ISRO's Final 2024 Mission Targets Space Docking Milestone

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) will close 2024 with the PSLV C60/SPADEX mission, launching on December 30 at 9:58 pm from Sriharikota. The SPADEX mission aims to demonstrate cost-effective spacecraft docking technology using two small satellites, a key milestone for India’s ambitious space goals. This technology will support future projects like lunar sample return missions, Chandrayaan-4, and the Bharatiya Antariksh Station (BAS). Successful execution will position India as the fourth country globally to achieve space docking capability. The mission also paves the way for autonomous docking in lunar operations without Earth-based navigation systems.

Akhilesh Yadav Faces Backlash For Mocking Hindus

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav is facing backlash for trying to mock the sentiments of Hindus after claiming on Sunday (29 December) that a Shivling exists beneath the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister's residence in Lucknow, suggesting it should be excavated.

"His remark came amid rising political tensions over recent archaeological surveys in the state. Last week, a 250-foot-deep stepwell, dating back to the 1857 revolt, was discovered in Sambhal after bulldozers were used for excavation, followed by the reported discovery of the ruins of an ancient Banke Bihari temple. Yadav has accused the BJP of using these surveys to marginalise the Muslim community and distract from more pressing issues, such as unemployment and the agrarian crisis. The Samajwadi Party derives the majority of its support from the MY (Muslim-Yadav) combination.

Interestingly, this comes just days after the former Chief Minister appeared to defend a remark by an SP leader who called the BJP a 'Hindu terrorist organisation.

Farmers Call Bandh Today As Talks Make No Headway

Farmers in Punjab have called for a shutdown today as talks with the state government have made no progress. The protest, led by the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha (KMM) and Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM), has been ongoing since February 13, with fasting leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal at the forefront, demanding a legal guarantee for minimum support prices (MSP). Dallewal has been on a hunger strike for over a month, and the Supreme Court recently reprimanded the Punjab government for failing to move him to a hospital. Despite efforts by the Punjab government to initiate dialogue through senior police officers, Dallewal has refused to end his fast. As the matter is scheduled for a court hearing on Tuesday, the state government is struggling to resolve the issue.

Other Developments

ASI Decodes Brahmi Sanskrit Inscription Found In POK

An ancient Sanskrit inscription discovered on a rock outside Gilgit in Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir has been decoded by the ASI's epigraphy division. Written in Brahmi script, the inscription dates back to the 4th century CE and reads, "Pushpasingha, for the merit of his guru (name partially lost), installed a Mahesvaralinga." The inscription was shared with ASI by Shiv Pratap Singh from Rajasthan, who sent a photo of it for decoding. ASI epigraphy director K Muniratnam Reddy noted that this discovery follows previous instances of Sanskrit inscriptions found in Pakistan, including one near Peshawar, which was decoded five months ago. The earlier inscription, written in Sharada script, dates to the 10th century CE and appears to reference Buddhist Dharini chants.

Taliban Shifts Focus To Iranian Ports Amid Tensions With Pakistan

Amid escalating tensions with Pakistan, the Taliban is shifting its trade focus from Karachi port to Iran’s Bandar Abbas and Chabahar ports for access to the Indian Ocean Region. Recently, China used Bandar Abbas to transport goods to Afghanistan, including 1,000 rolls of iron. India is utilizing Chabahar port to send humanitarian aid to Afghanistan and plans to use it as a trade route to Central Asia. India, Iran, and Afghanistan had previously entered into a tripartite agreement to facilitate smooth transport between India and Afghanistan via Chabahar. Kabul is now exploring options to revive proposals for railway connectivity with Iran as it seeks to reduce its dependence on Pakistan for trade.

Former US President Jimmy Carter Dies At 100

Former US President Jimmy Carter, who served as the 39th President from 1977 to 1981, has passed away at the age of 100 at his home in Georgia, according to Reuters. Carter, a Democrat, is remembered for brokering the historic 1978 Camp David Accords between Israel and Egypt, for which he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002. He won the 1976 election against incumbent President Gerald Ford but was defeated by Ronald Reagan in the 1980 election amid an economic recession and the Iran hostage crisis. Carter holds the record for living longer after his presidency than any other US leader.

Azerbaijan Accuses Russia of Hiding Causes of Plane Crash

Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev accused Russia of trying to conceal the cause of a plane crash that killed 38 people on December 29, 2024. Aliyev claimed the Azerbaijan Airlines jet was shot at by Russian forces over Russian territory, near Grozny, and called for Moscow to accept responsibility for the disaster. Russian President Vladimir Putin apologized for the crash but stopped short of admitting that Russian fire may have been involved. Moscow previously suggested that Ukrainian drones had attacked Grozny on the same day, and that the plane's crash was caused by external damage. Aliyev also stated that electronic warfare systems interfered with the plane's control.

Bihar Police Use Force To Disperse Protesting Civil Service Aspirants 

The Bihar Police used lathicharge and water cannons to disperse BPSC aspirants protesting in Patna. The exam, held on December 13 with 3.28 lakh candidates, faced protests over alleged question paper leaks. BPSC has denied the allegations. On December 29, Jan Suraaj Party founder Prashant Kishor held a ‘Youth Congress Samvad’ at Gandhi Maidan, drawing thousands of students. Kishor interacted with the crowd for hours before marching towards the Chief Minister’s residence. Police initially tried to calm the protesters for nearly an hour, but when they forcefully removed barricades, the police lathicharged and used water cannons to disperse the crowd. Bihar Police have filed a case against Prashant Kishor for allegedly instigating the aspirants.

Source : swarajyamag