Tuesday 28 February 2023

"Probably Bigger Than...": Stokes Reacts After First Loss As Test Captain

England captain Ben Stokes feels blessed to be involved in a dramatic and high-quality game of cricket that his side lost by just one run, saying the enjoyment of being part of the thriller has outweighed the disappointment of losing the second Test. New Zealand defeated England by one run in a sensational finish at the Basin Reserve on Tuesday to level the two-match series 1-1. It is only the fourth occasion in Test history that a team, forced to follow-on, has gone on to win the match, with the previous occasions being England in 1894 and 1981, and India in 2001.

"It's disappointing to not win, obviously. But we look at the bigger picture of what everyone's enjoyed and seen here today. It's probably bigger than the disappointment at the moment," said Stokes, who tasted a rare defeat since taking over as captain last year.

"It's very disappointing to lose, but you can't help but be excited that we've been a part of a game like that." "It's right up there. Going down to the last day, being in the situation of that last half an hour … it's everything you wish for. Even though we came out on the wrong side of it, you can't help but feel blessed that we've managed to be a part of that incredible game," added the all-rounder, who has won 10 Tests out of the 12 he has captained after taking over from Joe Root.

The 31-year-old added that the gamut of emotions his team -- and also the opposing side -- went through was incredible, and gave spectators the thrills they were craving for.

"That game is what Test cricket is about, it was just incredible. The emotions we were going through and obviously the Kiwi boys out there as well. Was incredible to be involved in such a Test match. Everyone's got their money worth." The match came down to the last man standing at the crease.

England bowling stalwart James Anderson smashed a boundary off Neil Wagner, which left England two runs shy of scoring a series victory.

But in a dramatic moment, Anderson was caught on the leg side by a diving Tome Blundell to signal the Blackcaps' win.

"Disappointing to end on a loss but four (wins) out of five away from home is something we will take great pride in. A few months off and get back to what we love doing," said Stokes.

England made a clean sweep of the three-Test series in Pakistan and won the opening Test in New Zealand, making it four away wins in five games.

Stokes added he did not regret the decision to enforce the follow-on after the hosts had been bundled out for 209 in response to England's 435/8 declared.

The hosts put up a superb 483 in the second essay to give England a competitive 258-run winnings target.

"It was always our game to lose once we enforced the follow-on. But the logic behind it (enforcing follow-on) was that our opening bowlers have ripped through their top-order for three innings in a row. We knew that New Zealand had to pretty much play the perfect game to put us in a situation like this," added Stokes.

"Batting in the last innings, chasing 250 is something that we were never worried about. But give huge credit to New Zealand, not only to the way that they played in the second innings, but also the way that they bowled and managed to get very early wickets with not too many runs on the board. So in terms of looking back and making my decision around the follow-on, No, I don't regret it." PTI AM AM AT AT



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Kriti gets miffed when asked about Kartik

Kriti Sanon looked visibly miffed when she was asked about Kartik Aaryan at a recent award function after Shehzada flopped at the box office.

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Dhoni "Replaced Me...": India Star On Being Legendary Captain's Understudy

MS Dhoni's rise started a new chapter in Indian cricket. The youngster from Ranchi, Jharkhand, who rose to become a giant in world cricket is an inspiration to many. A few months before Dhoni's debut for India in December, 2004, against Bangladesh, another wicketkeeper-batter started his journey for the Men in Blue. His name was Dinesh Karthik. He made his debut in an ODI against England at Lord's in September, 2004. However, Dhoni's dominance was such that Karthik soon became an understudy of the former India skipper. 

While Dhoni went on to win three ICC title as India captain, Karthik worked hard and is still playing at the top level. He even played the 2022 T20 World Cup for India. Recently, Karthik shared his thoughts on making his debut at a time when Dhoni-mania was just starting.

"I made my debut before him. We went together on an India A tour and from there I got picked for the Indian team, he was still there in India A team," Karthik said on the RCB podcast. 

"That was the first time I played a four-day match together with him. I did so well that they picked me for the Indian team. From there, they went on another trip, there was a ODI tournament where he just blasted it. People stood up and said there is nobody like him. They said he's a special player. Obviously I came to the Indian team, but by then the Dhoni mania was so big that you had to pick him. He then replaced me in all formats and he did very well. At the end of the day, it is all about taking opportunities. You got to be ready to take opportunities.

"I was chasing excellence. I was constantly on the path of becoming the best cricketer in the world. Dhoni was there, he wasn't there – that wasn't my lookout. He was doing very well for himself. I knew that he had settled in all team. He made no mistake at the start. They sent him up an order, he got a hundred in ODI. He then went to Test cricket and scored 85. He kept brilliantly. Most importantly, he became a brand overnight. People were after him. He was hugely popular sportsperson right from the outset. I was always the understudy but I was always on the lookout for opportunities, doing something special."

Karthik is now gearing up for the Indian Premier League, where he plays for Royal Challengers Bangalore. Dhoni is also preparing for the IPL for Chennai Super Kings.



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#CelebrityEvenings: From Giorgia Andriani to Anjini Dhawan, Bollywood celebs spotted in Mumbai

#CelebrityEvenings: From Giorgia Andriani to Anjini Dhawan, Bollywood celebs spotted in Mumbai




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Missing Head Of Murdered Hong Kong Model Found In Pot of Soup

Abby Choi, a 28-year-old model and influencer from Hong Kong, went missing last Tuesday. Two days later, parts of her dismembered body were found in a fridge in a house in the city's Tai Po district. The home also had an electric saw, a meat slicer, and some clothing, according to the authorities.

However, her head, torso and hands were missing. Now, police have found her missing head in one of two big pots containing soup and human remains, New York Post reported.

Superintendent Alan Chung investigating the case said that the head had ''no skin or meat on it'' and was swimming in liquid with soup scraps like carrots and radishes.

''The liquid was up to the top of the pot so to speak, and the whole pot was full,' he said during a press conference. There was a lot of fat solidified in the form of jelly a the top, and there were a lot of scraps of soup. I remember carrots and green radishes, and there was also other minced meat, which I believe were human remains. About the head – it is a skull actually, with no skin or meat on it. So, basically, skull with hair,'' Mr Chung said, during a press conference. 

Police believe the influencer was attacked in a car and was unconscious when she was taken to the house. A forensic examination found a hole at the back of the skull that could be evidence of a fatal attack.

Meanwhile, Hong Kong police have charged four people in connection to the gruesome murder. Those charged with Ms Choi's killing included her ex-husband Alex Kwong, his father, Kwong Kau, and brother Anthony Kwong. Ms Choi's former mother-in-law, Jenny Li, was also charged with perverting the course of justice by destroying evidence. 

According to police, Ms Choi had financial disputes with her ex-husband and his family involving a luxury property involving tens of millions of Hong Kong dollars. All four appeared in court on Monday and were denied bail, with the next hearing set to take place on May 8.

Notably, Ms Choi, a well-known model and influencer, has appeared in Elle, Vogue, as well as Harper's Bazaar. She was a regular at Paris Fashion Week as well. Her last social media post was on February 19, featuring a photoshoot she had done with the fashion magazine L'Officiel Monaco.



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Monday 27 February 2023

Kashmiri Pandit Group Calls For "Brutal Operation" Against Terrorists

Kashmiri Pandit Sangharsh Samiti or KPSS has called for a "brutal operation" against terrorists and their supporters in the Valley, a day after the killing of Kashmiri Pandit Sanjay Kumar by terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama district.

KPSS, an organization of Kashmiri Pandits living in the Valley, has also demanded replacing Jammu and Kashmir's Lt Governor Manoj Sinha and asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to take steps to protect Pandits in the Valley.

In a strongly worked statement, the KPSS claims that a sizeable number of Kashmiri Muslims are working for terrorists responsible for killing of Kashmiri Pandits.

"Decisions taken by the Government of India in August 2019 have exposed the Kashmiri Society and its social fabric. Two out of Ten have turned OGWs (over ground workers) for these terror Organisations who are responsible for the killing of Kashmiri Pandits and other religious minorities" said Sanjay Tikoo, president KPSS.

The Pandit group said that "in a fight between Muslim Kashmir and Hindu India, religious minorities living in Kashmir are becoming a scapegoat".

The KPSS said religious terrorist groups are issuing threats against Pandits. "Islamic countries and scholars repeatedly claim that terror doesn't have a religion, but they need to see in Kashmir that here it not only has a religion but a face too."

Mr Tikoo has appealed to the Prime Minister to issue necessary directions to initiate "brutal operation against the militants and their aides to safe guard the lives of the innocents Kashmiri Pandits and other religious minorities living in Kashmir".

On Sunday, Sanjay Kumar, a Kashmiri Pandit was shot dead by terrorists near his home at Achan village in Pulwama district.

Soon after the killing, local Muslims held protests and demanded an end to terrorism to save Kashmiriyat. Since yesterday candlelight vigil was were held at several places to protest against the killing.

This was the first targeted attack on a Kashmiri Pandits after a gap of over four months in the Valley. In 2022, four Kashmiri Pandits were killed in targeted attacks by terrorists in Kashmir.

Mr Tikoo however is cynical about these anti terrorist protests. He claims that same people who are behind the killings are joining protests held against the killers.

"After executing the task these people join the wailing crowd in stealth mode by giving statements about Kashmiriyat and join Candle Light Marches. Just strategy has changed but the result is the same and i.e. Islamic Kashmir without Kashmiri Pandits and Hindus," said the Pandit organisation.



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Anil recalls working with Laxmikant Berde

On the occasion of Marathi Bhasha Diwas, Anil Kapoor remembered his dear friend and late actor Laxmikant Berde. He took to Twitter to share an old picture with Laxmikant and sent the fans on a nostalgia ride.

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Maanvi And Varun Host An Outdoor Lunch Party, Share Beautiful Pics

Maanvi Gagroo and Varun Kumar just dropped a series of images from their outdoor lunch party and it is truly a treat for the eyes. The couple, who were twinning in white, chose to wear traditional outfits for the party they hosted post their marriage. Maanvi was seen wearing a vibrant lehenga and teamed it with Kundan jewelry. Varun wore a white kurta-pajama paired with a vibrant jacket. Sharing the images, Maanvi wrote, "23/23 celebrations would've been incomplete without an outdoor lunch party in the Delhi winter(ish) sun."

The post has been garnering a lot of likes with many users congratulating the couple on their marriage. One user commented, “Congratulations maanvi and varun! Maanvi - you just look breathtaking in every single picture.” Another wrote, “Oooooooh you look like a sunkissed flower.” See the post here:

Newlyweds Maanvi Gagroo and Varun Kumar, who got married on February 23, hosted a post-wedding party in Mumbai for their family and close friends on the same day. The bash was attended by Maanvi's co-stars Sayani Gupta (Four More Shot Please!) and Kunaal Roy Kapur with his wife Shayonti (TVF Tripling). Other celebs who were spotted at the party were Patralekhaa and Rasika Dugal. For the special occasion, Maanvi opted for a pink lehenga set and accessorized the look with gold jewelry. Varun, on the other hand, looked dashing in a black pant-suit set.

The couple happily posed for the shutterbugs stationed at the venue. Maanvi's parents Surender-Urmil Gagroo and Varun's mom were also pictured at the bash. See some pictures from the day here: 

On Valentine's Day, Maanvi Gagroo officially confirmed that she is dating Varun Kumar in an adorable Instagram post. She shared a picture from their vacation and wrote, "Found my lobster. #HappyValentinesDay"

Meanwhile, on the work front, Maanvi Gagroo is best known for her performance as Siddhi Patel in Four More Shots Please! and as Chanchal Sharma in Tripling. She has also worked in movies such as Ujda Chaman, No One Killed Jessica, and Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan.



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With 'Hera Pheri 3' Post, Suniel Shetty Explains Bollywood Film Business

Bollywood actor Suniel Shetty on Monday confirmed that the much-awaited 'Hera Pheri 3' is "finally happening". Taking to LinkedIn, Mr Shetty, who played the role of Shaam in the movie, announced that the film's shooting has started. 

"So Hera Pheri 3 is finally happening! Look forward to being back on set with Pareshji & Akki. Like all good things, this one took some time, but it's a relief to finally have an answer to this question!" the actor wrote in his post. 

Mr Shetty also spoke about how movies are financed, produced and released, as well as how they make money. "The movie business isn't very different. To explain the entirety of the movie business here would be oversimplifying it. But let's just say having a good script, a set of actors & a director is literally just the starting point," he wrote. 

Further, while explaining the several revenue outlets for a film, ranging from box office receipts to digital and satellite rights and music, Mr Shetty said that there are several factors for any business to succeed - a good idea, thorough market research, a solid business plan, a skilled team, funding at the right time and a strong distribution network. 

"The movie business isn't very different. To explain the entirety of the movie business here would be oversimplifying it. But let's just say having a good script, a set of actors & a director is literally just the starting point," the actor explained. 

Also Read | "Everything Is Mystical": Mexico President Shares Photo Of What He Claims To Be An Elf

The 'Refugee' actor termed the distribution of films as a complex process that involves several layers like producers, distributors and exhibitors. "Once a film's made, a studio typically either sells the distribution rights to a distributor or appoints one on a commission basis, who is then responsible for securing screens from theatre owners, negotiating terms & releasing the film in theatres. Sometimes distributors negotiate a % of the box office collections," he wrote on LinkedIn.

Mr Shetty also mentioned various ways to monetise films. "#BoxOffice collections, domestic & international, are the primary ones," he said. Further, pointing out that music rights are another key source of revenue, he stated, "#MusicRights are another important source of revenue. Usually sold to a #musiclabel who in turn monetise it through channels like streaming, licensing, digital ad revenues, etc..." 

"33 years & 125 films later I don't have it all figured out, but I will keep getting better at it," the actor concluded. 



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Gujarati Suspense Thriller 'Hun Iqbal' released on OTT

Gujarati Suspense Thriller 'Hun Iqbal' released on OTT




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''Skipped A Heartbeat'': Employee Laid Off By Google India Shares Ordeal

The past few months have been gloomy for the technology sector as several big tech firms have carried out massive layoffs. Tech giant Google is also learnt to have sacked around 450 employees across various departments in India. The sudden layoffs have prompted several employees to express their grief and share their stories about their time at the tech giant.

Impacted by the job cut, a Google India employee, hailing from Hyderabad, who worked as Digital media senior associate at the company, shared his ordeal on LinkedIn. 

In a lengthy post, the employee said how he ''skipped a heartbeat'', on Saturday when he received the mail informing him that he had been laid off. He further wrote that Google fired him even after rewarding him with a ''star'' performer of the month badge. 

His post reads, ''Saturday Morning I skipped a heartbeat when I got a pop-up email notification on my phone stating email was from Google Operations Center. I have been affected by a layoff - workforce reduction at Google Operations Center. One of the most valuable esteemed companies. I was a proud #Googler and will always be... I had a very first question why me though I was star performer for month still why me? And I see there was no answer at all!''

Sharing how the layoff has affected him, he wrote, "My salary is half for 2 months! My financial plans are completely ruined! This took place on Saturday and it took me two days to get the strength to jot this down and now I have to fight back for survival."

The former Google employee also urged people on LinkedIn to suggest a better opportunity available for him. He said, ''If my connections could react to this it would help me reach out any better opportunity. May all the people fighting the battle of layoff find a way to fight the inner battle and also survival battle.''

Aakriti Walia, a Google Cloud program manager based in Gurugram, who recently celebrated her 5-year-Googleversary at the firm was also laid off. She expressed how the "access denied" message on her computer left her numb. 

In January, Alphabet Inc announced that it was eliminating about 12,000 jobs or six per cent of its workforce. Some of the staff realised they lost their jobs when they were unable to access the systems. CEO Sundar Pichai told staff in a memo that the firm had reviewed its products, people and priorities, leading to job cuts across geographies and tech.

Earlier in January, Microsoft announced 10,000 job cuts or nearly 5 per cent of its workforce. Amazon also is cutting 18,000 jobs. Meta let go over 11,000 workers last year, 13% of its workforce, in its first major layoff.



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Sunday 26 February 2023

Akshay, Nora and Disha US tour on track



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"Sensitive Info Leaked": Phogat On #MeToo Investigation Of Wrestling Body

The Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) vs Wrestlers saga is showing no signs of an end. Despite a probe committee being formed to investigate the accusations of 'sexual harassment' against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, there hasn't been any development on the matter. In fact, now Vinesh Phogat, one of the wrestlers demanding the removal of Brij Bhushan from the wrestling body, has claimed that a member of the probe committee is leaking 'sensitive information' to the press. Phogat has demanded strict action be taken against the person.

In a post on Twitter, Phogat said that a certain member of the oversight committee has allegedly leaked the contents of the complaint to the media. Phogat also questioned the 'attitude of the person against women'.

"It has come to my recent awareness that a sportsperson member of the Oversight Committee has been allegedly leaking contents of the complaint of sexual harassment while reading certain media reports since yesterday. Being a sports person it is extremely disheartening to see a fellow sports-person member of the Oversight Committee has behaved so recklessly. Their attitude towards women is evident from such behaviour," she wrote.

"It is even more appalling that this sportsperson is a member of both the committees enquiring upon the sexual harassment allegations against high-ranking office bearers of the WFI. All this has placed great mistrust towards the committee proceedings. | am feeling let down at the not just weak but also strategic attempts of this committee member towards what should have been a fair and just investigation. I request that strict action be taken against the member for using his position in such a manner and that they should be immediately removed from the committee.

"The concern is not limited to the proceedings of this investigation itself as I'm sure that the former President is finding support from this member. This member has been acting against the interest of women from day one. The lack of empathy and insensitivity displayed by this sportsperson was shocking during the proceedings of the committee. I request this matter to be investigated and all necessary actions to be taken immediately," the post added.

It was also recently reported that the Sports Ministry is annoyed with the country's top wrestlers for opting out of multiple international events amid the ongoing stand-off with the Wrestling Federation of India.



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Old Video: CEO Takes Shots From AK-47 To Prove Bulletproof Cars' Security

An old video showing what it's like to be shot at with an AK-47 in a bulletproof Mercedes Benz has resurfaced on social media and left users stunned. The clip was posted on Twitter on Saturday by an account called Interesting Engineering. It showed Texas Armoring Corporation's (TAC) CEO sitting inside a bulletproof Mercedes Benz SUV while it was being shot at by an AK-47. 

"Texan armored vehicle company markets its product in the most Texas way possible," the caption of the post read. The short video showed TAC CEO Trent Kimball sitting alone inside the Mercedes-Benz as 8-10 rounds from an AK-47 rained down upon the SUV.

Watch the video below: 

The clip was first released by the company back in 2014. According to New York Post, the shots were fired by the firm's sales and export compliance manager, Lawrence Kosub, who seemed very familiar with an assault rifle. In the video, all of Mr Kosub's shots hit the windscreen but none of them breached it. 

Coming back to the video, since being shared it has accumulated more than 4.8 million views and hundreds of likes and comments. Internet users were shocked to see how the company's CEO didn't even flinch once during the whole scene. 

"Confidence in one's product," wrote one user. "A lot of confidence must have gone in there...whew," said another. 

Also Read | Chinese University Invents "Kissing Device" That Lets Users Smooch Over The Internet

A third user commented, "Gotta admire a man who stands behind his products 100%". A fourth added, "Now this is a CEO who truly stands behind his product.  Give that man a raise". One user even expressed, "This is both terrifying and very serious. You guys are bosses." 

Meanwhile, according to Fox News, Texas Armoring Corporation is a supplier of bulletproof vehicles based out of San Antonio, US. the company produces a range of armoured passenger vehicles and they can even upgrade a person's current car.



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Showbiz round-up with Delhi Times

Showbiz round-up with Delhi Times




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Eknath Shinde's "Ties With Dawood Ibrahim" Dig At Opposition

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Sunday took a dig at the Opposition for boycotting the customary tea party on the eve of the Budget session of the state legislature, and said it was good that those having ties with terrorist Dawood Ibrahim did not turn up for it.

The budget session of the state legislature, which begins on Monday, will end on March 25. The opposition parties - the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), the Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) and the Congress - boycotted the tea party hosted by the government on Sunday.

Speaking to reporters here later, CM Shinde said, "In a way, it was good that the opposition did not turn for the high tea when some of them have ties with terrorist Dawood Ibrahim. Instead of calling our (Shiv Sena-Bharatiya Janata Party) alliance as anti-Maharashtra, will you not call such people anti-nationals? There are some people in the opposition parties who have had ties with Haseen Parkar, sister of Dawood Ibrahim." Shinde was apparently referring to former state minister and NCP leader Nawab Malik, who is currently in jail following his arrest last year in a money-laundering case linked to the activities of Dawood Ibrahim and his aides.

The chief minister also took a dig at senior NCP leader and former deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar.

"Ajit Pawar is saying that I changed my allegiance (from Uddhav Thackeray to the BJP), but he should not forget that I am still following what late Balasaheb Thackeray taught us. Even the Election Commission's decision to allot us the name Shiv Sena and symbol (of bow and arrow) proves it," Shinde said.

"Unlike Pawar, who on one day took an oath with Devendra Fadnavis (in November 2019) and changed it again within a couple of days. You need not have to be wise to make any random allegations. Pawar is like a fish out of water. Since he is out of power, he is acting in this manner," the CM added.

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



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Saturday 25 February 2023

Jharkhand To Cull Nearly 4,000 Chickens, Ducks Amid Bird Flu Outbreak

The process to cull nearly 4,000 birds, including chickens and ducks, began in Jharkhand's Bokaro district late on Saturday evening after a bird flu outbreak was reported at a state-run poultry farm, an official said.

H5N1, a type of avian influenza virus, was confirmed among a protein-rich breed of chicken, 'Kadaknath', at the farm in the Lohanchal where 800 birds died and 103 had to be culled, he said.

"The process to cull a total of 3,856 birds, including chickens and ducks, began late this evening in the affected area -- 1 km radius of the farm," Institute of Animal Health & Production, Ranchi, director Dr Bipin Bihari Mahtha told PTI.

He said the culling will continue on Sunday as the process is time-consuming.

After birds started to die at the farm on February 2, samples were sent to the National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases in Bhopal for testing and the flu was confirmed, he said.

A process has been started to determine the compensation for the people whose chickens and ducks are being culled, he added.

The district administration has already declared areas within 1 km radius of the farm as the affected zone, while areas within 10 km radius have been declared surveillance zone. It also banned the sale of chicken and ducks in the district.

Additional Chief Secretary (Health) Arun Kumar Singh earlier said the state was on an alert.

A medical team was formed to monitor the border areas of the district, and for the sampling of chickens and ducks at large farms. Besides, it has also been asked to collect samples of people living in the affected zone.

A separate ward has been set up at the Sadar Hospital for people infected with bird flu.

Symptoms of the infection among humans include severe upper back pain, fever, cough, shortness of breath, cold and blood in the sputum, officials said.

The Animal Husbandry Department issued an advisory, urging people to inform it if they see dead birds.

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



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"Congress Could Have Been More Vocal On Bilkis Bano Case": Shashi Tharoor

Senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor on Saturday said the Congress should be absolutely clear in its ideological stance in favour of an inclusive India and pointed out that party could have been more vocal on issues such as the Bilkis Bano outrage and murder in the name of cow vigilantism.

Addressing the 85th plenary session of the party in Raipur, the former Union minister said the Congress should stand up for its foundational principles.

"We should be absolutely clear in our ideological stance in favour of inclusive India. The tendency to downplay some positions or avoid taking a stand on some issues in order not to alienate what we assume to be the sentiments of the majority only plays into the BJP's hands," Mr Tharoor said.

"We must have the courage of our convictions. We could have been more vocal on the Bilkis Bano outrage, attacks on Christian churches, murder in the name of cow vigilantism, bulldozer demolition of Muslim homes and similar issues," he said.

These are Indian citizens who look to the party for support, Mr Tharoor added.

Last year in August, all 11 convicts sentenced to life imprisonment in the 2002 post-Godhra Bilkis Bano gang rape case walked out of the Godhra sub-jail after the Gujarat government allowed their release under its remission policy, triggering outrage from various sections, including the Congress. He asserted that India belongs to all and if the party does not speak up in such cases, it is only surrendering its core responsibility of standing up for India's diversity and pluralism which should be central to the Congress core message.

He said every effort must be made to strengthen the secular foundations of the country.

"The fact is that India's future is bright as long as the Congress fights the good fight," Mr Tharoor said.

He also hailed the Bharat Jodo Yatra, saying it has revived the confidence of the party cadre.

"From here let us send out a message of Congress jodo," Mr Tharoor said.

Speaking on the economic resolution passed on the second day of the three-day plenary, Mr Tharoor said it should outline the elements of a progressive economic agenda that addresses head-on the challenge of unacceptable economic inequality.

"We want economic growth but we must ensure that the fruits of that growth reach the poor and the marginalised. India will not shine until it shines for all," he stressed.

The former minister of state for external affairs and the convenor of the party's sub-group on foreign affairs for the plenary also said policy has long been seen as an are of national consensus.

"There was no Congress foreign policy or BJP foreign policy only Indian foreign policy and Indian national interest. This tradition has sadly been undermined by the (Narendra) Modi government," Mr Tharoor said.

Mr Tharoor also criticised the government, saying it refuses to take the nation into confidence on vital foreign policy issues, including what is happening on the LAC with China.

"It is shocking to hear our foreign minister imply that China is too rich to stand up to. We must demand that Parliament be taken into confidence, that the nation be told what is our thinking about our vital foreign policy interests," he said.

Foreign policy must again return to being a consensual national endeavour with bipartisan agreement and support, he asserted.

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



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Box Office Report: Akshay's Selfiee Earns Rs 2.55 Crore On Opening Day

Akshay Kumar and Emraan Hashmi's new release Selfiee, which hit the theatres on Friday, earned merely Rs 2.55 crore on its opening day, Bollywood trade analyst Taran Adarsh tweeted. Taran Adarsh described the film's opening day collection as "disastrous." Taran Adarsh wrote in his tweet: "Selfiee has a disastrous Day 1... Sends shock waves throughout the industry... One of the lowest starts for a film that has several prominent names attached to it... Fri Rs 255 cr+ India biz."

Read the tweet shared by Taran Adarsh here:

In a separate tweet, Taran Adarsh compared Selfie's opening day collection to that of Pathaan and Shehzada. Both the films released this year. He mentioned that Pathaan, starring Shah Rukh Khan, Deepika Padukone and John Abraham, earned Rs 27.08 crore on its release day. Kartik Aaryan and Kriti Sanon's Shehzada's opening day collection was Rs 2.92 crore.

The film opened to largely underwhelming reviews. In his review for NDTV, film critic Saibal Chatterjee gave the film 2 stars and he wrote: "Script isn't King in Selfiee. It is an unabashed Akshay Kumar show. The star leaves absolutely nothing to chance. He stamps himself on everything that the vapid film has on offer. The narrative (derived from the late Sachy's screenplay) is tweaked and stretched to make space for an actor in search of a hit. But nothing clicks."

Selfiee, directed by Raj Mehta, is based on the 2019 Malayalam film Driving Licence, which featured Prithviraj Sukumaran and Suraj Venjaramoodu in the lead roles. Selfiee also features Nushrratt Bharuccha and Diana Penty.



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Student In US Brutally Thrash Teacher Who Confiscated His Nintendo Switch

In a disturbing event that occurred in the United States, a female staff member of a Florida school was brutally thrashed by a teenage student after she took his Nintendo Switch away.

According to the Fox News story, the violent altercation took place at Matanzas High School in Palm Coast, Florida, on Tuesday. The Flagler County Sheriff's Office reported that a 17-year-old was detained and charged with felony aggravated assault with bodily harm.

According to deputies, he became irate when a female teacher's assistant stole his Nintendo Switch during class.

The disturbing event was captured on tape by the CCTV cameras, and it reveals the 6'6" and 270-pound 17-year-old student pushing the teacher's assistant to the ground before continuing to punch and kick her.

After continuously stomping on the paraprofessional inside Matanzas High School in Palm Coast, the youngster punched the woman many times.

According to The New York Post, several other employees who saw the savage assault ran to rescue the teacher from the violent student, who was then taken to a nearby hospital. She is expected to recover from her injuries.

In another video made public by the Flagler County Sheriff's Office, the assailant is shown being handcuffed inside a Matanzas High School classroom.

"The student stated that he was upset with the victim because she took his Nintendo Switch away during class," police said in a statement.



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Celebs shower b'day wishes for Shahid Kapoor

Shahid Kapoor celebrates his birthday today and the actor who has been getting a lot of accolades for his latest performance in 'Farzi' is being showered with wishes from his fans and industry friends.

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G20 Finance Chiefs Fail To Draw A Consensus Over Russia-Ukraine War

Finance leaders of the world's biggest economies were entangled in differences on Saturday over the war in Ukraine and on resolving the debt burden of distressed developing nations, participants said.

The meeting of finance ministers and central bank chiefs of the Group of 20 (G20), hosted by India, was likely to end later in the day without a joint communique because there was no consensus on how to describe the conflict in Ukraine, delegates said.

The United States and its allies in the Group of Seven (G7) industrial powers have been adamant in demanding the communique squarely condemn Russia for the invasion of its neighbour, which has been opposed by the Russian and Chinese delegations, they said.

"I think there has to be a statement in the communique condemning Russia's war," U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen told Reuters on the sidelines of the meeting. "It's something that I think is absolutely necessary.

"And I think the G7 is certainly united on that, so it's something that I would expect and I think is necessary and appropriate," she said in an interview.

Russia, a member of the G20 but not the G7, refers to its actions in Ukraine as a "special military operation", and avoids calling it an invasion or war.

India is pressing the meeting to avoid using the word "war" in any communique, G20 officials have told Reuters. India, which holds the this year's G20 presidency, has kept a largely neutral stance on the war, declining to blame Russia for the invasion, seeking a diplomatic solution and sharply boosting its purchases of Russian oil.

India and China were among the nations that abstained on Thursday when U.N. voted overwhelmingly to demand Moscow withdraw its troops from Ukraine and stop fighting.

Besides the G7 nations, the G20 bloc also includes such countries as Australia, Brazil and Saudi Arabia.

A senior G20 source said negotiations over the communique were difficult, with Russia and China blocking proposals by Western countries.

The source and several other officials said barring a last-minute surprise, a consensus on the communique was unlikely and that the meeting was likely to end with a statement by the host summarising the discussions.

"In the absence of a consensus, the option for India would be to issue a chair statement," one official said.

India's foreign, finance and information ministries did not immediately respond to requests seeking comment.

DEBT NEGOTIATIONS

On the sidelines, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) held a meeting on Saturday with the World Bank, China, India, Saudi Arabia and the G7 on restructuring debt for distressed economies, but there were disagreements among members, said IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva.

"We just finished a session in which it was clear that there is a commitment to bridge differences for the benefit of countries," Georgieva, who co-chaired the roundtable with Indian Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, told reporters.

Yellen said there were no "deliverables" from the meeting, which was mostly organisational.

Further discussions of the panel are planned around the time of the IMF and World Bank spring meetings in April.

Pressure has been building on China, the world's largest bilateral creditor, and other nations to take a large haircut in loans given to struggling developing nations.

In a video address to the G20 meeting on Friday, Chinese Finance Minister Liu Kun reiterated Beijing's position that the World Bank and other multilateral development banks participate in debt relief by taking haircuts alongside bilateral creditors.

Yellen had said before the debt meeting that she would press all bilateral creditors, including China, to participate in meaningful discussions, adding that debt treatment for Zambia and financing assurances for Sri Lanka were "most urgent".

Zambia owed Beijing nearly $6 billion of a total external debt of $17 billion at the end of 2021, according to government data, while Ghana owes China $1.7 billion, according to the International Institute of Finance, a financial services trade association focussed on emerging markets.

Sri Lanka owed Chinese lenders $7.4 billion - or nearly a fifth of public external debt - by the end of 2022, calculations by the China Africa Research Initiative think tank show.

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



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Old Video: Zookeeper Puts Head Inside Crocodile's Mouth, This Happens Next

A horrific old video has resurfaced online showing the moment a crocodile bit a zookeeper's head before viciously thrashing him side to side. The short clip was shared a few days back by an Instagram page called 'earth.reel'. According to the Express, the incident took place in 2017 at a free crocodile show on the island of Ko Samui, in Thailand.

In the video, a zookeeper is seen kneeling before a crocodile and placing his entire head inside its motionless mouth. The man holds his position for ten seconds before the reptile suddenly snaps down on his head and violently thrashes him around. 

"WARNING! Not for Weak Heart People," the Instagram user wrote in the caption of the post. 

Watch the video below: 

Towards the end of the clip, as the crocodile continues to thrash the man around, shrieks are heard in the background. But fortunately, seconds later he is left on the ground reeling from his injuries while the crocodile slides back into the water. 

According to the Express, the horrifying incident took place around six years back at one of Thailand's famed crocodile shows for a small group of people on the tourist island of Ko Samui. At the time, it was reported that the zookeeper's condition remained unknown. The man was also said to have been "showing off" previous crocodile-related wounds, including a missing finger, to the crowd of six shortly before the performance.

Also Read | Bureaucrat Shares Pic Of Old Indian Coins, Internet Says "Gone Are The Beautiful Era Of 90s"

Meanwhile, on Instagram, the old video has accumulated more than 1,800 likes and over 44,000 views. In the comment section, one user wrote, "If you mess with a wild animals, you have to expect this will probably happen, and it is on you". Another said, "When you play with fire you get burned, when you play Russian roulette you get shot, when you play with alligators or crocodiles you get your a** ate up lol the lesson here has been learned by the idiot and taught by the wild a** professor."

"Some people have to learn the hard way," added third. "Human stupidity is unbelievable!! I can't believe what this guy does!! What the animal does is instinct, what the other animal does is stupidity," expressed fourth. 



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Friday 24 February 2023

I am there to protect Jacqueline: Sukesh

Conman Sukesh Chandrasekhar on Friday was produced before Delhi's Patiala House Court, where he made statements about his alleged girlfriend Jacqueline Fernandez and her involvement in the Rs 200 crore extortion case.

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Rashami Desai shows her beauty in a floral saree

Rashami Desai shows her beauty in a floral saree




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PV Sindhu Parts Ways With Badminton Coach Park Tae Sang

PV Sindhu's coach Park Tae Sang has parted ways with the Indian badminton star. Park joined hands with Sindhu in 2019. Under Park Tae-Sang, Sindhu won three BWF World Tour tiles – the Syed Modi International, Swiss Open and Singapore Open. She also won the women's singles gold medal at the Commonwealth Games 2022 in Birmingham and the bronze medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, and then a gold at the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games. 

Park took responsibility of Sindhu's recent poor form. 

"Hello, it's been a while since I said hello. I came back to Hyderabad a few days ago. And I want to say thank you to everyone who worried about my father. To be honest, my father's condition is not good yet. So I felt heavy walking back to India," Park Tae Sang wrote in an Instagram post.

"And I'd like to talk about my relationship with @pvsindhu1 , which many people have asked about. She has made disappointing moves in all recent matches, and as a coach, I feel responsible. So she wanted a change and said she would find a new coach. I decided to respect and follow her decision. I'm sorry that I can't be with her until the next Olympics, but now I'm going to support her from afar. I will remember every moment with her. I would like to thank everyone who has been supporting and encouraging me."

Two-time Olympic medalist Sindhu recounted her journey to becoming badminton world champion in 2019 and said that she was waiting for the moment for more than five years. Sindhu won the bronze medal in the 2013 and 2014 editions of the World Championships while in 2017 and 2018, the Indian shuttler was defeated in the final on both occasions. However, in 2019, she finally won the tournament after comprehensively defeating Japan's Nozomi Okuhara in the summit clash.

"It's a really big thing. Being a world champion is...it's after Olympics are what I feel. I won it in 2019. For me it was a different memory altogether because I was waiting for it for five years. I had two bronze, two silver and I wanted that gold desperately. It is definitely one of the biggest tournaments out there after Olympics," Sindhu said in an exclusive interview with NDTV.



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5 Interesting factors about Dhruva's 'Martin'

5 Interesting factors to look forward to Dhruva Sarja's 'Martin

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Heartbreaking Video Shows Baby Langur Weeping After Mother's Tragic Death

Indian Forest Service (IFS) officer Susanta Nanda on Friday shared a heartbreaking video of a baby langur weeping while holding on to its dead mother. Sharing the short clip on Twitter, Mr Nanda wrote that the incident took place in Assam. The video showed a golden baby langur sobbing uncontrollably over the lifeless body of its mother after she was killed by a speeding vehicle. 

"This will haunt me for a long long time. A Golden langur was assassinated on the road in Assam. The baby is still in its arm not knowing what has befallen him. I am informed that all steps are being taken to save the baby," Mr Nanda wrote in the caption of the post. 

Watch the video below: 

In the clip, the baby langur is seen weeping, clutching its mother's face and trying to wake her up but to no avail. The two animals are also seen surrounded by several people. 

Internet users were quick to react to the video. While some expressed their condolence over the tragic accident, others expressed anger. 

"This is so sad! Why can't we care for the co-inhabitants of our planet? Poor Baby!" wrote one user. "Can't bear to watch..... hope the baby recovers from the trauma," said another. 

Viral Video| Pakistan University Students Celebrating 'Bollywood Day' Sparks Debate Online

A third user said, "O God! My heart is breaking when I see this accident and the plight of the baby langur. One has to drive carefully keeping other's safety also in mind," while a fourth commented, "Be it be a clear road,it doesn't give the right to anyone to overspeed. Moreover, while we drive, we should always be careful and speed should be moderate."

"Saddest thing!! Brutal! Can't bear to watch. Prayers for the baby to recover from this tragedy," wrote another user. "This is very tragic and heart-wrenching," expressed another. 

Mr Nanda's video has accumulated more than 37,000 views and over 1,500 likes. 



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Thursday 23 February 2023

Rakhi Sawant makes shocking allegations against husband Adil Khan Durrani's family: '....Because I'm a Hindu'

Rakhi Sawant makes shocking allegations against husband Adil Khan Durrani's family: '....Because I'm a Hindu'




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Salman, Sunny: Stars who suffer from bizarre OCD

Salman Khan, Deepika Padukone, Sunny Leone and more Bollywood celebrities suffer from some bizarre Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD).

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At Akshay Kumar's Selfiee Screening, Twinkle's Niece Naomika And Others

Akshay Kumar and Emraan Hashmi's Selfiee is all set to hit the theatres tomorrow. However, ahead of the release, the makers hosted a special screening for their industry friends in Mumbai on Thursday. The usual suspects, the cast of Selfiee, including Diana Penty and Nushrratt Bharuccha, were spotted at a screening. Filmmaker Karan Johar and Twinkle Khanna's niece Naomika Saran were also spotted at a screening. Nushrratt and Diana twinned in black ensembles, while Emraan and Akshay Kumar looked uber-cool in casual outfits. Naomika looked pretty in a black top paired with matching pants. KJo, as usual, arrived in style - a blue co-ord set paired with a black t-shirt and shoes. 

First, take a look at the pictures of Selfiee stars below: 

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Karan Johar's screening OOTD was this: 

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Twinkle Khanna's niece Naomika Saran (daughter of actress' sister Rinke Khanna) arrived with a friend at a screening. Check out the picture below: 

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On Wednesday, Akshay Kumar broke the Guinness World Record for most selfies in just three minutes. It happened during the promotions of Selfiee in Mumbai when Akshay Kumar clicked 184 selfies with his fans. He shared a video on his Instagram handle in which we can see him standing in one position and continuously clicking selfies with his fans. He also shared pictures holding the certificate and wrote a long note. In his note, he revealed that he is paying special tribute to his fans. His note read, "This is my special tribute to them, acknowledging how they have stood by me throughout my career. Everything I have achieved and where I am in life is due to the unconditional love of my fans. This is my special tribute to them, acknowledging how they have stood by me throughout my career. With the help of my fans, we have broken the Guinness World Record for Most Selfies in 3 minutes. Thank you everyone. This was very special and I'll remember this forever. Ab selfies hi selfies hongi (Now, it will all about selfies). See you all in cinemas on Friday." 

Take a look below: 

Helmed by Raj Mehta, Selfiee also stars Tisca Chopra, Abhimanyu Singh, Fahim Fazil and others in pivotal roles. The movie is slated to release on February 24, 2023.



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