Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s 50-year regime collapsed on December 8, 2024 after a major offensive by opposition forces. Syria’s civil war has raged for over 13 years and repeated attempts to overthrow Assad’s government were met with brutal crackdowns. Watch the video to know why the civil war resurfaced and what Assad’s fall means for India?

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's 50-year regime collapsed on December 8, 2024 after a major offensive by opposition forces.

Syrian civil war explained: What Assad's fall means for India

Syrian civil war explained: What Assad’s fall means for India

Telecom operators Bharti Airtel and Vodafone Idea have sold their entire stake in Wi-Fi infrastructure company Firefly Networks to iBus Network and Infrastructure for Rs 9 crore, the telcos said in separate regulatory filings on Monday.
FireFly Networks Limited is a 50-50 joint venture between Vodafone Idea and Bharti Airtel Limited.
"Bharti Airtel Limited has entered into a Share Purchase Agreement with iBus Network and Infrastructure Private Limited for transfer of Company's entire stake (50 per cent) in Firefly Networks Limited," Airtel said in a filing.
The deal is expected to close within 30 business days from the date of execution of the agreement between the firms.
"The Company will receive Rs 45 million for the sale of its entire stake (50 per cent) held in Firefly," Vodafone Idea said in a separate filing.
Firefly manages and monetises Wi-Fi hotspots by providing the best Wi-Fi infrastructure to partners like educational institutes, hospitals, malls, cafes, public hangout

The deal is expected to close within 30 business days from the date of execution of the agreement between the firms

Meta asked the NCLAT to hear the case urgently, noting its implications and the stakes involved and the NCLAT bench led by Chairperson Justice (Retd) Ashok Bhushan is likely to hear it

OnePlus 13 series launch event on January 7. Samsung brings on-device AI to TVs with Vision AI. Xiaomi launches Redmi 14C 5G. Realme 14 Pro series 5G. LG OLED evo TVs with built-in AI

Cowpea seedlings onboard PSLV-C60 POEM-4 module sprout their first leaves in space, signifying a milestone in space-based plant research, ISRO said on Monday.
According to India's national space agency, the Compact Research Module for Orbital Plant Studies (CROPS), developed by the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC), is an automated platform designed to cultivate and sustain plant life in the microgravity environment of space.
One of its recent experiments involved growing cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) seeds within a controlled, closed environment equipped with active thermal management, said ISRO.
The system monitored various parameters, including oxygen and carbon dioxide levels, relative humidity, temperature, and soil moisture, while capturing images to track plant growth, added ISRO.
According to the space agency, this setup successfully supported the germination and development of cowpea plants up to the two-leaf stage in space.
"This accomplishment not only demonstrates ISRO'

Understanding on how plants adapt to microgravity is crucial for developing life support systems that can produce food and regenerate air and water for astronauts

People from 183 countries across the world are actively seeking information about the Maha Kumbh through various websites and portals, the Uttar Pradesh government said on Monday.
The official website of Maha Kumbh, https://kumbh.gov.in/, has emerged as the primary source for reliable information, witnessing significant traffic from millions of users worldwide, it said in a statement.
"According to the data of the website, as of January 4, over 33 lakh visitors from 183 countries accessed the portal to gather details about Maha Kumbh.  This includes visitors from across continents, such as Europe, America, and Africa, showcasing the event's global appeal," it said.
A representative from the technical team managing the website confirmed that, as of January 4, a total of 33,05,667 users have visited the official Maha Kumbh portal. These users belong to 183 countries, with visits recorded from as many as 6,206 cities worldwide, it added.
India remains the top country for website visit

The Uttar Pradesh government is presenting the Maha Kumbh as a 'Digital Maha Kumbh'. Several digital platforms have been developed to ensure the convenience of devotees

The Central Ground Water Authority has informed the National Green Tribunal that groundwater extraction in the national capital has reduced from 127 per cent in 2013 to 99 per cent in 2023.
Earlier, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) had taken suo motu cognisance of a PTI report regarding a UN study predicting that several parts of the country could experience critically low groundwater availability by 2025.
It had also sought a response from the Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA).
In its action-taken report dated January 1, the CGWA said that along with the Union Ministry of Jal Shakti (MoJS), it took several steps to increase groundwater levels, such as promoting artificial recharge, rainwater harvesting, sustainable agricultural practices, and community participation.
"On reviewing the comparison of state-wise resource assessment reports from 2013 to 2023, it is evident that in most of the states/Union Territories (UTs), the percentage of groundwater extraction has significant

The CGWA said it received an environmental compensation of around Rs 41.74 crore from violators engaged in the illegal extraction of groundwater across the country from 2013 to November 2024

All-India Plastics Manufacturers' Association on Monday urged the government for a production-linked incentive scheme for the sector in the upcoming Budget 2025, to increase India's share in the global plastics market.
In a pre-budget consultation meeting with the Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, All-India Plastics Manufacturers' Association (AIPMA) said it has asked the government to reduce GST to 'nil' for plastic waste as well as recycling machinery, to encourage recycling.
Besides, it has also sought lowering of GST to 5 per cent, from 18 per cent, on the conversion cost of recycled plastic granules, and providing a 20 per cent subsidy to purchase capital equipment for recycling, the association said in a statement.
AIPMA Chairman Arvind M Mehta said India has immense potential to scale up its operations and increase its share in the global plastic market.
"China's export of plastic finished goods is currently 25 times higher than India's, underscoring the vast ...

They have also sought lowering of GST to 5%, from 18%, on the conversion cost of recycled plastic granules, and providing a 20% subsidy to purchase capital equipment for recycling

The Union Budget for FY 2025-26 assumes significance as it comes on the back of lower than expected growth numbers in the second quarter and geopolitical uncertainty

Russia-Ukraine War

The year 2022 is coming to an end and a lot has happened that shaped the world in the year. Let's have a look at some of these significant events

In February 2022, Russia attacked Ukraine&amp;#39;s capital, Kyiv, from the north in an attempt to overthrow President Volodymyr Zelensky&amp;#39;s government. In the months following, artillery bombardment and street fighting continued, with Russia seizing multiple cities.

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After a slew of scandals in his term spanning three years, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson resigned from office in July. Johnson was succeeded by Liz Truss, who took over the office in September.
						
						But after 45 days in the office, she resigned, becoming the shortest-serving PM in UK history. Her budgetary plans, at the centre of which were tax cut plans, had crashed the markets, making her lose the confidence of almost all her own MPs.
						
						In the days that followed, Rishi Sunak took over as Britain&amp;#39;s 57th prime minister and vowed to fix the mistakes made by his predecessor, Liz Truss.

Russia Invades Ukraine

In April, protests began in the nation following a sharp rise in food and fuel costs. Thousands demanded the resignation of now-ousted President Gotabaya Rajapaksa. The people faced long power cuts daily and shortages of basics, including fuel and food. Sri Lanka&amp;#39;s doctors said they were nearly out of life-saving medicines.
						
						Rajapaksa&amp;#39;s government was being blamed for the chronic mismanagement of the country&amp;#39;s finances. In July, protestors stormed Rajapaksa&amp;#39;s home, pushing him to flee the nation before resigning from office.

UK&amp;#39;s political crisis

In September, 22-year-old Iranian girl Mahsa Amini died after being detained for allegedly violating Iran&amp;#39;s laws requiring women to wear a headscarf. Authorities said she died of illness, but her family claimed she fell into a coma after being mistreated by the police. Sources said the police beat Amini with a baton and banged her head against a vehicle. At her funeral on September 17 in Saqez, women protested by ripping off their hijabs. Protests sparked by her demise have since roped in ethnic minorities and even school children. Thousands of women since then have been showing solidarity by cutting their hair and burning their hijabs in public.
						
						Now, the unrest has spread beyond a women&amp;#39;s right to a movement that is calling for an end to theocratic rule. The protests are now the most broadly supported movement in Iran in over four decades.

Sri Lanka economic crisis

In October, Chinese President Xi Jinping was handed a historic third term in office. He became the first leader of the ruling Communist Party after party founder Mao Zedong to get a third term in power.
						
						This came as China&amp;#39;s economy was running out of steam after decades of high growth. Many expect Xi&amp;#39;s third term may see China revert to more old-school economic management, focusing on shoring up the heavy industry and continuing a crackdown on big tech.

Uprising mounts again in Iran

In a historic first, rich countries agreed to pay for losses and damages caused by climate change. For 30 years, developing nations have been calling for developed countries to compensate for the costs of climate disasters caused by climate change. And rich nations that caused the pollution resisted the demand. But this changed in 2022.

Chinese President Xi Jinping starts record third term in power

In 2022, inflation was rising worldwide, with food and energy prices hitting record highs. The hike was mainly driven by pent-up consumer demand after the pandemic and Russia&amp;#39;s invasion of Ukraine. As the pandemic waned, people wanted to return to normalcy and spend more. This led to companies demanding higher prices. Companies also hired more to serve the pent-up demand. They had to increase wages to attract workers and raise prices to compensate for that.

A landmark deal UN Climate Change Conference (COP27)

In September, Queen Elizabeth II, Britain&amp;#39;s longest-serving monarch, died at 96 after reigning for 70 years. Many said her death would mark a turning point for commonwealth nations as many may disassociate themselves.

The global economy at crossroads

In October, Brazil&amp;#39;s former president, Luiz In&amp;aacute;cio Lula da Silva beat Jair Bolsonaro in the country&amp;#39;s closest presidential race in history. Silva&amp;#39;s win marked Latin America&amp;#39;s shift to the left and pointed to an extraordinary comeback for a man in jail for corruption three years ago.

Queen Elizabeth II dies

In October, billionaire Elon Musk closed his $44 billion deal to buy Twitter after months of dilly-dallying, drama and a lawsuit. The Tesla owner&amp;#39;s Twitter takeover is also one of the biggest tech acquisitions of all time. May fear that Musk&amp;#39;s takeover may turn the social media giant into a hotbed of hate speech.
					
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Brazil elections

Google Messages

In January, Google rolled out end-to-end encryption in group chats for messages app users enrolled in the beta programme

Blend launches Blend Studio: AI tool for ecommerce photography

New Delhi [India], March 16 (ANI/PNN): Blend, an AI-powered design and photography application for DTC brands and ecommerce sellers, recently launched Blend Studio - the Chat GPT for product photos.

Celebrity and Travel Photographer Rahul Lokare from Flamingo Productions creates waves of change in the world of photography.

Xiaomi 13 Pro

Priced at Rs 79,999 for the 12GB RAM and 256GB on-board storage, the Xiaomi 13 Pro offers a novel imaging experience on top of a premium package

Syrian civil war explained: What Assad’s fall means for India

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