YouTuber Falls 85 Feet From Paraglider In US, Breaks Neck And Back

Among adventure enthusiasts, paragliding is one of the most sought-after sports. However, there are several risks involved with the sport. There have been several instances of paragliders being involved in dangerous incidents. In a similar incident, paramotor pilot and YouTuber Anthony Vella was left severely injured after his vehicle collapsed at the Enchanted Rock State Park, northwest of Texas, United States. He sustained fractures to his neck, back, and pelvis.

The mishap was captured on camera. In a YouTube video of the incident titled "Paramoter Crash ALMOST Ended My Life," the 33-year-old said that he lost control of at a height of 80-100 feet above ground while testing the BGD Luna 3, which was travelling at 50 mph.

The now-viral video shows the man's efforts at controlling the aircraft. However, all goes in vain and he falls to the ground. The footage also shows him screaming in pain and asking Siri to call the emergency number 911. Later in the clip, he said that the accident occurred due to "missing a small pension knot" during the pre-takeoff checkups.

As per a report in TMZ, two eyewitnesses helped Mr Vella and contacted medical professionals and his wife Leandra. At the hospital, the man was diagnosed with a fractured neck, back, pelvis, and a broken arm. All of his injuries required surgery.

His wife thanked his friends and followers for the support and wishes. "We have felt the love and support from all of you and will never be able to articulate just how much it means to him, me, and our family. Anthony is very excited to get back to his strong and active self," Leandra said on YouTube.

Moreover, a GoFundMe page has also been set up for the YouTuber. An update on the page said, "Anthony had surgery on his elbow / arm on Tuesday. Multiple rods and screws were used and it is expected to have a full recovery with extensive physical therapy. The surgery to stabilize the fractures in his neck and back is today. Again, your support is greatly appreciated. The recovery will be long and trying. He will remain in the hospital doing in house PT for at least 2.5 weeks."

In another update two days ago, the organiser wrote, "Anthony had all 4 surgeries this week and everything went well. Thank you again for the prayers and support."

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Man Uses PM's Name In Wedding Card, Poll Officials Visit His Karnataka Home

A groom found himself embroiled in controversy after his wedding invitation sparked debate over his political affiliation, police said on Monday.

Uppinangady police in Puttur taluk of Dakshina Kannada, responded to a complaint lodged by officials overseeing election code adherence.

The focal point of contention was the tagline in the wedding invitation. "The best present you will give the couple is electing Modi as PM once again," it said.

According to police, a complaint was lodged by one of the groom's relatives to the Election Commission regarding the tagline.

Based on the complaint, Election Commission officials visited the groom's residence in Puttur taluk on April 14. The groom explained that the invitations were printed on March 1, before the election dates were announced. He also clarified that the tagline expresses admiration for Prime Minister Narendra Modi and concern for the nation. The marriage took place on April 18.

Despite the groom's explanation, EC lodged a complaint with Uppinangady police on April 26, following which a FIR was registered.

Furthermore, the press owner responsible for printing the invitation is also under the scanner of the EC and the police.

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

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"My Personal Wish": SRK Wants This Big-Hitter To Play For India In T20 WC

Kolkata Knights Riders principal owner Shah Rukh Khan has endorsed the inclusion of his left-handed power-hitter Rinku Singh in the Indian team for the upcoming T20 World Cup, terming it his "personal wish". The 26-year-old Rinku burst into the limelight when he smashed five consecutive sixes in Kolkata Knight Riders' stunning last-over win over Gujarat Titans during IPL 2023. Rinku's name has been doing the rounds as far as selecting the 15-member Indian squad is concerned for the T20 showpiece, which will be held in the USA and West Indies across June. He has a strike-rate of 176 plus in 15 T20I for India with two fifties, Expressing his optimism for Rinku's World Cup prospects, Shah Rukh said during an interview on Star Sports, "Such amazing players are playing for the country. I am really looking forward to Rinku, Inshallah being in the World Cup Squad and some other youngsters from other teams also.

"Some of them deserve it so much, but my personal wish is that Rinku makes it to the team. I will be so happy. That will be the high point for me." With the KKR top-order doing the bulk of scoring so far this season, Rinku has not got many opportunities with the bat.

In his debut season however, the hard-hitting batsman from Aligarh amassed 356 runs in 15 matches, remaining unbeaten in seven of those games. His runs came at a strike-rate of over 175 but power-hitting is not his only talent, for he has the ability to remain calm in pressure situations.

The Bollywood megastar, who shares a great rapport with Rinku, is delighted at his rise after having faced many obstacles on his road to success.

Growing up in modest surroundings, Rinku's family struggled to make ends meet, with his father working as an LPG cylinder delivery man and his mother a housewife.

Despite the offer of a job as a sweeper, Rinku followed his passion for cricket, believing it would lead him to greater heights.

SRK said, "I just want them to feel happy and when I see these boys playing, I feel like I am living as a sportsperson myself. Especially players like Rinku and Nitish (Rana), I see myself in them. I feel really happy when they perform well."

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A Glimpse Of Priyanka's "Life Lately" With Nick And Malti Marie

Priyanka Chopra shared glimpses of her "life lately". No points for guessing who featured in the post - Husband Nick Jonas and daughter Malti Marie Jonas, obviously. Priyanka shared a video comprising moments from her shoot life to vacation diaries. The constant companion of Priyanka in all her pursuits is daughter Malti Marie. The video begins with Nick lighting up a fireplace. The video records moments from Priyanka and Malti's ice cream dates to multiple occasions where the former Miss World can be seen holding her daughter on her lap and strolling with her. Without sharing details, Priyanka simply wrote in the caption, "Life lately.." and dropped an emoji. Take a look:

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A post shared by Priyanka (@priyankachopra)

A few days back, the actress shared photos of snow-capped mountains, selfies from her Swiss desination Crans-Montana. She also shared a photo of herself from what appeared to be an eatery. She captioned her Swiss album, "Oh to sojourn in Crans Montana even for a blink.. Can I please stay..." In the comments section, Shibani Dandekar wrote, "Stunning! This hair on you." Shilpa Shirodkar dropped heart emojis on the post. Take a look:

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A post shared by Priyanka (@priyankachopra)

Priyanka came to India in March and spent quality time with family. Priyanka, Nick and Malti celebrated a grand Holi in Noida. Pictures and videos from the party went crazy viral. The pictures were shared by a fan page dedicated to Priyanka Chopra. Sharing the pictures, the fan page wrote, "Happy holi from the Chopras." Take a look:

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A post shared by Patty Cardona (@jerryxmimi)

Priyanka also attended brother Siddharth Chopra's roka ceremony in her traditional best. Sharing the famjam pictures from the celebrations, Siddharth wrote, "Nothing without the fam#everything." Priyanka wore a red saree and Malti twinned with her on the occasion. Take a look:

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Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas welcomed daughter Malti Marie in January 2022 via surrogacy. Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas met at the grand fashion event Met Gala 2017, where they represented designer Ralph Lauren. Nick Jonas had a cameo appearance in Priyanka Chopra's film Love Again with Celine Dion and Sam Heughan.

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Indian-Origin Candidate On How He Plans To Win London Mayoral Polls

Social service is down. Health service is down. Security is down. That's the London assessment by Tarun Ghulati, the Indian-origin candidate in the race to challenge Pak-origin Sadiq Khan from winning a third term as Mayor of London. The polls are scheduled for May 2.

The 63-year-old, standing as an Independent candidate among 13 contestants, wants to bring the smile and mojo back for London.

"The current incumbent, Sadiq Khan, has brought London to a standstill. Crime has never been worse. It's the most congested city in the world, the slowest city in the world, and you'll be surprised. 21 teenagers lost their lives last year and over 1,000 murders under his watch over the last eight years. And you know there's a need for a levelling up agenda," Mr Ghulati told NDTV in an exclusive interview, slamming his opponent, who has been London Mayor since 2016.

Safety on the streets of the city is among his major priorities, with visible community policing and more officers.

"I come as a voice for the people. I am an independent candidate for mayor. I was mugged on my own high street, so that's how bad crime is," he said.

Asked about how he plans to win, pat came the reply: "I will win this election if everybody comes out to vote". Mr Ghulati, who has a shadow cabinet in place, underlined that his family has been involved in public service over the last three centuries, adding he has been doing the same for 35-odd years.
 
"I'm going to bring in advisers from different communities so that they have all the answers. Because I've been going around the boroughs and I get to see new problems, different areas, different communities. I'll bring in those advisors which I've already formed a list of. They will again come in. Then I'm going to tackle crime with a fervour never seen before," he said elaborating his plans for London.

"We have got to make sure we bring the mojo back for London and the smile is back on the face of everyone. So I'm going to tackle like a good seasoned CEO. I have a dashboard. I'm going to look at it in a holistic basis," he said.

The businessman, who has been on the board of various companies, said his multicultural experience will prove to be an advantage for him.

"It's a great advantage, but none of the other candidates have that advantage. They make gaps. They don't understand cultural advances. I've lived across continents. I've lived in India where people thrive in harmony and live together. I've lived all over the world. That gives me a strength. It gives me knowledge. It gives me a know how, and it gives me the people to people interaction because that moment of truth is lost when you can't interact with people. The current politicians in the fray lack that," said the businessman, who also speaks many languages, adding that he will create funds and will not be limited by the 21 billion sterling budget.

"I've been a banker, a chairman. I've sat on several boards. I advise a lot of entities, including dealing with law enforcement. So I'm a strategic advisor to the global cyber life. So none of these people would talk of policing, understand policing like I do. So, as a chairman, I will bring in money. They make excuses to the people. The government is not giving us money. I want to. I view London as a global bank with different cultures and entities and communities. Come here and they thrive. This is one of the greatest financial centres in the world. And that's where I come from. I have the most experience of any one of them. They haven't seen budgets like this, most of them none of the independents, none of the political candidates. They're just playing with the sentiments of people," he said.

Asked if he has drawn from his Delhi experience to bring about changes here, he said: "I've taken a leaf out of Delhi's books, certainly, and India, where I grew up for the first 35 years, which has taught me to take all the religions and all cultures and all genders along."

The winning mayoral candidate will be responsible for all local issues affecting Londoners, from transport and policing to housing and the environment.

"I'm a person of Indian origin. I take a lot of pride in that all over the world. But I am a man of the world, having lived all over the world. So I'm a proud Londoner batting for London and I'll be the next mayor of London for the Londoners," said the businessman.

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Video: UP School Teacher Smashes Neighbour's Car With Brick, Attacks Family

A primary school teacher in Uttar Pradesh's Bulandshahr broke into her neighbour's house on Saturday and bashed in the windows of their car, a CCTV video shows. 

In the clip that went viral on social media, Parul Sharma, a school teacher, is seen entering the parking area outside her neighbour Priya Goyal's house at 3 am with a brick in her hand. She flings the brick at the car's windscreen and pulls out a rock from a bag and throws it at the car. She then uses the rock to bash in all the windows of the parked vehicle.

Videos recorded by the neighbour's family show Ms Sharma continue her belligerent attack on the car even as the family wake up and confront her.  In one of the clips, she is accompanied by her elderly mother who does nothing to stop her. The school teacher continues to hurl abuses at her neighbours and tries to force open the door separating them.

In their complaint, the neighbours alleged that after she smashed all the car windows, Sharma broke a lock on the house's gate and attacked her family including her three-year-old son who sustained minor injuries. The family then informed the police. While it is not known what led to the attack, police said the two families have had an ongoing dispute. 

"A video of a fight between the neighbours in Bulanshahr's Kotwali Nagar has gone viral on social media. A case has been filed," senior police officer Shankar Prasad, said.

A case of trespassing, voluntarily causing hurt, damaging property and criminal intimidation have been filed against the teacher.
 

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Pakistan vs New Zealand Live Streaming 5th T20I Live Telecast

With an aim to end the series at 2-2, Pakistan will take on New Zealand in the fifth and final T20I of the series on Saturday. New Zealand have already gained an unassailable lead of 2-1, so either they are going to win this series or it ends in a tie. Led by Babar Azam, Pakistan won the second game by 7 wickets after the opening contest was washed out due to rain. What followed was a superb comeback from the Kiwis as they registered two wins on trot. The first one was a 7-wicket win while the second one was a 4-run victory.

It is worth noting this is the first series for Babar Azam after being reinstated as Pakistan captain, replacing Shaheen Afridi in the shortest format of the game.

When will the Pakistan vs New Zealand 5th T20I match be played?

The Pakistan vs New Zealand 5th T20I match will be played on Saturday, April 27.

Where will the Pakistan vs New Zealand 5th T20I match be played?

The Pakistan vs New Zealand 5th T20I match will be played at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore.

What time will the Pakistan vs New Zealand 5th T20I match start?

The Pakistan vs New Zealand 5th T20I match will start at 8 PM IST.

Which TV channels will telecast the Pakistan vs New Zealand 5th T20I match?

The Pakistan vs New Zealand 5th T20I match will not be telecast in India.

Where to follow the live streaming of the Pakistan vs New Zealand 5th T20I match?

The Pakistan vs New Zealand 5th T20I match will be streamed live on FanCode.

(All the details are as per the information provided by the broadcaster)

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"Obscene Batting": PBKS Set World Record, Chase Down 262. Full List Here

The cricket world was in shock as Punjab Kings set a new world record on Friday. Led by Jonny Bairstow's incredible hundred, Punjab Kings set a new world record for the highest run chase in the history of T20 cricket as they overhauled the 262-run target set by Kolkata Knight Riders with eight wickets to spare in the IPL on Friday. PBKS bettered South Africa's 259/4 against West Indies in March last year. In the IPL, Rajasthan Royals held the previous record for chasing down 224 against KKR at Eden Gardens recently, equalling the record they had set against then Kings XI Punjab (now Punjab Kings) in 2020 in Sharjah.

Highest targets successfully chased in Men's T20 cricket
262 - Punjab Kings vs Kolkata Knight Riders, Kolkata, IPL 2024
259 - South Africa vs West Indies, Centurion, 2023
253 - Middlesex vs Surrey, The Oval, T20 Blast 2023
244 - Australia vs New Zealand, Auckland, 2018
243 - Bulgaria vs Serbia, Sofia, 2022
243 - Multan Sultans vs Peshawar Zalmi, Rawalpindi, PSL 2023

:Obscene batting," commented Kevin Pietersen,

Obscene batting
 

— Kevin Pietersen (@KP24) April 26, 2024

Talking about the match, sent into bat, Kolkata Knight Riders scored 261/6 but PBKS completed the chase with eight balls to spare.

KKR rode on a 138-run partnership between openers Phil Salt (75 off 37 balls) and Sunil Narine (71 off 32 balls).

The batters that followed the openers then consolidated the home team's position and took them to an imposing total.

In reply, PBKS too were off to a great start and scored 93 runs for the loss of Prabhsimran Singh's wicket in the powerplay.

Prabhsimran blazed away to a 20-ball 54 before getting run out. Bairstow continued his brutal onslaught to help PBKS pull off a stunning win. Bairstow (108 off 48 balls) was well-supported by the in-from Shashank Singh who smashed 68 in only 28 balls.

Brief scores: Kolkata Knight Riders: 261/6 in 20 overs (Phil Salt 75, Sunil Narine 71).

Punjab Kings: 262/2 in 18.4 overs (Jonny Bairstow 108, Prabhsimran Singh 54, Shashank Singh 68). 

With PTI inputs

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UP Students Clear Exam With 'Jai Shri Ram' Answers, Professors Suspended

First year students at an Uttar Pradesh University aced the exam by allegedly writing 'Jai Shri Ram' and names of cricketers in the answer sheet. But then the law caught up.

Two professors at state-run Veer Bahadur Singh Purvanchal University in Jaunpur were suspended for allegedly extorting money from students in exchange of marks on answer sheets written with songs, music and religious slogans.

Student leader Divyanshu Singh had alleged in a letter sent to the Prime Minister, Chief Minister, Governor and Vice Chancellor that with the connivance of some officials of university, even the students who got zero marks were passed by giving them more than 60 percent marks.

Irregularities, exposed by an RTI response, were identified during the assessment of special bank copies, resulting in significant variations in marks upon re-evaluation.

"There was an allegation that students have been given more marks. So we constituted a committee. That Committee in its report said that students have been awarded more marks," said Vice-Chancellor Vandana Singh.

Asked about the religious slogans, she said: "Have not seen the copy with Jai Shri Ram answers but saw a copy in which I could not make out anything relevant based on which marks could be given to the student. The handwriting was not very clear."

The Raj Bhavan had written a letter to the Vice-Chancellor of the University and directed to take action in the matter.

NDTV has accessed the answer sheets where Jai Shri Ram appears in the middle of the answer about 'pharmacy as career'. In the same answer, appears the names of cricketers like Hardik Pandya, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma.

The examiners, Dr Vinay Verma and Manish Gupta, were suspended in the examination committee meeting on Wednesday.

"Teachers have been warned so that such a thing is not repeated. The committee has recommended termination for the involved teachers. But there's a model code of conduct is in place and further action will be taken once the poll code is lifted," said the Vice-Chancellor.  

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Dravid Told To 'Not Compromise' For T20 WC, Given Unique Bowling Options

As the deadline for India's T20 World Cup squad nears, former batter Navjot Singh Sidhu has advised head coach Rahul Dravid and selectors not to compromise with quality bowlers while picking the team. Sidhu feels that if the selectors do compromise with the bowling and pick one extra batter, the tournament will end in disappointment for India, who last won an ICC event back in 2013. While responding to a query, Sidhu advised Dravid and the selectors to pick three spinners and as many quality fast bowlers.

Sidhu also vouched for the improbable selection of Delhi Capitals (DC) pacer Khaleel Ahmed, and ignored star pacer Jasprit Bumrah.

"My straight advice to Rahul Dravid is that if you want to win this tournament, have five wicket-taking specialist bowlers, simple. The collapse of a team's character stems from the compromise point. You have three spinner in Bishnoi, Kuldeep and Jadeja, who picks himself. Mayank Yadav if he is fit, walks into this side. Khaleel Ahmed, Mukesh Kumar, Mohsin Khan should be the fast bowlers. " Sidhu said on Star Sports.

The 60-year-old suggested that India should utilise their resources as playing extra batter won't win the Rohit Sharma-led side the World Cup.

"India have a lot of options and they shouldn't compromise and pick guys who can bat and bowl a bit. You think of all the World Cup winning captains, they would've gone for quality bowling options. That's the secret. If seven batters can't win you the World Cup, even the 8th cannot do anything," he added.

According to reports, the BCCI selectors will meet with head coach Rahul Dravid and captain Rohit Sharma to discuss the World Cup squad later this week.

The deadline for squad submission is May 1. The tournament kicks off June 2 in the Americas with India's opening game on June 5 against Ireland.

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Lowest Turnout More Than Your Highest: S Jaishankar On West's Poll Critique

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has hit out at the Western media, emphasising that they criticise our democracy because they think they are also political players in our election and not because they lack information.

Addressing a forum for nationalist thinkers in Hyderabad on Tuesday, the minister said, "I get a lot of these noises from the Western press and if they criticise our democracy, it's not because they lack information. It is because they think they are also political players in our election."

Mr Jaishankar said that in an article by the Western media, they asked why elections were being held amid a heatwave in India. "Now I read that article and I wanted to say listen, in that heat my lowest turnout is higher than your highest turnout in the best run," Mr Jaishankar said.

He added that these are games that are being played.

"These are politics. These are our domestic politics which is going global, global politics which feels they must now intrude in India. How can these chaps decide who should be ruling without consulting us?" he said.

"They (West) actually think they are part of our electorate... I think it's time today that we disabuse them and the best way that we do that, is by confidence," Mr Jaishankar stressed.

The minister emphasised the need to stand up to these kinds of attacks and criticisms and rankings and reports because they will question everything.

"They will question your election system, your EVM, your election commission, even the weather," he said.

"And one complaint is...it is so unfair, BJP thinks it's going to win very big," he said, adding that, in a kind of way, today, we are at a very important inflexion point.

Mr Jaishankar said that the decisions the government will be making are not just for the next five years, but will give our nation, our society, and our coming generations a very big vote of confidence.

"It is the guarantee, the guarantee is an expression of confidence. It is an expression of confidence based on what we have delivered for the last ten years," he added.

He highlighted how India has been regarded across the world in the past ten years, how the country is today preparing for the next 25 years is the mindset with which we need to approach the world.

Moreover, recalling the G20 Summit, Mr Jaishankar said that during the presidency, several countries wanted to connect to India.

"During our G20 presidency, a number of countries, but particularly this was an initiative called IMEC through Saudi Arabia, they wanted to connect India to Europe. Russia and Iran also want a connectivity passage to Europe. In the east, countries like Vietnam, and Cambodia, want a passage through Myanmar to India," he said.

Lauding India's prominence on the global stage, Mr Jaishankar said that there is a lot of interest in somehow accessing India, connecting to India and working with India

Praising Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the minister said, "It is the combination of all of this and, as I said, the stature which the Prime Minister personally commands...I see that because I travel with him often."

Recalling when India got the G20 presidency, Mr Jaishankar said, "When we got our G20 chair presidency, it was on December 1, 2022. I think most of the world said, you know, I don't know where you guys got stuck. You know how this is going to happen. You are going to have a really difficult time managing this. And yet, actually, when the G20 summit met, within the first day, we were actually able to forge a consensus."

He further emphasised that when something happens, people can only see the final outcome and not the work done behind the scenes.

"It's worth thinking why? Because when something happens, we think it's natural. It's not natural. Something happens behind the scenes, you are only seeing the final production, but behind the scenes there is a lot of work," he said.

The fact is, when the G20 met, there was a lot of respect in the rest of the world "for PM Modi personally and for Modi's Bharat", Mr Jaishankar stressed.

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

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Salman, Alia Lead Celeb Roll Call At Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar Screening

Sanjay Leela Bhansali is all set to make his OTT debut with a web series titled Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar. Ahead of the release of the magnum opus on May 1, the makers held a star-studded screening in Mumbai on Wednesday night. The screening was attended by some of the biggest stars in Bollywood including Alia Bhatt and Salman Khan. The Tiger actor, who has worked with the ace director in the iconic film Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam, was spotted arriving at the screening amidst heavy security. The actor was seen wearing a black shirt and jeans for the night. Alia Bhatt, who looked lovely in a white traditional outfit, was accompanied at the event by her mom Soni Razdan, and mom-in-law Neetu Kapoor. All three actors looked lovely as they flashed their brightest smiles for the camera. For the unversed, Alia Bhatt featured in Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Gangubai Kathiawadi, which earned her the prestigious National Award last year.

Take a look at her pictures from the night:

Team Heeramandi also attended the screening in their traditional best. Manisha Koirala, Sonakshi Sinha, Sharmin Segal, mom-to-be Richa Chadha, Sanjeeda Shaikh, Taha Shah Badussha, and Fardeen Khan were seen posing on their carpet in style.

Aditi Rao Hydari's plus one at the event was her fiance Siddharth while Richa Chadha and Sonakshi Sinha's cheer squad included the former's hi-husband Ali Fazal and the latter's mom Poonam Sinha.

Father-son duo Shekhar and Adhyayan Sinha, who will both be seen in Heeramandi, were also spotted on the red carpet in their traditional best.

Other stars adding glamour to the event included Ananya Panday, Rashmika Mandanna, Mrunal Thakur, Shruti Haasan, Esha Deol, Rakul Preet Singh, Bhumi Pednekar, Huma Qureshi, Patralekhaa and others.

Male celebrities gracing the event included Vijay Varma, Vicky Kaushal, Karan Johar, Randeep Hooda, and Zayed Khan.

Veteran actress Rekha looked drop dread gorgeous in a yellow saree while celeb couple Sussanne Khan and Arslan Goni were seen twinning in black. Newlyweds Kriti Kharbanda and Pulkit Samrat were also seen marking their presence at the event.

Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar will be released on May 1. About the project, Manisha Koirala  said: “I waited 28 years for Sanjay to call me and it's been a pleasure. It's an honor to be working with that genius. A lot of hard work and pyaar mohabbat has gone into making Heeramandi. We have made the show with so much love, and we expect you all to love it.”

 The period drama features a stellar ensemble cast including Sonakshi Sinha, Aditi Rao Hydari, Richa Chadha, Sanjeeda Sheikh, and Sharmin Segal.

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"Make No Mistake, This Is A Ban": TikTok Vows To Fight New US Law In Court

TikTok's CEO vowed Wednesday to fight in the courts to overturn a newly signed US law that could see the popular app banned due to allegations it is controlled by the China government.

The legislation gives TikTok nine months to divest from its Chinese parent company ByteDance or be shut out of the American market.

The US and other Western officials have alleged the social media platform allows Beijing to collect data and spy on users. It has 170 million users in the United States alone, many of them young.

Critics say TikTok is also a conduit to spread propaganda. China and the company strongly deny the claims.

"Make no mistake, this is a ban. A ban on TikTok and a ban on you and your voice," TikTok boss Shou Zi Chew said in a video posted on TikTok moments after President Joe Biden signed the bill into law.

"Politicians may say otherwise, but don't get confused. Many who sponsored the bill admit a Tiktok ban is the ultimate goal."

Chew called the move "ironic" given that the "freedom of expression on TikTok reflects the same American values that make the United States a beacon of freedom."

"Rest assured, we aren't going anywhere," Chew told the platform's users.

"We will keep fighting for your rights in the courts. The facts and the Constitution are on our side."

The ban measure was included in a $95 billion foreign aid package, including military assistance to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan.

The bill, which could trigger the rare step of barring a company from operating in the US market, passed the Senate by a 79-18 vote three days after it cleared the House of Representatives with strong bipartisan support.

Under the bill, ByteDance would have to sell the app or be excluded from Apple and Google's app stores in the United States.

TikTok for years has been in the crosshairs of American authorities, who say the platform allows Beijing to snoop on users in the United States.

The bill passed by Congress also gives the US president the authority to designate other applications as a threat to national security if they are controlled by a country deemed hostile.

Elon Musk, the billionaire owner of X, formerly Twitter, came out last week against banning TikTok, saying "doing so would be contrary to freedom of speech and expression."

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

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"Regret Time In KKR": India Star, Primed For T20 WC Spot, Makes Big Claim

A reinforced skillsets and the ability to perfectly read the ebbs and flows of a match have made Kuldeep Yadav a tough customer, but back in 2019 the left-arm wrist spinner felt the need of a guiding force around him as his form went south while playing for Kolkata Knight Riders. Kuldeep had an Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) surgery in 2020 but once he joined Delhi Capitals, his performance both for the national team and in IPL improved significantly, making him the first-choice spinner across formats.

He has taken 41 wickets in 33 matches since joining DC and he spoke how things transformed since he worked for months under coach Kapil Pandey to develop new skills post the surgery.

“In KKR, I needed guidance but now I don't need it, as now I dictate terms. In 2019, Mahi bhai (MS Dhoni, his national team mentor) had retired that year and I needed guidance. The idea that I have now, has come with experience,” Kuldeep said about his success in the last one and half years.

Kuldeep bowls the most challenging overs, including Powerplay, and when asked about his recipe of success, he attributed it to taking challenges head on.

"I still regret my time in KKR (from 2016-2020) and feel whatever I am doing now, wish I could have done it back then.

“It still hurts me that had I worked on those skills back then, I could have dominated even more,” Kuldeep said during a select media interaction.

“But it didn't happen back then as experience is something that you get only when you play a lot. When you encounter failure in life, then only you learn and now I am more confident about my skills and at the same time respectful of the fact that opposition can be good too,” the wily spinner said.

Maturity is something that has had its positive effect over the years on him.

“Back in the day, I didn't do (respect opposition) that. I believed in my skills but then at the same time you need to understand how the batter is playing and that maturity has come, knowing my strength and where to bowl so that it is difficult to hit, and I am working on that,” said the Kanpur man.

Post surgery, Kuldeep changed his run-up from diagonal to a much straighter one and also increased the pace on his delivery with more drift and prodigious turn in his break-backs.

“The difficult part was before I got that knee injury (surgery for ACL), I wasn't bowling well. It is very important that there is someone in your life who supports you.” It was at that time he went back to the drawing board and worked with his early coach Pandey.

“It could be your coach or your parents, and my coach supported me and reminded me that you shouldn't back-track.

“It is because you can be out of sight. During injury time, I was relaxed. I was thinking how can I get better? There were apprehensions about how things can go astray when one tries to add new things into his armoury.

“If I introduce new things in my bowling, there is fear of it affecting the turn and drift. Those aspects can get reduced while bringing a new facet.

“I did try it earlier but perhaps didn't try in the correct manner. I tried increasing the pace in my deliveries but it didn't work.

“Then my NCA physio gave me some tips and in a practice game, I tried to bowl with increased pace and did long sessions with Pandey sir,” he said.

Kuldeep also thanked head coach Ricky Ponting and former DC assistant coach Shane Watson for helping him when his rhythm was a bit off.

Recently, Dinesh Karthik, Kuldeep's former KKR skipper in a podcast with Ravichandran Ashwin spoke about his “tough conversations with the bowler” which he felt that the chinaman bowler might not have appreciated.

Kuldeep seemed non-fussed about it.

“Obviously, it's an old thing. If you have six quality spinners, you can be confused while choosing and Varun Chakravarthy was bowling well and I wasn't. The skipper (Karthik) had a difficult job and did as per what he felt,” the 29-year-old said.

But he gave an interesting theory as to why Karthik, perhaps, placed confidence in him.

“I did well under DK bhai. In 2019, I didn't play a lot. I feel DK bhai plays spinners really well. I might be wrong but I feel he thinks some others also play spin as well as him,” said a smiling Kuldeep.

He also thanked Indian skipper Rohit Sharma, who didn't want Kuldeep to once again prove his mettle at domestic level before summoning him for national duty.

“I am grateful that he got me in the team post injury and told me that I would only be played gradually since I was coming back from injury.

“Now Rohit bhai doesn't talk about my bowling as I deliver what he wants. Now, he is after me to improve my batting,” he laughs.

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

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Ayushmann Reveals He Broke Up With Tahira After Winning Roadies

Ayushmann Khurrana in a recent interview with Mashable India opened up about the time when he had broken up with his then girlfriend Tahira Kashyap after winner reality show Roadies. Ayushmann Khurrana said, "It is very difficult to deal with fame when you are 16-17. I remember I broke up with my girlfriend then. I was getting a lot of attention for the first time apart from my girlfriend. I lost my mind. I went through that journey when you are in your teens, and you have a gawky image, you are blooming and flowering and becoming a man."

"I was the most popular guy in Chandigarh at that time. So, I broke up with Tahira saying, 'See I am getting a lot of attention, I have to live life now.' But I got back to her in six months and told her 'I can't do this, I can't be a 'f*****'," Ayushmann added.

For the unversed, Ayushmann emerged as the winner of the second season of the adventure reality series Roadies.

Ayushmann Khurrana is known for his roles in hit films like Badhaai Ho, the Dream Girl series, Bala, Dum Laga Ke Haisha and Bareilly Ki Barfi, among others. He has also featured in critically-acclaimed films like Article 15, Gulabo Sitabo, Doctor G, Anek and An Action Hero. The actor received a National Film Award for Best Actor for his performance in the 2018 film AndhaDhun. He stepped into the Indian entertainment industry with the reality show Roadies and in 2012, he made his Bollywood debut with Vicky Donor.

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Mohan Yadav On Why His Children Don't Stay At Chief Minister Residence

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav is focused on his priorities. So much so, that his three children do not stay with him in the official Chief Minister's bungalow as he says the focus on family might come in the way of his responsibilities and may "dilute it".

Mr Yadav, 49, a first-time Chief Minister, is father to a daughter and two sons.  

"My child is studying in Bhopal. He has completed his MBBS course and is now doing his MS. Now you tell me, if he is in this environment won't he be disturbed. So if he has to study properly, he should focus on that," the Chief Minister told NDTV's Editor-in-Chief Sanjay Pugalia in an exclusive interview.

"Earlier, my daughter was doing her MBBS course here in Bhopal.  Even then I told her that you have to study in a hostel. The children are also okay with this. I have the satisfaction that there is a positive approach towards this in my family," he underlined.

Asked if he is not being too tough on the family, Mr Yadav said, "We will have to toughen up. When we will understand, the message will percolate down. Our responsibilities might be diluted if we focus only on family. So we have got to save ourselves from that sentiment. The more one grows, the more one should be careful." 

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"One Rule For All": Top Tihar Official Amid Arvind Kejriwal Insulin Row

Delhi's Tihar jail is like a city but it does not work in a vaccum, Sanjay Beniwal, the jail's Director General, said today in the backdrop of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's allegation that he is not being administered insulin. His party has alleged a conspiracy to murder him. Speaking to NDTV in an exclusive interview, Mr Beniwal said Tihar has around 1,000 diabetics and they are given food and medication according to the advice of senior doctors, including those from AIIMS and Ram Manohar Lohia hospital.

"We usually face such pressure, we have a habit of tolerating it, it is part of life," he told NDTV. 

Mr Kejriwal has gone to court alleging that he is being deprived of insulin since his arrest on March 21 in connection with the Delhi liquor policy case. His request for a video call with a private practitioner has been denied by the special court in Delhi that is hearing the case. 

His Aam Aadmi Party, meanwhile, has held protests outside the Tihar jail.

Calling the allegations "baseless", Mr Beniwal said they will follow the instructions of the court.

"Whatever allegations AAP is making, we have answered them very well in court," Mr Beniwal said. "Whatever questions the court has asked us, we have also answered them very well. We all accept what the court says. Why are they making all these allegations? Only he should answer," he said.  

"Do you think slow poison can be given in jail? Do you yourself think this is possible?" Mr Beniwal added.

"Around 900 to 1000 prisoners in our jail are suffering from diabetes. Some are given medicines, some insulin, some need something else... our government-appointed senior doctors do all this," he said.

Explaining the existing practice under the jail manual, he said when someone's illness is serious, "we take the advice from the referral hospital, which is outside the jail".

"Our referral hospitals include AIIMS, RML and other hospitals. This is a normal process for all prisoners. There is no A B C D category for any particular prisoner," he added.

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Aligarh Muslim University Gets 1st Woman Vice-Chancellor In Over 100 Years

Naima Khatoon has been appointed as the Vice Chancellor of the Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), making her the first woman to hold the top post in over 100 years, sources said on Monday.

Naima Khatoon was appointed after receiving approval from President Droupadi Murmu, who is a Visitor to the University, they said.

Permission from the Election Commission of India (ECI) was also sought in view of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) being in place, they said.

"Naima Khatoon, Principal, Women's College, has been appointed as the Vice Chancellor of AMU for a period of five years. The ECI has stated that the commission has no objection from the MCC angle to the proposal related to the appointment of the AMU VC subject to the condition that no political mileage be derived from it," a source said.

Naima Khatoon, who completed her PhD in psychology from AMU, was appointed as a lecturer in the same department in 1988 before being elevated to professor in 2006. She continued there before being appointed the principal of the Women's College in 2014.

Founded in 1875, Muhammadan Anglo-Oriental College became AMU in 1920, following the Aligarh Muslim University Act.

In September 2020, AMU completed 100 years as a university, becoming one of the oldest universities in India. The university has had no woman vice chancellor so far.

In 1920, Begum Sultan Jahan was appointed as the AMU chancellor. She continues to be the only woman to have held the post.

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

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Aishwarya Celebrated Her 17th Wedding Anniversary With Abhishek-Aaradhya

Actors Aishwarya Rai and Abhishek Bachchan, who celebrated their 17th wedding anniversary on Saturday, shared an adorable post with daughter Aaradhya.

The two on Saturday took to their Instagram accounts to share a cute family picture.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by AishwaryaRaiBachchan (@aishwaryaraibachchan_arb)

In the picture, Aishwarya can be seen wearing bright lipstick and smiling happily, while Abhishek poses sweetly in a beige shirt for the selfie. Aaradhya looks joyful, snuggling up to her mom and making the family photo complete.

The actors posted the pictures with a red heart emoji.

Abhishek and Aishwarya acted together in 'Dhaai Akshar Prem Ke' in 2000 and later in 'Umrao Jaan' in 2006, where they became good friends. However, Abhishek revealed on the Oprah Winfrey show that while filming in New York, he used to stand on his hotel balcony, wishing he could marry Aishwarya. Years later, during the premiere of their 2007 film "Guru" at the same hotel, he saw it as a sign and proposed to her. They got married that year and welcomed Aaradhya in 2011..

Meanwhile, on the work front, Abhishek was last seen in R Balki's 2023 film "Ghoomer," playing the role of a disgraced cricketer who transitions into a coach. He is now gearing up for his next project with Shoojit Sircar, along with starring in 'Be Happy' on Amazon Prime Video.

Aishwarya, on the other hand was last seen in Mani Ratnam's Ponniyin Selvan: I and II. She potrayed Nandini in the film, a queen who's beautiful and cunning in her quest for power.

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Turkey's Erdogan Meets Hamas Chief In Istanbul, Israel Reacts

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan urged Palestinians to unite amid Israel's war in Gaza following hours-long talks with Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh in Istanbul on Saturday, his office said. 

Erdogan has failed to establish a foothold as a mediator in the Gaza conflict that has roiled the region, with the Hamas-run Palestinian territory bracing for a new Israeli offensive and a reported Israeli attack on Iran.

Erdogan said Palestinian unity was "vital" following the talks at the Dolmabahce palace on the banks of the Bosphorus strait, which Turkish media reports said lasted more than two and a half hours. 

"The strongest response to Israel and the path to victory lie in unity and integrity," Erdogan said according to a Turkish presidency statement. 

Hamas -- designated a terrorist organisation by the United States, the European Union and Israel -- is a rival of the Fatah faction that rules the semi-autonomous Palestinian Authority in the occupied West Bank. 

As fears of a wider regional war grow, Erdogan said recent events between Iran and Israel should not allow Israel to "gain ground and that it is important to act in a way that keeps attention on Gaza". 

Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz condemned the meeting, writing on X: "Muslim Brotherhood alliance: rape, murder, desecration of corpses and the burning of babies. Erdogan, shame on you!" 

Hamas was founded by members of the Muslim Brotherhood in 1987.

Close ties with Haniyeh

With Qatar saying it will reassess its role as a mediator between Hamas and Israel, Erdogan sent Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan to Doha on Wednesday in a new sign that he wants a role. 

"Even if only I, Tayyip Erdogan, remain, I will continue as long as God gives me my life, to defend the Palestinian struggle and to be the voice of the oppressed Palestinian people," the president said Wednesday when he announced Haniyeh's visit. 

Hamas has had an office in Turkey since 2011 when Turkey helped secure the agreement for the group to free Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit. 

Erdogan has maintained links with Haniyeh, who has been a frequent visitor.

Fidan was a past head of Turkish intelligence and the country provided information and passports to Hamas officials, including Haniyeh, according to Sinan Ciddi, a Turkey specialist at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies in Washington. 

This has never been confirmed by Turkish authorities, however.

Erdogan slams Israel

If Qatar withdraws from mediation efforts, Turkey could seek to increase its mediation profile based on its Hamas links.

Fidan on Saturday held talks with visiting Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry, with both men emphasising the need to deliver more humanitarian aid to devastated Gaza where the threat of famine looms.

Turkey is one of Gaza's main humanitarian aid partners, sending 45,000 tonnes of supplies and medicine in the region.

Israel has said it is preparing an offensive against the Gazan city of Rafah and the reported Israeli attack on the Iranian province of Isfahan, following Iran's direct attack on Israel, has only clouded hopes of a peace breakthrough.

But Erdogan can only expect a "very limited" role because of his outspoken condemnation of Israel and its actions in Gaza, according to Ciddi.

Last year, the Turkish leader likened the tactics of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to those of Nazi leader Adolf Hitler and called Israel a "terrorist state" because of its offensive against Hamas after the group's October 7 attacks on Israel. 

Ciddi said Erdogan would not be welcome in Israel and at most might be able to pass messages between Palestinian and Israel negotiators.

The unprecedented Hamas attacks that sparked the Gaza war resulted in the deaths of 1,170 people in southern Israel, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally of Israeli official figures.

Hamas also took about 250 hostages. Israel estimates 129 remain in Gaza, including 34 who are presumed dead.

Israel's retaliatory offensive has killed 34,049 people in Gaza, mostly women and children, according to the Hamas-run territory's health ministry.

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

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"Great Response, People Voting For NDA In Record Numbers": PM On Phase 1

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said the BJP has received a "great response" in the first phase of the Lok Sabha elections, which saw a national average voter turnout of 60 per cent.

In a post on the microblogging website X, PM Modi said the people of India are voting for the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in record numbers.

"First phase, great response! Thank you to all those who have voted today. Getting EXCELLENT feedback from today's voting. It's clear that people across India are voting for NDA in record numbers," PM Modi said.

First phase, great response! Thank you to all those who have voted today.

Getting EXCELLENT feedback from today's voting. It's clear that people across India are voting for NDA in record numbers.

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 19, 2024

Polling took place in 102 constituencies across 21 states and Union Territories in the first of the seven-phase elections. The Election Commission (EC) described the turnout as "high", noting that voting remained "largely peaceful".

In the first phase of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the voter turnout was recorded at 69.43 per cent. Some constituencies were different then and the total number of seats which went to the polls were 91.

Violence was reported from some areas in West Bengal and ethnic crisis-hit Manipur. Inner Manipur Congress candidate A Bimol Akoijam alleged BJP workers and an armed group stopped people from coming out of their homes to vote.

At least four incidents of people breaking electronic voting machines (EVMs) in Inner Manipur polling booths were reported. The people got upset allegedly over proxy voting by an armed group.

Uttarakhand, Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Mizoram, Tamil Nadu and the Union Territories of Puducherry, Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Lakshadweep completed their voting process today in a single-phase election.

For the first time, people in 56 villages in Bastar in Chhattisgarh cast their vote in polling booths set up in their own villages.

The EC said in Andaman and Nicobar Islands, voters belonging to tribal communities came out in large numbers. The Shompen tribe of Great Nicobar made history by casting vote for the first time.

Voters braved the heat in most parts of the country while, at others, they waited patiently in pouring rain.

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