Rewind 2023: The A to Z of the year

We are nearing the end of yet another year. And the question everyone is asking is, it is the worst ever? If 2022 gave us one war, 2023 gave us two. The Russia-Ukraine conflict continues to rage on, and in October, the Israel-Hamas tensions escalated into a full-blown battle. If manmade disasters were not enough, natural disasters upended lives – earthquakes and whatnot. And the rise of Artificial Intelligence (AI) was unprecedented. Amid all the gloom and doom, India continued to make significant strides. Our economy has been dubbed as the bright spot, and in the world of geopolitics, the country made its mark, hosting a successful G20 Summit and maintaining a fine balance between warring nations. Bringing some cheer were movies, dramas and entertainers. Sports, especially the Cricket World Cup, gave us some thrills. And Lionel Messi continued to create magic. It’s been a long and eventful year. As we near its end, we look back at the A to Z of 2023. A for Artificial Intelligence Yes, the Bots have arrived. 2023 was a breakout year for generative AI. OpenAI released GPT-4 in March and in nine months, it has changed the world faster than we could imagine. ChatGPT has taken people’s jobs and it created quite a stir in the academic and publishing world with some countries banning it. GPT-4 propelled OpenAI to a yearly revenue of over $1 billion this year, a stunning leap from the $28 million in 2023. The firm saw its fair share of drama with the fire and rehire of Sam Atlam , also TIME Magazine’s CEO of the Year. Now ChatGPT has a competitor. Google has launched Gemini , the “world’s most powerful AI model”. This is just the beginning of the rise of AI. [caption id=“attachment_13514762” align=“alignnone” width=“640”] Artificial intelligence went mainstream in 2023: It was a long time coming and has a long way to go for the technology to match people’s science fiction fantasies of human-like machines. AP[/caption] B for Benjamin Netanyahu It’s been a tumultuous year for Israel and the centre of it was been Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The government’s controversial reforms to change the way the judicial system works saw months of protests. However, in July, the Netanyahu-led government passed the bill to limit the power of the Supreme Court and the turmoil continued. Then on 7 October , Hamas attacked Israel in the deadliest terror strike, killing around 1,200 people. In retaliation, Netanyahu declared war. Israel’s airstrikes on Gaza were followed by a ground invasion. Netanyahu’s Israel has left the world divided. He is asking Hamas to surrender. And amid all this, questions of his political survival are being raised. His popularity has plummeted – only 27 per cent of Israelis see him as the best person to run the country. He has a lot to lose than only the war. [caption id=“attachment_13514832” align=“alignnone” width=“640”] Protestors gather against Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu near his residence, as the conflict between Israel and Palestinian Islamist group Hamas continues, in Jerusalem on 4 November. Reuters[/caption] Cricket World Cup The ICC Cricket World Cup had fans from across the globe hooked. From Virat Kohli’s record-shattering 50th 100 to Glenn Maxwell’s heroic play against Afghanistan , from Aiden Markam’s 40-ball ton to India’s best fielders’ medal ceremonies, the World Cup came us several reasons to smile. For Indian cricket fans, the tournament was exhilarating. India was arguably the best team in the Cricket World Cup, winning 10 games at a trot with one stunning performance after another. But the dream run came to an end when they met Australia in the finals and lost. The Men in Blue may have not won the Cup but they won many a heart. In times of war and uncertainty, the Cricket World Cup brought so many people together and gave them hope. [caption id=“attachment_13514882” align=“alignnone” width=“640”] Indian players Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma look dejected after losing the ICC Cricket World Cup final against Australia. File photo/Reuters[/caption] De-dollarisation In geopolitics, the dynamics are fast changing. The United States is facing challenges, especially from China. The American dollar has been the world’s reserve currency for as long as we can remember. But there has been a growing trend as countries the world over are looking to reduce their reliance on the dollar. It’s called de-dollarisation .

The year saw BRICS (Brazil, Russia, China and South Africa) holding talks to develop a common currency for trade and investment, the yuan has gained traction in international trade, and the Indian rupee is also taking a careful step toward internationalisation. There’s hectic development but de-dollarisation comes with its own set of challenges and it’s a long long way before the world gets there. [caption id=“attachment_13514922” align=“alignnone” width=“640”] A worker smokes in front of a billboard featuring a US dollar banknote on a street in Taiyuan, Shanxi province in China. The Asian giant is leading the pack in the de-dollarisation drive. File photo/Reuters[/caption] Earthquakes There were two devastating earthquakes – the 7.8 magnitude quake that jolted Turkey and Syria and the 6.8 temblor that rocked Morocco. In the early morning of 6 February, a major 7.8 earthquake hit close to the town of Gaziantep, in south-eastern Turkey, near the Syrian border. One of the deadliest quakes recorded in decades, it caused large-scale death and devastation. The combined death toll in both countries rose above 50,000 – with more than 44,000 killed in Turkey. This year bad news came in twos. After Turkey, it was Morrocco that was struck with a quake of magnitude 6.8 on 8 September. Its epicentre was located in the Al-Haouz province, in the Atlas Mountains of the historic city of Marrakech. It claimed more than 2,900 lives and left more than 5,500 people injured. [caption id=“attachment_13514952” align=“alignnone” width=“638”] A woman sits on the rubble as emergency rescue teams search for people under the remains of destroyed buildings in Nurdagi town on the outskirts of Osmaniye city southern Turkey, om 7 February. A powerful earthquake hit southeast Turkey and Syria, toppling hundreds of buildings and killing and injuring thousands of people. AP[/caption] F for FTX trial Last year, saw the collapse of FTX, one of the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchanges. Its founder Sam-Bankman Fried, the blue-eyed boy of the crypto world, went on trial earlier this year and was found guilty of fraud . Those who testified against him said that SBF was the key to all decisions that saw $8 billion vanish from the trading platform. FTX used the funds of customers to bolster its sister firm Alameda Research. In the trial, prosecutors portrayed the defendant as an extremely smart man consumed by greed, who knew what he was doing when FTX funds were secretly funnelled to his hedge fund. He now faces up to 110 years in jail. [caption id=“attachment_13514982” align=“alignnone” width=“640”] Former FTX chief executive Sam Bankman-Fried was found guilty of fraud over the collapse of the bankrupt cryptocurrency exchange. File photo/Reuters[/caption] G for G20 India hosted the G20 presidency this year. In September, world leaders descended upon Delhi for the Leaders’ Summit – US president Joe Biden, UK prime minister Rishi Sunak, French president Emmanuel Macron, and German chancellor Olaf Scholz, among others. While China’s Xi Jinping decided to give it a skip, Russia was represented by Sergei Lavrov.

The summit was hailed as a great success. After India’s persistent push, the African Union joined the bloc, New Delhi emerged as the leader of the Global South and after some back and forth over the Russia-Ukraine war, a communique was arrived at. The New Delhi Leaders’ Declaration was hailed by all. India once again cemented its position as an unifier in a divided world. [caption id=“attachment_13515022” align=“alignnone” width=“640”] Humayun’s Tomb in New Delhi was illuminated displaying the logo of G20 Summit 2023, which was held in the capital on 9 and 10 September. File photo/PTI[/caption] H for Hamas Hamas , the Palestinian militant group, has been grabbing headlines since the 7 October attacks on Israel. The terrorists hoodwinked Israel’s sophisticated security and intelligence network. It was the deadliest terror strike in the country’s 75-year history. More than two months on, Israel continues to fight the terror group in Gaza. The war has exposed the Hamas leadership – many of its top men live a life of luxury in Qatar , even as ordinary Gazans suffer. Reports also reveal how Israel propped up the enemy is now fighting. [caption id=“attachment_13515052” align=“alignnone” width=“640”] Palestinian militants, some with guns raised in the air, celebrate by an Israeli tank at the border fence of the Gaza Strip on 7 October. The militant Hamas rulers of the Gaza Strip carried out an unprecedented, multi-front attack on Israel at daybreak, firing thousands of rockets as dozens of Hamas fighters infiltrated the heavily fortified border in several locations by air, land, and sea and catching the country off-guard on a major holiday. AP[/caption] I for Imran Khan It has been a tumultuous year for the former Pakistan prime minister, who is now behind bars. Khan was first arrested on 9 May while appearing for hearings at Islamabad high court. What followed was deadly violence and rioting with his followers attacking army installations. He was granted bail by the HC days later. In August, Khan was arrested again and sentenced to three years in jail in the cypher case under the Officials Secrets Act. He is accused of misusing a confidential diplomatic cable for political purposes when he was in power. He has been indicted on charges of leaking state secrets. A guilty verdict under the Official Secrets Act could bring up to 14 years in prison or even a death sentence, lawyers say. [caption id=“attachment_13515092” align=“alignnone” width=“640”] Pakistan’s former Prime Minister Imran Khan arrives to appear at a Supreme Court in Islamabad, Pakistan on 24 July. File photo/AP[/caption] J for Junta The junta in Myanmar is facing its toughest challenge since it seized power on 1 February 2021. Fierce fighting has broken out between the military and the resistance forces. The rebels claim that they have made notable gains against the army in several important cities in the Shan State. Hundreds of junta soldiers have surrendered in battles in the last month. Both India and China are concerned and there is increased speculation if the junta rule will collapse . [caption id=“attachment_13515172” align=“alignnone” width=“640”] Myanmar military officers leave the venue during a parade to commemorate Myanmar’s 78th Armed Forces Day in Naypyitaw, Myanmar, on 27 March. The ruling junta has so far failed to rein in the coordinated attacks launched by rebels in October. File photo/AP[/caption] K for Khalistan The K-factor has become one of India’s biggest concerns. The Khalistani threat has been growing with attacks on Hindu temples, vandalism of a consulate, and the roughing up of Indian officials in Canada , the US and the UK . If that was bad enough, the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar snowballed into a diplomatic row between India and Canada. The ties between the two nations hit an all-time low after Justin Trudeau’s “absurd” allegation that New Delhi was involved in the murder. The other menace has been Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun. He has continued to threaten India , warning about an attack on Parliament and disrupting the ICC Cricket World Cup.

Amid this came allegations of a foiled plan to assassinate Pannun in New York. The US federal prosecutors alleged the involvement of two Indian nationals, including a government employee. Now India has launched a high-level probe but the matter is far from settled. [caption id=“attachment_13515212” align=“alignnone” width=“640”] A supporter waves a Khalistan flag during a protest outside India’s consulate, a week after Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau raised the prospect of New Delhi’s involvement in the murder of Sikh separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar, in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada on 25 September. Reuters[/caption] L for Lionel Messi He had a great 2022 as he led Argentina to its first World Cup win in decades. In 2023, he proved once again that he is the GOAT. In July, Lionel Messi debuted at Inter-Miami, an American soccer club. He scripted history as he helped the Major League Soccer (MLS) team win its first-ever trophy in the Leagues Cup, scoring 10 goals in seven games. The Messia mania gripped America and how. The pink No 10 jersey was such a rage that even co-owner David Beckham had to wait to gift it to friends. From attendance to ticket prices, from merchandise sales to viewership, everything soared. For his scintillating performance, he won another Ballon d’Or as the player of the year – his eighth in October. And he single-handedly made America what TIME Magazine calls “a soccer nation. A fútbol nation.” [caption id=“attachment_13515242” align=“alignnone” width=“640”] Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi waves to the crowd during the second half of an MLS soccer match against Los Angeles FC on 3 September, in Los Angeles. AP[/caption] M for Manipur unrest The tensions in Manipur came to a boil on 3 May after the Manipur High Court directed the state to pursue a 10-year-old recommendation to grant Scheduled Tribe (ST) status to the non-tribal Meitei community. The Meiteis account for 64 per cent of the population and a majority of them are Hindus. The other tribes, classified into “Any Naga tribes” and “Any Kuki tribes” are largely Christians. The clashes took place after All Tribal Student Union Manipur (ATSUM) organised a ‘Tribal Solidarity March’ to protest against the Meitei demand. The two rival sides came to blows and the matter has since only escalated. The protests have continued for months leaving more than 175 dead, 1,100 injured and thousands displaced. Amid the unrest, efforts by the government to broker peace have not yielded results. [caption id=“attachment_13515302” align=“alignnone” width=“640”] Vehicles were set ablaze after violence broke out during the ‘Tribal Solidarity March’ called by All Tribal Student Union Manipur (ATSUM), in Imphal. File photo/PTI[/caption] N for North Korea missile tests All of 2023, North Korea has been launching one missile after another, shooting rockets into the ocean and alarming neighbours. On 22 November, it launched a rocket carrying what it called a reconnaissance satellite. This prompted South Korea to suspend a key part of a military pact it had signed in 2018 with Pyongyang to de-escalate tensions on the Korean peninsula. This, according to TIME Magazine, was the 21st missile test of the year. It came two months after its leader, Kim Jong Un, met Russian president Vladimir Putin, who offered to help Pyongyang build a satellite. North Korea’s antics have the region on its toes. [caption id=“attachment_13515312” align=“alignnone” width=“640”] A TV screen shows a file image of North Korea’s missile launch during a news programme at the Seoul Railway Station in Seoul, South Korea on 18 December. North Korea fired an intercontinental ballistic missile into the sea in a resumption of its high-profile weapons testing activities, its neighbours said, as the North vows strong responses against U.S. and South Korean moves to boost their nuclear deterrence plans. AP[/caption] O for Oppenheimer It’s one of the most talked-about movies of the year. Christopher Nolan’s biopic of theoretical physicist J Robert Oppenheimer is a complex period drama that unfolds in different timelines. It tells us the story of the “father of the atomic bomb”, played by Cillian Murphy, through his laboratory experiments, romances, and trials in a court. Back in India, the movie hit headlines for Oppenheimer’s link to Hinduism . A reference to the Bhagavad Gita during a sex scene sparked outrage with calls to remove it. But that did not hit its popularity. Oppenheimer has sold over $950 million globally, inching closer to the $1 billion milestone. [caption id=“attachment_13515352” align=“alignnone” width=“640”] This image released by Universal Pictures shows Cillian Murphy in a scene from ‘Oppenheimer’. Universal Pictures via AP[/caption] P for Parliament In 2023, India took more strides to shed its colonial past. The country inaugurated a new Parliament building on 28 May by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Built at the cost of Rs 836 crore, it is bigger and better than the old structure – it can accommodate more members and is equipped with modern infrastructure and technology. This year’s winter session was held in the new Parliament building. The big shocker came on 13 December, the anniversary of the 2001 Parliament attack, when there was a massive security breach . While two miscreants entered the Lok Sabha chambers and released yellow canisters, two others burst yellow and red canisters outside. In all, seven people were involved in the well-planned plot and they have been arrested. [caption id=“attachment_13515392” align=“alignnone” width=“640”] Two men set off smoke canisters in the Lok Sabha on 13 December in a major security breach. Image courtesy: DrSenthil_MDRD/X[/caption] Q for Qatar Since the Israel-Hamas war started, there has been growing fear of the conflict spreading to West Asia. And playing the crucial role of the mediator is Qatar. It’s an ally of the United States, which has been backing Israel, and has a close relationship with Hamas – in fact, it has also been accused of shielding its top leadership and sending millions in funds to the Gaza Strip. It was Qatar who helped secure the ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas , which led to the release of hostages and Palestinian prisoners. The tiny emirate has emerged as one of the world’s leading problem solvers and has now become indispensable in the conflict. [caption id=“attachment_13515432” align=“alignnone” width=“640”] Aviv Asher, 2.5 years old, her sister Raz Asher, 4.5 years old, and her mother Doron, returned to Israel on on 24 November. The mother who was held in Hamas captivity for 49 days described in an interview the trials of caring for two young children as a hostage. IDF via AP[/caption] R for Rwanda asylum plan The United Kingdom government has been wanting to send asylum seekers to Rwanda. However, in November, the UK Supreme Court ruled the plan unlawful. But the leadership is adamant. It signed a new treaty with Rwanda to strengthen the process and proposed new laws declaring the country safe, reports the BBC. The plan turned into a headache for Rishi Sunak with opposition from moderate Conservatives over human rights obligations and right-wing politicians who believe it is not enough. However, the British PM has won the vote on the controversial plan in the House of Commons after last-ditch negotiations.

S for Shah Rukh Khan After a four-year hiatus, Shah Rukh Khan returned to the big screen, giving fans a reason to return to the theatres. Many had written off Bollywood after two dismal years but King Khan turned saviour. He has delivered two blockbusters so far – Pathaan and Jawan – silencing critics, proving once again that his charm and stardom are unmatched, and shattering some box-office records along the way. And SRK is not done with 2023 yet. Releasing on 21 December is his third film of the year, Dunki , a Rajkumar Hirani film on donkey flights, an illegal immigration scheme used by Indians to travel to foreign nations. It’s already creating quite the buzz and might be just what we need this Christmas. [caption id=“attachment_13515512” align=“alignnone” width=“640”] Shah Rukh Khan’s two films, Pathaan and Jawan, were mega hits. File photo/PTI[/caption] T for Taylor Swift 2023 has been the Year of Taylor Swift. She has won the world with her music and her magic. The singer grabbed headlines for her performances and creativity, her influence and empathy. She has dominated conversations around music, the economy, and even sports. The 34-year-old’s “The Eras Tour” broke box office records both worldwide and in America. It is the highest-grossing music tour ever, becoming the first to surpass $1 billion in revenue. She made some, she shared some. She signed off the US leg of the tour in style as she gave life-changing bonuses of $100,000 to her truck drivers.

The power of Tay Tay was for all to see in the way she impacted the economy and created jobs in the cities she visited. Some called it Swiftonomics, the others funflation. According to a report from survey provider QuestionPro, the total economic impact of Swift’s tour will be close to $5 billion, including ticket sales, travel, outfits, food and drink. Success follows Swift. Her romance with American footballer Travis Kelce has changed the fortunes of his team, the Kansas City Chiefs. The ticket prices of the Chiefs games have jumped since. What can we say? Taylor Swift is a phenomenon. [caption id=“attachment_13515532” align=“alignnone” width=“640”] Taylor Swift performs during ‘The Eras Tour,’ at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tenn. AP[/caption] U for UPI It’s yet another success story from India. The country’s Unified Payments Interface (UPI), which allows people to make payments or receive money using a QR code or a pin, is not only a huge hit in India but also overseas. This year, the UPI went global in a big way. In July, Sri Lanka and France adopted the UPI and Japan jumped onto the bandwagon in August. It’s also used in Bhutan, Nepal, Singapore, Malaysia, and the UAE. NRIs in Canada, Hong Kong, Oman, the US, Australia, the UK, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar who have bank account types such as Non-Resident External (NRE) or Non-Resident Ordinary (NRO) accounts can avail of UPI services. India also discussed the launch of UPI in New Zealand to enable ease of doing business. [caption id=“attachment_13515622” align=“alignnone” width=“640”] Bhutan was the first country to introduce UPI in 2021. It has since gone global. File photo/PTI[/caption] V for Venezuela Venezuela grabbed headlines in early December when it claimed huge support for annexing an oil-rich Guyana territory . In a referendum, Venezuelan voters were asked whether they supported establishing a state in Essequibo and a huge 95 per cent said yes. As tension over the land mounted, the leaders of the two nations met and agreed that they would not use force against each other. A joint commission has been created to address the territorial spat. That seems like good news for now because the world does not need another conflict. [caption id=“attachment_13515642” align=“alignnone” width=“640”] A boy drives a motorcycle in front of a mural of the Venezuelan map with the Essequibo territory included in the 23 de Enero neighborhood of Caracas, Venezuela. AP[/caption] W for Wars The year has been marred by wars. Russia invaded Ukraine on 24 February 2022 and more than 650 days later it continues to rage on. The West has been backing Ukraine, providing weapons and training so far. But now with polls, including the US presidential elections next year, the aid Kyiv will get in the future could be affected. Meanwhile, in a televised year-end address, Russian president Vladimir Putin has called for Ukraine’s unconditional surrender. “There will only be peace in Ukraine when we achieve our aims,” he said. The other conflict is unfolding in West Asia. After Hamas’ 7 October attack, Israel launched airstrikes and a ground offensive in Gaza . The offensive killed more than 19,000 people in the enclave. Even as Israel faces condemnation over the sufferings of civilians, its leaders have said that the war will go on until Hamas is defeated. [caption id=“attachment_13515692” align=“alignnone” width=“640”] Israeli soldiers are seen in a tunnel that the military says Hamas militants used to attack the Erez crossing in the northern Gaza Strip. AP[/caption] X for X Last year, Elon Musk took over Twitter and it came with its fair share of drama. The eccentric billionaire ushered in some changes to the platform. There are more checkmarks now – grey, gold and blue. In April, the platform started removing the blue tick. It was only available to those with a subscription. And then came one of the biggest makeovers. A rebranding, if you please. In July, Twitter was renamed X . Musk insisted that it was more than a name change. It was a step closer to his plans to create an “everything app”. [caption id=“attachment_13515762” align=“alignnone” width=“640”] Elon Musk decided to rename Twitter to X earlier this year. File photo/Reuters[/caption] Y for Yevgeny Prigozhin Yevgeny Prigozhin was one of the most influential men in Russia once upon a time. The ex-con and hot dog vendor was known by many as Putin’s chef . He got close to the Kremlin and then headed the Wagner mercenary group. In the war with Ukraine, the Wagner troops brought Russia a big victory as it captured the city of Bakmut. But friction with military leaders grew and Prigozhin launched a 36-hour mutiny on 23 June, the most severe challenge to Putin’s rule. The rebellion was called off and a deal was struck – Prigozhin would move to Belarus. However, two months later, the Wagner boss met an unexpected end. A private plane carrying him mysteriously exploded over Russia. He joined a long list of those who died suddenly for crossing the line with the Kremlin. [caption id=“attachment_13515782” align=“alignnone” width=“640”] A view shows a framed photo of Russian mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin at his grave at the Porokhovskoye cemetery in Saint Petersburg, Russia. File photo/Reuters[/caption] Z for Zionism “I’m a Zionist,” said Joe Biden recently, as he affirmed support for Israel in the ongoing war with Hamas. Zionism refers to the movement to create a Jewish state in West Asia roughly corresponding to the historical land of Israel, and thus support for the modern state of Israel, according to the BBC. [caption id=“attachment_13515852” align=“alignnone” width=“640”] A group of Orthodox Jews protest against Zionism and draw attention to the Palestinian struggle in The Hague in July 2004. File photo/Reuters[/caption] However, it has evolved over the years. While conservatives do not support Palestinian independence, some liberals believe a sustainable option is to offer Palestinians equal rights and citizenship in Israel. But it is the former that has become dominant in the Jewish nation today. We end 2023 on a note of uncertainty. But there is only hope that 2024 will be better. With inputs from agencies