The Indian government has officially announced the renaming of Port Blair to Sri Vijaya Puram, a move aimed at shedding colonial legacies and reconnecting with the nation’s historical roots. Indian Home Minister Amit Shah articulated the decision: “To free the nation from the colonial imprints, today we have decided to rename Port Blair as ‘Sri Vijaya Puram.’”
In 2014, commenting on the Bharatiya Janata Party’s landslide victory under Narendra Modi, The Guardian published an editorial that remarked: “Today … may well go down in history as the day when Britain finally left India.” The author read the writing on the wall accurately. The process began in 2014, but Modi outlined it eight years later in his 2022 Independence Day speech, Modi introduced the concept of Panchpran (Five Resolutions), outlining India’s vision over the next 25 years. One of the key resolutions is to rid the country of any remaining “colonial mindset.”
This renaming is not merely a symbolic act but represents a fundamental rethinking of policy-making and the nation’s role on the global stage. The decision reflects a significant shift in mindset, moving away from colonial-era thinking towards a renewed emphasis on India’s historical and cultural identity.
In keeping with this goal, the Home Ministry has recently renamed several locations in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands to honor Indian heroes and freedom fighters. One notable change is the renaming of a hill previously named after a British army officer’s wife to Mount Manipur, commemorating the resistance of Indian fighters exiled by the British.
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The politics of symbolism
Renaming places is not a new phenomenon; throughout history, conquerors have imposed their names on cities, often erasing indigenous identities. Similar efforts are evident in other countries as well. For instance, in the United States, historic sites have been renamed to reflect their original cultural significance, such as Fort San Marcos, renamed Castillo de San Marcos to acknowledge its Spanish heritage. Likewise, in China, streets and areas have been renamed to reinforce a national narrative.
For a former colony like India, renaming places is a form of symbolic decolonization. It serves as a means of reinforcing a collective memory that honors resistance to oppression and celebrates autonomy. Yes, the decision to rename Port Blair to Sri Vijaya Puram is a symbolic gesture, but symbolism is not just words without effect. In politics, psychology and history matter.
This name change is part of India’s effort to reconnect with its maritime history. The Andaman Islands command a key choke point between the Bay of Bengal to the west and the Andaman Sea to the east. This places it close to the vital Strait of Malacca, the second busiest oil chokepoint in the world after the Strait of Hormuz.
Well before the oil trade, the islands were significant in maritime trade. They once served as a base for the Great Chola Empire, which extended its influence across Southeast Asia. In his book The Ocean of Churn, Sanjeev Sanyal highlights how the islands were connected to the broader history of maritime trade and power projection in the Indian Ocean. The islands’ geographical location made them pivotal for controlling sea routes, and they were home to thriving port cities, interacting with traders from across the Bay of Bengal and beyond. The renaming reflects a recognition of the islands’ historic and strategic role..
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Moreover, Sri Vijaya Puram holds a crucial place in India’s struggle for independence. In the latter years of the colonial period, the city housed the notorious Cellular Jail where numerous freedom fighters were imprisoned. This site not only represented British oppression but also the indomitable spirit of those striving for freedom. One such figure, Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, foresaw that the islands would be critical to India’s defense.
India develops the islands’ strategic potential
The 2004 tsunami brought international attention to the vulnerabilities of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands but also showcased India’s capacity for disaster response and regional cooperation. In the aftermath, India led rescue efforts and initiated a tsunami early warning system, solidifying its role in maritime security.
In recent years, the government has launched substantial infrastructural projects aimed at transforming the islands into economic and strategic hubs. The introduction of undersea fiber-optic cables has improved connectivity, while the modernization of the local airport is expected to enhance tourism. Initiatives in eco-tourism and the development of deep-sea ports further underline the islands’ growing significance.
Sri Vijaya Puram is not yet the fully-fledged maritime stronghold that Savarkar envisioned, although India took an important first step in this direction in 2001, when Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee established the first tri-service theater command in the region. However, the renaming is a statement of purpose. It signals a commitment to India’s maritime heritage while also highlighting ongoing efforts to enhance the Andaman and Nicobar Islands economically. This transformation under current leadership aims to position the islands as pivotal assets for India’s future.
IF you’re looking to whizz off aboard a Wizz Air flight this summer then you’ll be wanting to select the best seats without any extra cost.
Book wisely using our guide to secure you and your family the best seats aboard the Wizz Air Airbus 320 and 321 aircraft.
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Wizz Air have won the award for the ‘Most Sustainable Low-Cost Airline’ four years in a rowCredit: GETTY
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Here is a seating guide for Wizz Air Airbus 320 based on SeatGuru seating plan
Wizz Air have been dubbed the ‘most sustainable low-cost airline’ four years in a row, but what can passengers expect from their experience aboard the Airbus Airbus 320 and 321.
The budget airline celebrated the arrival of the GTF-powered Airbus Airbus 320 aircraft to its fleet of 153 aircraft in 2022.
Both the Airbus 320 and 321 operate in short-haul flights with Wizz Air offering snacks and beverages for purchase on most of their flights.
Although the two aircrafts look almost identical, their size and seating plan vary.
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The Airbus 320 offers 180 seats, whereas the Airbus 321 is larger, offering 230 seats in comparison.
Your holiday begins the minute you board the plane, so why not make your journey as comfortable as possible by using the SunTravel seating guide map.
Extra leg room
If you’re tall or like to spread out on a flight, then it will be the extra leg room you’re after.
There are specific economy seats that provide the space you need – you just have to know where they are.
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According to the flight map for both the Wizz Air Airbus 320 & 321 the seats with extra leg are as follows:
Passengers needing the extra space on either aircraft should opt for any seat between A – F on row 1.
Incredible moment Airbus barely misses beachgoers as it makes ‘lowest ever landing’ at island airport
Row 1 seats tend to get booked up fast but there’s plenty more to choose from.
If your aircraft is the Wizz Airbus 320, any seat between A – F on row 13 will provide the extra leg room you need.
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Seats A – F on row 12 also offer extra leg room, but these particular seats do not recline.
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Here is a seating guide for Wizz Air Airbus 321 based on SeatGuru seating planCredit: The Sun
If you find yourself allocated a flight onboard the Wizz Airbus 321 then seats B,C,D and E on row 12, and seats A,B,C and F on row 26 will provide extra leg room.
Row 10 also offer extra leg room in seats A – E, but do bare in mind these particular seats have a limited recline which could make napping quite uncomfortable.
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Seats to avoid
If your first choice of seats are booked, then your next best bet is to know which seats to avoid.
Onboard the Wizz Airbus 320 passengers should avoid seat A – F on Row 30 – due to their close proximity to the toilets and the cabin -you’re likely to be disturbed throughout your flight.
The seats may also have limited recline for the same reason, and there is no window on the last row of the plane.
It’s also worth noting there is no window available in seats A and F of Row 20.
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Onboard the Wizz Airbus 321 passengers should avoid seat A – F on row 39 as your seats will have no recline, and you’re likely to be disturbed by passengers getting up to use the toilet closeby.
Seat A and F on row 26 have legroom but no window.
For the best views onboard the Airbus 321 passengers are urged to book seat A or F on row 10.
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And if you’re onboard the Airbus 320, seat A and F on row 9 are the seats to look out for.
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If you want first dibs on snacks chose a seat at the front or the back of an aircraftCredit: GETTY
Head start on snacks
If you want to be among one of the first passengers to be served refreshments then it’s best to book a seat in either the first two rows or the last two near the back of the plane.
Seat A – F on row 1 or row 30 on the Airbus 320 will get you first dibs on snacks.
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With trolley carts circulating from both the front and the back of the aircraft, these seats are your best bet but the downside you’re likely to be disturbed by other passengers using the toilets.
Similarly, for the Airbus 321 any seat on row 1 and 39 will mean you’re close to the gallery where snacks are prepared.
Take a nap
If passengers find themselves on an overnight flight you might like to get some sleep.
Window seats give passengers the best chance at having an uninterrupted snooze.
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This is because other passengers won’t need to ask you to move when they take a trip to the toilet.
Check The Sun’s flight map to see where all the window seats are located on both aircrafts.
Getting off the plane first
If you hate waiting around and you’re keen to start your holiday then beat the queues by booking a seat in the front five rows of both the Airbus Wizz 320 and 321.
Failing that, you’re guaranteed to get off the plane quicker by simply booking an aisle seat, because you’ll have a head start at finding your hand luggage.
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Flight compensation rules
A look at your rights if a flight is delayed or cancelled, when your entitled to compensation and if your travel insurance can cover the costs.
What are my rights if my flight is cancelled or delayed?
Under UK law, airlines have to provide compensation if your flight arrives at its destination more than three hours late.
If you’re flying to or from the UK, your airline must let you choose a refund or an alternative flight.
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You will be able to get your money back for the part of your ticket that you haven’t used yet.
So if you booked a return flight and the outbound leg is cancelled, you can get the full cost of the return ticket refunded.
But if travelling is essential, then your airline has to find you an alternative flight. This could even be with another airline.
When am I not entitled to compensation?
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The airline doesn’t have to give you a refund if the flight was cancelled due to reasons beyond their control, such as extreme weather.
Disruptions caused by things like extreme weather, airport or air traffic control employee strikes or other ‘extraordinary circumstances’ are not eligible for compensation.
Some airlines may stretch the definition of “extraordinary circumstances” but you can challenge them through the aviation regulator the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).
Will my insurance cover me if my flight is cancelled?
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If you can’t claim compensation directly through the airline, your travel insurance may refund you.
Policies vary so you should check the small print, but a delay of eight to 12 hours will normally mean you qualify for some money from your insurer.
Remember to get written confirmation of your delay from the airport as your insurer will need proof.
If your flight is cancelled entirely, you’re unlikely to be covered by your insurance.
A new report from NASA details how ongoing air leaks at the International Space Station (ISS) are “a top safety risk.”
The report, published from NASA’s Office of Inspector General on Sept. 26 and signed by Deputy Inspector General George A. Scott, states the leak is in a tunnel connecting the ISS’ Russian segment to a docking port. Per the report, NASA and Russia’s space agency Roscosmos are continuing to “work together to address structural issues with the Russian Service Module Transfer Tunnel.”
“According to NASA, Roscosmos is confident they will be able to monitor and close the hatch to the Service Module prior to the leak rate reaching an untenable level,” the report reads. “However, NASA and Roscosmos have not reached an agreement on the point at which the leak rate is untenable.”
This leak—the root cause of which remains unknown—has been discussed in the public forum previously, with Russia acknowledging the issue back in February. However, they said it posed no safety hazard to the crew. Yet, the newly-released report states that in April 2024, NASA identified an “increase in the leak rate to its highest level to date.”
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In May and June, ISS Program and Roscosmos officials met to discuss their heightened concerns over the increased leak rate. “As of August 2024, the Service Module Transfer Tunnel leak risk is scored as a 5 by 5,” the report states. NASA’s risk scorecard is based on both “risk likelihood,” meaning the probability of a potential risk happening, and “risk impact,” meaning the potential damage that could occur if a problem does arise. Five is considered to be “the most severe” on the five-point scale.
If the leaks continue, NASA and Roscosmos may be forced to permanently close the hatch to the affected tunnel, which would cut astronauts off from using one of the four docking ports for the Russian segment. Currently, the report states that they are monitoring the leaks constantly and temporarily sealing the hatch when it is not needed.
The ISS is only planned to be in operations with NASA through 2030, at which point they are planning to partner with SpaceX and deorbit the station in a controlled manner. In 2023, Russia committed to stay aboard until 2028, and are planning to create the core of a new space station by 2030.
NASA’s September Inspector General report offers some recommendations to NASA’s crew, including reexamining orbital debris tracking tools to “ensure crew safety,” and documenting “contingency plans” in case of emergency and if the air leaks do get worse from damage.
A BEACH hut that’s the same size as a garden shed and cannot even be slept in has been put on the market for a whopping £110,000.
The wooden cabin located at Avon Beach in Christchurch, Dorset would not look out of place in a suburban back garden.
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The hut is one of many on Avon BeachCredit: BNPS
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Inside you can find a kitchenette and seatingCredit: BNPS
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Owner Paul Heydon bought the property in 2021 after spotting it was for sale while on a beach walkCredit: BNPS
The 6ft wide by 13ft long hut got its six figure price tag due to its desirable beachside location.
Owner Paul Heydon bought it in 2021 after spotting it was for sale while on a beach walk.
After three years enjoying it he has decided to sell up as he has bought a bigger hut at a different beach.
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The beach hut, which cannot be slept in, has secondary glass doors, meaning it can be used in the winter.
Inside there is a kitchenette with a fridge and hob powered by a gas bottle and sink and storage space for food, drink, crockery and beach-related items.
It is just yards from the beach and has panoramic views of the Isle of Wight.
Avon Beach has 130 huts along the quiet sandy beach, which is popular with dog walkers, tourists and water sports enthusiasts.
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Owners have to pay ground rent of about £1,100 a year.
People take sleeping bags and other home comforts to brave the elements to guarantee a booking.
Beach hut on sale for nearly half a MILLION pounds – but it comes with a very big catch
Mr Heydon, 57, a semi-retired tech investor, said: “We had just bought a property in the New Forest and we were walking along Avon Beach one day and saw it was up for sale and decided to buy it.
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“We have used it quite regularly, probably once every two weeks, but we have bought a bigger hut now at Barton-on-Sea so we haven’t been using it as much.
“Avon is a really nice beach and generally quiet – you get lots of people walking there but there’s not lots of parties or anything like that.
“You have the Noisy Lobster restaurant and shop close by and there’s plenty of walks in either direction.
“There’s about 100 huts at Avon Beach and they don’t come up for sale all that often.
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“We have just enjoyed it ourselves and used it to make going to the beach easier without having to carry stuff every time but people could view it as a property, a long term investment and you can rent them out and make an income.”
If you’re interested in buying Hut 93, you can contact Mr Heydon through beachhuts.com.
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The hut with its doors wide openCredit: BNPS
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The view looking out of the front door of the shedCredit: BNPS
Madina Mustafa Ali (right) says she and her seven-month-old baby Amir will be staying on Beirut’s Martyrs’ Square as they have nowhere else to go
Lebanon is a country that knows war all too well. And it is not eager for more.
It still bears the scars of 15 years of civil war between 1975 and 1990, and of the last war between Hezbollah and Israel in 2006.
But for some, including Beirut’s Governor Marwan Abboud, Israel’s recent escalation already feels worse.
In the past 10 days, the country has endured mass casualties from exploding pagers and walkie-talkies, a wave of assassinations of Hezbollah military commanders, devastating air strikes – and the use of bunker-busting bombs in Beirut, which killed Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah on Friday.
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Goktay Koraltan / BBC
Beirut Governor Marwan Abboud (right) told BBC’s Orla Guerin (left) that it was “the saddest day of my life”
“It’s the worst moment that the country passed through,” said Abboud, who has no connection with Hezbollah.
“I feel sad. I am shocked by the large number of civilian casualties. I am also shocked by the silence of the international community – as if what’s happening here does not mean anything.”
We spoke at the edge of Beirut’s Martyrs Square, where many families slept in the open last night after fleeing Israel’s strikes in the southern suburb of Dahieh – Hezbollah’s heartland.
They remain in the square today – unsure where to turn for safety, like many in Lebanon.
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Asked what he thought Israel’s plan was, the governor replied: “I don’t know but Israel wants to kill and to kill and to kill. May god protect this country.”
His parting words were bleak. “It’s the saddest day of my life,” he said, his voice heavy with emotion.
Goktay Koraltan / BBC
At the location of one Israeli strike in Beirut, smoke is seen rising from the ruins of what appeared to be a factory
A few steps away we met an extended family, sitting on bare concrete, under the harsh morning sun.
Madina Mustafa Ali was rocking her seven-month-old baby Amir in her lap and reliving the trauma of Friday night.
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“There was an explosion, and we got scared, especially for the children. So we ran away and came here. This is where we slept,” she said.
She told me the family will stay in the square for now because they have nowhere else to go.
Others are fleeing, some heading to the north of Lebanon. The south of the country is not an option – it’s being hit hard.
Goktay Koraltan / BBC
A flag with a photo late Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah in Beirut
Driving through the city we saw families on the move, some crammed into cars with thin mattresses strapped to the roof, others piled onto motorbikes.
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Here and there, we saw people on foot carrying a few belongings.
This is the new landscape of Beirut: boarded-up shops, fewer people, and more fear – especially since Nasrallah’s killing was confirmed.
Throughout the day, plumes of dark smoke billowed from Dahieh. The Hezbollah stronghold looked much weakened today – the two busiest streets were largely deserted, and many apartment blocks looked empty.
We spotted Hezbollah members, guarding an air strike location, one brandishing a Kalashnikov. A sign of tension, or desperation – as normally the armed group doesn’t show its weapons on the streets.
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Hezbollah was not watching our every move today – they were more focused perhaps on the threat from above.
We, too, were keeping an eye on the skies, where there were drones.
At the location of one Israeli strike, we saw smoke still rising from the ruins of what appeared to be a factory. We were told it made kitchen roll, and there was plenty of that shredded on the ground.
Lebanon has been rendered a war zone, but there are risks growing for the entire Middle East. And plenty of questions.
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Will Hezbollah hit back hard at Israel? Can it?
Will its Iranian backers intervene? Until now they have been in no rush.
And will Tehran’s other regional proxies – in Iraq, Syria and Yemen – get more involved?
Former TV presenter Phillip Schofield was dropped on to a deserted Madagascan island for 10 days
Just over 15 months ago, former television presenter Phillip Schofield told the BBC that his career was finished.
He had just left ITV, after admitting to an affair with a younger employee at the company, about which he had lied.
Many had expected Schofield to quit television for good and he subsequently disappeared from the spotlight.
That was until earlier this week, when it was announced he would be taking part in Channel 5’s Cast Away.
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The 62-year-old has already filmed the series, where he was stranded on an island near Madagascar for 10 days and forced to fend for himself, finding his own food, water and shelter.
The BBC was given advance viewing of the first two of three episodes.
Schofield’s family remain a strong unit
Channel 5
Schofield had to find food, water and shelter for himself while on the island
One of the opening shots of the first episode is Schofield sitting having a family barbecue with his wife Stephanie Lowe and his two daughters Molly and Ruby.
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“We’ve seen him at his lowest times, but I’ve been so proud of him,” Molly says.
Interviews with his family are spliced between island scenes, with his sexuality discussed in detail.
During the first episode on the island, Schofield talks about “living your life to the absolute fullest” and still having “the love of my family”, which he says has “never wavered”.
This is discussed in relation to Schofield coming out as gay in February 2020 on Instagram, and then discussing his announcement with his then co-host Holly Willoughby on ITV’s This Morning.
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Molly describes his coming out as “very hard for me, very hard for the entire family – mainly my mum of course”, and says that “everything was turned upside down”.
She says that in the time since he came out, things have got a lot better for the family – calling herself the “luckiest person ever” because her parents remain best friends.
Reflecting on how ‘dark’ things got
Schofield, who presented This Morning from 2009 to 2023, does a lot of reflecting on the island, talking into the camera about his career on the stage and in television, and what it has been like behind the scenes since his public fall from grace.
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He says he has gone to the island to empty his “toxicity tanks” and asks that people let him get on “with the quiet life you’ve all given me”.
The presenter says he has only gone out in public to attend to his gravely ill mother since he quit ITV, and admits he considered suicide when things got “dark”.
“I got so, so close, I had everything in place, everything was set up and everything was ready.”
He added: “Molly said, ‘Do you imagine what this would do to us if you actually managed to pull this off? Imagine what would happen. Can you imagine what it would do to me if you did this on my watch?’, and that was just enough to take a step back from the edge.
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“I could have been hospitalised. I had the option to be hospitalised, but then I thought, that’s going to get out. So I just raced to the family home and shut the gates.”
Schofield remains angry about how things turned out
Schofield maintains that his affair with a younger male colleague was “unwise but not illegal”, and says, during the second episode, that he “made life tough for the people I love the most”.
He appears to have not moved on entirely from his exit from ITV and media in general, saying: “I’ve been chucked under a bus.
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“I could drive the same bus over so many people, but I’m not that sort of person, I never have been.”
Schofield does not name anyone specifically apart from his former management agency, who we know to be YMU, who represented him for more than 30 years.
“I was suicidal, like literally one push and I’m done and they sent me what looked like a cut and pasted text like ‘this time we have to let you go’,” he adds.
He also points the finger at three “cowards” he worked with in TV – “one who never stepped up in queuegate”, “one who never stepped up when I was being battered by that one journalist” and “one [who] is just brand-orientated”.
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His “queue” comment references the public backlash he faced when he and Willoughby skipped a queue of up to 20 hours to visit Queen Elizabeth II’s lying-in-state.
He says this will be his last TV appearance
Channel 5
Schofield’s appearance on the show is different to what viewers of This Morning saw of him
As Schofield navigates day four and five on the island, his apparent hunger and lack of shelter appear to take their toll.
Hunting at night for crabs and avoiding being bitten by black widow spiders, he tells the cameras: “I’ll be slammed for this Phillip Schofield mad rant.”
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His appearance is changing too, an unkempt beard and dirty clothes a far cry from his polished morning TV look.
“But the thing is, I don’t care any more, this is me having my say as I bow out,” he adds.
Filming himself from different angles, he says he has “nothing to lose” by appearing on Cast Away, as “they’ve taken pretty much everything. Reputation, dignity, legacy, everything”.
“I am loving what I’m finding out about myself, I’m loving every day and when I get on that boat and I leave here, I will know that I did my best and I said my piece,” he adds.
AS the cost-of-living crisis continues, families may be looking for a fun day out that won’t break the bank.
TripAdvisor has revealed its top attractions to visit in England completely free of charge – and it ranges from a 500ft-high garden to the so-called “museum of the world”.
Natural History Museum
Science and natural history enthusiasts should look no further than the Natural History Museum.
Its dinosaur specimens and replicas are world-famous – and include part of the first Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton ever discovered.
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The building, in South Kensington, London, is one of the city’s most spectacular attractions in itself.
Although some exhibitions may have an entry fee, general admission to the museum is completely free.
Sky Garden
London’s highest public garden, Sky Garden, is perched at the top of a skyscraper in the heart of the city.
On the 43rd floor of the Fenchurch Building in east London, the garden offers panoramic views of the capital from a height of over 500ft.
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Sky Garden is 500ft above the City of LondonCredit: Alamy
As well as the iconic glass-domed landscape gardens, it’s got observation decks and an open-air terrace.
And, if you’re willing to part with a little cash, you can even enjoy a drink or meal at one of the bars or restaurants.
Make sure to book a slot in advance to enjoy this free attraction.
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The British Museum
The British Museum has one of the largest collections in the world – of eight million works – and it’s totally free to access.
The museum is 271 years old and located in Bloomsbury, London.
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2E04KNC The British Museum, The Great Court, London, England.Credit: Alamy
With relics dating back 1.8 million years, it’s the perfect historical day out for families.
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