Camilla To Wear Queen Elizabeth's Coronation Robe For Ceremony. See Pics

King Charles III's wife Camilla will wear the coronation robes made for Queen Elizabeth II when she is crowned Queen Consort on May 6. On Saturday, Buckingham Palace released new photos of the coronation robes that King Charles and Camilla will wear for the ceremony at Westminster Abbey. 

Following the tradition, King Charles and Camilla will wear two different robes each - the Robes of State and the Robes of Estate. According to The Independent, while Robes of State will be worn on arrival at Westminster Abbey, the Robes of Estate will be worn as the duo leave at the end of the service. 

"A first glimpse before Coronation day," the official account of the Royal Family wrote on Instagram while sharing a series of images of the robes. 

Take a look below: 

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A post shared by The Royal Family (@theroyalfamily)

The pictures show the Royal School of Needlework's embroidery team conserving The King's Robe of State, which will be worn by King Charles upon his arrival at Westminster Abbey, and Camilla's Robe of Estate, which will be worn after she is crowned.

According to The Independent, the King will wear his grandfather George VI's Robes of State and Estate from the 1937 coronation, which are nearly 90 years old and have been conserved and prepared for the occasion. Camilla, on the other hand, will wear the late Queen's crimson Robe of State which was made for Elizabeth II's coronation in 1953, and has been conserved with adjustments. It features a train of 5.5 metres.

Also Read | King Charles' Coronation Will Include Invitation To Public To Swear Allegiance

One brand new Robe of Estate has also been made for the Queen Consort to wear at the ceremony. The new robe has been designed in purple velvet to match the King's. It has been hand embroidered by the Royal School of Needlework. 

The robe pays tribute to the King by incorporating delphiniums - one of his favourite flowers which is also Camilla's birth month flower - and in memory of Elizabeth II includes the late Queen's favourite bloom, lily of the valley. It also features national emblems - the rose, thistle and shamrock. 
 

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Madhuri Dixit's Husband And Paytm CEO Share A Special "Vada Pav Moment" In Mumbai

Vada pav is one of the most beloved Maharashtrian snacks, a wholesome and spicy desi-style burger that's an absolute treat for the taste buds. It's worth noting that Michelin Star chefs have rated vada pav as one of the world's best burgers. Recently, Dr. Shriram Nene, the husband of Madhuri Dixit, was spotted relishing this popular snack with Paytm founder Vijay Shekhar Sharma in Mumbai. Dr. Nene took to Twitter to share a picture of his "vada pav moment" at Swati Snacks, where he enjoyed the dish with tall glasses of juice and a cup of chai. He tweeted, "Our vada pav moment at #swatisnack. The company made the experience unforgettable." Vijay Shekhar Sharma quote-tweeted his post, saying, "I call it the 'poor man's' vada-pao moment." Take a look:

I call it “poor men”'s vada-pao moment ???? https://t.co/zWppXK73CE

— Vijay Shekhar Sharma (@vijayshekhar) April 30, 2023

The photo has quickly grabbed the attention of foodies everywhere. In reference to Madhuri Dixit's previous vada pav binge session with Tim Cook at the same cafe, one user wrote, "The Nene-Dixit duo should be appointed Global Vada Pav ambassadors, which would give a big boost to domestic and international tourism.

Also Read: Madhuri Dixit Enjoys Vada Pav With Apple CEO Tim Cook In Mumbai - See Pic

Nene-Dixit duo should be appointed Global Vada Pav ambassadors @MadhuriDixit . Big boost to domestic and international tourism.

— Vikas Goel (@vikaspgoel) April 30, 2023

"One user was curious about the beverages being served, asking, 'Are those glasses filled with sugar cane juice or lassi?"

????....with sugar cane juice or lassi in the glasses???

— KS (@Kusumsarup) April 30, 2023

"A user put a spin on the popular saying "an apple a day keeps the doctor away" and wrote, ''Is it the doctor's way to recommend one vada pav a day?''

One Vada Pav a day, is it the Doctor's way? ????

— Rajiv Pal Satirism (@coolrajivpal) April 30, 2023

Earlier this year, Madhuri Dixit took Apple CEO Tim Cook to a special vada pav treat in Mumbai. Cook was in India to launch the company's first-ever retail stores in Mumbai and Delhi. In the picture, Dixit and Cook are sharing a candid moment as they enjoy vada pav, with a plate of green and tamarind dips visible in the background. Sharing the photo on Twitter, the actress wrote, ''Can't think of a better welcome to Mumbai than Vada Pav!'' Cook replied with a note of appreciation, writing, ''Thanks, @madhuridixit, for introducing me to my very first Vada Pav — it was delicious!''

Also Read: Shriram Nene, Madhuri Dixit's Husband, Gives Culinary Lessons To Son

Thanks @madhuridixit for introducing me to my very first Vada Pav — it was delicious! https://t.co/Th40jqAEGa

— Tim Cook (@tim_cook) April 17, 2023

Are you craving vada pav too? We have a list of recipes that will help you amp up your tea time. Click here. 

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Viral Picture Of Padlock On Grave Not From Pak: A Fact Check

A fact-check has indicated that an agency report about parents putting padlocks on graves of their daughters in Pakistan to save them from a rising spate of necrophilia was incorrect. Many news sites, including NDTV, ran the report of news agency ANI that has been fact-checked by AltNews. NDTV had sent a mail to ANI late this evening. A response is awaited.

The report of ANI was based on Daily Times article, and a viral tweet by Harris Sultan, an ex-Muslim atheist activist and the author of the book "The Curse of God, why I left Islam".

In the tweet, he had shared photos of a padlocked grave and accused Pakistan of creating a "sexually frustrated society", where "people are now putting padlocks on the graves of their daughters to prevent them from getting raped".

AltNews fact checker Mohammed Zubair tweeted that the photograph in question, showing a green painted  grille, was from Hyderabad. The reason grilles are used is to stop people from burying bodies over the old graves without permission, he tweeted quoting locals.

The grave was that of an old woman, whose son had installed the grille. It was also meant to stop people from stepping on the grave since it was near a doorway, he tweeted.

Alt News contacted a social worker named Abdul Jaleel who is a resident of Hyderabad. On being requested by us, he visited the spot and provided us with photographs of the grave in question. pic.twitter.com/I6DYRWj8vU

— Mohammed Zubair (@zoo_bear) April 30, 2023

This issue was discussed among the Masjid committee members for eight days. Explaining the reason behind the grille, he added, "A lot of people come here and bury bodies over the old graves without permission....

— Mohammed Zubair (@zoo_bear) April 30, 2023

Alt News also spoke to a local resident whose house is near the mosque. He informed us that the grave belonged to an aged woman who had passed away in her seventies. Her son constructed the grille over the grave about 40 days after she had been buried.

— Mohammed Zubair (@zoo_bear) April 30, 2023

After the fact-check by AltNews, Harris Sultan said he was deleting his earlier tweet.

Thank you, @zoo_bear, for getting to the bottom of this. While this is not an excuse and I must apologize for the source of my initial information, which was from @SanamBalochfans.

The reason why it was believable is that necrophilia has become a serious issue in Pakistan. It is… https://t.co/1yEm5nSlB5 pic.twitter.com/euL6mei3Np

— Harris Sultan (@TheHarrisSultan) April 30, 2023

The ANI report mentioned that women's bodies were said to have been unearthed and desecrated on several occasions. A necrophilia case was reported in Pakistan in 2011 when a grave keeper named Muhammad Rizwan from North Nazimabad, Karachi was arrested after he confessed to raping 48 female corpses.

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UK's Rishi Sunak To Recite Bible Verse At King Charles' Coronation

Rishi Sunak will read from the biblical book of Colossians at the Coronation of King Charles III in keeping with the recent tradition of British Prime Ministers giving readings at State occasions, the office of the Archbishop of Canterbury revealed as part of the official Liturgy for the religious ceremony at Westminster Abbey here on May 6.

Rishi Sunak, Britain's first Prime Minister of Indian heritage and a practicing Hindu, reading from a biblical book will resonate with the multi-faith theme being struck for the Christian ceremony.

Lambeth Palace, the office of the Archbishop of Canterbury - Reverend Justin Welby, said that members of other faith traditions will play an active role in the service for the first time.

"The Archbishop of Canterbury has selected a new Epistle for this Coronation, which will be Colossians 1:9-17. This passage has been chosen to reflect the theme of service to others, and the loving rule of Christ over all people and all things, which runs through this Coronation Liturgy," Lambeth Palace said.

"Following recent tradition of British Prime Ministers giving readings at State occasions - as Head of the host Nation's government - this will be read by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak," it said.

By longstanding tradition, the Archbishop of Canterbury authorises a new Liturgy - or the form according to which a public religious worship takes place - for every Coronation. The three oaths the King at the heart of the service remain unchanged, including the promise to maintain "the Protestant Reformed Religion".

The overall theme of the Liturgy is "Called to Serve", which is intended to reflect the commitment that the King will make to serve God and the people of the United Kingdom.

"I am delighted that the service will recognise and celebrate tradition, speaking to the great history of our nation, our customs, and those who came before us. At the same time, the service contains new elements that reflect the diversity of our contemporary society," said Welby.

His office said the service has been designed to reflect the changes in the UK since Charles' mother Queen Elizabeth II's Coronation in 1953, the character of Britain as it is today, and the Church of England's role in contemporary society. As one of the newer elements, the 74-year-old monarch will pray aloud in the Abbey using words specially written for the occasion that reflect the "duty and privilege of the Sovereign to serve all communities".

Lambeth Palace confirmed that the Presentation of the Regalia will be made by Members of the House of Lords and for the first time, some of the items which have no Christian meaning or symbolism will be presented by peers who belong to different faith traditions: Judaism, Islam, Hinduism and Sikhism.

Buckingham Palace had previously confirmed that Lord Narendra Babubhai Patel, 84, will represent the Hindu faith and hand over the Sovereign's Ring to Charles. While Lord Indrajit Singh, 90, will represent the Sikh faith and present the Coronation Glove, Lord Syed Kamall, 56, of Indo-Guyanese heritage, will represent the Muslim faith and present the Armills or a pair of bracelets.

"At the end of the procession at the close of the service, before His Majesty proceeds to the Gold State Coach, the King will receive and acknowledge a spoken greeting delivered in unison by Representatives from Jewish, Hindu, Sikh, Muslim and Buddhist communities," Lambeth Palace said.

The thousands congregated at the Abbey and millions expected to be watching on screens as the ceremony is telecast live will be invited to say the words: "I swear that I will pay true allegiance to Your Majesty, and to your heirs and successors according to law - so help me God".

The five elements of the historic "English Coronation Rite" will take place in their traditional order: The Recognition; The Oath; The Anointing; The Investiture and Crowning; and The Enthronement and Homage.

These elements will take place within the traditional structure of a service of Holy Communion, including prayers and Bible readings, and King Charles and Queen Camilla will receive Holy Communion during the service.

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

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"India Tries To Ensure Ties Across The World, Except With...": S Jaishankar

Foreign minister S Jaishankar has said each of India's engagements has its own particular weight and focus, be it with United States, Europe, Russia or Japan, India is trying to ensure that all ties advance without seeking exclusivity. China, however, falls into a different category, Mr Jaishankar said in his address at the MIREX, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Dominican Republic, where he was on a visit from April 27 to 29.

At the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Dominican Republic, Mr Jaishankar said: "For the first time in 2015, Prime Minister Narendra Modi articulated a comprehensive view that spanned the entirety of the Indian Ocean and its Islands. These subsequently became the building blocks for the Indo-Pacific vision that emerged thereafter. To the north, India has been similarly pursuing a strategy of connecting to Central Asia more effectively and this has taken the form of structured engagements across multiple domains".

"These concentric circles of priority give you a conceptual sense of Indian diplomacy and one that we have pursued very assiduously over the last decade. But at a higher level, we are also practising the approach of engaging all significant centres of power, such multi-alignment reflects the reality of multi-polarity," he added.

Mr Jaishankar said each engagement has its own particular weight and focus.

"Whether it is the United States, Europe, Russia or Japan, we are trying to ensure that all ties, all these ties advance without seeking exclusivity," Jaishankar said without mentioning China.

But further, Mr Jaishankar added, "China falls into a somewhat different category because of the boundary dispute and the currently abnormal nature of our ties".

Making India's stand clear about China's activities at the Line of Actual Control, Mr Jaishankar said that is "an outcome of a violation of agreements regarding border management by them".

"The rise of China and India in a parallel time frame is also not without its competitive aspects," he added.

The minister said India's most pressing priorities are obviously in its neighbourhood. Given India's size and economic strength, it is very much for the collective benefit that India takes a generous and non-reciprocal approach to cooperation with smaller neighbours.

"And that's exactly what we have done in the last decade under Prime Minister Modi and this in our region has come to be known as the Neighborhood First Policy," Mr Jaishankar said.

India has seen a dramatic expansion in connectivity, contacts, in cooperation across the region.

"The exception to this of course is Pakistan in view of the cross-border terrorism that it supports. But whether it is the Covid challenge or more recent debt pressures, India has always stepped up for its neighbours," Mr Jaishankar said.

India has extended more than USD 4 billion of notable economic support to Sri Lanka.

"Beyond South Asia, India is developing the concept of extended neighbourhoods, extended neighbourhoods in all directions, with the ASEAN this has taken the form of what we call the Act East Policy, which has opened up a pathway to a deeper engagement with the Indo-Pacific that is being pursued amongst others, through a mechanism called the Quad," Mr Jaishankar said on the expansion of India's ties.

He also said towards the West, there has been a perceptible "intensification" of India's relationship with the Gulf and the Middle East. One reflection of that is a new grouping called I2U2, comprising India, Israel, UAE and the USA. These two regions on either side have emerged as major trade and investment hubs for India, he added.

About 8 million Indians live and work in the Gulf but the relationship is much more than economic, it encompasses security, technology and strong people-to-people ties. To the South, the outlook that shapes India's thinking goes by the acronym of SAGAR, which is an Indian word for oceans.

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PM Modi's 100th Mann Ki Baat Address Today To Go Global, Live: 10 Points

1. Mann Ki Baat was first aired on October 3, 2014, the year the BJP came to power after the United Progressive Alliance's 10-year rule, and PM Modi took charge. The radio talk is broadcast every month.
2. BJP-ruled states have made elaborate arrangements to celebrate the 100th episode of Mann Ki Baat. The party will telecast the Prime Minister's radio address at their offices and booths.
3. 3. The Tourism Ministry has announced "100 days of action" to mark the 100th episode of Mann Ki Baat. The activities include a design challenge for entrepreneurs to develop substitutes for single-use plastic items.
4. The BJP tweeted where all people can watch tomorrow's "historic" Mann Ki Baat. "Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Mann Ki Baat is going global and hitting the century tomorrow. Don't forget to become witness to this historic airing as the PM directly connects with people all across the world," the party said.
5. The Indian High Commission in London will also host a special screening of the 100th episode of Mann Ki Baat
6.  Union Minister of Science and Technology Jitendra Singh said Mann Ki Baat is an iconic feature in itself. "I think, it's for the first time in the history of our memory that any head of government had chosen to address citizens regularly month after month without break," Mr Singh told news agency ANI.
7. The Mann Ki Baat radio address has transformed into an "inspirational platform" encouraging sustainable progress on themes that are core to India's efforts towards achieving sustainable development goals, a study supported by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation said, news agency PTI reported.
8. PM Modi's Mann Ki Baat highlights government and citizen action in priority areas and in turn encourages listeners to establish or participate in change-making initiatives in their own communities, with the aim to have a lasting and sustainable impact on the lives of people and the country.
9. The radio programme emphasises the role of start-ups and small businesses in achieving a self-reliant India. It encourages people of all ages to take action to promote social and environmental causes that matter most to them.
10. Home Minister Amit Shah, who attended an event on Mann Ki Baat on Wednesday, said it is a unique experiment that has strengthened the foundation of democracy in India. The event also marked the release of a stamp and coin commemorating 100 episodes of Mann Ki Baat.

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Zerodha's Nithin Kamath Reveals How He Built His Company From Scratch

Zerodha CEO Nithin Kamath on Friday took to Twitter to share his journey of how a successful business can be built without the help of too many external factors. 

Mr Kamath recently received the "Entrepreneur of the Year" award from the Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. Later, he took to Twitter to share how he built his company Zerodha, that too without following the norm. 

"No Business Background. No Pedigree education across the team. No VC/PE. No Advertising spending. No Spamming customer. @zerodhaonline is an example that a successful business can be built by not following the norm, by average folks with common sense wanting to solve a problem," Mr Kamath wrote on Twitter.

Take a look below: 

No Business Background
No Pedigree education across the team
No VC/PE
No Advertising spending
No Spamming customer@zerodhaonline is an example that a successful business can be built by not following the norm, by average folks with common sense wanting to solve a problem. pic.twitter.com/lM9PA50n9a

— Nithin Kamath (@Nithin0dha) April 28, 2023

Mr Kamath's brother Nikhil Kamath congratulated him on winning the "Entrepreneur of the Year" award. "Congratulations brother, u deserve this and so much more," he wrote on Twitter.

Ankur Warikoo, a Youtuber and influencer, also extended greetings to Nithin Kamath for receiving the award. He stated that Zerodha's success is critical because it will show the world how this model too can win. 

"I often say this - Zerodha's success is critical because it will show the world how this model too can win. And should win. Congratulations to the entire team," he tweeted. 

Also Read | Jack Dorsey Criticises Elon Musk, Says He Should've Walked Away From Twitter Deal

Sunil Minglani, a stock market psychologist, also said, "Education is overrated, Integrity is underrated. Congrats Nithin". 

"Absolutely agree! It's inspiring to see businesses succeed without conforming to traditional norms. @zerodhaonline is a testament to the power of creativity, determination, and problem-solving. Proof that with hard work, anything is possible," Jayjit Biswas, Founder of Elite Web3Forum tweeted. 

Notably, earlier this year. Nithin and Nikhil Kamath, co-founders of Zerodha, officially joined the Forbes World's Billionaires List for 2023. The CEO of India's largest stockbroking company, Nithin Kamath, ranked 1104 and has an estimated net worth of $2.7 billion. Meanwhile, Nikhil Kamath, Chief Financial Officer of the company, who also owns the financial management company True Beacon, is ranked 2405 on the list with a net worth of $1.1 billion.
 

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Union Minister Faces Police Case Over "Ravan" Jibe Against Ashok Gehot

A first information report (FIR) has been filed against Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat for his comment on Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, which a local Congress leader said was derogatory.

Mr Shekhawat, during a BJP "mahaakrosh sabha" event in Chittorgarh on Thursday, had called Mr Gehlot "Ravan of politics", saying people should throw this government out in the upcoming assembly elections.

"If you want to end (the rule of) Ashok Gehlot, this Ravan of politics in Rajasthan, raise your hands and resolve to establish Ram Rajya in the state," the Union Minister had said.

Mr Gehlot and Mr Shekhawat have been at loggerheads over the Sanjivani Credit Cooperative Society scam.

Mr Gehlot has publicly accused Mr Shekhawat of being involved in the scam.

Mr Shekhawat has also filed a defamation case against Mr Gehlot in a Delhi court for linking him with the scam, which is being investigated by the Rajasthan Police. The investigators have said Sanjivani Credit Cooperative Society allegedly embezzled the earnings of lakhs of people in Rajasthan.

The local Congress leader, Surendra Singh Jadawat, filed the FIR with a police station in Chittor under several sections of the Indian Penal Code.

The Jodhpur bench of the Rajasthan High Court had paused Mr Shekhawat's arrest in connection with the scam recently.

Yesterday, the high court also took on record the clarification by the Ashok Gehlot government on calling Mr Shekhawat an accused in the case.

Responding to the Union Minister's jibe, Mr Gehlot yesterday said the Union Minister's friends are in jail in connection with the scam and Mr Shekhawat, too, is likely to go to prison. Mr Gehlot has asked the centre to sack him from the Union cabinet.

"If I am Ravan, you become Ram and return the investors' money," Mr Gehlot said.

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Watch: PM Modi And Some BTS Moments From His Radio Show Mann Ki Baat

The 100th episode of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Mann Ki Baat will air this Sunday. Ahead of the milestone, a video shows what goes behind recording the popular monthly radio programme.

In the video, PM Modi is seen walking into a building, from where Mann Ki Baat is broadcast, and interacting with the staff there. PM Modi then enters a room to start the 30-minute programme, which was launched in 2014.

The first episode of the Prime Minister's Mann Ki Baat aired on October 3, 2014. Now, the 100th episode is scheduled to be broadcast tomorrow at 11 am. This time, the PM's address will also be broadcast live at the United Nations headquarters in New York.

The episode will be broadcast on more than 1,000 radio stations including TV channels, private radio stations, and community radios.

“Get ready for a historic moment as the 100th episode of PM Modi's "Mann Ki Baat" is set to go live on April 30th in Trusteeship Council Chamber at @UN HQ!” the Permanent Mission of India to the UN said in a tweet.

“Mann Ki Baat has become a monthly national tradition, inspiring millions to participate in India's developmental journey,” the Permanent Mission added.

Get ready for a historic moment ???? as the 100th episode of PM Modi's "Mann Ki Baat"????️ is set to go live on April 30th in Trusteeship Council Chamber at @UN HQ!

???? #MannKiBaat has become a monthly national tradition, inspiring millions to participate in ????????'s developmental journey pic.twitter.com/6ji4t1flmu

— India at UN, NY (@IndiaUNNewYork) April 28, 2023

Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates, in a tweet, congratulated PM Modi on achieving the milestone. He wrote, “Mann ki Baat has catalyzed community-led action on sanitation, health, women's economic empowerment and other issues linked to the Sustainable Development Goals. Congratulations @narendramodi on the 100th episode.''

Mann Ki Baar is broadcast on the last Sunday of every month on the All Indian Radio (AIR) and Doordarshan (DD) network. In the programme, the PM addresses the nation and speaks on different issues such as environment, weather, social issues, and examinations.

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Watch: Babar Azam's Reaction After Successful Review Sparks Meme Fest

Daryl Mitchell hit a second successive century while Tom Latham missed a ton by two runs as New Zealand piled up 336-5 in the second one-day international against Pakistan in Rawalpindi on Saturday. The stylish one-drop batter improved on his 113 in the first ODI on Thursday with 129 for 119 balls, and was ably supported by Latham (98) and Chad Bowes (51) after New Zealand were sent in to bat by Pakistan. Mitchell smashed three sixes and eight boundaries and consolidated the innings through a third-wicket stand of 183 with skipper Latham, as the pair took full advantage of a flat pitch.

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A post shared by Pakistan Cricket (@therealpcb)

Mitchell was finally caught brilliantly by Mohammad Nawaz off pacer Naseem Shah in the 46th over, while Latham was caught behind off Haris Rauf an over later.

pic.twitter.com/SCV1yaoW3s

— Royals Cricket 🇮🇳 (@ImHimanshu_Raj) April 29, 2023

It was Naseem who gave Mitchell an extra life four short of his hundred when he dropped a simple catch off spinner Usama Mir at mid-on.

Haris rauf to babar-- bhai Aaj to Ghar mein party hai .aata leke aaya hai tera bhai dinbhar line mein lagke

— Prakhar Tiwari (@Prakhar12500879) April 29, 2023

That allowed Mitchell to complete his hundred off 102 balls -- his third in his ODI career.

Latham knocked eight boundaries and a six off 85 balls.

Bowes and Will Young gave New Zealand a 33-run start before pacer Rauf had Young caught behind for 19 in the sixth over.

Bowes, who hit seven boundaries in his maiden ODI half century, steadied the innings with Mitchell as the pair added 86 for the second wicket.

It was Rauf again who broke the stand when he trapped Bowes leg before wicket in the 19th over.

Rauf was the pick of bowlers with 4-78. 

Pakistan lead the five-match series 1-0 after winning the first match by five wickets, also in Rawalpindi.

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

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"It All Went South": Jack Dorsey Criticises Musk Over Twitter Leadership

Almost a year after stating that Elon Musk is the "singular solution" he trusts to run Twitter, Jack Dorsey seems to have changed his stance on Mr Musk's leadership of the microblogging website. On Friday, the former CEO of Twitter issued his sharpest criticism yet of Mr Musk's leadership of Twitter, saying that the tech billionaire has not proved to be the platform's ideal steward and should have walked away from buying the site. 

Mr Dorsey criticised Mr Musk in a series of reply posts on the social network Bluesky, a potential Twitter rival that Mr Dorsey helped to start. According to The Washinton Post, he responded to a question from a Bluesky user regarding whether he felt that Mr Musk proved the "best possible steward". 

"No. Nor do I think he acted right after realizing his timing was bad. Nor do I think the board should have forced the sale. It all went south. But it happened and all we can do now is build something to avoid that ever happening again. So I'm happy Jay and team and nostr devs exist and building it," Mr Dorsey said. 

Also Read | Curvy Mermaid Statue In Southern Italy Sparks Outrage For Being "Provocative"

According to Fortune, in another post, Mr Dorsey also stated that Mr Musk should have walked away by paying 1 billion dollars to the board. "If Elon or anyone wanted to buy the company, all they had to do was name a price that the board felt was better than what the company could do independently. This is true for every public company. Was I optimistic? Yes. Did I have final say? No. I think he should have walked away and paid the $1b," he stated. 

Further, responding to a post in which a user said, "It's pretty sad how it all went down," Mr Dorsey replied simply: "Yes". 

Notably, it was not long ago when Mr Dorsey had said that if Twitter had to be a company at all, "Elon is the singular solution I trust".

"In principle, I don't believe anyone should own or run Twitter. It wants to be a public good at a protocol level, not a company. Solving for the problem of it being a company however, Elon is the singular solution I trust. I trust his mission to extend the light of consciousness," he tweeted in 2022 before Mr Musk's Twitter acquisition had come to fruition. 

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Vikram Speaks Up On Putting Craft Above All While Filming Ponniyin Selvan

Each character in Ponniyin Selvan is a hero and the actors playing these roles are huge stars but they made a decision to put craft above their on-screen personas, says superstar Vikram. The Mani Ratnam-directed two-part magnum opus, boasts of some of the biggest names from the Indian entertainment industry, including Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Jayam Ravi, Karthi and Trisha.

"When you go to a set, you have your aura, big or small hero, and everybody responds to you that way, unless you are a new face. So, the way you are treated you take that for granted.

"But when you have a film like this, everybody here is a hero or heroine. Then there is Mani sir, who is the master craftsman, (so) when we went there, we all forgot that image," the actor told PTI in an interview here.

The film is a cinematic retelling of Kalki Krishnamurthy's 1955 novels and chronicles the early days of Chola empire.

For his role as crown prince Aditha Karikalan in the movie, Vikram said he "read and read" the script and "imbibed a lot from it".

"But when I went there, he (Ratnam) said, ‘I want you to feel like this person, like you are angry, unpredictable, try doing that but let's not get into drama zone, keep it down, try to be real'. So, after a point, I became the character," the actor said.

The two-part Ponniyin Selvan gave Vikram an opportunity to closely observe all his co-stars. He was particularly impressed by Ravi and Karthi's acting styles.

"He (Ravi) is the most mischievous guy and has done feisty roles. He is a mass hero. I was like, 'how is he going to be (Rajaraja Chola) because that guy is very different'. I wanted to know what he (Ravi) does. I was surprised.

"Karthi does so much homework, he reads a lot. I see his choice of films and I realise that it all helps him. He is able to grasp stories that are evocative, stories that engross you,” he said.

Ponniyin Selvan has been one of the biggest releases from Tamil industry, and the 57-year-old South star emphasised that audiences are now keen to see films that can transcend boundaries.

According to Vikram, subtitles have contributed to the wide popularity and commercial success of regional films.

"A film that stinks of nativity, and has something to do with one portion of India, will still work because emotions are always the same. People, after the pandemic, are open to watching subtitle films. Like, now, they are not just watching our films, they are watching Korean, German, French films contrary to what happened before," Vikram said.

"Now, content becomes the hero more than anything else... I don't think there is going to be pan-India or regional (film), whatever film is good, it will work. Kantara was a very small film... It is so immersed in culture but it is being celebrated because it is more to do with the story," he added.

The Chennai-born actor hailed 2016 Marathi romance-drama Sairat, helmed by Nagraj Manjule and Ajay Devgn-starrer 2020 blockbuster Tanhaji: The Unsung Warrior, which celebrated the contribution of a Maratha warrior Tanaji Malusare.

Vikram revealed he was offered Om Raut-directed historical action drama when the director was making the movie in Marathi language.

"Om had approached me (for Tanhaji) . I wanted to do it but I don't know the language (Marathi). There was a time when he made it into Hindi. But it is a subject which is more Marathi than Hindi, but it was celebrated,” he said, adding, he was fascinated with the love story of Sairat.

Ponniyin Selvan II released in theatres worldwide on Friday in Tamil along with the dubbed versions in Hindi, Kannada, Telugu and Malayalam. 

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

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Woman With 27 Gold Bars Enters India. She Smuggled Them For Rs 2,000

A woman trying to smuggle 27 gold bars from Bangladesh was arrested by the Border Security Force (BSF) on Thursday in West Bengal's North 24 Parganas district. The seized gold bars weigh over 2 kg and are worth nearly Rs 1.29 crore.

The smuggler, identified as Manika Dhar, 34, had hidden 27 different types of gold bars in a cloth and tied it around her waist. She belongs to the Chittagong district of Bangladesh.

Women personnel of the BSF deployed at the Indian check post received information that a Bangladeshi smuggler was about to cross the border with gold. Upon arrival, the Mahila jawans stopped and searched the suspect and found the gold biscuits concealed in her clothes.

During interrogation, the smuggler admitted that she had been instructed to deliver the gold bars to an unknown person in West Bengal's Barasat. She also admitted that this was her first time smuggling gold and that she was going to receive Rs. 2,000 for the task.

The smuggler and the seized gold bars were subsequently handed over to Custom Office Petrapole for further legal action.

A spokesperson for the South Bengal Frontier, BSF commended the vigilance of the jawans and expressed satisfaction on their success in intercepting smugglers.

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Mush Alert: Katrina Kaif Shares Adorable Picture Of Husband Vicky Kaushal

How could a mundane Friday look like? Katrina Kaif surely knows how to lit the day! The Tiger Zinda Hai actor took to the Instagram story on Friday to post a smiling picture of her husband Vicky Kaushal. Vicky has donned a beige-coloured shirt in the frame and sported a beard look. The actor is relaxing in the backdrop of the green background. Shunning words, Katrina just posted a heart emoji on the picture. Katrina also posted a couple of pictures of herself. Whether Vicky took those pictures or not, fans are left wondering.

Vicky and Katrina tied the knot on December 9, 2021, at Six Senses Fort Barwara, Rajasthan.

The couple hosted grand wedding celebrations at Six Senses Fort Barwara, Rajasthan from December 7-9, 2021. The ceremonies included Mehendi, Haldi, sangeet, and the final wedding ceremony.

On the work front, Katrina was recently seen in the horror comedy film Phone Bhoot alongside Ishaan Khatter and Siddhant Chaturvedi which got decent responses from the audience.

She will be next seen in an action thriller film Tiger 3 opposite Salman Khan and in Merry Christmas alongside south actor Vijay Sethupathi.

Vicky Kaushal will be seen in Laxman Utekar's next untitled film and Megna Gulzar's Sam Bahadur.

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"Hard Work Has Paid Off," Says Gangubai Kathiawadi Director After Big Win

Director and producer Sanjay Leela Bhansali's film Gangubai Kathiawadi starring Alia Bhatt in the lead role bagged a whopping 10 trophies at the 68th Filmfare award on Thursday.

Reacting to the film's big wins, Bhansali said, "It's a great moment for us. It's a great day for us and I feel all our hard work has finally paid off. It's a film we believed in and I'm very happy I made the film. I'm very happy Alia acted in the film and Ajay Devgn and all the other great actors who have acted in the film and all the technicians...it's a very happy moment for all of us. We have worked all through the lockdown and COVID so it's always special."

Take a look at the list of awards won by Gangubai Kathiawadi:

Best Film: Gangubai Kathiawadi

Best Actor in a Leading Role (Female): Alia Bhatt for Gangubai Kathiawadi

Best Director: Sanjay Leela Bhansali for Gangubai Kathiawadi

Best Dialogue: Prakash Kapadia and Utkarshini Vashishtha for Gangubai Kathiawadi

RD Burman Award for Upcoming Music Talent: Jahnvi Shrimankar for Dholida from Gangubai Kathiawadi

Best Costume Design: Sheetal Sharma for Gangubai Kathiawadi

Best Production Design: Subrata Chakraborty and Amit Ray for Gangubai Kathiawadi

Best Background Score: Sanchit Balhara and Ankit Balhara for Gangubai Kathiawadi

Best Choreography: Kruti Mahesh for Dholida from Gangubai Kathiawadi

Best Cinematography: Sudeep Chatterjee for Gangubai Kathiawadi

After premiering at the 72nd Berlin International Film Festival last year, Bhansali's Gangubai Kathiawadi went on to become the first bonafide Hindi-language blockbuster in 2022.

The film grossed Rs 153.69 core at the domestic box office and Rs 209.77 crore globally.

Meanwhile, Bhansali is currently working on his upcoming web series Heeramandi which stars Manisha Koirala, Sonakshi Sinha, Aditi Rao Hydari, Richa Chadha, Sharmin Segal, and Sanjeeda Sheikh in the lead roles.

The series will premiere exclusively on the OTT platform Netflix.

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

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"Husband Day Care Centre" - Danish Cafe's Sign Board Goes Viral, Anand Mahindra Reacts

The Internet never fails to make us smile due to unexpected reasons. Thanks to the power of social media, we get an inside glimpse into small corners of the world. What we discover can make us think and laugh as well! A recent Tweet by Anand Mahindra made us do just that. In the Tweet, the industrialist posted a picture of a cafe in Denmark openly advertising itself as a "Husband Day Care Centre." Sounds intriguing, doesn't it? But what was the rationale behind such a sign board and why was Mahindra left impressed? Seems like the people behind the cafe really thought things through...
Also Read: Former Chef's Tweet On Weight Loss Secrets Strikes A Chord With Twitter Users

In the picture, the entire signboard is visible. The text on it reads: "Need time for yourself? Need time to relax? Want to go shopping? Leave your husband with us! We look after him for you! You only pay for his drinks!" The cafe's Instagram handle is also mentioned. In the caption, Mahindra wrote, "Innovation is not just creating new products. It's also about creating entirely new use cases for an existing product category! Brilliant." Check it out here:

Innovation is not just creating new products. It's also about creating entirely new use-cases for an existing product category! Brilliant. 😊 pic.twitter.com/8rDMI91riJ

— anand mahindra (@anandmahindra) April 28, 2023

Also Read: Costly Meal At 5-Star Restaurant Angers Food Blogger. Internet Reacts To Tweet
The tweet has received 223.9K views so far. Many users were amused by the idea. Some were impressed by the ingenuity of such a label. Others made a few jokes and witty comments. "It's win-win for both husband and wife," wrote one Twitter user. Another said, "Ha ha.. what innovative marketing, sir." Check out some of the reactions below.

Innovation in service industry & other industries with creative approach is the key to enhance business profitability & its continuous process.. those accepts it florish other struggle & vanish..

— Nitin Tayade Khandvikar 🇮🇳 (@TayadeG) April 28, 2023

Absolutely agree! Innovation isn't limited to inventing something entirely new; it can also involve finding new ways to use existing products.

— efiletax (@efile_tax) April 28, 2023

They don't need a day care Center. They are better at home without anyone. It's not just innovation. It's innovation to the peaks. Smart way of presenting things😃😃😃

— Arvind Raghava (@ArvindRaghava5) April 28, 2023

where are we heading as a society & as a humanity 🙏🏻🙄😁

— Swaroop D (@swaroopspaces) April 28, 2023

Real innovative idea

— krishnasamivenkatesa (@kriselvan) April 28, 2023

It's a win-win-win situation!

— Rajesh Punjabi (@R113) April 28, 2023

pic.twitter.com/u87FCqeiKf

— Shruti Mishra (@MarketerShruti) April 28, 2023

What did you think of the idea? Let us know in the comments below.
Also Read: Blogger Found "Biggest Butter Naan" On Delhi Streets. Internet Calls It "Biggest Sweaty Naan"

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Bravo Explains Why Dhoni Doesn't Promote Himself In Batting Order

Into his 16th season of the Indian Premier League (IPL), MS Dhoni has looked far from finished. The wicket-keeper batter has not just led Chennai Super King (CSK) brilliantly but also produced cameos with the bat that left fans feeling nostalgic. Though Dhoni's cameos have been mesmerising, many fans and experts wonder what would it take for the 'Thala' to promote himself in the batting order for CSK this season. Dwayne Bravo, who has played with Dhoni in the Super Kings team for years, shed light on the matter, explaining why the skipper won't promote himself.

"That is the position he has to bat. Everyone is batting higher than him and he takes that responsibility and ownership upon himself to bat lower down the order because the likes of Jadeja, Rayudu, and Dube, he wants to give these guys as many opportunities as possible. He is happy to just play the finishing role," Bravo had said in a press conference.

Chennai sit top of the IPL 2023 standings with 5 wins in 7 matches. Rajasthan, on the other hand, are placed 3rd in the points table with 4 wins in 7 matches. Bravo is confident of the morale in the CSK dressing room and the team's ability to keep the momentum going.

"The CSK morale is very high, and that has nothing to do with the results. We are a team that is normally very level irrespective of whether we perform well or not.

"But it is always better when we are doing well. So far, we have started the season on a positive note and we just have to keep the momentum and keep winning cricket games. Tomorrow's game against RR is going to be a very hard game," he said.

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Wrestlers' Request In Supreme Court Today: 10 Points

1. The wrestlers had moved the Supreme Court for an urgent hearing into their request seeking a case against Wrestling Federation of India chief and BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh. The Supreme Court had issued a notice to Delhi Police on the wrestlers' request alleging no case was registered on their charges.
2. "There are serious allegations made in the petition by wrestlers who have represented India in international games about sexual harassment meted out to them. The matter requires consideration by this court," said a bench led by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud.
3. The wrestlers, who are protesting at Jantar Mantar in Delhi, have asserted they would stay put until a case is lodged in the matter. Among them are star wrestlers like Sakshi Malik, Vinesh Phogat, and Bajrang Punia.
4. Brij Bhushan Singh, who had denied the sexual misconduct allegations and indicated he will fight fiercely to prove he is innocent, yesterday released a video saying he would wish to embrace death the day he feels helpless.
5. "Friends, the day I introspect on what I gained or lost, and feel that I no longer have the strength to fight; the day I feel helpless, I would wish death as I won't be living a life like that. Instead of living such a life, I would wish that death takes me in its embrace," the accused wrestling body chief said in the video.
6. The protesting wrestlers have also sought time from Prime Minister Narendra Modi to discuss the charges against his party's MP. "PM Modi sir talks about 'Beti Bachao' and 'Beti Padhao', and listens to everyone's 'Mann Ki Baat'. Can't he listen to our 'mann ki baat'?" Olympian Sakshi Malik said at a recent media interaction, referring to the PM's monthly radio programme.
7. Indian Olympic Association chief PT Usha has criticised the public protest by the wrestlers. Stating that their protest "amounts to indiscipline", she said they should have waited for the report of a committee that is looking into their charges.
8. The protesting wrestlers said they were hurt by Ms Usha's statement and that they were looking up to her for support. Asian Games medallist Vinesh Phogat alleged she had even dialled her to discuss the matter but she did not answer her call, hinting at she could be "under some kinds of pressure".
9. Sports Minister Anurag Thakur, who had formed the committee to look into the charges, said yesterday the government stands with the players and he himself spoke to the protesters for 12 hours. The committee submitted its report on April 5 but the ministry is yet to make its findings public.
10. The wrestlers first took to the streets in January with their charges against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh and other trainers, but withdrew their protest following an assurance by Mr Thakur. They returned to the capital city with fresh protests this week alleging no action was taken on their charges.

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BJP Faces Tough Contest In This Karnataka Stronghold In 2 Decades

Belagavi district with the second highest number of assembly seats after Bengaluru Urban -- is expected to face a tough contest between the BJP and Congress as Lingayat politics surmounts the local issues, but the Maharashtra Ekikaran Samiti (MES) could play spoilsport in a few seats as it wants to keep the border issue alive.

There are 18 assembly constituencies in the border district which is a Lingayat stronghold and has been a BJP stronghold in the last two decades.

As in the last three elections, it is likely to be a straight contest between the BJP and Congress in most of the assembly seats barring five where the Shiv Sena-NCP supported MES -- a vocal proponent of the inclusion of Belagavi and other Marathi-speaking areas in Maharashtra -- has fielded local candidates.

The leadership vacuum in the Lingayat community after sidelining of stalwart leader B S Yediyurappa, deaths of some prominent local Lingayat BJP leaders like Suresh Angadi and Umesh Katti and the rising clout of politically influencial Jarkiholi family belonging to scheduled tribes community -- are expected to resonate among voters.

The exit of many disgruntled BJP leaders including three-time MLA and former Deputy Chief Minister Laxman Savadi from Belagavi, over denial of the ticket for the upcoming assembly election -- is likely to dent some votes here.

On the other hand, MES is trying hard to keep the border issue alive in Belagavi, which was part of the erstwhile Bombay Presidency and constitutes nearly 40 per cent Marathi-speaking population. The triangular fight could dent votes of national parties in five Marathi-speaking dominated constituencies.

Five of the constituencies in the district are dominated by Marathas, while Lingayats form a majority in most of the 13 remaining constituencies. There is a sizable population of OBCs and SCs/STs as well, with two seats reserved for these groups in the district.

In the district, where many elected representatives are sugar barons, three powerful political families -- the Jharkiholis, the Jolles and the Khattis -- enjoy electoral dominance.

From the Jharkiholi family, Ramesh Jarkiholi and Balachandra Jarkiholi are contesting on a BJP ticket from Gokak and Arabhavi assembly constituencies, respectively. Another member of the family, Satish Jarkihol is contesting on a Congress ticket from theYemkanmardi seat.

The Jarkiholi brothers are known to change parties. Ramesh Jarkiholi was a minister in the Congress-JD(S) coalition government before joining the BJP ranks. He was among the 17 MLAs who defected from the Congress and helped BJP to topple the Congress-JDS coalition government in 2019.

His clout in the district is hard to ignore as he has ensured BJP ticket to his followers who defected from Congress, which has upset the traditional party leaders especially his political rival Laxman Savadi. Another prominent family are Jolles represented by the incumbent Muzrai (Religious and Charitable Endowments) minister Shashikala Jolle who is contesting on a BJP ticket from Nippani constituency. Her husband Anna Saheb Jolle is the BJP Lok Sabha member from Chikkodi in Belagavi district.

From the Khatti family, Ramesh Khatti -- who represented the Chikkodi parliamentary constituency from 2009-2014 -- is contesting on a BJP ticket from the Chikkodi-Sadalga MLA seat this time, while his nephew Nikil Katti from Hukkeri assembly constituency after untimely death of his father Umesh Khatti, who was an eight time MLA and six time minister.

After quitting BJP over denial of a ticket, Laxman Savadi is contesting on a Congress ticket from the Athani assembly seat to avenge his humiliation from the BJP, especially Ramesh Jarkiholi. He has to face Mahesh Kumathalli, then in the Congress, now the BJP nominee Ramesh has differences with some Congress leaders like Laxmi Hebbalkar who is contesting from Belagavi Rural seat. Both of them are contesting from different constituencies but are trying hard to defeat each other to settle personal grudges.

There are 39.01 lakh voters in the 18 assembly constituencies of Belagavi district. Out of which, 19,68,928 are male voters, 19,32,576 women and 141 registered as Others, as per the official data.

In the 2018 polls, the BJP won 10 and Congress 8 seats, which changed after the defections in 2019. Three Congress MLAs — Ramesh Jarkiholi (Gokak), Mahesh Kumathalli (Athani) and Shrimanth Patil (Kagwad) — resigned and joined the BJP.

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Donald Trump Vows To "Crush" Joe Biden In 2024 Election

Donald Trump vowed Thursday to "crush" Joe Biden in the 2024 election, warning in his first campaign stop since his successor entered the 2024 race that the United States will descend into "anarchy" if the Republican billionaire isn't returned to office.

The defiant address at a hotel in Manchester, New Hampshire, came with the twice-impeached former president's legal woes multiplying, as a writer who accuses Trump of rape testified for a second day at a civil trial in New York.

"The choice in this election is now between strength or weakness, between success or failure, between safety or anarchy, between peace or conflict, and prosperity or catastrophe," Trump told a relatively-modest crowd of around 1,500 supporters.

"We are living in a catastrophe. With your vote on November 5, 2024, we are going to crush Joe Biden and the White House... at the ballot box, and we are going to settle our unfinished business."

It was Trump's first appearance since January in the Granite State, which propelled him to victory in the 2016 Republican nominating contest after a shaky start in Iowa.

Biden, 80, announced Tuesday he would seek a second term in 2024, warning that the next election, like the last, would be a "battle for the soul."

Many top Republicans say Trump, 76, is positioning himself to lose again after leading Republicans to poor showings in the 2020 general election and in the last two midterm cycles.

"Republicans want someone who can win in November of '24. Donald Trump is a loser," New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu, who is said to be mulling a rival presidential bid, told NBC on Sunday.

Nine Republicans in the US Senate have endorsed the billionaire, but others are warning that prosecutions enmeshing Trump might undermine their hopes of taking the upper chamber of Congress back from the Democrats next year.  

Trump is being sued for battery and defamation in civil proceedings in New York, accused of raping writer E Jean Carroll in 1996, and has been indicted over a 2016 hush money payment to a porn star in a criminal case likely to stretch well into election year.  

He also faces the possibility of charges from the Department of Justice and Georgia prosecutors in cases involving his attempts to overthrow the 2020 election and his hoarding of government documents.  

Yet Trump has consistently maintained double-digit leads in Republican primary polling, running far ahead of his nearest likely rival, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, whom he described in his New Hampshire speech as "crashing and burning."

Trump, who denies all wrongdoing, angrily denounced the "endless witch hunts" against him, as he invariably does in public remarks, and told supporters he was retiring the "Crooked" nickname he uses to smear longtime foe Hillary Clinton and giving it to Biden instead.

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

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Court Allows Conman Sukesh Chandrashekhar To Buy Cake For Wife's Birthday

The Patiala House Court has permitted Sukesh Chandrashekhar, who is facing several cases of money laundering and extortion, to purchase cake/pastry from the bakery shop of the Mandoli prison and it is further directed that said cake/pastry be handed over to under trial prisoner (UTP) Leena Paulose, (wife of Sukesh) on her birthday which is on April 28, 2023.

The Additional Sessions Judge Shailender Malik in an order passed on April 25, stated that having considered the submissions the precise prayer appears to be more on human emotions than any legal aspect involved in the application.

Be that as it may, the UTP needs to be given the confidence to be emotionally connected and attached to his family members and relatives. Therefore, I find no bar, more specifically when the concerned UTP Sukesh Chandrashekhar is seeking to purchase cake/pastry from the bakery of Mandoli Jail itself out of his prisoner fund and it is not that some article is being taken out of jail to be given to any of the UTP.

Therefore, Superintendent is directed to permit accused Sukesh Chandrashekhar to purchase cake/pastry from the bakery shop of the prison and it is further directed that said cake/pastry be handed over to UTP Leena Paulose on 28.04.2023, said the Court.

Incarcerated Conman Sukesh Chandrashekhar is a prime accused in the Rs 200 Crore money laundering case being investigated by Enforcement Directorate. He is facing several other cases too being investigated by ED, Delhi Police's Economic Offence Wing etc.

The ED's case is based on an FIR filed by Delhi Police's Economic Offences Wing (EOW) against Sukesh Chandrasekhar who is accused of cheating and extorting Japna Singh and Aditi Singh, wife of former promoter of Religare Enterprises, who are in Judicial custody related to alleged misappropriation of funds at Religare Finvest Ltd.

Both Chandrasekhar and his actor wife Leena Maria Paul were arrested by the Delhi Police for their alleged role in the duping case.

Bollywood actors Jacqueline Fernandez Nora Fatehi and other several names surfaced during the investigation of the Economic Offence Wing of the Delhi Police and Enforcement Directorate.

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

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"Batter Who Can Play Baseball...": Harbhajan On Who's Missing In WTC Squad

Former India spinner Harbhajan Singh backed the selector's decision to recall veteran batter Ajinkya Rahane for the World Test Championship (WTC) final against Australia. Rahane, a veteran of 82 Test matches, last played for India in the longest format of the game in January last year. Since then, he was not considered for selection owing to poor form. However, his form in the domestic circuit, as well as the ongoing IPL 2023, has earned him a recall into the Test side.

While pointing out the absence of Shreyas Iyer, who is out of action due to a back injury, Harbhajan suggested that the management didn't have any other option apart from Rahane.

"Ajinkya Rahane has been playing for India for a long time now and he has also captained the team. He is a very capable player with a great technique. I feel the decision has been taken keeping in mind his present form and hence has been recalled because Shreyas Iyer is still not part of the team. And with Iyer absent, it serves an opportunity to Rahane and it's a big match. He is a big player as well and I hope he gives that big performance to justify the selection. I support this selection 100 per cent and I feel it is a great decision. There was actually no other solution other than this," Harbhajan said on his YouTube channel.

However, Harbhajan felt that Suryakumar Yadav should've been part of the team, saying that the selector's should've picked an extra batter instead of going for three spinner.

"The one person who has missed this tour is Suryakumar Yadav. He should have been part of the team. Maybe instead of carrying three spinners, they could have carried an extra batter. Because you need that one batsman in the middle order who can destroy the opposition and only Suryakumar could have done that. He first got him into the Test team because he was in great form. Yes he has had a rough patch of 4-5 matches but if IPL is the criteria for selection for other players then even he should have been picked, even he has found that rhythm" he added.

To further back his claim, Harbhajan was of the opinion that Suryakumar will provide an x-factor with his attacking brand of cricket.

"When Gilchrist used to come in the middle for Australia, at No.6-7, he would destroy the bowlers. So you need a batter in the line-up who can play baseball cricket like Rishabh Pant. India will miss Suryakumar during this tour," Harbhajan signed off.

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Watch: 128 Indians Arrive In Jeddah After Rescue From Crisis-Hit Sudan

Another batch of 128 Indians has arrived in Jeddah after being rescued from violence-hit Sudan, Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan said in a tweet on Thursday morning. So far, nearly 1,100 Indian nationals have been rescued from the African country.

The is the sixth batch of Indians to be evacuated from Sudan, four days after "Operation Kaveri" was launched on Monday

"Another IAF C-130J flight under #OperationKaveri arrived at Jeddah with 128 Indians, the fourth aircraft from Sudan. Efforts are on to ensure that all Indians, who arrived in Jeddah will be sent to India at the earliest," Mr Muraleedharan, who is in Jeddah to oversee the evacuation mission, said in a tweet. 

Another IAF C-130J flight under #OperationKaveri arrived at Jeddah with 128 Indians, the fourth aircraft from Sudan.

Efforts are on to ensure that all Indians, who arrived in Jeddah will be sent to India at the earliest. pic.twitter.com/KGoaNRb7mv

— V. Muraleedharan (@MOS_MEA) April 26, 2023

The minister also shared a video of him greeting the rescued citizens as they de-boarded the Air Force aircraft.

India continues to evacuate citizens from the worn-torn country after Foreign Minister S Jaishakar spoke to his Saudi Arabia counterpart and PM Narendra Modi chaired a high-level meeting to review the security situation in Sudan last week.

Centre launched rescue mission "Operation Kaveri" to evacuate stranded Indian citizens from Sudan where the Sudanese Army and paramilitary groups are have been clashing since mid-April.

According to the World Health Organisation, the battle between the Sudan army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) paramilitary has resulted in the death of over 450 people and injured more than 4,000.

Countries across the globe have been scrambling planes and ships to rescue their citizens from the war-torn nation nearly two weeks after crisis began.

The United Nations has warned that the mass exodus of foreigners may cause new refugee crisis.

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"Could Have Died Any Moment": Family Rescued From Sudan Recounts Trauma

The first group of Indians who landed in Delhi from Sudan Wednesday evening has horror stories to tell of the conflict that practically broke out in their own backyard 11 days ago.

The 360 Indians were picked by a Navy ship and IAF C130J plane of Operation Kaveri from Port Sudan as the 72-hour ceasefire was declared between the warring generals to help evacuate foreign nationals.

Many of the Indians who landed Wednesday appeared traumatised, having repeatedly seen neighbouring houses bombed, missiles flying overhead and people being robbed at gunpoint for 10 long days.

One of them was Jyoti Agarwal, whose husband worked as a Chartered Accountant in Khartoum. The family -- including her son and 10-year-old daughter -- has managed to reach Delhi in one piece, leaving behind everything they had.

"We just brought two sets of clothes for my son and daughter. We did not bring my clothes, or my husband's," Mrs Agarawal said, emphatically declaring that she would not go back again.

"I have seen a house two lanes down getting destroyed by bombs. I have seen our office workers held at gunpoint. There is no saying what might happen at any moment. You can die any time. We did not know whether one of us would die or all of us," she told NDTV in an exclusive interview.

The family just managed to escape with their lives. "We did not even bring any money with us. Because we could have been robbed by the rival army and could have even been killed," she said.

Even her 10-year-old daughter Ariana was not spared the horror. "We were taking an exam in school when there were loud noises. We did not know what it was and later were told that it was gunshots and bombing. We were taken to the canteen and told to hide under tables," she said.

It was a harrowing time, she said, especially as her parents were also unable to come and get her. One was in office and the other at home.

Anil Kumar, who went to Sudan nine months ago from Garhwal, said the worst part was reading about the deaths every day. His friend said they were robbed of all their belongings at gunpoint.

Vipin Kumar, a crane operator, said their guesthouse was attacked. "We put pressure on the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and they finally moved us from there," he told NDTV.

Violence broke out in Sudan on April 15 between forces loyal to Sudan's army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and his deputy Mohamed Hamdan Daglom, who commands the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

Since mid-April, more than 450 people have been killed and over 4,000 injured, the World Health Organisation has said. There have been reports of violence even amid a 72-hour ceasefire.

The evacuation comes days after External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar spoke to his Saudi Arabia counterpart. On Friday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired a high-level meet to review the security situation.

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Mamata Banerjee's "Delhi Conspiracy" Allegation On School Hostage Situation

A man brandishing a gun was tackled and arrested by the police as he threatened to hold a classroom full of children hostage at gunpoint in West Bengal's Malda. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said a disaster had been averted by the police's timely action, adding that the act may not have been one of lunacy.

A policeman barged into a classroom and pinned the man to the ground as frightened children rushed out of the classroom as the gunman continued to rant inside the classroom. Azhar Uddin, Deputy Superintendent of Police (Law and Order) pounced on the gun-wielding man and pinned him to the ground before snatching the weapon from him.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said, "I must congratulate my police officials and the media who have saved us from a deep sea of conspiracy. There is a conspiracy around Bengal, and I believe Delhi is involved in this. I don't know who exactly is doing this, but this is Delhi's conspiracy A-Z. Wherever there is an opposition party state there is an attempt to disturb, and they have been doing it to me from the beginning."

She further alleged that no common man would have been able to execute this. "Where did he learn the word (hostages) from? When people who do these kinds of things are caught, they immediately say it's a lunatic. Who gave him the idea that you can take hostages like this?"

West Bengal BJP President Sukanta Majumdar targeted the Chief Minister over the law-and-order situation in the state. "The Honourable Chief Minister said she would transform Kolkata to London. But I have heard of such gunmen-related incidents in America. Now it is happening in our towns and villages. You imagine what a scary law and order situation it has become," he said.

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"Will Hold A Sit-In" If Amartya Sen's House Bulldozed: Mamata Banerjee

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee Wednesday said that she will hold a sit-in at Bolpur in case authorities of the Visva Bharati University try to "bulldoze" Nobel laureate Amartya Sen's ancestral house 'Pratichi' in the campus area on the charge that he was illegally occupying more land than was leased out to him.

The University in an eviction order, has asked Mr Sen to vacate by May 6 or within 15 days of the publication of the last order, 0.13 aces (5,550 square feet) of the 1.38 acres of the leased land which the authorities claim the famed economist occupies in an "unauthorised manner".

Ms Banerjee told mediapersons here, "Amartya Sen is being attacked every day. I have seen their (VB's) audacity. I will be the first person to go there (Bolpur) if they (try to) bulldoze his house. I will hold a sit-in there.

"I want to see who is more powerful - bulldozer or humanity," she said.

Ms Banerjee had handed over to Mr Sen on January 30 documents of the state land and revenue department stating that the entire 1.38 acre of land belonged to the Sen's through a mutation done in 2006.

The university authorities have challenged the documents.

Its notice said, "Amartya Kumar Sen and all concerned persons are liable to be evicted from the said premises, if need be, by use of such force as may be necessary." "It is decided that 13 decimals of land having the dimension of 50 ft x 111 ft in the north-west corner of the scheduled premises is to be recovered from him," it said.

"Thus he (Sen) can lawfully occupy 1.25 acres of land only, as lessee (for the residual period of lease) in the scheduled premises," the notice issued by Joint Registrar Asish Mahato said.

The notice has been criticised by other political parties too including the Congress, which accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government of "targeting" Mr Sen for being a stern critic of the Hindutva forces.

Founded in 1921 by Rabindranath Tagore, Visva Bharati was a college till it was made a central university by an act of Parliament in 1951.

It is Bengal's only central university and the prime minister is its chancellor.

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

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Harshal, Siraj Drop Sitters To Give Rana Two Lives. Trolled Heavily

Kolkata Knight Riders batters made merry at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium against Royal Challengers Bangalore in an IPL 2023 match on Wednesday. Fiery knocks from Jason Roy, Nitish Rana and Rinku Singh helped KKR notch a huge total of 200/5 in 20 overs. While the batters had a smooth outing, the same cannot be said about RCB stars Mohammed Siraj (4-0-33-1) and Harshal Patel (4-0-44-0). While they were costly with the ball, they were also poor in their fielding efforts. First, Siraj dropped KKR captain Nitish Rana, who was batting on 5, in the 13th over by Vijaykumar Vyshak. Then, Rana got yet another reprieve as he was dropped by Harshal in the 15th over off Siraj. 

The duo was trolled heavily for the dropped chances.

when you realize both siraj and harshal literally dropped sitters pic.twitter.com/LBcZ17T0D8

— Aman (@CaptainKohli___) April 26, 2023

Prof Siraj on the way to the academy headquarters with Harshal Patel #RCBvsKKR #KKRvsRCB #CricketTwitter #Cricket #IPL2023 #TATAIPL2023 pic.twitter.com/6lSBEiF0rA

— Vaughan Fielding Academy (@Vaughan_Academy) April 26, 2023

Jason Roy led the show with a fiery fifty as Kolkata Knight Riders got their mojo back to notch a fighting 200 for five against Royal Challengers Bangalore in the IPL on Wednesday. Having slipped to eighth spot after four losses on the trot, KKR finally got into the act with Roy setting tempo up front when he smashed five sixes and four boundaries en route to his 29-ball 56 as he and Narayan Jagadeesan (27; 29b) gave KKR their best ever start -- 83 runs from 56 balls.

Harshal Patel plz retire man
U left the catch of Nitish Rana and conceded 2 sixes from him

Plz leave our team man#RCBvsKKR #KKRvsRCB#HarshalPatel

— kohlibhakt (@Pavancool06J) April 26, 2023

KKR's batting came on either side of Sri Lankan legspin sensation Hasaranga's two terrific bowling spells as he returned with 4-0-24-2 that caused enough flutter.

First, his miserly spell after the powerplay gave the impetus for Vyshak's double blow when he dismissed Jagadeesan and Roy.

But Nitish Rana then ensured that they don't lose the momentum as he made full use of his two reprieves -- on five and 19 -- to race to his 21-ball 48 (3x4, 4x6).

KKR's new-found hero Rinku Singh (18 not out; 10b) then took charge as he smashed two fours and one six to ensure that they reach the 200-mark.

David Wiese smacked two sixes to make an unbeaten 12.

Roy showed KKR how it's done in the powerplay, blazing his way to a 22-ball fifty, his second in a row to hand KKR their best ever start this season.

The Englishman showed his intent against the likes of RCB new ball bowlers and Mohammed Siraj and David Willey and unleashed his fury when leftarm spinner Shahbaz Ahmed was introduced in the last over of the powerplay.

Roy smoked him for four sixes in five balls in a 25-run over as KKR cruised to their highest powerplay score this season with 66 for no loss.

But all credit to willy Lankan spinner Hasaranga for a tidy over after the powerplay where he conceded just two runs to mount pressure on the duo.

Vyshak and Harshal Patel too tightened the noose as boundaries suddenly dried up and it was all the more evident on the duo.

Struggling to get big hits, Jagadeesan was done in by a Vyshak bouncer, while Roy got a peach of a delivery from the uncapped Indian who got a perfect legstump yorker to clean up the Englishman round his stump.

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