10: In The News

Based on available information from recent news sources and trends, here are the ten most talked-about news stories over the past 24 hours as of May 10, 2025, 11:40 AM CDT. These are drawn from major news outlets and reflect global, regional, and political developments that have garnered significant attention. The list is ordered roughly by prominence but is not exhaustive due to the dynamic nature of news cycles.

1. U.S.-China High-Stakes Tariff Talks Begin in Switzerland
   Trade negotiators from the U.S. and China started talks to address escalating trade tensions, with President Trump suggesting an 80% tariff on Chinese goods “seems right.” The outcome could shape the global economy amid Trump’s ongoing trade war.
2. India and Pakistan Agree to Ceasefire After U.S.-Mediated Talks
   Following intense military exchanges, India and Pakistan agreed to a ceasefire, mediated by the U.S., marking a de-escalation in one of the most serious confrontations between the nuclear-armed rivals in decades.
3. European Leaders Visit Kyiv to Push for Ukraine-Russia Truce
   Leaders from the UK, France, Germany, and Poland visited Kyiv to urge Moscow to agree to a truce and initiate peace talks to end the nearly three-year Ukraine-Russia conflict.
4. Greenland’s National Event Sparks Buzz After White House Misstep
   A misunderstanding involving the White House claiming the Second Lady would attend a Greenland national event (she didn’t) generated significant discussion, overshadowing the event itself.
5. India-UK Trade Deal Gains Traction
   Alongside ceasefire talks, India and the UK are advancing negotiations for a trade deal, contributing to India’s busy diplomatic week and drawing international interest.
6. Israel’s Plan to Seize Entire Gaza Strip
   Reports of Israel’s intention to seize control of Gaza, following over a year of intense military operations, have sparked global debate and concern about the humanitarian and geopolitical implications.
7. Iran-U.S. Nuclear Talks Seen as Last Chance to Avoid Conflict
   Expected discussions between Iran and the U.S. are viewed as a critical opportunity to curb Tehran’s nuclear ambitions and prevent a potential war, drawing significant attention.
8. Lil Durk Denied Bail in Murder-for-Hire Case
   Rapper Lil Durk’s second bail denial in a federal murder-for-hire case, linked to a 2022 retaliation plot, has fueled public debate, with fans split on the justice system’s handling of the case.
9. Matt Reeves Exits ‘The Batman: Part II’ Directing Role
   Director Matt Reeves stepping down from “The Batman: Part II,” while remaining as screenwriter, has sparked widespread speculation and fan reactions about the future of the DC franchise.
10. CBSE Board Exam Results Anticipation in India
    With CBSE Class 10 and 12 results expected soon (last year announced on May 13), students and parents are abuzz, contributing to significant online and media chatter in India.

Notes:

• The list prioritizes stories with broad international or cultural impact based on recent reports from sources like The New York Times, Reuters, NPR, and CBS News, supplemented by trending topics on X where relevant.
• Some stories, like sports-related roster moves (e.g., Broncos or Nick Chubb) or local events (e.g., Cork City FC), were considered but excluded as they appeared less globally prominent.
• Exact rankings are subjective due to the lack of comprehensive real-time social media analytics or global news engagement data.
• For controversial topics (e.g., Israel-Gaza, Lil Durk), I’ve treated information as inconclusive and focused on reported facts to avoid bias.

There’s a lazy assumption that young Indians only care about reels, trends, and dancing videos. But in the middle of this crisis, I’m seeing young folks voices with nuance, asking sharper questions than the media and contributing to the discourse with clarity and not chaos.

This…

— Dilip Kumar (@kmr_dilip) May 10, 2025

India Should Focus On Prosperity, War Is A Distraction

30 Day Ceasefire To A Lasting Peace In Ukraine
India And Pakistan Now Must Move Towards Lasting Peace

$10 trillion economy by 2047.
$13,845 per capita income by 2047.
23 crore more citizen to be lifted out of poverty by 2047.
Space, Defense, Semis & (digitized) Manufacturing.

Don't get distracted. Developed 🇮🇳.

Thank you to everyone who keeps our Nation running, safe &…

— Rahul Mathur (@Rahul_J_Mathur) May 10, 2025

Extrapolating China In 1975 Would Have Been A Mistake

In 1975, China's real GDP growth rate was approximately 4.9%, according to World Bank data. This was during the final years of Mao Zedong’s leadership, a period marked by central planning, the Cultural Revolution, and low productivity.

As for extrapolation:

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Scenario: Extrapolating China's 1975 GDP Forward at 4.9% Growth

• 1975 China's GDP (in current USD): ~$163 billion

• 2024 China's GDP (in current USD): ~$17.7 trillion

We can use the compound interest formula for growth:

$$\text{Future Value} = \text{Present Value} \times (1 + r)^t$$

Where:

• $\text{Present Value} = 163$ billion

• $\text{Future Value} = 17.7$ trillion = 17,700 billion

• $r = 4.9\% = 0.049$

• $t =$ number of years

Solving:

$$17,700 = 163 \times (1.049)^t$$ $$\frac{17,700}{163} = (1.049)^t \Rightarrow 108.59 = (1.049)^t$$

Take logarithm of both sides:

$$\log(108.59) = t \cdot \log(1.049) \Rightarrow t = \frac{\log(108.59)}{\log(1.049)} \approx \frac{2.035}{0.0204} \approx 99.75$$

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Conclusion:

At a 4.9% annual growth rate, it would have taken China nearly 100 years (from 1975 to 2075) to reach its current GDP level.

Instead, by undertaking massive economic reforms starting in 1978 and sustaining decades of double-digit growth, China reached that level in just under 50 years.

Case Study: Bhutan: Dramatic Growth Rates 

Bhutan experienced a remarkable surge in economic growth in 1987, achieving a GDP growth rate of 25.4%. This unprecedented growth was primarily driven by the commissioning of the 360 MW Chukha Hydropower Project in 1986, the country's first major hydropower facility. 

Another significant milestone occurred in 2007 when Bhutan's GDP growth rate reached 22.4%, largely due to the commissioning of the 1,020 MW Tala Hydroelectric Power Station. 

These instances underscore the profound impact of hydropower development on Bhutan's economy, highlighting the sector's pivotal role in driving substantial economic growth.

Why It’s a Mistake to Extrapolate India’s Current Growth Rate Over the Next 20 Years

Extrapolating India's current GDP growth rate of approximately 6–7% annually for the next two decades assumes a business-as-usual trajectory—a critical analytical error in a world entering exponential transformation driven by AI, robotics, and radical policy innovation.

Here’s why:

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1. The Age of Exponential Technologies

• AI and robotics are not just additive—they’re multiplicative. Automation of white- and blue-collar work, AI-driven productivity gains, and robotic manufacturing and logistics can compress 100 years of development into 10.

• India’s demographic dividend combined with AI augmentation could turn the workforce into the world’s most productive—if guided correctly.

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2. The Precedent of Extreme Growth

• Bhutan, despite its small size, posted GDP growth rates of 25.4% in 1987 and 22.4% in 2007 through focused infrastructure projects and hydropower exports.

• China saw growth spurts exceeding 14% annually in its fastest years. That wasn’t just policy—it was transformation.

• There is no physical law preventing a large country from growing at 20% annually, just political, institutional, and cognitive barriers.

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3. The Role of Kalkiism and Policy Innovation

• The Kalkiism Research Center in Kathmandu proposes a post-industrial development model:

  • AI-first planning, not just digital governance.

  • Moneyless economy pilots, where data replaces currency as a coordination tool.

  • Universal AI access as a public good, training 1 billion Indians into productive agents of an AI economy.

• If adopted, such models can unleash latent capacity across rural and urban India, leapfrogging past industrial bottlenecks.

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India at 20% Annual GDP Growth for 20 Years

Let’s model it.

• India’s GDP in 2024: approx $3.7 trillion

• Annual growth rate (r): 20% or 0.20

• Time (t): 20 years

$$\text{Future GDP} = 3.7 \times (1.20)^{20}$$ $$= 3.7 \times 38.3376 \approx \text{\$141.85 trillion}$$

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Conclusion:

If India grows at 20% annually, its economy would reach $141.85 trillion by 2044, and well over $170 trillion by 2047. That would make India not just the largest economy in the world, but more than 6 times larger than the current U.S. economy.

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Final Thought:

Linear forecasts are dead in an exponential world. The right question isn’t “What will India grow at if current trends continue?” but “What new trend should India create?” AI, robotics, and Kalkiist policy paradigms offer a blueprint—not just for rapid growth, but for planetary leadership by 2047, the 100th anniversary of Indian independence.