Monday, March 31, 2025
Did Boeing "Screw Up"? Sunita Williams And Butch Wilmore Say...
NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore thanked US President Donald Trump and SpaceX owner Elon Musk for their help in bringing them back from the International Space Station (ISS), where they stayed on for nine months after their Boeing Starliner spacecraft malfunctioned, turning a mission that was supposed to be short into a long one.
The two astronauts in an interview to Fox News said space flight is hard, and using new technology to try to further and better themselves is harder.
To a question on whether Boeing "screwed this up", Mr Wilmore said he does not want to point fingers at anyone.
"... In certain respects, we were stuck. In certain respects, maybe we were stranded. But based on how they were couching this, that we were left and forgotten and all that, we were nowhere near any of that at all. So stuck, okay, we didn't get to come home the way we planned. So in one definition, we're stuck. But in the big scheme of things, we weren't stuck. We planned and trained," Mr Wilmore said.
Ms Williams said they prepped as if they were going to stay long while planning for the short mission.
"Our focus was on the mission, the Starliner portion of the mission, first flights, test flight. And that was our focus, but we trained for everything. Maintenance on station, science on station, spacewalks on station, robotics, arm work on station. We trained for it all. And we were prepared to do anything that we were asked of for a long duration," the Indian-origin astronaut said.
"Again, planning for one thing, preparing for other. And that's not unique to us. This is what a human space flight programme does. This is what each individual, the army that supports human space flight... that is passionate about human space flight... do. We plan for as many contingencies as we can dream up because this is a hard business. It's tough," Ms Williams said.
Mr Wilmore indicated it would be absolutely wrong to pin blame on anyone for what happened with their mission.
"... There are many questions that as the commander of CFT (crew flight test), I didn't ask. So I'm culpable. I'll admit that to the nation. There's things that I did not ask that I should have asked. I didn't know at the time I needed to ask them. But in hindsight, the signal, some of the signals were there. Is Boeing to blame? Are they culpable? Sure.
"Is NASA to blame? Are they culpable? Sure. Everybody has a piece in this because it did not come off. There were some shortcomings in tests, shortcomings in preparation that we did not foresee. So yeah, are there, could you point fingers? I don't want to point fingers. I hope nobody wants to point fingers. We don't want to look back and say, shame, shame, shame.
"We want to look forward and say, let's rectify what we've learned and let's make the future even more productive and better. That's the way that I look at it. I think the way the nation should look at it," Mr Wilmore said.
The two NASA Crew-9 astronauts returned to Earth on SpaceX's Dragon capsule on March 18.
President Trump alleged his predecessor Joe Biden abandoned the astronauts in space. On March 7, he announced he gave permission to Mr Musk to bring back the two American astronauts.
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Sunday, March 30, 2025
"Why Lie About Me?": Ex-India Star Fumes After 'Fake' Rohit Quote Stirs Row
Former India wicketkeeper-batter Parthiv Patel has lashed out at a user on X, formerly Twitter, for the latter's derogatory act. The user made up a fake quote on India and Mumbai Indians opener Rohit Sharma attributing Parthiv Patel, who is the assistant batting coach of Gujarat Titans. Parthiv spoke to the broadcaster during the GT vs MI, IPL 2025 match at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Saturday. The X user used that image of the former India batter while putting out the fake quote on social media. Parthiv gave a sharp response to it.
"Come on guys. I've got some great collabs and content, if you want impressions. Why lie about me?" he replied to the post.
Come on guys. I've got some great collabs and content, if you want impressions. Why lie about me? https://t.co/ovXFQZJXVN
— parthiv patel (@parthiv9) March 30, 2025
Fast bowlers Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna took two wickets each as Gujarat Titans thrashed IPL powerhouse Mumbai Indians by 36 runs for their first win this season on Saturday.
Gujarat rode on Sai Sudharsan's 63 off 41 balls to post 196-8 after being invited to bat first at the world's biggest cricket stadium in Ahmedabad.
Siraj then led the bowling charge to limit the opposition to 160-6 as five-time winners Mumbai went down to their second straight loss in the 18th edition of the T20 tournament.
Siraj removed the Mumbai openers to dent the chase and Krishna hurt the middle-order to return figures of 2-18.
Krishna, a fast-medium bowler who has played three Tests, 17 ODIs and five T20s for India, was named player of the match.
"I was itching to bowl. We were sitting and watching how the first innings went. So we understood that cutters into the wicket were working well," he said.
Mumbai's former captain Rohit Sharma started on the front foot with two successive boundaries but Siraj had the last laugh as he bowled the opener for eight on the fourth ball.
Siraj was on fire when he bowled South African wicketkeeper-batsman Ryan Rickelton for six as the left-hander got an inside edge on to his stumps.
Tilak Varma and Suryakumar Yadav attempted to rebuild in a third-wicket stand of 62 until Krishna struck to remove Varma for 39.
Suryakumar hit 48 and smashed four sixes in an attempt to keep up with the ever-increasing scoring rate and along with skipper Hardik Pandya looked to pull things back.
But the bowling remained disciplined and Krishna got his reward with Suryakumar's wicket and South African quick Kagiso Rabada dismissed Pandya, for 11, as the chase fizzled out.
Earlier, Gujarat openers Sudharsan and Shubman Gill started cautiously before the two hammered 35 runs across overs five and six.
Returning Pandya cut short skipper Gill's knock on 38 when he had the attacking opener caught at deep square leg to end a 78-run opening stand.
Pandya missed his team's opening loss due a suspension from the previous edition when he was charged for a slow-over rate offence. He returned figures of 2-29 with his pace bowling.
The left-handed Sudharsan built another key stand with England's Jos Buttler, who kept up the charge with regular boundaries as he hit 39 off 24 balls.
Afghanistan spinner Mujeeb Ur Rahman dismissed Buttler, caught behind as the Gujarat bowlers hit back.
Pandya dismissed the big-hitting Shahrukh Khan for nine and West Indies left-hander Sherfane Rutherford fell to seam bowler Deepak Chahar for 18.
Sudharsan held firm in a middle-order stutter and reached his fifty before New Zealand left-arm quick Trent Boult trapped the batsman lbw.
Disciplined bowling denied Gujarat a big finish in the final few overs but the total proved enough for the team's first win in two matches.
(With AFP Inputs)
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Saturday, March 29, 2025
Japanese Scientists Develop New Plastic That Dissolves In Saltwater
Plastics are known for their durability and strength, making them ideal for everyday use. However, their long-lasting nature becomes a significant environmental issue when they end up in nature. Traditional plastics, made with strong covalent bonds, are difficult to break down and can remain in the environment for decades or even centuries, causing harm to wildlife and humans through microplastics.
In an effort to tackle this problem, Researchers led by Takuzo Aida at the RIKEN Center for Emergent Matter Science (CEMS) in Japan, have developed a new type of plastic that maintains its strength during use but dissolves quickly in saltwater. Once dissolved, the plastic breaks down into harmless compounds, reducing the environmental impact.
In their new study, Aida and his team focused on solving this problem with supramolecular plastics-polymers with structures held together by reversible interactions. The new plastics were made by combining two ionic monomers that form cross-linked salt bridges, which provide strength and flexibility. In the initial tests, one of the monomers was a common food additive called sodium hexametaphosphate and the other was any of several guanidinium ion-based monomers. Both monomers can be metabolized by bacteria, ensuring biodegradability once the plastic is dissolved into its components.
"While the reversable nature of the bonds in supramolecular plastics have been thought to make them weak and unstable," says Aida, "our new materials are just the opposite." In the new material, the salt bridges structure is irreversible unless exposed to electrolytes like those found in seawater. The key discovery was how to create these selectively irreversible cross links.
As with oil with water, after mixing the two monomers together in water, the researchers observed two separated liquids. One was thick and viscous and contained the important structural cross linked salt bridges, while the other was watery and contained salt ions. For example, when sodium hexametaphosphate and alkyl diguanidinium sulfate were used, sodium sulphate salt was expelled into the watery layer. The final plastic, alkyl SP2, was made by drying what remained in the thick viscous liquid layer.
The "desalting" turned out to be the critical step; without it, the resulting dried material was a brittle crystal, unfit for use. Resalting the plastic by placing it in salt water caused the interactions to reverse and the plastic's structure destabilized in a matter of hours. Thus, having created a strong and durable plastic that can still be dissolved under certain conditions, the researchers next tested the plastic's quality.
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Friday, March 28, 2025
Telangana Man Falls In Love With 2 Women, Marries Them In Same Ceremony
A man married two women at the same time in Telangana's Komaram Bheem Asifabad district recently.
Suryadev, a resident of Gumnoor village in Lingapur mandal, said he was in love with Lal Devi and Jhalkari Devi and decided to marry them in a single ceremony.
The groom even printed the names of both the brides on a single wedding invitation card and organised a grand celebration.
A video of the wedding shows the two women holding the man's hand, as the trio conduct the rituals in the presence of families, relatives and villagers. The sound of 'dhol' can be heard in the background.
Sources said after Suryadev fell in love with Lal Devi and Jhalkari Devi, the trio decided to live together. The village elders were initially reluctant but eventually came around and helped them to get married.
It is illegal for Hindus to practice polygamy in India.
It is not the first time that such an incident has taken place. In 2021, another man in Telangana's Adilabad district married two women in one 'mandap'. The ceremony, in Utnoor Mandal, took place with the consent of all three families, reports said.
Likewise in 2022, a man married both his girlfriends in Jharkhand's Lohardaga.
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Solar Eclipse 2025: Best Viewing Locations, Safety Tips And How To Watch
Skywatchers and astronomy enthusiasts are in for a spectacular celestial event as a partial solar eclipse is set to take place on March 29, Saturday. This breathtaking phenomenon will be the first solar eclipse of 2025. Unlike a total eclipse, this one will only partially cover the Sun, creating a stunning crescent-shaped spectacle in the sky. According to NASA, the partial solar eclipse will be visible across various regions, including parts of Europe, Northwestern Africa, Greenland, Iceland, and parts of the northeastern US and eastern Canada.
What is a partial solar eclipse?
A partial solar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes between the Sun and Earth, but not perfectly aligned, causing only a portion of the Sun to be blocked. This creates a stunning crescent-shaped Sun in the sky, making it look like the Sun has grown a pair of devil horns.
Solar Eclipse 2025: Where and when to view?
The partial solar eclipse will be visible in the wee hours of March 29, throwing its shadow over areas like New York City, Boston, Montreal and Quebec. Parts of Africa, Siberia, the Caribbean, and Europe will also be able to see a shallower partial eclipse.
In the US, the eclipse will begin at around 4:50 am EDT. It will peak at 6:47 am EDT and end at 8:43 am EDT. The following states will have some of the best views of the partial solar eclipse, as reported by USA Today:
- New York - 6:35 am to 7:12 am
- Massachusetts - 6:27 am to 7:08 am
- Maine - 6:13 am to 7:17 am
- Pennsylvania - 6:46 am to 7:08 am
- New Jersey - 6:43 am to 7:06 am
- Virginia - 6:50 am to 7:03 am
Additionally, the partial solar eclipse will be across Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, Vermont, West Virginia, and Washington, DC. However, visibility will depend on local weather conditions, so clear skies will be essential for an optimal viewing experience.
In Europe, the eclipse will begin after 10 am GMT and end at about 12 noon. The eclipse will peak at around 11:03 am GMT with about 40% coverage, Live Science reported. It will be visible across the continent, especially in Northern and Central Europe.
In India, the solar eclipse will begin at 2:20 pm IST and end at 6:13 pm, lasting approximately four hours. The eclipse will be at its peak at 04:17 pm. However, India will not be able to see the eclipse because of the time difference and the event's alignment.
Solar Eclipse 2025: How to watch?
Unlike a lunar eclipse, which can be safely observed with the naked eye, a solar eclipse should not be watched directly. It can result in retinal burns and irreversible eye damage. Wearing appropriate eye protection is always advised when observing a solar eclipse. Homemade solutions, such as smoked glass or regular sunglasses, are also adequate and can lead to permanent eye damage.
Use only solar viewers that adhere to the international safety standard ISO 12312-2.
For online viewers, Timeanddate's stream will feature several views from across the world. The Royal Observatory Greenwich will also be hosting its own free live stream of the eclipse.
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Thursday, March 27, 2025
5 Injured In Stabbing Attack In Amsterdam, Suspect In Custody
A stabbing attack in Amsterdam on Thursday wounded five people, Dutch police said, adding that a suspect was in custody.
Police erected a cordon around the area where the stabbings took place, near the central Dam Square.
"We currently have no information about the cause or motive of the stabbing incident. This is part of our investigation," police said in a statement.
An AFP reporter on the scene said the injured had been evacuated but there was still a heavy police presence and ambulances were also on hand.
There was no immediate information on the condition of those wounded.
Early images from local news agency ANP showed a person on a stretcher being loaded into the back of an ambulance.
A trauma helicopter landed on Dam Square to tend to the victims.
According to local media reports, Amsterdam mayor Femke Halsema left a meeting in the town hall when news of the attack broke.
The police urged anyone with images of the incident to upload them as evidence. They also called on people to avoid the area and let them carry out their investigation.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
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3 Cops Killed In Action, 2 Terrorists Shot Dead In J&K Encounter: Sources
Three police personnel have been killed in action during an encounter with terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir's Kathua district, sources said on Thursday. Two of the terrorists have also been shot dead while three to four terrorists are still holed up.
Five security personnel have also been injured and are undergoing treatment at a hospital.
Teams from the Army, the National Security Guard, the Border Security Force, Police, the Special Operations Group, and the Central Reserve Police Force had been carrying out searches in the area for the past four days. There was an exchange of fire on Sunday and a local resident had informed the police on Tuesday that two men in army uniform had asked her for water while they were having food in the area.
"Contact has been re-established with militants in the forest area of Juthana under police station Rajbagh in Kathua," an official told news agency IANS, adding that there had been no exchange of fire since Sunday.
The operation was supported by helicopters, drones, bulletproof vehicles, and sniffer dogs and security agencies had questioned several people and picked up three suspects. On Tuesday, the forces had recovered two grenades among other material.
The tracksuits found among a large cache of ammunition and other materials in the Sanyal forests were identical to those worn by the four Jaish-e-Muhammad (JeM) terrorists killed in the Assar forests and Doda in June and August last year, the IANS report said.
Sunday's Gunfight
The operation, led by Jammu and Kashmir Director General of Police Nalin Prabhat, was launched on Sunday evening in the Hiranagar sector. The Special Operations Group of the J&K Police had received intelligence about terrorists hiding inside a ''dhok'' (enclosure) in a nursery in Sanyal village, roughly 5 km from the International Border with Pakistan, officials said.
The hiding terrorists opened fire and a gunfight followed, lasting over half an hour.
The terrorists are believed to have inflitrated into India on Saturday.
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Japanese Man, Who Moved To India 1 Year Ago, Shares Life Lessons He Learnt
Naotaka Nishiyama, the founder of Tech Japan, recently shared insights from his transformative journey of relocating to India. Taking to LinkedIn, Mr Nishiyama shared that he landed in Bengaluru last year in March with nothing but a suitcase and an idea. Over the past year, this decision shaped his perspective on entrepreneurship, culture and personal growth in ways he never anticipated. "Something inside me has definitely shifted this year," he wrote, adding that he learnt to "create value within change" - a mindset that has now become a part of him.
"Exactly one year ago, I landed in India with just a suitcase - and a dream. On March 25, 2024, I left Tokyo International Airport in Japan. In the early hours of March 26, I landed in Bangalore. As I stepped out of the airport pulling my suitcase, I found myself standing in a completely new world," Mr Nishiyama wrote in his post.
The CEO further said that as a Japanese startup founder living in India, he quickly realised he was a rarity. "There aren't many Japanese people in India to begin with, and most of those living here are corporate expats from the automotive, electronics, or banking industries," he said.
"When I meet someone for the first time, I'm often asked, Toyota? Suzuki? I smile and reply, no, I run a company called Talendy. Then comes that look of What's that?" he shared.
Mr Nishiyama said over the past year he has gained invaluable insights that have transformed both his business approach and personal mindset. He then highlighted three core lessons.
"Something inside me has definitely shifted this year. Instead of 'challenging myself within stability,' I've learned to 'create value within change.' And that mindset has now become a part of me," he said.
Mr Nishiyama concluded his post saying, "Of course, I'm still learning... But the people I've met in India - especially the incredible energy and ambition of the younger generation - keep me moving forward with the belief that we can create the future together."
Also Read | Jack Dorsey's Fintech Firm Block Cuts Over 900 Jobs: "Want To Give You Straight Facts"
Since being shared, Mr Nishiyama's post has accumulated more than 400 comments and over 7,000 reactions.
Reacting to his post, one user wrote, "You are 100% right, India is diverse which create complexity and unpredictability. So life is not monotonous at any time. Every day is new day, and you ( anyone) can start your new life at any day."
"Very well summarized, 'perfect is the enemy of progress' and 'things rarely goes as planned' 'improvisation skills', I think many of these phrases are unheard of in Japan, but in India we are used to these things and in spite of it, we come out successful. I think, we both have a lot to learn from each other, and that," commented another.
"Kudos to you to try and embrace a country like India with so many imperfections unlike to Japan. Great learning my friend, All the best to your startup as well," said a third user.
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2 Terrorists Killed, 5 Security Personnel Injured In Encounter In J&K
A fierce gun battle in a remote forested area of Kathua district has left two terrorists dead and five security personnel injured as the security forces intensified their operation to neutralise an infiltrating group of about five terrorists, officials said on Thursday.
It was not immediately clear whether it was the same group that had been evading an earlier cordon in Sanyal forest of Kathua region or another batch of freshly infiltrated terrorists.
The encounter triggered intense firing and explosions, the officials said.
The gunfight, centred near Jakhole village in the Ghati Juthana area of Rajbagh, involved a group of approximately five terrorists and an initial exchange of gunfire resulted in injuries to Special Police Officer Bharat Chalotra, who sustained facial wounds.
He was treated at a Kathua hospital before being transferred to Government Medical College Hospital in Jammu, where his condition was stated to be stable.
The officials said that two terrorists were killed in the onslaught led by the Special Operations Group (SOG) of the Jammu and Kashmir Police and assisted by the Army, the BSF and CRPF.
Adding to the tension, three security personnel, including a Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO), were reportedly trapped near the gunfight's location, adjacent to a rivulet concealed by dense foliage.
The officials said a clear picture would emerge only after the ongoing encounter ended.
It may be mentioned that a group of terrorists were intercepted by the SOG in the Hiranagar sector of Kathua district on Sunday evening.
Despite a massive search operation, the terrorists managed to escape the initial cordon, the officials said, adding it is assumed that the same could have been possibly spotted near Jakhole, approximately 30 kilometers from the initial encounter site.
The terrorists were moving through the forest area when a police party headed by a SDPO moved in after getting specific information, the officials said, adding they came under heavy firing resulting in the gunfight.
Reinforcements from the police, army, and CRPF were immediately deployed to the area.
The quiet village Suffain in Kathua district was shattered by the relentless sounds of gunfire, grenades, and rocket fire as a fierce exchange raged throughout the day, punctuated by a series of powerful explosions.
Earlier, a group of terrorists was intercepted on Sunday evening within a 'dhok', a local term for an enclosure in a nursery, in Sanyal village near the International Border with Pakistan.
A subsequent massive search operation, involving the police, army, NSG, BSF, and CRPF, utilised advanced technical and surveillance equipment, including helicopters, UAVs, drones, bulletproof vehicles, and sniffer dogs.
The search teams discovered evidence on Monday, including four loaded magazines of M4 carbine, two grenades, a bulletproof jacket, sleeping bags, tracksuits, food packets, and materials for constructing improvised explosive devices (IEDs) near the Hiranagar encounter site.
Police believe the terrorists infiltrated on Saturday, possibly via a ravine route or a newly constructed tunnel from across the border.
Director General of Police, Nalin Prabhat, and Inspector General of Police, Jammu Zone, Bhim Sen Tuti, have been overseeing the anti-terrorist operation from Kathua for the past four days, the officials said.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
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Wednesday, March 26, 2025
Missing US Man, 45, Found Dead After Going On A Blind Date
A 45-year-old US man who vanished after going on a blind date last month has been found dead. According to the New York Post, the body of Marcus Freiberger was found at a rock quarry in Phoenix on Wednesday, March 19 - nearly one month after he went on the date. In a Facebook post, Mr Freiberger's sister, Tina Hall, confirmed the death of her brother. "It is with a heavy heart that I share the tragic news that Marcus is no longer with us," she wrote.
"Losing him feels like losing a part of ourselves and I know this will be just as difficult for you. We thank all of you for the love and support you have given Marcus and our family," she added.
Marcus Freiberger was a yoga teacher in Arizona. His case is considered a death investigation, police said, adding that his cause of death is still pending.
The Maricopa County Office of the Medical Examiner identified Mr Freiberger's body on Monday. Mr Freiberger's friend said that the medical examiner's office needed to ID him using fingerprints through the FBI's database.
According to the Post, Mr Freiberger had been missing since going to a blind date on February 21. Cops were notified about his disappearance on March 14, after his friends realised something was wrong when they found that the yoga instructor's 2-year-old dog had been left alone in his apartment for days. His friends submitted his information into the state and national database as a missing person.
Also Read | US Boy, 12, Dies After Man Forces Him To Take Ice Baths As "Corporal Punishment"
Mr Freiberger was last seen driving a white 2021 GMC Sierra pickup with Arizona license plate 3MA66L at a Phoenix parking garage. Police have not yet revealed if they found the pickup or whom he was meeting up with on the date, the Post reported.
Mr Freiberger's father described his son as "handsome, young, ambitious, heavily loved and liked by friends". He said that he had been working with investigators trying to find his son when his body was discovered.
"We just want to know what happened. Marcus was a great kid. He was truly loved by a lot of people. The amount of shares on Facebook on his missing person's report. If you go and read the comments, it's amazing how many people knew Marcus," the father said.
"I don't know if he had any issues going on; not sure what led to the disappearance. It's very strange. Hopefully, they'll investigate and come up with something," he added. He also suspected "foul play" around his son's disappearance since his dog was left alone.
"May the soul rest in peace, May the soul rest in peace, May the soul attain Moksha," the yoga studio wrote in a Facebook post sharing the news of Mr Freiberger's death.
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Indian-Origin Man Found Dead A Day After He Was Reported Missing In US
A 30-year-old Indian-origin man was found dead in Princeton, Texas, on Sunday in what local authorities suspect to be a case of suicide but investigations are ongoing.
Abhishek Kolli, from Gudivada in Andhra Pradesh's Krishna district, had been reported missing a day earlier, prompting a search operation involving law enforcement and community members.
His body was discovered the following day, leaving his family and loved ones devastated.
Kolli, who had been married for just a year, had previously lived with his wife in Phoenix, Texas, before relocating to Princeton.
His twin brother, Aravind Kolli, revealed that Abhishek had been unemployed for the past six months and was struggling with financial difficulties.
"His sudden passing is an unbearable loss for us," Aravind shared. "We want to honour his memory with dignity, without the shadow of financial worry hanging over us." To cover funeral expenses and transport his body back to India, Aravind launched a GoFundMe campaign, which has already raised over USD 59,000 in less than 24 hours.
The outpouring of support highlights the strong sense of community among Indian-Americans, and the Telugu community in the US has stepped in to assist with financial and logistical support.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
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Tuesday, March 25, 2025
Belgium Confirms Mehul Choksi In Country, Says Aware Of Extradition Request
Fugitive diamond trader Mehul Choksi - one of India's most wanted in connection with the Punjab National Bank loan fraud case - is currently in Belgium, the European nation has confirmed to NDTV. In a communication, the Belgian foreign ministry confirmed that they are aware of his presence and "attaches great importance and attention to it".
Belgium, however, said they do not comment on individual cases. Even so, "the FPS Foreign Affairs continues to closely follow the developments in this important case".
Indian authorities have contacted their Belgian counterparts to start the process of Mr Choksi's extradition, news website Associate Times had reported.
His nephew Nirav Modi, co-accused in the same case, is awaiting extradition from London.
Choksi, 65, wanted for his alleged involvement in Rs 13,500-crore loan fraud in Punjab National Bank along with Nirav Modi, has been living in Antwerp with his wife Preeti Choksi, a Belgian citizen.
Unconfirmed reports had said they acquired an 'F Residency Card'.
Choksi had left Antigua and Barbuda for medical treatment though he remains a citizen of the island nation.
His absence made headlines after the Caribbean nation's Foreign Minister EP Chet Greene revealed it when he was in India to participate in the Raisina Dialogue, India's annual conference on geopolitics and geoeconomics,.
Without revealing where Mehul Choksi had gone, Mr Greene said he had left for medical treatment.
Mehul Choksi and his nephew, celebrity jeweller Nirav Modi, had skipped India in January 2018, weeks before the scam in PNB - the country's second largest bank, surfaced.
Later, it became known that he had taken citizenship of Antigua two months before the scam surfaced.
In 2021, he was captured from Dominica while trying to flee to Cuba.
Mehul Choksi has claimed that the cases against him are a result of political conspiracy, and his properties in India were illegally attached by the Enforcement Directorate.
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At $4 Trillion, India's GDP Doubles In Decade, Outpaces World With 105% Rise
India has been the fastest growing major economy in the world for the last ten years, with the latest data from the International Monetary Fund or IMF showing a staggering 105 per cent growth in the last decade.
According to the IMF, India's GDP currently stands at $4.3 trillion. The GDP was $2.1 trillion in 2015, when Narendra Modi's first term as prime minister less than a year in office. Since then, India has more than doubled its economy in terms of Gross Domestic Product or GDP.
India is on the cusp of overtaking Japan as the fourth-largest economy in the world. Japan's GDP currently stand at $4.4 trillion and India is poised to go past that mark by the third quarter of 2025. Should the average rate of growth continue the way it is, India will surpass Germany - the 3rd-largest economy globally - by the 2nd quarter of in 2027. Germany's GDP currently stands at $4.9 trillion.
Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal has called India's 10-year economic performance "outstanding", hailing the country for doubling its GDP in a decade. Mr Goyal highlighted that India, which has topped the world with a growth rate of 105 per cent in 10 years, has outperformed other major economies like China (76 per cent), USA (66 per cent), Germany (44 per cent), France (38 per cent) and UK (28 per cent).
India has outperformed all the nations in the G7, the G20, and the BRICS.
"The global shift is real! PM Narendra Modi-ji has led India to double its GDP in the last decade, positioning it to become the third-largest economy globally soon," Mr Goyal said.
'THE BIG TWO'
While India topped the list in terms of pace of growth, the top two spots in terms of size of economy remained the United States ($30.3 trillion) and China ($19.5 trillion). Germany is in third place at $4.9 trillion, Japan in fourth at $4.4 trillion, and India at fifth at $4.3 trillion.
Breaking into the top two places will take India little over two decades at its current rate of growth. Though, it is interesting to note that as of March, 2025, US's national debt stands at $36.22 trillion, while China's national debt as of September, 2024 stands at $2.52 trillion. In comparison, India's overall debt as of September, 2024 stands at $712 billion.
INDIA'S GROWTH TRAJECTORY
India took 60 years for its GDP to reach the first trillion-dollar mark (in 2007). From $1 trillion to $2 trillion took 7 years (in 2014), Despite COVID-19, India reached the $3 trillion mark in 2021. The journey from $3 trillion to $4 trillion took just 4 years.
At this pace, should the progression continue the way it is, India is poised to add a trillion dollars to its GDP every 1.5 years, and could likely become a $10 trillion economy by end of 2032.
(Disclaimer: Data for this article is as per the data available on the IMF website)
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Monday, March 24, 2025
Huge Row In Rajasthan Over Rana Sanga Explained
A massive row over history is brewing in Rajasthan after a Samajwadi Party leader made a remark about Rana Sanga, the 16th Century ruler of Mewar, that riled up the leaders in Rajasthan, where Rana Sanga and his grandson Rana Pratap are revered. Samjawadi Party MP Ramji Lal Suman alleged that Rana Sanga brought Babur into India to defeat the Lodhi kings, a view that historians say is a misconception.
Starting with Chief Minister Bhajan Lal -- who said the remarks are against the sentiments of the state's people - his remarks have been criticized by many. Protests have been held in Udaipur, the former Kingdom of Sanga and Rana Pratap, where there is still a repository of collective memories. The matter had ripples in the state assembly today and a right-wing Rajput group, Karni Sena, has threatened that they will "chop off the tongue" of the Samajwadi Party leader.
His remarks came in the backdrop of the comments by another leader of his party, Abu Azmi, who had praised Mughal emperor Aurangzeb. BJP leaders and Hindu groups have been protesting against what they called attempts to glorify Aurangzeb, alleging that he had unleashed atrocities on Hindus.
WHAT SAMAJWADI PARTY MP SAID
A purported video of the Rajya Sabha MP Ramji Lal Suman's had surfaced recently in which he is heard saying that Rana Sanga was a "traitor" who brought Babur to defeat Ibrahim Lodi. Then, during a debate on the functioning of the Home Ministry in the Rajya Sabha on Friday, Mr Suman doubled down on his comments linking d Rana Sanga to Babur's invasion of India.
"BJP leaders often claim that Muslims have the DNA of Babur. But who invited Babur to India? It was Rana Sanga who brought him to defeat Ibrahim Lodi. By that logic, if Muslims are Babur's descendants, you are also the descendants of Rana Sanga -- a traitor," he was quoted as saying by news agency IANS.
Muslims in India do not idolise any Mughal emperor, he said. "They consider Mohammed Sahab and Sufi saints' traditions as their ideals," he added.
TROUBLE IN ASSEMBLY
In Rajasthan Assembly today, BJP MLA Shrichand Kriplani opposed this statement through Point of Information and demanded parliamentary action. As soon as he raised the issue, Congress MLA Harimohan Sharma objected and said that this topic cannot be discussed in the House. At this, BJP MLAs registered strong protest and targeted Congress.
Raising slogans against the Congress, the BJP MLAs questioned why the insult of Rana Sanga cannot be discussed in the house.
Vishwaraj Mewar, an erstwhile royal from Mewar, has slammed SP leader over remarks on Rana Sanga. He said they are misleading the people by giving misinformation in the upper house, they are trying to create divide in the society by making such comments they have not only hurt the sentiments of Rajasthanis but of India too.
ROW REACHES DELHI
"These days, discussions are happening on historical figures. While someone crticises the great and glorious king like Rana Sanga saying he betrayed the country, others are busy advocating Aurangzeb," said senior BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad.
Tourism minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat has called it a distortion of history. "The spirit of independence that Maharana Sanga ignited not only saved India from being enslaved but also gave a huge contribution in keeping the culture of India eternal," said Union minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat. Only people with "trivial intellect" and "small heart" make such statements, he added.
"Rana Sanga has been the identity of Bharat. Throughout his life, he fought against Babar and other invaders. Glorifying an invader instead of the one who protected the country is quite indecent and inappropriate," said BJP Rajya Sabha MP and former Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Dinesh Sharma.
BJP MP Shashank Mani termed the SP MP's remarks as "condemnable" and said the people should salute great men like Rana Sanga instead of making such "inappropriate" comments.
AKHILESH YADAV'S GALILEO JIBE
Sanajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav has attacked the BJP, asking it not to dig up historical events selectively.
"If BJP continues to flip through history, people will also remember that during Chhatrapati Shivaji's coronation, no one anointed him by hand. It is said that he was anointed using the toe of a left foot. Will the BJP condemn this today?" he said.
Drawing an analogy, Yadav referred to Galileo's persecution for his claim that the Earth revolves around the Sun.
"Galileo was punished for his scientific assertion, and centuries later, the Church apologised for its mistake. If the BJP respects Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, will they apologise for the fact that he was anointed with a left foot toe?" he said.
WHO WAS RANA SANGA
Rana Sanga or Sangram Singh I, the grandfather of Maharana Pratap, is one of the most beloved kings of Rajasthan, who ruled Mewar from 1508 to 1528. In a culture that prizes valour, he had an illustrious military career, defeating the Sultans of Delhi, Malwa and Gujarat in 18 pitched battles.
Against Babar, the founder of the Mughal dynasty, he fought two decisive battles against- decisively winning the one in Bayana in 1527.
Rana Sanga had decimated the Mughal army, over-running Babar's camp and carrying away as the spoils of war everything from arms and ammunition, musical instruments and even tents. Some of these items are on display in the museums of Udaipur.
The Rana, though, lost the battle of Khandwa two months later, when Babar brought in his cannons. After the battle, he had died of his wounds.
DID RANA SANGA INVITE BABAR TO DELHI
There is no historical evidence that Rana Sanga invited Babar.
Documentary sources say Babar, who was eyeing India after losing Samarkand, was invited by Daulat khan Lodhi, a relative then Delhi Sultan Ibrahim Lodhi.
Babur defeated Ibrahim Lodi in the First Battle of Panipat in 1526 and founded the Mughal Empire, which ruled for the next 200 years.
"Rana Sanga had already defeated Ibrahim Lodhi once, so why would he need Babur's help, and in fact Rana Sanga had fought against Babur in Bayana," pointed out historian Chandraprakash Sharma.
BAYANA TODAY
Despite the identity politics being played out over the contribution of Rana Sanga, Bayana, 30 km from Bharatpur where his great battle with Babur took place, lies neglected, forgotten and forlorn.
The historical fortress that Rana Sanga beseiged and over-ran is falling to ruins. There is but one signboard pointing visitors to the historic battlefield of Bayana where the war was fought.
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Sunday, March 23, 2025
Saturday, March 22, 2025
"No Pilots For Flight": Warner Blasts Air India As Star Waits 'For Hours'
David Warner is longer part of the IPL and he isn't part of international cricket either after having retired. However, his impact in the IPL and international cricket is not forgotten. On Sunday, however, David Warner was an unhappy man for reasons not related to cricket but had an Indian connection. He blasted Air India for causing him discomfort. "@airindia we've boarded a plane with no pilots and waiting on the plane for hours. Why would you board passengers knowing that you have no pilots for the flight?" David Warner posted on X.
Warner did not specify where he was going.
@airindia we've boarded a plane with no pilots and waiting on the plane for hours. Why would you board passengers knowing that you have no pilots for the flight?
— David Warner (@davidwarner31) March 22, 2025
Recently, Indian-Canadian actor Lisa Ray has, in a social media post, slammed Air India for denying a medical waiver for a ticket she had to cancel. She said she had to cancel her travel since her 92-year-old father was unwell, but her cancellation fee was not waived based on a doctor's letter. The Tata-owned carrier said it is looking into the matter.
The 52-year-old actor, who had booked her ticket through a third-party travel agent, shared a response from them saying no waiver was available. Airline sources say she had a non-refundable ticket due to which the agent had refused her the waiver, and not the airline.
"Here we go again @airindia. My father is 92, unwell and I have to cancel travel due to his ailing condition. Submitted doctors' letter and the waiver was denied? How is that possible? Where is the empathy from an airline that is claiming to care about passengers?" asked Ms Ray.
In response to the query, Air India asked Ms Ray to share her email address and wished a speedy recovery to her father.
"Dear Ms Ray, we empathize with your concern and wish your father a speedy recovery. Please help us with the email address from which you've written to us or the case ID (if any) via DM. We'll look into it," said Air India.
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'Drank 2 Bottles A Day': Driver On Meerut Murder Accused's Himachal Vacation
Muskaan Rastogi and her friend Sahil Shukla regularly purchased alcohol, ordered a birthday cake and even visited a gurudwara during their 15-day trip to the hills from March 4, hours after they murdered a former Merchant Navy officer and dismembered his body in Uttar Pradesh's Meerut.
According to the cab driver who was hired to take the accused from Meerut to Shimla, Manali and Kasol in Himachal Pradesh, Muskaan and Sahil barely spoke to one another as they left for the trip.
"I did not know about the murder. The cab, a Swift Dzire, was booked on the morning of March 4. I reached the given address in the evening to pick up the two people for the 15-day tour. They ate food but barely spoke on the way. The woman would always get down from the car each time her mother called," the driver, Ajab Singh, told NDTV.
Mr Singh said that during their stay in Shimla, Muskaan had sent him an audio message, requesting him to buy a birthday cake. "She told me that it was his (Sahil's) birthday and asked me to get a cake from somewhere. She told me to keep the packet in her room and asked me to say that it belongs to me and that I would take it the next morning. She also told me not to call but text her in case I managed to buy the cake," he said.
The driver said the two accused also visited a gurudwara in Shimla and showed a receipt of the parking fee. He said the vehicle was also refuelled on March 7.
Mr Singh said Sahil used to drink at least two bottles of alcohol everyday. "They used to regularly buy alcohol. I did not know the woman also used to drink till I saw her buy and consume alcohol when we were returning to Meerut," he said.
The driver was paid a total of Rs 54,000 for the entire trip.
On March 4, Muskaan and Sahil, who were having an affair, stabbed her husband, Saurabh Rajput, to death and dismembered his body, before sealing the parts inside a drum with cement in Meerut. The duo then set off on a vacation to Himachal Pradesh, all the while misleading the victim's family by sending them messages from his phone, police said.
The matter came to light on March 18, when Muskan confessed to her mother, who reported her to the police. Muskan and Sahil were subsequently arrested.
Doctors who conducted the post-mortem reported that Saurabh Rajput was stabbed in the heart with extreme force thrice, indicating a sustained and violent attack. "The blows from the sharp long knife pierced deep inside the heart," one of the doctors said.
The post mortem revealed that the Saurabh's head was severed from the body, both hands were cut off from the wrist and his legs were bent backwards, suggesting an attempt to fit the body in a drum. The cause of death has been attributed to shock and excessive bleeding.
Saurabh and Muskan got married in 2016 against his family's wishes, following a relationship and they had a six-year-old daughter. Muskan and Sahil had known each other since school and reconnected via a WhatsApp group in 2019, police said.
Asked whether Saurabh's daughter knew about her father's death, his mother Renu Devi said the girl had been telling neighbours, "Papa is in the drum". "She must have seen something."
(With inputs from Shyam Parmar)
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IPL Broadcaster Shows 'Kohli' Bowling 1st Over Though Hazlewood's In Action
The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 started on Saturday with blockbuster match between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Kolkata Knight Riders. Defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders started strong and notched 107 in the first 10 overs. But in the next 10 overs, they checked the run flow and KKR could manage only 174/8 in 20 overs. The match also saw a hilarious moment right at the start as the IPL 2025 broadcasters showed 'Virat Kohli' bowling the first over, while it was Josh Hazlewood who was in action.
The internet could not stop trolling the mistake.
IPL 2025 SCORECARD GRAPHICS.
— ICC Asia Cricket (@ICCAsiaCricket) March 22, 2025
But why is Kohli shown as a bowler in the graphics? #IPL2025 #ViratKohli pic.twitter.com/ExA8MiVGlz
#JioHotstar #KKRvsRCB #RCBvsKKR #IPL2025
— Sawan Verma (@sawan28) March 22, 2025
Looks like broadcasters are obsessed with #ViratKohli . Look at the scorecard, Instead of Hazelwood, kohli showing up as who opened the bowling for RCB. pic.twitter.com/QXp3bEB8pq
Kkr batting but scorecard showing Kohli. Next level shitty league on display. pic.twitter.com/XCq1R5bXPm
— Hirok's Shikkha Montri 🇮🇳 (@iAviOfficial) March 22, 2025
Skipper Ajinkya Rahane made a wonderful 56 but defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders could only manage a sub-par 174 for eight against Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the opening match of the IPL 2025 hon Saturday. Rahane made his fifty off just 31 balls and shared a 103-run stand for the second wicket with Sunil Narine (44, 26b) as at one stage KKR looked to break the 200-run margin with ease.
However, RCB bowlers led by left-arm spinner Krunal Pandya (3/29) staged a splendid comeback. Josh Hazlewood got two wickets.
Brief scores: Kolkata Knight Riders: 174/8 in 20 overs (Ajinkya Rahane 56, Sunil Narine 44, Angkrish Raghuvanshi 30; Krunal Pandya 3/29).
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Friday, March 21, 2025
Trump Awards Next-Generation F-47 Fighter Jet Contract To Boeing
US President Donald Trump announced Friday that Boeing has been awarded a major contract for the Air Force's high-tech next-generation F-47 fighter plane.
The contract is aimed at continuing the development of the replacement for the F-22 stealth warplane -- which has been in operation for some two decades -- with a new, more advanced aircraft that will be able to operate alongside uncrewed drones.
"After a rigorous and thorough competition between some of America's top aerospace companies, the Air Force is going to be awarding the contract for the Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) platform to Boeing," Trump told reporters at the Oval Office.
He said the price of the contract could not be revealed for security reasons.
"Nothing in the world comes even close to it, and it'll be known as the F-47, the generals picked a title, and it's a beautiful number, F-47," said Trump, who is the 47th president of the United States.
The announcement is a boon for Boeing, which faced a difficult last year in which it struggled with a lengthy labor strike and safety problems.
The NGAD effort was paused in 2024 over cost concerns -- a major focus of the Trump administration, which has tasked billionaire donor Elon Musk with slashing government spending through the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
The Congressional Budget Office estimated in 2018 that the NGAD airframe could cost up to $300 million apiece -- significantly more than various other aircraft currently in the US inventory.
A senior Air Force officer said earlier this month that the service conducted a study following the pause last year, which concluded that "not only in the past, not only in the present but in the future, air superiority matters."
"What this study told us is we tried a whole bunch of different options and there is no more viable option than NGAD to achieve air superiority in this highly contested environment," Major General Joseph Kunkel told a symposium in Colorado.
The F-47 will replace the F-22 Raptor aircraft, the development of which dates to the 1980s.
The F-22 features stealth technology, a high degree of maneuverability and the ability to supercruise, or maintain supersonic flight without afterburners.
(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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Thursday, March 20, 2025
No PUC Certificate? You Won't Be Able To Do This In Delhi From April 1
Old cars that do not have certificates to prove they are not polluting the environment will have to stay off the roads in Delhi from April 1.
Drivers who bring such cars to fuel stations won't be given fuel, officials said.
At present, some fuel stations across the national capital have government authorised testing cabins that issue Pollution Under Control, or PUC, certificates. Car owners must get their vehicles checked once every year to renew their PUC certificates.
To make this system foolproof, every fuel station in Delhi will have a new device that can identify vehicles whose PUC certificates have expired.
They will deny fuel for any vehicle whose PUC certificate has expired. Delhi has approximately 500 fuel stations, and the new system is being implemented at all of them.
When a vehicle that does not comply with emission regulations comes in for refueling, the system will announce it as a defaulter, and the staff at the fuel station will not offer any service.
This system is connected to a central database that checks for violators based on their registration numbers, retrieving details from the government database.
For now, the systems have been installed at Veejay Service Station, Kalidas Marg; Angra HP Centre, Vinay Marg, opposite Nehru Park, Chanakyapuri; Anup Service Station, Plot No. 10, DDA Community Centre, Alaknanda; Ugra Sain and Sons, opposite Welcome Metro Station, Shahdara; Qutab Service Station, Mehrauli Road, and Intimate Service Station, Panchshila Park.
The Delhi government earlier this month said vehicles older than 15 years will not get fuel.
Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa said a team will be formed to identify such vehicles.
"We are installing gadgets at petrol pumps which will identify vehicles older than 15 years and no fuel will be provided to them," Mr Sirsa said after holding a meeting with officials to discuss steps to combat air pollution in Delhi.
Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR) have a policy under which diesel vehicles older than 10 years and petrol vehicles older than 15 years are not allowed on the roads.
An order in 2021 said such vehicles would be impounded and sent to the scrapyard if they were found operating on the roads after January 1, 2022.
Mr Sirsa said the government's initial focus will be on heavy vehicles entering Delhi and teams will check whether the laid-down rules are being followed.
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Wednesday, March 19, 2025
After Quad, India May Be Part Of New Military Grouping In South China Sea
Even as the Quad steadily strengthens its hold across the Indo-Pacific region, India may soon consider being a part of another key multilateral alliance that focuses on the South China Sea. The group in question is the 'Squad' - whose members currently include Japan, Australia, the US, and the Philippines. The group now plans to invite India and South Korea to join it.
Philippines and Japan, which face challenges with China's growing military presence in the South China Sea, aim to counter Beijing and keep it in check, said General Romeo S. Brawner, the Philippines' Armed Forces chief.
Though Squad is still an informal grouping, member states have conducted joint maritime activities in South China Sea for over a year. "Together with Japan and our partners we are trying to expand the squad to include India and probably South Korea," General Brawner said at the Raisina Dialogue - a multilateral conference in New Delhi.
Interestingly, the General's comment on inviting India to the 'Squad', came as his counterpart from Japan, the chief of the Indian Navy, the commander of the US Indo-Pacific Command, and Australia's chief of Joint Operations were on stage for a panel discussion on security in the Indo-Pacific.
General Brawner went on to say that the Philippines was making efforts to enhance its deterrence capabilities, including by working with partners in the Squad, which he said was an informal collaboration between the four nations on military aspects, intelligence sharing, and joint exercises and operations.
The mention of a possible invite to India and South Korea comes at a time when Manila and Beijing are facing increasing hostilities and a series of escalating confrontations in the South China Sea.
China unilaterally claims almost all of the South China Sea as its own territory, totally disregarding international maritime law. Beijing considers the entire sea as its exclusive economic, strategic, and military zone - something that has been shot down by the International and UN court in 2016.
China has rejected the international court ruling and blatantly disregards it, opposing a rules-based global order. Beijing also disregards the sovereignty claims by the Philippines, Indonesia, Taiwan, Malaysia, Brunei, and Vietnam - all of which have coastlines along the South China Sea - similar to that of China.
The South China Sea is one of the most significant maritime trade routes, which sees an annual trade flow of more than $3 trillion.
"We find commonality with India because we have a common enemy. And I'm not afraid to say that China is our common enemy. So, it is important that we collaborate together, maybe exchange intelligence," General Brawner told reporters on the sidelines of the summit.
According to a report by news agency Reuters, the General went on to say that the Philippines already had a partnership with the Indian military and defence industry.
He said that he will extend an offer for India to join the 'Squad' when he meets India's Chief of Defence Staff or CDS General Anil Chauhan later in the day. After the meeting, a senior Indian defence personnel told news agency Reuters that there was no clarity yet if the matter was indeed discussed.
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Amazon To Cut 14,000 Jobs In Mega Cost-Saving Drive: Report
Amazon is planning to cut 14,000 managerial positions by early 2025 as part of its efforts to cut costs and improve efficiency, according to a report. The move, which accounts for a 13% reduction in its global management workforce, is expected to help the company save between Rs 210 crore and Rs 360 crore annually. Once implemented, the total number of managers at the e-commerce giant will drop from 1,05,770 to 91,936, Financial Express reported.
The decision follows recent job cuts in Amazon's communications and sustainability divisions, reflecting the company's broader restructuring plans.
In a bid to streamline operations, Amazon has introduced a “bureaucracy tipline” — a mechanism allowing employees to report inefficiencies within the organisation, the report said.
A January 2025 report in Business Insider said the e-commerce major issued new directives for its managerial staff, including:
- Expanding the number of direct reports per manager
- Limiting senior-level recruitment
- Reviewing compensation structures
These measures align with Amazon's strategy to improve operational efficiency and prioritise profitability. The company has already discontinued certain initiatives, such as its ‘Try Before You Buy' clothing programme and a rapid brick-and-mortar delivery service, as it shifts focus to its core business areas.
The layoffs were part of CEO Andy Jassy's strategy to streamline decision-making and improve efficiency. Jassy plans to raise the ratio of individual contributors to managers by at least 15% by 2025, aiming to cut bureaucracy and accelerate operations, Business Insider reported.
Earlier, in September 2024, Mr Jassy told employees that they would be required to return to the office five days a week starting January 2025. In a note, he said that in-office work makes it easier for employees to learn and collaborate. Reducing the number of managers would eliminate unnecessary layers, allowing Amazon to operate more efficiently and with fewer bureaucratic obstacles, he added.
In a note published in October 2024, Morgan Stanley estimated that this restructuring could lead to the elimination of around 13,834 managerial roles by early 2025.
Amazon's workforce expanded during the COVID-19 pandemic, reportedly growing from 7.98 lakh employees in 2019 to over 16 lakh by the end of 2021. The company has since adjusted its staffing levels, cutting 27,000 jobs in 2022 and 2023, reported Financial Express.
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Tuesday, March 18, 2025
Trade Marks Registry Accepts 'Chutiyaram' For Biscuits Company, Does U-Turn
Two weeks after it accepted a snacks and biscuits company's application for the registration of the word 'Chutiyaram', making many wonder whether it was in keeping with a section barring trademarks that are considered obscene, scandalous or 'contrary to public morality', the Trade Marks Registry has done a U-turn.
In an order published on Tuesday, the Registry said that it had made an error and the mark was subject to objections under Sections 9 and 11 of the Trade Marks Act, 1999, Bar and Bench reported.
The Trade Marks Registry had, in an order on March 4, said the trademark had been accepted, observing that it was a combination of two arbitrary words - 'Chuti' and 'Ram'
"None appeared observed and ordered that since this is the fourth hearing the instinct mark is a combination of two arbitrary words Chuti and ram and the instinct mark as a whole is distinctive and it can be differentiated from the person to others and the Instinct mark has no direct reference to the applied goods, hence objection u/s 9 waived and the mark accepted," Senior Trademark Examiner Balaji said in the order.
The order also noted that the word has no direct reference to the goods that the company was selling, which were 'namkeen' (snacks) and biscuits.
Section 9(2)(c) of the Trade Marks Act bars trademarks that are considered scandalous, obscene, or contrary to public morality. Words or phrases deemed vulgar, offensive, or inappropriate for public sensibilities cannot be approved, nor can trademarks that offend religious sentiments or are contrary to public order.
When a trademark is said to be "accepted & advertised," it signals that the application has cleared the initial examination and the examiner either found no objections or resolved any concerns during scrutiny. The mark is then published in the Trademark Journal, allowing its review, which, in this case, was done on Monday.
After the acceptance, several experts questioned the review process and pointed out that registering terms that could be considered offensive could have legal implications.
The acceptance was then withdrawn on Tuesday, with the Registry stating that an error had been made.
In a letter, the registry said, "The above mentioned application has been accepted through an error. The registration of the mark submitted for registration is open to objection on the ground that the mark is not registration within the meaning of Section 9 / 11 of the Trade Marks Act, 1999. The Registrar therefore proposes to withdraw the acceptance in pursuance of Section 19 of the Act read with Rule 38 of the Trade Marks rules, 2017 and a hearing in respect of the application has been appointed," it said.
"If you fail to attend the hearing the order of acceptance will be deemed to be withdrawn in pursuance of Section 19 of the Act read with rule 38," the letter stated.
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Monday, March 17, 2025
Harry Potter Star Joins OnlyFans To Pay Off Debt, Fix Home
Harry Potter cast member Jessie Cave, known for portraying Lavender Brown's character in the critically and commercially acclaimed movie franchise, has announced that she is starting an OnlyFans account. Ms Cave, who featured in three Harry Potter movies, said she was joining the adult platform to pay off debt but added that she would not be doing or promoting anything sexual.
“I'm starting an OnlyFans for my hair. It's niche even for me. Join me on this strange new journey,” wrote Ms Cave alongside a video on Instagram.
The 37-year-old actress explained that her content will centre around her hair with the subscribers receiving "best quality hair sounds" and "very sensual stuff".
“I'm going for a very pure aesthetic. There will be no feet or bums involved,” Ms Cave added.
Watch: 'Alien' Encounter At Space Station As New Crew Meets Stranded Astronauts
'I'm doing something naughty'
On her Substack account, MS Cave further explained why she had taken the dive to create adult-themes content.
"I'll try for one year," Ms Cave wrote. "My aim? To get the house safe, cover the arsenic/lead wallpaper, build a new roof."
"My aim? To get out of debt. My aim? To empower myself? To prove to those in the past who have misjudged me that I'm not so sweet? To put time into something I never invested in before: self-love."
“Were my years of Harry Potter conventions in fact research? It feels like I'm doing something naughty, something a little f***ed up. I like that. Ripping up the good little actress rule book.”
Notably, MS Cave first portrayed the character in 2009's Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince before returning to reprise her role in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1 (2010) and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2 (2011). She also briefly played the love interest of Ron Weasley, played by Rupert Grint.
Apart from Harry Potter movies, she also appeared in movies like Great Expectations and on television series such as Black Mirror and Industry. She also voiced Lavender Brown in two Harry Potter video games.
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Sunday, March 16, 2025
Saturday, March 15, 2025
Friday, March 14, 2025
Man Waiting To Have Ramzan 'Sehri' Gunned Down By 4 On Bike In Aligarh
A man standing near his house, waiting to have 'sehri' (the pre-dawn meal consumed by Muslims before fasting for Ramzan), was gunned down by four men on motorcycles in Uttar Pradesh's Aligarh on Friday. One of the attackers shot the man multiple times, after which he fell, and another then got off the bike and pumped three more bullets into him to make sure he was dead.
CCTV footage from Telipada in Aligarh's Roravar shows Haris alias Katta, who had returned after playing a cricket match and was waiting to have 'sehri', standing on the road near his house with another man around 3.15 am. The other man moves to sit on a ledge and Haris can be seen watching two bikes pulling up next to him with interest.
Haris turns and tries to shield himself when he sees the pillion rider of the bike closest to him pointing a gun, but is shot once while the bike is still in motion. The pillion rider shoots Haris twice more in quick succession, after which he falls and the man who was with him makes a run for it. The first shooter pumps another bullet into the fallen Haris and then climbs back onto the motorcycle.
The pillion rider of the other bike, meanwhile, gets off and walks towards Haris. He tries to shoot the fallen man and realises he has forgotten to cock the gun. After doing so, he fires three bullets at Haris, climbs on the bike, and both two-wheelers leave. The video ends with Haris lying on the road and a man chasing after the bikes.
Police officials said the attack on Haris was probably the result of an enmity, but other angles are also being investigated.
Assistant Superintendent of Police Mayank Pathak said, "We received information about the shooting around 3.30 am. Haris was taken to a hospital immediately, where he died. A case has been registered and investigation is on."
Shoaib, a relative, said Haris was like a younger brother to him. "We had come here for 'sehri' around 3 am. That's when Haris was shot. There was no enmity. These people (the shooters) are criminals."
(With inputs from Adnan Khan)
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Punjab Leader Seen Scaling Gate To Evade Shooters, Was Killed Minutes Later
A Shiv Sena leader was chased and shot dead by the three bike-borne men in Punjab's Moga late Thursday night. A chilling CCTV video shows how he tried to evade the shooters just minutes before he was killed.
Mangat Rai alias Manga, who was the Moga district president of Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, had stepped out of his house on a scooter to buy milk when he was attacked. He dodged several bullets fired at him before ultimately being killed.
The first shot was fired around 10 pm, but it missed him and hit an 11-year-old boy who was crossing the area. Manga immediately fled the area on a two-wheeler.
In the CCTV footage, the Shiv Sena leader was seen trying to climb a locked gate to elude his attackers. The men, however, find him, and one of them fires at him, but the bullet misses him. He was then fired at by another man. The next frame shows the men appearing to flee the scene when they spot an approaching car. Rai was also seen running away. This time, however, the attackers gain on him and shoot him dead.
The attackers, in a video shared on Instagram, have claimed responsibility for the murder. They alleged they were upset with Mangat Rai because he used to threaten them and extort money.
The police, meanwhile, have registered a First Information Report (FIR) against six suspects.
"It is a case of personal rivalry. An FIR for murder has been registered against six suspects named by the family of the victim. They will be arrested soon," said Senior Superintendent of Police Ajay Gandhi.
Some outfits and family members of the victim blocked the Ferozepur National Highway, demanding the arrest of the accused. Slogans were raised against the AAP government, alleging a complete breakdown of the law and order situation in Punjab.
The agitators said the protest would continue until the culprits were arrested and the family was given a government job and financial assistance and that until then, Mangat Rai's last rites would not be performed.
Earlier, Mr Rai's daughter said that her father eft the house at around 8 pm on Thursday to get milk. "At 11 pm, someone informed us that my father was shot dead. We want justice and will do whatever we have to do for that," she said.
In another incident on the same night, three motorcycle riders entered a salon in Bagiana Basti around 9 pm on Thursday for a haircut and fired two shots at the owner, Devender Kumar. One bullet hit Kumar in the leg, and he was taken to Moga Civil Hospital for treatment and later referred to another hospital, police said.
Mangat Rai's shooters claimed this attack as well saying Kumar was targetted due to personal rivalry.
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Video Of SpiceJet Cabin Crew's Holi Dance On Flight Leaves Internet Divided
A video showing SpiceJet cabin crew members dancing to the hit Bollywood song 'Balam Pichkari' on a flight ahead of Holi has gone viral on social media. Shared on the airline's official Instagram handle, the clip shows the cabin crew, dressed in white outfits, dancing in the aisle, while passengers cheer and record the moment. In the caption of the post, the airline clarified that the dance performance was pre-planned and executed on the ground, ensuring full compliance with safety protocols.
"Signature festival, a signature song, and a celebration like no other! Our crew brought Holi to life with an energetic dance, proving that traditions take flight with us! Video was filmed on ground with all safety standards in place," SpiceJet wrote while sharing the video.
Take a look at the post below:
Since being shared, the video has accumulated more than 84,000 views and over 5,000 likes. In the comments section, users had mixed reactions. While some appreciated the airline's efforts to keep the festive spirit alive, others were not impressed with the stunt at all.
"Same vibe still remains...as I was a part of this airline too. Proud to be a spicejetter once upon a time," wrote one user. "Other airlines' crew get a holiday today. But SG crew? They are enjoying Holi mid-flight!" commented another.
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However, some users criticised the act, calling it "unprofessional".
"Wtf is wrong with them for making their employee's dance like this ????" asked one user. "As a cabin crew member, I don't appreciate it. It's not at all professional," commented another.
"That's not professional at all airlines should maintain some standard just for clout chasing nd attracting more guest compromising with crew's respect is not fair," expressed a third user.
"I wonder who comes up with these ideas and, more importantly, who actually approves them. There's absolutely nothing exciting or creative about this. Where's the decency, the decorum? The poor crew has to put up with this nonsense just because someone in management thought it was a brilliant move," wrote one user. "That's why no one takes cabin crew seriously in India. Please just focus on safety, security and customer service," added another.
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Thursday, March 13, 2025
"Promotes Secessionist Sentiments": N Sitharaman Slams DMK Amid Rupee Row
Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman today hit back at Tamil Nadu's ruling DMK over its move to replace the rupee symbol with the with a Tamil letter (Ru), declaring that it "promotes secessionist sentiments". "Tamil Nadu govt's move to replace rupee symbol signals a dangerous mindset that weakens Indian unity," Ms Sitharaman said.
The state had replaced the rupee symbol (Re) in promotional material for the 2025/26 state budget which will be presented Friday morning, making a point amid the blazing row over the language policy.
Since morning, it had drawn massive political backlash from the BJP.
State BJP chief K Annamalai, pointing out that rupee symbol accepted by the nation has been drawn dram by the son of a former DMK MLA, tagged the state's ruling party "Stupid".
"The DMK Government's State Budget for 2025-26 replaces the Rupee Symbol designed by a Tamilian, which was adopted by the whole of Bharat and incorporated into our Currency. Thiru Udhay Kumar, who designed the symbol, is the son of a former DMK MLA. How stupid can you become, Thiru @mkstalin?" he posted on X, formerly Twitter.
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Wednesday, March 12, 2025
50 Years Later, US Murder Mystery Solved Through Old Tape And Photo
A 1975 murder case of Maryland woman Roseann Sturtz has been solved, thanks in part to a decades-old cassette tape and a photograph of the victim. The cold case, which involved Sturtz's strangulation after meeting her attacker at a bar on August 24, 1975, remained a mystery for decades until Howard County police reopened the investigation late last year.
According to the New York Post, detectives uncovered evidence pointing to Charles William Davis Jr, a convicted killer already incarcerated, as the perpetrator. A key piece of evidence was a 1981 audio tape, in which Davis, then an inmate at Jessup Correctional Institute, discussed the murder in exchange for immunity from prosecution.
Initially, Davis was unable to identify Sturtz from a photo taken several years before her murder. However, 44 years later, Howard County police Cpl. Wade Zufall reinterviewed Davis, showing him a more recent photo of Sturtz, taken just a month before her murder. This time, Davis recognized her and confessed to the crime, admitting that Sturtz was one of his victims.
Video footage from the interview reveals the moment when Davis is shown the photo of Sturtz. As he gazes at the image, he nods his head, and confesses to the crime.
Watch the video here:
"In November 2024, we were grateful to have all the case details, learned Roseann's actual date of death and receive the closure we have been praying for all these years — finally put to rest the answers we never had," Sturtz's family said in a statement through the police department.
According to Cpl. Wade Zufall, Davis confessed that he and Sturtz got into an argument after meeting at a bar, which ultimately led to her murder. Davis initially came under suspicion in 1981, when police analysed his previous victims and found similarities with Sturtz's case.
"His main reason why he wanted to talk to me … was he wanted to give closure to the family,” Mr Zufall said.
Although Davis cannot be charged with Sturtz's murder due to existing immunity agreements, he is currently serving a life sentence for other unrelated killings.
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