Category Archives: World Opinion

NATIONAL: ARTS & CULTURE / LANGUAGE: Braille Edition of Assamese Dictionary ‘Hemkosh’ enters Guinness World Records

The official letter was presented at a ceremony coinciding with the 127th death anniversary of Hemchandra Baruah, who compiled it in the 19th century.

The Braille edition of ‘Hemkosh’, the first etymological dictionary of the Assamese language, has entered the Guinness World Records, an official said on Monday. The official certificate recognising ‘Hemkosh’ as the world’s largest bilingual Braille dictionary was handed to its publisher, Jayanta Baruah by the official adjudicator for Guinness World Records, Rishi Nath here on Monday.

The official letter was presented at a ceremony coinciding with the 127th death anniversary of Hemchandra Baruah, who had compiled the ‘Hemkosh’ in the last part of the 19th century. The confirmation of the recognition was received by the publisher on April 24 through an email.

The seminal work was first published in 1919, four years after Baruah’s demise. Subsequent editions of the dictionary were published and the 15th edition is currently under production, its members said. The dictionary is considered to be the standard reference of Assamese orthography, which is the set of conventions for writing a language, including norms of spelling, hyphenation, capitalization, word boundaries, emphasis and punctuation.

The braille edition is the adaption of Hemkosh’s 14th edition of the regular dictionary and is an Assamese and English one. It has 90,640 words printed in 21 volumes and are divided into six parts, comprising a total 10,279 pages and weighing 80.800 kg, a release said. Jayanta Baruah, who is himself an heir of Hemchandra Baruah and is the owner of Hemkosh Prakashan, has donated copies of the dictionary to all educational institutions for the visually impaired students, besides to different libraries.

source/content: hindustantimes.com (headline edited0

INTERNATIONAL: SPORT / SAILING / ENDURANCE: ‘I’m a much better sailor now’: Commander Abhilash Tomy after Achieving 02nd Place in Gruelling ‘2022 Golden Global Race’. History was Created Making Tomy the First Asian Skipper to Finish on the Podium in Any round-the-world race.

Abhilash Tomy is the first Asian skipper to finish on the podium in any round the world race, and in any format.

Champion sailor Commander Abhilash Tomy (retd) on Saturday accomplished a rare feat that pushed the limits of his endurance with a second-place finish in the challenging solo, non-stop circumnavigation race, 2022 Golden Globe Race (GGR), after sailing in seas for 236 days.

“My mind is blank right now, but I am relieved. The race was a huge learning experience, and I am a much better sailor now,” Tomy told HT over phone from Les Sables-d’Olonne in France soon after completing the 30,000-mile race.

The GGR is the longest sporting event in the world and bars the use of modern technology.

Tomy is in good health but has lost more than 20kg during the eight months at sea.

“Health wise, I am fine. All problems disappear whenever I am at sea. However, my legs are unstable, and I can’t walk straight because of the amount of sailing I did,” he said. “I weighed 92kg when the race began, but I am now down to 70kg.”

Tomy had set off from Les Sables-d’Olonne on September 4, 2022, with 15 other competitors. Only two have thus far crossed the finish line at GGR at Les Sables-d’Olonne again. South Africa’s Kirsten Neuschäfer came first on Thursday. She is the first woman to win the race.

Tomy is the first Asian skipper to finish on the podium in any round the world race, and in any format. He took part in the race in a United Arab Emirates-flagged boat “Bayanat”.

Naval historian Commodore Srikant Kesnur (retd) described Tomy’s podium finish as “India’s greatest sporting achievement”.

“Apart from skills, there is a certain amount of luck involved in this race. Any freak thing can happen. I faced several challenges including weather and boat breakdowns,” Tomy said.

He took part in the 2018 edition of the race, and that attempt nearly proved fatal for him. He could not finish it because of an accident. He suffered a debilitating back injury on September 21, 2018, after rough seas and powerful winds in the southern Indian Ocean, one of the remotest spots on Earth, crippled his yacht, “SV Thuriya”.

Tomy was rescued 70 hours later. In the medical treatment that followed, titanium rods were inserted in his spine and five vertebrae were fused into one.

Before the accident, Tomy was in the third position among 11 international participants and had sailed more than 10,500 nautical miles since the race began on July 1, 2018. That was the 50th year of the race that commemorated Robin Knox-Johnston’s feat in 1968, with participants required to operate under the same conditions, even navigating using charts and the stars.

He had called GGR “unfinished business” after the first attempt.

Tomy passed through the same waters where he was stranded after the 2018 accident. His boat was then battered by a series of knockdowns. The rough seas and powerful winds pummeled his yacht, sending it into a 360-degree spin and dismasting it.

“My body was extremely stressed till I crossed the area where my boat was toppled by powerful winds and waves almost five years ago. There was a lot of tension in my jaw, my neck and thighs felt tight, and I had breathing issues. I felt a certain lightness in my body after crossing that area near Ile Amsterdam in southern Indian Ocean,” said Tomy.

After a dramatic rescue in 2018, he was taken to Ile Amsterdam, a 55-sq km island that is part of French territory, and treated at a small medical facility.

This time Tomy celebrated his birthday at sea. He turned 44 on February 5.

He encountered the worst weather two days after his birthday.

“There was a weather warning on my birthday. Pressure was dropping fast. I sent a message to the GGR organisers that I am having a ‘milli bar’ party and everyone is invited,” he said.

Navy chief Admiral R Hari Kumar sent Tomy a video message on Saturday, congratulating him. Tomy was in tears after seeing the message as Kumar was among his chief supporters when he took part in the race in 2018.

Tomy said he missed his wife and two sons terribly during the race.

“I look forward to having some fish curry and rice with my family after I return to Goa. I survived on tinned food, and I am really looking forward to some real food,” he said.

Tomy first announced that he would take part in GGR-22 at the Hindustan Times Leadership Summit 2019, where he also gave details of the harrowing moments that abruptly ended his participation in GGR-18.

There is nothing quite like the GGR that tests skill, resolve, endurance, fortitude, mental strength and physical stamina, said Kesnur.

“It’s a sport dominated by the West where no Indian or Asian has ever featured.

Tomy had achieved enough when he became the first Asian to do non-stop solo circumnavigation in 2013. But his quest for adventure and love for the oceans drew him to GGR 2018.

The accident, his heroic struggle and extent of physical injury could have traumatised anyone, but Abhilash is another breed altogether,” said Kesnur.

“His exploits during this race have been jaw dropping. The man was riding a bruised, battered boat from all the punishment it took at sea,” Kesnur said. “Where many other champion sailors gave up, Tomy’s DIY skills, his innovation and jugaad at sea helped him stay the course.”

Tomy became the first Indian to circumnavigate the globe on board his boat “Mhadei” — solo, non-stop and unassisted in 2013. He was awarded India’s second-highest peacetime gallantry award, Kirti Chakra, for the feat.

“As a naval historian, I can also say that he has given a fillip to the pursuit of ocean sailing. If only India took its gaze away from cricket and Bollywood, we will realise that Tomy would rank as one of our greatest heroes and sporting icons,” Kesnur added.

These eight months have been a blur, said Tomy’s wife, Urmimala Abhilash.

“I was extremely anxious from the time Abhilash left. And I think I’ve traversed this journey with him in spirit. At times exhilarating, at times nerve wrecking, at times heartbreaking. But journeys are like that. I know it would’ve deeply transformed Abhilash. I too feel deeply transformed by it,” she said.

“It was difficult to accept Abhilash’s decision to return to this race. But I am so glad he did. The last time he returned, I knew I would be able to heal and nurture him physically, but this time I know he has healed himself mentally by finishing this incredible, unforgiving race. He has aced it. This was one thing I couldn’t have done. I am incredibly proud of him. I’m happy he has closed his unfinished business himself. He remains the undisputed winner of the race. At least to me,” she added.

source/content: hindustantimes.com (headline edited)

NATIONAL: DEFENCE / INDIAN ARMY & I.T: Indian Army Creates New Cyber Operations Wing and ‘test bed’ Structures

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The decisions were taken by the top brass during the latest edition of Army Commanders Conference (ACC) which was organised for the first time in a hybrid model from 17-21 April 2023.

In a move to augment the operational capabilities along with the absorption of new technologies the Indian Army has decided to create a new wing to handle cyber operations and also plans to create structures to “test bed” the large number and variety of niche tech-enabled equipment being inducted into the Indian Army.

The decisions were taken by the top brass during the latest edition of Army Commanders Conference (ACC) which was organised for the first time in a hybrid model from 17-21 April 2023.

New Command Cyber Operations and Support Wings (CCOSW)

The Army in a statement on Thursday said, “With rapid migration towards net centricity, which entails an increased reliance on modern communication systems, the forum reviewed the requirement to safeguard the networks and decided to operationalise Command Cyber Operations and Support Wings (CCOSW) in the immediate future.”

The CCOSW being raised “will assist the formations to undertake the mandated cyber security functions to strengthen the cyber security posture of the Indian Army.”

To begin with, the new wing will have officers earmarked and will spend tenure, to begin with at the Command level, sources said. “Cyberspace has emerged as an important military domain both in grey zone warfare as well as conventional operations.”

The decision was taken as “the expansion of cyber warfare capabilities by our adversaries has made the cyber domain more competitive and contested than ever before.”

In another important decision, the Army Commanders during the ACC, in order to augment the capabilities of the forces by absorption of Niche Technologies and equipment, decided to nominate Lead Directorates and ‘Test Bed’ Formations to evolve optimal employment philosophies and scaling to facilitate better exploitation Pan Army.

Absorption of niche capabilities in Indian Army

Pointing to a large number and variety of niche tech-enabled equipment being inducted into the Indian Army., a need was felt that force structures are required to optimally exploit them. “Seamless exploitation of niche equipment also has an impact on the refinement of the existing TTPs and maintenance/sustenance philosophy that would have a direct bearing on the training and maintenance of the equipment,” sources said.

The structures will be created, “in order to augment the capabilities of the forces by absorption of Niche Technologies and equipment, it was decided to nominate Lead Directorates and ‘Test Bed’ Formations to evolve optimal employment philosophies and scaling to facilitate better exploitation of the Pan Army,” added the sources.

These equipments include a variety of Tactical/Mini/ Micro/Logistics Drones/ UAVs, Drone Swarms, Loiter Weapon Systems, Electronic Warfare, Ant-Drone equipment etc. These equipment being procured both through different routes by multiple agencies are intended to enhance the fighting potential of the field formations by infusion of niche capabilities in our force structures. The Army has announced the year 2023 as the “Year of Transformation.”

Army Commanders’ Conference (ACC) is an apex-level biannual event that is an institutional platform for conceptual level deliberations, culminating in making important policy decisions for the Indian Army. The apex leadership also brainstormed over wide-ranging Strategic, Training, Human Resource Development, and Administrative aspects and took key decisions in shaping the Army for the future.

More significant decisions regarding the process of induction of the Officers into the Force and the welfare of specially-abled children of those soldiers who die in harnesses were taken. It was decided to double the sustenance allowance to such children through the Army Group Insurance Fund (AGIF).

In regards to the Technical Entry Scheme (TES) for entry of officers into the Indian Army the training period will be brought down to four years instead of the present five years. It has been done under deliberations on training initiatives to optimise infrastructure, time and resources to maintain an effective and lethal fighting force.

The sources said that in the TES entry scheme, it was decided to transition from the existing 1+3+1 years Technical Entry Scheme (TES) model to the 3+1 TES model from Jan 2024 onwards.

“This change will also accrue benefits of the availability of more officers in the units and address officers’ shortages,” they said.

Simulator training is also planned to be given a significant push through the procurement of 435 simulators at an estimated cost of 791 crores this year.

In order to harness the indomitable spirit and never say die attitude of the soldiers who are Battle and Physical Casualties, Army Commanders decided “to identify and train selected motivated soldiers for Paralympic Events by training them at Army Sports and Mission Olympic Nodes in nine sporting events.”

source/contents: newindianexpress.com (headline edited)

WORLD RECORD: Odisha’s Birsa Munda International Hockey Stadium gets into Guinness World Records Book as World’s Largest Fully-Seated Hockey Stadium

The Birsa Munda International Hockey Stadium has been officially recognised as the largest fully-seated hockey stadium in the world.

Guinness World Records officials handed over a certificate to this effect to the Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik ahead of India’s Pro League game against newly-crowned World champion Germany in front of a cheering capacity crowd.

Built from scratch in just 15 months for the recently-held World Cup, the stadium can seat 20,011 with uninterrupted viewing experience and boasts of world-class facilities — for players and viewers.

“This recognition is a testament that our state Odisha has come a long way and has made a mark on the international sports map. It is a matter of great pride for all of us and I thank everyone who was part of this project, the people of Sundargarh and the hockey fans for their unconditional support to the sport. It inspired us to accomplish this Herculean task. I dedicate this recognition to the people of Odisha,” CM Patnaik said while receiving the award.

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)

INTERNATIONAL: BUSINESS & ECONOMY – LOGISTICS: India Climbs 6 Places on World Bank’s Logistic Performance Index

PM Modi-led government in October 2021 announced PM Gati Shakti initiative, a National Master Plan for multimodal connectivity, to reduce logistics cost and boost the economy by 2024-25.

India has climbed six places on the World Bank’s Logistic Performance Index (LPI) 2023, now ranking 38th in the 139 countries index, as a result of significant investments in both soft and hard infrastructure as well as technology.

India was ranked 44th on the index in 2018 and has now climbed to 38th in the 2023 listing. India’s performance has drastically improved from 2014, when it was ranked 54th on the LPI.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government had announced PM Gati Shakti initiative , a National Master Plan for multimodal connectivity, in October 2021 to reduce logistics cost and boost the economy by 2024-25.

In 2022, the Prime Minister launched the National Logistics Policy (NLP) to ensure quick last-mile delivery, end transport-related challenges, save time and money of the manufacturing sector and ensure desired speed in the logistics sector.

These policy interventions are fructifying, which can be seen in India’s jump in LPI and its other parameters.

According to the report, India’s rank moved up five places in infrastructure score from 52nd in 2018 to 47th in 2023. It climbed to the 22nd spot for international shipments in 2023 from 44th in 2018 and moved four places up to 48th in logistics competence and equality.

In timelines, India witnessed a 17-place jump in rankings, whereas it moved up three places in rank in tracking and tracing to 38th. The report quotes modernisation and digitalisation as a reason for emerging economies, like India, to leapfrog advanced countries.

The report said: “Since 2015, the Government of India has invested in trade-related soft and hard infrastructure connecting port gateways on both coasts to the economic poles in the hinterland.”

Technology has been a critical component of this effort, with implementation under a public-private partnership of a supply chain visibility platform, which contributed to remarkable reductions of delays.

NICDC Logistics Data Services Limited applies radio frequency identification tags to containers and offers consignees end-to-end tracking of their supply chain, it added.

According to the report, the average dwell time for containers between May and October 2022 was three days for India and Singapore, much better than in some of the industrialised countries. The dwell time for the U.S. was seven days and for Germany, it was 10 days.

The report said: “The emerging economies with the shortest delays have gone beyond these packages and have implemented bold tracking and tracing solutions. India’s very low dwell time (2.6 days) is one example”.

Further the report said: “With the introduction of cargo tracking, dwell time in the eastern port of Visakhapatnam fell from 32.4 days in 2015 to 5.3 days in 2019.”

Dwell time is how long a vessel spends at a specific port or terminal. It may also refer to the amount of time that a container or cargo spends at a port or terminal before being loaded onto a vessel or after being unloaded from a vessel. Shipping container vessels operate on schedules and delays in any particular port are felt across the service.

The shorter the dwell time, the lower the vessel and marine-terminal operating costs.

The LPI covers 139 countries, and measures the ease of establishing reliable supply chain connections and the structural factors that make it possible, such as the quality of logistics services, trade and transport-related infrastructure, and border controls.

“End-to-end supply chain digitalisation, especially in emerging economies, is allowing countries to shorten port delays by up to 70% compared to those in developed countries. Moreover, demand for green logistics is rising, with 75% of shippers looking for environment-friendly options when exporting to high-income countries,” the report said.

“While most time is spent in shipping, the biggest delays occur at seaports, airports, and multimodal facilities. Policies targeting these facilities can help improve reliability,” said Christina Wiederer, senior economist, the World Bank group’s macroeconomics, trade & investment global practice and the report’s co-author.

source/contents: thehindu.com (headline edited)

INTERNATIONAL: LEADERSHIP: Indian-origin CEO Udai Tambar on Racial Justice Advisory Board in US

“It is crucial that the Racial Justice Charter Amendments ensure that BIPOC New Yorkers live in a society where they can achieve their fullest potential,” Tambar said.

 Udai Tambar, an Indian-origin CEO involved in youth development services in the US, is among 15 experts appointed as members of the newly-formed racial justice advisory board in New York City.

Tambar, the CEO and President of New York Junior Tennis and Learning (NYJTL) was named as a member of the advisory board on implementation of the Racial Justice Charter Amendments, launched last week by Mayor Eric Adams and Mayor’s Office of Equity Commissioner Sideya Sherman.

The board will help ensure that New York City continues to lead the nation in innovative, racial equity work and carries out the city’s newly enshrined charter changes, according to a statement by the Mayor’s office.

I am excited to partner with the new Advisory Board to represent NYC’s most resilient communities,” Tambar was quoted as saying in the statement.

“A majority of the families we serve at NYJTL are BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and people of colour) New Yorkers, and it is crucial that this new racial equity infrastructure ensures that they live in a society where they can flourish and achieve their fullest potential,” he added.

According to the statement, the amendments were voted into law during the November 2022 general election and are the first of their kind in the nation.

“These added a statement of values to the city’s charter; required the city to establish a racial equity office and commission, as well as racial equity-focused plans; and called for the city to measure the true cost of living for city residents,” the statement said.

Tambar most recently served as Vice President of Community Health at Northwell Health and is currently the President & CEO of NYJTL, the largest nonprofit youth tennis and education programme in the US.

He has devoted much of his career to serving youth, including serving as Chief of Staff and Director of Youth & Children Services for the NYC Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services and as the Executive Director for South Asian Youth Action (SAYA!), which provides comprehensive youth development services for NYC’s under-resourced South Asian community, the statement said.

Tambar graduated from Cornell University with a Bachelor of Arts and received a Master’s in Public Affairs from Princeton University.

He most recently attended Harvard Business School’s Executive Education Program and received a certificate in Strategic Perspectives in Nonprofit Management.

source/content: newindianexpress.com (headline edited)

NATIONAL: DEFENCE: India’s DRDO and Indian Navy Conducts Successful Trial of BMD Interceptor Missile. Enters Elite Club of Nations having Naval Ballistic Missile Defence (BMD) Capability.

Country enters elite club of nations having Naval ballistic missile defence capability.

India has successfully conducted a maiden flight trial of a sea-based endo-atmospheric interceptor missile off the coast of Odisha.

The missile test was conducted by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and the Indian Navy on Friday.

“The purpose of the trial was to engage and neutralise a hostile ballistic missile threat thereby elevating India into the elite club of nations having Naval BMD capability,” the Ministry of Defence said on Saturday.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh congratulated DRDO, Indian Navy and industry involved in the successful demonstration of ship-based ballistic missile defence (BMD) capabilities.

source/content: tribuneindia.com (headline edited)

INTERNATIONAL: SPORTS / ARCHERY: World Cup Archery | Jyothi Surekha Vennam and Ojas Deotale claim Gold in compound mixed team

This was also India’s second ever World Cup gold medal in the mixed compound event.

Jyothi Surekha Vennam and her debutant partner Ojas Deotale were at their ruthless best and prevailed over Chinese Taipei 159-154 as India grabbed the compound mixed team gold to open their account in the World Cup Stage 1 in Antalya on April 22.

This was also India’s second ever World Cup gold medal in the mixed compound event. Jyothi and veteran Abhishek Verma had clinched their maiden gold in World Cup-3 in Paris 2022.

In the absence of India’s multiple World Cup winner Verma, who failed to make the cut from the national trials, the new-look Indian pair hardly looked short on experience and hit the centre an incredible 15 times from 16 arrows to defeat their 12th-seeded rivals in a lopsided final.

Of the 15 perfect 10s, 12 times they hit the X (closer to the centre).

The second seeded Indian duo of Jyothi and 20-year-old Deotale dropped just one point only once in the final end otherwise it would have been a perfect 160/160.

There was no stopping Jyothi and Deotale who drilled in a string of perfect 10s to race to a 120-116 lead in the penultimate end.

The second end was a fairytale affair as they hit the X all on their four attempts to make it 80-76 in favour of them.

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)

NATIONAL: INT’L BUSINESS : Tim Cook launches Apple’s First India Store in Mumbai, April 18,2023

Likely to meet PM Modi tomorrow; open second store in Delhi.

Apple’s chief executive Tim Cook on Tuesday launched the iconic consumer technology company’s first retail store in India, welcoming customers into the facility inside a mall in suburban Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC) in Mumbai. Hundreds of customers had queued up since last night to be among the first ones to shop or get a feel of the store.

The added attraction of the presence of company’s CEO had added to the buzz and the fact that India will have an Apple store before Malaysia but after Singapore and Thailand.

Despite having 3% market share, the buzz around the Apple store indicated the mind space it has come to occupy. The day began with Tim Cook and his senior vice-president for retail Deirdre O’Brien standing behind the closed glass front doors of the store as co-workers in green shirts began a countdown.

Despite having carved out a special niche for its products, Apple wasn’t taking any chances with its competitors. The 20,000-sq ft space at Jio Mall in BKC has been taken on lease for 11 years at a cost of Rs 42 lakh per month provided there are none of the 22 competing brands in the vicinity. These include Amazon, Facebook, Google LG, Microsoft and Sony.

Cook is expected to open the second store in the national capital at Saket to a similar frenzy on Thursday and call on Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The first two customers, interviewed by the media, said they had been camping before the store since the previous night because of their love for Apple products. One had flown in from Rajasthan for the occasion and, undaunted after 15 hours spent in front of the Mumbai store, is planning to attend the opening of the Saket store as well. The first lot of customers took selfies with Cook and one of them got more time than the rest after he brought his Mac of 1984 vintage.

However, though there is local iPhone assembly, it still remains extremely expensive with hopes belied of a drop in prices. The base model iPhone 14 Pro costs $1,600 in India as against $999 in the US. Moreover, iPhone owners in India do not get several services such as News+, Fitness+, and Apple Pay.

source/content: tribuneindia.com (headline edited)

INTERNATIONAL: BUDDHISM CONFERENCE: India to Host 02-day ‘International Buddhist Conference’

Over 170 delegates from foreign countries and 150 from India would participate in the summit to be held on April 20-21 in the national capital.

India will host an international summit on Buddhism which would be attended by delegates from 30 countries, a notable exception being China. Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, was also unlikely to attend the two-day conclave.

The maiden conference being organised by the Union Culture Ministry and the International Buddhist Confederation will discuss contemporary global issues through a Buddhist perspective.

“India is the birthplace of Buddhism. The summit aims to find solutions to problems such as climate change, poverty, and conflict, among others, by exploring the Buddhist teachings and practices,” Union Culture Minister G. Kishan Reddy said.

Over 170 delegates from foreign countries, including Mexico, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and Japan, and 150 from India would participate in the summit to be held on April 20-21 in the national capital.

The delegates include prominent scholars, monks, diplomats and members of Buddhist organisations across the globe.

The largest number of delegates are from Sri Lanka (20) and Vietnam (30), Abhijit Haldar, Director General of International Buddhist Confederation, said.

He said that while no delegate had confirmed from China, there would be two participants from Taiwan.

“The invitations were sent to various Buddhist institutions and not to governments,” he added.

He also mentioned that the Dalai Lama might not attend the event due to “health issues”.

The Tibetan spiritual leader has been at the centre of a controversy earlier this month over an incident with a minor boy.

PM to inaugurate conclave

The conference themed “Responses to Contemporary Challenges from Philosophy to Praxis” would be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The discussion would be under four themes Buddha Dhamma and Peace, Buddha Dhamma: Environmental Crisis, Health and Sustainability, Preservation of Nalanda Buddhist Tradition and Buddhist Pilgrimage, Living Heritage and Relics.

The conference was expected to produce a document for further academic research and study the viability of Buddhism as a tool for the conduct of international relations on global stage.

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)