00:00 Less than 100 hours are left to bid goodbye to the breathtaking year 2023 and embrace
00:06 the unpredictable script waiting in the divine plan for 2024.
00:11 The past year was a whirlwind of monumental tales rewriting the global narrative.
00:18 The Israel-Hamas saga reshaped the geopolitical landscape.
00:22 Tremors rocked Turkey, Syria and Afghanistan.
00:24 Burning natural disasters wreaked havoc and the political leaders stole the show with
00:29 hyped-up melodrama.
00:31 In this episode of Rewind, let's take a glance at all the fuss and geopolitical upheavals
00:36 that left the world stunned and sometimes speechless.
00:40 Starting with none other than the Wagner Rebellion.
00:43 Wagner, a formidable force, in bolstering Putin's sway in the Ukrainian conflict, seizing
00:48 pivotal territories like Bakhmut and Kupyansk.
00:51 Yet, with the dominance, a discord emerged too, pitting Putin against Wagner's leader
00:56 Frigolin.
00:57 A seismic rift rocked Putin's regime as Frigolin, once a trusted ally, led a revolt
01:02 seizing key cities and a challenge to Moscow's authority.
01:06 In the end, Belarus's President Alexander Lukashenko intervened, averting a mutiny by
01:11 persuading Wagner's fighters to relocate to his realm, that is, Belarus.
01:15 Months later, amidst intrigue, Frigolin met an enigmatic demise in a plane crash marking
01:21 subdued farewell.
01:23 What exactly happened, no one knows.
01:25 Who did it, everybody knows, but no one can prove it.
01:29 Now, as we move forward, this year was one of the most tragic in terms of natural disasters
01:34 too.
01:35 Amid rising temperatures, wildfires aren't a rarity, but 2023 outdid itself.
01:41 Canada faced a ferocious wildfire spree scorching 18.5 million hectares land, a record surpassing
01:47 1989's 7.6 million record.
01:51 This inferno left an indelible scar, potentially fueling extreme weather perils.
01:56 Brace yourself because experts predict another ominous sequel as early as this spring.
02:01 Mother Nature's fiery tantrums marked a tragic yet gripping chapter in Canada's history books.
02:07 Venturing east from Canada to Europe, Turkey and Syria faced an unprecedented catastrophe.
02:13 On 6th of February 2023, a colossal magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck Turkey near southern
02:19 border.
02:20 A subsequent 7.5 magnitude hit about 95 km away.
02:24 The initial tremor, deadliest in over 20 years for quake-prone Turkey, matched the strength
02:29 of historic 1939 earthquake.
02:33 Centred close to the Gaziantep in the south-central Turkey, an area housing numerous Syrian refugees
02:38 and humanitarian groups, the calamity claimed over 20,000 lives and over 100,000 injured.
02:45 This dual earthquake upheaval marked a devastating chapter, causing unparalleled devastation
02:50 into the region's recent history.
02:53 Afghanistan was no exception.
02:55 In early October 2023, Afghanistan faced four massive earthquakes, each measuring 6.3 on
03:02 the Richter scale, followed by aftershocks.
03:05 These events, associated with thrust faltering, led to 1,400 fatalities, 2,100 injuries and
03:11 impacted 43,000 individuals, prompting aid for 114,000 people, as estimated by the World
03:18 Health Organization.
03:19 Alright, that's enough of the gloom and doom.
03:21 Now let's switch gears and talk about some big global news, courtesy of the political
03:26 bigwigs.
03:27 India bagged a major diplomatic win by backing the New Delhi's G20 leader declaration, smoothing
03:32 over the differences among leaders on the Russia-Ukraine war.
03:36 Also, they ruled out cool initiatives like the IMEC corridor and Global Biofuel Alliance.
03:42 In addition, India reached the southern side of the moon, a feat no one could have imagined.
03:47 But hey, India hit a bump too.
03:50 Canada accused India of something really fishy.
03:53 Justin Trudeau, the Canadian Prime Minister, pointed fingers in India's hand in offering
03:57 the Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijja on the Canadian soil.
04:02 That stirred up a ruckus in the India-Canada relations.
04:04 We have got a separate video of that drama unpacking.
04:08 Do check it out.
04:09 Also, the Brits got a major upgrade.
04:12 The allies Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa welcomed Saudi Arabia, Iran,
04:17 Ethiopia, Argentina, UAE to the club from 2024.
04:23 Now with these six newbies on the board, Brits now represent a whopping 42% of the world
04:27 population and 36% of the global GDP.
04:31 Rumour has it that the energy prices might have swayed their decision.
04:35 It is also a move to challenge the dollar hegemony.
04:38 Now these are some big global moves in the global politics, ladies and gentlemen.
04:43 Meanwhile when this all was going on, boundaries were also having a makeover.
04:48 Unfortunately, not in a good kind.
04:50 Azerbaijan confidently declared a makeover in Nagorno-Karabakh ownership.
04:56 Amidst global shift, Azerbaijan confirmed reclaiming of the Nagorno-Karabakh, marking
05:00 a turbulent reshaping of boundaries.
05:02 Commencing on September 19th, a 24-hour blitz by the Azerbaijan army overwhelmed Armenia's
05:07 outnumbered forces, compelling a complete surrender.
05:11 The separatist government consented to dissolve by the year end with Azerbaijan already assuming
05:16 the control of the region.
05:19 Also as if the Russia-Ukraine war wasn't enough for the world, the Middle East became
05:22 tense again.
05:23 Another war erupted between Israel and Hamas when the Gaza-based group attacked Israel
05:28 on October 7, resulting in 1,200 casualties across homes, a music festival and public
05:34 areas.
05:35 Thousands of Israelis were injured and Hamas took 240 people hostage.
05:39 In response, Israel initiated an extensive airstrike on Gaza and entered the strip to
05:44 eradicate Hamas entirely.
05:47 Northern Gaza is severely affected, impacting medical facilities and causing a humanitarian
05:51 crisis.
05:52 Additionally, Yemen's Houthi, aligned with Iran, targeted Red Sea shipping lanes and
05:58 Israel with drones and missiles, supporting Palestinians and demanding Israel to cease
06:03 its actions.
06:04 Since then, multiple ships have been attacked in the strategic waterway since the Israel-Hamas
06:09 conflict began.
06:11 Such were the major events that were shaping our world in 2023, a constant evolution.
06:17 What lies ahead in 2024 remains a mystery, yet the year's tumultuous twists and turns
06:22 were both startling and shattering.
06:26 Now as the world spins, it beckons with anticipation, leaving us on the edge yearning for what the
06:31 future holds, a canvas of endless possibilities and unforeseen narratives yet to unfold.
06:41 [MUSIC PLAYING]
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