'Will You Return To Space On Boeing Starliner?' What NASA Astronauts Said

NASA Crew-9 astronauts Sunita Williams, Butch Wilmore and Nick Hague spoke to the press today about the future of NASA's human space flight programme, after their recent return from the International Space Station (ISS).

Mr Wilmore said they will carefully study and rectify all the issues they have faced before going to space in another Boeing Starliner spacecraft.

To a reporter's question to Mr Wilmore on whom he would place the blame for the mission that did not go as planned, he said, "There were some issues that happened with Starliner. There were some issues which of course prevented us from returning... If I were to start pointing fingers, I'd blame myself. I will start with myself."

"Blame, I don't like this term... We are all responsible, NASA and Boeing too. Trust is very important. We are not going to look back and say 'this person or that entity is to be blamed'. We are going to look forward and say 'how do we use the lessons we learned from this whole process and make sure we are successful in future," Mr Wilmore said.

On whether they would go on the Starliner again, he said, "Yes, because we are going to rectify, fix, make it work. Boeing is completely committed. NASA is completely committed."

Ms Williams agreed, pointing at the strengths of the Starliner, which is a complex spacecraft.

"The spacecraft [Starliner] is very capable, but there are things that need to be fixed as Butch mentioned. Folks are actively working on that. It's a great spacecraft with many features that other spacecraft don't have. It's an honour to be a part of this," Ms Williams said.

The NASA Crew-9 astronauts along with Russian cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov splashed down on Earth on Elon Musk's SpaceX's Dragon capsule on March 18.

The White House had highlighted President Donald Trump's role in prioritising their rescue. 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.

Ms Wlliams and Mr Wilmore stayed on for nine months in the ISS after their Boeing Starliner spacecraft malfunctioned, turning a mission that was supposed to be short into a long one.

from NDTV News- Special https://ift.tt/EpMq609

'Will You Return To Space On Boeing Starliner?' What NASA Astronauts Said

NASA Crew-9 astronauts Sunita Williams, Butch Wilmore and Nick Hague spoke to the press today about the future of NASA's human space flight programme, after their recent return from the International Space Station (ISS).

Mr Wilmore said they will carefully study and rectify all the issues they have faced before going to space in another Boeing Starliner spacecraft.

To a reporter's question to Mr Wilmore on whom he would place the blame for the mission that did not go as planned, he said, "There were some issues that happened with Starliner. There were some issues which of course prevented us from returning... If I were to start pointing fingers, I'd blame myself. I will start with myself."

"Blame, I don't like this term... We are all responsible, NASA and Boeing too. Trust is very important. We are not going to look back and say 'this person or that entity is to be blamed'. We are going to look forward and say 'how do we use the lessons we learned from this whole process and make sure we are successful in future," Mr Wilmore said.

On whether they would go on the Starliner again, he said, "Yes, because we are going to rectify, fix, make it work. Boeing is completely committed. NASA is completely committed."

Ms Williams agreed, pointing at the strengths of the Starliner, which is a complex spacecraft.

"The spacecraft [Starliner] is very capable, but there are things that need to be fixed as Butch mentioned. Folks are actively working on that. It's a great spacecraft with many features that other spacecraft don't have. It's an honour to be a part of this," Ms Williams said.

The NASA Crew-9 astronauts along with Russian cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov splashed down on Earth on Elon Musk's SpaceX's Dragon capsule on March 18.

The White House had highlighted President Donald Trump's role in prioritising their rescue. 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.

Ms Wlliams and Mr Wilmore stayed on for nine months in the ISS after their Boeing Starliner spacecraft malfunctioned, turning a mission that was supposed to be short into a long one.

from NDTV News- Special https://ift.tt/EpMq609

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.

from NDTV News- Special https://ift.tt/lIsO7K3

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.

from NDTV News- Special https://ift.tt/lIsO7K3

"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)

from NDTV News- Special https://ift.tt/4hZ9i5K

"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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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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'Saw NRI Man Hitting Saif Ali Khan': Actor Amrita Ladak On Hotel Brawl Case

Bollywood actor Amrita Arora Ladak on Saturday deposed as a witness before a court here in the case concerning Saif Ali Khan, who was accused of attacking an NRI businessman and his father-in-law at a five-star hotel in 2012.

The actor was part of the group that had gone for dinner with Khan at the hotel when the alleged incident took place on February 22, 2012.

She told the court that the hotel had allotted a separate enclosure to them, and they were dining there and having a good time.

In the meantime, the complainant came there and began shouting and abusing them, she said.

"We saw someone barging into our enclosure and, in a very loud, aggressive voice, told us to shut up and keep quiet. We all got shocked at what was happening," she said, adding that actor Khan immediately stood up and apologised.

The man then left and they continued with their dinner, she said.

After a while, when Khan excused himself to go to the washroom, they heard loud voices, one of them being that of the Bollywood actor, Ladak told the court.

Moments later, they saw the man barging into their enclosure and hitting Khan, Ladak deposed.

Everyone then intervened and separated the two. That's when the man started abusing them and threatening them with "dire consequences", she added.

Khan was with Kareena Kapoor, her sister Karishma, Malaika Arora Khan, Amrita Arora Ladak and a few male friends at the hotel when the brawl broke out with NRI businessman Iqbal Sharma.

According to police, when Sharma protested the raucous chatter of the actor and his friends, Saif allegedly threatened him and subsequently punched Sharma in the nose, fracturing it.

The NRI businessman also accused Saif and his friends of hitting his father-in-law Raman Patel.

However, Saif had maintained that Sharma made provocative statements or rather used abusive language against women with him and this led to the ruckus.

Saif and his two friends - Shakeel Ladak and Bilal Amrohi - have been charge-sheeted under section 325 (assault) of the Indian Penal Code.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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"I'm Drowning In Debt": Man's Post About His Financial Struggle Goes Viral

A student who took an education loan of Rs 40 lakhs to study abroad found himself debt-ridden, struggling to make ends meet, and support an ailing parent. Taking to Reddit, a user named The Tech Phiopsopher shared his struggles in a long emotional post. He revealed that he took a loan of Rs 40 lakh in 2022 to pursue his Master's degree in the US. His father operated a small manufacturing business, and along with his family, they put in everything they had - emotionally and financially - to help him chase the "dream of a better future". 

However, the user said that despite completing his degree, he faced significant challenges in securing employment in the US due to the economic recession, visa restrictions, and limited internship opportunities for Indian students. "I applied relentlessly for a year, but couldn't even earn enough to cover my own living expenses. My family sent me money every month so I could eat - draining their last savings," he shared. 

I took an education loan of ₹40L to study in the US — now I'm back in India, drowning in debt, and don't know what to do
byu/theTechPhilosopher inindia

Eventually, his father's business collapsed, and his father fell ill. "They couldn't support me anymore, and I had to come back to India, heartbroken, jobless, and with a huge loan on my head," the Redditor wrote. 

Then, after months of job searching, he secured a position in India with a monthly salary of Rs 75,000. However, "my EMI is Rs 66,000/month. That leaves me with just Rs 9,000 as personal savings, now the business is running and it can support the family, and handle everything else," he shared. "I'm trying to pick up extra freelance or part-time work, but between my day job and my father's declining health, I'm emotionally and physically drained," the user wrote. 

The OP expressed feeling that his life is consumed by merely surviving this crisis. "We were a modest middle-class family... and now we're on the edge," he said. "I don't know who to turn to anymore. I'm trying to contact the bank for restructuring, applied for side gigs - but nothing has worked so far. That's why I'm here: asking Reddit for advice, guidance, or if anyone knows of individuals, or organizations that help people in situations like this," the user added. 

"If you've been through something similar or know someone who can help - even just to talk - I'd be immensely grateful," he concluded his post. 

Also Read | Employee Laid Off For Refusing To Work Overtime, Viral Post Sparks Work-Life Balance Debate

Since being shared, the post has gone viral. "Try to find freelance work in the weekends and get experience from ur current job and after 1 or 1.5 years switch ur job. Switching job increases ur package so if you are earning 75000 today you will end with higher packages later on. Just don't be disheartened n believe in urslf. Good luck to you," advised one user. 

"Try to find freelance work on the weekends and get experience from your current job and after 1 or 1.5 years, switch your job. Switching jobs increases ur package so if you are earning 75000 today, you will end with higher packages later on. Just don't be disheartened and believe in yourself. Good luck to you," commented another. 

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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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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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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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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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Get Caught, Defecate: Smelly Criminal Finally Lands In Delhi Police's Net

He was wanted for several knife attacks and chain snatchings in North Delhi and had also been caught in the past but managed to give police the slip every time using a smelly method - he would defecate in his pants. But when a patrolling team spotted him on Monday and he tried the same trick again, the cops happened to be prepared and used masks and gloves to catch him and ensure he didn't escape.

Deputy Commissioner of Police Raja Banthia said Deepak, 27, had more than half a dozen cases against him. "This criminal has escaped in this manner many times. As soon as a policeman would catch him, he would immediately activate his filthy plan," Mr Banthia said. 

Deepak, officials said, was involved in several cases of knife attacks and mobile theft in North Delhi's Sadar Bazar area. They said Deepak would defecate in his pants every time he was caught, forcing cops to cover his nose and step away from him. The 27-year-old would use this opportunity to escape. 

On Monday, a patrolling team spotted a man behaving suspiciously in the area and realised it was Deepak. When they caught him, he used his smelly trick again, but the cops had masks and gloves with them. They arrested him and took him to the Sadar Bazar police station. 

"A knife, which Deepak said he calls his 'lucky knife' and keeps on his person at all times, was also recovered. A case has been registered under the Arms Act," said an official.
 

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India, China To Have Issues "For The Foreseeable Future": S Jaishankar

As China and India push to mend ties, strained for nearly half a decade, Foreign Minister S Jaishankar said that "what happened in 2020 was not the way to address issues". The minister's remarks recalled the way China had unilaterally tried to change the status quo along the Line of Actual Control or LAC.

Mr Jaishankar also acknowledged that India and China will continue to have issues in the "foreseeable future", but said that "there are ways of addressing them" without getting into a conflict.

"We know that, between India and China, at least in the foreseeable future, there will be issues, but there are ways of addressing those issues, and what happened in 2020 was not the way," External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said in a conversation with non-profit Asia Society.

The minister was speaking about the way ties between India and China have evolved over the years. After China's unilateral decision to alter the status quo is eastern Ladakh, which led to a military clash followed by a standoff in 2020, ties between the two Asian giants went into a deep freeze for nearly five years.

"We feel that from October, 2024, the relationship has seen some improvement. What we are trying, step by step, is to see if we can rebuild, undo some of the damage which happened as a result of the actions in 2020," Mr Jaishankar said.

China's actions and the subsequent military standoff led to a feeling of betrayal and severe distrust in New Delhi. Anti-China sentiment surged across the nation, impacting everything from people-to-people ties, business and bilateral ties, trade, technology, visas, and even air travel.

It was only in October 2024, after dozens of rounds of talks, both at the diplomatic and military levels, that the two countries reached an agreement - to return to the status quo in place before 2020. It was only on the basis of this understanding that Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the BRICS summit in Russia.

India and Tibet (China) share an over 4,400 km border in two parts known as the Line of Actual Control and the MacMohan Line respectively. The LAC stretches across Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Sikkim, while the MacMohan Line stretches across Arunachal Pradesh.
 

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India, China To Have Issues "For The Foreseeable Future": S Jaishankar

As China and India push to mend ties, strained for nearly half a decade, Foreign Minister S Jaishankar said that "what happened in 2020 was not the way to address issues". The minister's remarks recalled the way China had unilaterally tried to change the status quo along the Line of Actual Control or LAC.

Mr Jaishankar also acknowledged that India and China will continue to have issues in the "foreseeable future", but said that "there are ways of addressing them" without getting into a conflict.

"We know that, between India and China, at least in the foreseeable future, there will be issues, but there are ways of addressing those issues, and what happened in 2020 was not the way," External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said in a conversation with non-profit Asia Society.

The minister was speaking about the way ties between India and China have evolved over the years. After China's unilateral decision to alter the status quo is eastern Ladakh, which led to a military clash followed by a standoff in 2020, ties between the two Asian giants went into a deep freeze for nearly five years.

"We feel that from October, 2024, the relationship has seen some improvement. What we are trying, step by step, is to see if we can rebuild, undo some of the damage which happened as a result of the actions in 2020," Mr Jaishankar said.

China's actions and the subsequent military standoff led to a feeling of betrayal and severe distrust in New Delhi. Anti-China sentiment surged across the nation, impacting everything from people-to-people ties, business and bilateral ties, trade, technology, visas, and even air travel.

It was only in October 2024, after dozens of rounds of talks, both at the diplomatic and military levels, that the two countries reached an agreement - to return to the status quo in place before 2020. It was only on the basis of this understanding that Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the BRICS summit in Russia.

India and Tibet (China) share an over 4,400 km border in two parts known as the Line of Actual Control and the MacMohan Line respectively. The LAC stretches across Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Sikkim, while the MacMohan Line stretches across Arunachal Pradesh.
 

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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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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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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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"Apologise For What Happened On Show, Will Ensure No Recurrence": Samay Raina

Comedian Samay Raina on Monday expressed regret over a series of remarks that were made on his now-deleted web show "India's Got Latent", and promised to be more careful in ensuring that such incidents are not repeated, sources said.

In a statement to the Maharashtra Cyber Cell, Mr Raina, who got into trouble over Podcaster Ranveer Allahbadia's remarks in February that led to a massive furore, "admitted his mistake" and "apologised for whatever happened during the show". 

The comedian also said that "everything happened in a flow during the show and that he did not intend to say what he said", the sources added.

He promised to be more careful and ensure that such incidents are not repeated. 

Besides, the comedian said the entire controversy surrounding his show has taken a toll on his mental well-being. "He said that his Canada tour did not go well. He apologised and said he knew he was wrong," one of the sources said. 

Mr Raina, who recently returned from abroad, appeared before the probe agency at its headquarters in Mhape, where he recorded his statement for over five hours, another source said. The agency had earlier summoned him several times in the case. 

In February, Mr Allahbadia's remarks about parents and sex on the "India's Got Latent" show kicked up a political storm in the Maharashtra political circle, with many calling out for a ban on his podcast. Politicians, including Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and opposition leaders of the state, criticised him for exploiting freedom of speech.

The issue echoed in Parliament where Shiv Sena MP Naresh Mhaske called for a law to regulate social media. Multiple FIRs were filed against Mr Allahbadia, Mr Raina and others linked to the show. They were also summoned by the National Commission for Women (NCW).  

Mr Allahbadia has apologised twice for his remarks and Mr Raina - who deleted his show - earlier this month rescheduled his India comedy tour in the aftermath.

Mr Raina's shows in Gujarat were also reportedly cancelled in February following the outrage.

Last month, the Supreme Court granted interim protection from arrest to Mr Allahbadia while calling his comments "vulgar", and saying he had "dirty mind" which put the society to shame. 

Besides Mr Raina and Mr Allahbadia, YouTuber Ashish Chanchlani and comics Jaspreet Singh and Apoorva Makhija were also charged in cases registered by the Guwahati Police and the Maharashtra Police's Cyber Cell.

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"Apologise For What Happened On Show, Will Ensure No Recurrence": Samay Raina

Comedian Samay Raina on Monday expressed regret over a series of remarks that were made on his now-deleted web show "India's Got Latent", and promised to be more careful in ensuring that such incidents are not repeated, sources said.

In a statement to the Maharashtra Cyber Cell, Mr Raina, who got into trouble over Podcaster Ranveer Allahbadia's remarks in February that led to a massive furore, "admitted his mistake" and "apologised for whatever happened during the show". 

The comedian also said that "everything happened in a flow during the show and that he did not intend to say what he said", the sources added.

He promised to be more careful and ensure that such incidents are not repeated. 

Besides, the comedian said the entire controversy surrounding his show has taken a toll on his mental well-being. "He said that his Canada tour did not go well. He apologised and said he knew he was wrong," one of the sources said. 

Mr Raina, who recently returned from abroad, appeared before the probe agency at its headquarters in Mhape, where he recorded his statement for over five hours, another source said. The agency had earlier summoned him several times in the case. 

In February, Mr Allahbadia's remarks about parents and sex on the "India's Got Latent" show kicked up a political storm in the Maharashtra political circle, with many calling out for a ban on his podcast. Politicians, including Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and opposition leaders of the state, criticised him for exploiting freedom of speech.

The issue echoed in Parliament where Shiv Sena MP Naresh Mhaske called for a law to regulate social media. Multiple FIRs were filed against Mr Allahbadia, Mr Raina and others linked to the show. They were also summoned by the National Commission for Women (NCW).  

Mr Allahbadia has apologised twice for his remarks and Mr Raina - who deleted his show - earlier this month rescheduled his India comedy tour in the aftermath.

Mr Raina's shows in Gujarat were also reportedly cancelled in February following the outrage.

Last month, the Supreme Court granted interim protection from arrest to Mr Allahbadia while calling his comments "vulgar", and saying he had "dirty mind" which put the society to shame. 

Besides Mr Raina and Mr Allahbadia, YouTuber Ashish Chanchlani and comics Jaspreet Singh and Apoorva Makhija were also charged in cases registered by the Guwahati Police and the Maharashtra Police's Cyber Cell.

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Canada PM Calls Snap Election Amid Trade War, Trump's Annexation Threats

Canada's new Prime Minister, Mark Carney, who took over after Justin Trudeau's ouster, has called for snap election in the country on April 28. The ruling Liberal Party of Canada will be up against the main opposition party - the Conservative Party of Canada.

Prime Minister Carney said he has called for a snap election in order to ensure that his country gets a government with a stronger mandate than the Liberal Party currently has. This is important keeping in mind the trade war with neighbouring United States and President Trump's repeated threat to annexe Canada to make it the 51st state of the US - which Canadians outrightly reject.

"I've just requested that the Governor General to dissolve parliament and call an election for April 28. She has agreed," Prime Minister Carney said, referring to King Charles III's representative in Canada, a member of the British Commonwealth.
 

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"Only 2 Students...": CEO Asks Math Question To Job Interview Candidates

Bengaluru-based CEO Ashish Gupta has sparked a heated debate on LinkedIn, highlighting his concerns that Generation Z's social media proficiency may be coming at the cost of essential skills like problem-solving and financial literacy. In his LinkedIn post, "Gen Z Knows Reels, But Not Real Math", Mr Gupta argued that the younger generation's expertise in digital trends may not adequately prepare them to handle real-world challenges.

Mr Gupta shared his experience from a recent campus recruitment drive, where he interacted with over 50 students from various streams, including BBA and BCA. As part of the selection process, he presented a simple mathematics question, typically taught in Class 5. To his astonishment, only two students were able to answer correctly, while the rest of the group struggled to solve it.

The question was: "If a car travels the first 60 km at 30 km/h and the next 60 km at 60 km/h, what is its average speed?"

"Yet, when I asked them how they would market our product, they had tons of ideas about Instagram reels, viral content, and digital trends. This highlights a stark reality—Gen Z is highly skilled in social media but lacks fundamental problem-solving, logical reasoning, and financial literacy. If these trends continue, we may have a generation struggling with personal finance, decision-making, and analytical skills. As educators, employers, and mentors, we must bridge this gap. Critical thinking and basic numeracy are non-negotiable life skills,'' he wrote. 

See the post here:

Mr Gupta's post has ignited a lively online debate, with opinions divided on the issue. While some people agreed with Mr Gupta's concerns about the younger generation's math skills, others said it;s not right to generalise. 

One user wrote, "Sir, you've raised a valid point regarding math skills, however, I would like to understand what this question has to do with you hiring them. Are you hiring them for a sales profile? Then answering this question is irrelevant. If you're hiring a maths tutor, then I can understand your concern. Also, I can assure you this, lot of CEO's themselves cannot answer this question, yet they are where they are. Relevance of skills should be the main criteria, not basic aptitude tests."

Another joked, "Ashish Gupta , That was still tough, next time ask them 100 divided by half." A third said, ''Sir it may even be a problem of that particular cohort of the institute and may not be true for all."

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"Only 2 Students...": CEO Asks Math Question To Job Interview Candidates

Bengaluru-based CEO Ashish Gupta has sparked a heated debate on LinkedIn, highlighting his concerns that Generation Z's social media proficiency may be coming at the cost of essential skills like problem-solving and financial literacy. In his LinkedIn post, "Gen Z Knows Reels, But Not Real Math", Mr Gupta argued that the younger generation's expertise in digital trends may not adequately prepare them to handle real-world challenges.

Mr Gupta shared his experience from a recent campus recruitment drive, where he interacted with over 50 students from various streams, including BBA and BCA. As part of the selection process, he presented a simple mathematics question, typically taught in Class 5. To his astonishment, only two students were able to answer correctly, while the rest of the group struggled to solve it.

The question was: "If a car travels the first 60 km at 30 km/h and the next 60 km at 60 km/h, what is its average speed?"

"Yet, when I asked them how they would market our product, they had tons of ideas about Instagram reels, viral content, and digital trends. This highlights a stark reality—Gen Z is highly skilled in social media but lacks fundamental problem-solving, logical reasoning, and financial literacy. If these trends continue, we may have a generation struggling with personal finance, decision-making, and analytical skills. As educators, employers, and mentors, we must bridge this gap. Critical thinking and basic numeracy are non-negotiable life skills,'' he wrote. 

See the post here:

Mr Gupta's post has ignited a lively online debate, with opinions divided on the issue. While some people agreed with Mr Gupta's concerns about the younger generation's math skills, others said it;s not right to generalise. 

One user wrote, "Sir, you've raised a valid point regarding math skills, however, I would like to understand what this question has to do with you hiring them. Are you hiring them for a sales profile? Then answering this question is irrelevant. If you're hiring a maths tutor, then I can understand your concern. Also, I can assure you this, lot of CEO's themselves cannot answer this question, yet they are where they are. Relevance of skills should be the main criteria, not basic aptitude tests."

Another joked, "Ashish Gupta , That was still tough, next time ask them 100 divided by half." A third said, ''Sir it may even be a problem of that particular cohort of the institute and may not be true for all."

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"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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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.

But why is Kohli shown as a bowler in the graphics? #IPL2025 #ViratKohli pic.twitter.com/ExA8MiVGlz

— ICC Asia Cricket (@ICCAsiaCricket) March 22, 2025

#JioHotstar #KKRvsRCB #RCBvsKKR #IPL2025
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

— Sawan Verma (@sawan28) March 22, 2025

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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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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Donald Trump Says Tesla Vandals Could Serve 20 Years In El Salvador Jail

President Donald Trump has suggested that individuals convicted of vandalising Tesla vehicles and facilities could face up to 20 years in prison and potentially be sent to a notorious prison in El Salvador. This comes after the Justice Department charged three people with using Molotov cocktails to attack Tesla properties, allegedly tied to the #TeslaTakedown movement.

Some have even posted stickers on their Tesla vehicles that read, "I bought it before Elon went nuts."

Seen today, waiting next to us at a red light ...

"I bought this before Elon went crazy" pic.twitter.com/mF3fkaY93p

— TheBossRoss 🇪🇺 🧶 ❄ 📷 6x💉 (@BettinaSRoss1) February 25, 2025

Trump has been a vocal supporter of Elon Musk and Tesla, even going so far as to promote the company and encourage investment in its stock. Tesla has seen a 50 per cent dip in the stock market since last year. Trump even purchased a new vehicle from the brand and said he would show the same support to any other American company or corporation. 

However, Musk's involvement in the Department of Government Efficiency's (DOGE) efforts to overhaul the federal government has sparked controversy, and many have questioned potential conflicts of interest.

The recent attacks on Tesla vehicles and facilities have been designated as "domestic terrorism" and have caused widespread concern. Attorney General Pam Bondi confirmed that at least three individuals are facing federal charges for their alleged involvement in the attacks.

Trump took to Truth Social to issue a stark warning to those responsible for the attacks, stating, "I look forward to watching the sick terrorist thugs get 20 year jail sentences for what they are doing to Elon Musk and Tesla. Perhaps they could serve them in the prisons of El Salvador, which have become so recently famous for such lovely conditions!"

In a separate post, he wrote, "WE ARE LOOKING FOR YOU!!!"

The U.S. recently struck a deal with the government of El Salvador to ship deported migrants to the country, where many are being confined in the controversial CECOT anti-terrorism prison. Human Rights Watch has alleged widespread abuses at the facility, including a lack of access to food and health care.

Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) has signaled that Congress will investigate the attacks against Tesla vehicles and their owners, and has touted Musk's DOGE cuts as "heroic" and has even gone far enough to say that Democrats are behind these incidents.
 

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Upset Over Salary Cut, Driver Started Bus Fire That Killed 4 In Pune: Cops

The fire on a private firm's minibus that killed four employees near Pune was allegedly an act of sabotage by a vengeful driver who had a dispute with some staffers and was also upset over a pay cut, police said on Thursday.

"Investigation revealed that the fire was not an accident but sabotage," deputy commissioner of police Vishal Gaikwad of Pimpri Chinchwad Police told PTI.

Janardan Hambardekar, the accused driver, had a dispute with some of the employees and wanted to take revenge, the official said. The driver was also disgruntled due to a salary cut, he said.

The employees against whom he held a grudge were not among the four who died, the DCP said.

The incident took place in the Hinjawadi area near Pune city on Wednesday morning as the bus, owned by Vyoma Graphics and carrying 14 of its employees to the workplace, caught fire.

"The accused had procured benzene (a highly inflammable chemical). He had also kept a cloth used to wipe toners in the bus. On Thursday, as the bus neared Hinjawadi, he lit a match and set the cloth on fire," said the DCP.

The accused jumped off the moving bus, which then continued about a hundred metres before coming to a halt, the official said. Hambardekar had already suffered burns before he got out, as per the probe.

The driver was undergoing treatment at a hospital and will be arrested later, the police official said.

Four of the employees - Shankar Shinde (63), Rajan Chavan (42), Gurudas Lokare (45) and Subhash Bhosale (44) - died as they were sitting in the rear and could not open the emergency exit door in time. Besides, six passengers sustained burn injuries.

Further probe was on, the DCP added.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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National Anthem Plays, Nitish Kumar Talks, Laughs, Fidgets At Sports Meet

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar came under opposition attack again after he was caught on camera laughing and talking during the national anthem at a sports event in Patna today. His former deputy Tejashwi Yadav, who has pulled no punches after the Chief Minister ditched his Rashtriya Janata Dal twice, accused him of insulting the state and the nation.

At an event today, Nitish Kumar was caught on camera laughing and talking to IAS officer and Chief Minister's Principal Secretary Deepak Kumar, who stood ramrod straight next to him on the dais. 

He was seen tapping the officer on his shoulder and trying to get his attention. At one point, all smiles, folded his palms in a namaskar at someone in the audience.

Deepak Kumar was seen pulling at the Chief Minister's sleeves to get him to stay still. 

As the video went viral, the opposition lost no time to flood social media with criticism. 

कम से कम कृपया राष्ट्र गान का तो अपमान मत करिए मा॰ मुख्यमंत्री जी।

युवा, छात्र, महिला और बुजुर्गों को तो आप प्रतिदिन अपमानित करते ही है।

कभी महात्मा गांधी जी के शहादत दिवस पर ताली बजा उनकी शहादत का मखौल उड़ाते है तो कभी राष्ट्रगान का!

PS: आपको याद दिला दें कि आप एक बड़े प्रदेश... pic.twitter.com/rFDXcGxRdV

— Tejashwi Yadav (@yadavtejashwi) March 20, 2025

"At least please do not insult the national anthem, Hon'ble Chief Minister. You insult youth, students, women and elderly people every day. Sometimes you clap on Mahatma Gandhi's martyrdom day and mock his martyrdom, and sometimes you clap on the national anthem!" read a post by Mr Yadav on X, formerly Twitter. 

"PS: Let me remind you that you are the Chief Minister of a big state. You are not mentally and physically stable even for a few seconds and your being in this position in such an unconscious state is a matter of great concern for the state. Do not insult Bihar like this again and again," he added.

Mr Yadav's father Lalu Yadav also posted the video on X. The caption read, "India will not tolerate insult to the national anthem. People of Bihar, is there anything left now?"

राष्ट्रगान का अपमान
नहीं सहेगा हिंदुस्तान।

बिहारवासियों, अब भी कुछ बचा है? pic.twitter.com/tz3MMgIOAl

— Lalu Prasad Yadav (@laluprasadrjd) March 20, 2025

Mr Kumar and his party are yet to respond on the matter. Sources in Mr Kumar's Janata Dal United indicated that to avert a possible row in the state assembly over this, the Chief Minister can tender an unconditional apology tomorrow.

Union minister Jitan Ram Manjhi, Nitish Kumar's ally in the NDA, has hit back.

बिहार सहित देश का अपमान करने वाले लोग बिहार के माननीय मुख्यमंत्री नीतीश कुमार जी पर सवाल उठा रहें हैं।
वैसे लोगों को मैं बता दूँ कि लालू जी एंड कंपनी ने हमारे “बिहार” राज्य के नाम को गाली बना दिया था पर नीतीश कुमार जी ही हैं जिन्होंने बिहार को अंतरराष्ट्रीय मंच पर सम्मान दिलाया।…

— Jitan Ram Manjhi (@jitanrmanjhi) March 20, 2025

"People who are insulting the country including Bihar are raising questions on the Honorable Chief Minister of Bihar, Nitish Kumar," read his post on X. 

"I would like to tell such people that Lalu Ji and Company had made the name of our state "Bihar" an abuse but it is Nitish Kumar Ji who gave respect to Bihar on the international platform. On one hand, people of Bihar shudder at the memory of Laluji's rule, on the other hand, Nitish Kumar was Bihar's favourite yesterday, is so today and will remain so in the future too. Nitish Kumar is the honour of Bihar," he added.

This is not the first faux pas by the Chief Minister on a solemn occasion. On January 30 this year, he was caught clapping after paying floral tributes to Mahatma Gandhi on his death anniversary.
 

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