Due to concerns over the country’s $ 36 trillion debt pile, Moody’s downgraded its credit rating last week. The action could stifle President Donald Trump’s efforts to reduce taxes and send ripples through the financial markets.
The US government’s credit score was dropped from the pristine Aaa to Aa1 by the Moody’s rating agency. It cited rising interest rates and debt costs that were “significantly higher than sovereigns with comparable ratings””.
The US credit score was downgraded by rating rival Fitch, which had earlier downgraded the US credit score in 2023. After Standard & Poor’s did so in 2011, Fitch was the second major rating agency to remove the US’s AAA rating.
Credit ratings are used by investors to assess a company’s and government’s risk profile. The higher a borrower’s financing costs are the lower a borrower’s rating is.
What justifications were given by Moody’s for the downgrade?
According to a news release released last week, “Successful US administrations and Congress have failed to reach agreement on measures to stop the trend of large annual fiscal deficits and rising interest costs.”
“Over the past decade, US federal debt has steadily increased as a result of ongoing fiscal deficits. Federal spending has increased while government revenues have decreased as a result, it said.
Moody’s downgraded Washington for the first time since 1949, the year it first started grading US government debt.
Trump has stated he will balance the budget since his January return, but Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has repeatedly stated that the administration wants to lower its borrowing costs.
However, Trump’s initial goals were far short of what Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency attempted to cut spending. Washington’s current debt rate is currently around $1 trillion per three months.
In the meantime, it is unclear whether tariff-based efforts to increase revenues, which raised concerns about a global slowdown and trade war, will succeed. The majority of economists believe they won’t.
US government bonds have been the “risk-free” benchmark for other financial assets for decades. However, that is being called into question more frequently.
How severe is the US debt issue?
A staggering 16 percent (or $684bn) of tax revenues were used this year to pay debt interest payments, according to data from the US Department of the Treasury. By contrast, that figure is closer to 4% in Germany.
Looking ahead, Moody’s predicted that by 2035, the US federal deficit would increase to 9 percent of GDP, up from 6 percent in 2024, “primarily due to increased interest payments on debt… and relatively low]taxes.”
By 2035, the federal debt burden, according to the report, will be 134 percent of GDP, up from 98 percent in 2024. In context of the COVID-19 pandemic, the debt-to-GDP ratio reached a record high of 133 percent in 2020.
Moody’s maintained that the US still has “exceptional credit strengths” in terms of size, resilience, and dynamism, and that the US dollar continues to be a major reserve currency.
What has been the administration’s response?
White House spokesman Kush Desai said in a statement that “If Moody’s had any credibility, they would not have remained silent as the fiscal disaster of the past four years]as it unfolded”
Moody’s downgrade was seen as politically motivated by The White House. Mark Zandi, the head economist for Moody’s, is a Trump critic, according to White House communications director Steven Cheung.
What’s the background like?
Trump is urging members of Congress to pass legislation that extends the 2017 tax cuts that were proposed. His signature first-term accomplishments were those that cut corporate and individual taxes.
A bill to extend those tax cuts failed to pass a procedural hurdle on Friday as some Republicans in the House of Representatives demanded more spending cuts before vetoing Moody’s recent downgrade.
The holdouts then dropped their opposition and allowed it to pass through committee late on Sunday. The full chamber is now one step closer to passing the tax proposal.
According to Moody’s, the fiscal proposals being considered were incompatible with a steady decline in the deficit and ongoing discussions about reducing taxes, which would increase the debt burden by 134 percent of GDP over the next ten years.
Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer said on Friday that “Moody’s downgrading of the United States’ credit rating should serve as a wake-up call for Trump and congressional Republicans to put an end to their careless pursuit of their deficit-busting tax giveaway.”
I’m not holding my breath, sadly.
What results did the downgrade produce?
Fears that a large investor will reevaluate US sovereign debt were exacerbated by Moody’s downgrade. As asset prices decline, so does the demand for them. Returns from investors’ loans to the government are then changed, with the opposite outcome.
More than 4.5 percent of benchmark 10-year yields increased on Monday, influencing both corporate and consumer interest rates. Since then, they have decreased a little. Yields increased for longer-dated 30-year bonds as well.
US stock markets were jittery on Monday despite Moody’s announcement, but they have since largely recovered. Gold, on the other hand, increased by almost 1% to $ 3,220 an ounce before falling off on Tuesday and Wednesday.
The US dollar’s value also decreased against a range of other currencies. For instance, the British pound increased to $1.35 from its previous high against the greenback at the start of May.
What makes it important?
Because commercial banks use government bond yields as a benchmark for setting their own interest rates, lower credit ratings typically lead to higher bond yields, which will increase interest rates on everything from mortgages to car loans to credit card debt.
Americans, who are among the world’s most deserving of all credit, are in need of this. According to the International Monetary Fund, US household debt in relation to GDP reached 73 percent in 2023. Household debt-to-GDP ratios in excess of 100% are found in Canada, Australia, and Switzerland.
As the government’s spending increases for rising debt repayments becomes more expensive, the US government will have less money for public programs like Social Security, healthcare, and defense.
Washington could raise taxes to reduce its debt in order to generate more income. However, Trump seems to be moving in the opposite direction, lowering both public spending and taxes.
When asked to name their heroes or role models, whether they were young football fans from Barcelona, Barcelona, or Barcelona, they almost certainly would come up with the names Messi, Xavi, or Iniesta.
These days they are just as likely to name someone like the former winner of the women’s Ballon d’Or, Alexia Putellas or twice winner and current holder of the award, Aitana Bonmati, who is generally regarded as the best female player in the world.
FC Barcelona Femeni will face Arsenal in Lisbon on Saturday in search of their fourth consecutive women’s Champions League victory, just 10 years after they became professional and just 23 years after they were officially incorporated into the Catalan institution.
Along the way, they have scored 44 goals in just 10 games this season, including an 8-2 humbling of Chelsea across the two-legged semi-final and a 10-2 aggregate quarter-final defeat to Wolfsburg.
Arsenal might look to take encouragement from the fact Barcelona were beaten 2-0 in the group stages by Manchester City, although a 3-0 victory for the Spanish side in their second meeting with the Women’s Super League team ensured they finished top of their group.
Sheds for changing rooms
Football was regarded very much as a male preserve when a Barcelona women’s side was first formed around the 1970s, just as Spain was limping out of dictatorship into what was then a fragile democracy.
However, they were initially barred from joining FC Barcelona before becoming a part of the club in 2002 in a world where men, of course, thought of women’s football as something a little strange and not quite the thing.
However, until 2015, they were prohibited from using any of the men’s facilities unless one member of the men’s first team requested that they do so, and they were only permitted to do so during international breaks.
Marta Unzue joined the club in 2006 and made about 280 appearances for them over a 14-year spell, including three years as club captain between 2014-17.
She responded to my interview with her for my book on the history of Barcelona’s captains, saying: “I don’t know what many people make, but I was paid €200 [£168] a month at Barca.
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But the focus was on far more than just money. Playing conditions were primitive. Surfaces were dirt pitches that served as parking spaces for matches on matchdays, and changing rooms were sheds stuffed to the brim with up to 30 people and equipped with subpar showers that would never have hot water again.
We didn’t request the same financial gain because she also needs to be aware of how well-versed both men and women’s football are, but she did claim that we did deserve to play on a respectable pitch and have a respectable locker room.
To add insult to injury they also had to pay their own travel expenses to get not only to and from the ground for training, but also on matchdays. They were told that the money was not available when they inquired about getting reimbursed for their travel expenses. However, all men’s teams either had their own buses planned out or were picked up by the club.
And up until 2017, women were still wearing men’s kit for both playing and training.
We did our laundry at home when I arrived. We washed them at home, according to Unzue, and they gave us two or three sets, I can’t recall how many.
” They would give us the smallest sizes but even that was too big for us. “
Unzue explained that getting to away games was a different experience, not least of which: “We traveled almost always by bus, except for longer trips like Barcelona-Seville, where we flew.
However, it was a long bus ride from Barcelona to the Basque Country, via bus, Madrid, bus, Valencia, and bus, and people were still working as well.
” There were a lot of people who arrived late at night and had to go to work the next day. “
Women have only been admitted to the La Masia residency since 2021, which is the much-awaited La Masia academy, which was also out-of-bounds for the women.
Copy and paste the men’s team DNA
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How did Barcelona’s women’s team become Europe’s queens?
On 30 March 2022 at the Camp Nou, 91, 553 turned out to see Barcelona trounce Real Madrid in the second leg of the Women’s Champions League semi-final – 5-2 on the night and 8-3 on aggregate.
The attendance at the 1999 Women’s World Cup final between the United States and China at the Pasadena Rose Bowl was higher than the previous record of 90, 185 fans.
However, they claim that a crushing defeat can teach you more football lessons than a victory.
Back in 2019 they were outfought, outthought and outclassed by Lyon in their maiden Champions League final – a match that was effectively over after just 30 minutes, by which time the French side had scored four.
The club began creating a style based on pressure, passing, and possession that was based on Markel Zubizarreta’s experience as the club’s sporting director.
After 2015’s embrace of professionalism, it was the next step.
That had not, however, brought instant success and Barcelona were beaten by Atletico Madrid to the league title in 2017, 2018 and 2019.
But they were anticipating the future and demonstrating to both players and supporters that their intentions were serious.
A $3.5 million (£2.95 million) shirt sponsorship agreement with Stanley, a hardware company, helped ensure financial stability and allowed the women’s section to remain financially independent from the men’s side.
A women’s academy at La Masia was established, creating a level playing field with the boys at the club. The investment in physiotherapists and nutritionists paid off with ensuring that all players were as healthy and fit as possible.
Finally, time, effort, respect, and most importantly, respect were being put toward promoting women’s football, giving birth to a vision of what women’s sport could look like at its best.
A move from grounds outside the Camp Nou to the Estadi Johan Cruyff, which is located at Barca’s training facility and has a capacity of 6, 000, helped to increase attendances.
Mes que un club, please.
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Looking to sign homegrown talent and only bring in those external players that were disciples of the club’s sacred style – or could at least adapt to it – they won the first of their three Champions Leagues in 2021 in Gothenburg, where they beat Chelsea 4-0.
The men’s first team were going through a terrible run, losing to Paris St-Germain in the final 16 of the men’s Champions League after a 4-1 home defeat had sealed their fate, so victory was especially sweet coming at a time when they were going through this.
The men’s first team, in contrast, was only allowed to play third fiddle in the league, behind Real Madrid and Atletico. That season Barcelona’s footballing pride was restored by its women’s side, a team that flourished in a period when the men’s team looked to have lost their way.
Barcelona’s starting XI made up seven of the nation’s starting XI for their 2023 World Cup victory against England, winning each of their previous four titles since 2019-20. Additionally, Salma Paralluelo, Bonmati, and her team-mate Salma Paralluelo both received the tournament’s Best Young Player Award.
For many Catalans, Barca has always been” mes que un club “- more than a club. The women’s team is currently leading the way in the world, which has never felt more true. They represent progress as well as pride.
Arsenal await in Lisbon this weekend. Then, in the Copa de la Reina final, Atletico Madrid. A second straight Treble would be won by them, making them one of the best club sides in football history.
As the federal government tries to “wipe out” long-running armed rebellions in the mineral-rich tribal region of the nation, Indian security forces have launched an all-out war against Maoist fighters in Chhattisgarh state.
The Karrigatta hills forest, which straddles across Chhattisgarh and Telangana states, has turned into a “warzone” with more than 10, 000 Indian soldiers deployed in the anti-Maoist operation – dubbed “Operation Zero or Kagar”.
At least 201 Maoist rebels, also known as Naxals, were killed by the right-wing Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which governs both the state and the central government this year.
At least 27 rebels were killed on Wednesday, including the leader of the Maoists. In the past 16 months, more than 400 alleged Maoist rebels have been killed in Chhattisgarh state, home to a sizable population of Adivasis (meaning original inhabitants or Indigenous people).
However, activists are alarmed because many of those killed are innocent Adivasis, according to them. And campaigners and opposition leaders are urging the government to cease fire and hold talks with Maoist rebels to find a solution to the decades-old issue.
Between 2000 and 2024, more than 11, 000 civilians and security personnel have been killed in clashes involving Maoist fighters, according to official figures. Security forces have killed at least 6, 160 Maoist fighters during the same period, according to police and Maoist figures.
So, will the government’s hardline approach help bring peace, or will it further alienate the Adivasis, who are already one of the most marginalised groups in the country?
What are the Maoists’ objectives in the conflict with the Indian state?
The armed rebellion in India originated in a 1967 rural uprising in the small town of Naxalbari, located in West Bengal state. The name of the town gives rise to the word “Naxal.”
Led by communist leaders Kanu Sanyal, Charu Majumdar, and Jungle Santal, the armed uprising called for addressing the issues of landlessness and exploitation of the rural poor by landlords.
The three leaders founded the Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) (CPI (ML)) on April 22, 1969, to wage armed rebellion against the Indian state. They feared that the current democratic structure would not be able to fulfill their demands.
The Naxal rebels were also inspired by the revolutionary ideology of the Chinese leader Mao Zedong. They waged a violent rebellion against the Indian security forces in mineral-rich central and eastern India for decades, following the Chinese communist party’s strategy for capturing the state. The West Bengal government, led by Congress leader Siddhartha Shankar Ray, launched a fierce campaign to suppress the Naxalite uprising.
I once again assure the countrymen that India is sure to be Naxal-free by 31 March 2026
Sanyal, one of the founding leaders of the movement, told this reporter in 2010 that “by 1973, at least 32, 000 Naxalites or sympathisers had been jailed across India”.
“Many people died in fictitious encounters. And when the Emergency was declared in June 1975, it was clear- the sun had almost set on the Naxalite movement”, he said. He died in 2010, aged 78, apparently by suicide in Siliguri.
More than 20 of the parties that made up the CPI (ML) are still present today. The main CPI (ML) itself gave up armed struggle, expressed faith in the Indian Constitution and began participating in electoral politics. It has a number of legislators and is currently a legally recognized political group.
Meanwhile, in 1980, one of the splinters, the Communist Party of India (Marxist–Leninist) People’s War, was founded by Kondapalli Seetharamayya and Kolluri Chiranjeevi in Andhra Pradesh.
Another major breakaway faction, the Maoist Communist Centre (MCC), had a base in Bihar and West Bengal states. The Communist Party of India (Maoist), the largest armed Maoist organization in India today, was formed as a result of the merger between the MCC and the CPI (ML) People’s War in September 2004.
The organisation’s most recent general secretary, Nambala Keshava Rao, alias Basavaraj, was killed by security forces on Wednesday in Bastar, Chhattisgarh – the last stronghold of Maoists.
[Tamal Roy/AP Photo] Kanu Sanyal observes at his home in Hatighisha village, West Bengal, on March 21, 2005.
Has the BJP intensified the campaign against Maoists?
The BJP-run Chhattisgarh state government has adopted a more aggressive stance against Maoists compared with the previous government led by the Congress party.
When the Congress party was in power between 2020 and 2023, at least 141 Maoists were killed, but security forces claimed to have killed 223 alleged Maoists alone in 2024, citing government figures.
“For the past 15 months, our security personnel have been strongly fighting the Naxals”, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai told Al Jazeera.
“This is a part of the wider efforts to eradicate naxalism in India, spearheaded by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah. This is a decisive phase, and we are advancing rapidly in that direction”, he said.
The security forces have currently surrounded suspected Maoist hideouts in Karigatta Hills, with the army’s helicopters assisting in the operation, according to authorities.
The one who kills is tribal, and the one who dies is also tribal, whether it’s the Maoists or the DRG.
31 fighters were killed in the Karrigatta Hills, according to Home Minister Amit Shah on May 14.
“ I once again assure the countrymen that India is sure to be Naxal-free by 31 March 2026,” Shah reiterated in his post on X.
Overall, nearly 66, 000 security personnel spanning a range of paramilitary and special forces have been deployed in Chhattisgarh.
In its fight against Maoists, India has deployed tens of thousands of forces, including specially trained commandos.
The latest operation, which involves more than 10, 000 soldiers, centres around the mineral-rich Bastar region of Chhattisgarh, which spans 38, 932 square kilometres (15, 032sq miles) – an area nearly the size of the US state of Kentucky.
Three million people live in Bastar alone, and the government has established roughly 320 security camps. The number of personnel at each security camp fluctuates depending on the requirement: It can be as low as 150 personnel and rise up to 1, 200. They include security forces, as well as technical staff.
In order to aid in the rebellious operation, security camps frequently have surveillance and communication equipment. The 20, 000-strong local police force is also helping in the operations in Bastar.
Security forces have been able to monitor Maoist activity in the area’s dense forests thanks to the use of cutting-edge technology, such as advanced drones equipped with high-definition cameras and thermal imaging sensors.
However, local villagers allege that security forces have carried out aerial bombings in various parts of Bastar using large drones. Maoist groups have also accused the forces of conducting air strikes.
These assertions have been consistently refuted by security forces.
Shah, the home minister, has made frequent visits to Chhattisgarh, even spending nights with security forces in Bastar.
However, Manmohan Singh’s former prime minister, who presided over Modi in India’s top executive positions, had also taken a tough stance against Naxals.
Singh even called Naxalism the “greatest internal security threat” to India, and his government launched a major crackdown in 2009 under what it called “Operation Green Hunt” to quash the armed rebellion. Amid allegations of human rights violations, Indian security forces managed to reduce the terrain controlled by the Maoists.
Naxals ruled almost one-third of India’s mineral-rich tribal areas in the 2000s, extending among others Chhattisgarh, Telangana, Odisha, Jharkhand, and Maharashtra. But the number of districts where Maoists wield significant influence had declined from 126 in 2013 to just 38 by April last year.
On July 8, 2012, villagers in the central Indian state of Chhattisgarh watch maoists prepare their weapons at a training camp in a forested area of Bijapur district.
As the government claims success in its military offensive, human rights groups such as the People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) accuse the security forces of carrying out fake encounters or extrajudicial killings.
“A large-scale military campaign is being carried out under the pretext of eliminating Maoists”, Junas Tirkey, the president of the PUCL in Chhattisgarh state, said.
“In Bastar, violence, human rights violations, and militarisation have increased significantly since 2024. Innocent tribals are being killed in fake encounters”, he told Al Jazeera.
In Bastar, violence, human rights violations, and militarisation have risen significantly since 2024. Innocent tribals are being killed in fake encounters
Over the past year and a half, the PUCL has identified at least 11 fake encounters.
On March 25, police claimed it had killed Maoist rebels Sudhakar alias Sudhir, Pandru Atra, and Mannu Barsa in Bordga village, Bijapur, about 160km (100 miles) east of Bastar.
The police’s version, however, is claimed by the locals to be false. They claim that the police surrounded the village at night, took 17 people away, released seven, shot three, and took the remaining seven with them.
The government has denied the allegations, but no independent investigation has been conducted in this case. Rights groups and tribal communities don’t agree with the regular magisterial inquiry because it heavily relies on the police’s account of events, which is carried out after so-called encounters.
“It’s true that Sudhakar was a Maoist and came to visit someone in the village. However, the police shot Sudhakar, my brother, and other people who were still alive after they had been taken away, according to Manesh Barsa, Mannu Barsa’s brother, who falsely claimed it was an encounter.
Inspector general of police of Bastar region, Pattilingam Sundarraj, disagreed with these allegations. He claimed that Maoists often pressure locals to fabricate accusations against the police following encounters.
However, in the past, numerous ‘fake’ encounters at Bastar have been proven false, and victims have typically been evaded justice.
Even if they are eliminated from Bastar, Maoism is an ideology that cannot be defeated through violence alone
Out of thousands of so-called encounters in Bastar in the last 25 years, only two have faced judicial inquiry. On June 28, 2012, 17 Adivasis, including six minors, were killed in Sarkeguda village in Bijapur district. In Edasmeta village in the same district, four minors were killed on May 17, 2013, in addition to the eight Adivasis killed.
The inquiries led by High Court judges found all victims to be innocent. No police cases have been filed against any personnel as of 2022, despite the previous Congress’s rule.
Even peaceful protests against mining projects and the militarisation of the region have been met with harsh crackdowns.
The Moolvasi Bachao Manch (MBM), led by Adivasis, was banned last year for “opposing development” and “resisting security forces”.
Since 2021, Adivasi youth who work for MBM have been detained.
Why is the recruitment of former Maoists in government forces criticised?
The authorities’ recent hiring of Adivasis, many of whom were former Maoists, appears to have turned the tables in favor of the government.
The then-BJP state government started to incorporate Adivasis, particularly former Maoists, in the District Reserve Guard (DRG) force in 2008 with the aim of using them in anti-Maoist operations. The idea: Former Maoists are better at navigating dense jungle terrain and know about Maoist hideouts.
However, concerns have been raised by previous records. Adivasis enlisted as Special Police Officers (SPOs), as they were called, have been accused of rights violations.
Salwa Judum, a campaign against Maoists that the state government, which was led by the Congress government, launched in 2005 (ittranslates as “peace march” in the local Gondi language). Salwa Judum members were armed and were later designated as SPOs and paid 1, 500 rupees/month ($17/month).
On one hand, the government itself had proposed dialogue with the Maoists. However, the same government has now transformed Bastar into a war zone.
However, members of the Salwa Judum were accused of rape, arson, torture, and murder. In 2011, the Supreme Court declared Salwa Judum illegal and slammed the state for arming civilians. Subsequently, many SPOs were absorbed into the DRG.
Although rights abuse allegations against DRG personnel have been made, they have hardly ever been investigated.
Campaigners have also questioned the policy of using surrendered Maoists in combat instead of rehabilitating them.
SPOs’ inclusion in the DRG is unsettling. It shows how tribal youth involved in violence were again handed guns under the pretext of rehabilitation”, lawyer and human rights activist Priyanka Shukla told Al Jazeera.
Former Member of Parliament Arvind Netam believes Bastar is “in a state of civil war”. He claims that tribal people suffer the most in a situation like this.
“The one who kills is tribal, and the one who dies is also tribal, whether it’s the Maoists or the DRG.,” Netam, a tribal leader, told Al Jazeera.
Campaigners claim that Chhattisgarh’s new rehabilitation policy encourages people to “turn on each other for money,” frequently with allegations that may be legally untrue.
Why has the government resisted calls for a ceasefire?
Interestingly, while the government has intensified its offensive, it has also continued to offer peace talks to Maoists.
“We must still say that Maoists should speak out after laying down their weapons for dialogue.” Our doors for talks within the framework of the Indian Constitution are always open”, Chhattisgarh’s Home Minister Vijay Sharma told local media last week.
However, the Maoists demand that paramilitary forces be withdrawn and that a ceasefire be established as prerequisites for talks. They argue that peace talks and military operations cannot run simultaneously.
In a statement, CPI (Maoist) spokesperson Abhay said, “The right to life guaranteed by the Indian Constitution is being crushed by the government itself … On one hand, our party is trying to initiate unconditional dialogue, and on the other hand, ongoing killings of Maoists and tribals render the peace process meaningless”.
Concerns have been raised by activists regarding the Adivasi communities’ plight.
Soni Sori, an Adivasi social activist from Bastar, believes the government must take the initiative for peace talks.
“ On one hand, the government itself had proposed dialogue with the Maoists. However, the same government has now transformed Bastar into a war zone.,” Sori told Al Jazeera.
“Given the way these operations are being conducted, the government should halt them, foster an environment conducive to dialogue, and take meaningful steps toward initiating peace talks”.
After being referred to as Naxal sympathisers, people have been targeted for their actions. A 90 percent disabled professor from Delhi University, GN Saibaba was jailed for backing Maoists. He died months after receiving a verdict by the country’s top court after ten years in prison.
But state Chief Minister Sai says there will be no leniency in this matter. “Naxal eradication is not just a campaign but a mission to secure Bastar and Chhattisgarh’s future”, he said.
Is Maoist support declining?
In 2011, then-Director General of Police of Chhattisgarh Vishwaranjan estimated approximately 10, 000 armed Maoists and 40, 000 militia members in the Bastar region. It’s challenging to get accurate numbers.
The rebels were able to carry out deadly attacks against the security forces. In 2010, they killed 76 paramilitary troops in a forest ambush in Chhattisgarh. In a rebel ambush, dozens of people were killed, including the Congressman who founded the Salwa Judum three years later.
Current Bastar IGP Sundarraj P estimates about 1, 000 armed Maoists remain, along with 15, 000 affiliated individuals.
According to internal Maoist reports, there are lessening recruitment, smaller units, and a lack of ammunition. Of the 40 central committee and politburo members, only 18 remain free – the rest are either dead or arrested.
Meanwhile, security forces have expanded, built new camps, and improved intelligence and training, while Maoists ‘ base areas are shrinking.
While our government is conducting an anti-Naxal campaign, we are actively involved in development projects.
Maoists are weakened in Chhattisgarh, according to former DGP Vishwaranjan, but have spread to neighboring Madhya Pradesh.
“ Even if they are eliminated from Bastar, Maoism is an ideology that cannot be defeated through violence alone,” he told Al Jazeera.
“As long as we build a society on economic inequality, the ideology may resurface in a new form”.
Chief Minister Sai defended the policies of his government, claiming that “security and development go hand in hand.”
“While our government is conducting an anti-Naxal campaign, we are actively involved in development projects.,” he said.
Is iron ore actually at stake?
Naxals have invoked the exploitation of natural resources, particularly through mining leases issued to global corporations, and the displacement of local communities, as their reasons for picking up guns in mineral-rich areas of the country. Thousands of Adivasis have been displaced and their local environments severely damaged due to mining activities.
36 of the 51 mineral leases in Bastar are held by private companies, including ArcelorMittal, a major global steel company.
Former MLA and tribal leader Manish Kunjam echoes a similar sentiment, arguing, “The real issue is iron ore”.
Chhattisgarh, primarily Bastar, accounts for 19% of India’s iron ore reserves, according to the Indian government.
Chhattisgarh accounts for 18 percent of India’s railway freight revenue, largely from mineral transport – and this is growing.
Kunjam explained that when the corporations Tata and Essar began their projects in 2005 to mine iron ore, the state launched Salwa Judum, evacuating 644 villages under the pretext of Maoist fear. There were displacements of at least 350,000. However, strong tribal resistance forced the companies to withdraw.
The government has now established security camps in mining areas as it prepares for new extraction, he said, drawing lessons from that failure.
“Without village council approval, mining cannot proceed. If tribals protest, they will be labelled as Maoists or sympathisers and dealt with accordingly”.
When you examine his assertions more closely, it becomes clear that the majority of camps are actually in regions where mining has begun or is about to start. In Bastar’s mining belt, there is one soldier for every nine tribals. Mining companies finance many of these camps.
But Chief Minister Sai believes that the mineral resources in tribal areas should be utilised.
The idea of generating revenue at the cost of tribal lives is dangerous and unconstitutional
“The lives of tribals will change with the beginning of mining and industrial activities”, he said. He boasted that Chhattisgarh earned about 14.19 billion rupees ($1.71 billion) in the year that it was second among the states producing minerals [after Odisha].
This year, the state has allocated 48 major mineral blocks to private companies in the state.
But mass poverty and lack of basic health facilities expose the government’s claims.
The tribal leader, Netam, pointed out that the state has a nearly 38 percent infant mortality rate for every 1,000 live births, compared to the 28 percent infant mortality rate for every 1,000 live births in the country.
In Bastar, he said, poverty is 80 percent.
Sushil Anand Shukla, a spokesman for the opposition Congress, claimed that tribals were being completely displaced from Bastar under the guise of mining.
“Today, Bastar stands on the brink of war, and its answers cannot be found by looking to the past. The government must stop surrendering to corporate houses and mining companies at the cost of evicting tribals”, Sushil Anand Shukla says.
It couldn’t be simpler to follow along in your own kitchen as Jamie Oliver, a renowned TV chef, has shared his tried and proven method for making the crispest and fluffiest roast potatoes every time.
The easy method ensures perfect potatoes every time(Image: (Image: Jamie Oliver/Channel 4/YouTube))
Everyone loves a golden crispy roast potato, but getting them bang on every time can be tricky. The crunchy outside with a fluffy centre is a mouthwatering dish perfect with any dinner, and Jamie Oliver has shared his bizarre way to guarantee perfect roasties.
The renowned TV chef has developed a step-by-step method that will surely impress dinner guests and elevate anyone’s stature.
He took to TikTok to gush about his 11/10 recipe, which left fans amazed at the simple steps. “Introducing the perfect roast potato… crispy outside and fluffy inside,” he started off the video.
READ MORE: Jamie Oliver urges cooks to use one type of potato for the best homemade chips
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When he showed the potatoes in the pan, he said, “I’ve got them parboiling in this, in salted boiling water,” and that he would cook them for about 10 minutes at around 180C until they were “just thinking about breaking up.”
A baking tray was then topped with a teaspoon of red wine vinegar and olive oil. Then he grinned and said, “Look what I’m doing. See how I abused them? Over the course of about 50 minutes, I’ll cook these in an oven at about 180/190, which is about 350 Fahrenheit.
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Jamie Oliver revealed a little-known step(Image: jamieoliver/Tiktok)
After 40 minutes, he then removed the potatoes from the oven and gently pressed each of the roast potatoes down, saying, “Take the tray out of the oven, place the potato masher on top, and then just let it pop and let the lovely starchy inside just puff out. “
Simply wrap the entire tray around it before putting it back in for another ten minutes. “Jamie ended up showing the finished dish with crispy and fluffy potatoes,” she said.
Many people hoped to make the dish themselves, despite the simple video recipe’s success. One fan wrote, and another said, “Jamie, I did this and it worked a treat. I always do my potatoes like this, and they’re always incredible. “Par-boil potatoes, add butter, and bake for 30 minutes in the air fryer,” said a third person.
In July of this year, a previous version of this story was released.
Do you have a tale to tell? Message niamh . kirk@reachplc.com
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One star sign is instructed to rein in their vivid imaginations as one celebration occurs in today’s horoscope for May 22.
Find out what’s written in the stars with our astrologer Russell Grant(Image: Daily Record/GettyImages)
One star sign’s determination and energy will help them make the right choice on May 22.
There are 12 zodiac signs – Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius, and Pisces – and the horoscopes for each can give you the lowdown on what your future holds, be it in work, your love life, your friends and family or more.
These daily forecasts have been compiled by astrologer Russell Grant, who has been reading star signs for over 50 years. From Aries through to Pisces, here’s what today could bring for your horoscope – and what you can do to be prepared.
Aries (Mar 21 – Apr 20)
Some prominent individuals in your community find your upbeat energy appealing. Expect to experience increased social and romantic popularity. Right now, you might feel as though you have the authority to create your own opportunities. Someone will support you if you just say the word.
Taurus (Apr 21 – May 21)
Really understanding your goals is the key to staying focused. You will be guided in the right direction by your determination and energy. You will make significant progress today. You will benefit both now and in the future by adopting a results-oriented mindset.
Gemini (May 22 – June 21)
You won’t feel bad about upsetting those who are preventing your progress because you have a strong desire to succeed. Although someone has a right to their opinions if they disagree with your plans, you still have the right to proceed with your plans.
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Cancer (June 22 – July 23)
Friends rely on your kindness and trust you for their support. Although you show some compassion and compassion, it’s important to nurture your own feelings as well. Take some time for yourself today. Focus on concepts that might advance a work project.
Leo (July 24 – Aug 23)
You will be able to achieve your goals thanks to your self-promotional skills. Make sure to tell your friends and coworkers who can assist you in achieving your goals. Your concepts are both inventive and practical.
Virgo (Aug 24 – Sept 23)
No one was expecting results from your patient and diligent assistance in a difficult situation. You will all have something to celebrate by this evening. People in charge will notice how serious you are about your new responsibilities.
Libra (Sept 24 – Oct 23)
You may be pondering whether you should give up completely due to the challenges you face at work. You are receiving a lot of ideas, but you don’t like any of them. Conflict between coworkers and the loss of a friendship have already been caused by a change in routine.
Scorpio (Oct 24 – Nov 22)
Be ready to take action when there are opportunities to improve your home, work, and overall health. Check your diet and exercise regimens to make sure they are consistent with your objectives and daily lifestyle. You are capable of breaking bad habits mentally. Set small, achievable goals as your goal.
Sagittarius (Nov 23 – Dec 21)
Examine any information that has been provided regarding a family or legal issue before making a decision. Someone might have misinterpreted the situation, and you might need to correct it. You’ll have the ability to use your creative side when you take on a redecorating project. You haven’t done this in a while.
Capricorn (Dec 22 – Jan 20)
Your ability to shine and your appreciation of your abilities will earn you a job offer or promotion. You will enjoy learning about a fascinating subject with the assistance of a mentor. They encourage you to develop your natural talents in this way.
Aquarius (Jan 21 – Feb 19)
Keep your ideas and plans to yourself if you believe someone might make things difficult for you. Try to keep your daydreams afloat while you’re on your own and keep your vivid imaginations aside. Focus on practicality and rely on what has already proven to be effective at work.
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Pisces (Feb 20 – Mar 20)
Share your future plans with someone who has always supported your aspirations and understood your dreams. You will receive financial assistance for your everyday needs from a generous relative. More time spent on artistic endeavors might lead to some positive changes.
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In an attack carried out outside a Jewish museum in the capital, two employees of Israel’s embassy in the country were killed.
Authorities say the deadly shooting took place on Wednesday at around 9 p.m. (01:00 GMT, Thursday) close to the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, DC.
Elias Rodriguez, 30, of Chicago, Illinois, was the only suspect in the shooting, according to Pamela A. Smith, the chief of the Metropolitan Police Department.
“The suspect was spotted pacing back and forth outside the museum prior to the shooting.” At a press conference, Smith said, “He approached a group of four people, produced a handgun, and opened fire, striking both of our decedents.”
Rodriguez allegedly chanted “Free, free, Palestine” while Smith was being held.
A possible motive for the attack was not provided by Smith.
Mayor of Washington, DC, Muriel Bowser, stated to reporters that “violence or hate in our city” would not be tolerated.
In the coming days and weeks, we will stand together as a community to send a strong message that we will not tolerate anti-Semitism, according to Bowser.
Yechiel Leiter, Israel’s ambassador to the US, claimed the deceased were a “beautiful couple” who had planned to wed.
According to Leiter, “The young man purchased a ring this week with the intention of proposing to his girlfriend in Jerusalem the following week.”
The American Jewish Committee, which had hosted a museum event, expressed shock that something violent happened while the museum was open.
Our focus and hearts are now solely with those who were hurt and their families, according to the organization. We are awaiting more information from the police about exactly what happened.
Donald Trump, the president of the United States, expressed condolences to the victims’ families and said the killings were “apparently motivated by antisemitism.”
Trump claimed on Truth Social that “hatred and radicalism have no place in the United States.” Condolences to the victims’ families. How disappointing that things like this can occur! God bless you all, “!
Kristi Noem, the secretary of homeland security for the US, stated that the federal government would look into the attack and would prosecute its “depraved perpetrator.”
As we seek answers, US Attorney General Pamela Bondi stated that she was present at the scene of the shooting and was “praying for the victims of this violence.”
Israel’s ambassador to the UN, Danny Danon, described the shooting as a “depraved act of anti-Semitic terrorism.”
Danon claimed that harming the Jewish community is “crossing the red line.”
“We have faith that the US authorities will vigorously prosecute those responsible for this criminal act.” Everywhere in the world, Israel will continue to vehemently defend its citizens and representatives.
