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India.com
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- India.com
NASA astronauts create delicious 'Space Sushi' aboard the ISS to cheer up crewmate, internet says 'Someone send them a rolling mat'
NASA astronauts create delicious 'Space Sushi' aboard the ISS to cheer up crewmate, internet says 'Someone send them a rolling mat' Even in space, food cravings knows no bounds! When one of the astronauts on the International Space Station (ISS) said they were missing sushi, their fellow crew members decided to help. They used the food they had on board to make their own version of sushi, right in space! NASA astronaut Jonny Kim shared a photo on social media (on X, earlier called Twitter) showing how they put together their special 'space sushi.' Since they didn't have fresh ingredients, they used what was available — rice, canned fish, Spam, spicy Korean paste (gochujang), and a bit of wasabi to give it some spice. 'It's not exactly like the sushi we eat on Earth, but it turned out pretty good!' Kim wrote. He added that they made the meal as part of a crew celebration after one astronaut said they were really missing sushi. So, everyone shared what they had to make the dish together. Even though it wasn't like sushi from a restaurant, the astronauts were happy with their little taste of home and people on Earth loved the idea too! Since everything floats in zero gravity, astronauts have to get creative with how they eat. One clever trick is using tape on the dining table with the sticky side facing up. This simple hack helps keep food items, condiments, and utensils in place, preventing them from drifting away mid-meal. Internet reacts The post soon became popular on social media, and many people praised the astronauts for their clever idea. One user, @Skythelimit4545, said, 'Your space sushi party sounds like so much fun! That sticky-tape trick to keep everything in place in zero gravity is really smart.' Another user, @terranea45, wrote, 'I love sushi too! You guys are true heroes.' Many others joined in with funny and curious comments. Some said they would love to taste 'space sushi' one day, while others were amazed by how food works in space without gravity. One user joked, 'Someone send them a rolling mat; it would help with assembly.' Another user pondered, 'How do you guys get the rice and sushi to stay on the plate if the plate is taped to the table? Do you tape the food to the plate? Silly question.'
Mint
11-06-2025
- Business
- Mint
Manoj Pant: Let's prepare well for negotiations on trade in services
Here are some facts. Today, the share of services in global trade stands at about 25%. More importantly, it is the only category of trade that has expanded at a rapid pace since the financial crisis year of 2008. In recent years, the share of goods in trade has fallen by about 5 percentage points and there has been a corresponding increase in the case of services. This pattern is mirrored in India's case. According to the Economic Survey 2024-25, the share of services in terms of export gross value added (GVA) has increased from around 51% in 2014-15 to around 55% now. Further, it is growth in services trade which has kept India's current account deficit (CAD) at a manageable 2% of GDP. It was the General Agreement of Tariffs and Trade (GATT) that led to a decline in global tariffs. Till recently, except some countries in South Asia, import tariffs were in single digits (before Donald Trump took office in the US). And today, international arguments increasingly revolve around non-tariff barriers (NTBs). Also Read: Services led exports are a mixed blessing for the Indian economy It was a stalemate over NTBs at the World Trade Organization (WTO) that led many countries to take recourse to regional trading arrangements to expand their trade over the last two decades. This has the advantage of going beyond the WTO in new areas. One of these is trade in services. The General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS) was based on a 'positive list' approach, where countries only need to make offers when they want to. But this has meant very little forward movement here along the lines of commodity trade negotiations under GATT. Another critical hold-back is the lack of reliable data. Unlike commodities, services have no border restrictions like tariffs, but are constrained by internal regulation that can be complex. For example, trade in infotech services is hampered not only by visa systems (as in the US), but also by other regulatory constraints like data adequacy rules, FDI norms and totalization agreements (to avoid double taxation via social security payments). Nor are these regulatory constraints the same across countries. Also Read: Ajit Ranade: India must diversify its exports of manufactured goods Under the WTO, there was an attempt to create a template for international comparison by clubbing services trade under four heads—or so-called 'modes.' Unfortunately, the 'positive list' approach has meant that GATS has been a non-starter. To cut a long story short, as services trade has increased globally by leaps and bounds, countries are increasingly grappling with the issue of codifying trade in services. As the above discussion indicates, the process will have to begin by recognizing the comparability of services across countries. For example, in educational services, we would need mutual recognition agreements (MRAs) to define comparability of degrees. This is easier said than done. In India, education is on the concurrent list for the Centre and states to legislate on, and regional regulations would also have to be considered. An effort to achieve a degree of international comparability has started with the WTO's classification of services into 12 main sectors and 160 sub-sectors. This was mainly done to allow member countries to categorize their services into four 'modes' under the GATS. However, since these multilateral negotiations have ground to a halt, it is now for countries to take this forward under various free trade agreements (FTAs). The difficulty lies in establishing a single measure (like tariffs in the case of commodities) that could establish restrictiveness of services across countries after MRAs are signed. Also Read: Special trade ties with America aren't India's only export game This is particularly important for India, whose global strength seems to lie in trade in services. Yet, due to all the difficulties listed above for codifying trade in services, India's experience has been unsatisfactory. In 2005, such an attempt was made in the India-Singapore Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement, but there was little progress as the issue of MRAs moved nowhere either in banking or in education. Similarly, in the case of India's trade relations with Asean, it was agreed in 2005 that an agreement on trade in services would follow the deal struck on goods, but so far no discussions have been held with Asean countries on this. Also Read: Will the WTO get crushed under an avalanche of bilateral trade deals? As mentioned earlier, the issue is how to generate a single number to define restrictiveness in services that can form a benchmark for further negotiations on trade in services. There have some attempts by both the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development and World Bank to create a Services Trade Restrictiveness Index (STRI), but as shown in 'Quantification of Services Trade Restrictions: Some New Results' (Pant and Sugandha, March 2022) published in the Economic and Political Weekly, these indices have serious statistical shortfalls that can lead to a complete reversal of sectoral rankings by trade restrictiveness. Yet, this STRI approach seems to offer a way forward for India to hold talks on market access for services. It could feature in talks underway with the US and EU. The STRI can help begin negotiations on broad sectoral lines before proceeding to granular talks on specific regulatory issues. So far, India has focused on Mode 4 (the movement of natural persons) to enhance trade in services. This effort, however, has largely been a failure. As I have argued before, such a narrow approach seems like too weak an attempt at exploiting India's comparative advantage in services. We need a better researched approach. The author is visiting professor, Shiv Nadar University.
India.com
09-06-2025
- Entertainment
- India.com
Meet actress, who worked in many hit films, quit acting to crack UPSC, is now an IAS officer, her name is..., married to..
We often come across people who struggle a lot and then finally become a celebrity. But how many times have you heard that a celebrity struggled to become a government officer? Rarely, right? Meet the talented actress who traded her filmy dreams for a noble pursuit – serving the nation as an IAS officer! She's one of those rare gems who rose to fame with her adorable charm and impressive acting skills, only to leave it all behind for a greater calling. Despite achieving immense popularity and recognition in the South Indian film industry, this actress chose to leave the world of entertainment after clearing India's most difficult exam, the UPSC. Let's uncover the fascinating story of this former starlet turned bureaucrat! Who is she? We are talking about HS Keerthana, who has been in multiple TV series and movies. Keerthana began her acting career at the age of four as a child artist. She chose to quit acting and sit for the UPSC exam while her career was at its height. She is currently serving the nation as an IAS official and is away from the glitzy world. Cracked UPSC on the sixth attempt! According to multiple reports, after multiple attempts, she finally cleared the UPSC exam on her sixth try, proving that determination and hard work can lead to success, no matter the path. Her story is a testament to following one's passion, even if it means taking an unconventional route. Some might see it as a career U-turn, but this actress proved that dreams know no bounds. After achieving superstardom, she took a bold step towards a government role and aced the UPSC exam to become an IAS officer, turning her aspirations into reality. Keerthana is married to According to reports, IAS officer HS Keerthana is married to Dilip. In an interview, she thanked her husband for his support in pursuing her dream of becoming a civil servant. Keerthana's filmography Talking about Keerthana's filmography, she is a well-known actress in the South Indian film and television industries. She has starred in several popular films and TV shows, including 'Karpurada Gombe,' 'Ganga-Yamuna,' 'Mudina Aliya,' 'Upendra,' 'Kanoor Heggadati,' 'Circle Inspector,' 'O Mallige,' 'Lady Commissioner,' 'Habba,' 'Dore,' 'Simhadri and Janani,' 'Chiguru,' and 'Putani Agent.'
Yahoo
06-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
ICE subpoenas Chicago for records of applicants in city ID program used by immigrants
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement subpoenaed the Chicago City Clerk's Office in April for the personal information of applicants to a municipal ID program popular with immigrants, an apparent new tactic in Republican President Donald Trump's plan to target Chicago as he seeks to ramp up deportations. The clerk's office received the summons on April 17 requiring the city to turn over the past three years of CityKey records, according to a copy obtained by the Tribune in a Freedom of Information Act request. The program was launched in 2017 by former Mayor Rahm Emanuel and city Clerk Anna Valencia as part of a stand against Trump. Asked whether the city complied with the subpoena, Law Department spokesperson Kristen Cabanban indicated some type of response but would not directly confirm whether it turned over documents to ICE, which demanded several years worth of data. 'We were responsive, within the bounds of the law and consistent with our Welcoming City Ordinance,' Cabanban said Friday. While Emanuel and Valencia trumpeted the safety of the CityKey application during its inception, promising that federal officials would not be able to track down applicants because the city wouldn't keep identifying documents, the situation has recently changed. Overwhelmed by demand for the IDs by Venezuelan migrants at in-person events in fall 2023, Valencia started offering an online application in December 2024. To meet state document requirements, the Clerk's Office has kept application materials for more than 2,700 people who used the online CityKey system since then, according to Diana Martinez, a spokesperson for Valencia. 'I don't think that's inconsistent,' Martinez said in a phone interview. 'That's why we were so careful to make sure that people were aware of what submitting their information to the online platform meant. … We try to let people know if you're at all concerned about your identity, please go in person.' The ICE subpoena called on the city to 'provide a copy of the application and all supporting documents for all individuals who applied for a CityKey identification card between April 17, 2022, and April 17, 2025, and used any foreign document as proof of identity, including but not limited to: consular identification card, foreign driver's license, or foreign passport.' The Tribune also obtained an ICE subpoena sent to Chicago's Department of Streets and Sanitation on March 21 that sought payroll records for current and recent employees as part of a worker eligibility audit. That department also deferred questions on its subpoena to Cabanban, who again said, 'We were responsive, within the bounds of the law and consistent with our Welcoming City Ordinance.' ICE spokesperson Erin Bultje declined to comment on both subpoenas, citing 'an ongoing investigation.' CityKey appeals to immigrants because it allows noncitizens to obtain a city government-issued ID. Now under a second Trump administration, ICE is going after those applications, including identification documents, after a recent explosion in demand for CityKey during the Venezuelan migrant crisis. It's unclear how many of the 87,100-plus individuals who sought a CityKey during the time period encompassed in ICE's subpoena are immigrants. The city clerk policy is to only retain records for those who apply via the online portal. The CityKey subpoena indicated the records were sought as part of an immigration enforcement investigation and demanded the clerk turn them over by May 1. The email address listed as the destination for the clerk's subpoena response included the abbreviation for the Document and Benefit Fraud Task Force and Chicago's Homeland Security Investigations division, the investigative arm of ICE. The task force's website says its mission is to 'target and dismantle the transnational criminal organizations and individuals that threaten U.S. national security and public safety – and address vulnerabilities that exist in the immigration system.' Meanwhile, the ICE subpoena for Streets and Sanitation records asked for forms for all employees confirming they are legally authorized to work in the U.S., a list of current employees and ex-staffers terminated 12 months prior to the subpoena date, payroll data for all employees and their Employer Identification Number, a list of all current city contractors and a list of all staffing companies and their rosters. The Streets and Sanitation subpoena references a 'Form I-9 Inspection,' an ICE audit that concerns whether an employer has complied with verifying its employees' eligibility to work in the U.S. The federal agency's website says employers who 'knowingly hired or continued to employ unauthorized workers' may be subject to civil fines or criminal prosecution. Both the clerk and Streets and Sanitation were warned in the subpoena that a 'failure to comply with this subpoena may subject you to an order of contempt by a federal District Court.' Immigrants and immigrant advocates have raised concerns about federal investigators getting their hands on identifying CityKey documents since the program's 2017 inception. A similar program in New York City raised red flags when Republican lawmakers sued to stop then-Mayor Bill de Blasio from purging applicants' personal information, though that legal challenge failed. Upon the municipal ID's debut, the city pledged not to keep copies of any personal information that applicants provide. But Martinez said the Clerk's Office keeps documents from people who applied for the card via the new online website because of an internal records retention policy concerning data submitted online. For most of CityKey's existence, all applications were processed at printing events where clerk staffers purged the papers on the spot after the ID was produced. Martinez said the online retention schedule, created by working with state officials to comply with the Illinois Records Act, mandates the clerk store CityKey documents submitted online for three years after the ID expires. The card lasts two years for ID holders under 14 years old and five years for recipients between 14 and 64. There is no CityKey expiration for those 65 and up, so their records are never expunged, Martinez said. All of that data is stored with the local software vendor Omicron Technologies, Martinez said, stressing there are multiple disclaimers on the online portal about the document retention. The website asks users to agree to the following: 'By using the CityKey online platform, you are agreeing to allow the Office of the City Clerk to keep a record of all the information you submit during your application process.' Asked whether the Clerk's Office intends to clarify its messaging to online applicants about if their records are safe, Martinez said, 'We actually don't guarantee that.' 'That's been our message throughout, especially once we launched the online platform,' Martinez said. 'We always want to encourage people to go in person if they have any concerns around their identity, whether it's undocumented people, whether it's domestic violence survivors or any other population.' The online disclaimers don't mention those specific groups, however, or the potential risks of their data being stored. The CityKey FAQ section only warns, 'Yes, the information submitted to the online platform is retained according to the City's retention schedule.' 'Protecting people's information is our number one priority,' the FAQ says. 'We worked closely with community advocates, data security professionals, and the City's technology department to create a program that is safe and secure.' In total, 145,825 CityKeys have been issued since its 2017 inception, per numbers provided by Martinez. For the period of time in the ICE subpoena — April 17, 2022, to April 17, 2025 — 87,163 individuals had applied for CityKey, 2,717 of them via the online portal starting in December. During Chicago's migrant crisis that began in 2022, new arrivals often sought official government identification while their federal asylum applications remained in limbo. The municipal ID also serves as a Chicago Public Library card, a Ventra transit pass and a prescription drug benefits card. To qualify for a CityKey, an applicant must provide documentation proving their identity and residency. Immigrants have used their Department of Homeland Security paperwork, passport, birth certificate, consular card or a letter from a nonprofit temporarily housing them. Many of the asylum seekers had come from Venezuela, which does not maintain embassies and consulates in the U.S. due to poor diplomatic relations. But the crowds at the events grew so large that migrants camped outside and fought for spots in line, leading Valencia to implore City Council for help at a budget hearing in October 2023. 'We're beyond the demand,' the clerk told aldermen. 'We're being crushed.' That was also when she floated the online portal.
New York Post
27-05-2025
- Sport
- New York Post
Timberwolves fan becomes unexpected part of Game 4 in crucial final moments
This fan pulled the reverse Steve Bartman. A likely Timberwolves fan sitting courtside Monday night caught a ball that went out of bounds to give the Timberwolves a chance at a final shot with 0.3 seconds remaining in Game 4 of the Western Conference finals. It's possible the game could have ended had the fan not pulled a Justin Jefferson and interjected himself with a nice catch, but it went for naught with the Timberwolves turning the ball over on the inbounds pass in the 128-126 loss to the Thunder that now has Minnesota in a 3-1 series hole. 3 The fan (in white shirt) catches the ball. @SMHighlights1/X It's generally accepted that fans are going to do what they can on balls in the stands to help their teams, although those Yankees fans who tried to wrestle Mookie Betts clearly took it a little too far. Bartman will forever be remembered for interfering with a foul ball that hurt the Cubs in their NLCS loss to the Marlins in 2003, though the team's 2016 title has helped null that pain. This fan could have cemented himself in Minnesota lore had the Timberwolves somehow won. 3 Gilgeous-Alexander hurls the ball down court. @SMHighlights1/X With Oklahoma City leading, 128-126, with 3.5 seconds remaining, Anthony Edwards missed a free throw and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Donte DiVincenzo fought for the rebound. Gilgeous-Alexander, the newly-minted MVP, corralled the ball and threw it down court in hopes of running out the clock. 3 The fan catches the ball. @SMHighlights1/X His pass, though, veered out of bounds and this fan caught the ball before it hit the ground. It's possible the clock would have run out if not for the fan. The referees initially said the Timberwolves had possession with 0.1 seconds remaining, which would have meant they could not get a shot off, but after a review they gave Minnesota 0.3 seconds. That time allowed them to attempt a tip-in, but Jalen Williams intercepted the pass to secure the two-point win. The Timberwolves now face elimination in Game 5 on Wednesday in Oklahoma City and Minnesota is an 8.5-point underdog at BetMGM.
