Dec. 01, 2023: French honor's for senior woman scientist of ISRO Surendra Singh, Proof of Indus-Saraswati Civilization’s Technology.A startup is using woodchips to make synthetic graphite for EV batteries, a 65-year-old scientist has donated solar lamps to 31 houses, Nepal pitches for Sita’s birthplace in Janakpur , An inscription issued during the reign of Vijayanagara Emperor Sri Krishnadevaraya, a performance dedicated to Narasimha, Metal items are said to be drawn to the temple's main idol, which is thought to be magnetized, Sudarshan Chakra, a weapon shaped like a disc and connected to Lord Krishna, is housed in the shrine.

                 trusciencetrutechnology@blogspot.com

                     Volume 2023, Issue No.12, Dec.01-31, 2023 Time: 08:49AM

              Professor Dr. Kotcherlakota Lakshmi Narayana.
      M.Sc. (Math. Phys.), M.Sc. (Nucl. Phys.), Ph D. (AU), Int. Edu & Res. (Sweden 1964-65)

While returning from Sweden, in 1964-65, spent a few days in England, Paris, Egypt, Czechoslovakia etc. countries, Visited USA about 12 Universities, several National Laboratories and Institutes for four months Sept.to December 1988, courtesy by my sister Dr. Rama Leela, and in 1989 visited Japan for about TEN days, and South Korea Conf. in Physics for a week in 1989. Undertook several trips in India to educate the Shivaji University, Kolhapur M.Sc. Physics students across India during 1966 to 1985; [Retd. on 2000 July 31, Prof of Physics, Shivaji University, Kolhapur - 416004]. Present Address: 17-11-10, Narasimha Ashram, Official Colony, Maharanipeta.P.O., Visakhapatnam-530002, AP. Cell:09491902867. kotcherlakota_l_n@hotmail.com, lakshminarayana.kotcherlakota@gmail.com, DOB:23-07-1940, evening between 6 and 6:01 PM. My father Prof. K. R. Rao D.Sc. (Madras) D.Sc. (London) recorded it since his own birth time in the morning was not recorded in 1899 or so.

ABSTRACT

French honor's for senior woman scientist of Isro Surendra Singh, Proof of Indus-Saraswati Civilization’s Technology, Wheat is produced for six crops a year. Developed by German researchers. A startup is using woodchips to make synthetic graphite for EV batteries, a 65-year-old scientist has donated solar lamps to 31 houses, Nepal pitches for Sita’s birthplace in Janakpur, Just before Anwesha wraps up her recital by touching the stage with respect, she returns to a performance dedicated to Narasimha.  Assam government converts madrasas into general educational institutions, Metal items are said to be drawn to the temple's main idol, which is thought to be magnetised, Sudarshan Chakra, a weapon shaped like a disc and connected to Lord Krishna, is housed in the shrine. 

DETAILES:

Dec.01. 2023: Top French honours for senior woman scientist of ISRO Surendra Singh •5h. Felicitating an Isro scientist, France has conferred its top civilian award on senior space scientist Dr V R Lalithambika for boosting space cooperation between the two countries. French ambassador Thierry Mathou honoured Lalithambika, former director, Directorate of the Human Spaceflight Programme of Isro with Legion d’Honneur.

ec.01. 2023:  KRISHNAGIRI:Tamil Nadu: After years, 18 tribal houses in Anchetti Taluk in Krishnagiri get lights. 1h. TNIE highlighted that four Irula families in Onnepuram and Kappukuzhi villages who constructed houses under a government scheme have been waiting for a power connection for more than five years. After keeping them waiting for many years, the Tamil Nadu electricity board recently gave power connection to houses of 18 tribal people and four caste Hindus at Doddamanju panchayat in Anchetti taluk. On October 26, 2022, TNIE highlighted that four Irula families in Onnepuram and Kappukuzhi villages who constructed houses under a government scheme were waiting for a power connection for more than five years.

Dec.01. 2023: Kerala High Court receives alarming report on Nilambur forest adivasis' misery; check details. 20h. The sub-judge Shabeer Ibrahim has handed over the legal service authority report on the misery of Adivasis in Nilambur forest to the High Court. The report was obtained by Asianet News. As per the report, the houses in five colonies are in dangerous condition and most of the houses are uninhabitable after the 2018 floods.

Dec.01. 2023:  What is drastically evident within the temple is the impact of a major earthquake that occurred some five centuries ago, despite it being built with sandbox technique and floating bricks. A hazy Sunday marked an enchanting exploration into Kakatiyan history as a group of some 20-odd Hyderabadis ventured into the heart of Telangana to visit primarily two major heritage sites in the state. The first was the historic Ramappa Temple in the Mulugu district, located around 160 km from Hyderabad. Hillocks with blunt tops adorned with vegetation set the stage for an awe-inspiring encounter with this architectural gem. The second stop was in Warangal, (strategically chosen to be visited later as we head back to Hyderabad from Ramappa) —the Warangal fort and Thousand Pillars temple.

Dec.01. 2023: In Andhra's Prakasam, Devotees Take Beach Baths On Karthik Purnima. News18 English • 3d. Karthik is a month symbolising the victory of good over evil. It marks the triumph of Goddess Lakshmi over darkness, Kartikey over Tarakasur and Lord Ram over Ravan.. The holy month of Karthik holds significance, especially during Kartika Poornami. Devotees traditionally take a beach bath, visit Shiva temples and conduct special pujas dedicated to Lord Shiva during the full moon of Karthik. In observance of Karthik Purnima, devotees across the Prakasam district’s coastal areas in Andhra Pradesh performed various abhishek programs in Shiva temples on Monday. 

Dec.01. 2023: Swedish Embassy celebrates diplomatic relations with India with a sustainable show, Fashion Forever. 3d. The show brought together outfits made from India rsquo;s eco-friendly and hand-spun khadi fabric, as well as Swedish sustainable textiles and smart materials. The Embassy of Sweden recently hosted a fashion show focusing on sustainability and circular economy - a tribute to India and Sweden’s mutual interest in sustainable fashion. The event also celebrated 75 years of diplomatic relations between Sweden and India. The show brought together outfits made from India’s eco-friendly and hand-spun khadi fabric, as well as Swedish sustainable textiles and smart materials. A strong set of innovative textile pieces was showcased including clothes made from forest slag products and recycled shirts, clothes that dissolve in high-temperature water; and even clothes that communicate with the wearer through an integrated camera – especially targeting fashionistas who are hearing and visually impaired.

Dec.01. 2023: A Gamma-ray Burst Disturbed the Earth’s Ionosphere. You’d think that something happening billions of light-years away wouldn’t affect Earth, right? Well, in 2002, a burst of gamma rays lasting 800 seconds actually impacted our planet. They came from a powerful and very distant supernova explosion. Its gamma-ray bombardment disturbed our planet’s ionosphere and activated lightning detectors in India. This particular gamma-ray burst (GRB) occurred in a galaxy almost 2 billion light-years away (and took two billion years to reach us). Not only did ground-based detectors record the bombardment, but satellites sensitive to high-energy outbursts “saw” it, too. That included the European Space Agency’s International Gamma-Ray Astrophysics Laboratory (INTEGRAL) mission. It typically records gamma-ray bursts on a daily basis, but this one—named GRB 221009A—outshone all the rest. GRBs this strong happen (on average) about once every 10,000 years, so this was one that caught everyone’s attention. “It was probably the brightest gamma-ray burst we have ever detected,” says Mirko Piersanti, University of L’Aquila, Italy, and lead author of a paper analyzing the event.

Dec.02. 2023: The Daimabad Man: Proof of Indus-Saraswati Civilization’s Technology. By Shruti Dasgupta. November 30, 2023. Daimabad Man Western historians should get ready to eat their words of propaganda! An abandoned archaeological site of Diamabad in Maharashtra, India is the home of ‘The Daimabad Man’ sculpture. This sculpture is a treasure trove of insights into the technological prowess of the Indus-Saraswati Civilization. This Chalcolithic site, dating back to 2200-1000 BCE, challenges conventional Western perceptions of Bharat and its technology. It debunks the fake ‘Aryan Invasion’ theory and the ‘Single River Civilization’ simplistic concept. It asks archeologists to explore the extent of influence and affluence of the Harappan Civilization. Discovering ‘The Daimabad Man’ Situated on the left bank of the Pravara River, a tributary of the Godavari, Daimabad is a testament to the sophistication and advancements of the ancient Bharatiyas. Discovered as Maharashtra’s most extensive chalcolithic site, Daimabad provides a unique window into the technological achievements of its time. Daimabad's Mystery Man.  ‘The Daimabad Man’ is a pivotal discovery of the archeological wonder of the Daimabad site. This intricately crafted bronze sculpture is a metallurgical masterpiece measuring 45 cm in length and 16 cm in width. The sculpture depicts a man riding a chariot drawn by two bulls ‘THE DAIMABAD MAN’ SCULPTURE SHOWCASES THE CRAFTSMANSHIP AND METALLURGICAL SKILLS OF ANCIENT BHARAT. ADDITIONALLY, IT CHALLENGES THE NARRATIVE THAT BHARATVASI WERE A TECHNOLOGICALLY BACKWARD RACE Like Sanuali, it challenges preconceived Western notions about the capabilities of ancient civilizations. Metal Artifacts and Cultural Connections.  The Daimabad Man’s chariot reveals solid bronze wheels, an engineering feat that underscores the metallurgical proficiency of the Indus-Saraswati Civilization. The presence of a dog standing on the middle pole and the stylized birds on either side of the man connect Daimabad’s artistry to Harappan culture. The man stands on an oval-shaped platform adorned with bird motifs. These motifs are reminiscent of clay bird whistles of Harappa. The Daimabad’s site yields a plethora of metal artifacts and marvels. All of which suggest that the Harappan civilization may not be a ‘Single River Civilization’. The findings at Daimabad challenge a long cherished notion that Harappan civilization was confined to specific geographical boundaries. Moreover, it points towards a more widespread influence of the entire Indus-Saraswati Civilization.  The discoveries at Daimabad compelled a reevaluation of the technological advancements of Bharat. Much like the city of Dwarka under the sea and the chariots of Sanauli, The Diamabad Man sculpture is a herald of the metallurgical prowess of the Indus-Saraswati Civilization. Thus, this important artifact defies all Western precepts about Bharat. Moreover, its presence at an abandoned settlement raises pertinent questions. What else must be buried in the soils of unexplored India? Maybe Bharat and its people stand atop many such yet-to-be-discovered testaments of innovation and craftsmanship. ‘THE DAIMABAD MAN’ AND THE SITE’S ARCHAEOLOGICAL TREASURES PROVIDE A SMALL AND LESS-TALKED-ABOUT GLIMPSE INTO THE TECHNOLOGICAL SOPHISTICATION OF THE ANCIENT INDIANS. As scholars continue to unravel the mysteries of this Chalcolithic site, it becomes evident that the Indus-Saraswati Civilization was not only proficient in metallurgy but was potentially more advanced than previously acknowledged by the West and their cabal. The legacy of Daimabad silently asks Bharat to acknowledge its history, embrace its truth, and determine the reality of the influence of Bharat on the Indian subcontinent.

Fig. 01.

Dec. 02, 2023: Enjoy the sprawling view of the Eastern Ghats over a zipline introduced recently by the Andhra Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation in association with Adventure Zone at Borra Caves. With its lush canopies, it is a haven for those seeking a rush of adrenaline amidst Nature’s embrace. The 600 metre-long zipline connects Borra Caves to the other side of the hill at Kothaguda village, offering a mesmerising view of the Eastern Ghats. Visitors harness up, soaring through the skies, suspended by cables along their way down as they traverse the scenic landscapes. The rush of wintry breeze and the panoramic vistas combine to create an adrenaline rush.

Fig. 02. 

Fig. 03.

Dec. 03, 2023: Skies in Mongolia mysteriously turn blood-red. Pictures show eerie phenomena. India Today Science Desk •15h. In an extraordinary celestial display, the skies over Mongolia turned deep, blood-red as the country experienced one of the rarest auroral events on Friday and early Saturday. The intense colouration is attributed to the initial impact of a significant solar storm that collided with Earth, creating a spectacle that left onlookers in awe.

Fig. 04.

Dec. 03, 2023: The 5 series trains are built with the Japanese Shinkansen technology, which has the distinction of having the highest level of accuracy in ensuring safety in the segment. The Indian Railways is learnt to have decided to go for the E5 series of trains for the country’s first bullet train services from 2026. The plan is to purchase at least 18 E5 series Shinkansen bullet trains at an estimated cost of Rs 7,000 crore. Japan has reportedly agreed to share technology, as part of a deal.

Dec. 03, 2023:Italian Town On High Alert As 'Leaning Tower' On Verge Of Collapse. A metal cordon will now be put up around the tower to contain the debris and reduce the vulnerability of surrounding buildings.

Dec. 04, 2023:Although his low-lying agricultural land is most suitable for labour-intensive paddy crops, the returns were not encouraging. Things started to look up after he began shifting to other crops and decided to adopt the integrated farming system. In 2019, he dug up three ponds with the help of the soil conservation and watershed development wing of the Agriculture Department.

Nov. 04, 2023:  By making world-class surgical tools, Palakkad resident seeks to cut medical costs. 7h. After dropping out of school in his 10th grade, Sajeesh moved to Bengaluru in search of a job, to support his parents Ayyappan and Kalyanikutty, who were both daily wagers. “It was by sheer luck that I met a Malayali man on alighting at the bus stand in Bengaluru. On narrating my situation, he gave me a job at his surgical equipment-making unit. Initially, I was asked to wash the equipment and pack them. After my shift, I used to help out at the production centre. On realising my interest, the owner shifted me to the production unit,” recounts Sajeesh.

Nov. 04, 2023: Navy to deploy aircraft carriers INS Vikramaditya and INS Vikrant for MILAN-2024 in Vizag. Nalla.Babu.1d. VISAKHAPATNAM: The Indian Navy plans to deploy both its aircraft carriers-INS Vikramaditya and INS Vikrant, to the Eastern Seaboard in Vizag during Milan-2024. Vizag city will be hosting Milan-2024, the flagship international Naval Exercise, from February 19 to 27 in 2024 under the aegis of the Eastern Naval Command (ENC) of Indian Navy.

Nov. 04, 2023: Buoyed by PM’s praise, LMC to develop 4 more Miyawaki forests in Lucknow. Anupam Srivastava • 20h. Enhance the city’s green cover with the development of four additional Miyawaki forests in the Rasoolpur Kayastha area. In June this year, the PM had appreciated the development of a Miyawaki forest in Lucknow’s Aliganj area.

Nov. 05, 2023: Cyclone Michaung: Massive sinkhole swallows transformer in rain-battered Chennai.Moneycontrol News  • 2h. Monday, a road in one of the city’s upscale neighbourhoods caved in, swallowing a transformer. Hair-raising footage shows the huge sinkhole that formed when a portion of the road in Chennai’s Poes Garden area collapsed. A transformer in the vicinity fell into the sinkhole, as did a small temple

Nov. 05, 2023: From tech to staff courtesy, India to run bullet trains just the way the Japanese do. Avishek G. Dastidar  •15h.The drivers of India's bullet trains are likely to greet passengers with a namaskar before the start of every trip and also offer another namaskar after they complete the journey. This is because the show of courtesy to passengers by the drivers and the entire onboard staff is integral to the protocol of running Japan's Shinkansen bullet train system, which is being rolled out in India, starting Ahmedabad-Mumbai. INDIA TODAY that discussions have taken place with the Japanese counterparts on replicating this practice by drivers of the Indian high-speed trains as well. "Offering courtesy to passengers is part of the training protocol of the entire onboard staff of bullet trains."

Nov. 05, 2023: Bill tabled in Lok Sabha for establishment of central tribal varsity in Telangana. HT Correspondent  • 18h. The statement of objects and reasons of the bill said the university will cater to the regional aspirations. “It will increase access and quality of higher education and facilitate and promote higher education and research facilities for the people of the state. It will promote advanced knowledge by providing instructional and research facilities in tribal art, culture, and customs and advancement in technology to the tribal population of India.”

Nov. 05, 2023: Injections to growing food, this chip maker will shine a light and show the way. Sindhu Hariharan  •1d. Semiconductor company Polymatech Electronics says it has come up with a ‘near-infrared’ vein lighting. When the surface of a person’s skin is illuminated with this light at an appropriate angle and distance, it helps highlight the veins.

Nov. 05, 2023: Suhani Sharma wins first prize at the State Science Exhibition. 1h. A class XI student of Delhi Public School, Chandigarh, Suhani Sharma, won the first prize at the Rajya Stariya Bal Vaigyanik Pradarshini 2023 for her exhibit 'Eco-Logs: The exhibit "Eco-Logs" presented an innovative solution for sustainable waste management. Blending cow dung and coconut shell waste offers an alternative renewable energy source to traditional wood in cremations. Through research, experimentation and lab testing, the exhibit leveraged raw materials' organic properties, enhanced calorific value, and created sturdy, eco-friendly logs with a dual purpose of waste repurposing and saving trees while maintaining cultural sensitivity.

Nov. 05, 2023: Breaking Boundaries: Space Zone India's Historic Launch of India's First Hybrid Rocket. Breaking Boundaries: Space Zone India's Historic Launch of India's First Hybrid Rocket.

Nov. 05, 2023: Nigel Hopkins P Marak, a resident of Meghalaya, successfully completed the 145th course from the National Defence Academy (NDA) on November 30, 2023, in a parade characterized by military grandeur who is set to be commissioned as a Lieutenant in the Indian Army in December 2024. The President of India, Droupadi Murmu, graced the Passing Out Parade as the chief guest and reviewing officer. The parade served as the culmination of a rigorous three-year training program at NDA Khadakvasla. In recognition of his academic achievements, Nigel Hopkins P Marak was also conferred with a B.Sc degree from Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU). This follows a year-long training schedule at the Indian Military Academy (IMA) in Dehradun.

Nov. 05, 2023: After Galloping to Victory, BJP's 'Dark Mares' Spark Buzz of Chhattisgarh Getting Its First Woman CM. Arunima  • 13h. After the Bharatiya Janata Party’s unprecedented electoral win, the state is abuzz with the question. The reason is the record that Chhattisgarh has set by sending the maximum number of female representatives to the assembly this year. As per official data, 19 women MLAs will represent their constituencies after the 2023 polls. This would mean about 21% of the 90-member assembly. The last time, there were 13 women MLAs, or 14% of the total assembly strength. 

Nov. 05, 2023: Galaxies come in many shapes and sizes. The Milky Way, for example, is a spiral galaxy because of the way that stars, dust, and gas spiral out from the center of the galaxy. ut spiral galaxies like ours are surprisingly rare in our galactic neighborhood, and for years, astronomers have wondered why since the 1960s.Now, they may finally have an answer, according to a new study published in the peer-reviewed journal Nature Astronomy earlier this month.

Nov. 05, 2023:  When and where gunpowder first appeared is not quite known, and its history is a subject of ongoing research and debate. There is evidence to suggest that substances resembling gunpowder were known and used in India by the 4th century BC, while clearer accounts emerge around the 4th century CE, it being important to note that historical records from that period are often limited or not well-preserved. Legend has it that gunpowder was developed in China around the Tang and Song dynasties (9th to 11th century CE). Again, there is an absence of facts to this end. Gunpowder appeared in European chronicles a few centuries later and again tradition has it that the knowledge for producing this explosive went from China to Europe through the Silk Route.

                                                                       Fig. 05. 

                                                                     Fig., 06.

Dec. 01 2023 01:21 PM: Chandigarh's saffron revolution: IT professional, his team innovate kesar cultivation in unexpected places. Jasleen Kaur. 

Dec. 03, 2023 12:11:41 IST:  Gautam R Desiraju: Bharat's ancient achievement: How India played a pivotal role in the origins of gunpowder. The fascinating narrative of India's ancient achievements in chemical warfare remains a compelling testament to the subcontinent's rich heritage.When and where gunpowder first appeared is not quite known, and its history is a subject of ongoing research and debate. There is evidence to suggest that substances resembling gunpowder were known and used in India by the 4th century BC, while clearer accounts emerge around the 4th century CE, it being important to note that historical records from that period are often limited or not well-preserved. Legend has it that gunpowder was developed in China around the Tang and Song dynasties (9th to 11th century CE). Again, there is an absence of facts to this end. Gunpowder appeared in European chronicles a few centuries later and again tradition has it that the knowledge for producing this explosive went from China to Europe through the Silk Route.

Dec. 05, 2023: How an University professor unearth a mountain full of ancient sculptures. An ancient statue was unearthed near Assam University, leading to new historical insights. The discovery was made by a team from the university in an inaccessible terrain. 

Dec. 05, 2023: Amit Shah Likely to Move Bills on J&K Reservation Act, Reorganisation Act in Lok Sabha. News English  • 3h. The Jammu and Kashmir Reservation Act provides for reservation in appointment in state government posts, and admission to professional institutions, for certain reserved categories. It provides for reservation in professional institutions for economically weaker sections.

Dec. 05, 2023: Discover versatility of Banana Plant: 7 practical uses beyond the fruit. 4mo. The banana plant, scientifically known as Musa paradisiaca, is not only famous for its delicious and nutritious fruit but also for its versatile uses. From its leaves to its stem and fruit, every part of the banana plant has practical applications. From providing food and traditional medicine to serving as a sustainable resource for textiles, crafts, and organic farming, the banana plant is truly a remarkable and versatile plant with numerous applications.

Dec. 05, 2023:  

Fig. 07.

    Mongolia witnesses skies turning mysteriously ‘blood red’. 3h. In an extraordinary celestial phenomenon, Mongolia witnessed a rare auroral event recently that transformed its skies into a deep, blood-red hue. The stunning colouration was the result of a significant solar storm's initial impact on Earth, leaving spectators in awe.

Traditionally, auroras, also known as the Northern Lights or Aurora Borealis, occur closer to the poles and typically appear green in color. However, Mongolia experienced an exceptional display with auroras adorned in a striking crimson hue. This rarity is attributed to the interaction between solar particles and oxygen at high altitudes, specifically over 241 km above the Earth's surface, where the atmosphere is notably thinner

Dec. 05, 2023: Solution To Monsoon Floods? Thiruvananthapuram Man Is Lifting His Hosue By 3 Feet. Times Now Digital  •18h. a report in The Hindu, a Goureesapattom (Thiruvananthapuram) resident named Sateesh Gopi was so fed up of the ruinous flooding during rain that he decided to remedy it by raising the plinth or floor of his house by three feet. He had had enough when stormwater overflow from the nearby canal flooded his home in the heavy downpours on October 15 and November 22 this year. At the base of the problem is the fact that the civic authorities are to blame for not clearing the nearby canals of silt, garbage, and overgrowth. Sateesh Gopi's choice of solution is a costly one that not all can afford.

Dec. 05, 2023: Dell empowers 2 million Indians in digital skills, to expand further. Shriti Aniraj  • 2h. Mobile Solar Community Hubs last year and is now gearing up to extend the program. These mobile hubs are technologically advanced and equipped with essential devices such as laptops, television screens for message broadcasting, solar panels for powering devices, 4G internet hotspot capabilities, and self-paced learning content. They serve as a means for the community to access online services.

 

Dec. 05, 2023: 2 filmmakers with an underwater drone accidentally found a 128-year-old shipwreck at the bottom of Lake Huron. Michelle Mark • 2d.

Dec. 06, 2023: Mysterious mineral produced in ocean could keep Earth cool, even induce ice age. ndia Today Science Desk • 16h. identified a clay mineral known as smectite that possesses the remarkable ability to capture and store carbon for millions of years, potentially playing a significant role in cooling our planet. Found within the intricate layers of the seafloor, smectite's accordion-like structure is adept at trapping organic carbon, a process that has been occurring since the dawn of plate tectonics.

Dec. 06, 2023:Aryan Rajvanshi, a 16-year-old Class 11 student from Anand Niketan International School in Ahmedabad (Gujarat) recently gained international recognition for his groundbreaking project, MechaCrop, which uses drones and artificial intelligence to improve the lives of farmers in India. Aryan represented India at the 07th Edition of 1M1B Activate Impact Summit 2023 held at the United Nations on 30 November, 2023.

Dec. 06, 2023:Cyclone wreaks havoc as heavy rains lash Andhra coastal districts. Suresh Dharur, Hyderabad •5h.

Dec. 06, 2023: Captain Geetika Koul Becomes First Woman Medical Officer To Be Deployed At Siachen. ABP News Bureau • 17h.  First woman medical officer to the highest battlefield, Siachen. Indian Army’s Fire and Fury Corps which handles some of the most sensitive frontiers and battlefields in the world, took to X, formerly Twitter and posted about Captain Geetika Koul who successfully completed the induction training at Siachen Battle School to become make history..

Dec. 06, 2023: Nepal asks Russia to STOP recruiting its citizens as mercenaries after six killed in Ukraine War. Abhishek Awasthi • 19h. Nepal stated that six of its citizens had died while acting as mercenaries in the Russian army and that another had been taken prisoner in Ukraine. Moscow was urged by Kathmandu to cease using Nepali mercenaries and to return any men who were serving to their homes.

Dec 5, 2023: కాకినాడ జిల్లా గండేపల్లి నుంచి మల్లేపల్లి వెళ్లే జాతీయ రహదారిపై. ప్రళయతాండవం సృష్టించిన సుడిగాలి. 

Dec. 06, 2023: The couple who created a sustainable home for themselves are Ashish Panda, a civil engineer who resides in Dungarpur City, and his wife Madhulika, a software developer.  

Dec. 06, 2023: BHUBANESWAR:Six dams in Odisha to be revamped under World Bank prog. 7h. Of the 6 dams, 3 are in Keonjhar district and rest in Angul, Boudh and Ganjam districts. After successful rehabilitation of 26 dams in the first phase under the World Bank-funded dam rehabilitation and improvement project (DRIP), the state government has taken up six more projects in the second phase of the programme.Of the six dams, three are in Keonjhar district and rest in Angul, Boudh and Ganjam districts. 

Dec. 06, 2023:  Cyclone Michaung: TN BJP Chief Annamalai Wades Through Water To Distribute Relief Materials. ABP News Bureau  •3h. TN BJP president on behalf of the party also distributed relief materials to the people. Cyclone Michaung played havoc in Chennai and threw normal life out of gear in the city. The residents of Velachery, Perungudi, Perambur, Perumbakkam among others continued to grapple without electricity, essentials, water and power connectivity. 

Dec. 06, 2023: How Shriti & company turned stubble into building bricks. Sharad Kohli.•  7h. Shriti Pandey decided to apply for a rural development fellowship of the State Bank of India’s Youth for India programme. She was selected. So she quit her job and returned home. The fellowship took Shriti to a village in Madhya Pradesh called Pandhana, near Khandwa. It was an experience that changed her, and led her to set up Strawcture Eco.

Dec. 06, 2023: Sustainable Living: Couple Constructs Eco-Friendly Home Without Cement And Bricks. Digvijay  • 6mo. The couple who created a sustainable home for themselves are Ashish Panda, a civil engineer who resides in Dungarpur City, and his wife Madhulika, a software developer.

Dec. 07, 2023: Fence Outside KCR Office In Hyderabad That Caused Traffic Snarls For Years Removed:ABP News Bureau  • 4h.  The fence on Begumpet main road had caused a traffic bottleneck, and it was removed following a request from civil society groups.

Dec. 07, 2023: The enigma surrounding two mummies unearthed in Peru has deepened after an analyst revealed that 30 per cent of their DNA does not align with any known human genetic material but corresponds to an "unknown species." FO enthusiast Jose Jaime Maussan, part of the scientific team that conducted the DNA analysis, said that the genetic material is "definitely not human." Maussan stated, "This is the first time extraterrestrial life has been presented in this manner.

Dec. 07, 2023:  "Bio-methanation plant to transform organic waste into power, fertiliser in Odisha. 6h. The innovative facility, located at Sector-14, aims to generate 400 units of power and 800 kg of organic manure daily from the scientific disposal of approximately five tonne of municipal organic waste, predominantly cattle dung. 

Dec. 07, 2023: Sky mysteriously turns pink during day time at North Pole. India Today Science Desk  •23h. Skies near the North Pole took on a mysterious pinkish hue as auroras, typically a night spectacle, illuminated the daytime sky. On December 1st, Marjan Spijkers witnessed this extraordinary event from Svalbard, an archipelago located about 1300 kilometers south of the North Pole, known for its significant population of polar bears.

Dec. 07, 2023: Government Says Arsenic Found In Groundwater In 25 States

Story by Bobins Abraham  • 1d. The groundwater in 230 districts of 25 states has been contaminated by arsenic, the government has said.  In a written reply, Union Minister of State for Jal Shakti Bishweswar Tudu informed the Rajya Sabha that traces of fluoride have also been detected in groundwater in 469 districts of 27 states.

Dec. 07, 2023: BALLARI: Though the school management committee identified a site to construct a school building, no help came from the government, some teachers of the school alleged. Once a film theatre is now a government residential school for girls at Kurugodu town in Ballari district. The Backward Classes Welfare Department started the residential school for Classes 6 to 10 three years ago. The residential school has 226 girls. Earlier, the school was run from a small building. When the number of students increased, the school management committee started looking for a big building. 

Fig. 08.

Fig -09 

Dec. 08, 2023: 'Glorious structure': Ashwini Vaishnaw shares video of India's first bullet train station;Business Today Desk  • 11h. he video showcased a terminal that seamlessly blends modern-day architecture with the cultural heritage of India. This unique fusion is evident in the design elements, which are both futuristic and reminiscent of traditional Indian motifs. The terminal boasts state-of-the-art features designed to provide passengers with a comfortable and convenient travel experience. 

Dec. 08, 2023: A video of the bhelpuri vendor, filmed by Made for Foodie, has gone viral with over 757.9K views on the social media platform X. In the clip, he revealed that he sleeps for five hours every day. He shuts the shop at 1 am and begins work at 6 am every day without fail.

Dec. 08, 2023: India trains doctors from Fiji in collaboration with the US. Mukul Sharma.  1d.India trained doctors and health officials from Fiji under two distinct capacity-building programmes in October with funding from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). They were trained in Psycho Social Care and Telemedicine areas. 

DDec. 08, 2023: From Aloo Bhujia to French Fries, Bikaji's surprise success in Western snacks. Pritha Pahari  • 1d. This includes products such as pasta snacks, corn puffs, and French fries. While the company initially did not anticipate the western snacks segment to become a core category.  

Fig. 10.

The divine evening commenced with ‘Sabhavandanam-Slokabhinayam,’ featuring the young students of Natya Mayura, who presented a beautiful garland of slokas in Raagamalika, praising the gods. 

Dec. 08, 2023: ASI to survey 8th Century Hindu-Buddhist sculptures found near Assam-Mizoram borde. Biswa Kalyan Purkayastha  • 9h.A professor of Assam University Silchar and research scholar under him have claimed that they have discovered some 1500-years-old (8th century) Hindu and Buddhist-influenced sculptures at a hill area near Assam-Mizoram border.

Dec. 08, 2023: The universe is expanding. How fast it does so is described by the so-called Hubble-Lemaitre constant. But there is a dispute about how big this constant actually is: Different measurement methods provide contradictory values. This so-called “Hubble tension” poses a puzzle for cosmologists. Researchers from the Universities of Bonn and St. Andrews are now proposing a new solution: Using an alternative theory of gravity, the discrepancy in the measured values can be easily explained — the Hubble tension disappears. The study has now been published in the Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society (MNRAS).

                      Fig.  11.  How India became permanent resident of Antartica, 40 years ago.

                                           Fig 12.  India manufactured motorbike.

Dec. 09, 2023: India successfully conducts training launch of short-range ballistic missile Agni-1.PTI  • 1d."Agni-1 is a proven very high precision missile system. The user training launch, carried out under the aegis of the Strategic Forces Command, successfully validated all operational and technical parameters," said the official. Thursday's performance was validated using data obtained by many tracking systems, including radar, telemetry and electro-optical systems. 

Dec. 09, 2023: Swedish Astronaut lauds Chandrayaan-3 success. 2h. In an interview with ANI, Fuglesang said that he is expecting to see the Gaganyaan flight with Indian astronauts on the Indian rocket and Indian capsule.

Dec. 09, 2023: How India became permanent resident of Antartica, 40 years ago. Newton Sequeira 10h. On December 3, the Finnpolaris, a chartered ice-class vessel, had sailed out of Mormugao, Goa, with an 81-member team on board. Their mission was to set up Dakshin Gangotri, India’s first permanent base in Antarctica.

Dec. 09, 2023: Second crest gate of Gundlakamma Reservoir washed away. 32m. Second sluice gate of the Kandula Obul Reddy Gundlakamma Reservoir (KORGR) was washed away on Friday night. The increased inflows into the reservoir following the incessant rains that lashed the region under the influence of Cyclone Michaung is reported to be the cause of the breach. The reservoir had 2.4 TMC water as against it maximum storage capacity of 3.875 TMC. 

Dec. 09, 2023: A mysterious star from outside the Milky Way has somehow ended up near our galaxy's supermassive black hole. Marianne Guenot  •  15h. A star positioned near the center of the Milky Way seems to have come from outside of our galaxy. The interloper is thought to have traveled from a galaxy that has since disappeared. Scientists have spotted a star near the center of the Milky Way that shouldn't be there.

Dec. 09, 2023: Aprilia RS457: Aprilia's first made-in-India motorcycle to launch today. Shriti Aniraj  • 16h. Aprilia is all set to launch the RS457 in India on Friday, December 12, at the IBW (India Bike Week), 2023. It is the brand's first made-in-India motorcycle and is expected to launch with an ex-showroom price tag of around Rs 4 lakh.

Dec. 09, 2023: Knowledge Marine Secures Three-Year Contract with Visakhapatnam Port Authority. Investing.com  • 23h. Knowledge Marine & Engineering Works Ltd (BO:KNOW) has clinched a significant contract from the Visakhapatnam Port Authority. The Letter of Award (LoA) entails the Supply, Manning, Operation, and Maintenance of one Pilot Launch with a Steel hull on a hire basis. The contract, valued at Rs. 3,44,92,500/-, is set for a three-year term commencing from March 24, 2024.

Dec. 09, 2023: Wheat is produced for six crops a year. Developed by German researchers On the one hand, there is a growing population, on the other hand, there are floods and droughts caused by climate change, and on the other hand there is an atmosphere of war between countries. The food crisis around the world is breaking the shackles. According to the World Food Programme (WFP). Already 82 million people in the world are starving.

Dec. 10, 2023: Varanasi (UP), December 09 (ANI): As winter descends upon Varanasi, the Ganges River becomes a majestic haven for migratory birds from north and central Asia. The city witnesses a seasonal influx of species like the Siberian Crane and Ruddy Shelduck, turning the landscape into a winter wonderland that attracts bird enthusiasts and nature lovers alike.The sailors of Ganga Ghat have emerged as the dedicated guardians of these avian visitors, playing a crucial role in protecting the birds and ensuring a harmonious coexistence between nature and human activity along the sacred river. Their efforts contribute to the preservation of the unique atmosphere that has made Varanasi a cultural and spiritual hub.Adding to the allure, migratory birds have swarmed the city, enhancing its winter beauty. From November to December, species like the Siberian Crane and Ruddy Shelduck can be easily spotted around the Dashashwamedh Ghat, creating a breathtaking avian haven along the Ganges River. Winter in India marks the arrival of these migratory birds from colder regions, seeking the more temperate climate of the Indian subcontinent for breeding and living. As tourists flock to Varanasi to witness this annual phenomenon, the city becomes a winter wonderland, offering a magical experience that showcases the intricate dance between nature and the cultural richness of the Ganga Ghats. 

Dec. 10, 2023: Varanasi (UP), December 09 (ANI): As winter descends upon Varanasi, the Ganges River becomes a majestic haven for migratory birds from north and central Asia. The city witnesses a seasonal influx of species like the Siberian Crane and Ruddy Shelduck, turning the landscape into a winter wonderland that attracts bird enthusiasts and nature lovers alike.The sailors of Ganga Ghat have emerged as the dedicated guardians of these avian visitors, playing a crucial role in protecting the birds and ensuring a harmonious coexistence between nature and human activity along the sacred river. Their efforts contribute to the preservation of the unique atmosphere that has made Varanasi a cultural and spiritual hub.Adding to the allure, migratory birds have swarmed the city, enhancing its winter beauty. From November to December, species like the Siberian Crane and Ruddy Shelduck can be easily spotted around the Dashashwamedh Ghat, creating a breathtaking avian haven along the Ganges River. Winter in India marks the arrival of these migratory birds from colder regions, seeking the more temperate climate of the Indian subcontinent for breeding and living. As tourists flock to Varanasi to witness this annual phenomenon, the city becomes a winter wonderland, offering a magical experience that showcases the intricate dance between nature and the cultural richness of the Ganga Ghats

Dec. 10, 2023: Asian Development Bank Injects US Dollar 250 Million To Boost India's Industrial Corridors. 17h. The initiative aims to enhance the competitiveness of the manufacturing sector, fortify national supply chains, and foster connections with regional and global value chains.

                                                         Fig. 14. 

Dec. 10, 2023: In a significant milestone, more than 20 villages situated in the remote Pirpanjal areas are now linked by road for the first time since independence. The recently constructed 32 km road, spans from Rajouri-Poonch Highway to the Link Road Patrara via Gambir Mughlan to Shah Dhara Sharif. The road establishes a vital shortcut between the Tehsils of Manjakote and Thanna Mandi. The Department of Economic Reconstruction Agency (ERA) of Jammu and Kashmir has played a pivotal role in this transformative project, with 27 km of road blacktopping already completed. The road not only facilitates smoother travel for religious pilgrimages but also initiates the start of small businesses in the once-isolated regions

Dec. 10, 2023: India’s 50K e-buses plan gets US support. 6h. India is aiming to get 50,000 electric buses on its streets by 2027 with help from a joint finance mechanism with the US. The $390 million fund will act as a guarantee for manufacturers seeking loans to expand production, Indian and US officials said at a side event at COP28. India currently only has 12,000 e-buses in operation.

Dec. 10, 2023: 15 Isis terrorists arrested: Accused had 'declared' Maharashtra village 'liberated zone', says NIA. TOI News Desk  •21h. In its continuing crackdown on the Isis terrorist network, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) made significant strides on Saturday by apprehending 15 terrorists in a series of raids across Maharashtra and Karnataka. Among those arrested is the leader of an active Isis module, responsible for administering the 'bayath' (oath of allegiance) to newly recruited members, said a spokesperson from the federal anti-terror agency.

Dec. 10, 2023: Woman accuses Delhi-bound train staff of overcharging for food, IRCTC responds. Trisha Sengupta  • 21h. Awoman took to X to share about a problem she faced after ordering food on a Delhi-bound train. She shared how the staff charged more for her veg thali and also argued with her when she confronted them about the price. Her post attracted reactions from many, including a response from IRCTC.

Dec. 11, 2023: Chief of Defence Staff leaves for Japan, to meet top military leaders during visit. Manjeet Negi  • 7h. This visit aims to enhance the strong defence ties between the two nations, underscoring the growing importance of India-Japan Defence Cooperation. General Anil Chauhan will hold interactions with senior military leadership of Japan and will visit defence formations and establishments.

Dec. 11, 2023: A startup is using woodchips to make synthetic graphite for EV batteries. Polly Thompson  • 14h. A New Zealand startup is using wood to make synthetic graphite for EV batteries. CarbonScape uses leftover woodchips from timber making to produce batteries.

Dec. 11, 2023: Explained: DRDO's 70-ton missile system, Agni VI on the horizon?11h. A canisterized missile system refers to a setup where a missile is stored and launched from a sealed container or canister. Analyzing the details, multiple sources seem to be discussing the issue. One can make smart guesses about the purpose of this advanced launcher.The Agni-V Mk-2 is well-known as a modified and lighter form of the original Agni-V ICBM. These changes are made to increase its reach to an impressive 8,000 km while lowering the payload to 40-45 tonnes. So a significant weight reduction from the original 50-55 tonnes. In light of this, it makes sense to assume that the 70-ton launcher is meant for a missile weighing over 60-65 tonnes.

Dec. 11, 2023: Chinese Fishing Vessels Doubling Up As Mini Spy Ships Found Venturing Close To Coast Of Gujarat & Mumbai In Arabian Sea: Intel Report. 2h. Intel reports have warned that the Chinese fishing vessels also double up as mini spy ships that can gather any data from the location of submarines to secret pipelines and activities of Indian ports. 

Dec. 11, 2023: Three Vijayanagara-era temples identified in Sathya Sai district in Andhra. 11h. Three Vijayanagara-era temples were spotted in the agricultural fields near Mallela and Kondapuram villages in Gorantla Mandal of Sri Sathya Sai district. In a statement issued on Sunday,  Siva and Vishnu temples were spotted near Mallela village, 8 km from Gorantla. Another Vishnu temple was found in a completely dilapidated state in Kondapuram, 9 km from Gorantla.

Dec. 12, 2023: Chinese Fishing Vessels Doubling Up As Mini Spy Ships Found Venturing Close To Coast Of Gujarat & Mumbai In Arabian Sea: Intel Report 13h. Intel reports have warned that the Chinese fishing vessels also double up as mini spy ships that can gather any data from the location of submarines to secret pipelines and activities of Indian ports. 

Dec. 12, 2023: The grand finale of Super Singer Junior 9 took place at the Nehru Indoor Stadium in Chennai on December 10. Shreenitha from Tamil Nadu's Coimbatore bagged the trophy and a house worth Rs 60 lakh. Harshini Nethra and Akshara Lakshmi won the second and third place, respectively. They took home a cash prize worth Rs 10 lakh and Rs 5 lakh, respectively. 

Dec. 12, 2023: This is India's first portable hospital. It is called the ‘Aarogya Maitri Aid Cube'. It can be airlifted to a disaster area and assembled in an hour. Watch the video to find out now.

                                                                     Fig. 15. 

Dec. 12, 2023: Kalaburagi farmers get Rs 5k relief per acre after a decade. 29m.  In a classic example of how farmers are suffering due to the utter negligence of successive governments, the farmers in Kalaburagi district were waiting for more than a decade to get compensation for the loss of black gram crops due to the supply of substandard seeds by the Agriculture Department through the Karnataka State Seeds Corporation (KSCL). 

Dec. 12, 2023: Telangana CM orders release of financial aid for farmers under 'Rythu Bandhu' scheme. PTI •4h. Reddy directed officials to start depositing financial aid under the 'Rythu Bandhu' scheme in farmers' accounts from Monday itself. He said the aid should be provided without inconveniencing any farmer, according to the release. He also asked the officials to prepare an action plan to implement the ruling Congress' pre-poll promise of waiving farm loans up to Rs 2 lakh.

Dec. 12, 2023: Turn Your Garden Into A Nighttime Wonderland With These 6 Glowing Plants. ANUKRITI SRIVASTAVA  •2d. Bioluminescent plants refer to those plants that glow in the dark. These plants are pollinated by nocturnal insects like moths and thus plants evolved to match the behaviour of the plant. Let’s take a look at the list of plants that can add light to your garden. Kadapul also known as Queen of the Night is a unique plant (how to take care of herbs at home) that is native to Sri Lanka. It has beautiful and fragrant white flowers which bloom and glow around midnight. The four o’clock plant is a popular indoor plant with interesting flowers. They are available in a variety of colours, patterns and shapes. They start changing colour when they age. It turns from yellow to pink and white and then light violet. However, they bloom after late afternoon instead of at night. Evening Primrose is a popular plant (plants to beautify your living room) with sweet yellow wildflowers. They seem like cute plants but they can reach up to the height of 4 feet. They bloom at night and give off the smell of lemon. Scientifically named as Calochortus luteus, Northern lights feature bioluminescent petals that glow in the dark. The colour ranges from yellow to pink and green. They will look magical if you add them to your garden. Scientifically named as Ipomoea alba, moonflowers feature large, white fragrant flowers that add a touch of mystery to your house garden. You can add this plant for an aesthetic appeal to your garden. The firefly plant scientifically named Physalis alkekengi is a Chinese lantern plant. It has vibrant orange berries-like fruits that glow in the dark. It is a great addition to your garden especially during autumn. 

Dec. 12, 2023: Unsold Prefabricated Homes Could Be Cheaper Than You Think. In recent years, the real estate industry has seen a shift towards prefabricated homes. These types of homes are built in a factory and assembled on-site, providing a quicker and more streamlined building process compared to traditional homes, which can lead to significant cost savings.

Dec. 12, 2023: At the 5G Test bed, the hardware, firmware and software are being developed for the 5G base station in India. In one of the largest technology transfer deals from academia in India, a 5G RAN (Radio Access Network) technology developed by a multi-institutional team has been licensed to an industry partner TEJAS NETWORKS (A Tata Group Company) for a sum of Rs 12 crore. The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras, IIT Kanpur and the Society for Applied Microwave Electronics Engineering and Research (SAMEER) developed a ‘5G RAN sub-system’ at the 5G Test Bed. The three institutions are jointly licensing the 5G RAN technology to TEJAS NETWORKS (A Tata Group Company) who will play a vital role in leveraging it for further advancements and commercial applications.

Dec. 12, 2023: BENGALURU:  21 Chinese tech staff get visa, first train may start this week to India. 6h. It will reach Chennai Port and is expected to reach Bengaluru’s Hebbagodi depot by road before Makara Sankranti (January 15), said a senior BMRCL official. With 21 Chinese technical staff, comprising loco-pilots, technicians and engineers of China Railway Rolling Stock Corporation (CRRC), finally receiving their visas to visit India, the first driverless train for Bengaluru Metro is scheduled to be shipped on December 15 to India.

Dec. 12, 2023: 12 best singers in India with mesmerizing, soulful voices: Lata Mangeshkar to Shreya Ghoshal.Lubna Khan  •2h. 

Dec. 12, 2023:  Bengaluru: Massive sinkhole opens up near Kensington signal junction. Anagha , •2h. A seven-foot deep and 10-foot-wide sinkhole opened up on one of Bengaluru's busiest roads on Monday evening. The sinkhole appeared near the Kensington signal junction in Bengaluru's Halasur. The sinkhole appeared at around 8 pm on Monday, prompting the local authorities to cordon off the area for safety. According to initial information, the sinkhole appeared on a cement road that was laid just last year. 

Dec. 12, 2023: Just 150 bonded labourers rescued since 2019; yet to be rehabilitated. Diwakar Sharma  • 3h.But they remain unrehabilitated. The activists believe that surprise checks by government bodies at work sites, like brick kilns, farms, charcoal units, and construction areas, could reveal a much higher number of bonded labourers in the state.

Dec. 12, 2023: Bringing back millets that were once integral to a traditional Indian diet, scientists at Indian Institute of Millets Research in Hyderabad have not just cracked all the science and market for the drought-resistant grain’s modern-day applications but also incubated over 300 startups in the last five years.

Dec. 12, 2023:The showstopper: How farmer-friendly drones are captivating thousands as yatra moves ahead. SNS  •1h. What started as a nationwide initiative to bring government welfare programs to the grassroots level has now taken an innovative turn, showcasing the transformative power of drone technology in agriculture and allied activities.

Dec. 12, 2023: What Has Modi Government Done For Kashmiri Pandits? Centre Answers. Times Now Digital  • 2h. A day after the Supreme Court upheld the the Centre's decision to scrap the special status of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir, and the court called for the setting up of a Truth and Reconciliation Commission for Kashmiri Pandits, the Union government detailed in Parliament what the government has done for Kashmiri Pandits over the last five years.

Dec. 12, 2023: Taiwan seeks cooperation with India, US to meet cyber threats. Statesman News Service  • 53m. ”There is a need for collaborative efforts by Taiwan, India and the US to counter the growing threat of cyber-related attacks, especially since all the three countries will have general elections in 2024,” Taiwan’s Representative to India Baushuan Ger said.

Dec. 13, 2023: How This Virudhunagar Farmer Is Earning Lakhs With Horsetail Plant Cultivation. News18 English  • 13h.According to the nature of this terrain, only small grain farming is taking place on a large scale. Small grains are a category of crop typically referred to as cereal (such as wheat, oats, barley, rye, and rice). Farmers have reported that they are getting good profits in this farming due to less water requirement and maintenance costs as well. As per Local 18 Tamil Nadu, one of the farmers, who made great dividends with small grain farming, is Chatavu. He hails from Sengunrapuram village in Virudhunagar district. He has also shown great interest in organic farming. Chatavu says that a bundle of horsetail plants fetches him Rs 5000 to 7000. According to him, approximately 50 bundles of this plant are available on his three-acre land. He is therefore able to earn a good amount of Rs 2 to 3 lakh. According to Chatavu, he has to incur expenditure on using animal dung as fertiliser and cutting the weeds in farms twice. He said that there is no other expenditure in his work besides these tasks and sowing. The only thing Chatavu is dependent on is the rainfall. 

Dec. 13, 2023: Chennai sanitation workers rewarded for cleaning city post Cyclone Michuang. Pramod Madhav  • 7h. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin felicitated sanitation workers in Chennai with certificates and cash reward for their hard work in cleaning the city post Cyclone Michuang. Honouring their work, MK Stalin awarded sanitation workers with Rs 4,000 cash reward and a certificate of appreciation at Rippon Building.

Dec. 13, 2023: Himachal scientists develop new apple variety.  HT Correspondent, Shimla  • 8h. Scientists at Dr YS Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, have developed an indigenous variety of apple,yet to be christened, that will yield crop two months before normal varieties.

Dec. 13, 2023: In This Andhra Coastal Village, Tractors Are Making Local Fishermen's Work Easier. News18 English  • 22h. Over 28 million people in India depend on the fishing industry for their livelihood, particularly those belonging to disadvantaged and vulnerable communities. India is the third-largest fish producing nation. We produce 7.96% of the world’s fish. In the coastal areas of India, most people depend on fishing for their livelihood. Every day, hundreds of fishermen, across the coasts of the Indian Ocean, Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal bring their boats into the sea and hunt for fish. The economy of the country depends to a major extent on these fishermen, but they face numerous challenges. One of the difficulties fishermen face is bringing their boats laden with fish to dry lands from the coast. It requires a humongous amount of strength to push these boats back to land. Fishermen in the coastal area of Kothapatnam in Prakasam district of Andhra Pradesh have devised a unique way to get past this problem. They have taken the help of tractors to pull their boats from the sea shore.

Dec. 13, 2023: In Tamil Nadu, Rural Women Create 60 Different Decor Items From Banana Fibre. News18 English  • 2h.In a recent training session held in Kamakshipuram, Theni district, women are learning to craft handicrafts from banana fibre, tapping into the abundance of banana cultivation in the region.

Dec. 13, 2023: Indian Envoy To US Lauds Walmart's Decision To Launch 'Made In India' Bicycle. Times Now Digital  • 4h. While sharing a photo of a blue-coloured bicycle on X (formerly Twitter), Sandhu wrote, “Make in India, Make for the World! Delighted to witness the launch of Walmart 🇺🇸 first made in 🇮🇳 bicycles, manufactured by #HeroCycles #Ludhiana.”

Dec. 13, 2023: RANCHI: Notable, after continuous searches for five consecutive days, Rs 354 crore was recovered from Dheeraj Sahu's properties in Jharkhand and Odisha. Intensifying the search at Congress Rajya Sabha MP Dheeraj Sahu’s residence in Ranchi on the seventh consecutive day, the Income Tax (IT) sleuths on Tuesday have been using Ground penetrating Radar (GPR) to find out the treasures hidden under the ground. Ground penetrating radar (GPR) is a geophysical locating method that uses radio waves to capture images below the surface of the ground in a minimally invasive way. The huge advantage is that it allows crews to pinpoint the location of underground utilities without disturbing the ground.

Dec. 13, 2023: A surprising phenomenon has emerged in the mighty Himalayas that might slow down the effects of the global climate crisis. 

Dec. 13, 2023: Missile Attack Narrowly Misses Oil Tanker from India; US Ship Downs Drone. News18 English  • 6m. Two missiles launched by Yemen’s Houthi rebels narrowly missed an oil and chemical tanker hailing from India, media reports said on Wednesday. The incident happened near the key Bab el-Mandeb Strait. An American warship also shot down a suspected Houthi drone flying in its direction during the incident, a US official told The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity.

Dec. 13, 2023: Kathua (J&K), Dec 13 (ANI): It is very difficult to do farming near the International Border in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kathua due to repeated ceasefire violations from Pakistan. Now, the Border Security Force is helping the farmers in cultivating their land by providing security and bulletproof tractors. They keep a strict vigil while the farmers do their work on their land. For the last 20 years, they have not been able to cultivate their land. But, now with the help of the Border Security Force, farmers have again started cultivating their land for the last 3 years. Farmers are happy as they can cultivate their land now. 

Dec. 13, 2023: Jaimini astrology: Exploring the ancient wisdom of vedic astrology. 1d. In India, Vedic astrology, or Jyotish, stands as an ancient practice, further divided into unique systems. Jaimini astrology, named after the sage Jaimini, is among the oldest and most distinct, rooted in the "Jaimini Sutras," foundational texts in Vedic astrology.

Dec. 13, 2023: Missile Attack Narrowly Misses Oil Tanker from India; US Ship Downs Drone. News18 English  • 1h. Two missiles launched by Yemen’s Houthi rebels narrowly missed an oil and chemical tanker hailing from India, media reports said on Wednesday. The incident happened near the key Bab el-Mandeb Strait.  An American warship also shot down a suspected Houthi drone flying in its direction during the incident, a US official told 

Dec. 13, 2023: US Has Made Great Progress in Bolstering Defence Ties with India, Says Pentagon. News18 English •4h. “In terms of the relationship between the US and India, you know, with obvious focus on the Department of Defence, I think it has been a very good year. I think we’ve made great progress in terms of further bolstering our relationship and cooperation,” Pentagon Press Secretary Pat Ryder told reporters during a press conference here.

Dec. 13, 2023: Boeing to deliver 7 aircraft/month to India. Arindam Majumder  • 1h. The airline has chalked out an aggressive expansion drive deploying 50 Boeing 737 Max by the end of 2024. The airline is aiming to corner a firm second place, behind market leader IndiGo, in the cut-throat Indian domestic market.

Dec. 13, 2023: Lok Sabha security breach: Video shows how MPs thrashed, overpowered intruder. TOI News Desk  •1h. A new video of the Parliament security breach shows how the members of Lok Sabha got together to overpower one of the two intruders who had jumped from the visitor's gallery. The video shows some of the MPs grabbing the hands of the intruder to stop him while some others hold him by his head. Many others gathered around the intruder and slapped and punched him. The two intruders were then taken out by the security personnel.

Dec. 14, 2023: Mazagon Dock submits bid to defence ministry to build 3 submarines for Navy. Manjeet Negi  •4h. The Defence Ministry has received bids from Mazagon Dockyard Limited (MDL) for the construction of three submarines for the Indian Navy, aimed at bolstering naval operations in the Indo-Pacific region. According to sources, MDL has submitted bids for the construction of these submarines as part of the "Make in India" initiative, based in Mumbai.

Dec. 14, 2023: Defence ministry approves Rs 2,800 crore rockets for Pinaka weapon system. 12h.In a major boost for the Indian Army, the defence ministry has approved a Rs 2,800 crore proposal for buying around 6,400 rockets for Pinaka multi-barrel rocket launcher systems. The defence ministry's Defence Acquisition Council's recent meeting had cleared the proposal for the acquisition of two types of these rockets, known as Area Denial Munition Type 2 and Type-3, 

Dec. 14, 2023: Telcos differ with govt on 6 GHz spectrum. 9h.India's telcos are alarmed at the Indian delegation's interventions regarding the 6 GHz spectrum band at the ongoing World Radiocommunications Conference (WRC), which they say are contrary to the originally agreed upon position. In a letter to telecom minister Ashwini Vaishnaw sent Wednesday, the telcos have said that it appears that discussions are being steered towards the band's designation for delicensed WiFi usage. 

Dec. 14, 2023: KOCHI: Fastest solar-electric boat sets sail for sustainable future in Kochi. 1h. Certified under IRS, the vessel can navigate through waves as high as 4m and can accommodate 12 passengers.  The maritime sector is cruising into a sustainable future with the launch of Barracuda, the nation’s fastest solar electric boat. The vessel, launched at the Navgathi Yard, Panavally in Alappuzha, on Wednesday, was built in collaboration with Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd and Navalt, an eco-marine tech company. To be named ‘Saur Shakthi,’ the vessel marks a transformative moment in the nation’s commitment to maritime progress through green energy and sustainability. 

Dec. 14, 2023: Taiwan says China tried to pay one of their soldiers $15 million to steal a US Chinook chopper for them. Kwan Wei Kevin Tan  •18h. China thought it could steal a US military chopper by bribing a Taiwanese pilot, per CTWant. The pilot was offered $15 million to steal and land the chopper on a Chinese aircraft carrier. A Taiwanese helicopter pilot was offered a fortune by China to steal a US military helicopter for them, according to a Taiwanese online magazine CTWant.

Dec. 14, 2023: China Grabbing Bhutan's Land? Satellite Images Show Chinese Houses Built On Neighbour's Territory. Times Now Digital  • 27m. China's massive construction project within the borders of neighbouring Bhutan -- a tiny Himalayan kingdom with which Beijing is trying to negotiate a major land deal. 

Dec. 14, 2023: Not every schooner made it home, sinking to the bottom of the beautiful briny sea and taking all sorts of untold treasure along with it. However, lost treasures aren’t just limited to old-fashioned boats and pirates. There are billions in Nazi gold lying in a lake in the Alps if legends are to be believed. 

Dec. 14, 2023: ‘Menstruation not a handicap': Smriti Irani opposes paid period leave for women. India Today News Desk  • 1h. Irani stated that menstruation is a natural part of life and shouldn't be treated as a handicap requiring special leave provisions.

 Fig. 16. 

Dec. 14, 2023:In Nilgiris, 4,800 Farmers Embrace Organic Agriculture; What It Means For Environment. News18 English  • 2h. 

Dec. 14, 2023: Like 22 atomic bombs: the asteroid that will hit the Earth is called Bennu. Stars Insider •Researchers have determined the precise date when an asteroid could potentially impact Earth, carrying with it a power equivalent to that of 22 atomic bombs. This celestial object, named Bennu, approaches our planet every six years. However, scientists believe that September 24, 2182, could be the date when there is a real risk of collision between Earth and the asteroid.

Dec. 14, 2023: Kerala launches India's first solar-electric boat in Alappuzha. 2h. The boat was launched at Navgathi Yard in Alappuzha on Wednesday in collaboration with Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd and Navalt. The boat is named after a fish. The boat has a top speed of 12 nautical miles and a range of seven hours on a single charge. The boat, measuring 14 meters in length and 4.4 meters in width, showcases a sustainable approach to maritime technology. It utilizes twin 50-kW electric motors, a marine-grade LFP battery, and a 6-kW solar power system.

Dec. 14, 2023: Why Washington Post, Intercept are openly pushing anti-India propaganda. Vimal Harsh •1h. 

Dec. 14, 2023:  Audi and ChargeZone inaugurate India’s first ultra-fast charging station with a 450 kW capacity. Sameer Fayaz Contractor  •2h. 

Dec. 14, 2023: S.Korea, Japan scramble jets as China, Russia warplanes enter Seoul's defence zone. South Korea scrambled fighter jets on Thursday when two Chinese and four Russian military planes entered its air defence zone, South Korea's military said. The aircraft entered the Korea Air Defense Identification Zone (KADIZ) off its east coast between 11:53 a.m. (0253 GMT) and 12:10 p.m. and then left the area, South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said in a statement. The planes did not violate South Korea's territorial airspace, the military said.

Dec. 14, 2023: Rishi Kanad was a pioneer expounder of realism and the founder of ‘Vaisheshik Darshan.’ He presented the three laws of motion in shlokas as the principles that govern motion. His seminal work, Vaisheshika Sutra dates back to at least 600 – 200 BCE. Nearly two thousand years before Newton presented his work! Thus, does Bharat intend to continue to teach its new generations the lie about Newton and His Three Laws?!!!

Dec. 14, 2023: Irish media has reported that a Russian submarine, positioned directly outside the entrance to Cork Harbour, was “chased off” by a British helicopter and warship because Ireland doesn’t have the ability to do so itself. Writing in the Irish Examiner, Sean O’Riordan reported that the submarine was “just outside the 12-mile limit, so it didn’t break any international laws, but military sources have indicated that such events around the Irish coast are becoming more common”.

Dec. 15, 2023: NEW DELHI:Indian warship to conduct exercise in Philippines. 54m. The ship reached Manila on December 12 and the exercise is aimed at bolstering maritime cooperation between India and Philippines, Indian Navy said.  Indian warship INS Kadmatt has docked in Philippines capital Manila, as part of the Navy’s ongoing long-range operational deployment programme. The ship reached Manila on December 12 and the exercise is aimed at bolstering maritime cooperation between India and Philippines.

Dec. 15, 2023: Government plans to upgrade Institute of Mathematics to university. Hemanta Pradhan • 10h. The science and technology department has recently conducted a meeting to discuss on a proposal to upgrade the Institute of Mathematics and Application (IMA) Bhubaneswar to a unitary university. Science and technology minister Ashok Chandra Panda told TOI that the state government has a plan for converting this institution into a university. “Before taking any such step, necessary infrastructure should be developed. Let the institute send their recommendations on this matter. We will discuss this after getting the recommendations.”

Dec. 15, 2023: Fast-track construction of check dam on Palar, demand Tirupattur farmers in TN. 1h. TIRUPATTUR: Farmers of Ambalur in Tirupattur district have appealed to the Tamil Government to expedite the long-pending demand for constructing a check dam across the Palar River between Ambalur and Ramanaickenpettai villages in Vaniyambadi. The check dam is necessary to hold back water and divert it through canals for irrigation, besides recharging the groundwater table, which has gone to unfathomable depths.

Dec. 15, 2023:  Assam government to introduce school textbooks in tribal languages. India Today NE • 20h. This initiative is set to commence with the upcoming school session and aims to provide textbooks in various tribal languages such as Mising, Deuri, Dimasa, Tiwa, and others. 

Dec. 15, 2023: Intel chief ready to go it alone on chip manufacturing Shivani Tiwari  • 1h. Intel Chief Executive Pat Gelsinger on Thursday said the company has no plans to spin out its contract chip manufacturing business. Gelsinger has moved Intel's manufacturing unit into what is now called Intel Foundry Services (IFS) that operates as a business within Intel. IFS will break out financials beginning in the second quarter of next year.

Dec. 15, 2023: Nokia’s Budget 4G Feature Phones Will Support YouTube Videos In India: Here’s How. S Aadeetya  •19h. Nokia is bringing cloud apps to its 4G feature phones that let you use apps like YouTube Shorts and BBC News. You must be wondering how cloud apps work on a feature phone, and that's a good question to ask. Nokia says it is adding some new features to the Cloud platform that is already present on the Nokia 110 4G and Nokia 106 4G phones. These apps can be accessed once you login to the cloud app using your Google ID. Those who are not aware, the Nokia feature phones already have the power to make UPI payments using the UPI 123PAY feature built into these devices. Nokia also claims the feature phones can give you weather updates, news and cricket scores. Using 4G mobile data allows these feature phones to watch YouTube Shorts videos, play games like 2048 Game and Tetris among others. Nokia 106 4G gets a 1.8-inch QVGA display which might not sound big enough to stream videos but we have seen other phones support these features. It runs on the System 30+ OS and you have support for FM Radio, Bluetooth and microUSB port for charging. It packs a 1,450mAh battery. The Nokia 110 4G is available for Rs 2,399 while the Nokia 106 4G comes for Rs 2,199 in the market.

Dec. 15, 2023: Vespa Wins Decade-Long Legal Battle Against Chinese Manufacturer. Enrico Punsalang  • 2h. Today’s Vespas aren’t so much about getting around in no-frills practicality, but instead, making a statement and turning heads wherever they are.

Dec. 15, 2023: This NGO-led Nursery In Ongole Sells Plants At Nominal Rates For A Greener Tomorrow. News18 English  •1d. The NGO named Harita Seva Samiti has opened a plant nursery inside Chivukula Sri Rama Sarma College, Ongole. They established the nursery 15 years ago and have been going strong ever since. The experts monitoring the nursery said that everyone needs to plant trees to provide a pollution-free environment for future generations. The professors in the college also hailed the initiative. During the speeches at the event, they also promoted awareness about the need to plant more trees to increase the oxygen, which has been depleting over the years due to climate change.

  

Dec. 15, 2023: Lockheed Martin delivers sixth MH60 Romeo helicopter to Indian Navy. 2h. “Upon Indian shores, a hero arrives, Elevating maritime security to greater heights, Another #Romeo joins the Indian Navy's might, Guarding land and water, day and night!,” Lockheed Martin India said in a post on X. 

Dec. 15, 2023: MDL bags $40 million order from Denmark. Huma Siddiqui •  1h. Mumbai-based Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) a defence PSU, primarily engaged in the construction of warships and submarines for the Indian Navy on Friday (Dec 15, 2023) signed a shipbuilding contract for the construction and delivery of three 7500 DWT Multi-Purpose Vessels for a European Client. 

                                                      Fig. 17.

                                                                     Fig. 18.
Dec. 16, 2023: Three abandoned temples of Vijayanagara era found near Gorantla in Andhra Pradesh. GORANTLA (SRI SATHYA SAI DISTRICT). These temples, now in dilapidated condition, were the target of treasure hunters for nearly three centuries and people have shunned the structures because they believe that those might be sheltering evil spirits, says journalist-turned-historian Mylaram Narayanaswamy.

Fig. 19.

The discovery of the roots may sometimes lead to the discovery of the truth! Such is the case with Bharat!! Long before Isaac Newton presented his three laws of motion in the 17th century, Rishi Kanada had already formulated them in the shlokas.

The Three Laws of Motion by Rishi Kanada’s Vaisheshika Sutra

                       PC Books Fact

The Vaisheshika Sutra or Kanda Sutra was a compilation of many works of the Sanatani sage Rishi Kanada. The sage was also sometimes referred to as Rishi Kashyapa. The sutra provides a profound insight into the nature of motion and force. It also houses the knowledge of atoms, gravity, and other important studies of the physical world! 

First Law of Motion:

Isaac Newton’s Presentation: An object at rest remains at rest, and an object in motion remains in motion at a constant speed and in a straight line unless acted on by an unbalanced force.

KANADA SUTRA: वेगः निमित्तववशेषात किमणो जायते|

Meaning: A change in motion is caused by an force.

Thus, it is clear that this sutra is mirrored by Newton in his first law!

Second Law of Motion:

Isaac Newton’s Presentation: The acceleration of an object depends on the mass of the object and the amount of force applied.

KANADA SUTRA: वेगः निमित्तापेऺात किमणो जायते नियतदिक क्रियाप्रबन्धहेतु|

Meaning: An impressed force can cause a proportional change in Motion in the direction of the force.

Thus, it clearly presents the principle that was stated by Newton’s second law of motion. The Sutra establishes the relationship between force and motion. It also emphasizes that the acceleration of an object is directly proportional to the force applied. 

Third Law of Motion:

Isaac Newton’s Presentation: Whenever one object exerts a force on another object, the second object exerts an equal and opposite on the first.

KANADA SUTRA: वेगः संयोगववशेषववरोधी|

Meaning: Any motion is a sum of the action and reaction of forces.

This sutra’s depth is shallowly reflected in Newton’s third law! It embodies that every motion is the sum total of opposing forces. Thus, every action will cause an equal and opposite reaction that will affect the motion of the object.  

Dec. 16, 2023:Aurora-like 'Steve' phenomenon and glowing 'picket fences' point to unknown exotic physics. Samantha Mathewson. Some purple and white streaks called "STEVE" (Strong Thermal Emission Velocity Enhancement) and a corresponding on-off green glow that resembles a picket fence with jagged points are actually produced by different physical processes making them distinct from auroras. 

Dec. 16, 2023:It wants Indian corporates to take advantage of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) to strike deals and establish themselves in the fastest growing economy in Europe.Alexey Valkov, Deputy Director of the Roscongress Foundation and Director of SPIEF, told businessline that the Russian economy has several niche areas that have been left vacant by European and American companies that had to leave due to pressure from their governments. 

Dec. 16, 2023: GreekReporter.com. Ancient GreeceThe Ancient Greek Sovereign Queen of India. The Ancient Greek Sovereign Queen of India. By Arunansh Β. Goswami. December 3, 2023. FACEBOOK. TWITTER. WHATSAPP. Coin of ancient Greek Queen of India, Agathoclea Theotropus. Image Credits: CNG Coins via Wikipedia, CC-BY-SA-3.0. An ancient Greek queen named Agathoclea Theotropus, who compared herself to the goddess Athena, and became the ruler of Punjab, India, set the precedence for female sovereigns in Ancient and Medieval India. She was the wife of the second greatest Buddhist emperor in India, the Greek King of India Menander (Milind) I Soter. Unlike kings, there have been only very few queens throughout world history who have ruled as sovereigns and also issued their very own currency. This has been because of the substantially patriarchal views of human societies, with matriarchy being rather rare in most parts of the world. Ancient Indian society had its own achievements and deficits when it came to empowerment of women, especially when analyzed from various viewpoints. However, this did not make it a non-patriarchal society by any means. Strato I Soter with the Divine Agathoclea. Image Credits: CNG Coins via Wikipedia, CC-BY-SA-3.0. Much like Ancient Greek society, earlier Indian society was biased towards men. Despite extreme social constraints on women in classical antiquity in Greece and India, however, there were also a number of powerful female goddesses. These included Athena, Artemis Aphrodite, Hera, Hestia, and Hecate in Greece. Durga, Chandi, Shakti, Saraswati, Lakshmi, Parvati, and Kali were among such goddesses in India. After the death of Alexander the Great, several Greek queens, including Olympias, Adea Eurydice, and Cratesipolis, ruled portions of Alexander’s former empire in an unprecedented situation. This was in part due to outside influences which had infiltrated the Macedonian kingdom. Another reason for this was that Macedonian soldiers were, in fact, willing to follow women’s orders. Grecian Delight supports Greece. One of these women was Basilissa Theotropos Agathoclea, an Indo-Greek sovereign and mother of Maharaja Tratarasa Dhramikasa/Stratasa, meaning King Strato, the savior and the just. Sovereign queens of Ancient India. Coins of Queen Didda (979 – 1003 AD). The Queen is depicted sitting cross legged on one side and standing on the other. Coins of Queen Didda (979 – 1003 AD). The Queen is depicted sitting cross-legged on one side, while she is standing on the other. Image Credits: Old Coins India via Wikipedia CC BY-SA 4.0. It cannot be denied that sovereign queens in the land of India were extremely rare to come by. The first queen in the area to rule as a sovereign and issue her own currency was the Greek Queen Agathoclea of Punjab. After her, few other Indian queens ruled as sovereigns or issued their own coins. Queen Naganika, wife of King Satakarni of the Satavahana Dynasty, was another rare example after Agathoclea. Naganika is one of the earliest persons in Indian history whose name has been associated with King Satakarni on the coins. During the rule of Bhaumakaras of Toshali and Utkala in the 8th to 10th century A.D., six queens—among these Tribhuvana Mahadevi, Prthvi Mahadevi, Gouri Mahadevi, Dandi Mahadevi, and Dharma Mahadevi—occupied the throne. The last four queens ruled successively. Somala Devi, queen of the Chahamana Dynasty of Sakambhari, issued coins in her name. She ruled in the 13th century A.D. On her coins were either a bull or a horseman on one side and the queen herself on horseback on the obverse with a reference to the “Sri Somala Devi” legend in Nagari script. Didda, the Hindu queen in Kashmir had issued coins in her name as well. She belonged to the Vappadava Dynasty, which reigned from 1172 to 1338 A.D. During the reign of Mughal Emperor Jahangir, the real power was exercised by his queen, Nurjahan. She proclaimed herself de facto authority through the coins that were issued in the cities of Agra, Ahmedabad, Akbarnagar, Allhabad, Kashmir, Lahore, Patna, and Surat. Idealized Portrait of the Mughal Empress Nur Jahan (1577-1645)?, circa 1725-1750, wife of Jahangir, Kishangarh.  Idealized Portrait of the Mughal Empress Nur Jahan (1577-1645)?, circa 1725 to 1750, wife of Jahangir, Kishangarh. Image Credits: Los Angeles County Museum of Art via Wikimedia commons. The coins also contained a couplet, best translated as: “By order of Shah Jahangir, [the] gold attained a hundred beauties when the name Nurjahan Badshah Begum was placed on it.” These coins remained in circulation until the end of Jahangir’s reign on November 6, 1627 A.D.  Queen Agathoclea’s Life and Legacy. Maharaja Menander I Soter, Indo-Greek King in Gujarat. The four sons of King Demetrius were Euthydemus, Demetrius II, Pantaleon, and Agathocles. Yet, Demetrius likely also had a daughter, who later became the Indo-Greek Buddhist King Menander’s wife, namely Queen Agathoclea. From Agathoclea’s use of Euthydemus’ coin of Heracles seated on a rock, it is believed that she must have been King Demetrius’ daughter. Yet, other experts say that, based on the dates, she could have only been his granddaughter. Assuming that Agathoclea was Demetrius’ daughter rather than that of Apollodotus, she may have married Menander, her father’s general, right after Demetrius’ death and his own return around the year 166 from modern Patna in the Bihar state of India. Another theory is that she did not marry Menander until after the death of Apollodotus made Menander the sole repository of power in India and sole effective support of the Euthydemid cause. This would have been around the year 161 at the latest. A later time than 166 AD seems possible yet unlikely. Upon his death, Agathoclea became regent for her eldest son, Strato I. He was still a minor at the time but was expected to take over power at the age of eighteen. Coin of Indo-Greek Queen Agathocleia of India. Agathoclea’s first coins as regent bore solely her own portrait. Strato was named only in the Kharoshthi legend. The second series of coins shows jugate busts of herself and Strato. Lastly came Strato’s coinage depicting him alone. As per William Woodthorpe Tarn, a British historian of antiquity who wrote profusely on the Hellenistic world, Agathoclea was between twenty-four to thirty-four years of age when she married King Menander. It was very possible she was just under thirty. There is evidence that Greek princesses did not marry prior to the age of thirty, with some marrying even later. For instance, Ptolemais and Berenice I come to mind, and Cleopatra VII was thirty-three when she married Anthony. As far as Agathoclea is concerned, it may well have been the case that, unlike her sisters in the West, there was no suitable partner for her to marry. It is generally safe to assume that a princess would not marry a commoner. A Roman copy of a Greek statue of goddess Athena. Agathoclea must have been an ambitious woman. She described herself as “God-like” (Greek: Theotropos)—a title which was used by no other Greek ruler—on her coins and even compared herself to goddess Athena. She was indeed one of the earliest cases of women to have ruled a Hellenistic kingdom following the reign of Alexander the Great. More female rulers would follow, however, including Cleopatra Thea of the Ptolemaic line, who would rule for the remainder of the Seleucid Empire. Queen Agathoclea issued gold, silver, copper, and bronze coins during her reign. Most of her coins were jointly issued with her son, Strato I. Earlier on, his portrait was not depicted, yet he was shown standing in arms and holding the spear. Later on, the conjoined busts of both Agathocleia and Strato I were engraved on coins. Agathoclea was the first of several Indo-Greek rulers to make a gesture of benediction with her right hand. This was identical to the Buddhist vitarka mudra, a symbolic, ritualistic hand gesture used in yoga, Buddhism, and Hinduism. On her coins, Strato I is shown making the sign as well. This sign is visible on coins of Amyntas, Nicias, Peucolaus, Hermaeus, Hippostratus, and Menander II. A statue depicting Buddha performing the vitarka mudra. A statue depicting Buddha performing the vitarka mudra. Its use in Indo-Greek coinage may be the consequence of the initiation of Agathoclea’s defunct husband, Menander I, to Buddhism, as described in the Milinda Panha. Strato I was also the first Indo-Greek king with Zoilos I, another immediate successor to Menander, to be referred to as “follower of the Dharma” on his coins. Equality. In this age of rising social movements in support of human rights for all individuals, the study of early pioneers for woman empowerment is essential. Hence, the study of Queen Agathoclea’s life and legacy is quite valuable. In India, she showed the way for future Indian women leaders. Today, Indian women are in highly-esteemed positions of power in various industries and even throughout the world. Indra Nooyi, the former CEO of PepsiCo, is one such example while Roshni Nadar Malhotra is the chairperson of HCL Technologies. Other female leaders include: Dr. Soumya Swaminathan, the chief scientist of WHO; Leena Nair, CEO of Chanel; Madhabi Puri Buch, the chairperson of the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI); and Gita Gopinath, the director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Furthermore, Sonia Syngal is the CEO of Gap Inc while the Vimeo CEO is Anjali Sud, and Vertex Pharmaceuticals is led by CEO Reshma Kewalramani. These are but a handful of the many Indian women leaders of our time. It should not be dismissed that India, the largest democracy in the world, has also had a female head of government, namely former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. The empowerment of women in today’s India has been inspired by numerous female historical figures throughout Indian history, including the Indo-Greek Queen Agathoclea. 

Dec. 16, 2023:The advance, detailed in a paper published recently in the journal Physica Scripta, could enable more efficient compact fusion reactors that are easier to repair and maintain. "The fusion community is urgently looking for new manufacturing approaches to economically produce large plasma-facing components in fusion reactors," says Mykola Ialovega, a postdoctoral researcher in nuclear engineering and engineering physics at UW–Madison and lead author on the paper. "Our technology shows considerable improvements over current approaches. With this research, we are the first to demonstrate the benefits of using cold spray coating technology for fusion applications." The researchers used a cold spray process to deposit a coating of tantalum, a metal that can withstand high temperatures, on stainless steel. They tested their cold spray tantalum coating in the extreme conditions relevant to a fusion reactor and found that it performed very well. Importantly, they discovered the material is exceptionally good at trapping hydrogen particles, which is beneficial for compact fusion devices.  "We discovered that the cold spray tantalum coating absorbs much more hydrogen than bulk tantalum because of the unique microstructure of the coating," says Kumar Sridharan, a professor of nuclear engineering and engineering physics and materials science and engineering. Over the last decade, Sridharan's research group has introduced cold spray technology to the nuclear energy community by implementing it for multiple applications related to fission reactors. 

Dec. 16, 2023:TIRUPATI: In a significant move to promote and advance the ancient science of Ayurveda, the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) has announced plans to establish an Ayurvedic University in Tirupati. This initiative aims to provide students, researchers, and experts with world-class infrastructure and resources to pursue their passion for Ayurveda.  Sada Bhargavi, TTD's Joint Executive Officer for Health and Education, unveiled the university plans during the inauguration of a continuing medical education (CME) programme in Tirupati.The ongoing CME program, organized under the Ayush ministry, features 12 renowned Ayurvedic experts conducting sessions for participants from various states. Bhargavi encouraged ayurvedic practitioners to combine traditional knowledge with modern technology and research to establish India as a global leader in the healthcare sector. She emphasised the vast medical wisdom contained in the Vedas and its potential to benefit society when integrated with contemporary research. The proposed university will provide top-notch facilities and resources to enhance the learning experience for students, support research endeavors, and empower experts to contribute to the advancement of Ayurveda.

Dec. 16, 2023: DRDO successfully conducts trial of India-made high-speed UAV. Express Web Desk • 6h.Defence Minister Rajnath Singh appreciated the DRDO, Armed Forces and the Industry for the successful flight trial of the system, according to a press release. Singh stated that the successful development of such critical technologies indigenously will further strengthen the Armed Forces. 

Dec. 16, 2023: Research reveal disturbing changes in waters surrounding Bermuda. Srishti Sisodia • 19h.Climate change is real and it has been leaving a massive impact on oceans and marine life. Global warming impacts ocean circulation, which means a decrease in oxygen levels, changes in nutrient supply and salinification, and ocean acidification. Now, scientists have observed troubling changes in the waters surrounding Bermuda. 

Dec. 16, 2023: He reminded the Rajya Sabha this week that “Pakistan Occupied Kashmir is ours and no one can snatch it from us...” In almost the same breath he said that full statehood to Jammu and Kashmir would come at an appropriate time. Let us consider the second statement first. Ever since the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019, four years ago, the state is nowhere near seeing an election, even though official noises to that effect have been heard intermittently. If in four years Delhi has been unable to conduct elections, how long do you think it will take for it to take back all of Pakistan Occupied Kashmir? Here is the unsaid part: Pakistan has gifted more than 5000 sq km of the area we consider our Jammu and Kashmir to the Chinese. They have signed agreements in 1963. The Chinese have been merrily building roads and infrastructure in those very areas, via their Belt and Road Initiative. All we have done is wring our hands helplessly, not much else.

Dec. 16, 2023: Shah's statement comes a day after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said that his decision to make allegations in public about a possible Indian government link and the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar was intended to “put a chill” on them from repeating a similar action.

Dec. 16, 2023: IIT Kanpur receives $200,000 donation from alumnus Ashish Karandikar, three endowed programs to be established. HT Education Desk, New Delhi • 1d. Three endowed programs to foster innovation, excellence, and academic growth within the Electrical Engineering department. 

Dec. 16, 2023: Odisha suffered about Rs 596 cr flood damage per year from 2017-21. 1d. 

Dec. 16, 2023: In a move to boost the tourism and employment rate in Uttar Pradesh, the state government has formed the Inland Water Authority to give a kickstart to waterway services in rivers like Saryu, Rapti, Yamuna, and Ganga. It has been stated in an official release the move will not just promote cruise services, but also help the state in many ways. It will also generate employment on a large scale for the public. 

Dec. 16, 2023:  Japan and Malaysia sign $2.8 mln maritime security assistance deal. Ayndrila Banerjee • 1h. Japan will provide equipment such as rescue boats and supplies under the official security assistance deal, signed by the two countries’ foreign ministers on the sidelines of a Tokyo summit marking 50 years of ties between Japan and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

Dec. 16, 2023: After 67 Years In Central India, IIT-Indore Hosts DAE Symposium On Nuclear Physics. 19h. the 67th DAE Symposium on Nuclear Physics-2023 from 9 to 13 December, with a pre-symposium orientation programme on the theme “Nuclear Shell Model”. “These symposia aim to provide a scientific forum for the nuclear physics community to present their research work and to interact with the researchers, which helps in furthering the subject boundaries. The scientific deliberations of the symposium consist of plenary talks, oral/poster presentations of contributory papers, and theses presentations.” 

                 Fig, 20, Telangana: Nirmal’s integrated farming oasis blooms on one acre. 

Fig. 21. Cane Juice for Ethanol.

                                    

                                                              Fig. 22. 

COIMBATORE: Raman Soundararajan, who hails from Tiruvannamalai, sought funds from his friends and purchased 100 solar lamps, of which the remaining will be donated to the neighbouring tribal hamlet. To brighten the lives of tribals of Pattisalai hamlet in Coimbatore’s Anaikatti Hills, a 65-year-old scientist has donated solar lamps to 31 houses. Raman Soundararajan, who hails from Tiruvannamalai, sought funds from his friends and purchased 100 solar lamps, of which the remaining will be donated to the neighbouring tribal hamlet.

Dec. 17, 2023: Rare electronic states appear in five-layer graphene, 13 Dec 2023 Isabelle Dumé. This state, which only appears when five layers of graphene are stacked together, could be exploited to design ultralow power, high-capacity and high-speed data storage systems for classical and quantum computing.

Dec. 17, 2023: In a remarkable feat, the DRDA officials also achieved a Guinness World Record by digging over 5,000 water harvesting pits in a single day. Additionally, their efforts extended to Poniki Vanam plantation and Mahua oil production by tribal SHGs, adding yet another dimension to their initiatives.

Dec. 17, 2023:Scientist donates solar lamp to 31 Anaikatti tribal families. 9h. 

Dec. 17, 2023:Australia asks thousands of people to move to upper grounds amid major floods. Abhishek Awasthi • 6h. Major flooding, according to Queensland authorities, was occurring in some suburbs of Cairns, a popular tourist destination with 170,000 residents that is located 1,700 kilometers (1,060 miles) north of Brisbane, the state capital.

Dec. 17, 2023:Bhutan King announces mega Gelephu city project along Indo-Bhutan border. India Today NE • 8h. The SAR, positioned as an economic hub for South Asia, will leverage the connectivity between South Asia and South East Asia.

Dec. 17, 2023: Missile destroyer 'Imphal' to be commissioned into Indian Navy on December 26. 3h. The third Visakhapatnam-class guided-missile destroyer, Imphal, is set to be commissioned into the Indian Navy on December 26 in Mumbai. Ranked among the largest missile destroyers ever made, it is constructed by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) using indegenous DMR 249A steel.

Dec. 17, 2023:Father and daughter stumble upon century-old shipwreck while fishing in lake Michigan. TOI World Desk • 17h.“I was surprised I had never seen it before because it’s in an area where people regularly go,” said Wollak, according to WLUK. As they explored the waters, Tim noticed what appeared to be a shipwreck, a surprising find considering the frequented area. Prompted by their discovery, Tim initiated research to identify the ship. No records had previously marked this particular wreck, according to the Wisconsin Historical Society's Facebook post.

Dec. 17, 2023: Biggest solar flare in 6 years temporarily disrupts radio signals on Earth. Associated Press • 1d. The sun spit out the huge flare along with a massive radio burst on Thursday, causing two hours of radio interference in parts of the US and other sunlit parts of the world. Scientists at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said it was the biggest flare since 2017, and the radio burst was extensive,

Fig. 23.  

                                                               Fig. 24.

                                                               Fig. 25.
కశ్మీర్‌ను తలపించే అందాలు మన హైదరబాద్‌లోనే ఉన్నాయి. అయితే మరి ఇంకెందుకు ఆలస్యం కొండాపూర్‌లోని మంచు సోయగంతో అల్లుకున్న "స్నో కింగ్‌డమ్" అతిశీతలమైన మాయాజాలాన్ని, అతి తక్కువ బడ్జెట్‌తో మీరు థ్రిల్‌ చేసేయండి. భారతదేశంలోని అతిపెద్ద స్నో థీమ్ ఇండోర్ వినోద కేంద్రం చెన్నై, ముంబై నగరాలతో పాటు "శరత్ సిటీ క్యాపిటల్ మాల్, కొండాపూర్‌లో అలరిస్తోంది.

Fig. 26.

Introducing Regula 5006: A Cutting-Edge Portable Spectrometer-Microscope. The Regula 5006 represents a significant advancement in the field of portable spectroscopic and microscopic analysis. This innovative device combines the functionality of a spectrometer and a microscope, providing a comprehensive solution for on-the-spot material analysis. It is designed for a wide range of applications, from forensic science to quality control in manufacturing. The Regula 5006 stands out for its portability, ease of use, and the high precision of its measurements.

Fig. 27.

Dec. 18, 2023: How Automatic Target Tracker & Digital Ballistic Computer will give Army’s T-90 tanks the edge. Smruti Deshpande • 6h. 

Dec. 18, 2023: The Russian-made T-90 and T-72 tanks form the backbone of the Indian Army’s armoured capabilities. The Army as of today operates up to 1,200 T-90 tanks, while around 475 more are in the making, a highly-placed source in the defence establishment told ThePrint. While the 1,200 existing tanks will be upgraded,

Dec. 18, 2023: Earthquake of magnitude 5.5 in Ladakh's Kargil, tremors felt in North India. India Today Web Desk • 1h.

Dec. 18, 2023: Cyclone-scarred islands see healthy harvest, hope after years. Sudipto Das • 14h. Bay of Bengal - the islands of Mousuni and Ghoramara - have seen their first full paddy crop this season after several years of being battered by cyclones.

Dec. 18, 2023: Watch this space: Aliens and ocean worlds and speaking to whales. Sethu Pradeep • 1d.This week was big in the search for aliens. A NASA study looking for life beyond the solar system has discovered 17 exoplanets that could have oceans of liquid water beneath their icy shells. Much closer, in our solar system, the space agency found the presence of a key ingredient of life and powerful energy sources that can trigger it. We also spoke to humpback whales. 

 

Fig. 28.

People from the Indian American diaspora pose for a picture as they hold a unity rally ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's historic visit to the United States, in Washington on Monday.

Dec. 19, 2023: Rajasthan/alcoholic-father-poverty-dropping-school-battles-rajasthan-girl-waged-to-become-sarpanch-at-23, and now is an inspiration and facilitator to many. She is determined to ensure girls in her area do not have to wage these fights to get an education. 

Dec. 19, 2023: 15 earthquakes in last 24 hours, most in Kashmir, Ladakh: Data. Statesman News Service • 3h. At least 15 earthquakes of small to medium intensity have struck India in the last 24 hours. Most of these earthquakes occurred in Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh. A 5.1 magnitude earthquake at Padam in Kargil, at a depth of 6.2 miles, on December 18 was the strongest of these jolts.

Dec. 19, 2023: Telescope picks up 35 mysteriously repeating signals coming from deep space. India Today Science Desk • 5h.  Telescope picks up 35 mysteriously repeating signals coming from deep space. Scientists from the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI) Institute are surprised at mysterious signals that have been picked up by telescopes coming from the outer edge of the cosmos. Known as Fast Radio Bursts (FRBs), the team focussed on the repeating FRB 20220912A that has provided new insights into the nature of these elusive space signals.

Dec. 19, 2023: The Bermuda Triangle is a fascinating region of the earth that has been the subject of numerous allegations and conspiracy theories in recent years. One diver on the Triangle responded to "paranormal" accusations by searching thousands of shipwrecks 

Dec. 19, 2023: Indian defence triumph: Bharat Dynamics secures major deal from Armenia amidst global achievements, say sources. Sandeep Singh • 11h. Zee Business learned from reliable sources that Armenia has acquired the Akash Air Defence System and 15 AAD Systems from BDL, with the transaction estimated to be valued between Rs 5,000 crore and Rs 6,000 crore.

Dec. 19, 2023: Woman's speech impresses PM Modi, he asks 'will you contest elections'. India Today News Desk • 9h.Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday offered a woman beneficiary of a government scheme a chance to contest election, saying he was impressed by her speech. PM Modi was interacting with beneficiaries of various government schemes under the Vikas Bharat Sankalp Yatra in the Barki village of Varanasi's Sewapuri development block.

Dec. 19, 2023:India’s Akash Missile System achieves unprecedented success in Astrashakti Military Exercise. FE Online • 21h. India showcased the formidable capabilities of its Akash surface-to-air missile system during the Astrashakti military exercise conducted by the Indian Air Force (IAF) on December 12. According to the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), India has become the first country globally to engage four aerial targets simultaneously at a range of 25 kilometers.

Dec. 19, 2023: People from the Indian American diaspora pose for a picture as they hold a unity rally ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's historic visit to the United States, in Washington on Monday.

Dec. 19, 2023: Pravina, a resident of Sakdara village in Pali district, fought countless battles to become sarpanch of seven villages at the age of just 23, and now is an inspiration and facilitator to many. 

Dec. 19, 2023: Surat Diamond Merchant Makes Necklace On Ram Temple Theme Using 5000 American Diamonds. Times Now Digital • 10h. The necklace has been made using 5000 American diamonds and 2 kg silver. A total of 40 artisans completed the design in 35 days. The video of the necklace is going viral on social media. 

Dec. 19, 2023: India set to man its Arctic base around the year, becoming only the fourth country to do so: Here’s why. Anjali Marar • 19h.However, starting this week, India will have around-the-year manning of the Arctic with the launch of the first-ever winter expedition in this region. With this, India’s Himadri will be only the fourth research station in the Arctic to be manned around the year.

Dec. 19, 2023: Indian Army to boost T-90 tanks with Automatic Target Tracker, Digital Ballistic Computer.Ajeyo Basu • 14h. 

Dec. 19, 2023: 8 Navy Officers Detained in Qatar: Today, on the occasion of Qatar's National Day, Foreign Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar congratulated the Prime Minister and the Foreign Minister. However, till now there has been no news of any apology in the case of 8 Indians. Qatar's Emir grants amnesty to prisoners on National Day.  

Dec. 19, 2023: Watch PM Modi engaging in a heart-to-heart conversation with 'Lakhpati Didi' Chanda Devi. Gain exclusive insights into this genuine exchange, where personal anecdotes and shared experiences unfold, offering a unique perspective on the prime minister's connect with the people. 

Dec. 20, 2023: 250 and counting... Tata Boeing Aerospace clocks milestone in AH-64 Apache attack helicopter fuselage delivery. 4h. 

Dec. 20, 2023: PM Modi used this AI tool to speak in Tamil in his latest speech; here's how he did it. Danny D'Cruze • 7h. He used Bhashini, an AI-based translation tool, during a speech at the cultural festival Kashi Tamil Sangamam in Varanasi. 

Dec. 20, 2023: Jammu (J&K), Dec 19 (ANI): IGP of Jammu Zone Anand Jain addressed a news conference in Jammu on December 19 to discuss the infiltration in the valley and how locals are assisting illegal invaders. While addressing the media, he stated that 10 FIRs have been lodged and searches have been performed in over 30 places. He also said that while taking actions on the basis of the intel received more than 40 people have been detained.In addition, he stated that various papers, including a passbook, revenue records, and utility bills, had been retrieved in addition to the SIM cards. “10 FIRs have been lodged and searches have been performed in over 30 places. While taking actions on the basis of the intel received more than 40 people have been detained. Various papers, including a passbook, revenue records, and utility bills, had been retrieved in addition to the SIM cards,” 

Dec. 20, 2023: Several nations, including Brazil, showing interest in buying India's Akash Missile system. 1h. Dec. 20 -- Several nations, including those from South America, the Middle East and Africa, are showing interest in the acquisition of the indigenous Akash Missile system. Defence sources told India Today the Akash missile system has generated a lot of interest among countries in the Middle East, South American nations including Brazil, Egypt from Africa and other friendly countries. 

Dec. 20, 2023: Adding to that, is this vendor selling a filling veg thali. His claim to fame? Offering the thali for the astonishingly low price of just Rs 5. Shared on X, the thali includes soya chaap, matar paneer, all served alongside rotis, a salad, and palate-cleansing mouth freshener. 

Dec. 20, 2023: Trai to look at spectrum pricing for satellite-based communication companies. Pankaj Doval • 17h.With satellite-based communication companies set to get spectrum administratively, instead of through auctions, after the move was recommended in the Telecommunications Bill 2023, the government is now planning to ask regulator Trai to work out pricing and other modalities before allotting the airwaves. 

Dec. 20, 2023: Will magnetic levitation trains in Berlin soon become reality? Zeleb.es . In any case, this is what the CDU, the conservative party in power in the German capital, has announced.

Dec. 21, 2023:Raimati Ghiuria is often called the "Queen of Millets" and rightly so. She has not only grown and preserved 30 varieties of rare millets but has also trained hundreds of women in cultivating these nutritious grains. The recent G20 Summit, attended by delegates from countries like Australia, China, Italy, and the European Union, included an exceptional guest—Raimati Ghiuria from the simple village of Koraput in Odisha, India. 

Dec. 21, 2023: At least 15 cultivation sites were identified in Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Mizoram and Sikkim following individual land surveys meticulously assessing the related parameters specific to saffron cultivation.

Dec. 21, 2023: Interstellar Technologies, a Japanese space startup, has successfully conducted a vital test of its Cosmos engine at the Hokkaido Spaceport for the Zero rocket. This innovative rocket utilises methane gas derived from cow dung as its fuel, representing a noteworthy advancement in the quest to create the world's inaugural orbital rocket powered by this abundant and sustainable resource. The static fire test successfully ignited the engine for 10 seconds, generating a powerful blue flame. This achievement follows the European Space Agency's own development of a cow dung-fueled rocket engine, but Interstellar Technologies is the first private company to do so.

Dec. 21, 2023: I recently wrote two articles showing how special relativity applied to Coulomb's inverse square law can be used to derive all of Maxwell's equations and electrodynamics. It is a most beautiful introduction to the beginning theoretical physicist of the power of what Eugene Wigner famously called, "The Unreasonable Effectiveness of Mathematics in the Natural Sciences". That mathematics could offer such intimate insight into the soul of Nature Herself was a lifelong source of wonder and sense of beauty to the gentle and thoughtful Eugene Wigner, one of the twentieth century's great physicists.

Dec. 21, 2023: After Armenia order, Philippines, Brazil, Egypt showing interest in Akash air defence missile system.

Dec. 21, 2023: చింతపల్లి, డిసెంబరు 16: ఆంధ్ర కశ్మీర్‌ లంబసింగికి పర్యాటకుల తాకిడి భారీగా పెరిగింది. వాతావరణం అనుకూలంగా ఉండడంతో లంబసింగి, చెరువులవేనం మంచు అందాలను వీక్షించేందుకు పర్యాటకులు క్యూ కడుతున్నారు. శనివారం భారీ సంఖ్యలో పర్యాటకులు తరలి వచ్చారు. ఉదయం నుంచి సాయంత్రం వరకు లంబసింగి, చెరువులవేనం, తాజంగి జలాశయం పర్యాటకులతో కిటకిటలాడాయి. చెరువులవేనంలో మంచు సోయగాలను వీక్షించేందుకు పర్యాటకులు ఉదయం ఐదు గంటలకే చేరుకున్నారు. వ్యూపాయింట్‌ వద్ద ఎదురుగా ఆవిష్కృతమైన మంచు మేఘాలను ఆస్వాదిస్తూ పర్యాటకులు ఎంజాయ్‌ చేశారు. చెరువులవేనం మంచు అందాలను కెమెరాలో బంధించేందుకు పర్యాటకులు పోటీపడ్డారు.

Dec. 22, 2023:Hope swells as rivers come back to life. BHARAT DOGRA • 8h. The results may not be as dramatic as an entire extinct river suddenly re-appearing, but nevertheless such efforts, when taken up with caution and commitment, can be successful in contributing much to water conservation and helping people to meet water needs in times of scarcity.

Dec. 22, 2023:Earth is spinning faster than usual and this is how it affects us. Zeleb.es  • now. In the 1960’s, scientists began measuring the planet’s rotation with high-precision atomic clocks. And on June 29, 2022 the Earth racked up an unusual record: its shortest day since then, rotating 1.59 milliseconds less than 24 hours per International Earth Rotation.

 

Dec. 22, 2023:BJP Tears Into Congress As Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah Uses Luxury Jet To Seek Drought Aid. Ritesh K Srivastava • 2h. In a blistering attack on the Congress party, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has strongly criticised Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and state minister Zameer Ahmed Khan for travelling in a private luxury jet while their party spearheads a crowdfunding campaign to aid drought relief in the state.

Dec. 22, 2023:Odisha government expands Karuna Silk project to seven more districts. 1d. BHUBANESWAR: From 700 castor-based Eri silk farming in five districts, the state government has expanded its ‘Karuna Silk’ (vegan or cruelty-free silk) project to 2,000 silk farmers this year. The project is now being taken up in 12 districts. The project, a gentle, non-violent method of making silk from Eri silkworms, was piloted in October last year in five districts - Keonjhar, Athagarh, Khurda, Nayagarh and Sundargarh. 

 

Dec. 22, 2023:We will prove Prime Meridian runs through Ujjain, and change world time: Shruti Tomar, Bhopal • 17h. The Madhya Pradesh government will work to shift the Prime Meridian, the line of longitude that is used as the global reference for time, from Greenwich in England to Ujjain, the state’s newly minted chief minister Mohan Yadav said on Thursday in the course of a speech where he railed against rampant “westernisation”. 

Dec. 22, 2023: First discovered in 2007, these unusual bursts of radio waves come from far away, sometimes at regular intervals and sometimes with immense power. Known as FRBs, they continue to intrigue experts.

Dec. 22, 2023: A Qatari court has held three hearings on the appeal filed by eight former Indian Navy personnel against the death sentence given to them and India remains focused on efforts to bring them back home, external affairs ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said on Thursday. 

Fig. 29.

Hiding in the middle of a bustling town, 30km from Kanpur city towards Hamirpur, in a cluster of pucca houses crisscrossed by narrow bylanes, there is the temple of Bhitargaon. A billboard at the gate mentions ‘Gupta-era temple’. A single plaque at the temple erected by Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) superintending archaeologist, Lucknow Circle, mentions that the temple is dated 5th century and has details of a few architectural features. The temple has always been a serendipity to the seekers. The local residents have no idea about the scholastic importance of the ancient structure, nor any interest as the temple has no deity.

Fig. 30.

Fig. 31.

Fig. 32.

Dec. 22, 2023: There may be no conversation, but their expressions say it all as the audience reacts to danseuse Methil Devika’s new choreography. With fingers that move at lighting speed, the audiences speak to her about their thoughts on ‘Crossover’, her new production that was premiered at the Tanjavur Amma Veedu in Thiruvananthapuram. An amalgamation of Indian Sign Language and conventional hastha mudras (hand gestures) from scriptures on aesthetics and traditional practices, Crossover, choreographed by Devika, narrates the advent of Lord Krishna. The 20-minute film includes a dance that integrates Indian Sign Language in one of the choreographies from her large repertoire of original works. Devika explains, “It’s a simple story that is familiar to most Indians. Focussing on the moments before and after he is born, I depict changes in Nature and in the minds of his parents. The recital is danced to a Bhramaniamma paatu sung by women of a particular community in Kerala.”

Dec. 22, 2023: అనేక ఖరీదైన ఔషధాల కంటే ఎక్కువ ప్రయోజనకరమైన వాటిని ప్రకృతి మానవులకు బహుమానంగా ఇచ్చింది. నేటి కాలంలో ప్రజలు అనేక వ్యాధులతో బాధపడుతూ డాక్టర్ల దగ్గరకు వెళ్తున్నారు. కానీ ప్రాణాంతక వ్యాధులను కూడా నయం చేసే అనేక సహజసిద్ధమైన వస్తువులు ఉన్నాయి. అలాంటి సహజ పదార్ధాల వీడియో ఒకటి సోషల్ మీడియాలో షేర్ చేయబడింది. ఈ వీడియోలో, ప్రపంచంలోని అత్యంత శక్తివంతమైన యాంటీబయాటిక్ గురించి సమాచారం ఇవ్వబడింది. ప్రతి ఇంట్లో నాటాల్సిన మొక్క ఇది. దాని పేరు ఒరేగానో(oregano). మీరు దీన్ని పిజ్జాపై కూడా చల్లుకుని తింటూ ఉండవచ్చు. ఇది అనేక ఇటాలియన్ వంటలలో మసాలాగా ఉపయోగించబడుతుంది. అయితే ఇది చాలా ప్రయోజనాలను కలిగి ఉంది,

Dec. 22, 2023:  In the run-up to the consecration of Ayodhya’s Ram temple, the focus is on notable shrines in UP that have survived the ravages of time, onslaught of marauders, avarice of iconoclasts. Here’s a look at the oldest of them all

Dec. 22, 2023:  Hiding in the middle of a bustling town, 30km from Kanpur city towards Hamirpur, in a cluster of pucca houses crisscrossed by narrow bylanes, there is the temple of Bhitargaon. A billboard at the gate mentions ‘Gupta-era temple’. A single plaque at the temple erected by Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) superintending archaeologist, Lucknow Circle, mentions that the temple is dated 5th century and has details of a few architectural features. Its location is difficult to find even today in the era of Google Maps. As one turns over pages of history, it turns out this was always the case. The temple has always been a serendipity to the seekers. The local residents have no idea about the scholastic importance of the ancient structure, nor any interest as the temple has no deity.

Dec. 22, 2023: In a rare sighting, beachgoers in southern India's Chennai discovered two venomous marine organisms typically found in the deep sea. The Blue Sea Dragon (Glaucus atlanticus), and colonies of polyps known as Blue Button (Porpita porpita) were spotted in the Besant Nagar locality of the Tamil Nadu capital.

Dec. 22, 2023: French President Macron likely to be R-Day chief guest. Statesman News Service • 3h. This will be the sixth time that a French leader could be the chief guest at India’s Republic Day parade, reflecting the growing friendship between the two countries. Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself was the Guest of Honour at the Bastille Day Parade in Paris earlier this year. 

Dec. 22, 2023:Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is likely to usher in the New Year, with the launch of its first polarimetry mission XPoSat likely on January 1, according to persons in the know of the matter.

Dec. 23, 2023:As tensions build between Philippines and China, Philippines is boosting its maritime security with Japan-made air radars. The air radars have been installed to keep watch on the disputed waters. 

Dec. 23, 2023:Bricks crafted from clay and used to build one of the most epic civilizations in history are now giving scientists a new tool for understanding the history of our planet. Made some 3,000 years ago, the Mesopotamian bricks contain grains of iron oxide that, to the right interpreter, reveal fascinating changes in the magnetic field that runs through and envelops Earth in a protective barrier.

Dec. 23, 2023:Quark gluon plasma (QGP) is an exciting state of matter that scientists create in a laboratory by colliding two heavy nuclei. These collisions produce a QGP fireball. The fireball expands and cools following the laws of hydrodynamics, which govern how fluids behave in various conditions. Eventually, subatomic particles (protons, pions, and other hadrons, or particles made up of two or more quarks) emerge and are observed and counted by detectors surrounding the collision.

Fig. 33. Record-breaking portrait of Lord Ram and Sita in Nepal's Janakpur/

Dec. 23, 2023: The Exact Moment Today's Winter Solstice Will Occur.  2023's December 21 solstice happens at a specific time.No matter where you are on the globe today, the Sun will reach its southernmost apparent position with respect to our planet. This is due to the tilt of the Earth that, as the planet orbits the Sun, makes our star look like it goes up and down between the two tropics. And today, December 21, it will reach the Tropic of Capricorn.

Dec. 23, 2023: French Price Bids for Indian Navy: 26 Rafale -M and 3 Scorpene Subs. Huma Siddiqui • 1d. Ahead of the expected visit of the French President Emannuel Macron as Chief Guest for Republic Day, India has received price bids from France for the 26 Rafale – Marine carrier-based fighter jets for the Indian Navy. Also, the French side have sent price bids for three additional `Scorpene’ class submarines for the Indian Navy.

Dec. 23, 2023:  Drone Hits Ship Near Gujarat Coast With 20 Indians Aboard, Causes Fire. Surbhi Pathak • 22m. A drone hit an Israel-linked merchant vessel MV Chem Pluto causing an explosion and fire within the vessel in the Arabian Sea off India's coast. The distressed vessel had around 20 Indian crew members who were reportedly safe, According to defence officials, the vessel has crude oil and was going towards Mangalore from a port in Saudi Arabia. The fire has been reportedly extinguished but has affected the vessel's functioning,

Dec. 23, 2023: 110 villages to get Cauvery water only by May-end. 9h.The Rs 5,500-crore project to supply drinking water to 110 villages in the city’s peripheral areas will be commissioned only by the end of May 2024. This marks a further delay for the Japan-funded Cauvery Water Supply Stage V project. The latest revised deadline for water supply was specified as February/March next year. 

Dec. 24, 2023: Praveg Limited, an eco-responsible luxury resorts company, announced on December 20 that it has bagged the work order for development, operation, maintenance and management of at least 50 tents at Agatti Island, Lakshadweep. The order involves building tents with cloak room, changing room,

Dec. 24, 2023:2 India-bound ships with Indian crew attacked by drones as maritime tensions soar. India Today World Desk • 3h. A Gabon-flagged commercial oil tanker, MV Saibaba, with 25 Indian crew on board, came under a drone attack by Yemen's Houthi rebels in the southern Red Sea. No injuries were reported, the US military and Indian Navy officials said on Sunday.

 

Dec. 24, 2023:Explained: XPoSat, India's first X-Ray Polarimeter Satellite. 1d. The launch date for XpoSat on board the PSLV-C58 has been rescheduled from December 28 to January 1. Polarization, in this context, pertains to the specific orientation or arrangement of objects in a particular direction.

Dec. 24, 2023: Nepal pitches for Sita’s birthplace in Janakpur — an old Ayodhya link. Divya A • 14h. Nepal is buoyed at the tourism prospects the development might bring for them, collaterally. With Nepal's Janakpur believed to be the birthplace of Lord Ram's consort Sita, they are hoping pilgrims from across the world, who visit Ram's birthplace, will also make a trip to Sita's birthplace.

Dec. 24, 2023: Rome: Archaeologists discovered a deluxe banquet room dating from around the first or second century BC, featuring a sizable, intact and brightly coloured wall mosaic while digging into the side of Rome's Palantine Hill. Archaeologists have found a luxurious dwelling built in three phases between the second half of the second century and end of the first century B.C. has been uncovered in an area between Rome’s Palatine Hill and the Roman Forum.

Dec. 24, 2023: 'Who starts day at midnight': Indian CM claims Prime Meridian runs through Ujjain, vows to change world time. Heena Sharma • 1d. Chief Minister from the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh Mohan Yadav went on to reveal a bold agenda for his government and vowed to relocate the Prime Meridian, the global reference for time, from Greenwich in England to Ujjain. He highlighted the historical aspect of India's contribution to timekeeping while asserting that the world's standard time was originally established by India around 300 years ago.

Dec. 24, 2023: 'Never insult Brahmins...': Ex-Bihar cop Gupteshwar Pandey's video goes viral. Aditya Vaibhav • 22h. Avideo of former Bihar Director General of Police Gupteshwar Pandey saying Brahmins should not be insulted has gone viral on social media. In the video, the former top cop says, "It is written in the scriptures that one should avoid the anger of a Brahmin." He added that a Brahmin may appear "lowly, degenerate", but they shouldn't be insulted "even by mistake". 

Dec. 24, 2023: Prosecute those behind exodus of Hindus from Kashmir Valley: BJP. Statesman News Service • 1h. Describing hounding out of Kashmiri Hindus from the valley in 1989 and early 1990 as one of the worst human rights violations across the world in recent history, senior BJP leader Devender Singh Rana on Sunday called for an in-depth probe to identify, expose, prosecute those responsible for the irreparable catastrophe leading to their exodus.

Dec. 25, 2023: Landmark in indigenous naval warfare: Indian Navy set to commission missile destroyer 'Imphal' on Dec 26. 1d. The Indian Navy will be commissioning its latest Stealth Guided Missile Destroyer Imphal at the Naval Dockyard in Mumbai on December 26. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will be the chief guest for the commissioning ceremony. The ship is the third of four ‘Visakhapatnam’ class destroyers, indigenously designed by the Indian Navy’s in-house organisation, Warship Design Bureau and constructed by Mazagon Dock Limited, Mumbai. 

Dec. 25, 2023:  North Eastern farmers to reap first ever crop of saffron in region. 17h.  In a major breakthrough led by Indian scientists, a group of aspiring farmers from far north-eastern regions of Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Mizoram, and Sikkim are all set to reap the fruits in the first crop of saffron, which may be any time soon. Saffron, whose cultivation has traditionally been limited to specific regions like Jammu & Kashmir is said to be the most expensive spice in the world because of its huge medicinal value.

Dec. 25, 2023: Nepal to send special souvenirs for Ram Temple inauguration The journey from Janakpurdham will pass through Jaleshwar Nath, Malangwa, Simraungadh, Gadhimai, Birgunj to Betiya, Kushinagar, Siddharthnagar, Gorakhpur and reach Ayodhya in Uttar Pradesh. 

Dec. 25, 2023: Bodh Gaya in Bihar is home to the sacred Mahabodhi Temple, which is an ancient marvel. This sacred site marks the very spot where Siddhartha Gautama attained enlightenment, transcending into the Buddha. Built by Emperor Ashoka in the 3rd century, the temple's architecture, blending Indian, Burmese, and Tibetan styles, attracts visitors from near and far.

• It is the process by which two light atomic nuclei combine to form a single heavier one while releasing massive amounts of energy.
• Fusion reactions take place in a state of matter called plasma—a hot, charged gas made of positive ions and free-moving electrons with unique properties distinct from solids, liquids, or gases.
• The sun, along with all other stars, is powered by this reaction. 
• What are Tokamaks?
• The devices designated for the task of doing this here on Earth—nuclear fusion reactors — are called tokamaks.
• Tokamaks are often also called 'artificial suns' due to the fact that these doughnut-shaped machines replicate processes that occur in the sun.
• There are currently over 200 tokamaks in operation across the globe, with the scientific milestones achieved in these devices developing a roadmap for the operation of the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor, or ITER, the world's largest fusion experiment under construction in the south of France.
• A commercial tokamak will aim to use the thermal energy of plasma heated by fusion to heat water, create steam, and, in turn, spin a turbine that generates electricity.
• Though fusion can involve a wealth of chemical elements, the nuclear reaction that most tokamaks aim to make viable is the fusion of the heavy hydrogen isotopes deuterium (with a nucleus of one proton and one neutron) and tritium (one proton and two neutrons). Fusing the atoms of these elements together creates a neutron and a helium nucleus. 
• Advantages of Nuclear Fusion:
• Nuclear Fusion produces more energy than fission does. Fusion could generate four times more energy per kilogram of fuel than fission (used in nuclear power plants) and nearly four million times more energy than burning oil or coal.
• It also doesn’t produce radioactive byproductsthat need to be stored or harmful carbon emissions; it simply produces inert helium and a neutron.
• Unlimited Fuel Supply:  The fuel to make fusion happen is simply heavy hydrogen atoms, which can be found in something that Earth has in abundance: seawater. No mining of uranium is required.
• It is much safer than nuclear fission, since fusion can’t create runaway reactions.

Dec. 25, 2023: Dating back to the latter half of the 2nd century BC to the conclusion of the 1st century BC, Culture Minister Gennaro Sangiuliano stated that the structure is an ‘authentic treasure’ in itself .As per the latest development, Italian archaeologists have unearthed an opulent Roman residence in close proximity to the Colosseum. If reports are to go by, the residence showcases an unprecedented mosaic adorned with shells, marble, and precious glass. This was announced by the Culture Ministry recently. Within the mosaic, three large ships can be seen navigating the waves towards a coastal city, surrounded by walls, with small towers and porticoes—a portrayal that hints that the owner of this more than 2,000 years old home or domus, had been victorious in a battle.

Dec. 25, 2023: Security was beefed up in parts of Jammu and Kashmir amid anti-terror operations. Security personnel deployed in the Bafliaz area of Poonch district after the terror attack. The search operation is underway to nab terrorists in the forest area of Dera ki Gali in Rajouri. Indian Army’s Sniffer dogs deployed in the forest area to sniff terrorists’ activities. Army Chief, Gen Manoj Pande will also visit Jammu on Dec 25 to review the situation. Several terror attacks have been witnessed in Jammu and Kashmir in the last few days. 4 Army jawans were killed while 3 others sustained injuries in the terror attack on Dec 21. The terrorists ambushed two Army vehicles carrying troops in Thanamandi, Rajouri. On Dec 24, terrorists killed a retired police officer in Baramulla during morning prayers. 

Dec. 25, 2023: 'Those Spending Cold Mornings At Borders': CJI's Tribute To Armed Forces On Christmas. ABP News Bureau • 5h.Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud appealed to people not to forget about the armed forces and their sacrificies to protect the country as they celebrated Christmas. His message paying tribute to the country's bravehearts during the celebrations at the Supreme Court came days after four army personnel were killed in an ambush in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch. He said, "We will give up everything, even if it comes to our lives as so many people in our Armed Forces do in the service of the nation. We lost four of our members of the Armed Forces two days ago (in Poonch encounter); So, as just we celebrate Christmas, let's not forget about those who are at borders who are giving up their lives to protect our nation," says Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud during Christmas celebrations at Supreme Court. "Let us not forget those on the borders who are spending these cold mornings protecting us and our nation. When we sing, we also sing for them in celebration," he added.  

 

Dec. 25, 2023: An inscription issued during the reign of Vijayanagara Emperor Sri Krishnadevaraya was found in a state of utter neglect near a dilapidated temple at an abandoned village -- Gundala -- located in a forest, around five kilometres away from Koppunuru village in Macherla Mandal, Palnadu district. Archeologist Dr E Sivanagireddy examined the ruins of the temple and the inscription on Sunday after receiving information from local heritage activists Satish Pavuluri, Sivasankar Manimela and Yuganadhreddy Durgempudi.

Just before Anwesha wraps up her recital by touching the stage with respect, she returns to a performance dedicated to Narasimha. 

                                                                             Fig. 34. 

                                                                              Fig 35

Dec. 25, 2023:As the Suprabhatam chants resound through Sathguru Gnanasabha Hall in Narada Gana Sabha, dancer Anwesha Das transforms into the majestic and righteous deity, Narasimha. The seasoned dancer opens with a measured Bharatanatyam alarippu — the stage reminiscent of a battlefield — and is an ode to the fourth avatar of Lord Vishnu.Just before Anwesha wraps up her recital by touching the stage with respect, she returns to a performance dedicated to Narasimha.

Dec. 25, 2023: INS Imphal: Navy's indigenous destroyer to be commissioned today. 10 facts. Manjiri Chitre • 2h. The Indian Navy is set to commission its latest indigenously built stealth-guided missile destroyer, INS Imphal, at the Naval Dockyard in Mumbai on Tuesday.  

Dec. 25, 2023: Gorkha Development Council Chairman from Assam voiced that the Gorkhas are not demanding a separate land. What they seek are their land rights.

Dec. 25, 2023: North Eastern farmers to reap first ever crop of saffron in region. 1d. In a major breakthrough led by Indian scientists, a group of aspiring farmers from far north-eastern regions of Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Mizoram, and Sikkim are all set to reap the fruits in the first crop of saffron, which may be any time soon. Saffron, whose cultivation has traditionally been limited to specific regions like Jammu & Kashmir is said to be the most expensive spice in the world because of its huge medicinal value.

Dec. 25, 2023: Vegetable seller gifts rare world clock to Ayodhya's Ram Mandir. India TodayNE • 14h.Anil Kumar Sahu, a vegetable seller from Lucknow has donated a patented world clock to the Ram Mandir authorities so that it can be used within the premises of the grand temple. 

Dec. 25, 2023: Himachal Pradesh CM dedicates Sanjauli-Dhalli tunnel to people. PTI • 10h. Taking a jibe at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Sukhu said the construction work of the 154.22-metre tunnel was going on at a snail's pace under the previous government in the hill state and the Congress government expedited it and the structure was completed within a year.

DDec. 25, 2023: Nirmala Sitharaman's Budget Addresses: Longest, Shortest, And More. Times Now Digital • 12h.Sitharaman's 2020 Budget speech marked a milestone as the longest in India's independent history, extending to nearly two hours and 40 minutes. Despite a 160-minute presentation, the Finance Minister had to curtail her speech, leaving the last two pages unaddressed.

Dec. 25, 2023: Delhi University: 15 Hindu College students rusticated over "indiscipline" during campus elections. 1d. "The action has been taken on the recommendations of the college's Disciplinary Resource Committee which has found the involvement of these students in disruption during the college elections. Students are rusticated for a finite period based on their level of involvement in the hindrance," 

                                                             Fig. 36.

Dec. 26, 2023: Rajouri (J&K), The terror attacks in the last few days in J&K’s Poonch and Rajouri have shocked the Valley. Security forces are on their toes to nab the mastermind behind terror attack as Operations entered day-7. As many as four soldiers lost their lives in the recent encounter in Rajouri sector. Now, the security forces have come up with an action plan to thwart Pakistani terrorists in the Valley. According to ANI, Indian Army planning to increase the number of troops in the Poonch-Rajouri sector. It is expected to strengthen the counter-terrorist grid in the area and increase the confidence of locals. Indian Army Chief Gen Manoj Pande also visited the Poonch-Rajouri sector on December 25. Notably, the Army is also conducting a Staff Court of Inquiry against the 13-Sector Rashtriya Rifles Commander. The Staff Inquiry is being conducted for the recurring lapses in operations in which the Army has lost many troops. Sources said the Pakistan Army and its intelligence agencies want to revive terrorism in the Poonch, Rajouri sectors. 

Dec. 26, 2023: India’s First Phone with 256GB Storage Under Rs 8,000: Kapish Khajuria • 1h. The itel A70 is the first phone in India with up to 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage in its class. It is estimated that the phone would cost around Rs 8,000. India is anticipated to see the release of the itel A70 in January. The Itel Roar 75 open-ear buds are the company's debut audio product, which was just released in India. The business is currently developing the first phone in the sector. According to 91mobiles, itel is now getting ready to release the first phone in India with 256GB of storage and 12GB of RAM (perhaps including virtual RAM) for less than Rs 8,000. This particular phone is called the itel A70.

Dec. 26, 2023: Nagaland wants to rule hospitality— 5-star hotels to tribal villages, Delhi to Japan. Monami Gogoi • 2h.

Dec. 27, 2023: About 20 years ago, Bangladesh became the first nation on Earth to ban single-use plastic bags. Since then, plastic pollution has gotten worse. To find a biodegradable replacement, the government turned to jute, a cash crop that's grown here for centuries. Can one scientist bring more of this "golden fiber" to a country drowning in plastic? 

Dec. 27, 2023: Jammu and Kashmir reorganisation, reservation acts come into force. Press Trust of India • 1h. The Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Amendment) Act, 2023, which allows nomination of two members from Kashmiri migrants and one member from displaced persons from PoK, came into force on Tuesday. Besides, the Jammu and Kashmir Reservation (Amendment) Act, 2023, which seeks to amend the term 'weak and under-privileged classes' to OBC, also came into force.

Dec. 27, 2023: The cold dark winters and the bright sunny summer of Antarctica hold a secret in the ionosphere that scientists have traced recently. The day-night ionospheric density varied regardless of 24 hours of sunlight in summer and complete darkness in winter.

Dec. 27, 2023: 60 Dalits walk with slippers on ‘upper caste’ street, end years of scourge in TN village. 22h. For the first time in their living memory, 60 Dalits from Rajavur village of Madathukulam taluk of Tiruppur district walked wearing footwear on ‘Kambala Naicken Street’ in the village late on Sunday.  By doing so, they broke the unwritten rule of the upper castes that barred Dalits from walking on the street with slippers. Scheduled Caste members are not even allowed to ride cycles on the street, sources said.  

Dec. 27, 2023: Maoist dump unearthed from Odisha-Andhra Pradesh border. 21h.The seized articles included one SBML gun, four iron magazine chargers, five grenades, 1.5 kg codex wire, three electric detonators, 12 tiffin IEDs, 39 gelatin sticks and Maoist uniforms.The seized articles included one SBML gun, four iron magazine chargers, five grenades, 1.5 kg codex wire, three electric detonators, 12 tiffin IEDs, 39 gelatin sticks and Maoist uniforms.

Dec. 27, 2023: Hyderabad Police have arrested two persons accused of kidnapping a year-and-a-half-year-old girl. The minor was rescued unharmed within five hours of being kidnapped in a rapid-response operation led by three police teams in the capital of Telangana. The accused persons have been identified as Naseem Begum, aged 62, and Ayesha Begum, also known as Waseem Begum, aged 32.

Dec. 27, 2023: Assam government converts madrasas into general educational institutions, step taken to evolve the education system. One year of transformation, what has changed?

Dec. 27, 2023: Stealth guided missile destroyer Imphal commissioned into Navy. Express Web Desk • 1d.the formal induction into the Navy of the third of four 'Visakhapatnam' class destroyers, indigenously designed by the navy's in-house organisation, Warship Design Bureau and constructed by defence PSU Mazagon Dock Limited, Mumbai. It will join the Western Naval Command. 

Dec. 27, 2023: A US Navy destroyer and F-18 fighter jets shot down 17 drones and missiles that Iran-backed rebels fired in the Red Sea over 10 hours. Paul Squire • 15h.US Central Command said in a statement posted on X on Tuesday that the rebels fired 12 one-way attack drones, three anti-ship ballistic missiles, and two land-based cruise missiles over a 10-hour period.

                                Fig. 37. Ayurveda degrees: Next big thing for foreigners.

Dec. 28, 2023:India Dispatches Missile Destroyers To Arabian Sea Post MV Chem Pluto Assault. Benzinga Neuro • 22h. In response to the recent assault on a Japanese-owned tanker, the Indian Navy has stationed missile destroyers throughout the Arabian Sea. The incident involving the MV Chem Pluto took place about 200 nautical miles off the Indian coast on Saturday. According to a CNBC-TV18 report on Tuesday, the US alleges that the strike originated from Iran, a claim that Tehran refutes. The Houthis, backed by Iran, have threatened to target vessels related to Israel or shipping goods to the country.

Dec. 28, 2023: Dec 27 (ANI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi hosted a special Christmas programme at his official residence in 7 Lok Kalyan Marg, which was attended by several children who were members of the choir that performed on the festive occasion. The young guests not only met PM Modi but were also given an exclusive tour of the Prime Minister's official residence, which might be described as a golden and once-in-a-lifetime chance. 

Dec. 28, 2023: Dec 28(ANI): A married woman named Shivangi Sharma opened a bakery unit in Udhampur city under the Pradhan Mantri Formalisation of Micro food processing Enterprises (PMFME) scheme. The woman started her journey with a self-help group through which she learned about PMFME, a central government initiative. The Ministry of Food Processing Industries launched this scheme under the 'Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan' in June 2020 with the purpose to strengthen the competitiveness of micro-enterprises in the unorganized parts of the food processing industry, while at the same time promoting its formalization. The scheme was targeted to be implemented over a period of five years from 2020-21 to 2024-25 with a total expenditure of Rs 10,000 crore. 

Dec. 28, 2023: Ayurveda degrees: Next big thing for foreigners Syed Intishab Ali • 5h. Ayurveda degrees: 

                                                             Fig 39. 

                                                          Fig. 40.  Camphor tree.

Dec. 28, 2023: Camphor: Did you know that camphor is made from these trees? Important health benefits. Jyothi Gadda. Camphor, as far as we know, is aromatic and in some cuisines, which the Hindus use in their puja ceremonies to perform aarti to the deity. It is a pungent smell of worship that is as white and transparent as wax. But do you know how it's made? Many people think that it is made artificially with chemicals. But, camphor is produced from the tree.

Dec. 28, 2023: AstroSat, India’s first space-based observatory, has identified ultra-short X-ray bursts from a magnetar christened SGR J1830-0645, shedding light on the nature of these star remnants with gargantuan magnetic fields. Indian researchers are keen to explore whether these bursts are astronomical in nature or artifacts of instrumentation. This work adds a valuable piece to the cosmic puzzle of magnetar behavior.  AstroSat, India’s vanguard in space observatories, has once again demonstrated its stellar capabilities by observing fleeting X-ray flares from a magnetar, an exotic generational star with a magnetic field trillion times stronger than Earth’s. The Indian scientific community, particularly the team at the Raman Research Institute and the University of Delhi, is abuzz with the findings obtained from this high precision space telescope.

Fig. 41.                

Dec. 28, 2023:  Camphor is available from a tree called camphor laurel or cinnamomum camphora. Camphor is made from the leaves and branches of those trees. Camphor is also made from some types of tulsi (camphor tulsi) species. The camphor tree is a beautiful evergreen tree that grows up to a height of a hundred feet. Has a nice aroma. The leaves are long and fall off in The months of February and March. The flowers are smaller. The fruits are dark green in colour and mature in October.

Dec. 28, 2023:  ద్వారక.. మహాభారత కాలంలో శ్రీకృష్ణ భగవానుడు విశ్వకర్మ సహాయంతో నిర్మించిన సుందర నగరం. ఇది అరేబియా సముద్రంలో మునిగిపోవడంతో.. ద్వారకకు వెళ్లే భక్తులెవరూ దాన్ని చూడలేకపోతున్నారు. ద్వారకా నగరాన్ని భక్తులు వీక్షించేందుకు వీలుగా గుజరాత్‌ ప్రభుత్వం జలాంతర్గామి సేవలను త్వరలో ప్రారంభించనుంది. ఈ ఏర్పాట్లను చేసేందుకు ముంబైకి చెందిన ప్రభుత్వ రంగ నౌకా సంస్థ మజగావ్‌ డాక్‌తో ఒప్పందం కుదుర్చుకుంది. ఇందులో భాగంగా 24 మంది యాత్రికులను జలాంతర్గామిలో అరేబియా సముద్ర గర్భంలో 300 అడుగుల దిగువకు తీసుకెళ్లి ద్వారకను చూపిస్తారు. జలాంతర్గామిలో పర్యాటకులతో పాటు ఇద్దరు పైలట్లు, ఇద్దరు డైవర్లు, టెక్నీషియన్‌, గైడ్‌ కూడా ఉంటారు.

Dec. 26, 2023.  Recently, India’s first multi-wavelength space-based observatory. AstroSat has detected bright sub-second X-ray bursts from a new and unique neutron star with ultrahigh magnetic field (magnetar).

Dec 25, 2023 | 1:32 PM:  దిశ,మహేశ్వరం: మహేశ్వరం మండల కేంద్రంలోని శ్రీ శివగంగ రాజరాజేశ్వర స్వామి దేవాలయం సమీపంలోని ఓ వెంచర్ లో శుక్రవారం జేసీబీతో తవ్వకాలు జరుపుతుండగా శ్రీ వెంకటేశ్వర స్వామి విగ్రహం బయటపడింది. ఈ విషయం గ్రామస్థులకు తెలియడంతో గ్రామస్థులు శ్రీ వెంకటేశ్వర స్వామి విగ్రహం వద్దకు చేరుకుని పూజలు చేశారు.

Dec 25, 2023 | 1:32 PM. 

 VIJAYAWADA: Around 8 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) is being moved through inland water transport in Andhra Pradesh. Asserting that the State government in its endeavour to boost inland water transport has set up an exclusive vertical Authority (APIWA) headed by a Chief Executive Officer for the development of waterways and for implementation of the Inland Vessel Act 2021 to ensure safe vessel movement, he said that various projects to facilitate movement of domestic and export-import cargo of cement and power plants in the State through inland waterways are under formulation. Big hills, lush green trees in the middle of the hills, an abandoned temple in the middle of the trees. Countless ruins in and around the temple. In the midst of these ruins is a rare inscription. It is recognized as an inscription dating back to the time of Krishnadevaraya of the 15th century. 

Fig. 42.  Comet. 

Mount Everest-sized Devil comet hurtling in Earth’s direction could explode today. Science Desk • 4h. 

Dec. 30: 2023: U.S. Shoots Down Drone, Anti-Ship Missile Fired By Houthi Rebels In Red Sea. "The USS Mason (DDG 87) shot down one drone and one anti-ship ballistic missile in the Southern Red Sea that were fired by the Houthis," US Central Command (CENTCOM) said in a statement. 

Dec. 30, 2023: Situated in Gujarat, India's historic city of Dwarka, the Dwarkadhish Temple boasts an Vajranabh extensive historical heritage spanning thousands of years. a, Lord Krishna's great-grandson, is thought to have constructed this sacred temple more than 2500 years ago. The magnetic qualities of the Dwarkadhish Temple are among its most fascinating features. Metal items are said to be drawn to the temple's main idol, which is thought to be magnetised. Both scientists and enthusiasts have been perplexed by this unusual affair. The majestic Sudarshan Chakra, a weapon shaped like a disc and connected to Lord Krishna, is housed in the shrine. It is thought that the Sudarshan Chakra represents heavenly strength and protection. During the temple visit, it is regarded as auspicious to catch sight of the Sudarshan Chakra. 

Dec. 30, 2023: Mount Everest-sized Devil comet hurtling in Earth’s direction could explode today. Science Desk • 4h. 

Dec. 30, 2023:  A quantum state of matter comprising molecules with opposite charges at each end has been made for the first time. It could help probe our understanding of the quantum properties of exotic materials. Karmela Padavic-Callaghan.

Dec. 30, 2023:  Comet 13P/Pons-Brooks, also called the Devil Comet, is about the size of Mount Everest and it is hurtling towards Earth. After an outburst in July, scientists believe that the intimidatingly named comet could explode once again today.

Dec. 30, 2023: Very little said about 4.5 lakh displaced Kashmiri Pandits because they were not "big electorate": Ex-SC judge Kaul.  PTI with the advent of separatist militancy, possibly because they were not "such a big electorate" as to invite "political intervention", former Supreme Court judge Sanjay Kishan Kaul has said.

Dec. 30, 2023: Nestled along the meandering course of the Kaveri River in the state of Tamil Nadu, this truly venerable structure represents an enduring testament to the ingenuity of ancient engineering, dating back over two millennia.

Dec. 30, 2023: A team of Japanese researchers has discovered significant properties of non-Fock states (iNFS) in quantum technology, revealing their stability through multiple linear optics and paving the way for advancements in optical quantum computing and sensing. Quantum objects, such as electrons and photons, behave differently from other objects in ways that enable quantum technology. Therein lies the key to unlocking the mystery of quantum entanglement, in which multiple photons exist in multiple modes or frequencies.

Dec. 30, 2023: ద్వాపర నగరం. శ్రీక్రిష్ణ భగవానుడు నిర్మించిన రాజ్యం. కాలక్రమంలో సముద్రగర్భంలో కలిసిపోయిన ఈ అద్భుత నగరాన్ని మన కళ్లారా చూసే వీలుందా? ఆ దిశగా గుజరాత్ ప్రభుత్వం అడుగులు వేస్తుందా? అంటే.. అవునని చెబుతున్నారు. ఈ పవిత్ర క్షేత్రాన్ని సందర్శించేందుకు వీలుగా గుజరాత్ ప్రభుత్వం ప్రభుత్వ రంగ నౌకా సంస్థ అయినా మజాగాన్ తో ఇటీవల ఒప్పందం చేసుకుంది. ఇందులో భాగంగా అరేబియా సముద్రంలో మునిగి ఉన్న ద్వారకను కళ్లారా చూసే వీలుందని చెబుతున్నారు. శతాబ్దాల క్రితం విశ్వకర్మ నిర్మించిన నగరంగా చెప్పే ద్వారక గురించి పురాణాల్లో ప్రముఖంగా చెప్పటం తెలిసిందే.సముద్ర గర్భంలోకి మునిగిపోయిన ఈ చారిత్రక నగరాన్ని కళ్లారా చూసే వీల్లేదు. ఎందుకంటే. సముద్రంలోని 300 అడుగుల దిగువ ఈ అద్భుత నగరం ఉంది.

Dec. 31:  2023: Mizoram: Over 150 Myanmarese soldiers enter state in last 24 hours. India TodayNE • 17h. Sources have stated that as many as 151 Myanmarese soldiers have entered inside Indian territory in Mizoram on December 29. Sources from the spot have stated that Myanmarese fled to Tuisentlang in Lawngtlai in two batches. 

Dec. 31:  2023: American destroyer thwarts Yemeni missile attack on Red Sea shipping. Heena Sharma • 1h. An American destroyer intercepted two anti-ship ballistic missiles fired from Yemen on Saturday (Dec 30). The incident unfolded as the destroyer responded to a distress call from the Maersk Hangzhou, a Singapore-flagged container ship, which had been targeted in a missile strike while transiting the Red Sea.

Dec. 31:  2023: Haryana: Saraswati river board collects samples from Rajasthan, Gujarat. Bhavey Nagpal, Karnal • 10h. The team, led by vice-chairman of the board, Dhuman Singh Kirmach and including research officer Deepa, consultant GS Gautam and finance officer Surjit Singh, is surveying the Saraswati paleochannel and other archaeological sites from Pushkar in Rajasthan to Rann of Kutch in Gujarat.

Dec. 31:  2023: A school teacher by profession, Marchis Moirangthem from Ningthoukhong which is around 35 km from Imphal under the Bishnupur district had innovated an idea of making eco-friendly charcoal from rice husk 

Dec. 31:  2023: "I am not a person who believes in a wish-list, rather I am someone who believes in a work-list for myself," PM Modi said in an interview to India Today.

Dec. 31:  2023: ULFA's 44-Year-Long Insurgency Comes To An End With Peace Accord; What Does It Mean For Assam. • 23h. In an effort to put an end to the decades-long insurgency in Assam, the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA), the Centre, and the Assam government signed the much-anticipated historic tripartite peace accord here on Friday. A delegation of 16 pro-talk members of the ULFA , headed by its chairperson Arabinda Rajkhowa, represented the faction. Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma were present during the peace pact signing.

                                                                     Fig. 43. 

                                                              Fig, 44. 
                           

                                                                   Fig. 45.

Dec. 31:  2023: Gujarat to introduce India's first submarine tourism in Dwarka. HT News Desk • 1d. The Gujarat government is set to introduce India's first submarine tourism. It has joined hands with the Mazgaon Dock Limited (MDL) in a project to explore the marine life surrounding Bet Dwarka, a small island off the coast of Dwarka city, which has a mythological significance in the Hindu religion.

Dec. 31:  2023: It is time to remove the term ‘Harappan’ from designating the ancient civilisation of India, as it is inaccurate and ignores the nature and continuity of India’s civilisation as a whole. Harappan is an artificial and incidental term deriving from the archaeological site of Harappa in Pakistan along with Mohenjo-Daro, which were the major ancient urban sites in greater India discovered in the early twentieth century (1921-22) before the partition of the country. Western archaeologists arbitrarily chose it to designate an entire urban civilisation going back to 3500 BCE, which they viewed more as a lost civilisation than connected to the later history of India.

Dec. 31:  2023:Residents who had pressed an earth mover into service to dig the drain found the damaged sculpture stopped the work immediately, and alerted the archaeology department. MYSURU: Two broken Jain sculptures belonging to the 11th century were found while digging a drain at Varuna village of Mysuru taluk recently. Residents who had pressed an earth mover into service to dig the drain found the damaged sculpture stopped the work immediately, and alerted the archaeology department.

Dec. 31:  2023:  Basic facilities are being provided to the poor people at the doorstep for the first time after independence at Block Manjakote in Jammu and Kashmir’s Rajouri. Various works on development have been going on in the district. Now, people are getting a permanent house under government schemes. Road connectivity was ensured in every panchayat village of border areas under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY). 

Dec. 31:  2023:  Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the house of a woman, a beneficiary of the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana, in Ayodhya and had tea. The visit was significant as the beneficiary, Meera Manjhi, was the 10 croreth person of the initiative.

Dec. 31:  2023:A vegetable vendor here has has gifted a clock, which he has designed to denote the time in eight countries at the same time, to the Ram mandir trust. Anil Kumar Sahu (52) said that recently he gifted a clock measuring 75 cm in diameter to Champat Rai, the general secretary of Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, ahead of the consecration ceremony of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya. "I started working on this clock (75 cm) in October during the Navratras, and recently gifted one such clock to Champat Rai jee," he said.

Dec. 31:  2023: 103 drones shot down by BSF on Pakistan border this year

1d.The BSF troopers are keeping a watch from elevated platforms so that no intruder crosses the international border into the Indian territory.

Dec. 31:  2023: You can create an amazing website with Webnode in just minutes. Join our 45 million users and build one yourself.

Dec. 31:  2023:Dec 30 (ANI): Union Minister for Women and Child Development Smriti Irani while speaking to the media on December 30 said that the inauguration of the LPG bottling plant in Amethi’s Trisundi was a commendable step by PM Modi. She said, “PM Modi expanded the Indian Oil bottling plant in Amethi. With a budget of Rs 160 crores, the capacity of this plant has been increased to six times its original capacity. This is another commendable step by PM Modi to boost and strengthen the local economy... From 2019 to September 2023, more than one lakh small businessmen in Amethi have been beneficiaries of bank loans worth Rs 1600 crores. Farmers, during the same period, have benefitted from bank loans worth Rs 4500 crores.” 

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT: 

I am indebted to Late Prof. K. R. Rao D.Sc. (Madras) D.Sc. (London) for his interest and constant encouragement to publish my articles, and also to Late Mrs. Peramma Rangadhamarao for her support.