Most Recent

Treasury secretary Scott Bessent (AP Photo)

The United States is staring at a ballooning fiscal deficit, with the Treasury Department reporting a shortfall of over $1.3 trillion in just the first six months of fiscal year 2025 — a figure that marks the second-highest midyear deficit in four decades of recordkeeping.
This staggering number, spanning the transition from President Joe Biden to President Donald Trump, reflects federal spending from October through March. Only fiscal year 2021 saw a higher six-month deficit — $1.7 trillion — during the peak of COVID-19 emergency spending.
Spending has surged across multiple areas, a Treasury official told the Associated Press on condition of anonymity. Contributing factors include elevated Social Security payouts due to cost-of-living adjustments, increased spending on Medicare and Medicaid, disaster relief allocations via FEMA, and heightened expenditures by the Defense Department.
Meanwhile, the Trump administration has pointed to its push for fiscal reform through the newly created Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by tech billionaire Elon Musk. The agency aims to slash wasteful government spending — though its initial savings estimate of $1 trillion has since been revised downward.
Speaking from the Oval Office on Thursday, Musk said, “DOGE expected to achieve $150 billion in savings during the next fiscal year by reducing waste and fraud,” calling such inefficiencies “very common.”
The Treasury’s latest figures show government borrowing between January and March rose $41 billion compared to the same stretch in 2024. Federal outlays during the first quarter of 2025 alone jumped $139 billion year-over-year.
Republicans in the House have advanced a budget plan that outlines $4.5 trillion in tax cuts while demanding at least $1.5 trillion in spending reductions — proposals that remain divisive even within the party. Some lawmakers are pushing for deeper spending cuts, while others want broader tax relief.
DOGE’s blueprint includes laying off a large chunk of the 2.4 million civilian federal employees, scrapping entire agencies such as the Department of Education, and scaling back federal programs.
Maya MacGuineas, president of the nonpartisan Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, offered a stark warning: “The numbers are undeniable. We are racking up debt at an alarming pace, and it’s unlikely to end any time soon. In fact, lawmakers seem hellbent on adding to that sum with trillions of unpaid-for tax cuts and spending increases.”
She urged a course correction before the situation becomes irreversible. “We need to correct the unsustainable course we are on and start focusing on fixing our nation’s finances before it is too late,” MacGuineas said.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent echoed concerns over the growing deficit earlier this month, telling Bloomberg Television that the US could approach the statutory debt ceiling — or “X-date” — as soon as this summer. “We are going to go onto the warning track sometime in May or June,” Bessent noted.

A person looks at a makeshift vigil for the victims of the Jet Set club roof collapse, Wednesday, April 9, 2025, in New York. (AP)

BAJOS DE HAINA: A basketball court in the Dominican town of Haina became a makeshift chapel Thursday, hosting funeral ceremonies for two dozen residents whose lives were abruptly cut short when a nightclub’s roof collapsed with hundreds of people inside.
Two at a time, coffins were carried onto the court and placed on tables lined with white cloth.
The caskets were topped with photos and personal belongings of the victims, and flanked by loved ones who listened attentively to successive, short ceremonies — two victims at a time.
Many of the bereaved broke down, inconsolable two days after the tragedy that claimed more than 200 lives.
The unlucky ones did not manage to escape when the roof of the Jet Set club — a 50-year-old institution in Santo Domingo — collapsed while popular merengue singer Rubby Perez sang to an adoring crowd in the early hours of Tuesday.
Perez, 69, and retired Major League Baseball player Tony Blanco — both of whom hailed from Haina — were among the dead.
Blanco was among the victims memorialized at Thursday’s ceremony in Haina, which was attended by hundreds.
Perez was given a sendoff in a private ceremony at the National Theater in the capitol Santo Domingo earlier in the day that was attended by President Luis Abinader.
– ‘Immense pain’ –
At the entrance to the basketball court hung a large banner with the names and photographs of the deceased. A nearby placard with an image of a peace dove read: “With immense pain, Haina bids farewell to her beloved children.”
Rows of mourners filled plastic chairs to share in the community’s grief.
Among the mourners was Santo Jose German, who lost four relatives.
“A pain that doesn’t subside,” is how he described his emotional state.
“I didn’t want to believe it was real, but it is. Life is lost in a second,” he said.
During the service, blessings were pronounced by priests waving incense, for two coffins at a time, accompanied by the trumpet sounds of music teacher Felix Silvestre.
He had to stop playing several times to cry.
“You have to find strength where there is none because people died there, people I grew up with since childhood, many people,” he told AFP.
With several interruptions, he performed the tune “Cuando un amigo se va” (When a friend leaves), in honor of his late friends.
“It’s hard, but it must be done.”
The director of the local school, 59-year-old Fernando Nina, attended the ceremony to bid farewell to acquaintances.
“Describing it as a hard blow would be an understatement; this disaster really touched sensitive fibers of our municipality,” he said.
“It’s incredible how three, four and even five members of a single family died. There is an atmosphere of sadness and a lot of sorrow” in the community, said Nina.

Two minor boys drowned in a farm pond in the Sidiginamola village of Karnataka’s Ballari.

Delhi Assembly Speaker Vijender Gupta has convened a meeting on Friday to discuss the examination of CAG reports tabled during the recent Budget Session on the performance of the previous Aam Aadmi Party government.

The meeting will be attended by Deputy Speaker Mohan Singh Bisht, and Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) and BJP MLA Ajay Mahawar, among others.

Eight of the 14 pending reports of the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) pertaining to the performance of Delhi government’s excise department, health department, DTC, public accounts and appropriation accounts were tabled in the Assembly recently.

Except for the performance report on the Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) that was sent for examination by the committee on government undertakings, the remaining are to be examined by the PAC, officials said.

A presentation will also be given by the accountant general (audit) of Delhi.

A report on the status of the implementation of an Audit Para Monitoring System (APMS) will also be discussed at the meeting, they added.

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

(Picture Courtesy: Facebook)

Mammootty’s latest action thriller ‘Bazooka’ has managed a decent opening at the box office, collecting ₹3.25 crore net across India on its first day, as per early estimates reported by the Sacnilk website. Released on Thursday, April 10, 2025, the film opened to mixed reviews but drew audiences primarily due to the superstar’s presence and genre appeal.

Occupancy rates
The Malayalam-language film recorded an overall occupancy of 48.53% on Day 1, with viewership gradually increasing through the day. The highest turnout came during the night shows, which saw 61.66% occupancy, a sign of growing interest post initial reactions.

Regional data reveals that Bazooka performed best in Kerala. Kochi recorded a robust 75.50% overall occupancy, peaking at an impressive 95% during night shows. Trivandrum followed with 52.75% overall occupancy, while Chennai and Bengaluru saw moderate interest, reporting 45% and 25.25% respectively.
Mixed responses
Despite its mixed critical reception, Bazooka has benefitted from Mammootty’s star power and the pre-release buzz surrounding its high-octane narrative. Directed with a stylish edge and featuring intense action sequences, the film has found takers among action enthusiasts and the megastar’s loyal fan base.
One of the early Twitter reviews read, “#Bazooka’s first half was engaging from start to finish, . The interval scene stood out, particularly with Ikka’s impressive intro and title card Waiting for the 2nd half!.”
Another Twitter review read, “#Bazooka First Half: Tight & Thrilling! Superb performance by #Mammootty. Music elevates every scene. Technical brilliance all around. Now bring on the second half!.”
Another one wrote, “Style over substance so far. DOP, background score, and Ikka’s title card stand out, but the rest – including the screenplay feels mid and lacks impact. Interval doesn’t hit hard. Second half will decide the verdict -needs to be strong!.”

Elon Musk on Thursday said his work as chief cost-cutter for the Trump administration would yield $150 billion in savings, a significant reduction from earlier estimates that had reached as high as $2 trillion.

“I’m excited to announce that we anticipate savings in fiscal year 2026 from reduction of waste and fraud by $150 billion,” Musk told US president Donald Trump at a White House cabinet meeting that was open to the media.

Musk, the world’s richest person, said the cuts “will actually result in better services for the American people.”

The Tesla tycoon, who is Trump’s advisor on sharply reducing federal spending, had claimed recently that savings achieved by his Department of Government Efficiency would be a trillion dollars.

Musk’s role at the White House, which is slated to end next month, faces criticism in part because his companies have had huge US government contracts.

The DOGE reform team has triggered alarm among critics as well by gaining access through the US Treasury to sensitive data.

At the cabinet meeting, Trump said Musk’s DOGE teams were “fantastic” and urged them to stay in place for the “long haul” to carry out more cost-cutting.

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

After many years of impassioned calls for an Oscar recognizing the art of the stunt, the film academy has decided to give it an official award.
An achievement in stunt design prize will be added starting with the 100th Academy Awards, which will recognize films released in 2027, the film academy said Thursday.
“Since the early days of cinema, stunt design has been an integral part of filmmaking,” Academy CEO Bill Kramer and Academy President Janet Yang said in a joint statement. “We are proud to honor the innovative work of these technical and creative artists, and we congratulate them for their commitment and dedication in reaching this momentous occasion.”
The film academy’s production and technology branch has more than 100 stunt performers among its ranks.
David Leitch, who directed “The Fall Guy,” which was itself an ode to stunt performers, helped lead the charge for the new prize. Leitch began his career as a stuntman for stars like Brad Pitt before transitioning to making stunt-heavy films like “John Wick.” He and stunt coordinator and designer Chris O’Hara of Stunts Unlimited made presentations to the academy advocating for the addition of a new award.
“Stunts are essential to every genre of film and rooted deep in our industry’s history – from the groundbreaking work of early pioneers like Buster Keaton, Harold Lloyd, and Charlie Chaplin, to the inspiring artistry of today’s stunt designers, coordinators, performers, and choreographers,” Leitch said in a statement Thursday. “Chris O’Hara and I have spent years working to bring this moment to life, standing on the shoulders of the stunt professionals who’ve fought tirelessly for recognition over the decades. We are incredibly grateful.”
Stunt designer is a relatively new designation. For his work on “The Fall Guy” O’Hara was the first person to be credited as such.
“To be seen by the film community as stunt designers hopefully brings more light to what we really do,” O’Hara told The Associated Press in 2024. “Back in the day, stunt guys were the cowboys. Now we are creative. We create amazing things, just like a production designer does or a costume designer does.”
The Oscars paid tribute to the stunt community with a video montage at the 2024 ceremony, looking back at over 100 years of Hollywood stunts from Chaplin and Keaton all the way to “Mission: Impossible” and “The Matrix.”
Other awards shows were ahead of the curve in celebrating stunts: The Emmys honors stunt coordination and stunt performance, while the Screen Actors Guild Awards recognize stunt ensembles in television and film.
The Oscars also recently added a prize for achievement in casting, starting with films released in 2025. As with the casting award, it remains unclear whether it will be added to the live Oscars broadcast.
Chad Stahelski, who co-directed “John Wick” and did stunts for Keanu Reeves, told the Thursday that there’s still work to be done.
“The idea of giving an Academy Award for stunt design is awesome – don’t get me wrong,” he said. “Now I would like to know who’s going to decide who gets it, and who actually gets the award? It’s not like it was 100 years ago when there was one person designing it. It’s a collaborative effort.”
Stahelski added: “Stunts is such a collaborative and complicated department, how are we going to determine who this goes to? We’ve spent 100 years getting the award, let’s just make sure it goes to the right people.”

RAIPUR: The administration in Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh, has sent a notice to a well-known private hospital following allegations that “Dr John Camm, aka Narendra Vikramaditya Yadav“, operated on former Chhattisgarh Speaker Rajendra Prasad Shukla, who died shortly after surgery in 2006.
The notice seeks to know how long Camm was employed with them and details of the patients he saw. Shukla was a Congress MLA from Kota assembly constituency and was the first Speaker of the Chhattisgarh assembly, from 2000 to 2003.
Camm, now in MP police custody, is accused of carrying out unauthorised cardiac surgeries on 13 patients in Damoh in two months, after which seven of them died.

Camm’s credentials as a medical practitioner are under scrutiny. Around 400km from Damoh, chief medical and health officer of Chhattisgarh’s Bilaspur is probing allegations that Narendra Vikramaditya Yadav “treated” heart patients there too nearly two decades ago.
The notice seeks information on Yadav’s employment, position and tenure at Apollo Hospital in Bilaspur, his education and expertise, and whether he was registered with Chhattisgarh Medical Council. The notice also inquires if he worked as a cardiologist, number of operations he performed, how many were successful, and number of post-operative deaths.
Apollo Hospital has also been asked to provide a photocopy of Yadav’s appointment letter and to disclose whether any complaints were raised about his qualifications or skills prior to this incident, and, if so, what action was taken. The hospital has been told to submit its report within three days. Hospital PRO Devesh Gopal told TOI that they have received CMHO’s notice and will respond in due course. “I have to check exact date of receipt,” he said when asked about the deadline.
“He has accepted that most of his certificates are fake. We are trying to verify his MBBS degree,” Damoh SP Shrut Kirti Somavanshi had told TOI last Tuesday.

Aroldis Chapman defies age with 103 mph fastballs showing he’s still a top pitcher (Image Source: X)

Aroldis Chapman is saying age is just a number. At 37, most pitchers lose steam, but not Aroldis Chapman. In a recent game, the veteran left-hander set off the radar gun with a fastball. Fans were amazed, and the video spread like wildfire. Aroldis Chapman’s outing was a reminder to everyone why he remains one of the scariest arms in baseball.

Aroldis Chapman is 37 years old and still throwing fire

Aroldis Chapman, aka the “Cuban Missile,” has been famous for his crazy fastball velocity since he joined the MLB in 2010. Now, 14 years down the line, he is still hitting triple digits on the mound. Most pitchers experience a decline in speed in their 30s, but Aroldis Chapman defies the rules.
Aroldis Chapman hurled a 103-mph pitch that left the crowd and commentators in awe. That speed is not uncommon; it is practically unheard of for someone of his age. He might not be at his prime, but glimpses of this remind everyone that Aroldis Chapman isn’t finished yet.
He now plays for the Pittsburgh Pirates and is an important part of their bullpen. In both closing out games and laying out big outs, Aroldis Chapman’s speed provides an edge to the Pirates in close matches.

Aroldis Chapman still has flame in his arm

Once the pitch went viral, fans flooded social media with love, shock, and respect. People complimented him by saying, “At 37 years old, Aroldis Chapman is still bringing the HEAT.”
Others noted, too, that Aroldis Chapman is not only a thrower, he’s gotten smarter on the mound. He’s better at mixing speeds and keeping batters off guard. But yes, when he must, he can still just blow a fastball by even the best hitters in the league.
With the 2025 season just beginning, Chapman’s performance is good for the Pirates. He still has a long way to go, while improving further. If he continues to pitch this way, he might be a key player in their quest for a playoff spot.
His overall experience, combined with his speed, makes him irreplaceable. Analysts are hoping that his presence can lead the team to crucial wins in the game.
Also Read: Pittsburgh Pirates Sign LHP Aroldis Chapman For 1 Year, $10.5M