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Monday, June 30, 2025

'Anti-Ageing Regime Is Fine, But Know Where To Stop': Khushbu Sundar

Actor Khushbu Sundar has pointed at 'fear of missing out' or FOMO as one of the key contributing factors that adds immense strain on the lives of young people and those in the entertainment industry to stay in top shape externally, and in the process fall prey to anxiety, panic attack, depression and a host of other serious health issues.

She said there are two kinds of pressures that people in the entertainment industry face - from within, and from outside.

When people expect you to look a certain way, present yourself in a certain way, whether it's your makeup or clothes, when they expect you to have a designer, a stylist, etc that's what can be called pressures from within the industry, Mr Sundar told NDTV.

"But more than that, I think the pressures are more from the outside world. In today's times, when we talk about social media, this is where the pressure comes from," she said. "... If you're not properly dressed, if one hair is out of place, if your mascara is running down, if you're not wearing your lipstick, then I think the pressure builds up that you don't know how to handle yourself."

"All these are on social media. People in the entertainment industry read the comments and that is where the pressure mounts. So more than the pressure from within the industry, I think the pressure from outside the industry, from the so-called social media platforms, are what amount to anxiety and panic attacks, and depression, and the new term they have got called FOMO, fear of missing out," Ms Sundar, who saw early success as a child artist in Bollywood, told NDTV.

Her comments come amid the discussions on the death of model-actor Shefali Jariwala. While the exact cause of death is yet to be confirmed, findings from the initial medical examination suggested that self-medication and unsupervised anti-ageing treatments, specifically glutathione and vitamin C, may have triggered the cardiac arrest.

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Ms Sundar said there was no social media and hence, no pressures of the kind that comes from outside when she was in the industry doing lead roles, and real fans would accept actors as they were.

"... We would just wear a salwar or jeans and a kurta and walk out. Nobody would even bother. And the real fans would be there accepting us as we are. But I have seen these pressures on social platforms about body shaming, about the way they looked at my girls when they were growing up," Ms Sundar said, referring to her two daughters and her parenting experience in the age of social media.

"I saw the kind of pressure, comments and the way people reacted, so I came out of Facebook and told my girls that they were never going back to Facebook. Neither they nor I have been on Facebook since then. But on Instagram... I saw how my girls were ridiculed when they were growing up. They were big girls, taller than their age, tallest in their class... And probably to me, being a mother, it didn't bother me. But then I have seen the kind of pressure my girls went through," Ms Sundar said.

"It was very difficult to make a child understand in their growing up times. But fortunately for me, I was able to handle that and make my children understand that the people who comment, who have these, you know, ideas of being judgmental about the way they look, they're nobody to you. They're absolute strangers. They don't have a face. They don't have a name. You don't know them and you don't have to worry about them. And I was able to put that in my kids' minds. And they're absolutely fine today. They understand how to take the pressure.

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"I still don't have a designer. I still don't have a makeup artist. I still don't have somebody who is going to style me when I'm walking into an event or a wedding. I do it by myself and I'm very, very comfortable by myself. I think when you start feeling that I'm going to lose out in this so-called societal pressure or the way I have to present myself, when you're not ready to accept the realities of life, I think this is where the problem starts," Ms Sundar told NDTV.

She respectfully refrained from commenting on the death of model-actor Shefali Jariwala, and also did acknowledge that people taking an anti-ageing regimen is absolutely fine.

"If somebody is happy doing that, there's nothing wrong with it. You know where to stop. That's one thing which you have to learn. You should know where to stop. There are certain things which you start once and it never ends. And that is the fear which I always have. People keep telling me that, oh, you need to get this done. You need to do that. Get that done. I'm saying, let me age gracefully. I have my laugh lines. I have my jowls. I have my crow feet. I'm fine. But if I have to, if I want my skin to glow, if I'm going through a facial, there's nothing wrong with it.

"I go to my skin clinic very regularly, get my regular facials done to see if there are any large pores which need to be treated because all this happens with age. But you should know where to stop. You cannot be totally into that and say that I need a magic wand in my hand and I want to be like a 20 year old at this age. No, you can't be. You have to accept it. You have to learn to accept it," Ms Sundar said.

She suggested going for a regular master health checkup, especially women, and not to focus only on the external but internal too. "This is what most girls miss because they think only appearance is what counts. What is within does not."



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India Nears Starlink Rollout as SpaceX Clears Regulatory Hurdles

India is on the cusp of a major leap in digital connectivity as SpaceX's Starlink satellite internet service inches closer to operational status in the country. 

In an exclusive conversation, Dr Pawan Goenka, Chairman of the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Center (IN-SPACe), which is India's space regulator, confirmed that most of the regulatory and licensing requirements for Starlink have been addressed. 

The final approvals are expected to be wrapped up in the coming days.

The meeting between Dr Goenka and Gwynne Shotwell, who is President & COO of SpaceX, held during the latter's recent visit to India, focused on resolving outstanding issues related to authorisations. 

While the groundwork is nearly complete, Dr Goenka emphasised that several technical and procedural steps remain before the service can be launched. "Even after authorisation, it will take a few months for the service to become operational," he noted.

Starlink is one of three major players preparing to offer satellite-based broadband services in India. Alongside OneWeb and SES, Starlink aims to bridge the digital divide by delivering high-speed internet to underserved and remote regions, including rural villages and mountainous terrain. 

Dr Goenka expressed optimism that the combined efforts of these providers will significantly enhance internet accessibility across the country.

The potential impact of satellite internet in India is substantial. With traditional broadband infrastructure often struggling to reach remote areas, satellite connectivity offers a scalable and efficient alternative. The government's push for digital inclusion aligns with these developments, and IN-SPACe is playing a pivotal role in facilitating private sector participation in the space ecosystem.

This development also comes at a time when India's space sector is witnessing rapid growth and international collaboration. The entry of global players like SpaceX into the Indian market underscores the country's strategic importance in the global space economy.

While the rollout of Starlink in India is not immediate, the regulatory progress marks a significant milestone. As the final steps unfold, the promise of satellite-based internet bringing connectivity to the farthest corners of India appears closer than ever. 

Dr Goenka's remarks reflect a broader vision of inclusive digital growth, powered by space-based technologies and international cooperation.



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BJP Gets New State Chiefs, Moves Closer To Elect New National President

The BJP on Monday moved towards rolling out the exercise to have a new national president as the party elected chiefs in some states and is set to announce more on Tuesday that will put the requisite number of state heads at the helm for it to pick the replacement of J P Nadda.

The BJP's constitution requires the election of its presidents in at least 19 out of its 37 organisational states before the process to elect its national president begins, and the ruling party is set to cross the threshold on Tuesday.

V P Ramalingam and K Beichhua were elected BJP presidents of Puducherry and Mizoram respectively on Monday, while single nomination for the post was filed in states like Maharashtra, Uttarakhand, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, making their election a mere formality on Tuesday.

The BJP has now new state presidents, including some who were reelected, in 16 states, a figure that will rise on Tuesday. Some big states like Karnataka and Madhya Pradesh may also follow in the next few days.

The BJP has picked seasoned organisational men but with low public profile in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh in Ramchander Rao and P V N Madhav respectively.

Maharashtra BJP working president and four-term MLA Ravindra Chavan is set to be elected president in place of Chandrashekhar Bawankule, a Cabinet minister in the BJP-led government in the state, while incumbent Uttarakhand president and Rajya Sabha MP Mahendra Bhatt is set to begin a new term.

The development has brightened the prospect for the BJP to elect its new national president to replace Mr Nadda, a Cabinet minister in the Modi government, in July.

Rao's choice, however, triggered a furious reaction from fiery Hindutva leader and MLA T Raja Singh, who resigned from the BJP. The elevation of Rao, a relatively low profile in the Telangana organisation riven with factionalism, is being seen as a balancing act and also a reward to old organisation hands.

The BJP's decision to replace its Lok Sabha MP Daggubati Purandeswari as its Andhra president with a seasoned organisation man is driven by its leadership's wish to build the organisation in a state where it is an ally of the ruling TDP but remains a minor electoral player.

Purandeswari, the daughter of towering Andhra leader N T Rama Rao and sister-in-law of Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, enjoys a certain stature due to her family background and long stint in politics during which she served as a Union minister in the UPA government when she was in the Congress.

However, BJP sources said a thorough organisation leader like Madhav can be more helpful in building its organisation.

While Rao is a Brahmin, Madhav is from the Backward Classes, giving the party a toe hold in a community outside the ones that form the bulwark of all major political players in the state.

In Uttarakhand, the party, having made a Thakur leader in Pushkar Singh Dhami as the chief minister, has opted for a Brahmin face in Bhatt as its president. Chavan is a Maratha, a powerful community in Maharashtra.

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



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Sunday, June 29, 2025

Doctors Reveal Why 8-Year-Old In China Vomited Live Worms For A Month

Doctors in China treated an eight-year-old girl from Yangzhou City in Jiangsu province, who had been throwing up live worms for around a month, South China Morning Post (SCMP) reported. The doctors found that the cause of her illness was linked to something so common in a household - drain flies, also known as moth flies.

The girl's symptoms included vomiting live larvae, approximately 1 centimetre long, indicating a severe infestation. Her family members were fine, suggesting the infection was not contagious.

Read More | Employee's Leave Application To Head To Mountains Wins Internet, Boss Says, "Made My Week"

She saw many doctors, but initially, they were unable to identify the cause. A doctor at the Children's Hospital of Soochow University in Jiangsu suggested sending the samples to the local Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, where a staff member recognised the worm.

The moth flies are small insects with distinctive heart-shaped wings. They thrive in environments rich in organic matter, such as clogged drains.

As quoted in the report, Xu Yuhui, who is a department chief at the Yangzhou Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, explained that the drain flies' larvae had contaminated the running underground water.

Read More | "Severely Dehydrated" Newborn Baby Found Beside Dead Mother In Phoenix, Rescued

"When the child brushes her teeth or flushes the toilet, the worms might enter her system through splashes of water," Xu said.

The report mentioned that the flies do not send diseases via the blood, but they can still cause problems. If left untreated, parasitic infections can lead to more severe health issues, including intestinal blockages, anaemia and malnutrition. Such infestations can be tackled through a combination of good hygiene practices.

Preventing such infestations involves maintaining good hygiene practices, such as proper drainage, regular cleaning and good hygiene.



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"Break Their Legs": Odisha Cop's Order Viral. "Out Of Context," He Says

A senior police officer's very specific instruction to police personnel guarding a barbed wire barricade outside Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi's house during a protest by Congress party workers has gone viral on social media.

The Congress workers came to protest against what they called crowd mismanagement and negligence after three people were killed and 50 were injured in a stampede in Puri on Sunday.

The incident happened near Puri's Shree Gundicha temple during a ceremony linked to the ongoing Rath Yatra festival.

A large police force was posted outside the chief minister's house in anticipation of the protest by the Congress workers.

One of the officers who oversaw the deployment was Bhubaneswar Additional Commissioner of Police (ACP) Narasingha Bhol.

In the video that went viral, Mr Bhol walked to the last barricade among a row of barricades and gave instructions to police personnel standing there.

His index finger pointing towards a circular barbed wire that went in a loop around the barricade, the ACP said, "If anybody reaches here, break their leg. Don't catch them, just break their legs. We are standing there [some distance away] to catch them. Whoever breaks a leg, come to me and take a reward."

"Yes, sir, yes, sir," the policemen behind the last barricade responded to the instruction given by the Indian Police Service (IPS) officer.

After the video went viral on social media, Mr Bhol told NDTV on phone that his comment was taken out of context.

"There is a place, time and context in everything. Where was it happening, when was it happening... If you see the video, I told the personnel that 'we are there to arrest them'," Mr Bhol said, referring to a spot some distance away from the barricade. "Before reaching the spot where I was standing, there were two barricades. The order was to detain unruly protesters at the first barricade itself. However, if somebody breached the two barricades and went beyond them, then that person has already broken the law. He is part of an unlawful assembly."

The police officer added, "We are free to apply maximum force to stop unlawful assembly."

The Odisha government has launched an administrative investigation into the Puri stampede. State Law Minister Prithiviraj Harichandan said Development Commissioner Anu Garg will submit a report to the chief minister within 30 days.

"The state government will take stern action against those responsible for the tragic incident," the law minister said.

Puri's Chief District Medical Officer Kishore Satapathy told news agency PTI that all injured people were discharged from a government health facility by 8 pm on Sunday.

With inputs from Dev Kumar



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"Like Absolute Butter": Trump On How US Struck Iran's Fordow Nuclear Site

Bombs dropped by American B-2 Stealth Fighter aircraft went through Iran's heavily-guarded Fordow nuclear facility "like butter", US President Donald Trump said.

Speaking to Fox News, Trump said, "They were trying to seal up the entrance to where the bomb would most likely go in and they did that. They were working on that and the bomb went through it like it was butter, like it was absolute butter."

He added that the June 22 strikes, called Operation Midnight Hammer, on Iran's three nuclear facilities - Fordow, Natanz and Ifsahan - "obliterated" the country's nuclear program. Fordow was known as the country's most secretive and heavily protected site, hidden beneath a mountain and designed to resist airstrikes and foreign interference.

Trump said that the bunker-buster bomb strikes reduced Fordow to "just thousands of tons of rock". He went on to insist that highly-enriched uranium was not moved from the site before the attack, a claim made by Israeli officials to The New York Times.

"I think first it was very hard to do. It's very dangerous to do. It's very heavy, very, very heavy. It's a very hard thing to do. Plus, we didn't give much notice because they didn't know we were coming until just then," he said.

Operation Midnight Hammer came as the Iran-Israel conflict continued to escalate, with the two countries continuing strikes against each other since June 13. The US claimed it had given Tehran an ultimatum to stop enriching uranium, the failure of which led to the strikes, that used high-end weaponry, including the dreaded GBU-57 bunker busters and Tomahawk cruise missiles.

While Trump said a day after that Tehran's nuclear program has been set back by decades, UN nuclear watchdog chief Rafael Grossi says Iran likely will be able to begin to produce enriched uranium "in a matter of months".

In Fox News' "Sunday Morning Futures" program, Trump also said US trade talks with Canada will be stopped "until such time as they drop certain taxes".

He went on to say that a group of buyers had been found for TikTok, which faces a looming ban in the United States due to its China ties, adding he could name the purchasers in two weeks. "Very wealthy people. It's a group of wealthy people," the president said, without revealing more except to say he would make their identities known "in about two weeks."



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Saturday, June 28, 2025

Shefali Jariwala Laid To Rest At Mumbai's Oshiwara Crematorium

Shefali Jariwala has been laid to rest at Mumbai's Oshiwara Crematorium. Her father, brother, and husband performed her last rites as per Hindu traditions.

For the unversed, this is the same place where Sidharth Shukla's final rites took place back in 2021. Shefali and Sidharth were seen together in the thirteenth season of the reality show Bigg Boss.

Instagram/Viral Bhayani

Instagram/Viral Bhayani

Shefali and Hindustani Bhau had formed a close bond during their time in the Bigg Boss house. In fact, she even used to tie rakhi to him.

Earlier, when Hindustani Bhau visited the RN Cooper Municipal General Hospital where Shefali was taken post her demise, he addressed the media saying, “She was like my family. More than a sister, she was my child".

A lot of members from the fraternity were present at the funeral to pay their last respects.

Shefali passed away on the night of June 27 after suffering a cardiac arrest. Official confirmation to be out with postmortem reports.

When her husband took her to the hospital, she was declared dead on arrival by the doctors.

Meanwhile, the Maharashtra Minister of State for Home Affairs, Yogesh Kadam assured a thorough investigation into the sudden death of the 42-year-old actress.

Speaking to IANS, he shared, “The police have gathered information, and the investigation is ongoing. If there is any foul play or if any complaint is received, we will definitely examine that angle and conduct a thorough inquiry. We cannot speculate at this stage, but if there is any doubt, action will be taken.”

Additionally, police have also recorded the statements of eight people in the matter including statements of the family members, servants and the doctor at Bellevue Hospital.

While the initial reports suggest that Shefali might have suffered a heart attack, the official cause of death is yet to be shared by the doctors who performed the postmortem.



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Amid Sardaar Ji 3 Row, Diljit Dosanjh's Film Goes Housefull In Pakistan

Diljit Dosanjh's Sardaar Ji 3 hit the cinema screens worldwide on Friday, June 27, 2025. Despite skipping a theatrical release in India due to backlash towards the casting of Pakistani actor Hania Aamir, the film has found success in Pakistan. The horror comedy has reportedly gone housefull in Pakistani cinemas, showcasing Diljit's enduring popularity across borders.

Pakistan-based movie theater Cinegold Plex shared glimpses of Sardaar Ji 3's sold-out shows in its Instagram Story. The collage of two images showed the audience enjoying the film in theaters. The side note read, "Sardaar Ji 3 is Housefull!" They also tagged Hania Aamir in their post.

Have a look here:

X/Cinegold_plex

X/Cinegold_plex

Earlier this week, Cinegold Plex dropped a post on Instagram announcing Sardaar Ji 3's theatrical release in Pakistan.

Sharing the film's poster, they wrote, "The wait is over… Sardaar Ji is back! Sardaar Ji 3 hits the big screen on June 27 with double the comedy, drama, and desi madness! Ready for a full on Punjabi entertainer? Catch it first at Cinegold Plex. Book your tickets now!" 

Punjabi singer-actor Diljit Dosanjh is under fire for sharing screen space with Pakistani actor Hania Aamir in Sardaar Ji 3. The film recently had an International release, skipping screenings in India in the wake of the diplomatic and military tensions between India and Pakistan following the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22, 2025.

The Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE) had urged the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) to deny certification to the film. As a result, the makers decided to skip the film's theatrical release in India altogether.

Diljit Dosanjh also reacted to the controversy in an interview with BBC Asian Network.

The actor said, "When this film was made, everything was fine. We shot it in February and things were okay back then. After that, a lot of big things happened that were beyond our control. So the producers decided that the film obviously won't be released in India now, so they'll release it overseas. The producers have invested a lot of money, and when the film was being made, nothing like this was happening."

He added, "They know there will be a loss because you're removing an entire territory. Even when I signed the film, everything was fine. Now the situation is not in our hands. So if the producers want to release it abroad, I support them."

Sardaar Ji 3 features Hania Aamir as a ghost hunter alongside Diljit Dosanjh, who is tasked with exorcising a spirit from a UK mansion. The film features a mix of action and comedy and also features Neeru Bajwa in a key role. 



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"Anti-Ageing Medicines Could Be A Major Reason For Shefali's Death": Source

Actor and model Shefali Jariwala died late Friday, and her last rites were performed in Mumbai on Saturday evening, with close family members and friends in attendance. Several key details have emerged in the ongoing investigation into the sudden death of actress Shefali Jariwala. 

According to sources, police have gathered important information based on witness statements, seized evidence and preliminary forensic inputs.

"Shefali was regularly consuming anti-ageing medicines for the last seven-eight years. There was a puja at home on June 27, due to which Shefali was fasting. Despite this, she took an injection of anti-ageing medicine in the afternoon of the same day. These medicines were advised to her by a doctor years ago, and since then she has been taking this treatment every month. So far in the police investigation, it has come to light that these medicines could be a major reason for cardiac arrest," the source told NDTV.

The timeline of events suggests that Shefali's health deteriorated between 10 and 11 PM on June 27.

The source added, "Between 10 and 11 pm, Shefali's health suddenly deteriorated. The body started trembling and she fell unconscious. She was immediately taken to the hospital. At that time, Shefali, her husband Parag, mother and some other people were present at home."

The forensic team has collected various items from the residence as part of the probe.

They continued, "The forensic team has seized a variety of medicines from the house, including anti-ageing vials, vitamin supplements and gastric pills."

As part of the ongoing investigation, statements from multiple people have been recorded.

"So far, the police have recorded the statements of 8 people in this case, including family members, domestic servants and doctors from Bellevue Hospital. The investigation has not found any signs of dispute or quarrel so far. The police and forensic team will now take further action based on the postmortem report and lab tests of the medicines," the source concluded.

The official cause of death is still awaited, and further action will depend on the postmortem findings and chemical analysis of the seized substances.

Shefali Jariwala reportedly suffered a cardiac arrest at her Mumbai residence late Friday. Parag Tyagi rushed her to the hospital, where doctors declared her dead on arrival.

Visuals from outside the hospital showed Parag in tears. The family has not released an official statement yet.

Shefali first rose to fame with the 2002 music video Kaanta Laga, which became a massive hit. She later appeared in the film Mujhse Shaadi Karogi, alongside Akshay Kumar and Salman Khan. 

In later years, she transitioned to television, participating in the dance reality show Nach Baliye with her husband Parag Tyagi, and later entering the Bigg Boss 13 house.



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'Shielding Criminals?' Trinamool Raps MP Over Rape Remark, He Claps Back

The Trinamool Congress, facing a relentless attack from the BJP over the links of the main accused in the Kolkata law student rape case to its student wing, found itself sinking deeper into a quagmire on Saturday after one of its own MPs decided to train his guns on the party and asked whether it was supporting leaders who are shielding criminals. 

Barely had the Trinamool Congress begun recovering after distancing itself from Monojit Mishra, the main accused in Wednesday's rape of the student at the South Calcutta Law College, when its MP Kalyan Banerjee's comments gave the opposition ammunition to launch a renewed offensive against it on Saturday. 

The party censured him, but Mr Banerjee decided not to back down and go on the warpath instead.

In remarks seen as an attempt to downplay the seriousness of the crime and deflect accountability, Mr Banerjee had said, "What can be done if a friend rapes his friend? Will the police be in schools? This was done by students to another student. Who will protect her (the survivor)? Who does all this criminality and molestation? Some men do it. So, who should women fight against? Women should fight against these perverted men," he said on Saturday.  
 
"I am saying the same thing again and again. Whoever has done it must be arrested immediately. But if a friend rapes a friend, how can that be corruption? The condition of safety and security is the same everywhere.  As long as the mindset of men remains this way, these incidents will keep occurring," he added.

MLA Madan Mitra deepened the wound when he appeared to blame the survivor herself.

"If the girl had not gone there, this incident would not have happened. If she had told someone where she was going, taken a couple of friends with her, it would not have happened. The people who committed the crime took advantage of the situation," Mr Mitra said. 

Facing backlash, the Trinamool Congress condemned both the MP and MLA's remarks and attempted to distance itself from them.

"The remarks made by MP Kalyan Banerjee and MLA Madan Mitra concerning the heinous crime at South Calcutta Law College were made in their personal capacities. The party unequivocally disassociates itself from their statements and strongly condemns the same. These views do not reflect the position of the party in any manner whatsoever," the party said in a statement. 

"Our stance remains resolute; we have zero tolerance for crimes against women and demand the strictest possible punishment for all those involved in this heinous crime," it added. 

Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra also shared the statement on X and said that while misogyny cuts across party lines, what makes the Trinamool Congress different is that it condemns "disgusting comments no matter who makes them".

Guns Blazing

Mr Banerjee responded on Saturday evening and, mincing no words, hit out at his own party, appearing to accuse it of backing leaders who shield criminals. 

"I completely disagree with the post made by @AITCofficial  on X. Are they indirectly supporting the leaders who are shielding these criminals? Mere academic statements won't bring any real change unless immediate action is taken against those leaders directly responsible. What's even more unfortunate is that some of the leaders who emerged after 2011 are themselves under question in such crimes," the MP wrote on X.

Mr Banerjee also said some in the party lacked the "moral and intellectual alignment" to understand what he had said.

"I also wish to clearly distance myself from those who are encouraging or protecting these criminals. To truly understand the intent behind my words and statements, a certain level of moral and intellectual alignment is required - which, unfortunately, seems to be missing," he sneered. 



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Friday, June 27, 2025

"Difficult Country": Trump Calls Off Trade Talks With Canada

US President Donald Trump said on Friday that he is calling off trade negotiations with Canada immediately, citing its digital services tax and adding that Ottawa will learn of their tariff rate within a week.

"Based on this egregious Tax, we are hereby terminating ALL discussions on Trade with Canada, effective immediately," Trump said in a post on his Truth Social platform.

(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)



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Indian Man Seeks Reddit's Advice After Failing To Find US Job Post-Master's

An Indian man recently turned to Reddit for advice after struggling to find a job in the US post-Master's, and is now considering returning to India. In his post, titled "Not able to get a job in USA and flying back to India," the user, who goes by the handle @Belly_fat_, shared that he spent over three years working in India before taking a sabbatical in 2023 to pursue a Master's degree in the US. "I completed my degree in 1.5 years, and have been job hunting for the past 6 months-but haven't had any success due to the tough market," he wrote. 

Now, with a saturated job market and visa constraints, the user said he is considering returning to India and rejoining his former employer. However, he said that even that option seems uncertain. "The new bench policy-where employees on bench for more than 35 days may be let go-has made me anxious. With the current high bench count, I'm worried I might not get a project in time, and risk losing that job too," he said. 

Not able to get a job in USA and flying back to India
byu/Belly_fat_ indevelopersIndia

Concluding his post, the Redditor wrote, "It feels like I might end up losing both-my US dream and my position at (the) company. I'm really confused and would appreciate any guidance or suggestions."

The post has gone viral. In the comments section, while some users shared that they are facing challenges, others offered advice.

"I'm a UCLA grad and am jobless as well man. Completely relate," wrote one user. 

"Understand your point. Same here, had a verbal offer rescinded. Interviewed for top tech firms only to be blown away by the sheer level of questions being asked now," said another.  

"Man! Im trying to find job in Canada as well its been 1 year since I've got my work permit. I'm afraid now after reading your post," shared a third user. 

Also Read | IIM Alumnus Posts About Cardiac Scare, Redditors Slam Him For "Hospital Selfie"

Offering advice, another said, "Take any project that comes your way instead of thinking, 'I have a US degree and this work is beneath me.'" Another echoed the sentiment: "Second this. You do it by taking less than Market Price and improve your portfolio."

"Stay in the U.S dude, just hang in there a little while longer," suggested one user. 

"It's only 6 months. If you don't have much financial issue. Try until you can legally. Just don't overstay," commented another. 



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Thursday, June 26, 2025

Developed Or Upper-Middle Income? Top Economist Visualises India At 2047

The goal of making India a developed country by 2047, is "plausible" if the economy stays to the current growth rate of 6 per cent, economist Martin Wolf told NDTV in an exclusive interview today. If the growth rate goes slightly higher, the climb might be easier, he said. "I have always felt India could grow at 8 per cent a year. And if that happened, you would definitely become developed".

But even with maintaining the current growth rate - which would involve pushing skilling of young workers, expanding education and increasing participation of women in the work force -- it is an achievable goal, said the chief economics commentator for Financial Times, London, who received the Commander of the British Empire award in 2000 "for services to financial journalism". 

But there is a caveat. During his ongoing visit in Delhi, Mr Wolf said staying on an even course might not push India into a textbook definition of "developed" but it would still be very well off and "sophisticated".  

The definition of a "developed country", he said, varies. "In my definitions, that wouldn't really make India a developed nation. But that's a matter of division," he added.

But it would still be "an upper-middle-income country... a considerably bigger economy and more sophisticated than today. So does it matter, it wouldn't be precisely a developed country as I define it?" he added. 

"I expect it to be very clearly the third-largest economy in the world and a great power. That should happen, simply the combination of numbers with growth continuing at about the average, which is very much consistent of 6 per cent a year or so, which India has had over the last three decades," Mr Wolf said. 



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Gurugram Man Falls Asleep While Driving, Rams Law Student, Arrested

A Gurugram-based civil engineer was arrested for ramming into two men, including a law student, after he fell asleep while behind the wheel. The law student died in the accident, while his friend was critically injured.

The incident, a CCTV video of which has gone viral, occurred on June 24 when the student Harsh and his friend Moksh had reached the Chanchal Dhaba, situated along the Delhi-Jaipur highway, by motorcycle at 3 am.

"The dhaba was crowded, so we were waiting for our turn. Meanwhile, Harsh met an old friend Abhishek, and they stood near the service lane's railing to chat," said Moksh.

The speeding Skoda car ran into Harsh and Abhishek, who were thrown 10 meters away by the impact. While some people chased the car, the driver sped away.

Harsh and Abhishek were rushed to the hospital, where the former was declared dead and the latter was treated for serious injuries.

The police scanned CCTV footage of the area to find the driver, who was later identified as a 31-year-old Mohit, who works as a civil engineer in a private company. Gurugram Police spokesperson Sandeep said that during Mohit's interrogation, it came to light that Mohit was returning from work and had fallen asleep while driving, which led to the accident.

The incident comes days after a man from Noida died allegedly after the driver of the cab he had booked fell asleep and the car rammed a stationary tempo. Rakesh Arora, 59, was heading to the airport to catch a flight to Bengaluru for a business meeting when the accident occurred.



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Out To Party, Bengaluru Woman Falls From 13th Floor Of Building

A young woman, out to party with friends, fell to her death from the 13th floor of an under-construction building in Bengaluru. 

Officials said the woman had gone to the building, under the jurisdiction of Parappana Agrahara police station, with a group of friends on Wednesday night. "They were partying and the woman fell into a shaft, where a lift was supposed to be installed in the future," an official said. 

While some reports suggested that she was shooting a reel, the official said no such recording was recovered from her phone.

All angles are being investigated but the police, so far, believe that the woman fell accidentally. An unnatural death report has been registered. 
 



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Wednesday, June 25, 2025

Woman Allegedly Molested In Delhi Hospital, Dies During Treatment

A woman who was allegedly molested in a hospital and was later taken to another hospital in Delhi died during treatment, the police said.

A case has been filed, and the next course of action will be decided based on the autopsy report, the police said.

The woman was admitted to hospital on June 21 for treatment of an illness. On June 23, while she went out of the ward in GTB Hospital, she was allegedly molested, following which the New Usmanpur police took swift action.

She was subsequently referred to Jag Pravesh Chandra (JPC) Hospital for specialised treatment, the police said, adding the doctors found no visible external injuries when they checked her.

On Thursday, the police said they received information that the woman died during treatment.



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Rs 540 Crore Of 'Drug Money' Laundered By Akali Leader, Says Probe Agency

The Punjab Vigilance Bureau on Wednesday arrested senior Akali leader Bikram Singh Majithia for allegedly laundering more than Rs 540 crore of "drug money".

Former minister Bikram Singh Majithia's arrest came after a vigilance team conducted a raid at his residence in Amritsar.

The bureau claimed preliminary investigations revealed that more than Rs 540 crore of "drug money" has been laundered through several channels allegedly facilitated by Majithia.

A spokesperson of the bureau said in a statement that assets, both movable and immovable, in the names of Majithia and his wife Ganieve Kaur Majithia increased substantially, for which no legitimate sources of income were provided.

Majithia, who is the brother-in-law of Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) chief Sukhbir Singh Badal, is already facing a probe in a 2021 drugs case.

During the raid, the vigilance team from Mohali faced protests by Majithia and his wife Ganieve Kaur, an Akali MLA, who accused the officers of barging into their house in Green Avenue on Wednesday morning.

Sukhbir Badal, his wife and former Union minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal, and many senior Akali leaders also lashed out at the AAP government in Punjab over the raid at Majithia's residence, calling it a "political vendetta".

A similar raid was conducted at the couple's Chandigarh residence as well, sources said.

Stating that a disproportionate assets case has been registered against her husband, Ganieve Kaur told reporters in Amritsar, "We will continue to fight. People will stand with Majithia." The raid was led by Swarandeep Singh, AIG, Flying Squad, Vigilance Bureau, Mohali, who was reinstated last month after a suspension.

Singh is also the complainant in the FIR registered against Majithia at 4:40 am on Wednesday.

The fresh FIR stems from an ongoing investigation being conducted by a Special Investigation Team (SIT) of Punjab Police into the 2021 drug case registered against Majithia.

In March, the SIT claimed that it found "suspicious financial transactions" in firms linked to Majithia and his family.

The SIT also expanded its investigation to scrutinise financial transactions abroad, it said in March.

The vigilance spokesperson said the probe by the SIT and the bureau revealed "massive laundering of drug money facilitated by Majithia amounting to more than Rs 540 crore".

It included huge unaccounted cash worth Rs 161 crore deposited in bank accounts of companies controlled by Majithia, channelisation of Rs 141 crore through suspected foreign entities, excess deposition of Rs 236 crore without disclosure or explanation in company financial statements, and acquisition of movable and immovable assets by Majithia without any legitimate source of income, the spokesperson said.

The SIT probe indicated that drug money was funnelled into Saraya Industries, which is run by Majithia and his family members, he added.

So far, Rs 540 crore of "drug money" has been tracked as having been generated illegally by using the influence of Majithia as a public servant (MLA), holding a Cabinet post in the erstwhile Punjab government, the spokesperson said.

The bureau seized more than 30 mobile phones, five laptops, three iPads, two desktops, several diaries, property-related documents, and documents related to Saraya Industries during the raid, sources said.

According to the FIR, Majithia accumulated vast wealth, properties and business interests in his name and in the names of his family members, which appear to be grossly disproportionate to his legitimate sources of income.

As the news of the raid spread on social media, Akali leaders and supporters headed towards Majithia's residence and raised slogans against the Bhagwant Mann government.

However, a heavy police force was deployed on the road leading to Majithia's house, with no one allowed to pass the barricades.

As a team of officers entered Majithia's house, Ganieve Kaur asked them, "What is happening? I want to know what is going on... How did you barge into my house without my knowledge?" Majithia also said that the vigilance officers "barged" into his house, "terrorising" his children.

The former minister could be heard arguing with a DSP-rank vigilance officer, expressing his dismay over the manner in which they entered his house.

"You have forced your way through. This is not the way. Do not come and threaten people at my house... You are barging into my house," Majithia told the vigilance team.

Majithia also questioned why the officers were not in uniform, to which one of them replied that vigilance officers remain in civil dress.

Majithia was even seen interrupting the DSP-rank officer when he asked about the identity of a man standing in a room, telling him that he won't get affected by the government's "highhandedness".

In response, the officer asked Majithia not to lecture him as he sought the Akali leader's cooperation.

The officer also objected to Majithia filming the raid.

In a video, Majithia lashed out at the Mann government, alleging that the AAP was resorting to such tactics to suppress the voice of the opposition leaders.

Claiming that the vigilance department lodged a fresh FIR on Tuesday night, Majithia said, "They forcefully entered my house. If an FIR has been lodged, we are submitted to the law. If they wanted to register an FIR in a DA (disproportionate assets) case, they could have given a notice. It is very clear that they (AAP) are rattled." Majithia also claimed a vigilance team led by an SSP conducted the raid.

"Bhagwant Mann ji, understand this... No matter how many FIRs you register, I will not be afraid nor your government can suppress my voice," Majithia said.

"I have always talked about the issues facing Punjab and will continue to do so," he added.

Before being taken into custody, Majithia met his two children and wife.

An SIT of Punjab Police is already probing a 2021 drugs case against Majithia, in which the Akali leader has been summoned and questioned many times.

Majithia was booked under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act on December 20, 2021, when a Congress government was in power in Punjab, led by Charanjit Singh Channi.

The Akali leader spent more than five months in Patiala jail before walking out of prison in August 2022 after the Punjab and Haryana High Court granted him bail.

(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, June 24, 2025

Bodies Of 259 Air India Crash Victims Have Been Identified: Officials

All the bodies from the Air India Boeing Dreamliner crash in Ahmedabad have been recovered and several of the are still undergoing DNA matching, sources have said. Officials of the health department said all the bodies have now been recovered and so far, 253 bodies have been identified through DNA and six by facial recognition. 

Since the flight to London crashed on June 12, there had been no official announcement about the total number of deaths. The authorities have said a figure could be arrived at only after the DNA matching took place.

256 bodies have been handed over to families so far. The DNA identification of the remaining bodies is still in progress.  

The Boeing Dreamliner bound for London had started losing height and crashed seconds after the take-off, landing on residential campus of BJ Medical College in Meghani Nagar, located .just outside the airport perimeter. Only one passenger out of the 242 on board -- a British-Indian man seated in 11A -- had survived. 

It is not yet known what caused the crash. The black box of the aircraft is being examined. 

Asked about media reports suggesting the black box is damaged and could be sent abroad for data extraction, Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu called it "speculation". "The black box is very much in India, and it is currently being investigated by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau or AAIB," he said. 

Air India has responded to the crash with a slew of safety and prevention measures that includes cutting down on the use of its wide-body planes for international flights by 15 per cent. The cuts will be implemented between now and 20 June and will continue thereafter until at least mid-July.
 



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Monday, June 23, 2025

Iran Says Used Same Number Of Bombs As US: A Hint At De-escalation?

Iran has attacked United States Air Force bases in Qatar with 'the same number of bombs the US used in attacking' its nuclear facilities, the West Asian country said late Monday, in a statement seen Tehran as telling Washington, D.C. it is willing to stand down after this attack.

No casualties have been reported from the missile strike, an American official told news agency AFP, acknowledging "short-range and medium-range ballistic" weapons had been fired by Iran.

Tehran's statement came shortly after its top security body confirmed it had launched a "devastating and powerful missile attack" on the Al-Udeid air base, which it said was removed from urban centres and "does not pose any threat to our friendly and brotherly country".

The Supreme National Security Council's statement has been seen as a message - that the attack is only retaliation for the US dropping 'bunker buster' bombs on the Fordow Fuel Enrichment Plant - a heavily protected Iranian nuclear facility buried beneath a mountain.

"In response to the US' aggressive and insolent action against Iran's nuclear sites and facilities, a few hours ago the powerful armed forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran struck the US air base in Al-Udeid, Qatar," the Council said, "... the number of missiles used was the same as the number of bombs that the US had used in attacking Iran's nuclear facilities".

The US deployed its B-2 'Spirit' bombers to drop between five and six GBU-57 'bunker busters' on three Iranian nuclear facilities. The B-2 is the only warplanes capable of carrying the GBU-57.

The US has not, so far, responded to the attack or Iran's statement. However, President Donald Trump has been rushed to the 'Situation Room' and is monitoring the Iranian retaliation.

However, Iran's neighbours have condemned the attack.

Saudi Arabia has slammed the "unjustified" attack on Qatar and offered Doha its full support, while Kuwait has said it is temporarily closing its airspace as a "precautionary measure".



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2 India-Qatar Flights Cancelled After Iran Attacks US Air Base In Doha

Two flights from India to Qatar have been cancelled after Iran launched a missile attack on the US air base in Doha. IndiGo and Air India operated these flights. The IndiGo flight was supposed to fly from Delhi, while the other flight was scheduled from Cochin. Several other airlines have also either diverted their flights or returned them to their origin airports over the tense situation in the Middle East.

Air India Express diverted its Doha-bound flight from Kochi to Muscat and returned its flight, which was scheduled from Kannur. "We have no other flights bound for Qatar," it said in a statement.

"We are monitoring the situation closely and will take all necessary precautions for the safety and security of our guests and crew, with inputs from the relevant authorities," it added.

Iran's military said on Monday it had carried out a "devastating and powerful" missile attack on the Al Udeid US airbase in Qatar, after explosions were heard across the Qatari capital following Tehran's threat to retaliate for US airstrikes.

Kuwait said it was closing its airspace "until further notice" on Monday after a similar move from Bahrain as Iran attacked a US base in Qatar in retaliation for American strikes in Iran.

Meanwhile, Qatar has strongly condemned the attack, announcing it reserves the right to respond directly in a manner equivalent to the "nature and scale of this brazen aggression", in line with international law.

The White House and the Defense Department are closely monitoring potential threats to the Al Udeid airbase, a senior White House official said.



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Iran Attacks US Air Base: What We Know So Far

  1. Tehran said that with the strikes, it has sent out a clear message to the White House that "Iran will not leave its territorial integrity, sovereignty and national security unanswered under any circumstances." 
  2. Iran's Supreme National Security Council said the number of missiles used in this operation was equal to the number of bombs the United States used in its assault on Iran's nuclear facilities.
  3. The US has confirmed the airbase in Qatar was targeted by the missile attack, with a military official telling Reuters that no Iranian attack was detected at any other US military base.
  4. The targeted base was also located far from urban areas and residential zones in Qatar, ensuring minimal risk to civilians, it insisted.
  5. Qatar has said that there were no casualties from the attack on the US military base, adding it reserves the right to respond following the Iranian attack. It said its air defences had intercepted missiles directed at the airbase.
  6. The Qatari Foreign Ministry has condemned the attack as a clear breach of Qatar's sovereignty, airspace, and international law.
  7. Iran, however, claimed that the operation posed "no threat whatsoever to our friendly and brotherly country Qatar or its people".
  8. Iran had issued threats to retaliate against the United States after US bombers dropped 30,000-pound bunker-busters on Iranian underground nuclear sites at the weekend, joining Israel's air war against Tehran, and President Donald Trump mooted the possibility of the Iranian government being toppled.
  9. Shortly before Iran launched missiles at the base, Qatar announced it had closed its airspace temporarily to ensure the safety of residents and visitors. Iran said it coordinated its strikes, prompting the airspace closure, as per reports.
  10. Al Udeid airbase is the largest US military installation in the Middle East, situated across the Gulf from Iran.


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Sunday, June 22, 2025

Atomic Agency Veteran Warns of Global Nuclear Risk After US Attack On Iran

In a significant escalation of geopolitical tensions, the US launched a targeted military strike on Iran's nuclear facilities, raising global concerns about the potential fallout and future implications. The attack, which focused on three key sites at Natanz, Isfahan and most importantly the Fordow enrichment facility, has prompted widespread speculation about the extent of the damage and the possibility of radiation leaks affecting nearby populations and neighbouring countries.

In an exclusive interview to NDTV, Peter Rickwood, former press officer of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Vienna and founder of Atomic Reporters, shared his insights on the situation.

Mr Rickwood emphasised that the full impact of the attack would take time to assess, particularly due to the underground nature of the facilities. He noted that without direct inspections of the vaults and centrifuge areas, it would be difficult to determine the actual damage.

Importantly, Mr Rickwood pointed out that Iran had recently declared the removal of nuclear material from Fordow and other enrichment sites, raising questions about their current location and status.

Mr Rickwood expressed concern over the IAEA's ability to perform its verification duties in a conflict zone. The absence of inspectors means there is no way to confirm whether the nuclear material is being further enriched, potentially to weapons-grade levels. This uncertainty adds to the complexity of the situation and underscores the need for transparency and international oversight.

Add image caption here

Seven B-2 Spirit bombers were used to attack Fordow nuclear enrichment site in Iran

Satellite images of the attack have surfaced, but Mr Rickwood cautioned that these only reveal surface-level damage. He likened the scenario to a mine disaster, where the true extent of destruction lies beneath the surface. While acknowledging the military precision of the operation, he questioned whether the bombs penetrated deep enough to destroy the enrichment equipment and whether any of it had been removed prior to the strike.

The implications of the attack extend beyond immediate physical damage. Iran's status as a signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) is now under scrutiny. Mr Rickwood warned that Iran might consider withdrawing from the NPT, following the precedent set by North Korea in 2003. Such a move would eliminate the legal framework for inspecting Iran's nuclear facilities, further reducing global visibility into its nuclear activities.

Mr Rickwood has a sombre reflection on the broader consequences of the attack. He expressed fear that the world is entering a highly risky and vulnerable phase, where diplomatic channels are strained and the potential for nuclear proliferation is heightened. The situation calls for careful monitoring, renewed diplomatic efforts, and a recommitment to international treaties that promote peace and security.

Mr Rickwood stressed on the urgent need for global cooperation and vigilance in the face of escalating nuclear tensions. As the international community grapples with the aftermath of the attack, the role of watchdog organisations like the IAEA becomes even more critical in ensuring accountability and preventing further destabilisation.



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Saturday, June 21, 2025

Bumrah Surpasses Pakistan's Wasim Akram To Become Asian With Most...

Jasprit Bumrah was the pick of the Indian bowlers on the second day of the first Test against England. While the likes of Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Ravindra Jadeja toiled hard with no success, Bumrah provded crucial breakthroughs after India were all out for 471. Bumrah scalped the wickets of England openrs Ben Duckett and Zak Crawley. In doing so, Bumrah surpassed  Pakistan pace great Wasim Akram for most wickets in SENA countries (South Africa, England, New Zealand and Australia) by an Asian.    

Bumrah, after his two wickets, went up to 147 from 60 innings in SENA countries. He surpassed Wasim Akram in the list of Asian bowlers with most wickets in SENA countries. Bumrah tops the list, followed by Akram (146), Anil Kumble (141), Ishant Sharma (130), and Mohammed Shami (123). 

Earlier, England tearaway Mark Wood praised Jasprit Bumrah, the current "best bowler in the world," as a speedster who has the potential to "change the game." Bumrah has transformed into the world's best following his mouth-watering spells across all formats of the game. The 31-year-old has been deemed the biggest threat to England in India's young squad. Wood underscored the havoc "dangerous" Bumrah can cause in any game phase.

"He is a phenomenal bowler across all formats who is really dangerous. I can honestly say he is really hard to pick up and face. He is quicker than you think. He is the best bowler in the world right now, and he is dangerous in any part of the match. Bumrah can change the game," Wood said on Sky Sports.

Moments after Wood's words echoed in the stadium, Bumrah had already proved to be a menace that England struggled to deal with. In the opening over of England's first innings, Zak Crawley was unavailable to avoid Bumrah's magic.

With an absolute peach of a delivery, Bumrah lured a thick outside edge of Crawley, who was looking to flick the ball away. The good length of delivery angled into the middle leg hit the deck and straightened considerably, and Crawley had no answer to it.

Karun Nair took a share catch at the slip, forcing Crawley to return cheaply on 4(6). In his first spell, Bumrah almost had a second wicket to his column on the final delivery of the seventh over. Ben Duckett slashed the ball hard towards Ravindra Jadeja, stationed at the backward point.

The ball travelled swiftly towards him, and Jadeja managed to get a hold of it, but the ball eventually popped out of his hands, giving Duckett an unprecedented lifeline on 15(20). He ended his first spell after bowling five overs, giving away 21 runs with a sole wicket, the best among India's fast bowling troika.

With IANS inputs 



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Air India Plane Crash: 9 Days On, Process To Identify Victims Continues

Nine days after the Ahmedabad plane crash, the process to identify several victims is still underway as the authorities have asked eight families to submit the DNA sample of another relative, as the previous ones failed to match.

Ahmedabad-based filmmaker Mahesh Jirawala, who was reported missing following the June 12 air crash, the matching of DNA samples confirmed that he died in the catastrophe, following which his body was handed over to his family.

In Maharashtra, relatives and friends gave an emotional farewell to Deepak Pathak and Irfan Shaikh - two crew members of the ill-fated flight - at Badlapur in Thane district and in Pimpri-Chinchwad near Pune city, respectively.

The London-bound Air India flight AI-171 carrying 242 passengers and crew members crashed in Ahmedabad moments after it took off from the city airport last Thursday, killing all but one on board, and 29 on the ground as the aircraft smashed into a medical complex in the Meghaninagar area.

Since many of the bodies were burned beyond recognition or damaged otherwise, authorities are carrying out DNA tests to establish the identity of the victims of the horrific tragedy.

Until Friday, DNA samples of 231 victims have been matched, and 210 bodies have been handed over to families.

However, families of eight victims have been asked to give a sample of another relative for DNA tests after the first one did not match, an official said.

"Unless there is a match, bodies cannot be handed over to the kin, " Ahmedabad Civil Hospital's medical superintendent Rakesh Joshi told PTI.

"When there is no match for a longer period of time, then you can ask another sample from another relative. If one sibling has given the sample, then a sample of another sibling is sought for matching the DNA with that of the victim," he said.

"We generally prefer a sample of father or son/daughter. If not, then we take a sample of another available member," Mr Joshi added.

He, however, clarified that samples of siblings have matched in the process.

There are at least eight such families whose first sample has not matched, so another sample was sought.

On Friday, Mr Joshi said that since the DNA matching process is highly sensitive and involves legal protocols, it is being conducted with utmost seriousness and speed.

To ensure that families receive the bodies of their loved ones quickly, Forensic Science University, along with associated institutions, local administrative authorities, the state government's health and other departments, and various agencies are working tirelessly.

Meanwhile, police said that through the matching of DNA samples, it has been confirmed that filmmaker Jirawala has died in the plane crash.

Jirawala, 34, was passing by from the area on his two-wheeler just when the London-bound plane plunged into a hostel complex, he said.

Joint Commissioner of Police, Sector 2, Jaipalsinh Rathore said the DNA test confirmed that Jirawala died as a result of the plane crash, but as his family members were still in disbelief, the police collected and presented other evidence, such as CCTV footage of the road and his burnt scooter, in order to clear their doubts from their mind and convince them.

"Jirawala's family took his body on Friday after the DNA test confirmed his identity. His scooter, which was destroyed in the fire, was also recovered from near the crash site. The chassis and engine number also matched with the registration documents of the scooter," he said.

"To clear his family's doubts, we collected CCTV footage of that area to establish that he was indeed using that route for some time. His last mobile location was last traced close to the accident site," the officer added.

Soon after the crash, the mobile phone of Jirawala, a resident of Naroda locality in Ahmedabad, got switched off, and he never returned home as he had promised his wife, Hetal.

Talking to reporters, she said her husband, who was also known as Mahesh Kalavadiya, was a filmmaker and used to direct music albums.

On the day of the plane crash, Jirawala went to meet someone at the Law Garden area. At 1:14 pm, he called his wife and told her that his meeting was over and that he was on his way home. However, when he did not return, she called on his number but found it switched off.

After the police were informed, their investigation found that as per the last location of his mobile phone, he was 700 metres away from the crash site.

In Badlapur, crew member Pathak was cremated in the presence of thousands of mourners.

The body of Pathak (34), who had been serving the national carrier for the past 11 years, was handed over to his family members after a nine-day-long identification process, confirmed through DNA testing.

Family, friends, neighbours, and people from all walks of life walked behind the flower-bedecked truck carrying Pathak's coffin to the crematorium.

Pimpri Chinchwad-based Shaikh family had received 22-year-old Irfan's remains after a DNA match on Friday, and they were brought to Pune in the early hours. His last rites were held at a graveyard in Nehru Nagar in the presence of family, neighbours, friends, and leaders from across political parties.

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



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Video Of Indian Tourists Dancing In Thailand Goes Viral, Internet Reacts

A video of a group of Indian tourists dancing in Thailand is going viral on social media. The clip, shared on X, shows a group of Indian tourists dancing with great energy at Safari World, a zoo in Bangkok. The audience appears to be mostly Indian, though a few onlookers from other countries can be spotted in the background. They appear surprised and a bit upset. The video has an overlay text saying, "When you visit Thailand to see Thai people but...Indians everywhere." 

Sharing the video on X, user @baldwhiner wrote, "Dear desi tourists abroad WE BEG YOU ... if you weren't a singer, dancer, stand-up comic or wildlife whisperer back home ... this is not the time to start let's not make the whole planet suffer 2nd-hand embarrassment on our behalf."

Watch the video below: 

The video has gone viral, accumulating more than 549,000 views. It has sparked mixed reactions online, with many criticising the tourists for their behaviour. 

"Our behavior will ensure that even the 2nd and fellow 3rd world countries will stop issuing visa on arrival," wrote one user. 

"Embarrassing, I wouldn't mind if they had rhythm and could show some good moves..but those pot belly dancing in the group must be banned," commented another. 

"This is because fellow Indians have been praising this mediocrity back home. It wouldn't  happen if we start calling a pot a pot," expressed a third user. 

Also Read | Blind Man Accuses IndiGo Staff At Mumbai Airport Of Humiliating Him And His Mother, Airline Reacts

However, some users defended the tourists. One user said, "How about you chill out. There is nothing embarrassing about it more than what you make yourself believe." 

"The song is playing in the background. You never know if they were encouraged to do this. During our Vietnam Cruise, we were encouraged to dance and sing, and so were Japanese and philipino people as well. It was well organised. Background context: it was a party," commented another. 

"They gave them the stage and space to enjoy, so they are enjoying. Tourists go out to enjoy, to let their hair loose, away from judging known circle. Just be yourself and let others be themselves. If they are breaking rules, let them face the music. They are not kids of ur school," said one user. 



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Friday, June 20, 2025

Flight Carrying Indian Students Lands In Delhi After Iran Opens Its Airspace

A flight carrying 290 Indian students, mostly from Jammu and Kashmir, landed in Delhi late Friday night after Iran lifted its airspace restrictions today for India's 'Operation Sindhu'. The country opened its airspace, in a special gesture, for three flights to evacuate about 1,000 Indians. This was the first of the three flights.

The Indians were moved to Mashhad from Tehran following Israeli attacks. The evacuation flights were being operated by Iranian airline Mahan and were arranged by New Delhi.

"Heartfelt thanks to the Government of India, Ministry of External Affairs, and all concerned authorities for their timely intervention and support. A great relief for families who had been anxiously awaiting their return, said the Jammu and Kashmir Students Association.

Thousands of Indian students, most of them from Jammu and Kashmir, are stranded in Iran. 

Another flight from Turkmenistan's capital Ashgabat is scheduled to arrive in Delhi around 3 am followed by a third one later in the day.

'Operation Sindhu' was launched on Wednesday to bring back its nationals from Iran and Israel amid the rising hostilities between the longtime enemies. Yesterday, a group of 110 Indian students were transited via Armenia and Doha before they boarded a flight to Delhi. 

Mohammad Javad Hosseini, the deputy chief of mission at the Iranian embassy, said more evacuation flights could be operated in the coming days to bring back Indians if required. "We consider Indians as our own people. Iran's airspace is closed, but because of this issue, we are making arrangements to open it for the safe passage of Indian nationals," he said at a media briefing.

Mr Hosseini said about 10,000 Indians are living in Iran and those wishing to return home are being evacuated.

Israel launched "Operation Rising Lion" with a surprise attack on the morning of June 13 that wiped out the top echelon of Iran's military command and damaged its nuclear sites. Iran retaliated with air strikes, with both countries launching hundreds of missiles at each other in the last four days.



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'Flying On A Dreamliner? I'm On': Ex Aviation Minister After Air India Crash

There is no cause for worry after the Air India crash in Ahmedabad and if he was asked to fly on a Boeing 787 Dreamliner today, he would say yes immediately because the airline has a sound technical grounding and the country's aviation regulatory framework is strong, former civil aviation minister Praful Patel has said. 

Speaking exclusively to NDTV on Friday, the NCP MP also said, however, that there is a need for better communication from airlines as well as the aviation watchdog and all vacancies should be filled up because, when it comes to flying, "it's either 100% safe or zero, there's nothing like 99.9%".

On the pace of the investigation after last week's Dreamliner crash in which at least 270 people were killed, including over 30 on the ground, Mr Patel said it has been satisfactory because a team from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) team in the US, teams from Boeing and GE, which manufactured the engines of the plane, and India's own Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) visited the site almost immediately and took charge. 

Based on his experience as the civil aviation minister between 2004 and 2011, the investigation, he said, should be completed within three months but could take longer because all possible scenarios should be ruled out.

Mr Patel said the AAIB is very competent and the damaged black box of the AI 171 could be decoded in India itself, but there is no harm if this happens in the US either. "It doesn't really matter whether it's being opened in the US or it's being decoded in India. At the end of the day, what we really want to know is what went wrong," he said. 

Air India Safety

Mr Patel pointed out that instances of flights being cancelled or having a technical issue happen every day, and are being amplified now because of the crash.

"Air India, irrespective of the ownership today or in the past, has always been completely safety driven, protocol driven. They follow every single process which has been prescribed either by the manufacturer or by the DGCA (Directorate General of Civil Aviation," he said. 

"I would like to say that India does follow very good safety protocols. Air India has also had very tragic incidents, accidents in the past and they have been able to learn from them and overcome those kinds of issues. And I am sure even in the current context, Air India will be able to ride out of this crisis," the minister added.

Describing the current crisis as a "crisis of confidence", Mr Patel said he has been getting calls about whether it is safe to fly Air India and whether its safety protocols and maintenance are up to the mark. 

"I can tell you, and I have no hesitation in saying this, that if I were to fly a 787 Dreamliner today, I would be the first person to say, fine, I'm on. There's no real issue, I wouldn't worry even for a second... only time will tell whether it's some kind of a failure of a machine or man or whatever. But these are all hypothetical things, we should not really be talking too much about them until we actually have the full report," he stressed.

"Air India itself has got very, very, very good technical people over the years. The legacy has been very strong in Air India," he added. 

Passenger Confidence

Asked how the government could boost the confidence of flyers after the crash, Mr Patel said passenger confidence has been shaken badly, but it can also be easily restored. 

Suggesting measures to do this, he said, "I feel that there needs to be better communication, both by Air India and by all the airlines of the country put together, even by the DGCA. And I can also sense that this is a time when any vacancies in the DGCA or even in airlines in terms of their engineering or safety departments should be filled up immediately... You see, in aviation parlance, either it's 100% safe or zero, there's nothing like 99.9%."

Pointing out that several helicopter crashes have occurred in the Char Dham area in the past few weeks, he said checks and balances should be put in place and "shortcuts" should be avoided. 

"The operators take chances, the pilots also sometimes are confident or overconfident, they think that they can navigate through the mountains or the clouds and they know their way... And sometimes, I'm not blaming anybody, but there could be shortcuts which need to be avoided. That also shakes up confidence. After all, anything falling off the sky does rattle people.

Safety Focus

On whether India has too few players in terms of airlines, Mr Patel said the emphasis should be on quality, not quantity. India's track record, he said, has not been worse than advanced countries like the US or countries in Europe.

"And we also have very, very good overall safety standards and monitoring. But my last word to people would be, please do not be scared of flying. It's still the safest mode of public transportation, even in India or anywhere in the world. (Once) you sit on a plane, your chances of having something going wrong are really very rare. You are one of the real unlucky ones if you really encounter some major problem," he said.

"Otherwise, it is the safest and probably the best-managed public transportation (system) anywhere in the world," the former aviation minister emphasised.



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Watch: Ranthambore's Iconic Tigress' Final Walk Captured On Camera

Tigress Arrowhead (T-84), one of Ranthambore's most celebrated big cats, passed away at the age of 14, forest officials confirmed on Thursday. Her death came just hours after her daughter was relocated to another tiger reserve, marking an emotional end to a storied legacy in Indian wildlife history. The death of this beloved animal has devastated wildlife enthusiasts. Noted photographer Sachin Rai, who had closely followed her life since she was a cub, paid tribute with a poignant video capturing her final moments.

He shared a heart-wrenching account of Arrowhead's final moments. In an emotional Instagram post, he described watching her struggle to walk near Padam Talab on June 17, taking a few weak steps before collapsing under a tree, knowing instinctively that the end was near.

"On the evening of June 17th, I witnessed what would likely be the last walk of the legendary tigress 'Arrowhead' at the banks of Padam Talab, a place she had ruled with grace and strength for many years. It was heartbreaking to see her struggle, attempting to rise and take a few feeble steps before collapsing again," he wrote.

"Each movement was a visible effort; even walking ten steps seemed an enormous task. Eventually, she reached a tree and lay beneath it. In that quiet moment, I knew in my heart that the end was near, just a matter of a day or two," he further mentioned.

"I have followed Arrowhead's journey since she was a tiny cub. From those early days to watching her grow into a powerful tigress who claimed her mother's territory, every chapter of her life was a testament to resilience."

Born to tigress Krishna (T-19) and the granddaughter of the legendary Machhli (T-16), Arrowhead was part of a famed tiger bloodline. She had been suffering from advanced bone cancer and had been under observation for weeks. Her passing symbolizes the end of an era for Ranthambore, where her lineage had long been a symbol of strength, beauty, and survival.



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