Category Archives: GENERAL

CAA comes into effect, Minorities from Pakistan, Bangladesh, Afghanistan to get India Citizenship

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The Union Home Ministry on Monday, March 11, 2024, notified the rules for the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), providing for granting citizenship to people of certain faiths facing persecution in neighbouring countries like Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan and it applies to those who moved to India before 2015.

An MHA spokesperson announced that immigrants eligible for citizenship under the CAA must submit their applications online through a dedicated web portal. The CAA, a key component of the BJP’s 2019 Lok Sabha manifesto, facilitates citizenship for non-Muslims, particularly Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, Buddhists, and Parsis who migrated to India before December 31, 2014, due to religious persecution in neighboring countries.

Despite protests from the Muslim community and opposition parties, the CAA was passed by Parliament in December 2019. Home Minister Amit Shah reaffirmed that the CAA would be implemented before the upcoming Lok Sabha elections in April/May.

Shah emphasized that the CAA, which excludes Muslims because they do not face religious persecution in their home countries, aims to provide citizenship rather than revoke it. He assured Indian Muslim citizens that the bill would not affect their citizenship status and urged the opposition not to politicize the issue along communal lines.

According to Shah, the CAA seeks to grant citizenship retroactively from the immigrants’ entry into India, closing legal proceedings against them and safeguarding their business interests. Expired passports and visas of eligible minorities will not be considered illegal.

Shah highlighted the decline of minority populations in Pakistan and Bangladesh due to persecution, leading many to flee to India. He attributed the necessity of the CAA to the failure of the Nehru-Liaqat pact in safeguarding minority rights in these countries after India’s partition based on religious lines.

Strengthening Bonds: President Droupadi Murmu’s Historic State Visit to Mauritius

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President Droupadi Murmu embarked on a significant state visit to Mauritius from March 11th to 13th, strengthening the longstanding ties between the two nations.

As a chief guest, President Murmu attended the National Day celebrations in Mauritius, underscoring the deepening bilateral relations. The visit saw the participation of a contingent from the Indian Navy, including two ships from the First Training Squadron, INS Tir and CGS Sarathi, in the festivities on March 12th.

The Ministry of External Affairs highlighted the milestone in India-Mauritius relations, emphasizing the significance of President Murmu’s presence at the National Day celebrations.

During her visit, President Murmu, along with Mauritius Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth, inaugurated 14 India-assisted projects, showcasing the diverse facets of India’s development partnership with Mauritius.

President Murmu’s visit followed the recent joint inauguration by Prime Ministers Narendra Modi and Pravind Jugnauth of infrastructure projects in Agalega Island.

As the sixth Indian President to grace Mauritius’ National Day as Chief Guest since 2000, President Murmu’s visit symbolized the enduring bond between the two nations, as stated by the Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal.

President Murmu held bilateral meetings with Mauritius President Prithvirajsing Roopun and Prime Minister Jugnauth, besides engagements with other Mauritian leaders, including the Speaker of the National Assembly and the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.

The visit also witnessed the exchange of key bilateral agreements aimed at bolstering institutional collaboration and capacity-building cooperation.

President Murmu paid homage to Mauritian leaders at the Pamplemousses Botanical Garden and visited significant historical and cultural sites, including the Aapravasi Ghat and the Intercontinental Slavery Museum.

Addressing Mauritian youth at the University of Mauritius and engaging with socio-cultural organizations and the Indian diaspora highlighted the multifaceted aspects of the visit, fostering people-to-people ties between India and Mauritius.

96th Academy Awards: ‘Oppenheimer’ with 7 Oscar wins, ‘Poor Things’ with 4, dominate Awards

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As expected, Christopher Nolan’s film ‘Oppenheimer’ dominated the 96th Academy Awards, with seven trophies including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor, while ‘Poor Things’ bagged four honors at the grand ceremony held in Los Angeles.

“We made a film about the man who created the atomic bomb, and for better or for worse, we’re all living in Oppenheimer’s world,” Cillian Murphy said while accepting the honor. The Best Director award went to him as a first, despite being nominated seven times previously.

He said: “Movies are just a little bit over 100 years old.. I would imagine being 100 years into painting or theater. We don’t know where this incredible journey is going from here, but to know that you think that I’m a meaningful part of it means the world to me.”

Emma Stone earned her second best actress Oscar for ‘Poor Things’. She thanked her director Yorgo Lanthimos, with whom she has just made another movie, ‘Kinds of Kindness’, as well as the rest of the film’s team.

Da’vine Joy Randolph was feted Best Supporting actress for her role as a grieving cafeteria manager grappling with the death of her son in ‘The Holdovers’.

Robert Downey Jr. won the Best Supporting actor for the Cillian Murphy-starrer. The actor, who struggled with drug addiction for much of the 1990s and early aughts before getting sober and launching his comeback, thanked Tom Hansen, his lawyer of 40 years, “half of which he spent trying to get me insured and bailing me out.”

Jonathan Glazer, director of the best international feature winner ‘The Zone of Interest’, a drama set in Auschwitz, spoke about violence in the Middle East and to draw parallels with the message of his searing look at the Holocaust.

‘American Fiction’, a satire that explores race and art, won Best Adapted Screenplay, while ‘Anatomy of a Fall’, earned Best Original Screenplay.

’20 Days in Mariupol’, won Best Documentary, its director Mstyslav Chernov drew attention to the human costs of Russia’s invasion.

Billie Eilish shattered records, becoming the youngest two-time Oscar winner at age 22 after earning best song for her ‘Barbie’ ballad ‘What Was I Made For?’

Jimmy Kimmel returned to host the Oscars for the fourth time. He started the ceremony with jokes about the Academy snub of ‘Barbie’ filmmaker Greta Gerwig, the excessive lengths of many of the nominated films and Robert De Niro’s much younger girlfriend.

Full List of winners:

Best Picture

American Fiction (Ben LeClair, Nikos Karamigios, Cord Jefferson and Jermaine Johnson, Producers)
Anatomy of a Fall (Marie-Ange Luciani and David Thion, Producers)
Barbie (David Heyman, Margot Robbie, Tom Ackerley and Robbie Brenner, Producers)
The Holdovers (Mark Johnson, Producer)
Killers of the Flower Moon (Dan Friedkin, Bradley Thomas, Martin Scorsese and Daniel Lupi, Producers)
Maestro (Bradley Cooper, Steven Spielberg, Fred Berner, Amy Durning and Kristie Macosko Krieger, Producers)
Oppenheimer (Emma Thomas, Charles Roven and Christopher Nolan, Producers) (WINNER)
Past Lives (David Hinojosa, Christine Vachon and Pamela Koffler, Producers)
Poor Things (Ed Guiney, Andrew Lowe, Yorgos Lanthimos and Emma Stone, Producers)
The Zone of Interest (James Wilson, Producer)

Best Directing

Justine Triet (Anatomy of a Fall)
Martin Scorsese (Killers of the Flower Moon)
Christopher Nolan (Oppenheimer) (WINNER)
Yorgos Lanthimos (Poor Things)
Jonathan Glazer (The Zone of Interest)

Best Actor in a Leading Role

Bradley Cooper (Maestro)
Colman Domingo (Rustin)
Paul Giamatti (The Holdovers)
Cillian Murphy (Oppenheimer) (WINNER)
Jeffrey Wright (American Fiction)

Best Actress in a Leading Role

Annette Bening (Nyad)
Lily Gladstone (Killers of the Flower Moon)
Sandra Hüller (Anatomy of a Fall)
Carey Mulligan (Maestro)
Emma Stone (Poor Things) (WINNER)

Best Actor in a Supporting Role

Sterling K. Brown (American Fiction)
Robert De Niro (Killers of the Flower Moon)
Robert Downey Jr. (Oppenheimer) (WINNER)
Ryan Gosling (Barbie)
Mark Ruffalo (Poor Things)

Best Actress in a Supporting Role

Emily Blunt (Oppenheimer)
Danielle Brooks (The Color Purple)
America Ferrera (Barbie)
Jodie Foster (Nyad)
Da’Vine Joy Randolph (The Holdovers) (WINNER)

Best Writing (Adapted Screenplay)

American Fiction (Written for the screen by Cord Jefferson) (WINNER)
Barbie (Written by Greta Gerwig & Noah Baumbach)
Oppenheimer (Written for the screen by Christopher Nolan)
Poor Things (Screenplay by Tony McNamara)
The Zone of Interest (Written by Jonathan Glazer)

Best Writing (Original Screenplay)

Anatomy of a Fall (Screenplay by Justine Triet and Arthur Harari) (WINNER)
The Holdovers (Written by David Hemingson)
Maestro (Written by Bradley Cooper & Josh Singer)
May December (Screenplay by Samy Burch; Story by Samy Burch & Alex Mechanik)
Past Lives (Written by Celine Song)

Best Animated Feature

The Boy and the Heron (Hayao Miyazaki and Toshio Suzuki) (WINNER)
Elemental (Peter Sohn and Denise Ream)
Nimona (Nick Bruno, Troy Quane, Karen Ryan and Julie Zackary)
Robot Dreams (Pablo Berger, Ibon Cormenzana, Ignasi Estapé and Sandra Tapia Díaz)
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (Kemp Powers, Justin K. Thompson, Phil Lord, Christopher Miller and Amy Pascal)

Best Documentary Feature Film

Bobi Wine: The People’s President (Moses Bwayo, Christopher Sharp and John Battsek)
The Eternal Memory (Maite Alberdi)
Four Daughters (Kaouther Ben Hania and Nadim Cheikhrouha)
To Kill a Tiger (Nisha Pahuja, Cornelia Principe and David Oppenheim)
20 Days in Mariupol (Mstyslav Chernov, Michelle Mizner and Raney Aronson-Rath) (WINNER)

Best International Feature Film

Io Capitano (Italy)
Perfect Days (Japan)
Society of the Snow (Spain)
The Teacher’s Lounge (Germany)
The Zone of Interest (United Kingdom) (WINNER)

Best Animated Short Film

Letter to a Pig (Tal Kantor and Amit R. Gicelter)
Ninety-Five Senses (Jerusha Hess and Jared Hess)
Our Uniform (Yegane Moghaddam)
Pachyderme (Stéphanie Clément and Marc Rius)
War Is Over! Inspired by the Music of John & Yoko (Dave Mullins and Brad Booker) (WINNER)

Best Live-Action Short Film

The After (Misan Harriman and Nicky Bentham)
Invincible (Vincent René-Lortie and Samuel Caron)
Knight of Fortune (Lasse Lyskjaer Noer and Christian Norlyk)
Red, White and Blue (Nazrin Choudhury and Sara McFarlane)
The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar (Wes Anderson and Steven Rales) (WINNER)

Best Documentary Short Film

The ABCs of Book Banning (Sheila Nevins and Trish Adlesic)
The Barber of Little Rock (John Hoffman and Christine Turner)
Island in Between (S. Leo Chiang and Jean Tsien)
The Last Repair Shop (Ben Proudfoot and Kris Bowers) (WINNER)
Nǎi Nai & Wài Pó (Sean Wang and Sam Davis)

Best Cinematography

El Conde (Edward Lachman)
Killers of the Flower Moon (Rodrigo Prieto)
Maestro (Matthew Libatique)
Oppenheimer (Hoyte van Hoytema) (WINNER)
Poor Things (Robbie Ryan)

Best Costume Design

Barbie (Jacqueline Durran)
Killers of the Flower Moon (Jacqueline West)
Napoleon (Janty Yates and Dave Crossman)
Oppenheimer (Ellen Mirojnick)
Poor Things (Holly Waddington) (WINNER)

Best Makeup and Hairstyling

Golda (Karen Hartley Thomas, Suzi Battersby and Ashra Kelly-Blue)
Maestro (Kazu Hiro, Kay Georgiou and Lori McCoy-Bell)
Oppenheimer (Luisa Abel)
Poor Things (Nadia Stacey, Mark Coulier and Josh Weston) (WINNER)
Society of the Snow (Ana López-Puigcerver, David Martí and Montse Ribé)

Best Original Song

“The Fire Inside” from Flamin’ Hot (Music and Lyric by Diane Warren)
“I’m Just Ken” from Barbie (Music and Lyric by Mark Ronson and Andrew Wyatt)
“It Never Went Away” from American Symphony (Music and Lyric by Jon Batiste and Dan Wilson)
“Wahzhazhe (A Song for My People)” from Killers of the Flower Moon (Music and Lyric by Scott George)
“What Was I Made For?” from Barbie (Music and Lyric by Billie Eilish and Finneas O’Connell) (WINNER)

Best Original Score

American Fiction (Laura Karpman)
Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny (John Williams)
Killers of the Flower Moon (Robbie Robertson)
Oppenheimer (Ludwig Göransson) (WINNER)
Poor Things (Jerskin Fendrix)

Best Production Design

Barbie (Production Design: Sarah Greenwood; Set Decoration: Katie Spencer)
Killers of the Flower Moon (Production Design: Jack Fisk; Set Decoration: Adam Willis)
Napoleon (Production Design: Arthur Max; Set Decoration: Elli Griff)
Oppenheimer (Production Design: Ruth De Jong; Set Decoration: Claire Kaufman)
Poor Things (Production Design: James Price and Shona Heath; Set Decoration: Zsuzsa Mihalek) (WINNER)

Best Film Editing

Anatomy of a Fall (Laurent Sénéchal)
The Holdovers (Kevin Tent)
Killers of the Flower Moon (Thelma Schoonmaker)
Oppenheimer (Jennifer Lame) (WINNER)
Poor Things (Yorgos Mavropsaridis)

Best Sound

The Creator (Ian Voigt, Erik Aadahl, Ethan Van der Ryn, Tom Ozanich and Dean Zupancic)
Maestro (Steven A. Morrow, Richard King, Jason Ruder, Tom Ozanich and Dean Zupancic)
Mission: Impossible — Dead Reckoning Part One (Chris Munro, James H. Mather, Chris Burdon and Mark Taylor)
Oppenheimer (Willie Burton, Richard King, Gary A. Rizzo and Kevin O’Connell)
The Zone of Interest (Tarn Willers and Johnnie Burn) (WINNER)

Best Visual Effects

The Creator (Jay Cooper, Ian Comley, Andrew Roberts and Neil Corbould)
Godzilla: Minus One (Takashi Yamazaki, Kiyoko Shibuya, Masaki Takahashi and Tatsuji Nojima) (WINNER)
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (Stephane Ceretti, Alexis Wajsbrot, Guy Williams and Theo Bialek)
Mission: Impossible — Dead Reckoning, Part One (Alex Wuttke, Simone Coco, Jeff Sutherland and Neil Corbould)
Napoleon (Charley Henley, Luc-Ewen Martin-Fenouillet, Simone Coco and Neil Corbould)

SpaceX Launches Double Satellite, Deploys 46 Satellites in Record Time; Crew to Return Tomorrow [Watch Live]

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US private space agency SpaceX completed the flawless deployment of 46 Starlink internet satellites into low-Earth orbit within a span of just six hours on Monday, heralded as the Elon Musk-owned firm’s reusable Falcon 9 rocket embarked on its mission from Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.

SpaceX and NASA are targeting as early as Monday, March 11 at 11:05 a.m. ET for Dragon to autonomously undock from the International Space Station. After performing a series of departure burns to move away from the space station, Dragon will conduct multiple orbit-lowering maneuvers, jettison the trunk, and re-enter Earth’s atmosphere for splashdown off the coast of Florida almost 19 hours later at approximately 5:50 a.m. ET on Tuesday, March 12.

Live webcast coverage of Crew-7’s return to Earth will begin on X @SpaceX about 15 minutes prior to undocking.

Watch live.

Aboard the spacecraft will be Crew-7 NASA astronaut Jasmin Moghbeli, ESA astronaut Andreas Mogensen, JAXA astronaut Satoshi Furukawa, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Konstantin Borisov, who flew to the space station on Dragon when Falcon 9 launched the spacecraft from Launch Complex 39A (LC-39A) at Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Saturday, August 26.

The company confirmed in an official statement that the first batch of 23 satellites blasted off at 4:35 am IST, marking the 11th successful flight for the first-stage booster. Notably, this booster has previously supported missions such as Crew-5 and GPS III Space Vehicle 06. Shortly after liftoff, the Falcon 9’s first stage returned to Earth, executing a flawless vertical landing on the SpaceX drone ship “Just Read the Instructions” in the Atlantic Ocean.

SpaceX launches 60 Starlink satellites June 3, 2020 / SpaceX

SpaceX confirmed the deployment of the initial 23 Starlink satellites via Twitter approximately an hour after liftoff.

Subsequently, the second set of 23 Starlink satellites launched at 9:39 am Indian time, marking the 17th flight for its first stage booster. This booster has a notable history, having supported missions like Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich and DART. Following separation, the first stage is slated to land on the droneship “Of Course I Still Love You” stationed in the Pacific Ocean.

These accomplishments come on the heels of SpaceX’s recent launch of 23 Starlink satellites. With over 5,000 operational Starlink satellites currently in orbit and approval to launch up to 12,000, SpaceX continues to push the boundaries of satellite internet connectivity.

In 2024 alone, SpaceX has already completed 22 orbital missions, with plans to conduct a staggering 144 launches by year’s end.

Manipur: What triggered ethnic violence in the North-Eastern state?

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India’s parliament faced continuous disruption and now women’s groups are planning nationwide protests following a sexual assault and indecent parade of women during the beginning of ethnic clashes in Manipur state.

The violence, which erupted on May 3, has so far resulted in at least 125 fatalities and displaced over 40,000 individuals in Manipur. The clashes originated when the Kuki tribal group clashed with the Meitei, the ethnic majority, over the distribution of economic benefits and quotas meant for the tribes.

Despite a heavy presence of Central police forces in the state  with a population of 32 lakhs,  sporadic violence and killings have kept the state tense. Recently, videos showing women being molested in May emerged, sparking national outrage and women organisations hitting the streets in protests all over the country.

The root cause of the Manipur violence can be traced back to May 3 when the Kuki and Naga tribes, classified as Scheduled Tribes or India’s most disadvantaged groups, protested against the potential extension of reservations and other benefits to the dominant Meiteis in the state. The Meiteis, who constitute half of Manipur’s population, had been seeking special benefits for over a decade.

Manipur High Court verdict

Their cause gained momentum in April after the Manipur High Court endorsed their demand, setting a mid-May deadline for the government to consider it. Granting limited affirmative action quotas to the Meiteis would allow them to access educational and government job opportunities reserved for Kukis and Nagas.

The Meiteis have historically inhabited Manipur’s prosperous valley region, comprising only 10% of the state’s area, giving them better access to employment and economic opportunities. On the other hand, the Nagas and Kukis reside in poorly developed hills, leading to a development imbalance and fueling contention and rivalry between the ethnic groups.

Triggers for the violence include unrelated events that exposed old fault lines. The 2021 coup in Myanmar forced thousands of refugees into Manipur, creating concerns among Meiteis that they would be outnumbered by the Kuki’s ethnic ties with Myanmar’s Chin tribe.

Eviction of tribals

Moreover, in February, the state government initiated a drive to evict tribal communities from forests in the hills, claiming encroachment on government land. This sparked anger among the tribal groups, who felt forced out of their homes.

Despite the initial suppression of violence in mid-May, sporadic reprisal attacks continued shortly after. Both the Meiteis and Kukis possess arms, including automatic weapons sourced either from the state police or from across the border in Myanmar. Efforts by New Delhi to control armed groups operating from across the border through talks with senior Myanmar leaders have yet to yield results.

Further, the lack of peace stems from the refusal of Kuki and Meitei groups to join a peace panel formed by the federal government, with disagreements over the panel’s composition. Kukis have also accused Chief Minister Biren Singh, a Meitei from the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, of  inaction, demanding his removal, but the CM has denied these accusations.

(With inputs from agencies)

Capitol rioter Barnett, who posed with feet on Pelosi’s desk, found guilty

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Remember the Capitol Hill rioter who posed with his feet propped up atop former House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s desk? Identified as Richard “Bigo” Barnett, the man has been found guilty of all charges finally.

Barnett was among the crowd of thousands of supporters of former President Donald Trump who stormed Congress on January 6, 2021, in an attempt to overturn the 2020 presidential election result, reports the BBC.

Pelosi, the former House Speaker was forced to flee the chamber floor with other lawmakers as the protesters stormed their way into the building.

Armed with a stun gun, Barnett, a former firefigher, posed for photos after breaking into Pelosi’s office and boasted of stealing an envelope before leaving the premises.

He also wrote a note on her desk using a sexist slur, and used a bullhorn to brag to the crowd that “I took Nancy Pelosi’s office”.

On Monday, a jury in Washington D.C. deliberated for less than three hours before convicting the 62-year-old of all eight charges against him, which include obstruction of an official proceeding; entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds with a deadly weapon; and theft of government property.

Prosecutors argued that Barnett came to Washington D.C. from his home in Arkansas “prepared for violence”.

Barnett, who chose to testify in his own defence during the trial, argued that he was caught up “in the moment” and was “going with the flow”, the BBC reported.

After the verdict was read on Monday, Barnett said he did not get a fair trial because the jury was not made up of his “peers”.

His lawyer, Joe McBride, said he would appeal.

“Washington D.C., is not a state. He’s not surrounded by people of Arkansas, where he came from,” the BBC quoted McBride, referring to the city’s status as a district rather than one of the 50 US states, as saying.

The judge allowed Barnett to remain free until his sentencing hearing on May 3. He is facing decades in federal prison.

Barnett’s trial has been one of the most high-profile to stem from the riot.

Over 940 people have been charged with federal crimes related to the breach and nearly 500 have pleaded guilty so far.

 

 

 

 

‘Varisu’ crosses Rs. 210 Cr in First Week, Rashmika Mandanna thanks ‘Vijay’

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Thalapathi Vijay-Rashmika Mandanna-starrer “Varisu” has grossed Rs 210 crore in its first week and is expected to continue its victorious run at the box office.

Following a grand response, Rashmika said: “Looking at the massive love and appreciation being showered on ‘Varisu’ really warms my heart and makes me feel so grateful!”

Directed by Vamshi Paidipally, Rashmika’s performance in the songs ‘Ranjithame’ and ‘Jimikki Ponnu’ has been particularly appreciated by critics and audiences alike.

Rashmika added: “The story and its narrative is such that the moment I heard it, I was sure it would definitely connect with family audiences, so it was an instant ‘yes’ for me. And the cherry on the cake was working with Vijay sir, which was a dream opportunity come true.”

Rashmika is looking at a blockbuster 2023 with four films scheduled to be released, one of them being “Varisu”, across multiple languages. She will also be seen in “Mission Majnu”, “Animal” and another film that is currently under wraps.

Agitating wrestlers meet Sports ministry officials, demand resignation of Brij Bhushan, talks fail

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The meeting between the Sports ministry officials and the delegation of four wrestlers, including Bajrang Punia, Vinesh Phogat and Sakshi Malik here on Thursday failed to yield results as protesting grapplers were not satisfied with the response.

Speaking to reporters in Delhi, Bajrang Punia said that they didn’t get any ”satisfactory response” from the ministry and the protest will continue till the Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh-led Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) gets dissolved.

“We not only want the resignation of WFI President Brij Bhushan Sharan, we also demand the federation to be dissolved. If there is only resignation, then it will make its men sit again,” he emphasised.

The 28-year old Bajrang further said that “the whole hub of wrestling is sitting with us and everyone is fighting for their future.

“We have five to six girls with evidence, who are ready to file FIR against the WFI chief on sexual harassment case. If our words are not heard, then we will take the help of the police and also file a case,” the Olympic medallist wrestler said.

Meanwhile, Vinesh, too, slammed Brij Bhushan Sharan, saying “why is he hiding” and “I challenge him to come and speak to me”.

“I am getting calls from several states. And women wrestlers are supporting us in this fight. I got calls from Kerala and other places,” she said.

Rajamouli keen to enter Hollywood? Dream that may come true soon

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For those planning a film with Indian director S.S. Rajamouli, this may sound uneasy as he said recently that it’s his dream to work in Hollywood. Currently in Los Angeles, meeting Hollywood honchos, Rajamouli’s dream may come true soon.

Last Monday, his magnum opus ‘RRR’ turned Los Angeles’s colossal TCL Chinese IMAX into a dance party, with hundreds of audience members rushing the screen. On Tuesday, Rajamouli’s epic musical drama won a Golden Globe for Best Original Song, triumphing over such nobodies as Taylor Swift, Rihanna and Lady Gaga.

Later in the week, directors like Steven Spielberg and James Cameron fawned over the filmmaker casually known as ‘SSR’, praising him in public.

“I don’t have words to explain the kind of exhilaration that we are having,” Rajamouli, 49, told EW’s Awardist podcast. “It’s why I make films – to extract that kind of joy, to give that kind of joy to an audience.”

In a wide-ranging conversation, the director touched on his own favourite films, how he cuts an action sequence, and his preference for screenwriting over other phases of production.

Will he come to America to make a movie?

“I think it is the dream of every filmmaker across the world to make a film in Hollywood,” he said. “I am no different. I’m open to experimentation.” But, he also admits, the decision is causing him a “bit of confusion.”

At home, Rajamouli enjoys final cut and an unusual amount of creative power: “Back in India, I am the dictator. No one tells me how to make a film.”

Modestly, he speculates that a Hollywood project might be an opportunity for a co-credit. “Very probably, my first step will be collaborating with someone,” he said.

2023’s first 15 days see 24K techies fired from jobs: Layoffs.FYI

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The year 2023 began on a bad note for tech workers globally and 91 companies have laid off more than 24,000 tech employees in the first 15 days this month, signaling worse days ahead, said job cuts tracker Layoffs.

About 24,151 tech workers lost their jobs, dominated by companies like Amazon, Salesforce, Coinbase and others, according to layoff tracking website Layoffs.fyi.

layoffs in 2023 so far

Crypto lending exchange Crypto.com last week announced that the company will reduce its global workforce by approximately 20 per cent amid ongoing economic headwinds and unforeseeable industry events.

In India, companies like Ola (which fired 200 employees), voice automated startup Skit.ai, dominated the headlines in January.In December last year, over 17,000 tech employees were shown the door.

According to the website which has been tracking job losses since the start of the pandemic, 153,110 workers were let go in 2022, led by companies like Meta, Twitter, Oracle, Nvidia, Snap, Uber, Spotify, Intel and Salesforce, among others.

The number of layoffs reached its nadir in November, which saw 51,489 tech workers lose their jobs.

Google is another Big Tech company expected to take harsh steps to reduce its headcount in early 2023. Approximately 6 per cent of Google employees could be sacked over “not having enough impact”, according to a report by The Information.

Google layoffs in 2023 could see as many as 11,000 employees lose their jobs. It means that 2023 is going to become the worst year in the history of the tech world. All eyes are now on the Big Tech quarterly results that will come out at the end of this month.

2022 used smartphone shipments increased by 11.5% worldwide: IDC

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The global shipments of used smartphones, including officially refurbished and used smartphones, were estimated to have reached 282.6 million units in 2022, representing an 11.5 per cent increase over the 253.4 million units shipped in 2021, according to the IDC.

This growth is expected to continue, as IDC forecasts that used smartphone shipments will reach 413.3 million units worth $99.9 billion in 2026 with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10.3 per cent from 2021 to 2026.

“Attractive price points are critical for growth as cost savings remain the primary benefit. However, a high-end inventory struggle due to elongated refresh cycles in the new market has used prices growing over 11 per cent in 2022,” said Anthony Scarsella, research manager.

smartphones

Trade-in programs continue to be the driving factor for the new and used smartphone market globally and in mature markets such as the US, Canada, and Western Europe, trade-in continues to play a significant role in speeding up refresh cycles through telco and retail-driven promotions, said the report.

The increased sale of higher-priced devices in the new market has also created a circular effect as many of these aggressive trade-in deals feature primarily on premium devices.

“How long these aggressive trade-in offers last remains a big question for buyers and sellers. Eventually, narrow margins will impact the overall profits of the channel, vendor, or perhaps both,” the report added.

Miss Universe 2022: R’Bonney Gabriel of USA crowned title

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R’Bonney Gabriel from the United States was named the winner of the Miss Universe pageant for 2022 at a ceremony held on January 15 in New Orleans and she was crowned by the previous year’s winner.

Gabriel stood out during the competition, particularly in the final Question-and-Answer round. The final question asked to the three finalists was about how they would work to demonstrate that the Miss Universe organization is empowering and progressive.

Gabriel’s answer of using “fashion as a force for good” and her background in supporting survivors of human trafficking and domestic violence resonated with the judges. A video of this Q&A round was shared on Twitter by the official Miss Universe account.

Gabriel is an instructor and a former high school volleyball player and a graduate of the University of North Texas. She currently holds the position of CEO of her own sustainable clothing line, R’Bonney Nola.

The Miss Universe website also states that as the first Filipino-American to win Miss USA, Ms Gabriel emphasizes the importance of embracing one’s culture and is a strong advocate for diversity and representation in society. She has also been featured in Vogue Philippines. Her goal is for women and young girls to see themselves in her story and to be inspired to achieve their own goals by being proud of who they are.

It’s worth mentioning that the Miss USA has not won the Miss Universe title in the last 11 years. The Dominican Republic placed third in the competition, while Venezuela came in second. India’s Divita Rai, who had made it to the top 16, did not make it to the top 5. A total of 80 contestants competed for the Miss Universe 2022 title.

 

 

Nepal Plane Crash: Yeti Airlines flight with 72 onboard crashes, Nepal PM calls for emergency meeting

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At least 16 people have been killed after an aircraft carrying 72 people crashed about 200km from Kathmandu in Nepal.

The twin-engine ATR 72 aircraft by Yeti Airlines took off for Pokhara on Sunday morning with 72 passengers, including two infants, four crew members and 10 foreign nationals, said airline spokesman Sudarshan Bartaula.

“We expect to recover more bodies,” army spokesman Krishna Bhandari told Reuters. Local TV channels showed thick black smoke billowing from the crash site as rescue workers rushed to the scene.

“Responders have already reached there and trying to douse the fire. All agencies are now focused on first dousing the fire and rescuing the passengers,” local official Gurudutta Dhakal said.

Nepal Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal posted on Twitter, “I am deeply saddened by the sad and tragic accident of Yeti Airlines ANC ATR 72 which was flying from Kathmandu to Pokhara with passengers,” and later called an emergency cabinet meeting.

“I sincerely appeal to the security personnel, all agencies of the Nepal government and the general public to start an effective rescue,” he said.

In May, a plane owned by Tara Air crashed less than 20 minutes after taking off from Pokhara, headed to Jomsom – a trekking destination in Mustang district bordering Tibet.

In 2018, another US-Bangla passenger plane from Bangladesh crashed on landing in Kathmandu, killing 49 of the 71 people on board.

 

Archaeologists upbeat after finding ancient house ruins in Henan village, following gold mask earlier

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Archaeologists have excavated the ruins of house foundations dating back more than 5,000 years in the Yangshao village site in Central China’s Henan-province last month, adding another finding about the ancient civilization in the region.

The house was once a large building with rammed earth walls that might have covered more than 130 square meters. It is speculated that it belongs to the late Yangshao Culture period, says Li Shiwei from Henan Provincial Institute of Cultural Heritage and Archaeology, who is in charge of the excavation site.

“This is the first time that large house ruins have been discovered since the excavation of the Yangshao village site in 1921. The findings can provide new materials for studying the types, shapes and building techniques of houses during the Yangshao Culture period,” Li said.

Archaeologists also unearthed four artificial trenches and a large number of cultural relics at the site, including a jade tomahawk that symbolizes military power.

In 1921, the first excavation on the Yangshao village site, which is in Mianchi county, Henan province, marked the birth of modern-Chinese archaeology. Originating around the middle reaches of the Yellow River, the Yangshao Culture is considered an important stream of Chinese civilization and the fourth archaeological excavation at the site began on Aug 22, 2020.

In September 2022, a rare 3,000-year-old gold mask has been unearthed recently providing a glimpse into ancient Chinese culture during an excavation of royal tombs. The mask threw light on the artifact dates back to the Shang dynasty—the earliest ruling dynasty ever recorded in China—from 1600 to 1046 BCE.

Since there was hardly any gold artifacts uncovered from this period, the finding of a gold mask remains exceptionally rare. In fact, a similar metal mask was discovered at the Sanxingdui archeological site in autumn 2021, making the site a treasure trove of artifacts of the ancient Shu Kingdom dating from the years 221 to 263 CE. The site was discovered in 1929 and since then archaeologists have uncovered numerous, rare artifacts from the ancient kingdom.

But this new Henan discovery older than the artifacts of the Shu Kingdom. It is likely that the artifacts within Sanxingdui were directly influenced by those of the Shang Dynasty. Known as the birthplace of Chinese civilization and is home to four ancient cities, the mask is likely to throw light on the region’s capital, Zhengzhou.

Experts believe the newly discovered gold mask would have covered the whole face. It is not clear what exactly the mask would have been used for but the Shang Dynasty was particularly well-known for its development of artifacts used in warfare. Archeologists are not sure whether the mask was made locally or obtained from elsewhere.

Director of the Zhengzhou Municipal Research Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology, Gu Wanfa, told the South China Morning Post that the find shows a direct influence between the finds at Sanxingdui and the finds in Zhengzhou.

“There has been a saying about bubaijinshen, or an imperishable gold body, since ancient times in China. [The mask] proves that the concept had existed since the Shang dynasty,” Wanfa told the South China Morning Post.

Earlier, archeologists also discovered plaques and gold leaves in the royal tombs in Zhengzhou, besides some coins and bronze weapons. The Shang dynasty is noted for its bronze artifacts and also thought to have invented first forms of writing.

 

BJP may lose 50 seats in 2024 Lok Sabha elections: Shashi Tharoor

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Senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor has said that it will be “impossible” for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to replicate its electoral success in the Lok Sabha elections of 2019 in 2024, while speaking at the Kerala Literature Festival in Kozhikode, Kerala.

Tharoor, who is the MP for Thiruvananthapuram, stated that it is “conceivable” that the ruling party could lose up to 50 seats in the Lok Sabha. He acknowledged the BJP’s dominance, but also pointed out that the party has lost many states and that it is not impossible for them to lose the central government as well.

Tharoor argued that the BJP’s results in states like Haryana, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and West Bengal in 2019 are impossible to replicate and therefore, the BJP dropping below the majority in 2024 is entirely possible.

“If you look at how well they did in 2019, they have essentially had every seat in Haryana, Gujarat, Rajasthan; or all but one seat in Bihar, MP, Maharashtra; and 18 seats in Bengal. Now, all of those results are impossible to replicate and the BJP dropping below the majority in 2024 is entirely possible,” noted Tharoor during a session titled “India@75: A walk through the Democratic Institutions”, held on Saturday, January 14, 2022.

He also said that the “tremendous wave” created by the Pulwama attacks and the Balakot strike in 2019 was a “freak” event that will not be repeated in 2024.

However, Tharoor also acknowledged that predicting whether the opposition parties, which he believes will be able to unseat the BJP from its majority position, will stay together is “impossible to answer.”

“If the BJP is at 250 and the others are at 290… will those 290 agree or would the BJP be able to pick 20 here and 10 there from parties that want favours from the central government of the day and then form the government. We don’t know,” he stated.

Army Day Today: Parade moves to Bengaluru First Time Since 1949

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The 75th Army Day parade, traditionally held in Delhi, will take place in Bengaluru at the Parade Ground, MEG & Centre today, Sunday, January 15, 2022. This marks the first time the event is being held outside of the national capital since its inception in 1949.

Army Chief General Manoj Pande will lead the parade and present gallantry awards, followed by a motorcycle display by the Army Service Corps (ASC) Tornadoes, skydiving, daredevil jumps, and a flyover by Army Aviation Corps helicopters.

Army Day is celebrated annually on January 15 to commemorate the takeover of the Indian Army by General (later Field Marshal) KM Carriappa from the last British Commander-in-Chief, General Sir Francis Robert Roy Bucher.

Gen Manoj Mukund Naravane

This year, the parade will be held at various field commands in India to facilitate a deeper connection with the society, the Station Commander of the Southern Command said. The celebrations in full will take place under the supervision of Southern Command, which is headquartered in Pune.

Before 2023, the Army Day parade used to take place at the Cariappa Parade Ground in the Delhi Cantonment. Last year, the Indian Air Force also moved out its annual fly-past and parade for the Air Force Day from the Hindon air base near Delhi to Chandigarh.

Army Day, celebrated annually on January 15th, marks the day in 1949 when Field Marshal Kodandera M. Cariappa became the first Indian commander-in-chief of the Indian Army, succeeding British General Sir Francis Butcher.

Cariappa was a highly decorated officer who had a distinguished career in both the British Indian Army and the Indian Army. He was the first Indian officer to attend the Staff College at Quetta and the first Indian to command a battalion. He was later appointed as a Field Marshal, the highest rank in the Indian Army.

The Indian Army is the second largest army in the world. It has over 12 lakhs active personnel and under 10 lakh reserve personnel with a motto — “Service Before Self” and its origins can be traced back to the armies of the East India Company. It has won many battles and honours before and after independence.

Some Facts at Glance:

  • Kodandera M. Cariappa was also appointed a member of the Army Sub Committee of the Forces Reconstitution Committee during the country’s partition. He secured a harmonious settlement for the army’s division between India and Pakistan.
  • In 1965, the post of the Commander-in-Chief was renamed as the Chief of the Army Staff. The current Chief of the Army Staff is General Manoj Mukund Naravane.
  • On this day, every year, the country joins the army in observing ‘Army Day’.
  • The Army Chief also presents gallantry and other awards to army personnel.
  • The Indian Army, headquartered in New Delhi, has 6 operational commands and 1 training command. Each headquarter command and HQs of other wings also showcase parades and celebrations.
  • The Indian Army’s official date of founding is 1 April, 1895. Its origins can be traced to the armies of the East India Company.

iQOO 11, first snapdragon 8 Gen 2-powered smartphone goes on sale in India

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The iQOO 11, which was recently released in India, can now be purchased through iQOO’s official Indian website and Amazon.in. It is available in Alpha and Legend colors and has two memory options in India — 8GB/256GB and 16GB/256GB.

The prices for these options are INR59,999 ($740/€680) and INR64,999 ($800/€735) respectively. However, there are exchange bonuses and bank offers that can bring the price down even further.

The iQOO 11 is powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 SoC, making it the first smartphone in India to have this processor. It runs on the Android 13-based Funtouch OS 13 and has a 6.78″ 144Hz 1440p E6 AMOLED screen. The display has a fingerprint reader underneath and a punch hole in the center for the 16MP front-facing camera.

Brief Review

The iQOO 11, is the latest smartphone from iQOO and is the first in India to be equipped with Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, the latest and most advanced chip at the time of its release. The device also features many upgrades, such as its design, display, performance, and battery life, compared to its predecessor, the iQOO 9T.

The iQOO 11 comes in two color options, black “alpha” and white “legend”, and features a faux leather material on the back which is said to feel premium and provide enough grip.

IQ 00 11 smartphone on sale

The device also has a 6.78-inch E6 AMOLED display with a resolution of 1440p and a refresh rate of 144Hz. In terms of performance, the iQOO 11 is powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 and offers fast and reliable biometrics through its optical fingerprint scanner.

The battery life is also said to be good with a 5,000 mAh battery and support for 120W wired charging. Overall, the iQOO 11 is a well-rounded device with many improvements over its predecessor, making it a solid choice for consumers.

On the back of the device, there is a triple-camera setup consisting of a 50MP primary, 13MP telephoto, and 8MP ultrawide units. Additionally, it has a V2 chip for improved gaming and photography performance.

The device is also fueled by a 5,000 mAh battery and supports 120W wired charging.

Should you buy?

If you’re considering purchasing the iQOO 11, it’s important to keep in mind that it is a typical iQOO phone, with both strengths and weaknesses. The device excels in performance, providing a top-notch flagship experience.

However, it’s worth noting that when the OnePlus 11 and Samsung Galaxy S23 series are released, they may offer comparable or superior performance. Whether the iQOO 11 can compete with them in terms of value will depend on the pricing of those devices.

Delhi under severe grip of Cold Wave, Temperatures to drop further

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A chill in the air is forecasted to hit the city of Delhi and the surrounding region next week, with temperatures potentially dropping as low as 3 degrees Celsius. Yesterday, the minimum temperature in Delhi was recorded at 10.2 degrees Celsius.

According to the Indian Meteorological Department, a cold wave is expected to hit several areas in Delhi between January 16th and 18th. The minimum temperature in Ayanagar and Ridge may reach as low as 3 degrees Celsius on Tuesday and Wednesday.

After experiencing several weeks of bitter cold nights, this forecast means that conditions may worsen for residents of Delhi. The weather department has issued a warning for frostbite and advises people to limit their time spent outdoors.

“Eat foods high in Vitamin C and drink warm fluids to maintain a strong immune system. Limit outdoor activities,” the meteorological department advised.

Another weather agency, Skymet, has reported that icy winds from the North have already led to a decrease in temperatures in the states of Rajasthan and Gujarat. However, the agency refutes the claims of an expert who predicted that temperatures in Delhi could reach as low as -4 degrees Celsius next week.

“Delhi may experience a minimum of 3-4 degrees between 16th and 18th of January, but will not drop below 0 degrees. Some isolated areas may see a minimum of around 2 degrees,” Skymet stated in a tweet.

The extremely low temperatures are expected to have the most severe impact on the homeless population and animals, and authorities have begun preparing additional shelters.

NASA ranks 2022 as 5th warmest year, NOAA says 6th highest since 1880

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NASA said earth’s average surface temperature in 2022 tied with 2015 as the fifth warmest year on record and the situation is “alarming”. However, another study by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) termed 2022 as the sixth highest since 1880.

The global temperatures in 2022 were 1.6-degree Fahrenheit (0.89-degree Celsius) above the average for NASA’s baseline period (1951-1980), according to researchers at NASA’s Goddard Institute for Space Studies (GISS) in New York.

“This warming trend is alarming. Our warming climate is already making a mark: Forest fires are intensifying; hurricanes are getting stronger; droughts are wreaking havoc and sea levels are rising,” said NASA Administrator Bill Nelson.

The past nine years have been the warmest since modern record-keeping began in 1880 and the Earth in 2022 was about 2-degree Fahrenheit (or about 1.11-degree Celsius) warmer than the late 19th century average.

“NASA is deepening our commitment to do our part in addressing climate change. Our Earth System Observatory will provide state-of-the-art data to support our climate modelling, analysis and predictions to help humanity confront our planet’s changing climate,” Nelson explained.

Human-driven greenhouse gas emissions have rebounded following a short-lived dip in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic, said NASA scientists. Overall, scientists determined that carbon dioxide emissions were the highest on record in 2022.

NASA also identified some super-emitters of methane using the Earth Surface Mineral Dust Source Investigation instrument that was launched to the International Space Station last year. (Read this story here)

 

“The reason for the warming trend is that human activities continue to pump enormous amounts of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, and the long-term planetary impacts will also continue,” said Gavin Schmidt, Director of GISS, NASA’s leading centre for climate modelling.

NOAA says 6th warmest year

However, NOAA has on record said the year 2022 was the warmest year on record since 1880.

The planet continued its warming trend in 2022, with last year ranking as the sixth-warmest year on record since 1880, said a report by scientists from NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI).

Climate by the numbers

The report said the Earth’s average land and ocean surface temperature in 2022 was 1.55 degrees F (0.86 of a degree C) above the 20th-century average of 57.0 degrees F (13.9 degrees C) — the sixth highest among all years in the 1880-2022 record.

The report notes that 2022 also marked the 46th-consecutive year (since 1977) with global temperatures rising above the 20th-century average. The 10-warmest years on record have all occurred since 2010, with the last nine years (2014-2022) among the 10-warmest years.

The 2022 Northern Hemisphere surface temperature was also the sixth highest in the 143-year record at 1.98 degrees F (1.10 degrees C) above average. The Southern Hemisphere surface temperature for 2022 was the seventh highest on record at 1.10 degrees F (0.61 of a degree C) above average, said the report.

2022 Events Behind Warming Climate

  • Global ocean heat content (OHC) hit a record high: The upper ocean heat content, which addresses the amount of heat stored in the upper 2,000 meters of the ocean, was record high in 2022, surpassing the previous record set in 2021. The four highest OHCs have all occurred in the last four years (2019-2022).
  • Polar sea ice ran low: The 2022 annual Antarctic sea ice extent (coverage) was at a near-record low at 4.09 million square miles. Only the year 1987 had a smaller annual extent. During 2022, each month had an extent that ranked among the five smallest for their respective months, while the months of February, June, July and August had their lowest monthly extent on record.

In the Arctic, the average annual sea ice extent was approximately 4.13 million square miles — the 11th-smallest annual average sea ice extent in the 1979-2022 record, according to data from the National Snow and Ice Data Center.

  • Global tropical cyclones were near average: A total of 88 named storms occurred across the globe in 2022, which was near the 1991-2020 average. Of those, 40 reached tropical cyclone strength (winds of 74 mph or higher) and 17 reached major tropical cyclone strength (winds of 111 mph or higher). The global accumulated cyclone energy (ACE) — an integrated metric of the strength, frequency and duration of tropical storms — was the fourth lowest since 1981.
  • December 2022 was warm: The average temperature across global land and ocean surfaces in December was 1.44 degrees F (0.80 of a degree C) above the 20th-century average. This ranks as the eighth-warmest December in the 143-year NOAA record.

Regionally, Africa tied 2016 for its second-warmest December on record. South America’s December ranked fourth warmest on record, while Europe saw its 10th warmest. Although North America and Asia both had an above-average December temperature, neither ranked among the 20 warmest on record.

 

 

Twitter vacating office space in India too, staff told to work remotely

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Elon Musk-owned Twitter is reportedly vacating its co-working spaces in Delhi and Mumbai after having already done so in Bengaluru.

Already 150 of the company’s employees who work at the WeWork facility in Mumbai’s BKC, and 80 at The Executive Centre in Delhi’s Qutub area are asked to do so, reports said.

IANS, quoting sources, reported that the company has also given up co-working spaces in Bengaluru, indicating that this was due to global changes within the company.

Twitter

Earlier this week, Musk, who failed to pay the rent for Twitter headquarters in San Francisco, asked its remaining staff in Singapore to work remotely as the company is unable to pay the monthly rent.

Work From Home

According to reports, Twitter employees were informed about the decision via email, instructing them to leave the CapitaGreen building and work from home.

Casey Newton of Platformer said in a tweet on Thursday, “Twitter employees were just walked out of its Singapore office – its Asia-Pacific headquarters – over nonpayment of rent”.

“Landlords walked employees out of the building,” he posted.

In the US, Twitter has been sued as it failed to pay $136,250 rent for its office space in San Francisco.