Amid Ramayana Teaser Criticism, Namit Malhotra Says "We're Listening Closely"

After a long wait, the teaser of Ramayana, starring Ranbir Kapoor as Rama, was released last week. The first glimpse into the world of the epic spectacle, directed by Nitesh Tiwari and produced by Namit Malhotra, led to a horde of reactions online-some positive, others not so much.

While a section trolled Ramayana, mounted on a Rs 4,000 crore budget, over VFX quality, another was just not convinced about Ranbir Kapoor playing Rama. Namit Malhotra took to social media earlier today to thank everyone for the overwhelming response, and also reiterated how they are "listening closely and working diligently."

The Post

Namit Malhotra wrote, "Dear all, the response over the past few days has truly been overwhelming, inspiring, and humbling. Seeing how our Rama continues to touch so many hearts across the world fills me with deep humility and joy. I cherish all of the conversations, the excitement, and feedback. This is a story etched in the souls of billions and deserves our utmost care."

The post continued, "The many thousands of artists and collaborators who have been working away passionately are enthusiastic and energized to get out there and continue to deliver the absolute best in every department. We're listening closely, working diligently, and pouring every effort possible into honouring it with the reverence it holds."

🕉️ pic.twitter.com/gtF7GqoiuZ

— Namit Malhotra (@malhotra_namit) April 7, 2026

"This is our Ramayana. It belongs to us all, and that shared emotion and massive responsibility to make every Indian proud is what drives me forward every single day. What you've seen so far is just the beginning. We are all striving to bring our epic to life this Diwali on the biggest screens to celebrate our culture and our history," concluded the post.

Namit Malhotra On Making Ramayana A "Culture-First" Phenomenon

"Because in the world of religion, there's too much translation and too much sensitivity. This is truly what I think is a foundational piece of Indian culture, and that's why I feel very comfortable with it, because that's something that we carry with pride. We celebrate it. We share with the world," he told Collider.com.

"As far as the business side is concerned, this question has been asked of me a few times, but bringing a film like Ramayana to the world after having been third generation in the business is a privilege, is an opportunity. So at this point in time, I'm less focused on the business side, but the passion of telling this and showing this to the world has really usurped my senses," he added.

Namit Malhotra then said, "I'm much more, at heart, trying to do the justice I can to a film or a story of this size, such that it really resonates in the hearts of people, at which point the business is done. Business will not be the issue. So, getting the first part in is really where all the time, effort, money, and energy is focused so that everything else then becomes a line of dominoes that hopefully play out as they should."

Ramayana Teaser

The teaser introduces the audience to Ranbir Kapoor's many moods as Lord Rama. From killing a monster to his exile in the forest, the two-minute, 38-second teaser shows Ranbir embracing the mythical figure with its celebrated grandeur, grace, poise, and regality.

Ramayana has been made on a staggering budget of Rs 4,000 crore.

Speaking to Prakhar Gupta, producer Namit Malhotra revealed, "When we set out to make this six or seven years ago, people thought I was a lunatic because no Indian film comes close to this scale. Put simply, the budget will be around $500 million for both parts combined, which is over Rs 4,000 crore."

Ramayana Part 1 is set to be released on Diwali 2026. The film also stars Sai Pallavi, Yash, Sunny Deol, and Ravie Dubey.

ALSO READ | Ramayana's Viral 'Blue Turban Guy' Exists And Is Not AI: "Real Me, Real Ranbir Kapoor"

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"I Am A Businessman First": Trump Eyes Iran Oil As War Expands

 President Donald Trump has said the United States could take control of Iranian oil resources as part of the outcome of the ongoing conflict, framing it as a potential economic return for military action.​

"If I had my choice… yeah, because I'm a businessman first," Trump said when asked about securing Iran's oil. He pointed to past US actions elsewhere to justify the idea.​

Drawing a parallel with Venezuela, Trump said US involvement there had already yielded energy gains. "We are a partner with Venezuela, and we've taken hundreds of millions of barrels… over 100 million barrels already," he said.​

He framed the approach as a departure from past US policy. "To the victor belong the spoils… we haven't had that in this country probably in 100 years," Trump said.​

Trump argued that securing oil resources could offset the cost of military operations. "It paid for that war many, many times over," he said, referring to Venezuela.​

The comments come amid heightened tensions with Iran and ongoing military operations. Trump described Iran as significantly weakened. "They have no navy… they have no Air Force… they have no anti-aircraft weaponry," he said.​

At the same time, he suggested economic control could follow military dominance. "We're the winner… why shouldn't we?" he said, when discussing broader post-conflict arrangements.​

Trump also linked energy strategy to broader geopolitical goals, including control over key transit routes such as the Strait of Hormuz. Ensuring "free traffic of oil" remains a priority in negotiations, he said.​

However, the proposal to take over another country's oil resources is likely to raise legal and diplomatic concerns, particularly under international law governing sovereignty and conflict.​

Responding to questions, Trump indicated that decisions would depend on how negotiations with Iran unfold. "We have to have a deal that's acceptable to me," he said, adding that talks were ongoing and approaching a deadline.​

The remarks highlight a transactional approach to foreign policy, where military success could translate into economic leverage. They also underscore the centrality of energy security in the current U.S. strategy toward Iran.

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

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Artemis II Astronauts Regain Contact With NASA After 40-Minute Blackout

The four astronauts carrying out NASA's first lunar flyby in more than half-a-century were sending back detailed observations of the Moon after traveling further from Earth than any human before.

NASA's mission control in Houston regained contact with the crew after they temporarily lost signal for some 40 minutes, as their spacecraft passed behind Earth's natural satellite.

"It is so great to hear from Earth again," said astronaut Christina Koch, as the crewmembers were once again able to speak with humans on their home planet.

"We will always choose Earth, we will always choose each other."

Earlier the Artemis II team broke the distance record set by the 1970 Apollo 13 mission, which they were expected to surpass by 4,105 miles (6,606 kilometers) when they reached the journey's anticipated furthest distance from Earth -- 252,760 miles (406,778 kilometers).

It was one of the voyage's most notable achievements yet.

Astronaut Jeremy Hansen said the moment was "to challenge this generation and the next, to make sure this record is not long-lived."

The lunar flyby observation period will continue until approximately 9:20pm eastern (0120 GMT). 

Soon astronauts will witness a solar eclipse, when the Sun will be behind the Moon.

 'Wow'

The more than six-hour task of observing and documenting the lunar surface brought human perspective to features of the Moon that we primarily know through photographs taken by robots.

Victor Glover detailed the "terminator" -- the Moon's boundary between night and day.

"Wow -- I wish I had some more time to just sit here and describe what I'm seeing," he said, before creating a vivid portrait for the scientists listening in from Earth. 

"But the terminator right now is just fantastic. It is the most rugged that I've seen it from a lighting perspective."

Kelsey Young, the lead scientist for the Artemis II mission, responded with elation. "Oh my gosh, that was an amazing picture you just painted," she said. 

"Those types of observations are things that humans are uniquely able to contribute, and you just really brought us along with you."

Fellow astronaut Christina Koch meanwhile offered a colorful rendering of lunar craters.

"What it really looks like is like a lampshade with tiny pinprick holes and the light shining through," she said. "They are so bright compared to the rest of the Moon."

Moon memorials

The Orion capsule is zipping around the Moon before U-turning and heading back to Earth in a so-called "free-return trajectory," a return-trip that will take about four days.

Adding to the historic nature of the mission led by Reid Wiseman, the Artemis II crew includes several firsts.

Glover will be the first person of color to fly around the Moon, Koch will be the first woman, and Canadian Hansen the first non-American.

Monday's celestial workday included a poignant moment just after the crew broke the distance record, when they proposed designating two previously unnamed craters.

The first they requested to name in honor of their spacecraft's nickname, "Integrity."

They offered a second name, "Carroll," for another crater, which they asked be named after the late wife of mission commander Reid Wiseman, who died of cancer.

"It's a bright spot on the Moon," said Hansen, his voice breaking with emotion. "And we would like to call it Carroll."

The astronauts embraced, and mission control in Houston held a moment of silence.

"Integrity and Carroll crater, loud and clear. Thank you," said Gibbons.

NASA said they would formally submit the name proposals to the International Astronomical Union, the body charged with naming celestial bodies and surface features.

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

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"Give It Up Or Go To Jail": Trump Vows To Find F-15 "Leak", Threatens Media

The second F-15 airman had been missing for hours. Iran, according to President Donald Trump, had no idea. Then a "mole" leaked the information to the media, and a hunt began.

"They Didn't Know There Was Somebody Missing"

Speaking in the White House briefing room on Monday, Trump said a media report revealing that US forces had rescued one F-15 crew member but were still searching for a second had complicated the rescue operation by alerting Iran.

"We're looking very hard to find that leaker. They basically said that we have one, and there's somebody missing. Well, [Iran] didn't know there was somebody missing until this leaker gave the information," Trump said.

Trump said the disclosure forced the US military into a far more difficult position. "It became a much more difficult operation because a leaker leaked that we have one, we've rescued one, but there's another one out there that we're trying to get," he said.

Also read: "Entire Iran Can Be Taken Out In One Night": Trump's Warning Before Deadline

"Give It Up Or Go to Jail"

Trump said US authorities would go directly to the media organisation that published the story and demand the identity of the source, warning of prosecution if they refused. It was not immediately clear which media outlet Trump was talking about.

"We think we'll be able to find it out, because we're going to go to the media company that released it, and we're going to say, 'national security, give it up or go to jail,'" he said.

Iran Issued A Bounty After The Story Broke

Trump said after the report was published, Iran put out a public notice offering a reward for the capture of the missing pilot, which further complicated the search and rescue effort.

"The country, Iran, put out a major notice... offering a very big award for anybody that captures the pilot," Trump said.

"We have to find that leaker, because that's a sick person. Probably didn't realise the extent of how bad it was. I can't imagine that the person did, but we're going to find out. It's national security, and the person who did the story will go to jail if he doesn't say," Trump said.

Inside The US Military's Daring Rescue Op

The F-15E Strike Eagle was shot down over southwestern Iran on Friday, the first confirmed loss of a US combat aircraft inside Iran since the war began on February 28. 

Both crew members, a pilot and a weapons systems officer, ejected. The pilot was rescued soon after, but the second airman could not be immediately located.

According to the New York Times, Navy SEAL Team 6 commandos carried out the rescue, with hundreds of special operations troops and other military personnel operating deep inside Iranian territory. 

US aircraft dropped bombs and opened fire on Iranian convoys to keep them away from where the airman was hiding. Commandos also fired their weapons to hold off Iranian forces as they moved in, though they did not engage in a direct firefight, the report added.

Before the airman was located, the CIA launched a deception campaign, spreading word inside Iran that US forces had already found him and were attempting a ground extraction. 

President Donald Trump said Monday that the two airmen whose fighter jet was downed over Iran are “recovering very well.”

“They are both recovering very well. They were both injured, and they're doing well,” Trump told reporters at the White House Easter Egg Roll.

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Body Found In Remote Pool Identified As Hungarian Reality Star-Influencer

Police in Gran Canaria, Spain have confirmed that a body found in a remote natural pool belongs to Hungarian reality TV star and influencer Annabella Lovas, according to a report by The Sun UK. The 32-year-old was identified through dental records after investigators sent a tooth sample to Interpol as part of a lengthy and detailed investigation.

Lovas had first been reported missing in November 2024. Police later traced her to an apartment in Playa del Ingles, where she confirmed she was safe. However, concerns were raised again soon after she disappeared once more, according to the news report.

On March 6 last year, a body was discovered in a natural pool in the Berriel Ravine following heavy storms. The woman was found partially naked, and her body had been in the water for around three weeks. Forensic experts struggled to obtain DNA due to the condition of the remains.

Search teams used drones and helicopters to scan the difficult terrain but were unable to locate any belongings or clues.

According to The Mirror, Police believe Lovas may have been living on the streets after running out of money. Investigators suspect she died elsewhere on the island before floodwaters carried her body to the remote location.

Police chief Pablo Fernandez Sala described the investigation as complex and demanding. He said officers initially relied on distinctive tattoos to try to identify the victim. The dental analysis later provided the breakthrough needed to confirm her identity.

Lovas rose to fame in 2021 after appearing on the Hungarian version of The Bachelor and later built a strong following on social media.

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He Stopped A Thief At A British Supermarket, It Cost Him His 17-Year Career

A 54-year-old employee at Waitrose has lost his job after stopping a shoplifter at a London store, bringing an end to his 17-year career, according to The Metro.

Walker Smith said the incident happened at the Clapham Junction branch when a customer alerted him that a man had filled a bag with Lindt Gold Bunny Easter eggs. Smith said he recognised the man as a repeat offender and stepped in to recover the stolen items.

According to the news report, he grabbed the bag, but a brief struggle followed as the shoplifter tried to take it back. The bag tore, chocolates fell to the floor, and the suspect ran out of the store. Smith admitted he later threw a broken piece of chocolate in frustration, though he said it was not aimed at anyone.

Smith said he had been warned earlier not to confront shoplifters, but growing frustration over frequent thefts pushed him to act. He claimed such incidents had become common, with limited security staff on certain days.

A few days later, he was called into a meeting and dismissed. Smith said he apologised and described the store as "like family", but the decision stood. He added that he is now worried about paying rent after recently moving into his own flat.

Retail crime has been rising across the UK, with over 5 lakh shoplifting cases recorded in England and Wales in the past year. Industry groups say many retail workers face abuse and pressure while dealing with theft.

Waitrose said its policies are designed to protect staff and customers, adding that employees are expected to follow safety rules and avoid situations that could put lives at risk.

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US Almost Did Not Rescue Its F-15 Airman Thinking It Was An Iranian Trap

Navy SEAL Team 6 special operations troops went into the mountains of Iran on Saturday night to rescue the missing US F-15 airman. But before that, the mission came close to never launching at all.

US President Donald Trump told Axios that when a radio message came through from the stranded weapons systems officer of the downed F-15E, US officials initially suspected it was an Iranian deception designed to lure American forces into a trap.

Trump told the US news outlet the airman sent a short, unusual message after ejecting from the aircraft. "He said: 'Power be to God.'" 

After the radio message came through, they suspected he might already be in Iranian custody and that the Iranians were "sending false signals" to draw US forces in.

Trump also said the US military had "beeping information" about the officer's location, which was being tracked even as doubts about the radio message grew.

As per the report, people who knew the officer confirmed he was a religious person.

"Thousands Were Hunting Him Down"

The F-15E Strike Eagle was shot down over southwestern Iran on Friday, the first confirmed loss of a US combat aircraft inside Iran since the war began on 28 February. Both crew members ejected. The pilot was recovered shortly after, but the weapons systems officer could not be immediately located.

7,000 Feet Up, Alone, Armed With Handgun: US Airman's 48 Hours In Iran

Speaking to Axios an hour after confirming the rescue, Trump said that "thousands of these savages were hunting him down."

"Even the population was looking for him. They offered people a bonus if they captured him," he said.

Trump said Iran shot down the F-15 using a shoulder-fired missile, adding, "They got lucky."

The crew member survived more than 24 hours in the mountains while wounded before being rescued in a special forces operation on Saturday. Around 200 soldiers from special operations units participated in the rescue, Trump said.

How The CIA Bought Time

Before the airman's location was confirmed, the CIA launched a deception campaign of its own, spreading word inside Iran that US forces had already found him and were attempting a ground extraction. The aim was to buy time and throw Iranian search teams off course.

Inside The "Most Daring" Rescue Op In US History: What We Know, And Don't

The CIA used what officials described as "unique capabilities" to track the airman as he moved through mountainous terrain and avoided locals. Once his precise location was pinpointed, it was shared with the White House, the Pentagon and the US military, and a special forces team was inserted nearby on Saturday night.

According to the New York Times, Navy SEAL Team 6 commandos led the rescue, with hundreds of special operations troops and other military personnel operating deep inside Iranian territory. US aircraft dropped bombs and opened fire on Iranian convoys to keep them away from the airman's position. 

Iran Says The Operation Failed

Iran's military denied that the rescue took place. Ebrahim Zolfaghari, spokesman for the military's central command, Khatam Al-Anbiya, said the US operation had been "completely foiled."

"The so-called US military rescue operation, planned as a deception and escape mission at an abandoned airport in southern Isfahan under the pretext of recovering the pilot of a downed aircraft, was completely foiled," he said in a video statement on state television.

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India Makes First Iranian Oil Purchase In 7 Years, With "No Payment Hurdle"

Indian refiners have purchased Iranian oil amid the Middle East conflict that has disrupted supplies through the Strait of Hormuz, the oil ministry said on Saturday.

The world's third-biggest oil importer and consumer, India has not received a cargo from Tehran since May 2019, following US pressure not to buy Iranian crude, but supply disruptions from the war have hit the country.

"Amid Middle East supply disruptions, Indian refiners have secured their crude oil requirements, including from Iran; and there is no payment hurdle for Iranian crude imports," the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas said on X.

The news reports and social media posts of an Iranian crude cargo being diverted from Vadinar, India to China due to “payment issues” are factually incorrect. 🇮🇳India imports crude oil from 40+ countries, with companies having full flexibility to source oil from different sources…

— Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas #MoPNG (@PetroleumMin) April 4, 2026

Last month, the United States temporarily removed sanctions on Iranian oil and refined products to ease supply shortages.

India has secured its full requirements of crude oil for the coming months, the ministry added.

"India imports crude oil from 40-plus countries, with companies having full flexibility to source oil from different sources and geographies based on commercial considerations."

India has also bought 44,000 metric tons of Iranian liquefied petroleum gas loaded on a sanctioned vessel. The ministry said the vessel, which berthed at the western port of Mangalore on Wednesday, is discharging the fuel.

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

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Bangladesh Writes To BCCI To Salvage Tour, Repair Ties After T20 WC Pull-Out

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has approached the BCCI to salvage India's white-ball tour in September and repair ties strained after Dhaka's decision to pull out of the T20 World Cup in India. It is understood that BCB president Aminul Islam Bulbul's regime could end soon, and an interim board may initiate discussions with the Indian cricket board. The BCB, believed to be run by sports ministry adviser and anti-India hardliner Asif Nazrul, decided not to send the team to India on the pretext of security issues after Mustafizur Rahman was not allowed by the BCCI to play in the IPL.

The BCB had requested that their matches be shifted to Sri Lanka, but the ICC did not find merit in the request, ruling out any security concerns for the team in India.

Indo-Bangla cricket ties have traditionally been cordial, but recent developments have led to a marked deterioration.

"Yes, the BCB has sent a letter to the Indian cricket board. Not only regarding the Indian men's team's white-ball tour of Bangladesh in September, there is also the men's 50-over Asia Cup, which the BCB is set to host next year," a BCCI source told PTI on condition of anonymity.

It is understood that the BCB is keen to host India, as six white-ball matches featuring the Men in Blue would stabilise the board's finances for the year, given the revenue generated from linear and digital broadcast rights sales.

Tamim in line for BCB presidency?

Among several items on its agenda, the BCB has discussed the resignation of four directors during Aminul Islam Bulbul's tenure as president.

There is strong resentment within Bangladesh's cricketing circles over Bulbul's continuation, especially after he expressed helplessness in convincing interim government head Muhammad Yunus to send the team to India.

"The investigation committee looking into the T20 World Cup non-participation fiasco will present its report to the government on April 9.

"It will be interesting to see how Bulbul's position stands once that report is tabled. In that case, an interim board will take over, and re-elections will be held within 90 days. All eyes will also be on Bangladesh's foreign minister's visit to Delhi," said a source tracking developments.

It is understood that former Bangladesh skipper and the country's most accomplished opener, Tamim Iqbal, could be a strong candidate for the BCB presidency.

Iqbal, who urged the government and the BCB to adopt a prudent and practical approach rather than a hostile response, is a choice that the Indian cricket board would also not oppose

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Artemis II Security Breach: Astronaut Enters Tablet PIN On Livestream

NASA's monumental Artemis II mission successfully launched from Florida's Kennedy Space Center on Wednesday (Apr 1), carried by the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and Orion spacecraft. While millions watched the historic liftoff, a brief security lapse caught the attention of eagle-eyed space enthusiasts, who spotted mission commander Reid Wiseman inadvertently broadcast his tablet PIN to the global audience while preparing for launch.

The incident took place 19 minutes before Wednesday's launch as Wiseman, 50, grabbed his stylus and entered the four-digit code, with the camera focused on him. As the incident went viral, social media users joked that Wiseman should have been informed by the NASA team to practice extra caution while entering the password.

"My guy just typed his iPad PIN directly into a 4K overhead shot, unlocking it for the entire planet. Command module getting opensourced but it's ok because it's for the gram," said one user while another added: "That's amazing! I have the same combination on my luggage!"

A third commented: "I appreciate you wanting to get people interested in rocket science, but maybe don't broadcast that the PIN to unlock the tablet on the rocket is either 9393 or 3939."

Artemis crews have tablets pre-loaded with television programs they can binge-watch, and read manuals and experiments about their mission, according to a report in New York Post.

Now that it's lifted off, I can share this:

Hey @NASA, I appreciate you wanting to get people interested in rocket science, but maybe don't broadcast that the PIN to unlock the tablet on the rocket is either 9393 or 3939. Maybe have him change it before returning...just in… pic.twitter.com/WDm6U6DwPw

— BonkDaCarnivore (@BonkDaCarnivore) April 1, 2026

Also Read | AI Chatbots Lie And Manipulate To Protect Each Other From Deletion, New Study Finds

Artemis II Mission

Artemis II is NASA's first crewed lunar flyby in over 50 years, acting as a crucial test flight for the Artemis programme to enable a lunar landing by 2028. The crewed mission will evaluate the SLS rocket and Orion capsule, paving the way for sustained human lunar exploration and future Mars missions

Along with Wiseman, the mission features Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Canadian Space Agency (CSA) astronaut Jeremy Hansen, who have embarked on a 10-day test flight to orbit the Moon and return.

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India, Bangladesh Talk Defence Ties As Dhaka Moves Away From Yunus' Pak Push

Bangladesh's High Commissioner to India, Riaz Hamidullah, met Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi in New Delhi on Thursday and discussed enhancing defence cooperation between New Delhi and Dhaka. The high-level meeting marks a sharp turn in ties between the two nations after the new government led by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman took charge in Bangladesh. 

"Pleased to meet General Upendra Dwivedi, Chief of Army Staff (Indian Army), at South Block and reflected on Bangladesh-India ties, including defence collaboration," Hmidullah later said in a post on the social media platform X. 

Pleased to meet Gen. Upendra Dwivedi, Chief of Army Staff (#IndianArmy), at South Block; and reflected on 🇧🇩🇮🇳 ties, including #defense collaboration.@adgpi #Bangladesh #India @BDArmyOfficial @BangladeshAFD pic.twitter.com/myg5WexHb7

— Riaz Hamidullah (@hamidullah_riaz) April 2, 2026

The meeting assumes greater significance because it signals a return to collaboration between the two countries. Under the previous government led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, the Pakistan Army had tried to gain a footing in Bangladesh, with several top officials from Islamabad visiting Dhaka. Yunus, during his one-and-a-half-year tenure, repeatedly provoked India with irresponsible comments, leading to a further strain in ties. 

Under Rahman, who has a Bangladesh First policy, New Delhi and Dhaka have restarted working together, as the two countries share common security goals, especially when it comes to the BBIN (Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal) region and the Indian Ocean.

Rehman has also maintained a distance from Islamabad since his return. On March 25, when Bangladesh observes Genocide Day, the Prime Minister condemned the Pakistani military assault of 1971 as "one of the most heinous genocides.

Reset In India-Bangladesh Ties

India and Bangladesh have also been looking at common maritime and energy security goals, with Dhaka participating in the ongoing IOS SAGAR exercise that was flagged off from the Naval Dockyard in Mumbai on Thursday evening. 

Maritime security and energy security have been a concern for the neighbourhood. India, under its Neighbourhood First policy and SAGAR (Security And Growth for All in the Region) and MAHASAGAR (Mutual And Holistic Advancement for Security And Growth Across Regions) visions, has been working to tackle regional security challenges and those arising from conflicts like the West Asia war that has impacted both India and Bangladesh.

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On Middle East Crisis And LPG, 2 Top Congress Leaders Ditch Party Line

Two more Congress leaders have come out in support of the NDA government's handling of the war in the Middle-East, deviating sharply from the party stand. While former Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, Kamal Nath, flatly said there is no LPG crisis, Anand Sharma, the foreign minister in the erstwhile UPA government, applauded India's "diplomatic handling of the crisis" in a series of posts on X, formerly Twitter. In what could amplify any trouble within the party, he added, "National unity and a mature response guided by national interest is the need of the hour".

Earlier, Congress's Shashi Tharoor and Manish Tewari had deviated from the party stand regarding the war in the Middle-East. The party, though, had not commented on the matter. The two leaders' comments had left the party red-faced earlier also, especially on the matter of Operation Sindoor. The party had benched them during the Op Sindoor debate in parliament.

This time, two more leaders had deviated from the party line. 

"Indian diplomatic handling of the crisis has been mature and skillful avoiding potential minefields," Sharma said in one of his 11 posts on the subject. 

India's response, he wrote, "must be backed by a national consensus and resolve".

The government, he added, has held an all-party meeting to apprise political leaders about the policy decisions in "an unpredictable and volatile situation".

"This national dialogue should be sustained. National unity and a mature response guided by national interest is the need of the hour," he had added, clarifying that apart from the "historical and civilisational relations with Persia", there is also the question of the energy crisis. 

"The war has aggravated the energy, economic and global security challenges. Global Supply chains disruption, tremors in world markets and sharp depreciation of Rupee and national currencies presents an immediate and long term challenge that needs to be urgently tackled," he wrote. 

Also, "Critical energy supplies of Petroleum, LPG - PNG, 200 billion of Trade, the interest and security of 10 million strong Indian diaspora also almost 60 percent FOREX remittances have to be borne in mind," he added, pointing to what is at stake, especially for the younger generation.

The stance was a notable departure from the line of the party, which has been vocal in its condemnation of the government, insisting that it has been following the lead of the US and Israel and turning against a longtime partner. 

Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi has claimed that the government has "surrendered".

Kamal Nath, in face of multiple reports of LPG shortage, said, "There is no such shortage. It is just an atmosphere being created that there is a shortage."

There is "no dearth of cooking gas" in the state, he said, accusing certain quarters of deliberately manufacturing panic for political gains. 
Nath's party has been consistently targeting the Central and the Madhya Pradesh government on the war, alleging delays in LPG supply and hardship faced by the public. 

His comments have left the party open to BJP attacks. Union Minister and senior BJP leader Jyotiraditya Scindia, in a post on X, said, "Now even Congress leader Kamal Nath has himself stated that there is no shortage of petrol, diesel, and gas in the country. The Congress party, which has been misleading the public for so long with lies and illusions, should be ashamed." 

It is time for the Congress party to stop trying to gain political mileage by instilling fear and distrust in the public, he added.

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Trump Fires Key Aide Who Was In Charge Of Epstein Files Disclosure

US President Donald Trump fired Attorney General Pam Bondi over her handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files and what he sees as a lack of aggression in targeting his enemies. Trump was reportedly 'frustrated' with Bondi, according to the Associated Press.

Pam "will be transitioning to a much needed and important new job in the private sector," Trump announced on his Truth Social platform.

"Our Deputy Attorney General, and a very talented and respected Legal Mind, Todd Blanche, will step in to serve as Acting Attorney General", he said.

The report says that Trump has privately discussed replacing Bondi with Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin.

Zeldin, a former Republican congressman from New York, has been publicly and privately praised by Trump, who at an event in February described him as “our secret weapon.”

Bondi, a former state attorney general in Florida and a Trump loyalist who was part of his legal team during his first impeachment case, has been in her position for more than a year.

She came into office pledging that she would not play politics with the Justice Department, but she quickly started investigations of Trump foes, sparking an outcry that the law enforcement agency was being wielded as a tool of revenge to advance the president's political and personal agenda.

Bondi, who defended Trump during his first impeachment trial, was his second choice to lead the Justice Department, picked for the role after former Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida withdrew his name from consideration amid scrutiny over sex trafficking allegations.

from NDTV News- Special https://ift.tt/OTusqcC

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