Latest news with #absence
News18
12 hours ago
- Science
- News18
Shubhanshu Shukla Learns To Walk Again After Spending 18 Days In Space
Last Updated: Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, one of four astronauts on the Axiom-4 mission, launched aboard a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft on June 25. Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, who returned from space on July 15 after nearly three weeks aboard the International Space Station (ISS), is now undergoing recovery and physical readjustment on Earth. Shukla, one of four astronauts on the Axiom-4 mission, launched aboard a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft on June 25. After spending nearly 20 days in microgravity, he and the team splashed down safely off the coast of California. In a video shared on Instagram, Shukla is seen relearning how to walk, supported by two individuals as he takes slow, deliberate steps. 'I have received many messages wishing me a speedy recovery. I want to thank everyone and give a quick update," he wrote in the post. He explained that during space travel, the body undergoes several physiological changes due to the absence of gravity, such as fluid shifts, changes in heart rate and balance, and muscle loss. Now, back on Earth, he said, the body has to adapt again. 'Though the rate of recovery varies for each astronaut, I was amazed at how quickly the human body begins to readjust," he noted. 'In the pursuit of the unknown (space), you get to know more about yourself." According to Union Minister Jitendra Singh, Shukla and the other three astronauts will remain in quarantine until July 23. The period will include medical monitoring and support to aid their re-adaptation. Minister Singh, in an interview with PTI, said Shukla's mission has provided India with valuable practical insights as it prepares for its human spaceflight programme, Gaganyaan. 'It has added to India's capabilities and positioned us more strongly for future international space collaborations," he said. During their stay aboard the ISS, Shukla and his crewmates conducted over 60 scientific experiments and outreach activities. Shukla is only the second Indian to travel to space, after Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma, who flew in 1984. view comments First Published: July 23, 2025, 08:46 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Time of India
a day ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Outspoken Jagdeep Dhankhar questioned Judiciary on overreach, lack of accountability
Jagdeep Dhankhar, known for his outspoken stance as vice president, surprisingly resigned citing health reasons. He frequently criticized the Judiciary on issues like corruption and overreach, particularly after cash was discovered at Justice Varma's residence. Dhankhar questioned the striking down of the NJAC Act and the Judiciary's role, viewing himself as a defender of the system. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads As vice president, Jagdeep Dhankhar often waded into contentious matters of the day, hogging headlines and setting the agenda. But one area that was at the receiving end of his punches more than others was the Judiciary over a gamut of issues ranging from alleged corruption to its a surprise move, Dhankhar stepped down as the vice president on Monday evening citing health cash discovery row at the official residence of Justice Yashwant Varma here in March had given Dhankhar a fresh handle to target the higher judiciary on the issue of corruption and alleged lack of he questioned the courts and its various decisions, Dhankhar described himself as the "foot soldier" of the Judiciary as he was part of the system as a also hit out at "forces with pernicious agenda" out to target institutions, including the Judiciary in his public several of his speeches, as vice president, he questioned the Supreme Court for striking down the National Judicial Appointments Commission (NJAC) Act which sought to overturn the present collegium system. He had wondered how the top court could strike down a law passed with near unanimity by both Houses of had also hit out at MPs for not speaking against the Supreme Court had lamented that there was "no whisper" in Parliament after the Supreme Court struck down the NJAC Act and described it as "too serious an issue".He had also questioned the Judiciary setting a timeline for the president to take decisions and act as a "super Parliament", saying the Supreme Court cannot fire a "nuclear missile" at democratic strong words to the Judiciary came days after the Supreme Court sought to fix a timeline for the president to grant assent to the bills reserved for her consideration by the governor."So, we have judges who will legislate, who will perform executive functions, who will act as super Parliament and absolutely have no accountability because the law of the land does not apply to them," Dhankhar had the discovery of half-burnt wads of cash at Justice Varma's residence, he questioned the absence of an FIR in the case and dubbed the three-member in-house committee formed by the then chief justice of India to investigate the case said the panel's findings were without proper investigative tools which a probe agency has.
Mint
a day ago
- Politics
- Mint
Jagdeep Dhankhar, the most controversial constitutional VP in post-1947 India
The Constitution of India's description of the Vice President as an "ex-officio Chairman of the Rajya Sabha" who 'acts as President when the latter is unable to discharge his functions due to absence, illness or any other cause', is a rather innocuous description of the persona of Jagdeep Dhankhar. Rarely, if ever, has a constitutional position been as controversial as this once-centrist politician from Rajasthan, whose surprise resignation on `health' grounds made him the first Vice President to quit for reasons other than contesting presidential polls or taking over as President after winning elections. While disagreements between the Opposition and the Vice-President in his capacity as the Rajya Sabha Chairman is commonplace in India's parliamentary politics, what Dhankhar did was to elevate this rivalry to the level of outright hostility. Elected Vice-President in August 2022, his term as the Rajya Sabha Chairman began on a controversial note during the Winter Session that year as he called the Supreme Court's 2015 judgment striking down the National Judicial Appointments Commission (NJAC) Act a 'glaring instance' of 'severe compromise' of parliamentary sovereignty and disregard of the 'mandate of the people'. Since then, there have been several instances when he and Opposition MPs clashed on a regular basis. In August 2023, Dhankhar told the Opposition that he 'could not and would not' direct Prime Minister Narendra Modi to be present in the House as it was the PM's prerogative, like any other MP, to come to Parliament. He made this statement as the Opposition benches continued to demand the PM's presence in the Rajya Sabha to address them on the issue of violence in Manipur. Ties between the Rajya Sabha Chairman and the Opposition hit a low during the Winter Session of 2023 when 146 MPs were suspended from both Houses of Parliament, mostly over their demand for Union Home Minister Amit Shah's statement on a Parliament security breach, followed by a discussion on the matter. It was the highest-ever number of suspensions in a Parliament session. For the BJP, Dhankhar did not serve the purpose he was elected for. Says political analyst Amitabh Tewari: "For the BJP, Dhankhar did not serve the purpose he was elected for. Despite his farmer background, he was unable to influence agitators. He became too abrasive and partisan in the House.' In December 2024, Dhankhar became the first person holding one of the top two constitutional posts in the country to face the prospect of impeachment as the Opposition submitted a notice to move a no-confidence motion against him, which was rejected. Things reached a stage when the Rajya Sabha became a virtual.
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Business Standard
2 days ago
- Business
- Business Standard
Hallmarking for 9 carat gold gets green light: What it means for consumers
The government has approved hallmarking standards for 9 carat gold, making it officially part of the Bureau of Indian Standards' (BIS) hallmarking system. The notification was issued by the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, and the rule will take effect from this month, June 2025. What's happening: According to BIS, 9K gold must have a minimum fineness of 375 parts per thousand, and will now be subject to the same regulations as other gold categories. Jewellers and hallmarking centres must comply starting July 2025. Why it matters: Gold prices have surged to record highs in India, crossing ₹99,000 per 10 grams and briefly hitting ₹1,00,484 on the MCX. This has led to many consumers being priced out of the market. By making 9 carat gold (which costs roughly ₹38,110 per 10 grams, including GST) part of the hallmarking system, the government aims to: The background: Until now, hallmarking in India was permitted only for 24K, 23K, 22K, 20K, 18K, and 14K gold. The BIS hallmark certifies the gold's purity (measured in parts per thousand) and ensures consumer protection under the BIS Act, 2016. The absence of 9 carat gold from the list had limited jewellers' ability to sell lower-purity, affordable options with government-backed certification. That gap has now been filled. This development comes after a steep 60 per cent drop in gold sales by volume in June, the sharpest decline since the Covid-19 pandemic. Why have gold prices surged? Gold prices are surging due to a combination of global and domestic factors. Investors are turning to gold as a safe-haven asset amid heightened geopolitical tensions, particularly between the US and China, and growing political instability. A significant drop of over 4 per cent in the US Dollar Index this year has further boosted gold's appeal on the global stage. Central banks, especially in Asia, are increasing their gold reserves to diversify away from the US dollar, driven in part by concerns over political risks such as the freezing of Russian central bank assets. Additionally, the US Federal Reserve's interest rate cuts have made gold, which does not yield income, relatively more attractive. In India, domestic demand remains strong due to cultural and seasonal factors—key festivals in India traditionally see a rise in gold purchases, keeping demand high regardless of price trends. Industry speaks: Officials and industry leaders have welcomed the move as overdue and timely. 'We had been urging the government to introduce hallmarking of 9 carat gold for over a year,' said Surendra Mehta, national secretary, India Bullion & Jewellers Association (IBJA), speaking to The Economic Times. 'This will spur demand, especially in rural areas.' Suvankar Sen, MD & CEO of Senco Gold, added, 'It's a great initiative to make gold jewellery more accessible amid high prices. Modern designs come out smartly in 9K gold, and this move also supports innovation and exports.' The bigger picture: India is one of the world's largest consumers of gold, using 800–850 tonnes annually. Global factors, including inflation and geopolitical tensions like the Russia-Ukraine war, have driven up gold prices by over 25 per cent in the past year. Amid this, jewellers are increasingly turning to lower-carat jewellery to reduce production costs and attract budget-sensitive buyers, and hallmarked 9K jewellery could unlock new export opportunities, especially for lightweight, design-centric collections. What to watch out for: The new standard takes effect from July 2025, so not all jewellers may immediately offer hallmark-certified 9K gold. Consumers should look for the BIS hallmark and the fineness mark (375) when buying 9 carat jewellery. Gold watches and pens are now excluded from the BIS artefact definition; consumers should be aware that these items may not be hallmarked even if ma
Pink Villa
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Pink Villa
Pawan Kalyan breaks silence on delay in release of Hari Hara Veera Mallu: ‘I could not give my time to shoot'
Pawan Kalyan 's upcoming film Hari Hara Veera Mallu has grabbed attention for more than one reason. Recently, the producer of the period action thriller, A.M. Rathnam, revealed that the actor won't be joining the film's promotions. And now the senior star joined in for the press meet of his film and made some interesting remarks. Pawan Kalyan does not like boasting about his own film Speaking at the event, Pawan Kalyan took center stage and remarked that he considers himself to be an accidental actor. He further mentioned how he usually does not like boasting about his films or even the work that he does. He added, 'I am an accidental actor. I do not like to boast about my films and the work I do. But, I have decided to conduct this press meet only for A.M. Rathnam garu. Despite having a pre-release event this evening, I wanted the press meet to happen now.' Pawan Kalyan admits his unavailability led to HHVM's delays Moving on with his remarks, Pawan Kalyan elaborated on the several challenges his film Hari Hara Veera Mallu underwent, which were no less than battles in themselves. He added that his own unavailability to shoot due to his political work was one of the key reasons behind the situation. Moreover, Pawan lauded the makers for continuing the shoot and completing the project even in his absence. In his words, 'Especially, HHVM underwent turmoil. It survived two COVID phases and also a creative disturbance. After I shifted my focus to politics, I could not give my time to the shoot. But Rathnam garu worked hard to complete the film.' Pawan Kalyan opens up on why he joined HHVM's first press meet Finally, the Power Star, who was supposed to skip Hari Hara Veera Mallu's promotional events, spilled the tea on why he actually joined in for the first-ever press meet being held. Highlighting the need to make his presence known in the movie to the audience, he briefly said, 'I am here today to confirm that I am with this film.' For the uninitiated, the movie also stars Nidhhi Agerwal, Bobby Deol, Nargis Fakhri, Nora Fatehi, Sathyaraj, Vikramjeet Virk, Jisshu Sengupta, and others. It is produced by A.M. Rathnam under the banner of Mega Surya Productions, and its music is composed by M.M. Keeravani. The film is touted as a two-part project.
