From "Naughty" To "Smarty Boy": Journey Of ISRO's GSLV-II Launch Vehicle

Often dubbed as "naughty boy" for its spotty success rate, the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle-II of ISRO has earned new sobriquets such as "mature", "obedient", "smarty" and "natty" after two consecutive successful launches.

The GSLV on Saturday placed the INSAT-3DS satellite in the Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO), the second successful mission after it placed the NVS-01 satellite for India's own satellite-based navigation system NavIC.

"Coming to the launch vehicle, GSLV doesn't have a good name ('Naughty Boy') with regards to its performance, but that has been a thing of the past. So far, the rocket and satellites have performed very well," ISRO Chairman S Somanath said, addressing reporters after the successful launch of INSAT-3DS.

Mission Director Tomy Joseph said, "The naughty boy has matured as a very obedient and disciplined boy." "Like PSLV (Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle), GSLV has also become a robust vehicle for ISRO," he said, remarks that were welcomed with applause.

Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre Director S Unnikrishnan Nair described the GSLV as "smarty" and "natty" and said the reliability of the launch vehicle was high like other rockets.

U R Rao Satellite Centre Director M Sankaran likened the GSLV to a "matured wine" which delivered a textbook performance by placing the INSAT-3DS satellite in orbit.

GSLV used the indigenously developed Cryogenic Upper Stage, generating a nominal thrust of 75 kiloNewton, which enabled ISRO launch up to two tonne class of communication satellites.

The first development flight of GSLV took place on April 18, 2001 followed by another development flight on May 8 2003.

The GSLV saw some back-to-back failures in 2006, when it failed to place the INSAT-4C satellite in orbit. Two GSLV missions in 2010 ended in a failure.

ISRO developed the GSLV-Mark III launch vehicle powered with the indigenously built cryogenic engine (C25) by the Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre at Thiruvananthapuram. GSLV Mark III, renamed as Launch Vehicle Mark III (LVM3) can place up to four tonne satellites in GTO and eight tonne payloads in low earth orbits.

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

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Dangal Actor, 19, Died Of Rare Inflammatory Disease: Family

Actor Suhani Bhatnagar, who played young Babita Phogat in Aamir Khan-starrer wrestling drama 'Dangal', died in Delhi yesterday. Her family today revealed that she was suffering from Dermatomyositis, a rare inflammatory disease that causes skin rash and muscle weakness.
The 19-year-old was admitted to All India Institute of Medical Sciences on February 7 and died on February 16 after medical complications.

The family said that the symptoms showed two months ago while she was diagnosed with the disease only ten days back.

"She developed a red spot on her hands about two months ago. We consulted with doctors in different hospitals but it couldn't be diagnosed, said Suhani's mother Puja Bhatnagar.

She was admitted to AIIMS after her health started deteriorating.

Suhani's father Sumit Bhatnagar said there was no improvement in her health and eventually her "lungs got damaged due to an infection and accumulation of excess fluid".

"She was put on the ventilator but there was no improvement," he said.

Her father claimed that there are only five to six people all over the world who have been diagnosed with the disease.

Dermatomyositis is a rare inflammatory disease marked by muscle weakness and a distinctive skin rash. It can also affect other organ systems such as the pulmonary, cardiovascular, and gastrointestinal systems.

The cremation of Suhani Bhatnagar, who was a resident of Faridabad, took place at the Ajronda cremation ground.

She had appeared in the 2016 biographical drama about a wrestler who mentors his two daughters to success. Zaira Wasim played young Geeta while Bhatnagar portrayed the role of Babita. The grown-up versions of the characters were played by Fatima Sana Shaikh and Sanya Malhotra. Aamir Khan played the role of their father, Mahavir Phogat.

Aamir Khan's production house also condoled her death: "We are deeply saddened to hear about our Suhani passing away. Our heartfelt condolences to her mother Poojaji and the entire family. Such a talented young girl, such a team player, 'Dangal' would have been incomplete without Suhani".

Suhani had taken a break from acting to complete her studies.

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Russian Man Transforms An Abandoned Boeing 737 Plane Into A Luxury Villa

Industrialist Anand Mahindra, who is quite active on Twitter regularly posts about trending topics and engaging stories, for his 11 million followers. On Saturday, he shared a fascinating video of a man who turned a commercial plane into a villa. The man, identified as Russian entrepreneur Felix Demin, transformed an abandoned Boeing 737 airliner into a luxury private villa, complete with two bedrooms, an infinity pool with Indian Ocean views, and a terrace. The unique property is perched atop the mesmerising Nyang Nyang Cliffs in Bali, Indonesia.

"Some people are fortunate enough to be able to turn their fantasies into reality. And this chap doesn't seem to impose any constraints on his imagination! I'm trying to figure out whether I'd ever be interested in booking a stay here, but I'm a bit worried about jet lag post the experience," Mr Mahindra wrote on X. In the video, Mr Demin gave a virtual tour of the plane-turned-villa.

Inside, there's a living room with a bar, a sofa bed, and a glass portal, as well as two bedrooms with walk-in closets. The cockpit has been converted into a large bathroom, and he property also has sun loungers, an outdoor lounge area, and a fire pit.

Watch the video here:

Some people are fortunate enough to be able to turn their fantasies into reality.

And this chap doesn't seem to impose any constraints on his imagination!

I'm trying to figure out whether I'd ever be interested in booking a stay here but I'm a bit worried about jet lag post… pic.twitter.com/LhH2Rtn5Ht

— anand mahindra (@anandmahindra) February 17, 2024

Notably, the retired Boeing 737 was purchased by Mr Demin back in 2021 and transported to its remote location, CNN reported. It opened its doors in 2023, and quickly earned its place among the world's most prestigious luxury retreats.

X users were fascinated with the unique villa, and many said that they would love an opportunity to stay in it. Notably, this private jet villa is also available for rent.

Here are some other videos of the villa:

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A post shared by Виталия Лапина | Организатор свадеб и мероприятий Дубай Москва (@vitaliya_lapina)

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A post shared by FPV pilot • CG | AI artist • VFX (@eno_fpv)

One user said, ''This is a super rich life,'' while others called it ''awesome'' and ''amazing.''

Another commented, ''The fusion of fantasy and luxury always crafts the most unforgettable memories, doesn't it? The concept of adjusting your body clock might seem daunting at first, but the experience promises to transcend any temporary discomfort.''

A third said, ''Considering staying at a place that sparks your imagination! Jet lag can be a concern, but it might be worth it for such a unique experience. Maybe plan some extra time to adjust before getting back to reality.''

A fourth added, ''Only relaxation. And no turbulence.''

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"Don't Worry About Me": Putin Critic Navalny's Last Weeks In An Arctic Jail

Alexei Navalny, Russia's most prominent opposition leader, spent his final weeks in a penal colony above the Arctic Circle.

His 19-year prison sentence was widely condemned by rights groups and in the West as punishment for daring to cross President Vladimir Putin.

Through messages passed through his lawyers, he posted regularly on social media in a characteristically optimistic and light-hearted tone.

Here is what Navalny's final weeks looked like, in his own words:

'Ho-ho-ho' 

On December 26, Navalny posted his first message from his new Arctic prison colony, having disappeared for weeks after being moved from his former prison closer to Moscow.

The icy IK-3 prison colony in the Siberian region of Yamal-Nenets, some 2,000 kilometres (1,200 miles) from his native Moscow, would be where he spent his final few weeks.

"I am your new grandfather Frost," Navalny said, in his usual tongue-in-cheek manner.

"I have a tulup, an ushanka and I will have valenki soon," he said, referring to traditional furry Russian winter coats, hats and boots.

"I now live above the Arctic Circle ... But I don't say 'ho-ho-ho, I say 'oh-oh-oh' when I look out the window, where first there is night, then evening, then night again."

Navalny said he was tired from the 20-day journey from his previous prison in the central Vladimir region, close to Moscow.

"Don't worry about me, everything is well. I am so happy that I finally got here."

'Thinking about Leonardo DiCaprio' 

A few weeks later, after a spell in quarantine, Navalny shared more details about his conditions in the new Arctic prison.

"The idea that Putin was pleased (enough) that he had put me in a barracks in the Far North that they would stop throwing me in solitary confinement was ... naive," the 47-year-old said.

Prison authorities told him: "'Convict Navalny refused to introduce himself in the correct way'. Seven days in solitary confinement."

Navalny spent more than 300 days in solitary confinement -- or a "punishment cell" as his colleagues called it, based on its name in Russian -- during his three years in prison.

He was ordered there on 27 occasions, often for minor infringements of prison protocol.

Allowed out for a daily walk in the pitch black of at 6:30 a.m., Navalny said: "I promised myself I would go out in any weather."

His cell was "11 steps from wall to wall".

"It has never been colder than minus 32 (Celsius). Even in such a temperature you can walk more than half an hour -- only if you have the time to grow back a nose, ears and fingers," he said in a January 9 post.

"Today I was walking, freezing and thinking about Leonardo DiCaprio and his trick with a dead horse in The Revenant," he said, referring to a scene in which his character crawls into an animal carcass to keep warm.

"I don't think it would work here. A dead horse would freeze to death within 15 minutes."

'I'm Russian' 

Navalny also regularly ridiculed prison routines.

On January 22, he said the prison wardens at IK-3 would wake everybody up at 5 a.m. to play the Russian national anthem.

"And right after that -- the second most important song in the country: Shaman's 'Ya Russky,'" he said.

The song -- which means "I'm Russian" -- has become an unofficial anthem for President Vladimir Putin.

"Imagine the scene. Yamal-Nenets region. Polar night. In a penal colony of convicts, prisoner Navalny serving 19 years -- who the Kremlin's propaganda for years has scolded for taking part in Russian marches -- is exercising to 'Ya Russky'".

'Send me money' 

In a court hearing on 15 February -- a day before his death -- Navalny was filmed joking with the judge over a stream of fines he had been issued.

"Your honour, I will send you my personal account number so that you, with your huge salary as a federal judge, can send me money," he said, laughing.

"I am running out of cash, and thanks to your decisions, it will run out even faster. So send it!"

'I love you' 

Navalny's last post, published on Valentine's Day, was dedicated to his wife, Yulia.

"Baby, you and I have everything, just like in the song: cities, airfield lights, blue snowstorms and thousands of kilometres between us," he said, quoting a popular Soviet-era tune.

"But I feel that you are near me every second, and I love you more and more."

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

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US Woman Slips Past Airport Security, Boards Flight Without A Ticket

A woman in the United States sneaked past a Nashville airport security checkpoint and boarded an American Airlines flight heading for Los Angeles without a boarding pass or identification earlier this month. The flyer hopped a barrier in an unmanned area of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) screening line at Nashville International Airport, where passengers are required to show their identification, as per a report in the New York Post.

"TSA is reviewing the circumstances of this matter, but can confirm that the traveler in question was physically screened, along with their carry-on items, without incident at the Nashville International Airport security checkpoint on February 7th before boarding the flight. TSA and its airline partners are cooperating with the ongoing law enforcement investigation," the agency told USA TODAY.  

American Airlines acknowledged the incident, stating that it was detected somewhere along the approximately five-hour journey. "On Feb. 7, American Airlines flight 1393 was met by law enforcement upon arrival at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). Safety and security are our highest priorities, and we are assisting law enforcement in the investigation," a spokesperson informed the New York Post.

The woman was detained and interrogated by the FBI. She hasn't been charged as of yet. The agency stated that the inquiry is still underway.

However, this is not the first time such an incident has taken place. A Russian man who flew to the US without a visa, passport, or ticket was found guilty in a US federal court of being a stowaway on an aircraft. Sergey Ochigava, 46, was convicted by a jury in a California court on Friday.

According to court documents, Mr Ochigava, a Russian-Israeli dual national, departed Copenhagen on a Scandinavian Airlines flight and landed at Los Angeles International Airport on November 4, 2023. He had no passport or visa, and officials also couldn't find him on the passenger list for any flights. He was subsequently arrested and has been in custody since November. 

According to the flight crew, most of them noticed Mr Ochigava on the flight, saying that he wandered around the plane and kept changing his seat. He allegedly asked for two meals during each meal service, and at one point attempted to eat the chocolate that belonged to members of the cabin crew.

When officials searched his bag, they found what appeared to be Russian and Israeli identification cards, but no passport. The suspect, in an interview, told an FBI agent that he was confused, had not slept for three days, and couldn't remember how he boarded a plane without a ticket, boarding pass, or passport.

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Teacher Never Spoke Against Gods, Protest Stage Managed: Karnataka School

The headmistress of St Gerosa English higher primary school in the city on Thursday said the recent incident in which a teacher was accused of making anti-Hindu remarks appears to be stage-managed, and revealed that she was pressured by BJP MLA Vedavyas Kamath to remove the teacher from the job.

The incident seems intended to tarnish the image of school which has been imparting quality education with minimum fees in the past 60 years, she added.

In a press statement, School Headmistress Sister Anitha clarified that Sr Prabha, the teacher who was removed from her post following allegations of hurting Hindu sentiments, was only explaining a poem by Rabindranath Tagore in the classroom.

"The teacher had not spoken anything against gods, but explained to the students the meaning of the poem 'Work is Worship' by Tagore," she said, quoting the full text of the poem in her statement.

The teacher had explained the meaning of the poem which says that temples, churches, and mosques are only buildings and god dwells in human hearts, she further clarified.

The headmistress said four persons had approached her on February 10 with a complaint that Sr Prabha had made some derogatory statements against the Hindu religion, and she had assured them that an inquiry would be held.

As alleged by the anonymous woman in a voice message that has gone viral and reiterated by BJP leaders, Sr Prabha did not make any derogatory remarks against Hinduism or any other religion or the Prime Minister, while explaining the poem, Sr Anitha explained.

She said the school management had approached the district administration stating that the viral audio message was far from the truth and had sought an inquiry into the matter. They also sought protection, fearing untoward incidents.

A complaint was also lodged with the police to take action in the instance of the woman's audio being propagated and thus being made viral, Sr Anitha said.

On February 12, officials from the education department, a subject expert from the block education office and a coordinator from the office of the Deputy Director of Public Instruction visited the school and the incident was explained to them.

Later, local MLA Vedavyas Kamath arrived at the school with a group of Hindu activists who shouted slogans against the school. The management recognised him as the MLA and invited him inside the school, but he refused and continued the protest. They instigated students to shout slogans against their own school, Sr Anitha alleged.

She said Kamath wanted her to dismiss the teacher or else face an intensified agitation, to which she replied that she cannot act without an inquiry.

"But the mob led by the MLA pressured me to remove the teacher with immediate effect. With no other go and to maintain law and order, and to disperse the mob that was swelling, I was forced to issue a statement removing Sr Prabha from the job," the headmistress said.

She said Sr Prabha has a total teaching experience of 16 years including five years in Gerosa School. "There has been no complaint against her so far. The critical point of the episode which needs to be probed is whether the lady who spoke about the school in the viral audio is actually the parent of a Gerosa student," she pointed out.

The headmistress said it appears that the protest was stage managed to tarnish the image of school, which has been imparting quality education with minimum fees. "We, being secular in our outlook always respect all students and do not discriminate anyone based on caste, creed or religion. Every year, we celebrate Deepavali, Christmas and Eid," she 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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Ranveer Singh To Start Shoot Of Shaktimaan After Wrapping Don 3: Report

Bollywood star Ranveer Singh, who will be playing the lead role in Don 3, has also been roped in to play Shaktimaan, reported Pinkvilla. According to the report, the Ram-Leela actor will play the titular role in the Basil Joseph directorial, which is said to go on floors in May of 2025. A source close to the actor told Pinkvilla, "Ranveer will undergo workshops to get into the part of Don. He considers this film as a big responsibility as he will be the third generation of Don after Amitabh Bachchan and Shah Rukh Khan. Farhan is targeting to take Don 3 on floors from August/September 2024.”

“Right after Don 3, it's time for Shaktimaan. The film has been in the writing stage for over 3 years now and the team has finally cracked a script that's worthy of doing justice to the legacy of Shaktimaan. The film will be directed by Basil Joseph, with Sony Pictures India and Sajid Nadiadwala as the producers,” Pinkvilla quoted a source as saying.

Meanwhile, Bollywood superstar Ranveer Singh and adult film actor Johnny Sins recently featured in an advertisement of a men's health brand. The advert is a spoof on overtly dramatised style of Indian TV shows. Many celebs gave a shout out to the ad. Priyanka Chopra dropped a skull and a palms up emoji in the comments section. Bollywood actor Vijay Varma commented, "Jethji helping Johnny wasn't on my 2024 bingo card." Arjun Kapoor wrote, "Baba you are bold and beautiful for doing this."

Watch the ad here:

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A post shared by Ranveer Singh (@ranveersingh)

On the work front, Ranveer Singh was last seen in the Karan Johar directorial, Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani. The actor, who secured a nomination in the Best Actor category for the Karan Johar directorial in Filmfare this year, could not win the award.

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