China's fully robotic rover on Mars has, for the first time, found traces of recent water activity on the Red Planet, indicating that Mars has a few areas where conditions are suitable for life to exist. According to a paper published in the journal Science Advances, the Zhurong rover, which landed on Mars in 2021, detected evidence of liquid water on sand dunes at low latitudes, i.e., towards the equator and away from its poles.
In their study, Chinese researchers noted that scientists have for long believed that Mars once had an earth-like climate and an ocean flowing across its surface about three billion years ago. But dramatic climate changes froze much, with scientist believing most of it likely became trapped in the planet's outer layer, or crust. To date, no evidence had provided to show the presence of liquid water at low latitudes on the Red Planet.
However, the latest research is now believed to be a major breakthrough in understanding the evolutionary history of Mars.
Scientists studying data from China's Zhurong rover pointed out that the rover did not directly detect any water in the form of frost or ice, rather it observed salt-rich dunes with cracks and crusts. The rover found cracked layers on tiny Martian dunes for the first time, which implies the Red Planet was a salt-rich watery world as recently as 400,000 years ago, the study said.
The Chinese researchers explained that since temperatures on Mars oscillate wildly and spike in the mornings, the saltwater evaporated and left behind salt and other newly formed minerals that later seeped between the dune's sand grains, cementing them to form a crust.
"This is important for understanding the evolutionary history of the Martian climate, looking for a habitable environment, and providing key clues for the future search for life," said lead researcher Professor Qin Xiaoguang, of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS).
The team stated that they used data obtained by the robotic rover's Navigation and Terrain Camera, Multispectral Camera, and Mars Surface Composition Detector. They found that the surface layer of the dune was rich in hydrated sulfates, hydrated silica, iron oxide minerals and possibly chlorides.
"According to the measured meteorological data by Zhurong and other Mars rovers, we inferred that these dune surface characteristics were related to the involvement of liquid saline water formed by the subsequent melting of frost/snow falling on the salt-containing dune surfaces when cooling occurs," Mr Qin said.
SpaceX's Starship spacecraft, designed to send astronauts to the Moon and Mars, exploded minutes after its liftoff in a test flight in Texas on April 20. SpaceX said in a statement that the spacecraft "experienced multiple engines out" during its ascent, then "lost altitude and began to tumble," before the "flight termination system was commanded on both the booster and the ship." Now the CEO of SpaceX and billionaire Elon Musk has stated that the spacecraft could be ready for relaunch in "six to eight weeks".
The billionaire, during Twitter Spaces, on Saturday evening, stated that when the engines of Starship, 30 out of 33 of which fired on for the flight test, reached "full thrust," it "probably shattered the concrete", as per a report in CNN. Mr Musk further stated that he was "glad to report that the pad damage is actually quite small," and it would take "six to eight weeks" to get the required infrastructure in place for another launch.
"The outcome was roughly in (line) with what I expected and, maybe slightly exceeded my expectations," the CEO of the company said, as per the outlet.
As per the outlet, the spacecraft and launcher were destroyed over the Gulf of Mexico when the spacecraft's flight termination or self-destruct, mechanism was activated. According to the billionaire, the flight termination system would need to be re-certified because the feature took longer than anticipated to blow up the rocket, "ensuring it didn't careen off course". That might affect how long it takes for the company to get a new Starship on the launch pad.
"The vehicle structural margins appear to be better than we expected. As we can tell the vehicle is actually doing somersaults towards the end and still staying intact," Mr Musk said.
It is to be noted that the Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) of the US government is overseeing the investigation. Until that evaluation is over, SpaceX is not allowed to launch another Starship vehicle. It is also not clear how much time it would take. "We aren't going to speculate on timelines. Safety will dictate the timeline," FAA said, as per the outlet.
In the 100th episode of his flagship radio programme 'Mann ki Baat,' Prime Minister Narendra Modi walked down memory lane and spoke to some people who were featured earlier on the broadcast.
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Senior leaders like former minister Partha Chatterjee, two other MLAs, and Birbhum district president Anubrata Mondal were arrested in connection with cases of school jobs scams and cattle smuggling since last year
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If you need any sort of fitness inspiration for the weekend, head straight to Jyotika's Instagram profile. The star is “killing it” in her latest workout post. From handstands to stretching, she has aced many upside-down exercises. Jyotika shared a compilation of videos which shows her practicing difficult workout sets and it is simply “amazing.” Not our word but that's what celebs have seen saying in the comments section of the post. The video is perfect in its own way as it features Jyotika failing a couple of times but never losing hope and dedicatedly completing the core-strengthening workouts. She accompanied the video with an equally inspiring caption that read: “MOM turned upside down spells WOW (biceps icon).”
Needless to say, her post has garnered a whole lot of love and appreciation from many celebrities. Actress and TV host Dhivyadharshini commented: “Wow mom” while singer Brindha Sivakumar wrote: “Amazing” with biceps and clapping emojis. Actress and anchor Ramya Subramanian's reaction was, “My god! deadly and killing it, you super mom (fire icons)” whereas Malavika Menon's reaction to the clip was simply "wow."
Work-wise, Jyothika is prepping for her next Bollywood Film – Sri. It will mark her comeback in the Hindi film industry. Sri is based on the life of industrialist Srikanth Bolla and is directed by Tushar A Hiranandani. The film also stars Rajkummar Rao in the lead role. Sharing an update about Sri last month, Jyotika wrote, “Happy to be a part of a story that inspired many. #SRI, the inspirational story of the idealist Srikanth Bolla will be on the big screen on September 15, 2023.”
Jyotika is known for her work in movies like Ponmagal Vandhal, Seetha Kalyanam, 36 Vayadhinile, Mozhi, Kaakha Kaakha, Sillunu Oru Kadhal and Pachchakili Muthucharamnd. She runs the production studio 2D Entertainment with her husband and superstar Suriya.
Hardik Pandya has been a force to reckon with as Gujarat Titans captain. Leading the side in its first-ever IPL in 2022, Pandya led with perfection to lead his team to the title. In the IPL 2023 also, GT have been one of the better teams are have regularly been in contention for the top spot. Ahead of the match against Kolkata Knight Riders, Pandya revealed how he succeeded as GT captain. "One person who has been crucial in my growth is Ashu bhai (Ashish Nehra - GT coach). We are mad people. We are slightly different kind of persons but out game sense is the same. He has guided me well," Pandya said in an interaction with Robin Uthappa on Jio Cinema.
Former India cricketer Sunil Gavaskar is mighty impressed with the way Hardik has led Gujarat Titans. The India all-rounder has led by example and helped GT return to the winning track despite the team losing some close encounters, which tend to dent the morale of the teammates.
Praising the Baroda cricketer for his inspiring leadership qualities, Gavaskar said Hardik is going to leave a lasting legacy in TATA IPL with his captaincy.
Speaking on Star Sports' Cricket Live, Gavaskar said, "Sometimes the captains try to keep their personality and the team's personality the same. The personality of the captain and the team could be different. Hardik is not trying to impose his personality on the team. That's what Hardik is doing with GT. This is going to be his legacy as a skipper. He's very similar to MS Dhoni in his approach as captain and imbibed the good qualities from his former India skipper."
The cable-stayed portion of Anji bridge is 472.25 metres while the total length of the bridge is 725.5 metres, which is divided into four parts including an embankment, officials said
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Trust Natasha Poonawalla to bring in a dose of glitz and glamour every time she checks into Instagram. We are talking about her latest post, which is from a star-studded event in New York. Natasha arrived at the gala in an extraordinary ball gown from the shelves of Chenpeng and turned heads. She also shared glimpses of the event, where she can be seen having a blast with singer Rita Ora, her husband and filmmaker Taika Waititi, supermodel Stella Maxwell and other celebs. Sharing the images, Natasha Poonawalla wrote: “Why? … because why not?!… What a fun night! Edward Enninful for the Prince Trust …great performance by Rita Ora. Such a fantastic cause … Thank you my super teams for the glam. And a special shout-out to Chenpeng for creating wearable art.”
Reacting to Natasha Poonawalla's post, tennis legend Serena Williams commented: “I love it” while model Neelam Kaur Gill wrote: “The nailzzzzzz… you amaze me every time.” A comment from Sussanne Khan read: “Love you, Natsy.”
Rita Ora, who left everyone at the event awestruck with her performance, also shared a photo with Natasha Poonawalla on Instagram. The singer looked gorgeous in a white dress, which she paired with matching gloves and a statement neckpiece. “What a night! Thank you, Prince Trust, for a beautiful gala,” read the caption.
More scenes from the global gala were shared by celebrated photographer German Larkin. They featured supermodel Kate Moss, actress Sienna Miller, model Irina Shayk and actress Kathryn Newton.
The official page of the Prince Trust also shared photos from the event. The caption read: “Last night the Prince's Trust Group hosted Prince's Trust Global Gala in New York, an event which brought together alumni, young people and guests from across the globe to celebrate the international reach of the Trust's programmes and to raise critical funds to support more young people in the future.”
Natasha Poonawalla, the executive director of Serum Institute of India, is a philanthropist who is often spotted hanging out with Bollywood, as well as Hollywood celebs.
Former Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia's bail request in a money laundering case linked to the Delhi liquor policy matter has been denied by a special Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) court.
The special court's judge MK Nagpal, while denying bail to Mr Sisodia, said the investigation is at such a stage that it doesn't merit granting bail.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) opposed Mr Sisodia's request for bail, saying the investigation was at a "crucial" stage. The ED alleged the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader fabricated emails to show the public had approved the new liquor policy for the national capital.
Mr Sisodia's bail request was last denied on March 31 in the alleged corruption case being investigated by the CBI. The central agency alleged Mr Sisodia was "prima facie the architect" in a conspiracy to take kickbacks of some Rs 90-100 crore from a liquor lobby.
The court had then said Mr Sisodia's release would "adversely affect the ongoing investigation".
Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena had ordered the CBI probe last year.
Thereafter, the Delhi government reverted to the old liquor policy and blamed the Lieutenant Governor for loss of revenue worth crores of rupees that the AAP government claimed would have come if the new policy had continued.
The CBI is also focusing on what it claimed was the alleged influence of a "south lobby" of businessmen and politicians in making the Delhi liquor policy to swing it in their favour using middlemen, traders and bureaucrats.
The CBI arrested Butchibabu Gorantla, a former chartered accountant of K Kavitha, leader of the Bharat Rashtra Samithi and daughter of Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao. Ms Kavitha was also questioned in the case.
Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) chief Swati Maliwal took cognizance of the video and said she is issuing a notice to Delhi Police and Delhi Metro to ensure the strictest possible action
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With the scale and spectacle of the first part intact in every respect, the Ponniyin Selvan follow-up is shorn of the information overload that made huge demands on those segments of the audience that were not familiar with the long and eventful history of the Chola dynasty. The two parts are roughly identical in length but they differ in the matter of how the plot is underwired. Ponniyin Selvan-2 (PS-2) feels far leaner and more briskly paced than its predecessor.
Palpably more straightforward, the PS-2 narrative, a Tamil historical epic released nationwide in multiple languages, is much easier to grasp and savour. But like the first part, it is frequently eye-popping in terms of its visual grandeur. Mani Ratnam's measured directorial style ensures that the film is much more than just dazzling. It is consistently entertaining and engaging.
PS-2 starts off with a lavishly filmed, wonderfully mounted prologue that takes the audience back to the time of the young Aditha Karikalan's first meeting with orphan girl Nandini, who strays into the kingdom and catches the eye of the Chola prince. The film then dives into the many conspiracies, internecine tussles and secret liaisons that threaten the kingdom.
The script does not let the spotlight move away from the wide spectrum of the drama that is at the heart of the sweeping saga of ambition, betrayal, guilt and expiation. An enemy's enemy is a friend - that is a line that is spouted on more than one occasion. The Cholas have no dearth of enemies lying in wait to forge strategic alliances and launch an attack.
Ponniyin Selvan, based on an adaptation of Kalki's magnum opus by director Mani Ratnam, B. Jeyamohan and Elango Kumaravel, takes some liberties with the much-loved literary work. It yields dividends because the departures are never unduly self-conscious. The overall impact of the construct is accentuated by Ratnam's firm grasp on the technical aspects and the textual essence of the story.
PS-2, certainly to a significantly greater extent than the first part, is remarkably sinewy and compact whole despite its nearly three-hour runtime. The film is a treat for the eyes. Cinematographer Ravi Varman composes frames that capture the expanse of the locations even as they drill into the granular details of the exquisite images that the camera conjures up. The appeal is neither just sensory or superficial. PS-2 has enough in its folds to touch the mind and the heart.
The pomp and pageantry that are woven into the narrative tapestry do not take attention away from the story - a testimony to Ratnam's ability to achieve an alchemy of visual flourishes, emotional traction and technical finesse. The multiplicity of characters can still baffle a tad, but the free-flowing drama and action on the screen is never less than spellbinding.
On one level, PS-2 continues to be a story of unrequited love. Karikalan's (Vikram) choppy relationship with Nandini (Aishwarya Rai Bachchan) and the danger that it poses to the Chola crown prince constitute an important part of the sprawling plot.
On another, the film addresses the making of the model ruler who was destined to usher in the golden age of the Chola dynasty. It tracks the steps taken by Aditha Karikalan's younger, even-tempered brother, Arunmozhi Varman (Jayam Ravi), towards the throne as well as the ups and downs that confront Vallavaraiyan Vandiyadevan (Karthi), the Vanara clan warrior-prince, as he fights off a series of physical threats.
Arunmozhi's voice of reason and restraint is central to the film because it delivers one of the central themes of the story - the nature of power and ambition weighed against the duties of a ruler. The benign and brave Prince puts a King's purpose into perspective. In one scene, he is advised to hoodwink his people and slip out of a tight spot. He refuses. Without trust in your subjects, governance isn't possible, he asserts. That truism has timeless resonance.
When PS-2 gets into its stride post-credits, Arunmozhi is believed to have perished in a shipwreck, there is talk of revenge in the air and a band of Pandyan warriors are in the middle of covert preparations for an attack on the Cholas. The kingdom is surrounded by traitors and threats lurk at every corner for the ailing King Sundara Chola (Prakash Raj) and his children.
PS-2 reveals the story of the grey-haired Mandakini (Aishwarya in a double role), who the audience had seen briefly in the final moments of PS-1. It delves into the reason for the resemblance that she bears to Nandini and the nature of her relationship with Veerapandiyan, whose dastardly beheading drove a wedge between the Cholas and the Pandyans.
The quality of the performances that the director extracts from the actors is extraordinarily consistent, with Chiyan Vikram's powerful presence serving as a firm anchor for a few of the film's most important sequences. The others in the cast, notably Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Karthi and Jayam Ravi, are also always on the ball and lose no opportunity to make their presence felt.
Trisha (as Chola Princess Kundavai), Sobhita Dhulipala (as Kodumbalur Princess Vaanathi) and Aishwarya Lekshmi (as Poonghuzali alias 'lady of the sea' Samuthirakumari), too, have their moments although they are somewhat crowded out of the film.
With literally a cast of hundreds to deal with, Ratnam does remarkably well to fit them all in and impart to each of the characters a distinct space in the larger scheme of things. Veteran actors like Prakash Raj, R. Sharath Kumar and R. Parthiban have to make do limited footage but they are by no means reduced to irrelevance.
Ponniyin Selvan-2 completes what PS-1 set out to create - a screen version of a daunting text. The result is a cinematic work of monumental proportions, an epic that looks primed to stand the test of time.
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami will appear for a detailed Interview with News18 while the state’s Agriculture Minister Ganesh Joshi will also be in attendance
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In 2020, the deceased woman submitted a complaint under Indian Penal Code section 354 (assault or use of criminal force to any woman, intending to outrage her modesty) against the accused
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News18 has already reported that a Gujjar man from Poonch-Rajouri area, on instructions from Pakistan-based terrorists, had allegedly planned and arranged the logistics for the ambush on the Army truck. He has been arrested along with an associate, and they have helped in the identification of the terrorists, said sources
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In a video message, BJP MP, Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh without making a mention of the allegations against him, indicated that he would not accept defeat till he has the strength to fight
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On April 1, authorities had conducted an "encroachment removal" action at the site of an old 'dargah' located beside a prominent street near the shrine of Hazrat Nizamuddin in south Delhi on Saturday amid heavy security deployment
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New post alert. Courtesy: Manoj Bajpayee. The actor has shared an oh-so-happy frame on Instagram. In the pic, we can see the actor, his wife Shabana Raza and their daughter Ava Nayla. The pic screams family goals from miles away. Manoj Bajpayee is seen wearing a white kurta set. Shabana Raza looks pretty in a traditional ensemble. Ava steals the show with her pastel green dress. Sharing the picture, Manoj Bajpayee wrote, “Fam” along with an evil eye emoji. Actor Sunny Hinduja, who was recently seen in Kartik Aaryan's Shehzada, wrote, “Love” and added a red heart to it. Gajraj Rao wrote, “Lovely”. He has also dropped red heart emojis to the comment. Ronit Roy wrote, “Awwww”.
Now, take a look at how Manoj Bajpayee cherished the “beautiful moments with family and friends”. The actor shared some pictures from his Maldives diaries on Instagram and wrote, “Cherishing beautiful moments with family & friends.”
Manoj Bajpayee, earlier this week, shared the first look poster from his upcoming project Bandaa on Instagram. The film, directed by Apoorv Singh Karki, will be released on Zee5. Sharing the poster, the actor wrote, “Jab baat ho insaaf ki, sirf ek hi #Bandaa kaafi hai. Witness the trial of the century, inspired from true events, only on #ZEE5.” Bandaa, which is a courtroom drama, also stars Ajay Soni and Kaustav Sinha. The film is produced by Vinod Bhanushali, Kamlesh Bhanushali, Asif Sheikh and Vishal Gurnani.
Manoj Bajpayee was last seen in Gulmohar alongside veteran actress Sharmila Tagore. Amol Palekar, Kaveri Seth, and Suraj Sharma were also part of the film. In his review of Gulmohar for NDTV, Saibal Chatterjee wrote, “Gulmohar narrates a decades-spanning tale that is astutely compressed into four days in the life of the Batras as they prepare to move out of what has been their abode for 34 years. One final party is on in the house when the film opens.”
Also called the king of fruits, mangoes are enjoyed by everyone around the world. With a number of varieties to offer like Alphonso, Chaunsa, Dashehari, Langra, Kesar, Totapuri, etc., India leads the production of mangoes in the world. This sweet and sour fruit is juicy and pulpy, which makes it best to be eaten in the summer season. The love for mangoes is such that we have made a myriad of interesting delights with mangoes and one such yummy treat is Aam Papad. In India, aam papad candy is much-loved by a lot of people, but many still don't know how it is made. Lately, a video has been doing rounds on the internet that showcases the production of aam papad.
The video was posted on the Instagram handle 'foodexplorerlalit' and shows people making aam papad from scratch. First, they start with peeling mangoes and making a puree of the mango pulp in a machine. Further, they add sugar to it and mix it with their hands. Going ahead, the workers pour the puree on a dry leaf sheet and spread it with their bare hands. Once the sheets are sundried, they are packed properly for sale.
Atop the video, the Instagram user has written, "Most famous mango papad."
Instagram users could not resist sharing their thoughts on the ignored hygiene levels for preparing aam papad. One of the users wrote, "RIP Hygiene," and another user wrote, "The hygiene is ZERO!"
Another user wished she had not seen this video; she commented, "Yeah, I kinda didn't need to see the production of it. I wish I could unsee it honestly. Doesn't look very sanitary... too many hands touching it... No one's washing their hands at all. I think I will start making my own from now on."
Meanwhile, some people supported the hard work of the workers. A user commented, "Aaj har chiz ki video insta pe dal jati h to hygiene, hygiene krte rehte ho .... Jab kuch ni tha tab bhi ye sb khate th aur bhut ache se khate the, vo kitna hard work kr re h vo ni dikhra. (People are talking about hygiene in the comments, but before they saw this video, they were still eating it. People cannot see the hard work of these people.)"
Another user shared, "Hygiene.... they all are hardworking Village people that's why they live life more than us. And we are always thinking about hygiene, but we might die before 35."
What do you think about this video? Do let us know in the comment section.
