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Changes to NYC, India’s Caste System & more!

Good Morning - 2024 will bring a major shift in political power.

More than 50 countries, with half the world's population, are set to hold national elections.

More than 3 BILLION potential voters

Global Insights

Changes coming to NYC

New York City is on the brink of a major makeover, ushering in a new era of towering skyscrapers. With nearly 30 projects slated for completion by 2030, here are five notable developments shaping the city's skyline.

JPMorgan Chase is making waves with the demolition of its headquarters at 270 Park Avenue, making way for a new building to soar to a height of 1387 feet (423 meters) . Designed by Foster and Partners, this 60-story tower is on track for completion by 2025, boasting the title of New York City's largest all-electric tower.

In Midtown East, real estate developer Harry Macklowe's Tower Fifth is set to become the city's second tallest building by roof height at the time of its completion, reaching an impressive 1555 feet (474 meters). With Gensler at the helm of its design, the skyscraper features an observation deck named "The Sky of the Americas" at 1450 feet (442 meters).

175 Park Avenue, also known as Commodore Tower, is a 1574-foot (480-meter ) structure designed by Skidmore, Owings and Merrill. Approved in December 2021, this multifaceted tower will house offices, retail spaces, leisure facilities, and 500 hotel rooms, poised to dominate the Midtown East skyline.

David Adjaye's Affirmation Tower, a conceptual 95-story skyscraper on 11th Avenue, aims to be the city's tallest of the bunch at 1663 feet (507 meters). The tower incorporates unique amenities like an observation deck, shops, hotels, and even a skating rink.

Completing the lineup is 15 Penn Plaza, a 61-story tower designed by Foster and Partners, standing tall at 1200 feet (366 meters). As part of a redevelopment plan for the Penn District, this skyscraper, adorned with a glass facade and green terraces, is set to reshape the Midtown skyline by 2030.

For comparison, the five tallest skyscrapers in NYC currently range from 1,200 to 1,776 feet tall (The tallest being One World Trade)

Inside India’s Caste system

Context: A caste is a set social group someone is born into within a specific social system known as a caste system.

The caste system in India, one of the world's oldest surviving forms of social stratification, has roots that trace back more than 3,000 years. This system categorizes Hindus into hierarchical groups, such as Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas, and Shudras, supposedly originating from the Hindu God Brahma. Manusmriti, a significant Hindu legal text dating back at least 1,000 years before Christ, justifies the caste system as fundamental for societal order.

The intricate hierarchy extends to about 3,000 castes and 25,000 sub-castes, each associated with specific occupations. Outside this structured framework are the Dalits or untouchables, historically marginalized and subjected to discriminatory practices.

Caste has historically influenced various aspects of Hindu social and religious life, determining living arrangements, marriage practices, and societal interactions. Despite constitutional efforts to eliminate discrimination, caste identities persist, shaping political affiliations and societal dynamics. The British colonial period played a role in codifying and reinforcing caste identities, leaving a lasting impact on the social structure.

A notable person who came from this system is United States Presidential candidate Vikek Ramaswamy, who was born into the Brahmin class.

Trending

State of Emergency in Ecuador

Ecuador's head of state has announced a state of emergency following the escape of one of the nation's most infamous gang leaders from prison. A live TV broadcast in Ecuador was interrupted when armed & masked men stormed the station and forced station staff to lie down. This incident occurred alongside the kidnapping of police officers, city explosions, and prison inmates seizing guards as hostages, following President Daniel Noboa's state of emergency declaration. The president aimed to address economic challenges and rising violence, deploying military patrols and imposing a nationwide curfew.

Chinese Espionage

China has reported another case of espionage, accusing the British Secret Intelligence Service (MI6) of using a foreign operative in China to gather secrets and information. In a separate incident, a U.S. Navy sailor, originally from China, has been sentenced to over two years in prison for giving sensitive military secrets to the Chinese government.

Sri Lanka Joins U.S Navy

Sri Lanka's Navy is getting ready to join a U.S.-led operation that aims to protect merchant vessels in the Red Sea from potential attacks by Houthi rebels. The Houthis have been targeting commercial ships passing through the critical Bab el-Mandeb Strait, connecting markets in Asia and Europe. To safeguard ship traffic, the U.S. and its allies launched Operation Prosperity Guardian, deploying warships from the U.S., France, and the U.K. to patrol the area.

History & Culture - Che Guevara

Ernesto Guevara, famously known as Che, was born on June 14, 1928, into a middle-class family in Rosario, Argentina. His early life included a left-leaning, literary environment. Guevara commenced medical studies in 1948 but took a transformative turn with two motorcycle journeys across Latin America in 1950 and 1952. These journeys, covering 4,500km and 8,000km, shaped his political views, leading him to believe in armed revolution and communism as solutions to poverty and oppression.

After completing his medical degree in 1953, Dr. Guevara abandoned Argentina to pursue a political future. He joined Fidel Castro's "26th of July Movement," playing a pivotal role in the Cuban revolution of 1959. Guevara held significant positions in the Cuban government, implementing land redistribution and industry nationalization. He also strengthened ties with the Soviet Union during the Cold War.

Post-Cuba, Guevara aimed to spread Marxist ideals globally. His attempts in Congo (1965) and Bolivia (1966-1967) faced challenges, culminating in his capture and execution by US-backed Bolivian forces in October 1967 at the age of 39.

Guevara's legacy is complex; admired by some as a symbol of rebellion and socialism, he is critiqued for his involvement in Cuban political repression. Regardless, his iconic image, captured by Alberto Korda, persists globally, representing revolutionary ideals and enduring as a powerful symbol of the 20th-century.

Fast Facts

• The PS5 outsold the Xbox series X 3-1 in 2023

• The United States witnessed its most significant annual decline in homicides on record in 2023

• Egypt is Africa’s most popular tourist destination

You want to deliver to the world what you would buy if you were on the other end

. - Shane Parrish, Farnham Street