country between the ages of 15 and 49 have had a hysterectomy. Even the Supreme Court took note of the situation and ordered the government to take strict action against medical professionals who perform unnecessary hysterectomies in hospitals and clinics.
The National Family Health Survey revealed that Andhra Pradesh (nine per cent) and Telangana (eight per cent) had the highest rates of hysterectomy.
In our explainer, we explored what exactly is a hysterectomy and dug deeper to find why a rising number of women were opting for this procedure. Click here to find out if this has intrigued you as well.
Protesters hold placards as they attend a protest against the alleged sexual assault of two tribal women in Manipur, in New Delhi. File image/Reuters
7) June was perhaps one of the most significant months in the year. It was then that Prime Minister Narendra Modi made his way to the United States for his first State Visit. What made the visit even more significant was the fact that he addressed a joint-press conference with US president Joe Biden.
PM Modi took a myriad of questions from journalists from across the globe. But it was one query that grabbed the headlines everywhere. The Wall Street Journal’s Sabrina Siddiqui threw a volley of questions the prime minister’s way on the rights of Muslims and other minorities in the country as well suggesting that democratic rights were under threat in his regime. While PM Modi answered her questions, it seemed that some were very unhappy and trolled her viciously online.
8) In August, India reached new heights. Indian Space Research Organisation’s (ISRO) Chandrayaan-3 became the first to land near the south pole of the moon and India joined the small lunar club – countries that have reached the moon.
What made the mission even more special was that Chandrayaan’s rover, Pragyaan, left an imprint of the Ashoka emblem on the Moon, effectively leaving India’s imprint on the Moon.
Find out here how this was accomplished and what happened next.
Arun Haryani, an enthusiast with his body painted in tri-colours reacts as he holds up a model of LVM3 M4 which was used in launching of Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft. File image/Reuters
9) In October, Shikhar Dhawan, one of India’s most prominent cricket players, made the headlines but not for his performance on the field. He made the news after the Delhi court granted him a divorce from his wife, Aesha Mukherji, on the grounds of mental cruelty.
Shortly after, many asked what is mental cruelty that Dhawan had invoked to seek a divorce. We delved deep into this topic – from what the law said on it to the many instances when it was invoked by either spouse to seek a divorce.
10) What do you associate with Diwali? Most would answer firecrackers. But in recent times, the bursting of firecrackers, especially in the North has been banned owing to the horrible air pollution.
In November, while hearing a case on Rajasthan implementing a ban on firecrackers, the Supreme Court stated, “At this juncture, no specific order will be necessary in as much as this Court, in the course of hearing the petitions, has passed several orders, where steps have been indicated to minimise and avoid air as well as noise pollution. Hence the said orders will bind every state in the country, including the state of Rajasthan. Therefore, we make it clear that the state of Rajasthan would also take note of this and take all steps to minimise air and noise pollution, not only during the festival season, but even thereafter.”
But it seemed that the court’s order confused many. Were crackers allowed or not? In our explainer, we dispelled the confusion around the bursting of crackers. Read here to find out more.
Malaysia is one of the countries that has announced visa-free travel for Indians. Image used for representational purposes/Reuters
11) The year 2023 was especially good for Indian travellers and the good news will further continue in the coming year. A rising number of countries – Thailand, Sri Lanka, Malaysia – have announced visa-free travel for Indians. Moreover, countries like Vietnam are also considering the same. Kenya has opened up visa-free travel for all people. Russia, too, has started issuing electronic visas (e-visas) to Indian passport holders.
But why is it that countries are luring Indian travellers? Experts cite a number of reasons, the most significant being that desis are now willing to spend more on travel. In fact, a report titled ‘How India Travels’ released by Booking.com and McKinsey & Company, projected that Indian travellers’ total expenditure will surge to $410 billion.
So go out there and travel! Travel far, travel well and have fun!
12) The year 2023 saw Bollywood release some amazing films, ringing the cash registers at the box office. In December, came Meghna Gulzar’s much anticipated Sam Bahadur, starring Vicky Kaushal in the lead role.
The movie, based on the life of India’s first Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw, garnered critical as well as box office appreciation. In this essay, we tell you the tales of the bravery of Sam Manekshaw, considered as one of our finest military leaders. He was a gutsy war general but also one with great wit. He was one of a kind.
And that’s it from us for 2023! We hope you have a very happy new year with lots of reading.
If you liked this and the way we explain the news, here’s where to look for it.
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to visit Ayodhya on Saturday during which he will inaugurate a redeveloped station and a newly-built airport in the temple town.
He is also expected to lay the foundation stones for a slew of development projects in Uttar Pradesh.
To welcome the prime minister, the holy city has been decorated with flowers, murals and thematic ornamental columns amid heavy security deployment. Huge posters with images of PM Modi have been put up at prominent locations, while cut-outs of Lord Ram have been installed outside the redeveloped railway station.
Elaborate security arrangements have been made along the Ram Path to the Ayodhya airport, located about 15 km from the main city.
Devotional songs dedicated to Lord Ram played out on the streets on Saturday morning while ringing of bells and holy chants at several temples filled the air.
“The prime minister is expected to reach Ayodhya airport around 10.45 am. After landing at the airport, he will head to the Ayodhya railway station where he will inaugurate the redeveloped railway station. He will then return to the airport, inaugurate the newly-built airport and subsequently address a ‘Jan Sabha’ (public rally),” Gaurav Dayal, Divisional Commissioner of Ayodhya, said.
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The consecration of the Ram temple in Uttar Pradesh’s Ayodhya is set to take place in less than a month. Ahead of the grand event, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is visiting the holy city on Saturday (30 December) to inaugurate the newly built Ayodhya airport.
After unveiling the redeveloped Ayodhya railway station and flagging off the new Amrit Bharat and Vande Bharat trains, the Indian premier will attend the inauguration of the new airport, which is located nearly 15 km from the main temple town.
Here is everything you need to know about the new Ayodhya airport.
Features of the Ayodhya Airport
The airport has reportedly been renamed ‘Maharishi Valmiki International Airport Ayodhyadham’ after the great poet Valmiki, who is celebrated as the author of the epic Ramayana. The structure was previously called the Shri Ram International Airport.
The phase one of this state-of-the-art airport costs over Rs 1,450 crore, according to a statement by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO).
The airport has an extended runway suitable for A-321/B-737 type aircraft operations.
Magnificent visuals from the Maharishi Valmiki International Airport Ayodhya Dham, which stands as a beautiful confluence of modern infrastructure and Bharat’s cultural ethos!
The terminal building of Ayodhya airport, whose facade bears a traditional look, spans 6,500 square metres. According to the PMO statement, the facade “depicts the temple architecture of the upcoming Shri Ram Mandir of Ayodhya”.
The airport is designed in the Nagara architectural style, which is a temple style popular in India’s northern and western regions, as per an India Today report.
The terminal building boasts of several sustainability features such as insulated roofing system, LED lighting, rain water harvesting, landscaping with fountains, water treatment plant, sewage treatment plant, and solar power plant to meet GRIHA – 5 star ratings, PTI reported citing the PMO’s statement.
The runway is 2,200 metres long, and the airport can handle 2-3 flights per hour, as per NDTV.
The building can accommodate 600 passengers at peak time, while its annual handling capacity is 10 lakh passengers.
The second phase of the airport will involve the development of a new terminal building spread across 50,000 square metres. This will have an increased capacity of 3,000 passengers during peak hours and 60 lakh passengers annually, reported India Today.
Inspiration from Ramayana
Themes from the epic Ramayana and Lord Ram’s life are at the centre of the new airport in Ayodhya. Local art, paintings and murals exhibiting the life of the Hindu deity adorn the interiors of the terminal building.
The airport has seven mounted peaks or shikharas at the front and back sides. The sculptures and decorations on these shikharas reflect the seven books (Kandas) of Ramayana, reported India Today.
Sources told the TV channel that the idea behind the airport is to reflect the “spirit” of the under-construction Ram temple. Invoking the return of Lord Ram to Ayodhya after defeating Ravana, they said the aim is to promote a “sense of place to all passengers arriving and departing from the airport”.
Several murals showcasing various stages from the epic adorn the airport, with one of the biggest dedicated to Lord Hanuman, as per reports.
A view of the Ayodhya airport on 28 December. PTI File Photo
A huge Madhubani painting depicting the court of Lord Ram and his marriage to Goddess Sita also enhances the airport’s aesthetics, as per the TV channel.
Union civil aviation minister Jyotiraditya Scindia said earlier that efforts were made to reflect the “cultural ethos of Ayodhya”.
Flights from the Ayodhya airport
IndiGo will run the inaugural flight from New Delhi to Ayodhya today. The commercial services will start from 6 January, following which it will operate tri-weekly flights between Ahmedabad and the holy city from 11 January, as per PTI.
Air India Express will also operate its maiden flight to the newly-opened airport from the National Capital on Saturday.
The Centre has said the new international airport will increase tourism in the temple town, improve connectivity in the region, enhance business activities as well as create employment opportunities.
Scindia said earlier that the Ayodhya airport will take the “development of pilgrimage and tourism” in the region to “new heights”.
The Centre and the Uttar Pradesh government are trying to develop Ayodhya as a major destination for spiritual tourism globally.
The state government sources previously told The New Indian Express that the number of visitors to the city is expected to jump to about 10 crore annually after the opening of the Ram Mandir next year.
The ‘pran pratishtha’ or consecration of the grand temple will take place on 22 January 2024, which will witness several bigwigs including PM Modi in attendance.
With inputs from agencies
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Drawing inspiration from the legacy of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, the Indian Navy unveiled a new design for Admirals’ epaulettes on Friday.
The unveiling of the epaulettes, a shoulder piece worn to show the rank of an officer, came three-and-a-half weeks after Prime Minister Narendra Modi made an announcement on it.
“Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj has been an inspiration to all of us. The new Admirals’ Epaulettes design which was unveiled today by the Indian Navy is also inspired by the Rajmudra of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and is adapted from the Naval Ensign,” Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra Devendra Fadnavis said on X.
“The new design was announced by the Hon. PM Narendra Modi ji during the Navy Day ceremony in Sindhudurg, reflecting our strong maritime heritage.
‘Virasat Par Garv’ and ‘Ghulami ki Mansikta se Mukti’, the two pillars of PanchPran, are reaffirmed by the adoption of the new design,” he added.
The new Admirals’ Epaulettes design which got unveiled today by the Indian Navy is also inspired by the Rajmudra of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and is adapted from the Naval Ensign.
The new design was announced… pic.twitter.com/RRWTrqz2PU
In his address at the Navy Day celebrations at Sindhudurg in Maharashtra on December 4, Modi expressed happiness that the epaulettes donned by the naval officers will now highlight the heritage and legacy of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. He also recalled unveiling the naval ensign last year.
With the feeling of taking pride in one’s heritage, the prime minister announced that the Indian Navy is now going to name its ranks in line with Indian traditions. “As we usher in the new year #2024, Indian Navy proudly unveils the new design of Admirals’ Epaulettes,” the Navy said on X.”
Announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during Navy Day 2023 at Sindhudurg — the new design is drawn from the Naval Ensign and inspired by Rajmudra of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, and is a true reflection of our rich maritime heritage,” it added.
Admirals’ epaulettes now have the golden Navy button along with an octagon, and an Indian sword and a telescope crossed, followed by stars reflecting the ranks of rear admiral, vice admiral and admiral.
The Navy is in the process of renaming some of the ranks from the British nomenclature to reflect an Indian connect. The force said the golden button reiterates “our resolve to do away with Ghulami ki Maansikta (slave mentality)”.It said the octagon represents the eight cardinal directions, indicative of an all-round long-term vision.
The sword emphasises the very essence of “our raison d’etre namely be the cutting edge of national power and win wars through dominance, defeating adversaries and overcoming every challenge”, the Navy said.It said the telescope symbolises long-term vision and foresight.
The telescope replaced the baton in the new epaulette. Earlier, a sword and the baton were in cross formation.
With PTI inputs.
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Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is all set to return as the Janata Dal (United) president after he was unanimously backed by his party leaders to take over the top post during the national executive meeting held in the national capital on Friday.
According to reports, Lalan Singh voluntarily stepped down as the party chief and endorsed Kumar’s candidacy for the top post.
The national council meeting of the party, scheduled to be held later in the day, is likely to ratify decisions taken in the executive meeting which is currently underway at the Constitution Club in Delhi.
Key leaders within the party expressed consensus that Kumar, as the most prominent figure, should lead the organisation, especially given the upcoming 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
Notably, the party is a member of the opposition INDIA bloc.
Criticism of Singh’s leadership style by several party leaders in recent interactions with Kumar was also highlighted by sources.
Bihar Minister Vijay Kumar Choudhary also confirmed the news about Lalan Singh handing over the post to Kumar.
#WATCH | Delhi: Bihar Minister Vijay Kumar Choudhary says “There will national executive meeting of JD(U). If they accept our proposal then Nitish Kumar will be the party president. Lalan Singh told CM Nitish Kumar that he will be busy with elections, so he wants to hand over the… pic.twitter.com/qz4cqh7p8e
On being asked if Nitish Kumar has been officially named the JD(U) chief, Choudhary said, “There will national executive meeting of JD(U). If they accept the proposal then Nitish Kumar will be the party president. Lalan Singh told CM Nitish Kumar that he will be busy with elections, so he wants to hand over the post of party president to him and Nitish Kumar accepted it….”
Interestingly, Lalan Singh had on Thursday dismissed rumours about him stepping down while interacting with reporters.
“…If I have to resign, I will consult you…,” he had said.
He further said that Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is the leader of the JD(U) and the party is united and will remain so.
According to NDTV, citing sources, Lalan Singh was removed because he was seen as being a little too close to the JDU’s alliance partner in Bihar – Lalu Yadav’s Rashtriya Janata Dal – amid talk that RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav, who is Lalu Yadav’s son and the Deputy Chief Minister, is being prepped to take over.
With inputs from agencies
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Amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza and the targeting of commercial shipping in the Red Sea and Arabian Sea by Iranian proxies, the Indian Navy has deployed five advanced guided missile destroyers in order to minimise the threat to sea lanes of communication in the Arabian Sea.
According to a Hindustan Times report, these vessels have been strategically positioned to monitor the situation from the Red Sea to the western coast of India.
INS Kolkata is stationed near the Bab el-Mandeb chokepoint, INS Kochi south of Yemen’s Socotra Island, INS Mormugao in the western Arabian Sea, and INS Chennai in the central Arabian Sea. INS Visakhapatnam patrols the north Arabian Sea, having left the Indian coast two days ago after an Iranian loitering ammunition Shahed 136 struck the chemical tanker MV Chem Pluto 210 nautical miles off Dwarka in Gujarat, added the report.
The Indian Navy has deployed these vessels into the Arabian theatre independent of the US-led coalition in the Middle-East region, added the report.
The navy has also been carrying out surveillance using Boeing P8I anti-submarine warfare aircraft and an unarmed version of the Predator drone with a focus on vessels that could be used by Iranian proxies to target commercial ships.
On its part, the Indian Coast Guard has employed Dornier surveillance aircraft and offshore patrol vessels to uphold deterrence in the Indian exclusive economic zone (EEZ) along the western coast.
Simultaneously, the US aircraft carrier Gerald Ford, accompanied by its strike force, is operating in the Mediterranean Sea, while the Dwight D. Eisenhower carrier is positioned off the Gulf of Aden to counter the Houthi ballistic missile and drone threat in the Red Sea, added the Hindustan Times report.
Despite the success of the US-led Operation Prosperity Guardian in intercepting Houthi missiles, countries like Spain, Italy, France, and Japan are operating under their command, with Chinese warships off the coast of Djibouti maintaining a cautious distance from the fallout of Israel’s conflict with Gaza.
While the Chinese have three warships deployed off Djibouti, they seek to avoid potential conflict points.
The drone strike on MV Chem Pluto prompted an expanded Indian vigilance. Besides deterring Iranian proxies from attacking commercial shipping, the Indian Navy has been taking action against black shipping and is safeguarding commercial vessels from Somali pirates near the Socotra Islands. MV Chem Pluto is currently undergoing repairs in Mumbai.
According to the report, the five top-of-the-line destroyers are currently being fuelled by MV Swarnmala, a 25,000-tonne oil tanker, which has been hired by the Indian Navy. The civilian tanker has a massive fuel and lubricant capacity as compared to Indian Navy’s tankers such as the INS Deepak.
Indian ships, deployed across the extended EEZ up to 200 nautical miles off the coastline, dominate the Arabian Sea. Boeing P8I multi-mission aircraft and long-endurance unarmed Predator drones constantly survey vessels in the sea up to the Gulf of Aden, identifying suspicious ships and dhows used for targeting commercial shipping by the Shia Houthis in Yemen, Shia Kaitab Hezbollah in Iraq, and Tehran.
The Iranian proxies, particularly the Shia Houthi militia, target vessels in the Red Sea and the Arabian Sea due to Israel’s conflict with the Sunni Hamas group in Gaza.
The Iran-backed Shia Hezbollah group has also engaged in a conflict with Israel on its northern border. Despite the US Navy’s success in thwarting Houthi missile attacks, the Maersk mega-shipping company plans to resume operations through the Red Sea, rather than taking a roundabout route via the Cape of Good Hope.
The Suez Canal, through which nearly one trillion dollars worth of oil and goods trade passes annually, faces increased transportation costs and higher insurance premiums for commercial shipping in the event of any threat.
With inputs from agencies
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The new airport in Ayodhya will be named after poet Maharishi Valmiki, who penned the epic Ramayana.
The name of the new airport will be ‘Maharishi Valmiki International Airport Ayodhya Dham’ news agency ANI quoted sources as saying.
PM Modi Modi will launch projects worth more than Rs 11,100 crore to revamp civic facilities and develop world-class infrastructure in Ayodhya and projects worth over Rs 4,600 crore for other parts of Uttar Pradesh.
A statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said Modi’s vision is to develop modern, world-class infrastructure in Ayodhya, improve connectivity and revamp its civic facilities, which also conform to the rich history and heritage of the city where devouts believe Lord Ram was born.
“In realisation of this vision, a new airport, a new redeveloped railway station, newly redeveloped, widened and beautified roads and other civic infrastructure are being inaugurated in the city. Further, foundation stones for many new projects will be laid that will contribute to the beautification and revamp of civic facilities in and around Ayodhya,” the statement said.
The first phase of the state-of-the-art airport has been developed at a cost of more than Rs 1,450 crore. Its terminal building will have an area of 6,500 square metres, equipped to serve about 10 lakh passengers annually.
The building’s facade depicts the architecture of the Ram temple while its interiors are decorated with local art, paintings and murals depicting Lord Ram’s life.
It is also equipped with various sustainability features, such as an insulated roofing system, LED lighting, rain-water harvesting, landscaping with fountains, a water treatment plant, a sewage treatment plant, a solar power plant and many other facilities, to meet the five-star GRIHA (Green Rating for Integrated Habitat Assessment) ratings, the statement said.
The airport will improve connectivity in the region, leading to a boost in tourism, business activities and employment opportunities.
The first phase of the redeveloped Ayodhya railway station — named Ayodhya Dham Junction — has been developed at a cost of more than Rs 240 crore. The three-storey modern station building is equipped with all modern features, such as elevators, escalators, food plazas, shops for puja needs, cloak rooms, child-care rooms and waiting halls, the statement added.
Referring to the Amrit Bharat trains, it said the new category of superfast passenger trains have locomotives at both ends for better acceleration. The trains will provide improved facilities for rail passengers, such as beautiful and attractively-designed seats, better luggage racks, mobile charging points with suitable mobile holders, LED lights, CCTV cameras and a public information system.
Modi will also dedicate to the nation three railway projects worth Rs 2,300 crore to strengthen the rail infrastructure in the region.
To enhance accessibility to the upcoming Ram temple, the prime minister will inaugurate four newly-redeveloped, widened and beautified roads in Ayodhya — Rampath, Bhaktipath, Dharampath and Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Path.
Lord Ram’s idol will be consecrated at the under-construction temple in Ayodhya on January 22.
With inputs from agencies.
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In an unprecedented move, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has named Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi in its charge sheet, citing her involvement in the acquisition of a 40 kanal (five-acre) agricultural land in Haryana’s Faridabad from a Delhi-based real estate agent HL Pahwa in 2006.
Subsequently, she allegedly sold the same land back to Pahwa in February 2010.
The ED claims that the property in question is located in Amipur village in Faridabad and was purchased from Pahwa, the same agent who, in earlier transactions, had dealings with Priyanka’s husband, Robert Vadra. Vadra reportedly acquired three parcels of land totaling 334 kanals (40.08 acres) in Amipur village between 2005 and 2006, subsequently selling the land back to Pahwa in December 2010.
Notably, Pahwa is also identified as the individual who sold land to NRI businessman CC Thampi. The broader investigation involves fugitive arms dealer Sanjay Bhandari, who is facing scrutiny from various agencies for alleged money laundering, violations of foreign exchange and black money laws, and breaches of the Official Secrets Act. Bhandari fled to the UK in 2016.
Thampi stands accused of aiding Bhandari in concealing the proceeds of criminal activities, alongside Sumit Chadha, a British national.
ED has named Robert Vadra in its earlier charge sheet related to the case as an alleged close aide of Thampi.
In the fresh charge-sheet, it is mentioned that Pahwa was receiving cash out of the books for the purpose of acquisition of land. “It was also noticed that Robert Vadra did not pay the entire sale consideration to Pahwa.”
The ED investigation in this regard is still ongoing. However, the copy of “the ledger accounts in the books of Pahwa reflecting the above mentioned transactions were taken on record vide letter dated November 17, 2023.”
“It is submitted that Robert Vadra incorporated entities with the names of Sky Light Hospitality Pvt Ltd and Sky Light Realty Pvt Ltd in India on November 1, 2007 and November 16, 2007 respectively. The same have been downloaded from the website of Ministry of Corporate Affairs. Whereas, an entity nemed Sky Lite Investment FZE in UAE was incorporated on April 1, 2009 with CC Thampi as its sole shareholder,” mentions the charge-sheet.
“During the course of investigation of Thampi and his Indian entities in the case bearing no. T-3/219/HQ/2015 being investigation under the provisions of Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999 (FEMA) it has been found that Thampi purchased land 486 actes (approx.) from 2005 to 2008 in village Amipur in Haryana’s Faridabad district through one HL Pahwa, Delhi NCR based real estate agent.”
It is also mentioned in the charge-sheet that Robert Vadra incorporated an entity in India with the name Blve Breeze Trading Pvt Ltd on November 1, 2007 which was later converted into LLP.
“The email ID of the said entity has always remained as [email protected] ic. when it was a Private Limited entity and later when it got converted into an LLP. The incorporation documents of the said entities were downloaded from the website of Ministry of Corporate Affairs. It is the same email id on which one Beena, employes of CC Thampi in Dubai used to communicate in connection with the property 12 Bryanston Square, London,” mentions the charge-sheet.
“During the course of investigation in another PMLA case (bearing fo. ECIR/OG/HIU2018) being investigated against Robert Vadra, his entity Sky Light Hospitality Pvt Ltd, and others, it has been found that one Mahesh Nagar, resident of Delhi NCR, represented various entities of Robert Vadre at the time of purchase and sale of various pieces of land in Delhi-NCR and Bikaner, Rajasthan,” it pointed.
In a statement, the ED on Tuesday, had also mentioned Robert Vadra in connection with the purchase of a property in London that is part of the probe.
Detailing the association between Vadra and Thampi, the charge sheet states, “During the course of investigation in this case, it is found that a long and thick relationship exists between CC Thampi and Robert Vadra. Not only a personal/cordial bond but common and similar business interests are also found between them.”
Thampi, arrested in January 2020, ostensibly told ED that he knew Vadra for over 10 years and that they met several times during Vadra’s visits to the UAE as well as in Delhi.
With inputs from agencies
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India’s IT capital, Bengaluru, witnessed violence on Wednesday when activists vandalised signboards and hoardings of business establishments that were in English, reigniting the language row in the city.
Shortly after the incident, Union minister Pralhad Joshi, when asked about it, said that while he did not agree with the violence, he did agree with the demand that shop signages in Karnataka should be predominantly in the local language. “Everybody should be able to read the signs and not everyone can read English. What is the harm in writing in Kannada as well as in English or another language, like Hindi? This is not England,” the minister, who is also an MP from Dharwad, told NDTV.
But what exactly is the language row in Karnataka and why did violence flare up on Wednesday? Here’s what we know.
What is the 60% Kannada rule?
Earlier on Christmas, the Bengaluru civic body passed a directive asking all stores to have signboards, with at least 60 per cent of them being in Kannada. Tushar Giri Nath, chief commissioner of Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), had then said that commercial stores in the civic body’s jurisdiction will face legal action if they fail to follow the signboard order.
He had said that a survey would be carried out of all the stores in the area and those who do not use 60 per cent Kannada would be given a notice. After issuing the notice, they would be given time until 28 February to implement Kannada language nameplates and submit compliance to the respective zone commissioners.
He then added, “Legal action will be taken against shops that do not install Kannada nameplates by 28 February. Accordingly, store fronts that do not use Kannada language on nameplates will be suspended as per the law and then their licence will be cancelled.”
Following the diktat, store owners said that they would abide by the rule, with one of them telling NDTV, “If there is an order to change the signboards, we will do it. If they want 60 per cent, we will get it done.”
The Federation of Karnataka Chambers of Commerce and Industry in reaction to the order had said that it would ask all its members to follow the rule, but requested that the government take no action until the deadline.
A signboard of a business establishment was blacked out by the Karnataka Rakshana Vedike (Narayana Gowda faction) members, in Bengaluru. The organisation on Wednesday targeted business establishments in Bengaluru and damaged their signboards and name plates which did not use Kannada. PTI
Then what happened on Wednesday?
Following the diktat, on Wednesday (27 December), members of Karnataka Rakshana Vedike – a pro-Kannada group – carried out a protest-cum-awareness campaign, asking stores to change their signboards.
However, the rally quickly descended into chaos when the members began pulling down store signages, which were in English. According to reports, more than 1,000 people had gathered on Airport Road to protest the absence of Kannada boards.
#WATCH | Bengaluru: Kannada Raksha Vedhike holds a protest demanding all businesses and enterprises in Karnataka to put nameplates in Kannada. pic.twitter.com/ZMX5s9iJd0
The protesters were seen vandalising the signboard of the multi-city hotel chain Bloom. They were also seen entering the hotel premises chanting pro-Kannada slogans. Videos from the rally also showed protesters spraying black ink on English letters. Several protesters, mostly wearing yellow and red scarves (the colours of the Kannada flag), stormed into businesses and tore down English signage.
Several big stores and franchises were targeted during the protest. For instance, Starbucks, Third Wave Coffee, Theobroma, House of Masaba, McDonald’s saw their signages being damaged. Protesters also targeted the Mall of Asia in Hebbal, smashing flower pots and vandalised English signboards in the complex.
English signboards destroyed on Lavelle Road. Where are the cops!!
Phoenix Marketcity in Whitefield, another major mall in the city, also downed its shutters early, reported the Hindustan Times.
KRV president Narayana Gowda, said during the vandalism, “We are not saying Gujaratis, Sindhis or Marwadis can’t work here, but the usage of our mother tongue to represent that work is essential.”
Gowda had earlier been quoted as saying, “People from various states are doing business in Bangalore. But they don't put Kannada nameplates on their shops. They are only putting up the nameplates of their shops in English. If they want to stay back in Bangalore then they have to put nameplates on their shops in Kannada or else they have to move from Karnataka to other states.”
Activists of the Karnataka Rakshana Vedike (Narayana Gowda faction) during a rally over the 60 per cent Kannada sign board rules, in Bengaluru. PTI
How has the government reacted?
The Bengaluru Police later detained around 500 protesters including the faction’s chief T A Narayana Gowda. They also registered five FIRs.
#WATCH | Police detained members of Karnataka Rakshana Vedike, protesting to deliver messages to owners of many malls, shops, commercial buildings, companies and factories, especially multinational companies to install Kannada sign boards and give more visibility to the Kannada… pic.twitter.com/tRjsPidLbB
On Wednesday, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said, “I don’t know what they (the protesters) are doing. I have got information that Narayana Gowda is protesting about having Kannada name boards. We will take action against those who took the law into their own hands and went against the law.”
Meanwhile, Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, who is also the Bengaluru Development Minister, said that stores should follow the rules. “For those living and doing business in Bengaluru, there is a law which says signages should have 60 per cent Kannada in them. Everyone should follow it.”
What is Karnataka’s language row?
The vandalism and protests in Bengaluru is just another chapter in Karnataka’s language row. For far too long, there’s been a debate on the usage of Kannada in the state, with many insisting that it should be the language spoken by all in the state.
Earlier in October, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had emphasised the importance of learning Kannada. “While it is impossible to exist in states like Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Telangana and Uttar Pradesh without learning the local language, you can survive in Karnataka even if you don't speak Kannada,” he had said at an event in October.
“Instead of Kannadigas teaching our language to others, we are learning their language first,” he added.
In his earlier tenure as chief minister, Siddaramaiah had pushed for wider use of Kannada and even taken steps to ensure it. A government body had been set up to promote Kannada and it had given bank officials only six months to learn the language.
Notably, it was during Siddaramaiah’s earlier tenure that Hindi names of Bengaluru metro stations were targeted and covered with tape.
With inputs from agencies
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The year 2023 is coming to an end and it’s been a big year for India. It’s been a year of trials and triumphs.
The country saw the inauguration of a new Parliament, two successful spaces missions – Chandrayaan-3 and Aditya L1 solar mission – and a mission against time to extract people from a collapsed tunnel. India also gained significant international recognition by successfully organising the G20 summit.
But with the highs, come the lows. Hundreds of people lost their lives in Manipur owing to the ethnic violence that first broke out in May, followed by the heart-breaking train tragedy in Odisha’s Balasore and even saw the Parliament security breach. The country also saw mass protests, including those of reputed wrestlers, who raised their voice against alleged sexual harassment.
President Vladimir Putin extended an invitation to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to visit Russia next year as External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar on Wednesday met Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow.
President Putin extended an invitation to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to visit Russia.
“We will be glad to see our friend, Mr Prime Minister Modi in Russia. We will be able to discuss all current issues and talk about the prospects for the development of Russian-Indian relations. We have a very large amount of work. I ask you to convey to him my best wishes and please pass on our invitation. We are waiting for him in Russia,” he said.
Jaishankar, who is here on a five-day official visit to Russia, earlier met with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov.
During a joint media appearance along with Lavrov after their talks, Jaishankar said he was confident that Prime Minister Modi and President Putin will meet for an annual summit next year. In his opening remarks earlier, Jaishankar said that the two leaders have been in frequent contact.
The summit between the prime minister of India and the Russian president is the highest institutional dialogue mechanism in the strategic partnership between the two sides.
So far, 21 annual summits have taken place alternatively in India and Russia. The last summit took place in New Delhi in December 2021.
Putin also said that the trade turnover between Russia and India is growing, particularly on account of crude oil and high technology areas.
“Our trade turnover is growing, for the second year in a row at the same time and at a steady pace. The growth rate this year is even higher than in the last year,” he said.
On Tuesday, Jaishankar held a “comprehensive and productive” meeting with Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov on the bilateral economic cooperation during which they witnessed the signing of some “very important” agreements related to the construction of the future power-generating units of the Kudankulam nuclear power plant in Tamil Nadu.
The ties between India and Russia remained strong notwithstanding Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine. India has not yet condemned the Russian invasion of Ukraine and it has been maintaining that the crisis must be resolved through diplomacy and dialogue.
India’s import of Russian crude oil has gone up significantly despite increasing disquiet over it in many Western countries.
With inputs from agencies.
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Defence Minister Rajnath Singh along with Army Chief General Manoj Pande on Wednesday landed in Jammu on a day-long tour of Jammu and Kashmir to review the security situation in the wake of a recent terrorist ambush in the border district of Poonch that left four soldiers dead.
#WATCH | Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Chief of the Army Staff, General Manoj Pande arrive at Jammu.
Defence Minister will visit Rajouri today to review the on-ground situation there. pic.twitter.com/KTGgVdpsDZ
The duo was received by Lt Governor Manoj Sinha and General Officer Commanding-in-chief, northern command, Lt Gen Upendra Dwivedi at the technical airport.
Soon after his arrival, the Defence Minister left for Rajouri-Poonch sector where he is scheduled to review the security situation and the counter-terrorist operation which is going on in the region following the 21 December ambush at Dhatyar Morh between Dhera Ki Gali and Buffliaz in Poonch.
Three civilians, aged between 27 and 42, were found dead during the anti-terror operation in the area on December 22, sparking an outrage following allegations that they were picked up by the forces for questioning in the aftermath of the terrorist ambush.
The officials said the defence minister is likely to meet the families of the deceased civilians during his visit to Rajouri.
On his return from Rajouri, Singh is likely to review the security situation at a high level meeting at the Raj Bhawan in Jammu, officials said.
Security has been further beefed up across the Jammu region in the wake of the defence minister’s visit.
With inputs from agencies
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On Tuesday night, panic seized Ennore, Chennai, when locals discovered a strong odour and an ammonia gas leak in a Coromandel International Limited subsea pipe. Five people were uneasy and were sent to a medical institution.
“Ammonia gas leak detected in a sub-sea pipe in Ennore. This was noticed and stopped. The production head says the leak caused a strong smell and five people felt uneasy and were shifted to a health facility. They are fine now,” the Tamil Nadu Environment and Forest Department said.
Vijayakumar, DIG, Joint Commissioner Avadi, tweeted, “No need to panic. The leak has been stabilised. No more gas (ammonia) leaks at Ennore. People are reassured and are back home. medical and police teams present.”
People also held a protest on Wednesday morning after the leak was detected in a sub-sea pipe in Ennore.
According to the Tamil Nadu Environment and Forest Department, a communication was received from the unit at 12.45 a.m. about the ammonia gas leakage that occurred during the pipeline’s pre-cooling operation.
“Immediately the Joint Chief Environmental Engineer JCEE (M) Chennai along with District Environmental Engineer DEE (Ambattur) and AEE (Manali) reached the site by 2.15 am and inspected the unit and the pipeline locations. The Joint Director, Directorate of Industrial Safety and Health (DISH) who is the authority for the safety of the industrial operation was also present at the site,” Supriya Sahu Additional Chief Secretary Environment Climate Change and Forests said.
The unit observed a pressure drop in the pipeline at around 11.45 pm and simultaneously observed a pungent odour around the storage terminal and near the material gate.
“The unit also immediately visited the pipeline location across the road and observed gas bubbles coming out of the pipeline at about 2′ from the shore. The unit immediately started depressurising the pipeline by diverting the ammonia vapour to the flare and completed the operation within 20 minutes,” the Tamil Nadu Environment and Forest Department added.
Police and the District Administration along with the unit arranged ambulances and public transport for managing any emergency. Some people also received first aid due to eye irritation and breathing difficulties.
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The Enforcement Directorate on Tuesday alleged that Robert Vadra, son-in-law of former Congress president Sonia Gandhi, “renovated and stayed” at a London property which is a “proceeds of crime” in a money laundering case against alleged middleman Sanjay Bhandari.
Bhandari fled to the UK in 2016 and the British government approved his extradition to India in January this year acting on the legal request made by the ED and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
The two federal agencies are probing charges of money laundering and tax evasion against the businessman for holding alleged undisclosed assets abroad.
This is the first time that the federal agency has named Vadra in this case.
The ED issued a statement stating that it has filed a fresh charge sheet in this case against C C or Cheruvathur Chakutty Thampi, a UAE-based NRI businessman, and UK national Sumit Chadha.
Thampi was arrested in this case in January 2020 and the ED alleged he was a “close associate” of Vadra. Thampi is currently out on bail.
“Sanjay Bhandari held various undisclosed foreign income and assets including the following properties at no 12 Bryanston Square, London and 6 Grosvenor Hill Court, London.
“These assets are proceeds of crime as per the provisions of the PMLA and C C Thampi and Sumit Chadha have been found to be involved in the concealment and use of these proceeds of crime,” the ED charged.
The probe found, it said, that Thampi “is a close associate of Mr Robert Vadra”.
“Mr Robert Vadra not only renovated the aforesaid property at 12 Bryanston Square, London through Sumit Chadha but also stayed in the same.
“Mr Robert Vadra as well as C C Thampi purchased a huge chunk of land at Faridabad (near Delhi) and had financial transactions with each other,” the ED claimed.
Vadra, the husband of Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, has been questioned by the ED in the past and he has denied wrongdoing. The ED said the Delhi court took cognisance of the supplementary prosecution complaint, filed under the criminal sections of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) in November, on December 22.
Official sources told PTI that the court also issued summons to Thampi and Chadha after taking cognisance of the charge sheet.
It also issued a non-bailable arrest warrant against Chadha who has not joined the probe till now despite ED issuing summons to him.
Bhandari’s niece – Puja Chadha – is married to Sumit Chadha, a UK national.
The ED filed the criminal case of money laundering against Bhandari and others in February 2017 taking cognisance of an Income Tax Department charge sheet filed against him under the anti-black money law of 2015.
The ED told the court in its supplementary charge sheet that Chadha “assisted Sanjay Bhandari in concealment, acquisition, possession and use of proceeds of crime and management/ maintenance of properties beneficially owned by accused Sanjay Bhandari.”
“He (Chadha) had various transactions with accused Sanjay Bhandari and his associates. He has been found actively involved in concealing the proceeds of crime,” the ED said in the chargesheet.
The court has now listed the matter to be heard on January 29 next year.
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Do you have any rizz? Were you authentic in the year 2023? And were you in a situationship?
As we bid adieu to 2023, dictionaries declared their ‘words of the year’ offering a zeitgeist of 2023. While some were newsy, others were cultural. There were few more that were funny.
Let’s take a deeper look at the words that described the year 2023 and became a part of our everyday lexicon. Psst, we have got to say none of them raise any ‘beige flags’ for us.
Antisemitism
While we all know antisemistim and its meaning, it became, perhaps, the most talked about in 2023 following the 7 October Hamas attacks in Israel. The attack, which led to the deaths of 1,400 Israelis, has initiated a sequence of events that have left Jewish people around the world feeling threatened.
People attend a national gathering to protest antisemitism and the rise of anti-Semitic attacks in the Place de la Republique in Paris, France. Since the Israel-Hamas war broke out, antisemitic attacks have risen exponentially. File image/Reuters
In fact, since the October incident, antisemitic incidents are on the rise the world over. In the United States, the Jewish advocacy group the Anti-Defamation League reported a 400 per cent rise in antisemitic incidents compared to the same period last year.
In Canada, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau also spoke of a “scary rise” in anti-Semitism, citing incidents at a Jewish high school in Toronto as well as escalating inflammatory language online. In Britain, the situation was no better, with a 14-fold increase reported. Similarly, Germany found a 240 per cent year-on-year increase in antisemitic incidents in the period of 7 to 15 October.
Let’s hope this ‘old kind of hate’ stays back in 2023 and we have a more tolerant and peaceful time in 2024.
Authentic
In the times of artificial intelligence and with the rise of depfakes, if there’s one word that resonated loudly, it was authentic. And Merriam Webster’s dictionary agrees with us.
Merriam Webster’s dictionary termed ‘authentic’ as the word of the year. Pixabay
As the dictionary’s editor at large Peter Sokolowski said: “We see in 2023 a kind of crisis of authenticity.
“What we realise is that when we question authenticity, we value it even more.”
The word truly became a part of 2023, owing to its multiple meanings – from ‘not false or imitation’ to ‘true to one’s own personality, spirit, or character’. The word authentic became even more popular as the line between real and fake became increasingly blurred. And it’s an undeniable fact that the AI boom helped in boosting this word’s popularity.
Even celebrities such as Taylor Swift, Elon Musk and Prince Harry spoke of the need to be authentic in words and deeds. And who can argue with Tay Tay, perhaps, the most popular personality of 2023.
Barbenheimer
If there is one thing we should celebrate about 2023, it is Barbenheimer. A portmanteau of two of Hollywood’s biggest releases of the year – Barbie by Greta Gerwig and Oppenheimer by Christopher Nolan – Barbenheimer emerged in July and quickly turned into a cultural phenomenon.
An attendee points at her Barbenheimer shirt outside the convention center during San Diego Comic-Con International in San Diego, California. File image/AFP
And The Barbenheimer name really took off. Posters and T-shirts were mocked up with images of what a Barbenheimer movie might be like. People shared their plans to see the bombshell and the A-Bomb as a double bill, with much discussion of which order to see them in, what to wear, which cocktails to drink, and what the accompanying snacks should be.
Barbenheimer also breathed life into America’s economy – not only did the movies generate box office earning of more than $2.3 dollars but also brands piggybacked off this to earn huge profits.
Beige Flag
The year 2023 also saw the emergence of several terms in the dating world and one of the most popular ones was beige flag. The term gathered pace on TikTok and soon became a part of everyday life.
Beige flags became the buzz words in dating lingo. Social media had thousands and thousands of posts dedicated to this term. Pixabay
But what is a beige flag? For those who latched on to it, a beige flag is an odd trait in a romantic prospect that is not quite a deal breaker, but not exactly a plus, either. As Pallavi Barnwal, an intimacy and relationship coach, noted “Beige flags are softer, less alarming cousins of red flags. They are not as serious and can easily pass off as lovable nuisance in a relationship.”
So, what is your beige flag in your relationship?
Coffee Badging
In a post-COVID world (though infections are on the rise again), many companies made the pivot from remote work to a return to office. This mandatory return to the workplace led to a post-pandemic protest by employees in the form of coffee badging.
Coffee badging has become a huge work trend. Employers are now taking action against this trend. Image used for representational purposes/Pixabay
This practice, on the rise, involves briefly appearing, clocking in, grabbing a coffee, then vanishing back home to work remotely. As Frank Weishaupt, CEO of Owl Labs in Boston, explained to Fox News, “Coffee badging is when employees show up to the office for enough time to have a cup of coffee, show their face, and get a ‘badge swipe’, then go home to do the rest of their work.”
And employers aren’t happy with coffee badging. They complain that it disrupts the work culture and has also led to companies issuing ultimatums of firing employees who indulge in coffee badging.
Deepfake
The year 2023 saw the rise and rise of deepfakes. From pornography to politics, no sphere was untouched by deepfakes. In India, a string of deepfakes emerged of celebrities, including Rashmika Mandanna, Kajol and Katrina Kaif.
India woke up to the dangers of deepfakes when one of them emerged of actor Rashmika Mandanna. It was followed by deepfakes of Katrina Kaif, Kajol and even PM Narendra Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi also raised the issue of deepfakes, saying it was one of the biggest threats faced by the country, and warned people to be careful with new technology amid a rise in AI-generated videos and pictures. “We have to be careful with new technology. If these are used carefully, they can be very useful. However, if these are misused, it can create huge problems. You must be aware of deepfake videos made with the help of generative AI,” the PM said.
And data reveals that deepfake videos have surged by 550 per cent, reaching a staggering 95,820, as revealed in the 2023 State of Deepfakes report by Home Security Heroes, a US-based organisation, which also identified India as the sixth most susceptible country to this emerging threat.
De-risking
We have all heard about decoupling (made famous by Gwyneth Paltrow), but in 2023, it was all about de-risking. That is Europe and the US trying to de-risk from China. In fact, at the end of the G7 Summit in Hiroshima, Japan, US president Joe Biden said: “We’re not looking to decouple from China. We’re looking to de-risk and diversify our relationship with China.”
Chinese president Xi Jinping and France’s president Emmanuel Macron attend a tea ceremony at the Guandong province governor’s residence, in Guangzhou, China. At the G7 Summit in Hiroshima, the countries had said that they would be focusing on “de-risking and diversifying relationship with China”. File image/Reuters
But what is de-risking? According to the US State Department, said that de-risking was “the phenomenon of financial institutions terminating or restricting business relationships with clients or categories of clients to avoid, rather than manage, risk”.
Simply put, de-risking is to move business away from areas that are considered risky in terms of the returns they could generate.
And in the China context it means a reduction of the reliance on China in the economic sphere — for the supply of materials or as a market for finished goods — so that potential risks to trade and disruption of supply chains are reduced.
However, experts note that de-risking from China is easier said than done and most argue that Europe would struggle to de-risk from Beijing and Xi Jinping.
Global boiling
In July, UN secretary general António Guterres declared to the world, “The era of global warming has ended and the era of global boiling has arrived.” His statement had come shortly after 6 July was reported to have been the hottest day on Earth since mean global temperatures were first calculated in 1979.
A man cools down in a fountain during a heatwave in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The year 2023 has been termed as the hottest — by a significant margin. Between January and November 2023, the world’s average temperature reached 15.1°C marking a record 1.46°C increase from pre-industrial levels. Reuters
The term, according to climate scientists, was to sensationalise and compel people to wake up to the reality of global warming and noted that it was not a scientific term.
For some, global boiling is a term to emphasise the more extreme and immediate consequences of global warming. As the Earth’s temperature rises, the world is experiencing extreme weather events, rising sea levels and other significant environmental changes.
Nepo Baby
Nepotism isn’t something new and we are all acquainted with the term. Karan Johar still mentions it on his show Koffee with Karan after he was accused by Kangana Ranaut of ‘being the flagbearer of nepotism’.
But in 2023, ‘nepo baby’ once again became a trending topic, as several children of celebrities made their debut in movies in Hollywood as well as Bollywood.
In the West, UK singer Noel Gallagher and American movie star Jamie Lee Curtis ignited the debate. The former speaking about his daughter, Anais – a budding photographer – said: “The whole nepotism thing, I mean it’s human nature to help your children out.
“She’s good at what she does, her photographs are really, really good and if she was terrible, I wouldn’t be doing it for the sake of it, because I think if you’re knowingly just giving your kids something to do and they’re not really good at it, I don’t think that’s very healthy.”
At home, Zoya Akhtar’s movie – The Archies – stoked the flames of the nepo debate. Starring Suhana Khan, daughter of Shah Rukh Khan, Khushi Kapoor, daughter of Sridevi and Boney Kapoor, Agastya Nanda, grandson of Amitabh Bachchan, among others, many called out the movie for the nepo kids and their lack of acting talent.
Panauti
When India lost the ICC 2023 World Cup finals, a billion hearts shattered and we were all grief-stricken. But for some that grief turned into anger when Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in a rally in Rajasthan, referencing Prime Minister Narendra Modi, said, “Panauti… panauti… Achha bhalaa hamare ladke wahaan World Cup jeetne waale the, par panauti harwaa diya. TV waale ye nahin kahenge magar janta jaanti hai (Our boys were going to win the World Cup, but panauti got them defeated. TV channels will not say this but the public knows).”
Prime Minister Narendra Modi with India’s Mohammed Shami and Ravindra Jadeja during a meeting with the team in the dressing room after the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 final match between India and Australia. PTI
The Congress leader in his attempt to attack Modi said that it was the PM’s presence at the finals that led to our Men in Blue losing. He called the PM a panauti, which is commonly understood to be a word that means ill omen.
Soon, panauti became the buzzword. It went viral on Twitter and many BJP leaders and supporters thrashed the Gandhi scion for using such terminology for the PM.
Even the Election Commission took note of his remarks and issued him a showcause notice.
Rizz
For Oxford dictionary and us, rizz was one of the words of the year. A slang for charisma, it can be defined as style, charm, or attractiveness, and the ability to attract a romantic or sexual partner.
Rizz became a big 2023 word and gained more prominence when Tom Holland said during an interview, “I have no rizz whatsoever. I have limited rizz.” File image/Reuters
The word emerged out of internet and gaming culture and was popularized in 2022 by the YouTube and Twitch streamer Kai Cenat, who posted “rizz tips” videos online. It went viral in June 2023, after the actor Tom Holland, in an interview with Buzzfeed, said: “I have no rizz whatsoever. I have limited rizz.”
Situationship
The dating world is complicated and its lingo is even more complicated. Case in point, situationship. This term relates to being in less than a relationship, but more than a casual encounter. In short, it refers to a romantic relationship that is, and remains, undefined.
Situationship relates to being in less than a relationship, but more than a casual encounter. Image used for representational purposes/Pixabay
Psychotherapist and author Jonathan Alpert explained it succinctly, saying: “A situationship is that space between a committed relationship and something that is more than a friendship. Unlike a ‘friends with benefits’ relationship, there isn’t consensus on what it is.”
The term became a hot topic on social media with everyone voicing their opinions about the pros and cons of such a situation (no pun intended). But when asked, experts noted that while situationships can have their temporary benefits, they can quickly move into harmful territory if one partner starts to want more.
Sleep divorce
In 2023, light was thrown on the importance of sleep when the ‘sleep divorce’ trend went viral on social media. And what is this you ask: a sleep divorce is when a couple or partners sleep in separate beds, different rooms or even entirely different homes.
Dating experts say that sleep divorce could help relationships and should be practised. Image used for representational purposes/Pixabay
In fact, a recent survey from the American Academy of Sleep Medicine found that over one-third of couples now choose to sleep apart from their spouse.
And it even got thumbs-up from Cameron Diaz, who said in a recent podcast, “We should normalize separate bedrooms.”
Sportswashing
In 2023, Saudi Arabia spent billion and billion of dollars in the sports sphere – The Guardian has pegged it at $6.3 billion since 2021 – prompting many accusations of sportswashing. Critics say the large amounts of money being spent on sports, including the buying of football players such as Cristiano Ronaldo, is an effort to distract from its human rights record.
A woman checks the size of Cristiano Ronaldo’s new teams’ outfit on her son at Al Nassr Football Club’s merchandise shop in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Reuters
Sportswashing, which refers to the practice of using sports to improve a country or organisation’s image by investing in high-profile sporting events or teams, has been the focal point of discussion for many as the Saudi kingdom led by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman continues the practice.
In fact, in a recent interview, he said that he did not care when he is accused of ‘sportswashing’. “If sportswashing is going to increase my GDP by one per cent, then we’ll continue sportswashing. I don’t care. I have one per cent growth in GDP from sport and I am aiming for another 1.5 per cent. Call it whatever you want – we are going to get that 1.5 per cent,” he said in an interview with Fox Sports.
And it seems he won’t stop. The country is all set to host the men’s 2034 FIFA World Cup after the Australian football federation declined to enter the bidding contest.
Swiftie
The year 2023, was dominated, by Taylor Swift. Haters may hate this, but it’s true. Her Eras tour has been unprecedented, earning her billions of dollars and even causing tremors.
A man sells a flag with Taylor Swift’s image as fans arrive for her concert at the Estadio Mas Monumental, in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Reuters
And it’s because of this that the word Swiftie gained prominence, with even the Oxford dictionary naming it as one of the contenders for Word of the year.
According to them, the term ‘Swiftie’, meaning ‘an enthusiastic fan of the singer Taylor Swift’, seems to date from the late noughties and has been gradually growing in prominence. The dictionary also that the word was more than 10 times more common in September 2023 than a year before in September 2022, with a noticeable uptick in the use of the word likely related to coverage of Swift’s highly successful Eras tour.
And we have got to say, we may not be a Swiftie, but it will be hard to ‘Shake it off’.
PS: If you are looking for a recap of all things 2023, clickhere
from Firstpost India Latest News https://ift.tt/WAVGstn
