Republic Day Parade 2022: Indian Air Force flexes muscle, touches the sky with glory

India is gearing up to celebrate 73rd Republic Day. A sense of patriotism is palpable across the nation. This is the day on which India's Constitution came into force in the year 1950. This was the birth of Indian republic based firmly on democratic values. Each year, celebration of Republic Day is an ode to the principles Indian democracy holds dear. It is celebration of a national festival.

The day is marked by Republic Day Parade which takes place on Raj Path each year. Dignitaries such as President and Prime Minister of India along with other guests are present. This year, due to Covid-19 India is not hosting any foreign dignitaries.

Like any other Indian festival, Republic Day is a day when countrymen share spirit of patriotism over WhatsApp messages. Some even dedicate Facebook status to mark Republic Day.

Want to know what lines are doing rounds? Read on.

&nbsp;

<ul>
	<li>Let us remember the golden heritage of our country and feel proud to be a part of India. Happy Republic Day 2021.</li>
	<li>A thousand salutes to this great nation of ours. May it become even more prosperous and great. Happy Republic Day</li>
	<li>Be proud that you are an Indian because lucky are those who are born in this great country. Happy Republic Day 2021</li>
	<li>Freedom has not come easy, it is because of the sacrifices of our freedom fighters, so never take it for granted. Happy Republic Day 2021!</li>
	<li>May you have joy to make you sweet, strife to make you strong, sadness to keep you human and hope to bring joy to our nation. Happy Republic Day!</li>
	<li>This Republic Day, let us pledge to keep our neighbourhood clean and tidy. This would, in turn, keep diseases at bay and make India prettier and healthier. Jai Hind</li>
	<li>This Republic Day, let us pledge to keep our neighbourhood clean and tidy. This would, in turn, keep diseases at bay and make India prettier and healthier. Jai Hind</li>
	<li>Republic day is not just about flaunting our patriotic zest or a one-day celebration. We shall understand the true meaning of Independence only if we acknowledge the selfless sacrifices of freedom fighters, the thankless services of our defence forces and the infinite contributions of our farmers. Ignite the undying spirit of nationalism within. Jai Hind. 
	&nbsp;</li>
</ul>

India is gearing up to celebrate 73rd Republic Day. A sense of patriotism is palpable across the nation. This is the day on which India's Constitution came into force in the year 1950.

India is gearing up to celebrate 73rd Republic Day. A sense of patriotism is palpable across the nation. This is the day on which India's Constitution came into force in the year 1950. This was the birth of Indian republic based firmly on democratic values. Each year, celebration of Republic Day is an ode to the principles Indian democracy holds dear. It is celebration of a national festival. The day is marked by Republic Day Parade which takes place on Raj Path each year. Dignitaries such as President and Prime Minister of India along with other guests are present. This year, due to Covid-19 India is not hosting any foreign dignitaries. Like any other Indian festival, Republic Day is a day when countrymen share spirit of patriotism over WhatsApp messages. Some even dedicate Facebook status to mark Republic Day. Want to know what lines are doing rounds? Read on. Let us remember the golden heritage of our country and feel proud to be a part of India. Happy Republic Day 2021. A thousand salutes to this great nation of ours. May it become even more prosperous and great. Happy Republic Day Be proud that you are an Indian because lucky are those who are born in this great country. Happy Republic Day 2021 Freedom has not come easy, it is because of the sacrifices of our freedom fighters, so never take it for granted. Happy Republic Day 2021! May you have joy to make you sweet, strife to make you strong, sadness to keep you human and hope to bring joy to our nation. Happy Republic Day! This Republic Day, let us pledge to keep our neighbourhood clean and tidy. This would, in turn, keep diseases at bay and make India prettier and healthier. Jai Hind This Republic Day, let us pledge to keep our neighbourhood clean and tidy. This would, in turn, keep diseases at bay and make India prettier and healthier. Jai Hind Republic day is not just about flaunting our patriotic zest or a one-day celebration. We shall understand the true meaning of Independence only if we acknowledge the selfless sacrifices of freedom fighters, the thankless services of our defence forces and the infinite contributions of our farmers. Ignite the undying spirit of nationalism within. Jai Hind.

Republic Day 2022: WhatsApp, Facebook messages to wear your patriotism on your sleeve

Indian government on Tuesday announced list of bravery medals. The recipients will be awarded the medals on India's Republic Day on January 26.

India's Union home ministry published a list containing names of personnel who have been decorated with the police medal for gallantry (PMG), president's police medal for distinguished service and police medal for meritorious service.

This year no one has been given top category president police medal for gallery (PPMG) this time.

Among the 189 gallantry awards, 134 personnel are being awarded for their gallant action in the Jammu and Kashmir region, 47 for their bravery in Left Wing Extremism (LWE) affected areas and one personnel for similar conduct in the north-east region, a home ministry spokesperson said.

The highest number of bravery medals, 115, have been awarded to the Jammu and Kashmir Police, followed by 30 to the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), 10 to the Chhattisgarh Police, nine to the Odisha Police, seven to the Maharashtra Police, three each to the border guarding forces of Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) and the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), and two to the Border Security Force (BSF), among others.

Eighty-eight personnel have been awarded the distinguished service medal while 662 have been given the meritorious service medal.

42 fire service medals, 37 correctional service medals for police personnel and 51 'Jeevan Rakshak Padak' were also announced.

The 'Jeevan Rakshak' series of medals are given for the meritorious act of human nature in saving the life of a person.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

Indian government on Tuesday announced list of bravery medals. The recipients will be awarded the medals on India's Republic Day on January 26. India's Union home ministry published a list containing names of personnel who have been decorated with the police medal for gallantry (PMG), president's police medal for distinguished service and police medal for meritorious service.

Indian government on Tuesday announced list of bravery medals. The recipients will be awarded the medals on India's Republic Day on January 26. India's Union home ministry published a list containing names of personnel who have been decorated with the police medal for gallantry (PMG), president's police medal for distinguished service and police medal for meritorious service. This year no one has been given top category president police medal for gallery (PPMG) this time. Among the 189 gallantry awards, 134 personnel are being awarded for their gallant action in the Jammu and Kashmir region, 47 for their bravery in Left Wing Extremism (LWE) affected areas and one personnel for similar conduct in the north-east region, a home ministry spokesperson said. The highest number of bravery medals, 115, have been awarded to the Jammu and Kashmir Police, followed by 30 to the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), 10 to the Chhattisgarh Police, nine to the Odisha Police, seven to the Maharashtra Police, three each to the border guarding forces of Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) and the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), and two to the Border Security Force (BSF), among others. Eighty-eight personnel have been awarded the distinguished service medal while 662 have been given the meritorious service medal. 42 fire service medals, 37 correctional service medals for police personnel and 51 'Jeevan Rakshak Padak' were also announced. The 'Jeevan Rakshak' series of medals are given for the meritorious act of human nature in saving the life of a person. (With inputs from agencies)

Republic Day 2022: Government declares names of gallantry award winners

Republic Day 2022 parade on New Delhi's Raj Path is&nbsp;going to be special. One of the main attraction of the annual program will be the largest fly-past ever. For the first time ever, the fly-past will include 75 planes/helicopters of the Indian Air Force that will fly in various formations. This year is marking `Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav` or 75th year of Indian independence.

Vintage as well as current modern aircraft/helicopters like Rafale, Sukhoi, Jaguar, Mi-17, Sarang, Apache and Dakota, will display different formations, including Rahat, Meghna, Eklavya, Trishul, Tiranga, Vijay and Amrit. For the first time IAF has coordinated with Doordarshan to show cockpit videos during the fly-past

The parade will showcase India's military power and cultural diversity.

"Several firsts planned during the main parade include the launch of `Shaheedon Ko Shat Shat Naman` programme by National Cadet Corps, a grand flypast by 75 aircraft/helicopters of the Indian Air Force, cultural performances by 480 dancers, display of ten scrolls each of 75 metres prepared during the `Kala Kumbh` event," said India's defence ministry in an official statement.

The ministry said that, a drone show by 1,000 indigenously developed drones has also been planned for the `Beating the Retreat` ceremony, along with projection mapping.&nbsp;

Unfurling of the Indian flag

As per tradition, the National Flag will be unfurled followed by the National Anthem with a booming 21-gun salute. The parade will commence with President Ram Nath Kovind taking the salute.&nbsp;

The parade will be commanded by Parade Commander, Lieutenant General Vijay Kumar Mishra, Ati Vishisth Seva Medal, a second-generation Army officer. Major General Alok Kacker, Chief of Staff, Delhi Area will be the Parade Second-in-Command. A total of six marching contingents of the Indian Army will be present in the parade including the Rajput Regiment, the Assam Regiment, the Jammu &amp; Kashmir Light Regiment, the Sikh Light Regiment, the Army Ordnance Corps and the Parachute Regiment.

The combined Band of the Madras Regimental Centre, the Kumoun Regimental Centre, Maratha Light Regimental Centre, Jammu &amp; Kashmir Light Regimental Centre, Army Medical Corps Centre and School, 14 Gorkha Training Centre, Army Supply Corps Centre and College, Bihar Regimental Centre and Army Ordnance Corps Centre will also march past the saluting dais.

"The Indian Army will be represented by a Mounted Column of 61 Cavalry, 14 Mechanised Columns, six marching contingents and a fly past by Advanced Light Helicopters (ALH) of Army Aviation. One Tank PT-76 and Centurion (On Tank Transporters) and two MBT Arjun MK-I, one APC TOPAS and BMP-I (On Tank Transporter) and Two BMP-II, one 75/24 Towed Gun (On Vehicle) and two Dhanush Gun System, one PMS Bridge and Two Sarvatra Bridge System, one HT-16 (On Vehicle) and two Tarang Shakti Electronic Warfare System, one Tiger Cat Missile &amp; two Akash Missile System will be the main attraction in the mechanised columns," the statement further said.

The theme of the marching contingents of the Indian Army is the evolution of the uniform and personnel weapons of the Indian Army over the last 75 years.

Rajput Regiment

"The contingent of the Rajput Regiment will be wearing the uniform of Indian Army of 1947 and would be carrying .303 Rifle. The Assam Regiment will be in uniform during the period of the 1962 and carrying .303 Rifles. The Jammu and Kashmir Light Regiment would be in uniform worn during 1971 and would carry 7.62mm self loading Rifle. The contingent of the Sikh Light Regiment and the Army Ordnance Corps would be in the present day uniform with 5.56mm INSAS Rifle," said the Defence Ministry."The contingent of the Parachute Regiment would be donning the new Combat Uniform of Indian Army, unveiled on January 15, 2022 and would be carrying 5.56mm x 45mm TAVOR Rifle," it added.

Naval contingent

Meanwhile, the Naval contingent will comprise of 96 young sailors and four officers led by Lt Cdr Aanchal Sharma as Contingent Commander. It will be followed by the Naval Tableau which is designed with the aim to showcase the multi-dimensional capabilities of the Indian Navy. The forward part of the tableau depicts the Naval Uprising of 1946, which contributed in India`s struggle for independence. The rear section illustrates the `Make in India` initiatives of the Indian Navy from 1983 to 2021. The model of New Vikrant with LCA Navy in air flanked by models of indigenously designed and built warships.&nbsp;

The frames on the sides of the trailer depict the construction of Indian Naval platforms in India.&nbsp;

Indian Air Force contingent

The Indian Air Force contingent comprises of 96 airmen and four officers and will be led by Squadron Leader Prashant Swamyanathan. The Air Force tableau is titled `Indian Air Force, Transforming for the Future`.&nbsp;

The tableau showcases scaled down models of MiG-21, Gnat, Light Combat Helicopter and Rafale aircraft, as well as the Aslesha radar.

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) will display two tableaux, signifying the defence technological advancements of country. The tableaux are titled `Suite of Indigenously Developed Sensors, Weapons and Electronic Warfare Systems for LCA Tejas` and `Air Independent Propulsion System` developed for the submarines of Indian Navy.The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) contingent will be led by Deputy Commandant H T Manjunath.&nbsp;

Other contingents

The marching contingents of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), led by Assistant Commandant Ajay Malik, 15 times winner of best marching contingent, Delhi Police, led by Assistant Commissioner of Police Vivek Bhagat, Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) commanded by Assistant Commandant Mohnish Bagree, Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) led by Deputy Commandant Nirupesh Kumar and Border Security Force (BSF) Camel Contingent headed by Deputy Commandant Manohar Singh Kheechee will also march past the saluting dais.

The National Cadet Corps (NCC) Boys Marching contingent, comprising of 100 Senior Division cadets, will be led by Senior Under Officer Rupendra Singh Chauhan of the Punjab Directorate. Senior Under Officer Pramila of Karnataka Directorate will head the NCC Girls Marching contingent, consisting of 100 Senior Wing Cadets drawn from all 17 Directorates.&nbsp;

The marching contingent of National Service Scheme (NSS), comprising of 100 volunteers, will be headed by Baraiya Siddhi Ramesh from Diu Union Territory, Ahmedabad Directorate.

The Tableaux

It will be followed by tableaux of 12 States/Union Territories and nine Ministries/Departments. The theme of tableaux of Arunachal Pradesh is Anglo-Abor (Adi) Wars; Haryana`s is Haryana: No 1 in Sports; Chattisgarh`s is 'Godhan Nyay Yojana: A new path to prosperity; Goa`s is 'Symbols of Goan heritage'; Gujarat's is 'Tribal Revolutionaries of Gujarat'; Jammu and Kashmir`s is 'Changing face of Jammu and Kashmir', among others.

The ceremony will culminate with the national anthem and the release of Tri-colour balloons.

(With inputs from agencies)

Republic Day 2022 parade on New Delhi's Raj Path is going to be special. One of the main attraction of the annual program will be the largest fly-past ever. For the first time ever, the fly-past will include 75 planes/helicopters of the Indian Air Force that will fly in various formations.

Republic Day 2022 parade on New Delhi's Raj Path is going to be special. One of the main attraction of the annual program will be the largest fly-past ever. For the first time ever, the fly-past will include 75 planes/helicopters of the Indian Air Force that will fly in various formations. This year is marking `Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav` or 75th year of Indian independence. Vintage as well as current modern aircraft/helicopters like Rafale, Sukhoi, Jaguar, Mi-17, Sarang, Apache and Dakota, will display different formations, including Rahat, Meghna, Eklavya, Trishul, Tiranga, Vijay and Amrit. For the first time IAF has coordinated with Doordarshan to show cockpit videos during the fly-past The parade will showcase India's military power and cultural diversity. "Several firsts planned during the main parade include the launch of `Shaheedon Ko Shat Shat Naman` programme by National Cadet Corps, a grand flypast by 75 aircraft/helicopters of the Indian Air Force, cultural performances by 480 dancers, display of ten scrolls each of 75 metres prepared during the `Kala Kumbh` event," said India's defence ministry in an official statement. The ministry said that, a drone show by 1,000 indigenously developed drones has also been planned for the `Beating the Retreat` ceremony, along with projection mapping. Unfurling of the Indian flag As per tradition, the National Flag will be unfurled followed by the National Anthem with a booming 21-gun salute. The parade will commence with President Ram Nath Kovind taking the salute. The parade will be commanded by Parade Commander, Lieutenant General Vijay Kumar Mishra, Ati Vishisth Seva Medal, a second-generation Army officer. Major General Alok Kacker, Chief of Staff, Delhi Area will be the Parade Second-in-Command. A total of six marching contingents of the Indian Army will be present in the parade including the Rajput Regiment, the Assam Regiment, the Jammu & Kashmir Light Regiment, the Sikh Light Regiment, the Army Ordnance Corps and the Parachute Regiment. The combined Band of the Madras Regimental Centre, the Kumoun Regimental Centre, Maratha Light Regimental Centre, Jammu & Kashmir Light Regimental Centre, Army Medical Corps Centre and School, 14 Gorkha Training Centre, Army Supply Corps Centre and College, Bihar Regimental Centre and Army Ordnance Corps Centre will also march past the saluting dais. "The Indian Army will be represented by a Mounted Column of 61 Cavalry, 14 Mechanised Columns, six marching contingents and a fly past by Advanced Light Helicopters (ALH) of Army Aviation. One Tank PT-76 and Centurion (On Tank Transporters) and two MBT Arjun MK-I, one APC TOPAS and BMP-I (On Tank Transporter) and Two BMP-II, one 75/24 Towed Gun (On Vehicle) and two Dhanush Gun System, one PMS Bridge and Two Sarvatra Bridge System, one HT-16 (On Vehicle) and two Tarang Shakti Electronic Warfare System, one Tiger Cat Missile & two Akash Missile System will be the main attraction in the mechanised columns," the statement further said. The theme of the marching contingents of the Indian Army is the evolution of the uniform and personnel weapons of the Indian Army over the last 75 years. Rajput Regiment "The contingent of the Rajput Regiment will be wearing the uniform of Indian Army of 1947 and would be carrying .303 Rifle. The Assam Regiment will be in uniform during the period of the 1962 and carrying .303 Rifles. The Jammu and Kashmir Light Regiment would be in uniform worn during 1971 and would carry 7.62mm self loading Rifle. The contingent of the Sikh Light Regiment and the Army Ordnance Corps would be in the present day uniform with 5.56mm INSAS Rifle," said the Defence Ministry."The contingent of the Parachute Regiment would be donning the new Combat Uniform of Indian Army, unveiled on January 15, 2022 and would be carrying 5.56mm x 45mm TAVOR Rifle," it added. Naval contingent Meanwhile, the Naval contingent will comprise of 96 young sailors and four officers led by Lt Cdr Aanchal Sharma as Contingent Commander. It will be followed by the Naval Tableau which is designed with the aim to showcase the multi-dimensional capabilities of the Indian Navy. The forward part of the tableau depicts the Naval Uprising of 1946, which contributed in India`s struggle for independence. The rear section illustrates the `Make in India` initiatives of the Indian Navy from 1983 to 2021. The model of New Vikrant with LCA Navy in air flanked by models of indigenously designed and built warships. The frames on the sides of the trailer depict the construction of Indian Naval platforms in India. Indian Air Force contingent The Indian Air Force contingent comprises of 96 airmen and four officers and will be led by Squadron Leader Prashant Swamyanathan. The Air Force tableau is titled `Indian Air Force, Transforming for the Future`. The tableau showcases scaled down models of MiG-21, Gnat, Light Combat Helicopter and Rafale aircraft, as well as the Aslesha radar. The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) will display two tableaux, signifying the defence technological advancements of country. The tableaux are titled `Suite of Indigenously Developed Sensors, Weapons and Electronic Warfare Systems for LCA Tejas` and `Air Independent Propulsion System` developed for the submarines of Indian Navy.The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) contingent will be led by Deputy Commandant H T Manjunath. Other contingents The marching contingents of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), led by Assistant Commandant Ajay Malik, 15 times winner of best marching contingent, Delhi Police, led by Assistant Commissioner of Police Vivek Bhagat, Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) commanded by Assistant Commandant Mohnish Bagree, Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) led by Deputy Commandant Nirupesh Kumar and Border Security Force (BSF) Camel Contingent headed by Deputy Commandant Manohar Singh Kheechee will also march past the saluting dais. The National Cadet Corps (NCC) Boys Marching contingent, comprising of 100 Senior Division cadets, will be led by Senior Under Officer Rupendra Singh Chauhan of the Punjab Directorate. Senior Under Officer Pramila of Karnataka Directorate will head the NCC Girls Marching contingent, consisting of 100 Senior Wing Cadets drawn from all 17 Directorates. The marching contingent of National Service Scheme (NSS), comprising of 100 volunteers, will be headed by Baraiya Siddhi Ramesh from Diu Union Territory, Ahmedabad Directorate. The Tableaux It will be followed by tableaux of 12 States/Union Territories and nine Ministries/Departments. The theme of tableaux of Arunachal Pradesh is Anglo-Abor (Adi) Wars; Haryana`s is Haryana: No 1 in Sports; Chattisgarh`s is 'Godhan Nyay Yojana: A new path to prosperity; Goa`s is 'Symbols of Goan heritage'; Gujarat's is 'Tribal Revolutionaries of Gujarat'; Jammu and Kashmir`s is 'Changing face of Jammu and Kashmir', among others. The ceremony will culminate with the national anthem and the release of Tri-colour balloons. (With inputs from agencies)

Republic Day Parade 2022 to include largest fly-past ever

Supernovas are explosions of big star which occur at the end of their life. The fuel that keeps the star glowing runs out and a massive explosion takes place. This is true for large stars, much bigger than the Sun. Scientists previously thought that not all large stars meet such a violent end and some quietly collapse to become a black hole.

But a new type of supernova has been detected and it is shaking previous assumptions. The star-type in question is Wolf-Rayet stars. These are one of the most massive known stars.

When these stars reach the end of their lifespan, they push out their outer layer forming extremely strong stellar winds. This affects the nebula in which they are located. It was previously thought that after shedding the outer layer, these stars quietly collapse and become black holes.

Supernovas have specific spectras, something like fingerprints. When these 'fingerprints' are found, scientists often point to the possibility of a supernova.

A spectrum obtained of supernova showed researchers that the nebula was expanding away from the star at the speed of 1500 km/s. They concluded that this was due to the strong stellar wind given off by a Wolf-Rayet star. The scientists thus associated the star type with the supernova upending the previous assumption that such stars do not erupt in gigantic celestial blasts.

The study has been published in Universe Today.

Supernovas are explosions of big star which occur at the end of their life. The fuel that keeps the star glowing runs out and a massive explosion takes place. This is true for large stars, much bigger than the Sun.

Supernovas are explosions of big star which occur at the end of their life. The fuel that keeps the star glowing runs out and a massive explosion takes place. This is true for large stars, much bigger than the Sun. Scientists previously thought that not all large stars meet such a violent end and some quietly collapse to become a black hole. But a new type of supernova has been detected and it is shaking previous assumptions. The star-type in question is Wolf-Rayet stars. These are one of the most massive known stars. When these stars reach the end of their lifespan, they push out their outer layer forming extremely strong stellar winds. This affects the nebula in which they are located. It was previously thought that after shedding the outer layer, these stars quietly collapse and become black holes. Supernovas have specific spectras, something like fingerprints. When these 'fingerprints' are found, scientists often point to the possibility of a supernova. A spectrum obtained of supernova showed researchers that the nebula was expanding away from the star at the speed of 1500 km/s. They concluded that this was due to the strong stellar wind given off by a Wolf-Rayet star. The scientists thus associated the star type with the supernova upending the previous assumption that such stars do not erupt in gigantic celestial blasts. The study has been published in Universe Today.

Scientists discover new type of supernova

Beyond the allocations, this budget featured a lot of interesting themes and talking points. Like vehicle scrapping policy, support for startups, a boost to public transport, push for regional languages.

Could these moves dictate India's post-pandemic recovery?

India's finance minister Nirmala Sivaraman began her speech with an observation. The Wuhan virus has changed the world. There is promise and hope. The pandemic is relatively under control. &nbsp;But for a full-fledged revival. India needs new and bold ideas. The 2021 budget has some.

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-budget-2021-the-themes-and-talking-points-360739/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Like a new vehicle scrapping policy that could help in phasing out old and unfit vehicles. This would encourage the adoption of fuel-efficient, environment-friendly vehicles and help reduce vehicular pollution and oil import bills. The thrust is on public transport. A new scheme hopes to boost the system. 18 thousand crores will be made available to improve public transport in urban areas.

Earlier this month, India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi said start-ups are playing a crucial role in making India self-reliant.

The Finance Minister mentioned the word start-up 11 times in her speech. It shows how important a role they are expected to play in India's post-pandemic growth. The government has extended their tax holiday by one more year. It will incentivise the setting-up of one-person companies.

As a part of the self-reliance mission regional languages will be promoted. India plans to set up a national language translation mission. Under this, a wealth of governance and policy-related knowledge will be made available in major Indian languages.

The pandemic increased the burden on the insurance sector. The govt has extended help and has reviewed the FDI limits in insurance. And lifted the cap on foreign investment. The insurance sector remains highly under-developed. India's insurance penetration is 3.7 per cent of the GDP against a world average of 6.31 per cent. The hike in the FDI cap will open up new sources of funding for the players and improve insurance penetration.

This year's budget may leave the common man wanting more, but the new ideas and themes that feature in this budget open up possibilities for the government to promote new sectors and create new opportunities for growth.

Beyond the allocations, this budget featured a lot of interesting themes and talking points. Like vehicle scrapping policy, support for startups, a boost to public transport, push for regional languages.

Beyond the allocations, this budget featured a lot of interesting themes and talking points. Like vehicle scrapping policy, support for startups, a boost to public transport, push for regional languages. Could these moves dictate India's post-pandemic recovery? India's finance minister Nirmala Sivaraman began her speech with an observation. The Wuhan virus has changed the world. There is promise and hope. The pandemic is relatively under control. But for a full-fledged revival. India needs new and bold ideas. The 2021 budget has some. Like a new vehicle scrapping policy that could help in phasing out old and unfit vehicles. This would encourage the adoption of fuel-efficient, environment-friendly vehicles and help reduce vehicular pollution and oil import bills. The thrust is on public transport. A new scheme hopes to boost the system. 18 thousand crores will be made available to improve public transport in urban areas. Earlier this month, India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi said start-ups are playing a crucial role in making India self-reliant. The Finance Minister mentioned the word start-up 11 times in her speech. It shows how important a role they are expected to play in India's post-pandemic growth. The government has extended their tax holiday by one more year. It will incentivise the setting-up of one-person companies. As a part of the self-reliance mission regional languages will be promoted. India plans to set up a national language translation mission. Under this, a wealth of governance and policy-related knowledge will be made available in major Indian languages. The pandemic increased the burden on the insurance sector. The govt has extended help and has reviewed the FDI limits in insurance. And lifted the cap on foreign investment. The insurance sector remains highly under-developed. India's insurance penetration is 3.7 per cent of the GDP against a world average of 6.31 per cent. The hike in the FDI cap will open up new sources of funding for the players and improve insurance penetration. This year's budget may leave the common man wanting more, but the new ideas and themes that feature in this budget open up possibilities for the government to promote new sectors and create new opportunities for growth.

Budget 2021: A lot of interesting themes and talking points

Cooperation between India and Mauritius, including in maritime security, has translated the vision of SAGAR - Security and Growth for All in the Region - into action, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Thursday.

Modi also said Mauritius is a prime example of India's approach to development partnership which is based on the needs and priorities of its partners and respects their sovereignty.

He made these remarks after he and his Mauritian counterpart Pravind Jugnauth jointly inaugurated India-assisted social housing units project in Mauritius virtually.

The two PMs also took part in a virtual foundation stone laying ceremony for two other projects -- construction of a state-of-the-art Civil Service College and a 8 MW Solar PV Farm -- also undertaken as part of India's development support.

The ceremony included exchange of two key bilateral pacts -- an agreement for the extension of USD 190M Line of Credit from the Indian to the Mauritian government for the Metro Express and other infrastructure projects, and an MoU on the implementation of small development projects.

In his remarks, Modi said Mauritius is also integral to India's approach to the Indian Ocean and recalled that it was in the island nation, during his 2015 visit, that he had outlined India's maritime cooperation vision of SAGAR - 'Security and Growth for All in the Region'.

"I am glad that our bilateral cooperation, including in maritime security, has translated this vision into action," he said.

Jagnauth, during his address, broke into chaste Hindi several times and thanked India and its government for the development assistance it has been providing.

The Mauritian prime minister said that as gratitude for India's support to the metro express project, his government has decided to name one of the major metro stations as 'Mahatma Gandhi' station.

Modi underlined that India and Mauritius are united by history, ancestry, culture, language and the shared waters of the Indian Ocean.

"Today, our robust development partnership has emerged as a key pillar of our close ties," he said.

Recalling the inauguration of the metro express project, the New ENT Hospital and the New Supreme Court building in Mauritius, Modi said he was delighted to know about the Metro's popularity, crossing the 5.6 million passengers mark.

"We look forward to supporting the further extension of the Metro, under the 190 million dollar Line of Credit agreement exchanged today. It is also a matter of satisfaction and pride for us that the New ENT Hospital has been instrumental in combating COVID-19," he said.

Noting that India-Mauritius cooperation during the Covid pandemic has been exemplary, he pointed out that under India's Vaccine Maitri programme, Mauritius was one of the first countries it was able to send Covid vaccines to.

"I am happy that today Mauritius is among the few countries in the world to have fully vaccinated three-fourths of its population," Modi said. 
He asserted that Thursday's event again demonstrates the shared commitment to improving the lives of the people of the two countries.

"Pravind ji, I am happy to join you on the completion of the Social Housing project. We are particularly glad to be associated with this important effort to provide affordable houses to the common people of Mauritius," Modi said.

"We are also initiating today two other projects that are critical to nation-building: a state-of-the-art Civil Service College that will help in skilling government officers, for Mauritius's continued progress; and the 8 Mega Watt Solar PV Farm project, which will help mitigate the climate challenges that Mauritius faces as an island country," he said.

In India too, we are focusing on innovative approaches to civil-service capacity building under our Mission Karmyogi, Modi highlighted.

"As we launch the 8 Mega Watt Solar PV Farm, I recall the One Sun One World One Grid initiative, which was launched on the sidelines of the COP-26 meeting in Glasgow last year," he said.

"It is an idea that I had put forth at the First Assembly of the International Solar Alliance in October 2018. This initiative will not only reduce carbon footprints and energy costs, but also open a new avenue for cooperation between different countries and regions," Modi said.

"I hope that India and Mauritius can together create a shining example of such cooperation in solar energy," he added.

Modi said the agreement on small development projects will deliver high-impact projects across Mauritius.

"In the coming days, we will begin work on several important projects such as the Renal Transplant unit, the Forensic Science Laboratory, the National Library &amp; Archives, the Mauritius Police Academy, and many others," he said. 'd like to reiterate today that India will always continue to stand by Mauritius in its development journey," Modi added.

He also recalled the stellar contribution of the late (former Mauritian PM) Anerood Jugnauth to strengthen India-Mauritius ties. 
He was a visionary leader widely respected in India, the PM said.

"Upon his passing, we had declared a day of national mourning in India, and our Parliament had also paid homage to him. It was our privilege to honour him with the Padma Vibhushan award in 2020," Modi said.

In a tweet, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said the delivery of Indian projects abroad has radically improved and Mauritius is a good example. "After the Metro Express, ENT Hospital and Supreme Court, this Social Housing Project is the proof of change."&nbsp;

Cooperation between India and Mauritius, including in maritime security, has translated the vision of SAGAR - Security and Growth for All in the Region - into action, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Thursday.

Cooperation between India and Mauritius, including in maritime security, has translated the vision of SAGAR - Security and Growth for All in the Region - into action, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Thursday. Modi also said Mauritius is a prime example of India's approach to development partnership which is based on the needs and priorities of its partners and respects their sovereignty. He made these remarks after he and his Mauritian counterpart Pravind Jugnauth jointly inaugurated India-assisted social housing units project in Mauritius virtually. The two PMs also took part in a virtual foundation stone laying ceremony for two other projects -- construction of a state-of-the-art Civil Service College and a 8 MW Solar PV Farm -- also undertaken as part of India's development support. The ceremony included exchange of two key bilateral pacts -- an agreement for the extension of USD 190M Line of Credit from the Indian to the Mauritian government for the Metro Express and other infrastructure projects, and an MoU on the implementation of small development projects. In his remarks, Modi said Mauritius is also integral to India's approach to the Indian Ocean and recalled that it was in the island nation, during his 2015 visit, that he had outlined India's maritime cooperation vision of SAGAR - 'Security and Growth for All in the Region'. "I am glad that our bilateral cooperation, including in maritime security, has translated this vision into action," he said. Jagnauth, during his address, broke into chaste Hindi several times and thanked India and its government for the development assistance it has been providing. The Mauritian prime minister said that as gratitude for India's support to the metro express project, his government has decided to name one of the major metro stations as 'Mahatma Gandhi' station. Modi underlined that India and Mauritius are united by history, ancestry, culture, language and the shared waters of the Indian Ocean. "Today, our robust development partnership has emerged as a key pillar of our close ties," he said. Recalling the inauguration of the metro express project, the New ENT Hospital and the New Supreme Court building in Mauritius, Modi said he was delighted to know about the Metro's popularity, crossing the 5.6 million passengers mark. "We look forward to supporting the further extension of the Metro, under the 190 million dollar Line of Credit agreement exchanged today. It is also a matter of satisfaction and pride for us that the New ENT Hospital has been instrumental in combating COVID-19," he said. Noting that India-Mauritius cooperation during the Covid pandemic has been exemplary, he pointed out that under India's Vaccine Maitri programme, Mauritius was one of the first countries it was able to send Covid vaccines to. "I am happy that today Mauritius is among the few countries in the world to have fully vaccinated three-fourths of its population," Modi said. He asserted that Thursday's event again demonstrates the shared commitment to improving the lives of the people of the two countries. "Pravind ji, I am happy to join you on the completion of the Social Housing project. We are particularly glad to be associated with this important effort to provide affordable houses to the common people of Mauritius," Modi said. "We are also initiating today two other projects that are critical to nation-building: a state-of-the-art Civil Service College that will help in skilling government officers, for Mauritius's continued progress; and the 8 Mega Watt Solar PV Farm project, which will help mitigate the climate challenges that Mauritius faces as an island country," he said. In India too, we are focusing on innovative approaches to civil-service capacity building under our Mission Karmyogi, Modi highlighted. "As we launch the 8 Mega Watt Solar PV Farm, I recall the One Sun One World One Grid initiative, which was launched on the sidelines of the COP-26 meeting in Glasgow last year," he said. "It is an idea that I had put forth at the First Assembly of the International Solar Alliance in October 2018. This initiative will not only reduce carbon footprints and energy costs, but also open a new avenue for cooperation between different countries and regions," Modi said. "I hope that India and Mauritius can together create a shining example of such cooperation in solar energy," he added. Modi said the agreement on small development projects will deliver high-impact projects across Mauritius. "In the coming days, we will begin work on several important projects such as the Renal Transplant unit, the Forensic Science Laboratory, the National Library & Archives, the Mauritius Police Academy, and many others," he said. 'd like to reiterate today that India will always continue to stand by Mauritius in its development journey," Modi added. He also recalled the stellar contribution of the late (former Mauritian PM) Anerood Jugnauth to strengthen India-Mauritius ties. He was a visionary leader widely respected in India, the PM said. "Upon his passing, we had declared a day of national mourning in India, and our Parliament had also paid homage to him. It was our privilege to honour him with the Padma Vibhushan award in 2020," Modi said. In a tweet, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said the delivery of Indian projects abroad has radically improved and Mauritius is a good example. "After the Metro Express, ENT Hospital and Supreme Court, this Social Housing Project is the proof of change."

Modi, Jugnauth jointly inaugurate, launch India-assisted projects in Mauritius

The shift toward Donald Trump by Latino voters was one of the more surprising takeaways of the 2020 presidential election. The findings of recent polls and reports — that Latinos may still be sliding toward Republicans — are even more disconcerting for Democrats. Given the political stakes as well as the stakes for Latino families, Democratic leaders must do better.

As 2022 begins, the party so far has no visible, convincingly powerful plan to win over the voters many rank and file Democrats believe are key to November’s midterm elections, the 2024 presidential race and perhaps the future of the Democratic Party. But what happens next, when Democratic candidates fan out across the country trying to shore up support from Latinos who may be slipping away?

Some believe that doing better means spending more money on messaging, advertising and outreach. But this isn’t the only lesson to be gleaned from what the data is telling us, and it might not even be the right one. Democrats should more aggressively combat Republican messaging with their own, but the real fight should be over which party has the best ideas on education, immigration, jobs and the economy. This is where Democrats take the Latino vote for granted, but they shouldn’t.

Daniel Garza, the president of the conservative group The Libre Initiative, for example, believes that the Republican agenda gives his party the upper hand with Latinos. He scoffed at the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee announcement last November that it planned to win back Latino and other voters of color by spending at least $30 million to hire organizers, pay for targeted advertising campaigns, combat disinformation and support voter protection and education programs.

Thirty million is a lot of money, he told me, but it would be “wasted if the message were about nuanced topics like voter suppression, disinformation and diversity.” The problem for Democrats, he added, is that “GOP ideas are better” because they’re “pro-growth, pro-energy, pro-parent (school choice) and pro-advancement.”

Mr. Garza makes several assumptions: that voter suppression and disinformation are nuanced topics that don’t resonate with Latinos; that Democrats aren’t fighting for policies that will make our lives better; and that Republicans are the only party that supports growth and families.

Some Democrats have downplayed the importance of policy compared with style and approach. Chuck Rocha, a political strategist, who is in a way Mr. Garza’s liberal counterpoint, called the re-election campaign announcement by Gov. Greg Abbott of Texas at a Hispanic Leadership Summit a “brilliant political move,” but said that the Republican Party’s policies prove that they don’t care about Latinos. Mr. Rocha added that Democrats need to “quit taking a policy book” to a “fistfight.” He might be right that Democrats should be ready to fight, but they should absolutely bring their policy book with them.

Indeed, one of the main findings of the post-mortem report on the 2020 election published by Equis Research was that Donald Trump made inroads with Latino voters because he and Republican governors kept the economy open during the pandemic, cut taxes, distributed stimulus checks, secured the border and expedited vaccine development. I would add Mr. Trump’s focus on religious liberty and support for charter schools.

The report dispelled theories that Latinos supported Mr. Trump because they opposed the term Latinx and defunding the police, or because they aspire to whiteness. The problem with these assumptions is that they caricatured Latinos as motivated primarily by culture wars instead of sincerely held policy beliefs.

Or, rather, the term Latinx, policing and whiteness were issues with underlying policy implications that too often got framed as divisive culture wars, and in ways that minimized the real policy disagreements they highlighted for Latinos: generational divides between Latino Democrats over progressive versus moderate policies; whether the border patrol or police help or harm communities; and whether capitalism, however exploitative, or socialism, however invasive, is the best path toward upward mobility and economic security.

The notion that Latinos were swayed by disinformation implies that they could be duped into voting for Mr. Trump, or that they could have voted for him only if they were duped. Sure, calling President Biden a socialist is disinformation because he is not a socialist. But it’s also the same line of attack that Republicans have used to brand their opponents for a long time. We should be outraged with the lies, and we should combat them. But by merely dismissing the attack as disinformation we ignore why it has been so successful.

It’s not just that socialism conjures ghosts of Latin America’s leftist leaders. It’s also an argument about religion — since conservatives consider socialism a godless philosophy — the ills of government intervention and dependency on government, and education. In a society that cherishes freedom, parents should have a hand in deciding what their children learn.

As much as Democrats would like to dismiss Republican talking points — or misinformation, in some cases — they would be better off understanding how they relate to values that in turn connect with policy preferences. Then they can work to persuade Latinos that their policies are better, even on issues such as religion, the economy and education, on which Republicans claim to occupy more solid ground.

Latino voters aren’t empty vessels just waiting to be filled with liberal beliefs. The problem with focusing only, or even primarily, on messaging and outreach is that it once again doesn’t take Latinos seriously as political actors, and instead assumes that they’re out there ready to be mobilized for the Democratic cause. That’s just not true.

In the end, even if Democrats focus exclusively on policy, they still won’t sway all Latinos to vote for them. But doing so would help them better understand these voters. They should be asking them whether they are paid enough to provide for their families, if they’re satisfied with the schools their children go to, whether they have access to health care, and what government can do to help them reach their goals.

The concrete plans they develop in response, especially for families living paycheck to paycheck and worrying about schools and health care, should respect their work ethic and ambitions. Latinos aren’t looking for “handouts,” but rather, leveling the playing field by, for example, making it easier to get loans to start a business, and increasing access to higher education.

I dream of vigorous town hall-style debates where both parties engage in arguments over whose policies are best, instead of hurling talking points in our general direction from a distance. What Democrats learn may be uncomfortable if they have to abandon their assumptions. But dissecting our understanding of these voters, long presumed to represent a bloc, will be necessary if we have any hope of reconstituting “the Latino vote” in a way that’s more reflective of Latinos’ hopes, dreams and political aims.

The shift toward Donald Trump by Latino voters was one of the more surprising takeaways of the 2020 presidential election. The findings of recent polls and reports — that Latinos may still be sliding toward Republicans — are even more disconcerting for Democrats.

The shift toward Donald Trump by Latino voters was one of the more surprising takeaways of the 2020 presidential election. The findings of recent polls and reports — that Latinos may still be sliding toward Republicans — are even more disconcerting for Democrats. Given the political stakes as well as the stakes for Latino families, Democratic leaders must do better. As 2022 begins, the party so far has no visible, convincingly powerful plan to win over the voters many rank and file Democrats believe are key to November’s midterm elections, the 2024 presidential race and perhaps the future of the Democratic Party. But what happens next, when Democratic candidates fan out across the country trying to shore up support from Latinos who may be slipping away? Some believe that doing better means spending more money on messaging, advertising and outreach. But this isn’t the only lesson to be gleaned from what the data is telling us, and it might not even be the right one. Democrats should more aggressively combat Republican messaging with their own, but the real fight should be over which party has the best ideas on education, immigration, jobs and the economy. This is where Democrats take the Latino vote for granted, but they shouldn’t. Daniel Garza, the president of the conservative group The Libre Initiative, for example, believes that the Republican agenda gives his party the upper hand with Latinos. He scoffed at the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee announcement last November that it planned to win back Latino and other voters of color by spending at least $30 million to hire organizers, pay for targeted advertising campaigns, combat disinformation and support voter protection and education programs. Thirty million is a lot of money, he told me, but it would be “wasted if the message were about nuanced topics like voter suppression, disinformation and diversity.” The problem for Democrats, he added, is that “GOP ideas are better” because they’re “pro-growth, pro-energy, pro-parent (school choice) and pro-advancement.” Mr. Garza makes several assumptions: that voter suppression and disinformation are nuanced topics that don’t resonate with Latinos; that Democrats aren’t fighting for policies that will make our lives better; and that Republicans are the only party that supports growth and families. Some Democrats have downplayed the importance of policy compared with style and approach. Chuck Rocha, a political strategist, who is in a way Mr. Garza’s liberal counterpoint, called the re-election campaign announcement by Gov. Greg Abbott of Texas at a Hispanic Leadership Summit a “brilliant political move,” but said that the Republican Party’s policies prove that they don’t care about Latinos. Mr. Rocha added that Democrats need to “quit taking a policy book” to a “fistfight.” He might be right that Democrats should be ready to fight, but they should absolutely bring their policy book with them. Indeed, one of the main findings of the post-mortem report on the 2020 election published by Equis Research was that Donald Trump made inroads with Latino voters because he and Republican governors kept the economy open during the pandemic, cut taxes, distributed stimulus checks, secured the border and expedited vaccine development. I would add Mr. Trump’s focus on religious liberty and support for charter schools. The report dispelled theories that Latinos supported Mr. Trump because they opposed the term Latinx and defunding the police, or because they aspire to whiteness. The problem with these assumptions is that they caricatured Latinos as motivated primarily by culture wars instead of sincerely held policy beliefs. Or, rather, the term Latinx, policing and whiteness were issues with underlying policy implications that too often got framed as divisive culture wars, and in ways that minimized the real policy disagreements they highlighted for Latinos: generational divides between Latino Democrats over progressive versus moderate policies; whether the border patrol or police help or harm communities; and whether capitalism, however exploitative, or socialism, however invasive, is the best path toward upward mobility and economic security. The notion that Latinos were swayed by disinformation implies that they could be duped into voting for Mr. Trump, or that they could have voted for him only if they were duped. Sure, calling President Biden a socialist is disinformation because he is not a socialist. But it’s also the same line of attack that Republicans have used to brand their opponents for a long time. We should be outraged with the lies, and we should combat them. But by merely dismissing the attack as disinformation we ignore why it has been so successful. It’s not just that socialism conjures ghosts of Latin America’s leftist leaders. It’s also an argument about religion — since conservatives consider socialism a godless philosophy — the ills of government intervention and dependency on government, and education. In a society that cherishes freedom, parents should have a hand in deciding what their children learn. As much as Democrats would like to dismiss Republican talking points — or misinformation, in some cases — they would be better off understanding how they relate to values that in turn connect with policy preferences. Then they can work to persuade Latinos that their policies are better, even on issues such as religion, the economy and education, on which Republicans claim to occupy more solid ground. Latino voters aren’t empty vessels just waiting to be filled with liberal beliefs. The problem with focusing only, or even primarily, on messaging and outreach is that it once again doesn’t take Latinos seriously as political actors, and instead assumes that they’re out there ready to be mobilized for the Democratic cause. That’s just not true. In the end, even if Democrats focus exclusively on policy, they still won’t sway all Latinos to vote for them. But doing so would help them better understand these voters. They should be asking them whether they are paid enough to provide for their families, if they’re satisfied with the schools their children go to, whether they have access to health care, and what government can do to help them reach their goals. The concrete plans they develop in response, especially for families living paycheck to paycheck and worrying about schools and health care, should respect their work ethic and ambitions. Latinos aren’t looking for “handouts,” but rather, leveling the playing field by, for example, making it easier to get loans to start a business, and increasing access to higher education. I dream of vigorous town hall-style debates where both parties engage in arguments over whose policies are best, instead of hurling talking points in our general direction from a distance. What Democrats learn may be uncomfortable if they have to abandon their assumptions. But dissecting our understanding of these voters, long presumed to represent a bloc, will be necessary if we have any hope of reconstituting “the Latino vote” in a way that’s more reflective of Latinos’ hopes, dreams and political aims.

Latino voters are key to 2024, and they’re not always buying what Democrats are selling

You are driving a car in unforgiving winter. The ice is slippery. The wheels leave the road and the vehicle takes a plunge in the ice-cold waters of a roadside lake

A painful death is perhaps certain.&nbsp;

But you move quickly and manage to escape the sinking vehicle (A VERY hard thing to do). You climb onto whichever part of the car that's still above surface. So far so good.

But the battle is not yet won. There remains the hard task of jumping in freezing water and swimming to safety.

The battle is not yet won! A lot needs to be...

'Ah chuck it! Let me take a selfie.'

Netizens are facepalming at the probable thought process of a woman who was seen smiling and taking a selfie atop her sinking car. The bizarre incident took place in Ottawa, Canada. It is not yet known who is the woman or where was she going when she drove her car into the lake.

As per reports, the woman was rescued. But the photo is doing rounds on social media. People are amused and even angry at the woman.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
She captured the moment with a selfie while people hurried and worried to help her. 🤦🏼‍♀️ <a href="https://t.co/ML6zWlSa9m">pic.twitter.com/ML6zWlSa9m</a>
— Lynda Douglas (@MammaMitch) <a href="https://twitter.com/MammaMitch/status/1482889435620519938?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 17, 2022</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
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Some netizens are angry that she apparently had scant respect for her would be rescuers or that she put herself into danger in the first place.

"Unbelievably. &nbsp;This person should pay for the emergency services required for this call, environmental charges due to car (gas, oil etc) in water, vehicle removal and insurance not covering anything. &nbsp;Including reimbursement for the car," says @PalmerRapids

You are driving a car in unforgiving winter. The ice is slippery. The wheels leave the road and the vehicle takes a plunge in the ice-cold waters of a roadside lake A painful death is perhaps certain.

You are driving a car in unforgiving winter. The ice is slippery. The wheels leave the road and the vehicle takes a plunge in the ice-cold waters of a roadside lake A painful death is perhaps certain. But you move quickly and manage to escape the sinking vehicle (A VERY hard thing to do). You climb onto whichever part of the car that's still above surface. So far so good. But the battle is not yet won. There remains the hard task of jumping in freezing water and swimming to safety. The battle is not yet won! A lot needs to be... 'Ah chuck it! Let me take a selfie.' Netizens are facepalming at the probable thought process of a woman who was seen smiling and taking a selfie atop her sinking car. The bizarre incident took place in Ottawa, Canada. It is not yet known who is the woman or where was she going when she drove her car into the lake. As per reports, the woman was rescued. But the photo is doing rounds on social media. People are amused and even angry at the woman. She captured the moment with a selfie while people hurried and worried to help her. 🤦🏼‍♀️ pic.twitter.com/ML6zWlSa9m — Lynda Douglas (@MammaMitch) January 17, 2022 × Some netizens are angry that she apparently had scant respect for her would be rescuers or that she put herself into danger in the first place. "Unbelievably. This person should pay for the emergency services required for this call, environmental charges due to car (gas, oil etc) in water, vehicle removal and insurance not covering anything. Including reimbursement for the car," says @PalmerRapids

Her car is sinking in ice-cold water, but a woman calmly takes selfie

Vishal Garg, CEO of Better.com who hit headlines for firing 900 employees over a Zoom call is returning to the company after a month-long break. CNN reported that the company's Board of Directors sent a letter to all employees on Tuesday saying that Garg will take up his "full-time duties" as CEO.

Garg hit international headlines in December 2021 after he fired 900 employees over a Zoon call.

"If you're on this call, you are part of the unlucky group that is being laid off," Garg had said. "Your employment here is terminated, effective immediately." The leaked footage of the Zoom call had gone viral.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Vishal Garg: “I wish I didn’t have to lay off 900 of you over a zoom call but I’m gonna lay y’all off right before the holidays lmfaooo”<a href="https://t.co/6bxPGTemEG">pic.twitter.com/6bxPGTemEG</a>
— litquidity (@litcapital) <a href="https://twitter.com/litcapital/status/1467594914556956672?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 5, 2021</a></blockquote>
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He was then sent on leave by the company. The company, in latest letter to the employees, reportedly said that Garg used the break to "reflect on his leadership, reconnect with the values that make Better great and work closely with an executive coach."

The manner of laying off of the employees had caused a huge backlash following which Garg had apologised.

In addition to conveying the employees that Garg will return, the company also told them that a third-party firm had reviewed the company's work culture and that Better.com was implementing the changes to ensure a respectful work environment.

Better is valued at USD 6.9 billion. As per Bloomberg the company had plans to go public but major bad publicity garnered by Garg's actions last year resulted in postponement of the plans.

Vishal Garg, CEO of Better.com who hit headlines for firing 900 employees over a Zoom call is returning to the company after a month-long break. CNN reported that the company's Board of Directors sent a letter to all employees on Tuesday saying that Garg will take up his "full-time duties" as CEO.

Vishal Garg, CEO of Better.com who hit headlines for firing 900 employees over a Zoom call is returning to the company after a month-long break. CNN reported that the company's Board of Directors sent a letter to all employees on Tuesday saying that Garg will take up his "full-time duties" as CEO. Garg hit international headlines in December 2021 after he fired 900 employees over a Zoon call. "If you're on this call, you are part of the unlucky group that is being laid off," Garg had said. "Your employment here is terminated, effective immediately." The leaked footage of the Zoom call had gone viral. Vishal Garg: “I wish I didn’t have to lay off 900 of you over a zoom call but I’m gonna lay y’all off right before the holidays lmfaooo”pic.twitter.com/6bxPGTemEG — litquidity (@litcapital) December 5, 2021 × He was then sent on leave by the company. The company, in latest letter to the employees, reportedly said that Garg used the break to "reflect on his leadership, reconnect with the values that make Better great and work closely with an executive coach." The manner of laying off of the employees had caused a huge backlash following which Garg had apologised. In addition to conveying the employees that Garg will return, the company also told them that a third-party firm had reviewed the company's work culture and that Better.com was implementing the changes to ensure a respectful work environment. Better is valued at USD 6.9 billion. As per Bloomberg the company had plans to go public but major bad publicity garnered by Garg's actions last year resulted in postponement of the plans.

Vishal Garg, CEO who fired 900 people on Zoom call to return, says company

A public relations officer from Iran's armed forces told country's semi-offical ISNA news agency that China, Russia and Iran will be held on Friday (January 21).

The "2022 Marine Security Belt" exercise will take place in the north of the Indian Ocean and is the third joint naval drill between the three countries, Mostafa Tajoldin added.

Iran's hardline President Ebrahim Raisi has pursued a "look east" policy since coming to office in June. He has sought to deepen ties with Russia and China.&nbsp;

Tehran joined the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation in September, a central Asian security body led by Beijing and Moscow.

Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian visited China last week and Iran`s president was meeting his Russian counterpart in Moscow on Thursday.

China, Russia and Iran started joint naval drills in 2019, and will continue them in the future, Tajoldin said.

"The purpose of this drill is to strengthen security and its foundations in the region, and to expand multilateral cooperation between the three countries to jointly support world peace, maritime security and create a maritime community with a common future," the Iranian official told ISNA.

Both navies from Iran`s armed forces and Revolutionary Guards will take part in the drills, which include various tactical exercises such as rescuing a burning vessel, releasing a hijacked vessel, and shooting at air targets at night.

(With inputs from agencies)

A public relations officer from Iran's armed forces told country's semi-offical ISNA news agency that China, Russia and Iran will be held on Friday (January 21).

A public relations officer from Iran's armed forces told country's semi-offical ISNA news agency that China, Russia and Iran will be held on Friday (January 21). The "2022 Marine Security Belt" exercise will take place in the north of the Indian Ocean and is the third joint naval drill between the three countries, Mostafa Tajoldin added. Iran's hardline President Ebrahim Raisi has pursued a "look east" policy since coming to office in June. He has sought to deepen ties with Russia and China. Tehran joined the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation in September, a central Asian security body led by Beijing and Moscow. Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian visited China last week and Iran`s president was meeting his Russian counterpart in Moscow on Thursday. China, Russia and Iran started joint naval drills in 2019, and will continue them in the future, Tajoldin said. "The purpose of this drill is to strengthen security and its foundations in the region, and to expand multilateral cooperation between the three countries to jointly support world peace, maritime security and create a maritime community with a common future," the Iranian official told ISNA. Both navies from Iran`s armed forces and Revolutionary Guards will take part in the drills, which include various tactical exercises such as rescuing a burning vessel, releasing a hijacked vessel, and shooting at air targets at night. (With inputs from agencies)

China-Russia-Iran trilateral naval drills to be held on Friday

A 57-year-old Tongan man is being hailed as 'real-life Aquaman' after he said he swam for 27 hours to reach the shore after a tsunami triggered by violent explosion of Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha`apai volcano on the Southern Pacific island nation.

The volcanic explosion sent tsunami waves rolling across the archipelago, damaging villages, resorts and many buildings and knocked out communications for the nation of about 105,000 people.

Lisala Folau, who lived on the small, isolated island of Atata which has a population of about 60 people, was swept out to sea when the waves hit land at about 7 pm&nbsp;on Saturday, he said in a radio interview to Tongan media agency Broadcom Broadcasting.

Folau said he was painting his home when he was alerted about the tsunami by his brother, and soon the waves had gone through his lounge.

He climbed on a tree to escape but when he got down another big wave swept him away, he said. The 57-year-old said he is disabled and cannot walk properly.

"I just floated, bashed around by the big waves that kept coming," he told the radio station.

Folau said he kept floating, and slowly managed to swim 7.5 km (4.7 miles) to the main island of Tongatapu, reaching the shore 27 hours later at about 10 p.m. on Sunday.

The story of Folau`s heroics went viral among Tongan groups on Facebook and other social media.

"Real life Aquaman," said one post on Facebook, referring to the comic book and film chracter.

"He`s a legend," said another post.

Atata, which is about 8 km northwest of Tonga’s capital Nuku`alofa, or a 30-minute boat ride, has been almost entirely destroyed in the tsunami that hit the islands. Tongan naval boats are still surveing the smaller islands and evacuating people to the main islands.

(With inputs from agencies)

A 57-year-old Tongan man is being hailed as 'real-life Aquaman' after he said he swam for 27 hours to reach the shore after a tsunami triggered by violent explosion of Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha`apai volcano on the Southern Pacific island nation.

A 57-year-old Tongan man is being hailed as 'real-life Aquaman' after he said he swam for 27 hours to reach the shore after a tsunami triggered by violent explosion of Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha`apai volcano on the Southern Pacific island nation. The volcanic explosion sent tsunami waves rolling across the archipelago, damaging villages, resorts and many buildings and knocked out communications for the nation of about 105,000 people. Lisala Folau, who lived on the small, isolated island of Atata which has a population of about 60 people, was swept out to sea when the waves hit land at about 7 pm on Saturday, he said in a radio interview to Tongan media agency Broadcom Broadcasting. Folau said he was painting his home when he was alerted about the tsunami by his brother, and soon the waves had gone through his lounge. He climbed on a tree to escape but when he got down another big wave swept him away, he said. The 57-year-old said he is disabled and cannot walk properly. "I just floated, bashed around by the big waves that kept coming," he told the radio station. Folau said he kept floating, and slowly managed to swim 7.5 km (4.7 miles) to the main island of Tongatapu, reaching the shore 27 hours later at about 10 p.m. on Sunday. The story of Folau`s heroics went viral among Tongan groups on Facebook and other social media. "Real life Aquaman," said one post on Facebook, referring to the comic book and film chracter. "He`s a legend," said another post. Atata, which is about 8 km northwest of Tonga’s capital Nuku`alofa, or a 30-minute boat ride, has been almost entirely destroyed in the tsunami that hit the islands. Tongan naval boats are still surveing the smaller islands and evacuating people to the main islands. (With inputs from agencies)

'Real life Aquaman': Disabled Tongan man swam for 27 hours after tsunami

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Rajasthan News in Hindi: In-depth coverage of Rajasthan Crime, Political News, Education, Rajasthan Weather Update and Latest Rajasthan News on Zee News Rajasthan.