94% Plastic Recycled In 4 Hours: Scientists Unveil Breakthrough Method

In a groundbreaking development that could help address the global plastic crisis, scientists have unveiled a new method to break down plastic waste using moisture from the air. The process involves an inexpensive catalyst that effectively breaks down polyethylene terephthalate (PET), the most commonly used plastic in the polyester family. 

Once the PET bonds are broken, the material is exposed to ambient air, which converts it into monomers-basic building blocks of plastics. These monomers can then be recycled or upcycled into more valuable materials, offering a cleaner and more sustainable solution than existing recycling methods.

The innovative technique promises to be safer, cheaper, and more environmentally friendly, presenting a hopeful approach to creating a circular economy for plastics. The findings were recently published in Green Chemistry, a respected journal by the Royal Society of Chemistry.

"The US is the number one plastic polluter per capita, and we only recycle 5 percent of those plastics," said Northwestern's Yosi Kratish, the study's co-corresponding author. "There is a dire need for better technologies that can process different types of plastic waste. Most of the technologies that we have today melt down plastic bottles and downcycle them into lower-quality products. What's particularly exciting about our research is that we harnessed moisture from air to break down the plastics, achieving an exceptionally clean and selective process. By recovering the monomers, which are the basic building blocks of PET, we can recycle or even upcycle them into more valuable materials."

"Our study offers a sustainable and efficient solution to one of the world's most pressing environmental challenges: plastic waste," said Naveen Malik, the study's first author. "Unlike traditional recycling methods, which often produce harmful byproducts like waste salts and require significant energy or chemical inputs, our approach uses a solvent-free process that relies on trace moisture from ambient air. This makes it not only environmentally friendly but also highly practical for real-world applications."

An expert in plastic recycling, Kratish is a research assistant professor of chemistry at Northwestern's Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences. Kratish co-led the study with Tobin J. Marks, the Vladimir N. Ipatieff Professor of Catalytic Chemistry and Chemical and Biological Engineering and (by courtesy) Materials Science and Engineering at Northwestern Engineering. At the time of the research, Malik was an postdoctoral fellow in Marks' laboratory; now he is a research assistant professor at the SRM Institute of Science and Technology in India.

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Villarreal vs Real Madrid LIVE Streaming, La Liga: When And Where To Watch

Villarreal vs Real Madrid LIVE Streaming, La Liga: Fresh off beating Atletico Madrid in a nail-biting UEFA Champions League Round of 16 clash, Real Madrid will be hoping to stay right in the La Liga title mix as they take on Villarreal on Saturday. Real Madrid one point ahead of Atletico and level on points with Barcelona, although the latter have a game in hand. Villarreal, on the other net, are targetting fourth spot and direct qualification to the UEFA Champions League. They sit in fifth, five points behind Athletic Club, but have played a game less. Real Madrid will be hoping that their star players are fresh enough for the Villarreal tie after a marathon 120 minutes against Atletico.

Villarreal vs Real Madrid LIVE Streaming, La Liga 2024-25 LIVE Telecast: Check Where and How to Watch

When will the Villarreal vs Real Madrid, La Liga match take place?

The Villarreal vs Real Madrid, La Liga match will take place on Saturday, March 15 (IST).

Where will the Villarreal vs Real Madrid, La Liga match be held?

The Villarreal vs Real Madrid, La Liga match will be held at the Estadio de la Ceramica in Villarreal, Spain.

What time will the Villarreal vs Real Madrid, La Liga match start?

The Villarreal vs Real Madrid, La Liga match will start at 11:00 PM IST.

Which TV channels will show the live telecast of the Villarreal vs Real Madrid, La Liga match?

The Villarreal vs Real Madrid, La Liga match will not be televised live in India.

Where to follow the live streaming of the Villarreal vs Real Madrid, La Liga match?

The Villarreal vs Real Madrid, La Liga match will be live streamed on the GXR World app and website.

(All details are as per information provided by the broadcaster)

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Assam Congress Leader Arrested Over Social Media Post. Himanta Sarma Reacts

The arrest of Congress' Assam unit spokesperson, Reetam Singh, over a social media post has teed off a fresh war of words between the grand old party and the ruling BJP. 

Reetam Singh was on Saturday arrested for a social media post enquiring about the status of cases registered against three senior BJP leaders, including a former state chief and two serving MLAs.

The wife of BJP MLA Manab Deka filed a complaint against the Congress leader for a post on X two days ago. Reetam Singh had made a post on X on March 13 with a news report about three individuals being convicted by a court for a rape case in Dhemaji district in 2021.

He was arrested from his home in Guwahati by a team of Lakhimpur district police with assistance from the Guwahati Police.

"The arrest of my young colleague Reetam Singh for a perfectly reasonable social media post is worse than atrocious Mr. Chief Minister," Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh posted on X and tagged Himanta Sarma, the Chief Minister.

Responding to the post, Mr Sarma took a swipe at the Congress and doubled down on the action against Reetam Singh. 

"Sir, this case pertains to a caste-based insult directed at a Dalit woman. If you justify calling the husband of a Dalit woman a rapist as a 'perfectly reasonable' social media post, it speaks volumes about the direction in which you people have taken the Congress party," Mr Sarma posted on X. 

During the Congress leader's arrest he claimed that no warrant or notice was served on him.

Hours later, Deputy Leader of Congress in the Lok Sabha, Gaurav Gogoi, reached Reetam Singh's house and alleged that his colleague was dragged by police on a day when Union Home Minister Amit Shah was in the state.

"A team of Lakhimpur police arrived in Guwahati to take custody of Congress spokesperson Reetam Singh. When I reached his residence, I saw how he was brutally dragged away and not allowed to speak to me. The police denied me the right to talk to him despite repeated requests," said Mr Gogoi. 

"Just a few days ago, BJP workers brutally assaulted two Assam police constables in broad daylight, yet no action was taken. Why were those culprits not arrested? But when a Congress leader tweets something, the police act swiftly to arrest him as if he were a dreaded criminal," asked Mr Gogoi.

Mr Gogoi further claimed that the Assam police are being forced to act against political opponents, tarnishing their track record and putting them at risk of legal consequences. 

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Veteran Actor Deb Mukherjee, Filmmaker Ayan Mukerji's Father, Dies At 83

Veteran actor-filmmaker Deb Mukherjee, father of director Ayan Mukerji, died due to prolonged illness on Friday morning at his residence in suburban Mumbai. He was 83.

“We are deeply saddened to inform you of the passing of Mr Debu Mukherjee, an actor and driving force of the North Bombay Durga Puja. He left us this morning,” a statement issued by his representative said.

His last rites were performed at the Pawan Hans Crematorium in Juhu in suburban Mumbai.

In the 1960s and 1970s, Deb Mukherjee appeared in supporting roles in films like “Tu Hi Meri Zindagi”, “Abhinetri”, “Do Aankhen”, “Baton Baton Mein”, “Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikander”, “King Uncle”, and “Kaminey”. He also directed and produced the 1983 movie "Karate", starring Mithun Chakraborty, Kaajal Kiran, and Yogeeta Bali.

Mukherjee was part of the famous Samarth-Mukherjee family. He was the father-in-law of Ashutosh Gowariker and uncle of Bollywood actors Kajol and Rani Mukerji.

His mother, Satidevi, was the only sister of Ashok Kumar, Anup Kumar, and Kishore Kumar. His brothers were popular actor and filmmaker Joy Mukherjee and filmmaker Shomu Mukherjee, who married Bollywood actor Tanuja (mother of Kajol).

Mukherjee was married twice; his daughter Sunita from his first marriage is married to director Gowariker, and Ayan is his son from his second marriage.

Several family members and close friends, including Kajol, Rani Mukerji, Jaya Bachchan, Alia Bhatt, Ranbir Kapoor, Hrithik Roshan, and others, paid their last respects. 

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

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Punjab Leader Seen Scaling Gate To Evade Shooters, Was Killed Minutes Later

A Shiv Sena leader was chased and shot dead by the three bike-borne men in Punjab's Moga late Thursday night. A chilling CCTV video shows how he tried to evade the shooters just minutes before he was killed.

Mangat Rai alias Manga, who was the Moga district president of Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, had stepped out of his house on a scooter to buy milk when he was attacked. He dodged several bullets fired at him before ultimately being killed.

The first shot was fired around 10 pm, but it missed him and hit an 11-year-old boy who was crossing the area. Manga immediately fled the area on a two-wheeler.

In the CCTV footage, the Shiv Sena leader was seen trying to climb a locked gate to elude his attackers. The men, however, find him, and one of them fires at him, but the bullet misses him. He was then fired at by another man. The next frame shows the men appearing to flee the scene when they spot an approaching car. Rai was also seen running away. This time, however, the attackers gain on him and shoot him dead.

The attackers, in a video shared on Instagram, have claimed responsibility for the murder. They alleged they were upset with Mangat Rai because he used to threaten them and extort money.

The police, meanwhile, have registered a First Information Report (FIR) against six suspects.

"It is a case of personal rivalry. An FIR for murder has been registered against six suspects named by the family of the victim. They will be arrested soon," said Senior Superintendent of Police Ajay Gandhi.

Some outfits and family members of the victim blocked the Ferozepur National Highway, demanding the arrest of the accused. Slogans were raised against the AAP government, alleging a complete breakdown of the law and order situation in Punjab.

The agitators said the protest would continue until the culprits were arrested and the family was given a government job and financial assistance and that until then, Mangat Rai's last rites would not be performed.

Earlier, Mr Rai's daughter said that her father eft the house at around 8 pm on Thursday to get milk. "At 11 pm, someone informed us that my father was shot dead. We want justice and will do whatever we have to do for that," she said.

In another incident on the same night, three motorcycle riders entered a salon in Bagiana Basti around 9 pm on Thursday for a haircut and fired two shots at the owner, Devender Kumar. One bullet hit Kumar in the leg, and he was taken to Moga Civil Hospital for treatment and later referred to another hospital, police said.

Mangat Rai's shooters claimed this attack as well saying Kumar was targetted due to personal rivalry.

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Video: Inside Look At Jagan Reddy's 'Sheeshmahal' In Andhra Pradesh

Aam Aadmi Party chief Arvind Kejriwal's "Sheeshmahal" that was one of the key focus areas in last month's Delhi election, has stiff competition from a house built for former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy. Videos of the sea-facing mansion Visakhapatnam's on Rushikonda hill show opulence that's seldom seen in residences occupied by Chief Ministers.

The sea-facing building, dubbed Andhra's "Sheeshmahal" by critics, comprises four sprawling blocks over a 10-acre area.

The building in Rushikonda, which the ruling Telugu Desam Party of Chandrababu Naidu claims was intended initially to be a camp office for Mr Reddy, today has extravagant interiors with gold embellishments, Italian marble flooring, and plush furnishings, sparkling chandeliers, bathtubs.

Its staggering infrastructure includes paved roads and drainage system, bulk water supply, and a 100 KV power substation.

As in Delhi, the new government in Andhra Pradesh is in a quandary over how the building can be used.

The TDP claims that the project was pitched in various avatars at various stages of its development - a star hotel then a Chief Minister's camp office during and then a tourism project.

While it got the CRZ (Coastal Regulatory Zone) clearance from the central government in May 2021, there are allegations that half the Rushikonda hill has been demolished for its construction.

Before being pitched as a camp office of the Chief Minister, it was launched as a star hotel with a budget of Rs 91 crore. By its completion, the total cost has exceeded Rs 500 crore, the TDP has claimed.

Chief Minster Naidu has now called for a debate on the use of the building, opening  it for public viewing.

"This is a case study on how the former Chief Minister cheated courts, committed environmental violations and misused public money to lead a lavish life. There is a need for wide discussion on the existence of such leaders in politics, and whether we really need them," he has said.

"As of now, I have no idea of how to utilise the buildings and generate revenue to the government from them. The structures are not viable for the tourism department. A decision will be taken soon," Mr Naidu has said.

Arvind Kejriwal's official residence -- Flagstaff Road bungalow in Civil Lines -- which turned into potent ammunition in the hands of the BJP that cost him the election, had cost 33 crore for the renovation, up from an initial estimate of Rs 7.9 crore.

But its furnishings, according to a report by the Comptroller and Auditor General, would push up the cost hugely when factored in.
 "The real cost runs up to Rs 75-80 crore if the inventory of items in the bungalow is considered," the BJP's Virendra Sachdeva has claimed.

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In Setback For Trump, Musk, US Judge Orders Agencies To Rehire Fired Workers: Report

A US judge on Thursday ordered six federal agencies to rehire thousands of probationary workers fired as part of Donald Trump's push to slash the size of the government.

Judge William Alsup said the justification of "poor performance" for mass lay-offs was "a sham in order to try to avoid statutory requirements," the New York Times reported.

Ruling on a lawsuit brought by employee unions, Alsup ordered the departments of the Treasury, Veterans Affairs, Agriculture, Defense, Energy and Interior to reinstate anyone improperly fired.

"It is a sad day when our government would fire some good employee and say it was based on performance when they know good and well that's a lie," said Alsup at a hearing at the US District Court in San Francisco.

Since returning to the White House in January, Trump has taken an axe to the US government, cutting spending programs and firing tens of thousands of federal employees.

His actions have faced pushback from the courts, with several judges issuing injunctions intended to halt them.

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

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