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A lawyer defending Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari,  the Hindu priest arrested and accused of sedition in Bangladesh, has been attacked, the ISKCON (International Society for Krishna Consciousness) has said. A court in Bangladesh is expected to hear the case on December 3. 

In a post on X, Radharaman Das, the spokesperson for ISKCON, said, "Please pray for Advocate Ramen Roy. His only 'fault' was defending Chinmoy Krishna Prabhu in court. Islamists ransacked his home and brutally attacked him, leaving him in the ICU, fighting for his life".

Many lawyers in Bangladesh, however, have denied any such event.

Last month too, there were claims on social media and a few news outlets that a lawyer defending Chinmoy Krishna Das was killed. But investigations revealed that the murdered lawyer, Saiful Islam, was an assistant public prosecutor and he was not defending Chinmoy Das.

The post from Radharaman Das read: 

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
Please pray for Advocate Ramen Roy. His only 'fault' was defending Chinmoy Krishna Prabhu in court. 
 
Islamists ransacked his home and brutally attacked him, leaving him in the ICU, fighting for his life.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SaveBangladeshiHindus?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SaveBangladeshiHindus</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FreeChinmoyKrishnaPrabhu?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FreeChinmoyKrishnaPrabhu</a> <a href="https://t.co/uudpC10bpN">pic.twitter.com/uudpC10bpN</a>
— Radharamn Das राधारमण दास (@RadharamnDas) <a href="https://twitter.com/RadharamnDas/status/1863593503609303469?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 2, 2024</a></blockquote>

Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari, a prominent former leader of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) in Bangladesh, was arrested in Dhaka last month after protests by the Hindu community in Rangpur, demanding stronger legal protections for minority groups. He has been accused of sedition and was denied bail by a Dhaka court on Tuesday.

Bangladesh has seen widespread political violence and protests over minority rights since the ouster of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

Amid attacks on minority Hindus in the neighbouring coutry, Radharaman Das had earlier posted on X that two disciples of Chinmoy Krishna Das have gone missing in Chattogram after a second Hindu monk, Shyam Das Prabhu, was arrested.

India has condemned the arrest and urged Bangladeshi authorities to ensure the safety and security of Hindus and other minorities. 

The arrest has also been strongly criticised by Indian religious leaders and members of the civil society.

Protest rallies have been held in West Bengal and several other staes that share border with Bangladesh.

In Tripura, the criticism has taken the form of boycott. Hotels and restaurants have decided not to accept bookings from tourists from Bangladesh, the top association of the travel sector has said.

Earlier today, more than 50 protesters allegedly entered the premises of the Bangladeshi mission in Tripura capital Agartala, leading to panic among the officials and staff at the complex. India has described the incident as "deeply regrettable".

Advocate Defending Hindu Priest In Bangladesh Attacked, Says ISKCON

<div id=":r8" class="Am aiL Al editable LW-avf tS-tW tS-tY" tabindex="1" role="textbox" spellcheck="false" aria-label="Message Body" aria-multiline="true" aria-owns=":11b" aria-controls=":11b" aria-expanded="false">
Indian passengers At Kuwait Airport: कुवैत एयरपोर्ट पर भारतीय यात्री फंसे हुए हैं. मुंबई से मैनचेस्टर जा रही गल्फ एयर की फ्लाइट को तकनीकी खराबी के कारण कुवैत इंटरनेशनल एयरपोर्ट पर इमरजेंसी लैंडिंग करनी पड़ी. फ्लाइट के इंजन से धुआं निकलने की सूचना के बाद यह कदम उठाया गया. हालांकि, यात्रियों को वहां कोई मदद नहीं मिल रही है, जिससे वे 23 घंटे से ज्यादा समय से बिना &nbsp;खाना-पानी &nbsp;के एयरपोर्ट पर फंसे हुए हैं. दरअसल, मुंबई से मैनचेस्टर जा रही फ्लाइट के इंजन में खराबी के कारण कुवैत एयरपोर्ट पर इमरजेंसी लैंडिंग की गई. फ्लाइट में धुआं देखने के बाद यह निर्णय लिया. 60 भारतीय यात्री 23 घंटे से एयरपोर्ट पर इंतजार कर रहे हैं. उन्हें न तो बैठने की पर्याप्त जगह दी गई है और न ही भोजन-पानी उपलब्ध कराया गया है. सोशल मीडिया पर यात्रियों की शिकायतें
सोशल मीडिया पर वायरल हो रहे वीडियो में यात्री कुवैत एयरपोर्ट अधिकारियों के साथ बहस करते दिख रहे हैं. यात्रियों ने आरोप लगाया है कि भारतीय यात्रियों के साथ जानबूझकर गलत व्यवहार किया जा रहा है. वहीं, अब तक गल्फ एयर की ओर से यात्रियों की मदद या समस्या के समाधान को लेकर कोई ठोस बयान नहीं आया है.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Embassy has been informed by Gulf Air that the flight for stranded passengers from Kuwait to Manchester is tentatively scheduled at 3.30 am on 2 Dec. This is being conveyed to all passengers by the Embassy team at the airport. <a href="https://twitter.com/DrSJaishankar?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DrSJaishankar</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/PMOIndia?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PMOIndia</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/MEAIndia?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MEAIndia</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/KVSinghMPGonda?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@KVSinghMPGonda</a>
&mdash; India in Kuwait (@indembkwt) <a href="https://twitter.com/indembkwt/status/1863258309878267989?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 1, 2024</a></blockquote>
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दूतावास ने लाउंज में किया ठहराने की व्यवस्था
कुवैत में भारतीय वीजा ऑन अराइवल (VoA) के लिए पात्र नहीं हैं, इसलिए वे एयरपोर्ट से बाहर नहीं निकल पा रहे हैं हालांकि वहां भारतीय दूतावास उनकी सहायता करने की कोशिश कर रहा है. फंसे हुए भारतीयों की परेशानी और बढ़ गई है क्योंकि कुवैत में खाड़ी सहयोग परिषद (GCC) की बैठक के कारण एयरपोर्ट होटल उपलब्ध नहीं है. दूतावास ने उन्हें एयरपोर्ट लाउंज में ठहराने का प्रबंध किया है.
भारतीय दूतावास की प्रतिक्रिया
कुवैत में भारतीय दूतावास ने रविवार रात को एक्स पर कहा "दूतावास को गल्फ एयर की ओर से बताया गया है कि कुवैत से मैनचेस्टर के लिए फंसे हुए यात्रियों के लिए उड़ान 2 दिसंबर को सुबह 3.30 बजे निर्धारित है. हवाई अड्डे पर दूतावास की टीम &nbsp;सभी यात्रियों को यह जानकारी दे रही है. लाउंज में फंसे यात्रियों के लिए भोजन और पानी उपलब्ध है"
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Reading WHY BHARAT MATTERS while getting stuck in Kuwait without any help All British Passport holders got their hotels sorted with On-arrival visa while <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/IndianPassport?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#IndianPassport</a> holders have been left stranded without any info, food, or any kind of help. <a href="https://twitter.com/DrSJaishankar?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DrSJaishankar</a><a href="https://twitter.com/GulfAir?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@GulfAir</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GF5?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GF5</a> <a href="https://t.co/5qUNEP8rMO">pic.twitter.com/5qUNEP8rMO</a>
&mdash; Shivansh (@shiv4nsh) <a href="https://twitter.com/shiv4nsh/status/1863117612411994509?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 1, 2024</a></blockquote>
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फंसे हुए यात्रियों में से एक सॉफ्टवेयर इंजीनियर शिवांश ने एक्स हैंडल @shiv4nsh से लिखा &ldquo;बिना किसी मदद के कुवैत में फंसे रहने के दौरान (विदेश मंत्री एस जयशंकर की) Why Bharat Matters पढ़ रहा हूं. सभी ब्रिटिश पासपोर्ट धारकों को VoA के साथ अपने होटल की व्यवस्था कर दी गई, जबकि भारतीय पासपोर्ट धारक बिना किसी जानकारी, भोजन या किसी भी तरह की मदद के फंसे रह गए.&rdquo;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
01.12.2024 at 2.50 - I was traveling on a Gulf Air flight with other 268 passengers last night when the left engine caught fire mid air when we are cruising at 15000 meters attitude, leading to an emergency landing in Kuwait City. 💤💤<a href="https://twitter.com/GulfAir?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@gulfair</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/thankyou?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#thankyou</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/flight?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#flight</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/fire?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#fire</a> <a href="https://t.co/KnA3h4Z6c1">pic.twitter.com/KnA3h4Z6c1</a>
&mdash; Sai Samrat Anandapu (@SamratChintu) <a href="https://twitter.com/SamratChintu/status/1863229575431332048?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 1, 2024</a></blockquote>
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एक अन्य यात्री साई सम्राट आनंदपु ने अपने हैंडल @SamratChintu से ट्वीट किया "मैं बहरीन में ट्रांजिट के साथ हैदराबाद से मैनचेस्टर जा रहा था. हमारी उड़ान सुबह 2.10 बजे शुरू हुई, लेकिन 1.5 घंटे बाद बाएं इंजन में आग लग गई, जिससे कुवैत सिटी में आपातकालीन लैंडिंग हुई. हम 6 घंटे से अधिक समय से मदद का इंतजार कर रहे हैं, लेकिन केवल ब्रिटिश नागरिकों और जीसीसी निवासियों को ही जगह दी गई है, जिससे हम भारतीयों को मदद नहीं मिल पा रही है. हमारे बीच बच्चे और बुजुर्ग भी हैं, जिन्हें मैनचेस्टर के लिए हमारी उड़ान के बारे में कुछ नहीं बताया गया है. कृपया हमें ठहरने के लिएआवास प्रदान करें, क्योंकि हमें फ्रेश होने हैं."
</div>
ये भी पढ़ें:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.abplive.com/states/delhi-ncr/arvind-kejriwal-said-delhi-is-captured-by-gangsters-in-press-conference-after-arrest-of-aap-mla-naresh-balyan-2834058">'नरेश बाल्यान खुद पीड़ित, उन्हें मिल रही धमकी', AAP विधायक की गिरफ्तारी पर बोले अरविंद केजरीवाल</a>

कुवैत में करानी पड़ी फ्लाइट की इमरजेंसी लैंडिंग, 23 घंटों से एयरपोर्ट पर ही फंसे कई भारतीय

Four months after Ukraine's offensive on the Russian region of Kursk, text messages from soldiers the <a class="sp_lnk2" href="https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cn4x9gz4ylwo" rel="noindex,nofollow">BBC</a> has been receiving, paints a bleak picture.

The soldiers are encumbered with fatigue and strained with sleeplessness because of terrifying 3,000 kg glide bombs. And now, as the winter stings, the only silver lining they can see amidst the grey - Donald Trump's inauguration.

The Ukrainian soldiers have lost their morale and the war isn't even about capturing anymore. It is about holding, and the soldiers say, "we're struggling a bit with that."

While both Russia and Ukraine await the president-elect Trump taking office, the latter is trying to hold maximum territory until Trump's inauguration. "The main task facing us is to hold the maximum territory until Trump's inauguration and the start of negotiations," Dmytro said. "In order to exchange it for something later. No-one knows what."

The one thing that remains constant apart from the immense pressure from the enemy is the loss of motivation.

With the war having been escalated, now the US, UK and France have all permitted Ukraine to use long-range weapons inside Russia, but that didn't do much for their spirits. "We live and fight here and now. And missiles fly somewhere else", Dmytro added.

The soldiers said that even if Atacms and Storm Shadow missiles proved effective somewhere, these successes hardly mean anything in the trenches. "We don't talk about missiles. In the bunkers we talk about family and rotation. About simple things", Marko said.

Regarding the North Korean troops set to join the Russian side, the soldiers BBC spoke with seemed to have no contact with. "I haven't seen or heard anything about Koreans, alive or dead," Andriy said. 

The soldiers have been told to capture at least one North Korean soldier with documents. Apparently, there are rewards such as drones and leaves for anyone who successfully captures a North Korean soldier.

Ukrainian soldiers will hold out at Kursk for "as long as it is feasible from the military point of view", since it is reaping military and political rewards for them and also since the situation in Kursk and heavy losses for Russia "annoys Putin".

The names in this article are not real.

Exhausted Ukrainian Troops Wait For Trump While Struggling To Hold Kursk

Scientists have been left amused after spotting an octopus hitchhiking during its journey, albeit with an unlikely marine friend. In a <a class="sp_lnk2" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3cYlBarkmDY&t=1s" rel="noindex,nofollow">video </a>posted on social media, researchers captured the orange-hued Maori octopus clinging to the back of a large shortfin mako shark (Isurus oxyrinchus), regarded as one of the fastest sharks in the world.

The footage captured in December 2023 but released this week shows the "sharktopus", casually strolling around in the Hauraki Gulf off the northern coast of New Zealand's North Island.

"At first, I was like: 'Is it a buoy? Is it entangled in fishing gear or had a big bite?'" Rochelle Constantin, marine ecologist at the University of Auckland told the <a class="sp_lnk2" href="https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/20/science/octopus-riding-shark-new-zealand.html" rel="noindex,nofollow">New York Times.</a>

Afterwards, one of the technicians set up a drone for a closer look which managed to capture the stunning footage. As per the researchers, what made the incident unusual was the fact that octopuses are usually found on the seabed where shortfin mako sharks rarely pay a visit.

"We moved on after 10 minutes, so I can't tell you what happened next. The octopus may have been in for quite the experience, though, since the world's fastest shark species can reach 50 km per hour," said Ms Constantin.

"The 'sharktopus' encounter is a reminder of the wonders of the ocean. One of the best things about being a marine scientist is that you never know what you might see next in the sea. By supporting conservation initiatives, we can help to ensure that such extraordinary moments keep happening."



<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Octopus spotted riding on top of world's fastest shark <a href="https://t.co/631gtGK5eg">pic.twitter.com/631gtGK5eg</a>
— Nature is Amazing ☘️ (@AMAZlNGNATURE) <a href="https://twitter.com/AMAZlNGNATURE/status/1903172171410678242?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 21, 2025</a></blockquote>
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<h3>Social media reacts</h3>

As the video went viral, social media users reacted in astonishment with many calling the octopus smart for utilising the ocean resources for its commute.

"This octopus is a genius. Work smart, not hard," said one user while another added: 'Bro got himself an Uber."

A third commented: "You know humanity is doomed when the alien octopi start domesticating the sharks to ride into battle."



<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Bro got himself an Uber ? <a href="https://t.co/GbNHd1XH9V">https://t.co/GbNHd1XH9V</a>
— John Mark Bucsit (@JMBucss) <a href="https://twitter.com/JMBucss/status/1903299400488894786?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 22, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

The researchers said it is possible that the octopus may have fallen with the shark quickly devouring it but it is equally likely that the eight-armed commuter may have slid to the seabed safely, owing to the shallow waters.

Octopus Caught Hitchhiking On Shark's Back In Viral Video: "Bro Got An Uber"

Syria Civil War: सीरिया में मचे घमासान और तख्तापलट के बीच विद्रोही दमिश्क में इटली के राजदूत के आवास में जा घुसे. इटली के विदेश मंत्री एंटोनियो तजानी ने कहा कि एक आर्म्ड ग्रुप दमिश्क में इतालवी राजदूत के निवास के बगीचे में घुस गया और तीन कारें चुरा लीं. हालांकि विद्रोहियों ने राजदूत और कैराबिनियरी (दूतावास पुलिस) को कोई नुकसान नहीं पहुंचाया है. तजानी ने सीरिया में सत्ता के शांतिपूर्ण हस्तांतरण की अपील की है.&nbsp;
इटली के विदेश मंत्री कार्यालय ने सीरिया में रह रहे अपने 300 नागरिकों की सुरक्षा सुनिश्चित करने की प्रतिबद्धता जताई है. तजानी ने कहा कि उनकी सरकार देश छोड़ने में इच्छुक नागरिकों की मदद के लिए तैयार है. सीरिया की स्थिति पर हुए एक बैठक के बाद तजानी ने कहा, "आज सुबह, एक विद्रोही समूह इटली के राजदूत के निवास के बगीचे में घुस गया. उन्होंने तीन ऑटोमोबाइल छीन लिए."&nbsp;
'सीरिया में पूरी तरह से नियंत्रण में है स्थिति'
उन्होंने बताया कि विद्रोही समूह असद के सैनिकों की तलाश कर रहा था, लेकिन उसने राजदूत या वहां तैनात इतालवी पुलिस को कोई नुकसान नहीं पहुंचाया. तजानी ने पुष्टि की कि राजदूत "सुरक्षित" हैं और किसी अलग जगह से रिमोट फॉर्म में काम कर रहे हैं. उन्होंने कहा, " वहां स्थिति पूरी तरह से नियंत्रण में है. सीरिया में बहुत खुशी है, लेकिन हवा में गोलीबारी करके खुशी इजहार करना उलझन को बढ़ाता है." दिन की शुरुआत में इस्लामवादी नेतृत्व वाले विद्रोहियों ने घोषणा किया कि वे राष्ट्रपति बशर अल-असद की सेनाओं के खिलाफ़ हमला बोलकर दमिश्क में प्रवेश कर चुके हैं.
इराकी दूतावास को कराया गया खाली दमिश्क में घमासान के बाद इराकी दूतावास को खाली करा दिया गया है. &nbsp;इराक ने सीरिया के सीमा पर हाई अलर्ट का एडवाइजरी जारी किया है और वहां सैनिकों की तैनाता बढ़ा दी गई है. भारी संख्या में सीरियाई सेना के जवानों ने इराक में शरण ले रखी है.
भारत ने भी एडवाइजरी की जारी शनिवार को विदेश मंत्रालय की ओर से जारी एडवाइजरी में MEA ने भारतीय नागरिकों को अगली सूचना तक सीरिया की यात्रा नकरने की सलाह दी थी. एडवाइजरी में कहा गया है कि सीरिया में रहने वाले भारतीय दमिश्क स्थित भारतीय दूतावास के आपातकालीन हेल्पलाइन नंबर +963 993385973 और ईमेल आईडी hoc.damascus@mea.gov.in पर संपर्क में रहें.&nbsp;
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यह भी पढेंः&nbsp;<a href="https://www.abplive.com/news/world/britain-democrats-mp-raised-concerns-on-religious-freedom-and-human-rights-abuses-of-minority-religious-minorities-in-pakistan-2834527">बांग्लादेश में हिंदुओं पर जारी हिंसा के बीच ब्रिटेन की संसद में गूंजा पाकिस्तान का ये मुद्दा, सांसद ने लगाया गंभीर आरोप</a>
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सीरिया में इटली के राजदूत के घर में घुसे विद्रोही, चुरा ले गए तीन महंगी कारें! जानें और क्या हुआ

Eight years before the Boeing Starliner suffered glitches, ensuring an extended stay on the International Space Station for nine months, NDTV had spoken to Sunita Williams and asked whether she thought flying on a privately built spacecraft could be risky. The Indian-origin astronaut, who had already begun collaborating with Boeing at the time, had said that while there were bumps and even a few heated discussions, she was confident that the spacecraft would be safe when people flew in it.

Speaking exclusively to NDTV during a visit to India in 2016, Ms Williams also spoke about being the first astronaut to have samosas on the International Space Station (ISS) and how she intended to carry an idol of Lord Ganesh, whom she called her "good-luck charm", on her next spaceflight. <a class="sp_lnk2" href="https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/sunita-williams-butch-wilmore-elon-musk-spacex-crew-9-earth-international-space-station-nasa-stranded-astronauts-return-journey-to-begin-shortly-7948251" target="_blank">Follow Sunita Williams Homecoming Live Updates Here</a>

Responding to a question on whether she thought she was taking a big risk by being one of the first astronauts on a private sector spacecraft, Ms Williams, who is vastly experienced and also held the record for the maximum hours of spacewalks by a woman, said the collaboration with Boeing and SpaceX had been really good and the companies had allowed them to participate in the development of the craft.

"We are working hand in hand with our commercial partners. And I think it's a really good collaboration, a really good partnership where, particularly the first four of us who are going to more than likely fly on their spacecraft, they have allowed us into their companies to take a look at what their engineers are doing and understand from the grassroots part of development of the spacecraft, how it is being made. What's interesting and nice about that, I think they are open to that because both of these companies only have a limited number of people who have flown in space," she had said.

Ms Williams said the companies understood that the astronauts were trying to ensure they would be successful and their expertise would help them.

"At the same time, we are not doing things the way we have always done them. We are letting the companies come up with new ideas. And so we are having this dialogue back and forth, a little bit of a debate, like, how come you think this process is correct? And then they have to defend it a little bit. We have to defend our ideas of why we think things should go a (certain) way. And then we could come to the best solution," she said.

"So, of course, we are going to run into bumps and have a little heated discussion on some of these things. But I think we will iron it all out and we will figure it all out. And I think by the time we put the people on the spacecraft, we will have a very safe spacecraft," she asserted.

Ms Williams was assigned to the Starliner project in 2018 and played a key role in the development of the spacecraft, which carried her and fellow NASA astronaut Butch Wilmore to the International Space Station in June last year.

Indian Connection

Sunita Williams' father, Deepak Pandya, is from Jhulasan village in Gujarat's Mehsana and left for the United States in 1957. The Indian connection was clearly very much on her mind when NDTV asked her why she ate samosas at the ISS and said she had asked for some "special things that reminded her of home".

"I think my answer to a lot of things is, why not? If you have the opportunity, take it. I love samosas. I had asked for some special things that reminded me of home, and one of those things was samosas. And so my family was somehow able to work with NASA - we get some care packages when we are up in space for a long time, and so they put the samosas in there, and it was a nice surprise," she said.

The astronaut had carried the Gita into space in an earlier mission and to a question on what she intended to take with her next, she said it would probably be a Ganesh idol.

"Something for my niece and nephew, who are both Indian. I will probably bring something for them, some Indian toys as well as probably another Ganesh, because Ganesh is my good luck charm... I'm more of a just a spiritual person. I just know he's there with me, guiding (me)," she said.

Ms Williams also said she had been good friends with fellow Indian-origin astronaut Kalpana Chawla since she had met her after joining NASA.

"We did a lot of things together. Did a lot of nature walks, went bike riding quite a bit, just talked a lot. She's just the type of person that you would automatically connect with. And probably our similar backgrounds, just having Indian parents, you know, lent itself to that," she said.

Calculated Risks

When she was asked whether Ms Chawla's death - when the Space Shuttle Columbia disintegrated during reentry into the Earth's atmosphere in 2003 - worried her sometimes, Ms Williams said, "Yes and no. I mean, we understood, I knew we would come to the conclusion and understand exactly what happened to Space Shuttle Columbia. And we would fix that problem. And moving on from there, I think all of the Columbia crew, all the members there, were all good friends of ours in the astronaut office. And I think what their dream, their vision, was just to continue and to explore.

"And, so, it worries us all. I think every time we or any of our friends from the office get on a rocket, it's a big explosion essentially that you're sitting on. But those are calculated risks," she asserted.

Samosas And The Risk Of Private Spacecraft: What Sunita Williams Had Told NDTV

Vodafone Idea is in exploratory talks with various satellite communication providers, including Starlink, the company said on Wednesday, a week after the Indian telecom firm's rivals signed deals with Elon Musk's company.

The mobile operator made the disclosure after Indian stock exchanges sought a clarification on its stock move and a report by local financial news website Moneycontrol earlier in the day.

Shares of Vodafone Idea rose nearly 5% on Wednesday.

"Our strategy is to provide services -- whether fixed or mobile -- in uncovered areas, where satellite makes perfect sense," Vodafone Idea Chief Technology Officer Jagbir Singh told Moneycontrol, as per the report.

"The other (strategy) is to provide fixed wireless broadband in rural areas and smaller towns, where it is expensive to roll out such services."

Last week, Elon Musk's SpaceX signed deals with Bharti Airtel and Reliance Jio to bring Starlink's internet services to India.

As part of the deals, the Indian operators will stock Starlink's equipment in their retail stores, giving the US-based satellite communication firm a direct distribution point in thousands of such outlets across the country.

The deals will be conditional on Starlink obtaining government approval to begin operations in the country.(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Vodafone Idea In Talks With Elon Musk's Starlink, Other Satcom Providers

US President Joe Biden pardoned his son Hunter Biden after repeatedly pledging not to. Below is a look at the circumstances leading up to the pardon and its legal consequences.
WHAT DID THE PARDON COVER?
Hunter Biden was pardoned for his conviction by a jury in Delaware and a guilty plea in California. Hunter Biden was also pardoned for federal crimes "he committed or may have committed" between Jan. 1, 2014 through the end of this year.
WHAT CRIMES WAS HUNTER BIDEN CONVICTED OF?
A Delaware jury in June found the president's son guilty of lying about his addiction to illegal drugs on a disclosure form that is required to purchase a firearm. The trial included hours of embarrassing testimony about Hunter Biden's addiction to crack and reckless behavior. He was scheduled to be sentenced on Dec. 12.
Biden separately pleaded guilty to criminal charges of failing to pay $1.4 million in taxes while spending lavishly on drugs, sex workers and luxury items. He was scheduled to be sentenced on Dec. 16.
WHAT SENTENCE WAS BIDEN FACING?
He was facing decades in prison, although sentencing guidelines suggested he was likely to receive a much less severe punishment.
For the gun charges, sentencing guidelines are 15 to 21 months, although legal experts said defendants in similar situations receive shorter sentences and are less likely to be incarcerated if they abide by the terms of their pretrial release. Hunter Biden's attorney had told the judge that he was complying with terms of his bail, which included drug testing to show he was not using illegal drugs.
A juror told CNN after the trial they did not think Hunter Biden belonged in prison.
WASN'T THERE A PLEA DEAL?
Yes. In June last year Hunter Biden agreed to plead guilty to two misdemeanor charges of willfully failing to pay income taxes and an agreement that would have spared him a conviction on a gun-related charge. The agreement prompted accusations by Republicans that Hunter Biden is receiving favorable treatment as the president's son. A federal judge questioned the breadth of that agreement and declined to accept it, paving the way for Hunter Biden's trial on gun charges.
COULD HUNTER BIDEN BE CALLED TO TESTIFY IN ANOTHER CASE?
If the US House of Representatives or the Justice Department decides to probe the Biden family business dealings, as some Republicans have promised to do, Hunter Biden could potentially be called to testify. Before he was pardoned, he could have declined to do so, citing his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination. The pardon could limit his ability to invoke that right, because he no longer faces criminal jeopardy for any federal crimes committed during the period covered. Presidential pardons do not protect people from prosecution for state crimes.
ARE PRESIDENTIAL PARDONS UNUSUAL?
No. Presidents beginning with George Washington, the first US president, have granted pardons. Gerald Ford pardoned his predecessor Richard Nixon, who had resigned in disgrace, Bill Clinton pardoned his brother-in-law and Donald Trump pardoned Charles Kushner, a real estate developer and the father of Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

US President Joe Biden pardoned his son Hunter Biden after repeatedly pledging not to.

Explained: What Is The Legal Effect Of Joe Biden's Pardon Of His Son?

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Reversing his past promises to not use the powers of the presidency for the benefit of his family, US President Joe Biden on Sunday issued an official pardon for his son, Hunter Biden, sparing him a possible prison sentence for two criminal cases related to federal felony gun and tax convictions.&nbsp;
Joe Biden had time and again said that he would not pardon his son or commute his sentence after convictions in the two cases in Delaware and California. Mr Biden's decision to use his position to help his son marks a significant shift in the Democratic President's political position, who promised Americans to restore norms and respect for the rule of law, after Donald Trump's first term in office.&nbsp;
<h2>Biden's Statement</h2>
"Today, I signed a pardon for my son Hunter. From the day I took office, I said I would not interfere with the Justice Department's decision-making, and I kept my word even as I have watched my son being selectively, and unfairly, prosecuted," the US President said in a statement.
Mr Biden,&nbsp;who is in the final weeks of his presidency before Trump takes office on January 20,&nbsp;said that his opponents had sought to break his son with selective prosecution.
"No reasonable person who looks at the facts of Hunter's cases can reach any other conclusion than Hunter was singled out only because he is my son -- and that is wrong," said the President.
He stressed that people were rarely brought to trial for felony charges for how they filled out a gun form, and said others who were late in paying taxes because of addiction but paid them back with interest and penalties, as his son had, typically received non-criminal resolutions to their cases.
"It is clear that Hunter was treated differently. The charges in his cases came about only after several of my political opponents in Congress instigated them to attack me and oppose my election," Mr Biden said.&nbsp;
"In trying to break Hunter, they've tried to break me - and there's no reason to believe it will stop here. Enough is enough," he added.
Hunter Biden, a recovering drug addict who became a target of Republicans, has been granted "a full and unconditional" pardon for any offences in a window from January 1, 2014, to December 1, 2024.
Mr Biden said he had made his decision to pardon over the weekend.
The president, his wife, Jill Biden, and their family including Hunter, spent the Thanksgiving holiday in Nantucket, Massachusetts, and returned to Washington on Saturday night.
"Here's the truth: I believe in the justice system, but as I have wrestled with this, I also believe raw politics has infected this process and it led to a miscarriage of justice - and once I made this decision this weekend, there was no sense in delaying it further," he said.
"I hope Americans will understand why a father and a President would come to this decision," the President added.
<h2>What Is Presidential Pardon?</h2>
The US Constitution gives power to presidents to grant clemency, which can include commutations and pardons. Granting commutation reduces penalties against the convicted felon without erasing the conviction. Meanwhile, a pardon forgives a person's federal crimes entirely.
<h2>Republicans Criticized Joe Biden's Move</h2>
"Does the Pardon given by Joe to Hunter include the J-6 Hostages, who have now been imprisoned for years? Such an abuse and miscarriage of Justice!" President-elect Donald Trump said in a post on his Truth Social site, referring to those convicted for storming the US Capitol on January 6, 2021, after Trump claimed falsely that he had won the 2020 election.
"Joe Biden has lied from start to finish about his family's corrupt influence-peddling activities," said Representative James Comer, chair of the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability.
<h2>Cases Against Hunter Biden</h2>
The younger Biden faced sentencing for the false statements and gun convictions this month. He was convicted earlier this year of lying about his drug use when he bought a gun -- a felony.
In September he also pleaded guilty to federal charges of failing to pay $1.4 million in taxes while spending lavishly on drugs, sex workers and luxury items. He was scheduled for sentencing in that case on December 16.
Earlier, Hunter Biden has paid the back taxes, as well as penalties levied by authorities. In August 2023, his lawyers said prosecutors had reneged on a plea deal that would have resolved the tax and firearms charges -- but that agreement fell apart at the last minute.&nbsp;
For tax evasion, Hunter Biden was facing up to 17 years in prison. For the separate gun charge, he was facing 25 years in prison.
"I have admitted and taken responsibility for my mistakes during the darkest days of my addiction - mistakes that have been exploited to publicly humiliate and shame me and my family for political sport," Hunter Biden said in a statement on Sunday.
"In the throes of addiction, I squandered many opportunities and advantages ... I will never take the clemency I have been given today for granted and will devote the life I have rebuilt to helping those who are still sick and suffering," He said further, adding he had remained sober for more than five years.
His case has long been a thorn in the Biden family's side, particularly during this election year when Republicans have charged that Hunter was being treated too leniently.
However, President Biden's withdrawal from the presidential race in favour of Vice President Kamala Harris had taken much of the zeal out of the Republican drive to make an example out of his son. Still, prosecutors appeared unwilling to cut him any slack, rejecting a so-called "Alford plea," whereby Hunter Biden would admit guilt because of the high probability of conviction, but would maintain his innocence.
<h2>Power And Pardon</h2>
The move brings fresh scrutiny over the independence of the US judicial system -- especially at a time when incoming president Donald Trump has moved to appoint loyalists to the FBI and Justice Department himself.
But, this is not the first time when a US President used pardon to help family members and other political allies.
Bill Clinton pardoned his half-brother for old cocaine charges and Mr Trump pardoned the father of his son-in-law for tax evasion, though in both cases those men had already served their prison terms.&nbsp;
Mr Trump has also vowed to pardon supporters who stormed the US Capitol in a deadly riot on January 6, 2021, in a bid to reverse his 2020 election loss.&nbsp;

Reversing his past promises to not use the powers of the presidency for the benefit of his family, US President Joe Biden on Sunday issued an offic

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