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[🇺🇸] Washington DC Mid Air Crash yesterday at Reagan National

The Professional Aviation Safety Specialists has released the following statement on the plane-helicopter collision:

As are many in the tight-knit aviation community, PASS is shocked and saddened by the collision over National Airport in Washington, DC last night. It appears there were no survivors among the passengers and crew aboard American Eagle Flight 5342 and a US Army Black Hawk helicopter.

With heartfelt compassion, we mourn the lives of all the souls who perished last night and send our sympathies to their loved ones. PASS extends its deepest condolences to our fellow unions—the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA and the Air Line Pilots Association—who lost crew members in the crash. PASS represents many Army veterans at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the Department of Defense.

They are saddened to see three of their own killed during a training exercise.Before anyone speculates on the cause of the crash, the union asks that everyone allow first responders to continue their recovery mission and federal investigators to do their critical jobs. PASS stands ready to assist the FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board with their probe into the accident and to continue to improve the world’s largest, safest and most complex air traffic control system.

33m ago14.07 EST
Joanna Walters

Joanna Walters
A number of mainstream media outlets have named the pilot and first officer on the American Eagle flight that crashed as Jonathan Campos and Sam Lilley.

CNN, the Daily Mail, Fox and some local media have identified the two men and the Guardian is working on verifying the names itself.

Campos was just 34 and Lilley was only 28, it was reported.

From video, there appeared to be no discernible deviation in the lines that the Bombardier jet the two men were flying and the Black Hawk helicopter that the army was flying took before the collision and resulting fireball last night.

Lilley’s father Timothy talked of losing his son. “It hurts so bad I cannot even cry myself to sleep,” CNN reported.

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Updated at 14.12 EST
1h ago13.44 EST
Michael Sainato
The statement issued by Greg Regan and Shari Semelsberger, president and secretary-treasurer of the Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO (TTD), continues:

“As a nation, we are in mourning. From our capital city to Kansas and beyond, the news of Flight 5342 weighs heavy on the hearts of our citizens. We are forever grateful for the rescue and recovery efforts of emergency responders, including the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) members, who battled the icy waters of the Potomac throughout the night.”

They added: “We are also thinking of our nation’s dedicated air traffic control workforce, represented by the National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA), and the essential work they do every day to keep our flying skies safe.

“The days and weeks ahead are unthinkable for the individuals whose lives have been forever altered by this tragedy. Yet, we are a land of survivors. As we wait for the National Transportation Safety Board and Federal Aviation Administration to conclude its investigation, we urge everyone to refrain from speculating and to let the facts guide our path forward.”

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Updated at 14.13 EST
1h ago13.30 EST
Michael Sainato
The leaders of the transportation labor federation that represents aviation unions and workers across America have released a statement on the crash:

Greg Regan and Shari Semelsberger
, president and secretary-treasurer of the Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO (TTD), repsonded to the mid-air collision of American Eagle flight 5342, en route from Wichita, Kansas, to Washington DC, and a military helicopter on a routine training flight near Ronald Reagan National airport.

The statement said:

“Yesterday, America experienced the darkest day in aviation history since the fatal Colgan Air plane crash in 2009. We are devastated by the loss of all 64 souls onboard Flight 5342, including 60 passengers and 4 crew members, as well as the three service members aboard the Black Hawk helicopter. Our hearts are with the families, friends, and loved ones of all who perished. May their memories be a blessing.”

It continued: “The aviation industry is widely unionized, and a loss of this magnitude is felt across our entire labor family. An injury to one is an injury to all. We extend our deepest condolences to our siblings at the Association of Flight Attendants (AFA) and the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA), whose members were crewing the plane.

“Our sympathies are also with the United Association (UA) Steamfitters Local 602, who had four members on the flight, as well as the global figure skating community, whose skaters, coaches, and loved ones were also among the victims.”
There’s more to come from this statement.

An American Eagle flight takes off from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in front of the wreckage of a commercial airplane that collided with a military helicopter, in Arlington, Virginia, USA, 30 January 2025.
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An American Eagle flight takes off from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in front of the wreckage of a commercial airplane that collided with a military helicopter, in Arlington, Virginia, USA, 30 January 2025. Photograph: Jim Lo Scalzo/EPA

2h ago13.01 EST
Here are some more images coming through the newswires of recovery efforts currently under way in the Potomac River:

a person with jacket that says 'fbi' with debris
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Flight 5342 collided with a Black Hawk helicopter while approaching Reagan National airport on Wednesday. Photograph: Kevin Lamarque/Reuters
boats in a river
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Emergency response units search the crash site. Photograph: Kayla Bartkowski/Getty Images
Investigators gather pieces of wreckage
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Investigators gather pieces of wreckage along the Potomac River. Photograph: Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP/Getty Images
Investigators carry pieces of wreckage
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Investigators carry pieces of wreckage from the waters of the Potomac River. Photograph: Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP/Getty Images
river with boats
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Search and rescue teams work in the aftermath of crash. Photograph: Carlos Barría/ReutersShare

Updated at 13.11 EST
2h ago12.37 EST
The first confirmed victims of the Washington DC plane crash include figure skating champions.

The Guardian’s Anna Betts reports:

Among the earliest confirmed victims of the American Airlines jet carrying 60 people that collided in midair with an Army Black Hawk helicopter carrying three soldiers were two figure skaters returning from the US figure skating championships, along with two of their coaches and two of their parents.

The Skating Club of Boston said in a statement on Thursday that Jinna Han and Spencer Lane, along with parents Jin Han and Christine Lane and coaches Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov were aboard the plane on Wednesday night.

The group was returning from the US figure skating national development camp, a program for “young competitive skaters of tomorrow”, following last week’s US championships in Wichita, Kansas.

“Our sport and this club have suffered a horrible loss with this tragedy,” said Doug Zeghibe, the CEO and director of the Skating Club of Boston. “Skating is a tight-knit community where parents and kids come together six or seven days a week to train and work together. Everyone is like family.

“We are devastated and completely at a loss for words.”


For the full story, click here:


First confirmed victims of Washington DC plane crash include US figure skating champions
Read more

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2h ago12.14 EST

Interim summary​

Here’s a look at where things currently stand:

  • No survivors are expected following the crash and 27 bodies have been recovered from the plane and one from the helicopter by first responders working in what the Washington DC fire and emergency medical services chief, John A Donnelly, called “extremely frigid conditions”. Donnelly said he is confident they will ultimately be able to recover all of the bodies from the crash.
  • Donald Trump questioned the role of the helicopter pilot, air traffic control, as well as faulted Joe Biden as he injected politics into his crash response. In response to a question on why he believes DEI is responsible, Trump said: “Because I have common sense and unfortunately a lot of people don’t. We want brilliant people doing this. This is a major chess game at the highest level.”
  • Donald Trump also said that authorities “will be giving [the list of passenger names] very soon”. He added that he will be announcing in a couple of hours the other nationalities who were on board the American Airlines plane.
  • In a video address on Thursday, defense secretary Pete Hegseth said that the army helicopter crew involved in the plane-helicopter collision was “fairly experienced”. Describing the flight as an “annual proficiency training flight,” Hegseth said: “They did have night vision goggles.”
  • The Skating Club of Boston has confirmed that several of its members were on board the American Airlines flight when it collided with the Army helicopter. In a statement on Instagram, Doug Zeghibe, the CEO of the club said: “Of the skaters, coaches and parents on the plane, we believe six were from The Skating Club of Boston. We are devastated and completely at a loss for words.”
  • The Kremlin also confirmed that the figure skaters Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov were onboard. The pair, who were married, won the world championships in pairs figure skating in 1994 and lived in the US.
  • Transportation secretary Sean Duffy said that the plane crash “was preventable”. Speaking to reporters on Thursday morning, Duffy said: “We’re going to wait for all the information to come in from this vantage point but to back up what the president said and what I’ve seen so far, do I think this was preventable? Absolutely.”
  • DC fire and EMS chief John A Donnelly says he is confident they will ultimately be able to recover all of the bodies from the crash. He added: “I’m confident that we will do that. It will take us a little bit of time. It may involve some more equipment.”
  • American Airlines CEO Robert Eisen said: “At this time we don’t know why the military aircraft came into the path of the PSA aircraft.” He urged friends and family of those affected to call 1-800-679-8215, which is the helpline the airline has set up.
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Updated at 12.23 EST
3h ago11.56 EST

Trump turns briefing into rant against diversity policies​

David Smith

David Smith
Trump continued to turn what might have been a sombre briefing into a baseless rant against DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion) despite no evidence of a link with the plane crash.

The president was backed to the hilt by the transportation secretary, Sean Duffy, who said “we can only accept the best and the brightest” in positions affecting passenger safety, and the defence secretary, Pete Hegseth, who echoed: “The era of DEI is gone at the defence department and we need the best and brightest.”

Trump at the briefing.
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Trump at the briefing. Photograph: REX/Shutterstock
Then came the vice-president, JD Vance, who claimed “we want to hire the best people” who are “actually competent enough to do the job”.

Trump returned to the lectern to claim that “very powerful tests” for competence in air traffic control were “terminated” by Joe Biden.

CNN’s Kaitlin Collins asked: “Aren’t you getting ahead of the investigation?” Trump replied: “No, I don’t think so at all ... I don’t think that’s a smart question. I’m surprised, coming from you.”

Another reporter asked why Trump believes DEI is responsible. He said: “Because I have common sense and unfortunately a lot of people don’t. We want brilliant people doing this. This is a major chess game at the highest level.”

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Updated at 13.42 EST
3h ago11.49 EST
Donald Trump said that authorities “will be giving [the list of passenger names] very soon”.

He added that he would announce in a couple of hours the other nationalities who were on board the American Airlines plane.

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Updated at 11.53 EST
3h ago11.42 EST
Pete Hegseth, the defense secretary, is now speaking.

“There was some sort of an elevation issue that we have immediately begun investigating at the DOD and army level, Army CID on the ground,” Hegseth said.

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Updated at 11.48 EST
3h ago11.41 EST
Sean Duffy, the transportation secretary, is now speaking.

He said: “When Americans take off in airplanes, they should expect to land at their destination. That didn’t happen yesterday. That’s not acceptable, and so we will not accept excuses, but will not accept passing the buck.”

“We are going to take responsibility at the Department of Transportation and the FAA to make sure we have the reforms that have been dictated by President Trump in place to make sure that these mistakes do not happen again,” Duffy added.

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Updated at 11.52 EST
3h ago11.39 EST

Trump blames 'confluence of bad decisions' for collision​

“You had a confluence of bad decisions that were made,” Donald Trump said.

“And you have people that lost their lives,” he added.

“One thing we do know, there was a lot of vision, and people should have been able to see that. You know, at what point do you stop at? What do you say, well, that plane’s getting a little bit close?” Trump continued.

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Updated at 11.42 EST
3h ago11.37 EST
“We had a situation where you had a helicopter that had the ability to stop … You can stop a helicopter very quickly. It had the ability to go up or down, it had the ability to turn. And the turn it made was not the correct turn, obviously, and did somewhat the opposite of what it was told,” Donald Trump said.

“They shouldn’t have been at the same height, because if it was at the same height, you could have gone under it or over it, and nobody realized, or they didn’t say, that it’s at the same height … It could have been 1000ft higher, it could have been 200ft lower, but it was exactly at the same height and somebody should have been able to point that out,” he added.

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Updated at 11.54 EST
3h ago11.34 EST

Trump says US faces 'hour of anguish' after no survivors in plane crash​

David Smith

David Smith
Wearing a dark blue suit, white shirt and red tie, Donald Trump entered the White House briefing room at 11.21am, accompanied by defence secretary Pete Hegseth and transportation secretary Sean Duffy, both new to their jobs.

“I’d like to request a moment of silence for the victims and their families please,” Trump said.

After the pause, and in softer, graver tones than usual, he resumed: “I speak to you this morning in an hour of anguish for her nation.”

Trump provided a description of the incident, noting: “Sadly, there are no survivors.” He described it as “a tragedy of terrible proportions” that has “really shaken a lot of people”.

The president added: “We are all heartbroken, we are all searching for answers. That icy, icy Potomac ... cold water.”

Trump said “we have very strong opinions and ideas” about how the accident happened then reverted to taking political swipes at Barack Obama and Joe Biden over air traffic controller standards. “The word talented. You have to be naturally talented geniuses.”

In a harsher tone than before, he is now complaining about diversity and inclusion in FAA programmes and describing former transportation secretary Pete Buttigieg as a “disaster” who has a “good line in bullshit”.

Analysis


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South Asia India's consumer market to become world's second largest by 2030: Report

India's consumer market to become world's second largest by 2030: Report​

ANI | Updated: Jan 30, 2025 09:40 IST

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New Delhi [India], January 30 (ANI): India's consumer market is on track to expand 46 per cent by 2030, making it the second-largest globally, according to the Edelweiss Mutual Fund report
Rising incomes, a young workforce, and rapid urbanization are expected to drive consumption growth across the country. According to projections, consumer spending in India will rise to USD 4.3 trillion by 2030, up from USD 2.4 trillion in 2024.
This growth is largely fuelled by India's expanding middle and upper-middle-income population, which is leading to higher purchasing power and increased discretionary spending.
India's median age of 28 years is significantly lower than China's 39 years and the US's 38 years, positioning it as a major driver of global consumption.
By 2030, India's working-age population (15-64 years) will reach 100 crore, making up one-fifth of the global workforce.
The dependency ratio--which reflects the proportion of dependents to the working-age population--will decline from 47 per cent in 2023 to 31 per cent by 2031, allowing for higher disposable income and increased consumer spending.
Women's participation in the labour force has also seen significant improvement, rising from 23 per cent in 2018 to 42 per cent in 2024.
This increase in dual-income households is leading to higher spending on lifestyle and premium products, further strengthening India's consumer economy.
Urbanization, digital transformation, and financial inclusion are rapidly reshaping India's consumption patterns. As aspirations converge across urban and rural areas, improved access to goods and services is turning intent into actual spending.
Additionally, the country is witnessing two major shifts in consumption: a transition from unbranded to branded and from unorganized to organized retail. This shift is expected to unlock USD 600 billion in additional consumer spending in the coming years.
Urbanization is pushing demand for convenience-driven consumption, while digitization and new-age consumption trends are transforming buying behaviours through the rise of e-commerce and digital payments.
Additionally, easy credit availability is making it simpler for consumers to spend on aspirational goods, while premiumization--the growing demand for high-end and branded products--is shaping the next phase of consumption. These factors combined are creating a strong foundation for India's consumer market expansion.
The quick commerce sector is poised for rapid growth, driven by urbanization, rising consumer expectations, and faster, localized deliveries.
Meanwhile, rural demand for consumer durables remains an untapped opportunity due to low penetration. As rural incomes rise and digital access improves, this segment will become a key driver of consumption growth in India.
Above all, India's per capita income has been growing at 8.7 per cent CAGR since 2015, fuelling increased discretionary spending. With a shift towards branded products and organized retail, India's consumer market is on a trajectory of historic expansion.The report is part of “Edelweiss Consumption Fund” which will open for subscription on Friday.(ANI)
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South Asia Rare gem: Was Hinduism Invented? Britons, Indians, and the Colonial Construction of Religion

A rare book on the fictional concept of "hinduism" and how the British invented it over time https://academic.oup.com/book/6283?login=false

Is “Hinduism” a legitimate term for the widely varying religious practices of India that are commonly called by that name? The appearance of “religion” as a category comprising a set of practices and beliefs allegedly found in every culture dates from the modern period, emerging as Europe expanded trade abroad and established its first colonial relations in the 17th and 18th centuries. Hinduism emerged in the encounter between modernity’s greatest colonial power, Great Britain, and the jewel of her imperial crown, India.

Around the turn of the 19th century, officials of the British colonial state and Christian missionaries helped cement the idea that regional and sectarian traditions in India possessed a sufficient coherence to be construed as a single, systematic religion. This encounter was deeply shaded by the articulation and development of the concept of “religion”, and it produced the now common idea that Hinduism is a unified religion.

The Bengal Presidency, home of Calcutta — capital of colonial India and center of economic gravity in the eastern hemisphere — emerged as the locus of ongoing and direct contact between Indians and colonial officials, journalists, and missionaries. Drawing on a large body of previously untapped literature, including documents from the Church Missionary Society and Bengali newspapers, this book presents a portrait of the process by which “Hinduism” came into being. It argues against the common idea that the modern construction of religion in colonial India was simply a fabrication of Western Orientalism and missionaries.

Rather, it involved the active agency and engagement of Indian authors who interacted, argued, and responded to British authors over key religious issues such as image-worship, satī, tolerance, and conversion. This book retells the story of Christians’ and Hindus’ reception of each other in the early 19th century in a way that takes seriously the power of their religious worldviews to shape the encounter itself and help produce the very religions that colonialism thought it “discovered”. While post-colonial theory can illuminate issues of power and domination, the history of religions reminds us of the continuing importance of the sacred and spiritual dimensions of the peoples under colonial rule.
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[🇮🇳] India to launch its own foundational AI model in few months, over 18000 GPUs deployed: Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw

India to launch its own foundational AI model in few months, over 18000 GPUs deployed: Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw​

Story by Mehul Reuben Das
• 1h • 3 min read

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With an outlay of Rs 10,371.92 crore, the IndiaAI mission is aimed at creating a scalable AI computing ecosystem to support India’s rapidly growing AI startups and research community. Image Credit: Reuters

With an outlay of Rs 10,371.92 crore, the IndiaAI mission is aimed at creating a scalable AI computing ecosystem to support India’s rapidly growing AI startups and research community. Image Credit: Reuters© Copyright (C) https://firstpost.com. All Rights Reserved.
India is making significant strides in the field of artificial intelligence (AI), with Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announcing that the country will develop its own foundational AI model within the next few months. This plan forms part of a series of efforts designed to place India at the forefront of the AI revolution. Vaishnaw also revealed that 18,693 graphics processing units (GPUs) have been empanelled under a common computing facility to help build the necessary infrastructure for AI development, as per a report by the Press Trust of India (PTI).


The minister highlighted that the initiative aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of making modern technology accessible to everyone, ensuring that AI solutions are affordable and widely available. To address global privacy concerns, Vaishnaw assured that AI services, including those associated with DeepSeek, will be hosted on Indian servers, ensuring that data security remains in Indian hands.



Building a national AI infrastructure​

India’s ambition to create its own AI model is underpinned by the establishment of a robust computing infrastructure. With the deployment of 18,000 GPUs, India is laying the foundation for an AI model designed to meet the unique linguistic, economic, and social needs of the country. The establishment of AI data centres in Odisha will further strengthen this infrastructure, ensuring that the country has the resources needed to drive AI innovation.

Related video: 2025 set to be bullish for Indian tech (WION)

The IndiaAI mission, which received Cabinet approval in March 2024, is a key part of this push. With an outlay of Rs 10,371.92 crore, the mission is aimed at creating a scalable AI computing ecosystem to support India’s rapidly growing AI startups and research community. The mission is also focused on fostering public-private partnerships that will drive AI research and development across the nation.



AI innovation for key sectors​

A major focus of India’s AI strategy is the development of models tailored to critical sectors such as healthcare, agriculture, and governance. Through the IndiaAI Innovation Centre, India aims to create Large Multimodal Models (LMMs) that address sector-specific challenges, empowering AI-driven solutions in areas that directly impact the country’s development.


Another key initiative is the IndiaAI Datasets Platform, which will provide easy access to high-quality, non-personal datasets for researchers and startups. This platform will play a vital role in accelerating AI innovations across industries, enabling businesses to develop applications that cater specifically to India’s needs.



Public-private partnerships and the AI marketplace​

The IndiaAI mission also plans to establish an AI marketplace that will offer AI as a service. This marketplace will include pre-trained models available for Indian innovators to use in their projects. The platform aims to make AI more accessible and promote its adoption across industries, boosting India’s AI ecosystem.


Earlier this month, a technical panel from the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) met with 13 companies that submitted bids to provide AI compute and cloud services for the IndiaAI Mission. This panel, including officials from MeitY, the National Informatics Centre (NIC), and several IITs, will select the right partners to drive the mission forward.

With these efforts, India is poised to become a global leader in AI, building a strong ecosystem that will support innovation and drive solutions tailored to the nation’s needs.
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[🇨🇦] India Has No Role': Report Finds No Evidence of India's Involvement in Nijjar's Killing- N18G

'India Has No Role': Report Finds No Evidence of India's Involvement in Nijjar's Killing- N18G​


A Canadian commission report has concluded that there is "no definitive link" between the Indian government and the killing of Canadian Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. This finding contradicts earlier statements by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who alleged that Indian agents were involved in Nijjar's murder in British Columbia. The report, authored by Commissioner Marie-Josée Hogue, also addresses the issue of disinformation, suggesting that such tactics are often employed as retaliatory measures when a state's interests are challenged. While the report does not establish a direct connection between India and the killing, it highlights the potential for disinformation campaigns in the aftermath of such incidents.
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[🇮🇳] Global Consumption Shifting To India & Emerging Asia From America & Europe: McKinsey Report

Global Consumption Shifting To India & Emerging Asia From America & Europe: McKinsey Report​

Curated By :
Last Updated:January 28, 2025, 11:16 IST

India and emerging Asia are poised to account for 30 per cent of global consumption at purchasing-power parity (PPP) by 2050, a substantial increase from just 12 per cent in 1997, says a report by McKinsey Global Institute.​




Developing countries will provide a growing share of global labour supply and of consumption, making their productivity and prosperity vital for global growth.
The global consumption pools are witnessing a significant shift from regions like North America and Western Europe to India and emerging Asia, according to a report by McKinsey Global Institute.

This transformation highlights the growing importance of these regions in the global economic landscape, driven by rising incomes, changing demographics, and evolving consumer preferences.

The report said, “Consumption pools are shifting from North America and Western Europe to emerging Asia and India… Developing countries will provide a growing share of global labour supply and of consumption, making their productivity and prosperity vital for global growth."

According to the report, India and emerging Asia are poised to account for 30 per cent of global consumption at purchasing-power parity (PPP) by 2050, a substantial increase from just 12 per cent in 1997. In contrast, Advanced Asia, North America, and Western Europe are projected to contribute only 30 per cent to global consumption, a sharp decline from their combined 60 per cent share in 1997.

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This shift, the report noted, carries profound implications for businesses worldwide. Companies in both developed and developing regions must adapt to this evolving market dynamic. However, the report cautioned that navigating these markets may present challenges. Many later-wave countries, including India, have complex legal and governance environments and are prone to conflicts, making market entry and expansion more difficult.


Additionally, affordability will become a critical factor as businesses target a larger consumer base in these regions.

Over the next 25 years, countries in later-wave regions are expected to drive more than half of global consumption, thanks to their fast-growing young populations and increasing incomes.
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[🇧🇩] Hasina’s Awami League calls for nationwide strike, labels Yunus govt ‘sponsors of radical militancy

Hasina’s Awami League calls for nationwide strike, labels Yunus govt ‘sponsors of radical militancy’​

Story by Debdutta Chakraborty


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Hasina’s Awami League calls for nationwide strike, labels Yunus govt ‘sponsors of radical militancy’

Hasina’s Awami League calls for nationwide strike, labels Yunus govt ‘sponsors of radical militancy’
New Delhi: The Awami League has announced a series of protests in Bangladesh, intensifying its calls for the resignation of the interim government led by Prof. Muhammad Yunus.

The campaign, aimed at addressing what the opposition party describes as “oppression and misrule,” is scheduled to begin on 1 February and culminate in a nationwide blockade and a strict, all-day hartal on 16 and 18 February, respectively.


In a statement released late Tuesday on its official Facebook page, the party accused the current government of undermining the country’s democracy and neglecting the values of the 1971 Liberation War, stating that “human rights are being plundered,” and the “rule of law has collapsed”. The Sheikh Hasina-led party also called for the removal of individuals who it alleged were “sponsors of radical militancy”.

The note refers to Chief Adviser Mohammad Yunus as “a fascist” who “forcibly usurped Bangladesh”. The Awami League’s statement emphasized that the protests were a response to the current political climate, which it says has seen the country’s democracy “exiled”.

“Yunus and his associates are burning in the fire of revenge today. Remove the sponsors of radical militancy and their associates and save Bangladesh. The country’s democracy is in exile today,” the statement, originally in Bengali, says.


The series of protests will kick off with leaflet distribution from 1 February to 5 February, followed by rallies and marches on 6 February and 10 February across the country. On 16 February, the party will organise a nationwide blockade, and on 18 February, a dawn-to-dusk hartal (general strike) is planned across Bangladesh.

It further demanded the withdrawal of charges against party leaders, including those related to the International Crimes Tribunal, calling the ongoing trials against the Awami League figures “farcical.”

The party’s leader, Sheikh Hasina, who has been in India since fleeing Bangladesh after the Awami League was ousted from power on 5 August last year, was notably referred to as the “Prime Minister” in the release.

“The spirit and values of the Liberation War have been abandoned. The rule of law has collapsed. In this situation, at the call of the greatest Bengali of all time, the daughter of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu, the Honorable Prime Minister and President of the Bangladesh Awami League, the people’s leader Sheikh Hasina, let us build a mass movement to restore democracy and re-establishing Bangladesh with the aspirations of the great Liberation War,” the statement reads.


The party had previously planned mass protests in November but was unable to follow through in the wake of the clashes with the Students Against Discrimination, the group that played a crucial role in ousting Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s government, in Dhaka.

After the violence, the interim government had come out with a statement declaring that it would not allow Hasina’s party to proceed with the rally.

In the statement, the Awami League also made clear that it would escalate the protests if the government attempted to block its events. “If any obstruction is made in these programmes to realise the political and democratic rights of the country’s people, more strict programmes will be announced,” it warned.

The statement comes days after Mahfuz Anam, a key adviser to the interim government, announced that the Awami League would be excluded from contesting elections in the future.


At a street rally in Chandpur district on 25 January, Anam, a prominent leader of the Anti-Discrimination Movement, declared that the elections will be contested among “pro-Bangladesh groups only”, adding that the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and the Jamaat-e-Islami would be permitted to carry out political activities in the country.

“One of these groups will establish future governance through a fair electoral process. However, the rehabilitation of the Awami League will not be allowed in this country,” Anam said.

(Edited by Tony Rai)
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South Asia Ramayana: The Legend of Prince Rama' takes theatres by storm in stunning 4K!

Ramayana: The Legend of Prince Rama' takes theatres by storm in stunning 4K!​

Story by Statesman Web
• 4d • 1 min read

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'Ramayana: The Legend of Prince Rama' takes theatres by storm in stunning 4K!

'Ramayana: The Legend of Prince Rama' takes theatres by storm in stunning 4K!
Indian cinema lovers are in for a treat as ‘Ramayana: The Legend of Prince Rama’ arrives in theatres today, marking a groundbreaking moment in the country’s film history.

This iconic Japanese anime adaptation of the Ramayana has achieved the largest-ever release for a Japanese film in India, spanning over 600 screens nationwide.

The film is a visually stunning retelling of the revered Indian epic, blending anime artistry with the timeless story of duty, relationships, and the victory of good over evil.

Directed by Koichi Sasaki and Ram Mohan, the movie’s Indian adaptations feature the creative expertise of Shri V. Vijayendra Prasad, the mastermind behind hits like ‘RRR’ and ‘Baahubali’.

Ahead of its theatrical release, the film made headlines with a unique pre-release screening at the Maha Kumbh Mela, the world’s largest human gathering.



This historic event saw over 200 schoolchildren attend the screening, making it the first film to debut at this globally renowned festival.

Distributed by Geek Pictures India, AA Films, and Excel Entertainment, the movie is available in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, and English. For the first time, audiences can experience the epic in 4K resolution, promising a visual spectacle like no other.

Whether you’re revisiting the story of Prince Rama or introducing it to a new generation, ‘Ramayana: The Legend of Prince Rama’ offers a cinematic journey.

Book your tickets now to be part of this historic release!
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South Asia India Dethrones China, Europe to Capture Africa’s Motorcycle Market | Firstpost America | N18G

India Dethrones China, Europe to Capture Africa’s Motorcycle Market | Firstpost America | N18G​


India Dethrones China, Europe to Capture Africa’s Motorcycle Market | Firstpost America | N18G The two-wheeler market in Africa is making rapid strides. The Market had a valuation of $8 Billion last year and is expected to grow to $11 Billion by 2030. Once dominated by European and Chinese automobile makers, the African market is now dominated by Indian firms. Indian two-wheeler makers like Bajaj, TVS, Hero Motocorp and Royal Enfield have captured more than half of the two-wheeler market. This is because, they provide cost-effective, reliable and durable motorcycles that have become the go-to bikes for many in Africa. Countries like Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana, Uganda, and South Africa have seen a stark rise in demand for Indian motorcycles. Unlike China, Indian firms have also setup bike assembly plants in African countries, giving employment to locals.


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South Asia IIT Madras to host Asia's first global hyperloop competition in February 2025

IIT Madras to host Asia's first global hyperloop competition in February 2025​

Story by India Today Education Desk
• 18h • 2 min read
In this article
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IIT Madras to host Asia's first global hyperloop competition in February 2025

IIT Madras to host Asia's first global hyperloop competition in February 2025
The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT Madras) will host the first-ever Asia edition of the Global Hyperloop Competition from February 21 to 25, 2025. The event will bring innovators, researchers, and industry leaders together from across the globe to accelerate the future of transportation.

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Organised in collaboration with IITM Pravartak and SAEIndia, and supported by the Ministry of Railways, Government of India, the competition aims to encourage and demonstrate revolutionary Hyperloop technologies at a global level. The event will take place at IIT Madras' state-of-the-art Hyperloop test facility, constructed with support from Indian Railways, ArcelorMittal, L&T, and Hindalco.

FUTURE OF HIGH-SPEED TRANSPORTATION​

Hyperloop is, in fact, known as the fifth mode of transport. It is a tube-based transportation method where ultra-fast pods travel through low-pressure vacuum tubes at speeds higher than 1,000 km/h. In 2013, Elon Musk introduced this future concept through the whitepaper Hyperloop Alpha, which aims to revolutionise sustainable transit systems worldwide.

Professor Satya Chakravarthy, Faculty Advisor at Hyperloop IIT Madras, said, "The GHC is a testament to what students can achieve when given the right opportunities and platforms. Our vision goes beyond competitionâwe aim to inspire and equip the next generation to redefine what's possible in transportation."

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A GLOBAL COLLABORATION FOR INNOVATION​

These events will form platforms for global cooperation, and will attract participation from stakeholders within the United States, Europe, Turkey, and other regions. It aims to inspire young engineers and designers to challenge known transportation innovations.

IIT Madras has an active student-led program for the Hyperloop; here, student head Pranav Singhal shares his take on the transforming event: "The Global Hyperloop Competition epitomises our vision to develop multidisciplinary collaboration and innovation in India. It not only marks the beginning of 450-meter testing facility in Thaiyur but will be a flagship test facility globally."

Approximately 400 participants will compete in the competition, consisting of three segments designed to be thrilling and inspirational:

  • Pod demonstration: Competitors will demonstrate their pod prototypes related to the Hyperloop, which will reflect advanced speed, stability, and safety in relation to real-world tests conducted on the cutting-edge track at IIT Madras.
  • Hyperloop innoQuest: A case study-based competition touching upon real-world issues regarding the implementation of Hyperloop technology.
  • DesignX: An open forum where design enthusiasts can pitch innovative ideas to propel Hyperloop applications forward.
This landmark event will be a beacon of innovation and collaboration, empowering the next generation of engineers and visionaries to reimagine the future of mobility. Innovators and change makers around the world are now welcome to join in this pioneering effort.

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Story by India Today Education Desk
• 18h • 2 min read

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IIT Madras to host Asia's first global hyperloop competition in February 2025

IIT Madras to host Asia's first global hyperloop competition in February 2025
The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT Madras) will host the first-ever Asia edition of the Global Hyperloop Competition from February 21 to 25, 2025. The event will bring innovators, researchers, and industry leaders together from across the globe to accelerate the future of transportation.


Organised in collaboration with IITM Pravartak and SAEIndia, and supported by the Ministry of Railways, Government of India, the competition aims to encourage and demonstrate revolutionary Hyperloop technologies at a global level. The event will take place at IIT Madras' state-of-the-art Hyperloop test facility, constructed with support from Indian Railways, ArcelorMittal, L&T, and Hindalco.

FUTURE OF HIGH-SPEED TRANSPORTATION​

Hyperloop is, in fact, known as the fifth mode of transport. It is a tube-based transportation method where ultra-fast pods travel through low-pressure vacuum tubes at speeds higher than 1,000 km/h. In 2013, Elon Musk introduced this future concept through the whitepaper Hyperloop Alpha, which aims to revolutionise sustainable transit systems worldwide.

Professor Satya Chakravarthy, Faculty Advisor at Hyperloop IIT Madras, said, "The GHC is a testament to what students can achieve when given the right opportunities and platforms. Our vision goes beyond competition we aim to inspire and equip the next generation to redefine what's possible in transportation."


A GLOBAL COLLABORATION FOR INNOVATION​

These events will form platforms for global cooperation, and will attract participation from stakeholders within the United States, Europe, Turkey, and other regions. It aims to inspire young engineers and designers to challenge known transportation innovations.

IIT Madras has an active student-led program for the Hyperloop; here, student head Pranav Singhal shares his take on the transforming event: "The Global Hyperloop Competition epitomises our vision to develop multidisciplinary collaboration and innovation in India. It not only marks the beginning of 450-meter testing facility in Thaiyur but will be a flagship test facility globally."

Approximately 400 participants will compete in the competition, consisting of three segments designed to be thrilling and inspirational:

  • Pod demonstration: Competitors will demonstrate their pod prototypes related to the Hyperloop, which will reflect advanced speed, stability, and safety in relation to real-world tests conducted on the cutting-edge track at IIT Madras.
  • Hyperloop innoQuest: A case study-based competition touching upon real-world issues regarding the implementation of Hyperloop technology.
  • DesignX: An open forum where design enthusiasts can pitch innovative ideas to propel Hyperloop applications forward.
This landmark event will be a beacon of innovation and collaboration, empowering the next generation of engineers and visionaries to reimagine the future of mobility. Innovators and change makers around the world are now welcome to join in this pioneering effort.
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South Asia Dark truth about Indian economy

@Vsdoc @Paitoo @Sharma Ji @Krishna with Flute


India's Household Consumption is Broken

A SIMPLIFIED EXPLAINER

SYMPTOM: Stock market is going down.

DISEASE: The Indian government has released the Household Consumption Expenditure Survey 2023-24, which shows that inflation-adjusted growth in household consumption is only 3.5% Y-o-Y.

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?

1. Non-Export Economy: India is a domestic consumption-driven economy. We don’t have any net exports (exports minus imports). Rather, we only run a slight trade deficit every year. So, in net effect, we don’t sell anything to the world. Indian companies sell their goods and services mostly to our own people in India.

2. Overconfidence in Domestic Consumption: India has not cared to build an export-competitive economy because we kept saying we have 140 crore consumers in India, so our companies don’t need to sell to the rest of the world. Rather the world needs us.

3. K-Shaped Stagnation: If the top 10 crore (100 million) high-income Indians (Indian corporates + their employees) want to remain rich, they have to ensure that the remaining 130 crore (1.3 billion) Indians at least have enough money to buy the goods and services that the top 10 crore sell to them.

4. Raghuram Rajan: Last week in Davos, former RBI governor Raghuram Rajan said in an interview (available on YouTube) – “Something is broken in India, and to me it looks like household consumption is broken.”

5. Arvind Subramanian: One year ago, former Chief Economic Advisor, Arvind Subramanian said: “It is absolutely mystifying to me that India’s GDP is growing at 7.5%, while household consumption is at 3%. I simply cannot understand this. The numbers don’t add up.”

6. Consumption is Our Holy Grail: Household consumption constitutes roughly 60% of India’s GDP. Remaining 40% comes from government expenditure (salaries, subsidies, social transfers etc.) and private and public investment in infrastructure and capital goods.

For the GDP to grow at 7.5% – if the household consumption remains at 3% – the public and private investment in India will roughly have to grow by 15% yearly. That is impossible without accumulating high debt and very high inflation, if consumption continues to stagnate at low levels.

7. Rathin Roy: Three days ago, on his X account, former Member of the PM’s Economic Advisory Council, Rathin Roy, re-posted his 8-year old article with the comments: “Every sentence I wrote then, still holds true today.”

The essence of his article was: “Inclusive growth (means, growth for 140 crores, and not 10 crore Indians) is the only solution. But we have made a fundamental policy choice that only a few people will benefit from India’s growth story, while the rest will be helped by government intervention.”

8. Abhijit Banerjee: On October 14, 2019, during his press conference at MIT campus after the announcement that he had won the Nobel Prize for Economics, Abhijit Banerjee said:

“The National Sample Survey data shows that the household consumption in India between 2014 and 2017 has slightly gone down (means, people are getting poorer and consuming less).

And that's the first time such a thing has happened in many, many, many, many, many years, so that's a very glaring warning sign."

9. Consumption Report Rejected: On 15 Nov. 2019, the government of India rejected its own Household Consumption Survey report 2017-18, citing discrepancies. At that time, this large-scale survey was conducted once every five years in India.

The report was, however, leaked in the press, and the press said that household consumption fell by 3.7% in 2017-18 compared to 2011-12, marking the first-ever such fall in over four decades.

10. No Survey for the Next 5 Years: Once the 2017-18 report was junked, no survey was conducted for the next five years. Then in 2022-23, the government changed the methodology of the national household consumption survey, which makes it difficult to compare data.

Nevertheless, data from the latest 2023-24 report (it is now annual) is cited at the very top of this post (above point # 1).

11. Asian Paints and Nestle India: Last year, Asian Paints MD Amit Syngle said that India’s GDP growth and the consumption growth of paints seem to have lost their correlation – which was historically always there.

Nestle MD Suresh Narayanan said: “The middle class of the country seems to be shrinking.” (In other words, some people from the middle income group are slipping into lower income group.)

CANCER IS OLD, SYMPTOMS APPEARING NOW

In the pre-Budget week and ahead of the RBI Monetary Policy meeting, financial journalists and fund managers are asking for liquidity infusion into the economy to increase credit (loans) and revive demand.

What will new loans do for the average consumer who is already over-leveraged or defaulting on his existing unsecured loans, and struggling to even maintain his basic household consumption of dal-roti?

Liquidity infusion and reduction in capital gains tax etc. can at best be temporary emergency measures. These will not cure the cancer of “non-inclusive” (K-shaped) growth and the artificial stock market boom not backed by real economic growth.

To revive household consumption, you have to focus on skills, education, and jobs for the vastly under-employed (under-utilized) hundreds of millions of youth in India who are wasting their talent and potential in farm labour and construction labour type of unskilled activities, or simply standing in queues for non-existent government vacancies.

This is the structural change in policy framework to promote inclusive growth that the economists have been recommending for years, but nobody listened to them while the sun was shining.
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South Asia Cannot Accept Any Law That Is Against Shariah': Jamiat To Challenge Uttarakhand's UCC In Courts

Cannot Accept Any Law That Is Against Shariah': Jamiat To Challenge Uttarakhand's UCC In Courts​

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The Uttarakhand government has become the first state to roll out the Uniform Civil Code on Monday (January 27). The move, which promotes equal laws for every citizen across all religions, received strong opposition from several Muslim organisations.

The Jamiat Ulama-e-Hind issued a statement declaring that the UCC is unacceptable to Muslims and said it would challenge the Uttarakhand decision in courts.


In a statement, Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind said that with its implementation, there has been an assault on citizens' religious freedom as the law is also based entirely on discrimination and bias.

"On the guidance of Jamiat president Maulana Arshad Madani, the organisation will challenge the decision in both the Uttarakhand High Court and the Supreme Court," the statement said.

ALSO READ | 'Whole Country Serious About UCC': Haryana CM Nayab Singh Saini After Uttarakhand Implementation

Jamiat President Maulana Mahmood Asad Madani termed the UCC as unconstitutional and described its implementation as an attack on democracy.

"We cannot accept any law that is against Shariah because a Muslim can compromise with everything, but he can never compromise with his Shariah and religion," Arshad Madani said.

He hit out at the government for ignoring the objections of the stakeholders, particularly the Muslim minority, while going forward with the law.

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Jamiat's lawyers have thoroughly examined the constitutional and legal aspects of this law, the statement said. The Jamiat said that it believes that since this law is based on discrimination and bias, it cannot be called a uniform civil code.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, while announcing the implementation of UCC at a programme at his official residence in Dehradun, said that with the UCC the constitutional and civil rights of people across all religions have become uniform.

Arshad Madani also called the implementation of UCC a 'deliberate conspiracy' to restrict the religious freedom of the citizens. He added that the sectarian forces want to keep the country's minorities, especially Muslims, in constant fear and chaos by creating new, emotive and religious issues.


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South Asia Coldplay concert in Ahmedabad extremely saucerful.

Coldplay Mumbai vs Ahmedabad: Fans rave about Gujarat concert's scale, vibe, say 'Ahmedabad, a clear winner'​


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Coldplay Mumbai vs Ahmedabad: Fans rave about Gujarat concert's scale, vibe, say 'Ahmedabad, a clear winner'

Coldplay Mumbai vs Ahmedabad: Fans rave about Gujarat concert's scale, vibe, say 'Ahmedabad, a clear winner'
Coldplay’s India tour ended with a bang, as the British rock band performed two sold-out shows at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad over the weekend. The concerts, attended by over 1.3 lakh fans on January 26, left an indelible mark, with attendees and social media users alike calling it a show to remember.


Mumbai vs Ahmedabad: Fans Draw Comparisons

While the tour began with three concerts in Mumbai, including back-to-back shows at DY Patil Sports Stadium, many fans felt the Ahmedabad leg was far superior. A fan who attended all three shows wrote, “I attended three shows on this tour—two in Mumbai and one in Ahmedabad. The Ahmedabad show was the clear winner in scale, energy, and organisation.”

Another user added, “Seems like Coldplay concert in Ahmedabad had a much better vibe than the Mumbai one.”

Some fans praised the infrastructure and management, saying, “The lights, infrastructure, and crowd are perfectly syncing with the vibe. Not far when artists will prefer this venue over others after this concert.”

One attendee tweeted, “Glad I didn’t get Mumbai tickets. Scale of Ahmedabad very tough to match. Truly magical.”

Social Media Reactions to the Concert


Related video: Coldplay In Mumbai: Hindi Greetings, 'Jai Shri Ram' Chants & Unforgettable Viral Moments (Entertainment Times)



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Coldplay In Mumbai: Hindi Greetings, 'Jai Shri Ram' Chants & Unforgettable Viral Moments
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The event wasn’t just about music; fans on social media reacted to every element of the experience. A fan quipped, “Ahmedabad mogged Mumbai crowd. Insane vibes lol.”

Another wrote, “India does have world-class infrastructure for live concerts; you just need good team management!”

The concert also caught the attention of prominent personalities. Business tycoon Anand Mahindra shared a clip from the show, calling it a turning point for India’s live entertainment scene. “The world discovered that India is the new frontier of live entertainment… Coldplay. Ahmedabad,” Mahindra tweeted.

Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw lauded the event’s global benchmark, while Gujarat Home Minister Harsh Sanghavi praised the state police and event organisers for smooth logistics.

The Ahmedabad concert featured stunning visuals, pyrotechnics, and LED wristbands that turned the stadium into a glowing sea of light. Coldplay thrilled fans with hits like Yellow, Viva La Vida, and My Universe.

Adding a patriotic touch, Chris Martin performed Vande Mataram and Maa Tujhe Salaam on the piano. Cricket star Jasprit Bumrah’s surprise appearance and Martin’s shoutout to him sent fans into a frenzy.
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[🇮🇳] Zen Technologies gets Indian patent for T-90 tank gunnery training simulator

Zen Technologies gets Indian patent for T-90 tank gunnery training simulator​

Story by Swati Bharadwaj
• 14h • 1 min read

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Zen Technologies gets Indian patent for T-90 tank gunnery training simulator

Zen Technologies gets Indian patent for T-90 tank gunnery training simulator
HYDERABAD: Defence training and anti-drone technology solutions provider Zen Technologies Ltd on Monday said it has been granted an Indian patent for its basic gunnery training simulator that is designed for the T-90 tank.

This is the 12th patent to be secured by the company in the financial year 2024-25 and strengthens its position in the advanced military training technologies space.

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The patented simulator, developed to enhance the technical and operational skills of a tank gunner, replicates real-world battlefield conditions with features such as target acquisition, ammunition selection, and firing simulations, the company said.

“The system’s advanced motion platform realistically mimics pitch, roll, and surge dynamics, offering an immersive experience for trainees,” it said, adding that the containerised design ensures easy deployment, enabling training in diverse environments with minimal logistical challenges.

Though the simulator is designed to address the training needs of the T-90 tank crew gunner, it can also be easily reconfigured to serve the training needs of the crew gunner of any main battle tank (MBT) in the world, making it suitable for global defence markets, Zen Technologies said.
For more news like this visit TOI. Get all the Latest News, City News, India News, Business News, and Sports News. For Entertainment News, TV News, and Lifestyle Tips visit Etimes


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[🇧🇩] Dam on Brahmaputra and It's Impact on Bangladesh

China, India will be urged to consider Bangladesh’s interests during dam construction: Rizwana

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Photo: Star

Bangladesh will request China and India to ensure that planned dams on the Siang River in Arunachal Pradesh and near the Tibet border are constructed without compromising Bangladesh's interests, said Environment Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan today.

"China has assured us that the project will not harm Bangladesh. We have formally sought details about the plan," she said replying to a query after coming out from the 55th governing board meeting of the River Research Institute (RRI) in Faridpur Circuit House.

On India's proposed dam, she said, "There are internal disputes within India regarding the project, and we are working to protect our national interests."

Padma and Teesta rivers are already experiencing reduced water flow and if the Brahmaputra's flow is reduced, Bangladesh will face severe challenges, she said, reports UNB.

Emphasising the importance of the RRI, she said it has the potential to deliver significant results if provided with adequate resources. "The the government is working to secure larger allocations for research in the upcoming budget."

Commenting on the impact of illigal sand lifting from rivers, she said, "Research has been initiated to assess how sand extraction is affecting our rivers."

Following the briefing, the adviser inspected the institute's operations and the Water Development Board.

China recently approved the construction of the world's largest dam on the Yarlung Zangbo River in Tibet's Medog County, near the border with India.

The project, described as China's most ambitious, was officially announced in 2020.

In response, Indian officials began exploring the possibility of building a counter-dam to address potential disruptions caused by China's project.

[Our Faridpur correspondent contributed to this report]​
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[🇨🇳] China’s Expanded Anti-Espionage Law Threatens Business Consultants and Advisers

China’s Expanded Anti-Espionage Law Threatens Business Consultants and Advisers​

6 minute read
china-business.jpg
Getty Images
By Chad de Guzman
July 7, 2023 6:00 AM EDT
Ever since abruptly abandoning its “zero-COVID” pandemic containment strategy last year, China has been at pains to tell the world that it’s back open for business. “China will unswervingly stick to opening up regardless of changes to the global environment,” Premier Li Qiang said in March.

But a series of new measures are making it much harder for companies to operate there—particularly a revised anti-espionage law, which took effect on July 1 and is stoking fears that the country may become even more inhospitable to foreign investment.






Doing business in China has already been difficult—from dealing with stringent epidemic prevention protocols upending supply chains to navigating the increasingly hostile relationship and regulatory environment between the U.S. and China.

The revised anti-espionage law adds to these difficulties by threatening to ensnare consulting firms that businesses rely on to work in China. The law has expanded the definition of spying beyond the sharing of “state secrets” to include the sharing of “intelligence and other documents, data, materials, and items related to national security and interests.” Like many of China’s laws, however, it is intentionally broad and open to Beijing’s loose interpretation.


Read More: China’s Solution to Inequality? Cracking Down on Displays of Wealth and Poverty

Michael Hart, President of the American Chamber of Commerce in China (AmCham China) tells TIME that a series of crackdowns on consulting and due diligence firms already underway since the spring has fueled anxiety that the law’s unclear wording could be used against business advisers who traffic in intelligence on behalf of corporations—and thus stymie the ability for foreign companies to operate without risking someone’s arrest. “If [consulting] companies can’t do those things, it’s awfully hard to see how people would be making additional investments,” Hart says.


Last year, state police raided the China offices of consulting firm Capvision for alleged “espionage” activities. In March, the Beijing office of U.S. firm Mintz, known for business-related background checks and intel gathering, was raided and five Chinese staff members were detained, with a foreign ministry official saying that the company was suspected of engaging in “illegal business.” Police also visited Bain & Co’s Shanghai office in April, with the Financial Times reporting that they took away company phones and computers. Deloitte and a number of its employees were fined the same month for faulty audits.

“There’s just a big question mark right now, over how welcome investment is,” Hart says. “The combination of these things has made people a little bit more concerned about data in general, transparency around how you could transgress rules.”

The importance of consultancies and due diligence firms​

Business intelligence and due diligence firms are crucial to entering business in China, especially to foreign companies. These firms scope out the environment before they do business there, and part of their job is gather data and intel on major business investments, mergers and acquisitions that could affect their decisions. “Our view, all new investment requires due diligence,” Hart says.

But the anti-espionage law is a growing cause for concern. “Some things that companies used to consider to be basic, economic data, or production data, there is the interpretation that some of this could be considered national security,” Hart adds. The U.S. National Counterintelligence and Security Center, also said in a bulletin that the uncertainties in the law can extend to journalists and academics in their daily work.


The revised law may be “particularly tricky” to navigate, says Anna Ashton, director of China Corporate Affairs and U.S.‑China at risk consultancy Eurasia Group, when collecting and sharing data on high-tech industries that intersect with national security and competitiveness or if there are potential implications on human rights: “It will be harder for companies to rely on business intelligence firms to help them ensure that, for example, their supply chains are free of forced labor or their high-tech products are not being transferred to military end-users.”

Chinese state media covered one example of how the law could play out: a Chinese citizen in Shenzhen who ran a consulting firm was sanctioned after cooperating with a foreign NGO in conducting a detailed audit of human rights-related supply-chain issues in Xinjiang.

China’s growing opacity​

It may be too early to tell if the anti-espionage law’s enactment will dent future business confidence in China, Ashton says, but if more foreign businesses are targeted in the campaign and employee detentions increase, then the deterrent effect will be “more significant.”

But the spring raids on due diligence firms have already started to create a chilling business environment. Hart says the lack of transparency over why consulting firms have been cracked down on is making it difficult for businesses to navigate what’s illegal and what’s not.


The law is also just part of a slew of reforms Xi has pushed in order to regulate the information pouring out of China in the name of national security.

Data from the Mercator Institute of China Studies shows that the country’s State Council has released 21.5% fewer policy documents to the public than it did in 2015. China’s biggest financial data provider has also since restricted offshore users from accessing important business information following a rule from China’s cybersecurity regulator on data exports.

Read More: The Perils of China’s Great Information Wall

This growing opacity from China is already hurting its bottom-line. Earlier this year, an AmCham China survey found that 32% of the group’s member companies cite “inconsistent regulatory interpretation” and “unclear laws and enforcement” as a major risk in the country. The report also found that the group’s member companies, for the first time, were less willing to invest in the country despite the large size of its market, with nearly 45% of respondents saying the domestic investment environment is “deteriorating.”

A June report from the European Chamber of Commerce in China also found that a record 64% of European companies say doing business in China has grown more difficult in the past year, and that 11% have already shifted existing investments outside of the country.


Beijing’s preference is made clear​

The revised anti-espionage law is merely a reflection of Chinese President Xi Jinping’s “bottom-line thinking,” says Alfred Wu, an associate professor who researches Chinese governance at Singapore’s Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy. The economy is much less of a priority when compared to independence from foreign interference, says Wu.

While China outwardly dissuades countries—including the U.S.—from decoupling, Wu reasons, Xi wants to prepare for the worst when it comes to the country’s business outlook: “His argument is, ‘We need to actually really think about that, once we have zero external support or like zero foreign investment, we still can survive.’”

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[🇨🇳] China Faces a Familiar Economic Downturn. But Its Crisis Is Worsened by the War in Ukraine

China Faces a Familiar Economic Downturn. But Its Crisis Is Worsened by the War in Ukraine​

7 minute read
General Views of the Chinese Border Town with Russia Heihe
A Russian flag can be seen in Blagoveshchensk, Russia, across the Amur River from Heihe, China, in March 2023.Bloomberg/Getty Images
By Charlie Campbell
September 15, 2023 2:15 AM EDT
Throughout the 1980s, Japan’s economy was the envy of the world. But by 1989 a real estate and stock market bubble spooked policymakers, who hiked interest rates to tame inflation. Japan’s bourse tanked, the value of assets plummeted, and several big banks either failed or required government bailouts. As businesses folded and joblessness rose, Japan became mired in a decade-long recession.

There are distinct parallels for China’s economic downturn today, which in many ways is typical of any credit-driven boom and bust cycle. China’s housing market—which contributes some 30% of GDP—is the chief villain. Despite a shrinking population, Chinese developers gorged on debt to build more new homes every year than the U.S. and Europe combined. Today, China has more than 23 million unsold apartments—enough to house the entire population of the U.K.


A regulatory crackdown on bad developer debt has pushed several to the brink of insolvency while threatening the broader economy by undermining the confidence of consumers, businesses, and investors. In July, new-home sales at China’s 100 biggest developers fell 33% year-on-year, according to data from the China Real Estate Information Corp.

The crisis is compounded by rocketing youth unemployment figures, which breached 21% before the government last month tellingly decided to stop publishing the figures. Understandably fearful for the future, Chinese consumers—like Japan’s before them—are now sitting on their savings instead of spending them.


Chinese President Xi Jinping has "his hands full right now," U.S. President Joe Biden told a news conference in Hanoi on Sunday, after Xi skipped out on the G20 summit in India last week. "He has overwhelming unemployment with his youth. One of the major economic tenets of his plan isn’t working at all right now. I’m not happy for that. But it’s not working."

Ultimately, whenever there’s a credit expansion it follows that asset values get inflated and can't be sustained by people’s incomes, sparking a massive correction. It was a similar story behind the 2008 financial crisis and stock market crash of 2015. But one factor above all else sets China’s current experience apart and renders any course correction more difficult to engineer: Xi’s support for Russian President Vladimir Putin’s war of choice in Ukraine.


“It’s China’s worst economic crisis since the Cultural Revolution,” says James H. Nolt, an adjunct professor at New York University and senior fellow at the World Policy Institute. “One of the biggest mistakes in Chinese foreign policy in the last half-century has been lining up with Russia.”

On the face of it, China has so far avoided the rampant inflation that has blighted many parts of the world. However, what China does import with relish is food, fuel, fertilizer, and non-ferrous metals—all of which have been severely impacted by the war in Ukraine. A lot of the Ukrainian grain that Putin is blocking from being transported across the Black Sea is actually bound for China. And at the same time, China’s exports have been hit by sanctions and slowdowns across the world, not least given the 20-member Eurozone is now in recession.

Another crucial aspect is Xi’s signature $1 trillion Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). Around one-third of Chinese loans for the BRI went to Persian Gulf states and are arguably more secure today due to high oil prices. But another third went to developing nations like Pakistan and Egypt that are suffering from catastrophic inflation and price hikes directly stemming from the war in Ukraine. And the final third goes to Russia itself.


According to financial data firm Refinitiv, Russia ranks top for BRI ventures with the country hosting 113 projects valued at $291 billion in 2019. Today, however, crippling sanctions mean nearly all these loans are non-performing. Given China’s voracious appetite for energy, some will likely be serviced by Russian oil and gas exports. But the projects themselves—and the future prosperity they promised—are largely stalled.

Nearly 60% of China’s foreign loans are now to countries in debt crises, compared to just 5% in 2010, according to a report by researchers from the World Bank, Harvard Kennedy School, AidData, and the Kiel Institute for the World Economy. In addition, a total of $76.8 billion in debt was renegotiated—and in some cases written off entirely—from 2020 to 2022, according to the Rhodium Group.

“Much of those trillion dollars in BRI capital has been thrown away,” says Nolt. “Many of those projects will never be completed and will never return anything.”

This is especially important since China’s local governments are still bearing the scars from the pandemic, when they ran up huge debts to satisfy the uncompromising testing and lockdowns demanded by Beijing. Local government debt reached 92 trillion yuan ($12.8 trillion), or 76% of economic output in 2022. Already, civil servant pay has been slashed in many provinces while cuts in benefits have prompted rare public protests. “This phenomenon is quite worrying for China because as long as the economy is going well people are less inclined to speak politics,” says Dominique Turpin, president of the Shanghai-based China Europe International Business School.


Compounding matters, a key avenue for local governments to raise money is selling land to real estate developers—but the housing slump has decimated that revenue stream. Instead, the central government last month promised a “basket of measures” to alleviate the problem, including special bond issuance, loan rollovers, debt swaps, and dipping into the central budget. But with half of all Chinese cities struggling to pay back debts, there will be no quick fix. Already, China’s foreign exchange reserves had fallen to $3.16 trillion at the end of August—its lowest level in six months—as the government attempts to prop up a falling renminbi.

“The government needs a stronger policy response to the economic slowdown in order to stimulate growth,” says Xiaolan Fu, a professor of technology and international development at the University of Oxford.

Of course, it would be wrong to write off China completely. Fu notes that the economic picture varies a great deal depending on region and industry. In addition, China retains many advantages: unrivaled manufacturing supply chains, innovation centers, plus a huge domestic market.

“If you look at the current trend of geopolitical tension, one thing that’s very clear: the world’s going to get more expensive,” Yibing Wu, head of China for Singapore’s Temasek investment fund, told the Milken Institute’s 2023 Asia Summit this week. “Enterprises and [economies] ultimately win by efficiency … That’s what the Chinese market ecosystem provides.”


But domestically, Xi’s regulatory crackdown on private enterprises has clipped the wings of China’s biggest drivers of growth. In mid-2023, private companies accounted for just 39% of the collective value of China’s 100 largest publicly traded firms, according to the Peterson Institute for International Economics, down from 55% two years ago.

“Economic reforms are still very much needed,” says Fu. “The private sector is key to the commercialization and restoring confidence, incentivizing entrepreneurs to make greater efforts in terms of innovation.”

And overseas, Xi’s support for Putin has galvanized the impression in the West that the world is coalescing into divergent blocks, with bipartisan support for U.S. export controls on transformative technologies like semiconductors, AI, and Quantum Computing.

In response, Xi has attempted to grow his own counter bloc. At last month’s BRICS summit in South Africa, the forum of developing countries—Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa—agreed to add six more: Argentina, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE. Still, the new additions collectively boast just 11% of the group’s collective GDP and hardly offer China much in the way of economic salvation.

“It’s a very, very bad situation,” says Nolt. “Once this thing implodes, there’s going to be a lot of hurt all around.”
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[🇧🇩] Won’t allow Awami League to contest Bangladesh polls: Yunus’ adviser

Won’t allow Awami League to contest Bangladesh polls: Yunus’ adviser​


Won’t allow Awami League to contest Bangladesh polls: Yunus’ adviser

Won’t allow Awami League to contest Bangladesh polls: Yunus’ adviser
Bangladesh's deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina’s Awami League would not be allowed to participate in elections, a key adviser of Muhammad Yunus's interim government said on Saturday (Jan 25).

"The elections will be contested among pro-Bangladesh groups only,” said Mahfuz Alam, a top leader of the Anti-Discrimination Movement, which spearheaded the mass uprising that toppled Hasina’s Awami League regime and forced her to flee the country on August 5 last year.


Addressing a street rally at central Chandpur district, Mr. Alam said only former prime minister Khaleda Zia’s Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), Jamaat-e-Islam and other “pro-Bangladesh” groups would carry on their politics in the country. He added that either of these “will establish future governance through a fair electoral process”.

"But Awami League’s rehabilitation will not be allowed in this country,” said Alam, a de facto minister without portfolio in Chief Adviser Yunus’s administration.

Mr. Alam stated that no election would take place until "minimum reforms" were implemented and institutions, allegedly destroyed by the "fascist Hasina government," were restructured.

Initially appointed by Mr. Yunus as a special assistant in his government, Mr. Alam later served as an adviser in his interim cabinet. At a function on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly last year, Mr. Yunus introduced Mr. Alam as the “main brain” behind the “meticulously” designed student-led movement that toppled the past regime.


The Awami League has been virtually out of the open political landscape since August 5, 2024, with most of its leaders and Ms. Hasina’s cabinet members either in jail on murder and other criminal charges or on the run at home and abroad.

Earlier, the BNP said it was against banning any political party, visibly weighing its support for archrival Awami League’s existence in the political field.

It demanded elections in the quickest possible time after minimal reforms, calling it a continued process.

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir recently said the reform agenda undertaken by the interim government could take 10 years and an unelected government must not continue for a longer period.

Amid speculations about the formation of a youth-led new political party by the student leaders, BNP said the interim government would lose its credibility if figures of the government formed a party staying in power.


Meanwhile, Local Government and Youth and Sports Adviser Asif Mahmud Sajeeb Bhuiyan, another leader of the Anti-Discrimination Movement, in a Facebook post on Saturday, said "There will be efforts or debates about who is more advanced in doing people's welfare”.

Information Affairs adviser Nahid Islam, another student leader said if required the advisers of the government would resign from their posts to form the party and contest the future election.

Last month, Mr. Yunus said the next general election in the country could take place by the end of 2025 or the first half of 2026. He had, however, said the timing of the election would largely depend upon the political consensus and the extent of the reforms that must be carried out before it.

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[🇮🇳] Q-Alpha Aerospace to Showcase Mach 10 Capable Drone

Indian company demonstrated The RHH-150’s air-breathing hypersonic propulsion system propels it to speeds of Mach 10, ensuring it is nearly impossible to intercept. Its ability to perform high-speed …

Here is the details.

The RHH-150’s air-breathing hypersonic propulsion system propels it to speeds of Mach 10, ensuring it is nearly impossible to intercept. Its ability to perform high-speed …

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South Asia And it begins-U.S. Pulls the Plug on Bangladesh: Is Dhaka Paying the Price for Anti-Hindu Attacks? | India | U.S

U.S. Pulls the Plug on Bangladesh: Is Dhaka Paying the Price for Anti-Hindu Attacks? | India | U.S​

New Delhi, Jan. 27 -- In a controversial move, President Donald Trump has suspended U.S. aid to Bangladesh, halting approximately $1 billion in funding for 2023. This decision follows reports of escalating anti-Hindu violence and attacks on minority communities in the country. The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) has issued a directive to cease all operations in Bangladesh, citing Trump's executive order to review foreign assistance programs.
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World Nvidia Stock May Fall As DeepSeek’s ‘Amazing’ AI Model Disrupts OpenAI

America’s policy of restricting Chinese access to Nvidia’s most advanced AI chips has unintentionally helped a Chinese AI developer leapfrog U.S. rivals who have full access to the company’s latest chips.

This proves a basic reason why startups are often more successful than large companies: Scarcity spawns innovation.


A case in point is the Chinese AI Model DeepSeek R1 — a complex problem-solving model competing with OpenAI’s o1 — which “zoomed to the global top 10 in performance”— yet was built far more rapidly, with fewer, less powerful AI chips, at a much lower cost, according to the Wall Street Journal.
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General Overthinking

I think all the time. I over analyze things. I think it's genetic. I got it from my father. But he overthinks a lot. But he doesn't have stress and insomnia issues. My case is extreme. The longest without sleep I went is 5 days in row. Most people can't handle 2 days without sleep.

I had this issues since childhood.

Is this a curse?

@Vsdoc @Sharma Ji @Paitoo @Bagheera0084 @Lulldapull
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Americas' Caesarean section surge: Indian families in US race against Trump birthright citizenship cut-off

An executive order signed by US President Donald Trump, set to revoke birthright citizenship after Feb 20, has sparked a rush among Indian couples in the US to deliver their babies early, according to Indian media reports.

Indian media outlets have reported that many Indian expectant mothers in the US are requesting preterm caesarean sections – surgical procedures to deliver a baby through incisions in the abdomen and uterus – in a bid to secure automatic citizenship for their children before the policy change takes effect, if the move is finalised.

The policy change means children born in the US after Feb 20 will no longer automatically qualify for citizenship if their parents are non-citizens or are in the country temporarily, such as on student or tourist visas.

On Jan 23, a federal judge in Seattle blocked Mr Trump’s executive order, deeming it “blatantly unconstitutional”.

Birthright citizenship, guaranteed by the 14th Amendment of the US Constitution since 1868, ensures that anyone born on US soil is granted citizenship.

Mr Trump’s new order has created significant uncertainty for many foreign families, particularly those on temporary work visas. These individuals often face lengthy waits for their permanent resident card, also known as Green Card, with some estimates projecting backlogs of more than a century.

The fear of losing this opportunity has led some Indian couples in the US to seek early caesarean sections to ensure their children are born before Feb 20.


Dr S. D. Rama, who runs a maternity clinic in New Jersey, described an unusual increase in requests for preterm deliveries. “A seven months pregnant woman came with her husband to sign up for a preterm delivery. She isn’t due until sometime in March,” Dr Rama told The Times of India.

Dr S. G. Mukkala, a Texas-based obstetrician and gynaecologist, said he has fielded similar inquiries from around 20 couples in just two days. While understanding their urgency, Dr Mukkala warned about the dangers of premature births.

“I am trying to tell couples that even if it is possible, a preterm birth poses significant risk to mother and child. Complications include underdeveloped lungs, feeding problems, low birth weight, neurological complications, and more,” he told The Times of India.

For Indian families, having a child born in the US has long been seen as a path to security, as American-born children can sponsor their parents for residency after turning 21.

Priya, an expectant mother due in March, voiced her fears. “We were counting on our child being born here. We’ve been waiting for our Green Card for six years. This was the only way to ensure stability for our family. We are terrified of the uncertainty,” she told The Times of India.

Meanwhile, the possibility of a Feb 20 birthright citizenship cut-off has sparked a broader conversation online. Some empathise with the parents’ difficult decisions, while others suggest returning to India. “Come back to India or relocate to another country,” one Reddit user wrote.

The possibility of a policy shift has placed the American Dream under renewed scrutiny. As another Reddit user commented: “The American Dream is a scam.”
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