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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"Were You Telling Batters In Advance?": Akram Blasts Arshdeep, Rabada

The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 match between Punjab Kings and Lucknow Super Giants turned out to be a historic clash, with the KL Rahul-led side creating a mountain of runs, scoring 257 while batting first. Though Punjab themselves also put over 200 runs on the board, while chasing the target, they eventually ended 56 runs shy of LSG's total. After the game, Pakistan great Wasim Akram took a swipe at PBKS pace duo of Arshdeep Singh and Kagiso Rabada for the manner in which they bowled in the match.

Akram, who is one of the finest pacers of all time, lambasted the duo of Rabada and Arshdeep, asking if they were telling the LSG batters in advance about where they were going to bowl.

"Unbelievable. In our times, we would've won with 257 on the board. You see, this is what I talk about. I understand T20 is difficult for bowlers. But if I was a bowler in today's era and I was getting hit with a particular run-up and side, I would make my run-up more angular and come from around the wicket," Akram told Sportskeeda in a chat.

"I haven't seen many right-handed bowlers, except probably Dwayne Bravo, who could bowl yorkers outside off-stump from around the wicket. And that comes with practice. You can come from around the wicket, or maybe run from behind the umpire. The idea is to create doubt in the batsman's mind. These guys don't.

"Rabada and Arshdeep conceded 106 runs in their 8 overs. Were you bowling full-tosses? Or were you telling the batters in advance, 'I'll bowl there, hit me for six'. Unbelievable. I know bowlers get hit, but this is carnage," Akram further said.

The defeat was a forgettable one for Punjab who are placed 6th in the points table with 4 wins in 8 games.

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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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Videos Show Destruction Caused By Powerful Tornado In Florida

A powerful tornado flipped cars, uprooted trees and destroyed buildings as severe weather ripped through Florida, US, on Saturday. Several horrifying videos shared on social media captured the devastation caused by the strong twister. 

One viral video showed cars stacked onto one another in an open parking lot and damaged buildings, including one with its facade ripped off and another with a falling gutter. 

Palm Beach Gardens Florida apartment complex pic.twitter.com/hxyzvZOZDn

— Scoyk (@BVanScoyk) April 29, 2023

Palm Gardens | Florida | Tornado pic.twitter.com/QI4xIVtbcm

— Ｎｅｒｄｙ 🅰🅳🅳🅸🅲🆃 (@Nerdy_Addict) April 29, 2023

Another clip captured the moment a small vehicle was dramatically tossed into the air after the wind caught it, rolling it several times to the surprise of others on the highway. The video, shot from within another car, even showed debris swirling around in the street as cars are pushed by the powerful gusts. 

Florida | Tornado touched down in North Palm Beach area flipping over cars and slicing through residential neighborhoods pic.twitter.com/89WUadx9tO

— Ｎｅｒｄｙ 🅰🅳🅳🅸🅲🆃 (@Nerdy_Addict) April 29, 2023

Other footage showed the aftermath of the tornado passing through communities. "Florida | Another video of tornado damage in Palm Beach area," the caption of the Twitter post read. 

Florida | Another video of tornado damage in Palm Beach area pic.twitter.com/kpMu6USBv3

— Ｎｅｒｄｙ 🅰🅳🅳🅸🅲🆃 (@Nerdy_Addict) April 29, 2023

According to the New York Post, the National Weather Service confirmed the tornado touched down in the city. In a tweet, the agency said, "We are currently in the process of surveying damage along the path of the tornado and will release more information once our survey is completed."

Also Read | US Man Fatally Shoots Fake Parking Attendant Over $40, Then Resumes His Date

In follow-up tweets, the weather page said a Tornado Watch would be in place for Sunday for much of Florida. "Another active weather day is expected in SFL with strong winds, hail, and even a few tornadoes possible. Main timing for activity would be sunrise-mid morning for NW areas, and late morning-early afternoon for the east coast," the weather service said. 

Around 12 million people across the state have been placed under a level 2 risk for severe weather.

As per the outlet, the thunderstorms were travelling across the Gulf of Mexico from Texas, which was hit with hail and powerful winds on Thursday. Officials said that the peninsula could also be in for damaging winds, tornadoes, large hail and heavy rainfall through Saturday night. 

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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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"12 Years": Prince William, Kate Middleton Share Unseen Pic

The Prince and Princess of Wales, today took to social media to share an unseen picture of them during a bike ride with their arms around each other. Prince William and Kate Middleton rang in their 12th wedding anniversary on Saturday.

"12 years," reads the Instagram caption for the picture which was clicked by photographer Matt Porteous, an environmental photographer who has long been behind the camera in front of the royals for portraits, according to Metro.

In the picture, the couple can be seen posing on bicycles with their arms around each other, smiling at the camera.

The royals can be seen dressed in casual outfits. While Prince William opted for a blue collared shirt, jeans and sunglasses, Kate Middleton wore a patterned white shirt, jeans and white sneakers.

See the post here:

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by The Prince and Princess of Wales (@princeandprincessofwales)

The picture was taken last year at the family's Sandringham Estate in Norfolk, England.

Social media wished the pair a happy anniversary.

"Happy anniversary to the next King and Queen of The UK. we love you and support you," commented a user.

"The most wonderful couple! I remember the wedding like it was yesterday! Wishing you many more years of happiness and health," wrote another user.

"Happy 12th Wedding Anniversary to these two. Such a beautiful photo...Such a lovely surprise. Looking forward to the decades to come," the third user wrote.

Meanwhile, the royals are gearing up for the coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla.

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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.

View this post on Instagram

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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"Provocative" Statue Of A Curvy Mermaid Sparks Outrage In Southern Italy

A curvy statue of a mermaid has caused a stir in the southern Italian town of Monopoli for being "too provocative". According to The Guardian, the artwork sits in a new square in the Puglia town called Piazza Rita Levi-Montalcini - named after a Nobel prize-winning Italian scientist. It was created by students from the Luigi Rosso art school in Monopoli and is located near a children's playground. 

The artwork has become a target of ridicule after photos taken during its installation were shared on social media. Taking to Facebook, Bari-based actor Tiziana Schiavarelli said that a friend in Monopoli had "rightly expressed some perplexity about this 'monument'. It looks like a mermaid with two silicone breasts and, above all, a huge arse never seen before on a mermaid. At least not any I know". 

Ms Schiavarelli further stressed that she did not have an issue with the art students or the local council, which had commissioned the work. "But I am very amused by this thing ...who knows if it will become a further attraction for tourists," she added. 

Also Read | Egypt Slams Netflix For Depicting Cleopatra As Black Woman In New Drama-Documentary

Meanwhile, Adolf Marciano, headteacher of the Luigi Rosso art school, stated that the statue was a "tribute to the great majority of women who are curvy". As per Sky News, Mr Marciano also said that the council was shown the scale model, following which it was decided that the completed sculpture would be placed in the square. 

He added that he did not want to cast judgement on the students' inspiration, but that he viewed the work "as a representation of reality, in this case of the female body". 

"You see adverts on television with models who are very thin, but the mermaid is like a tribute to the great majority of women who are curvy, especially in our country. It would have been very bad if we had represented a woman who was extremely skinny," Mr Marciano said. 

Notably, the statue is yet to be officially unveiled. 

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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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IPL 2023: Twitter Trolls KL Rahul As Disappointing Run Continues vs PBKS

KL Rahul was not able to score big as he was dismissed for 12 off 8 deliveries during Lucknow Super Giants' encounter against Punjab Kings in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 on Thursday. Rahul gave a chance on the very first ball of the match but Sikandar Raza was not able to complete the catch off the bowling of debutant Gurnoor Brar. It looked like the dropped chance will come to haunt PBKS as Rahul slammed a four and a six to make his intent clear. However, his stay was cut short by Kagiso Rabada as he miscued a shot completely and this time, Shahrukh Khan made no mistake at short third-man.

This was yet another failed chance for Rahul who has been criticised for his run rate in the ongoing IPL 2023. Twitter was not kind to Rahul as the users soon started trolling him for his performance.

KL Rahul dismissed for 12 runs in 9 balls.

Advantage LSG now #PBKSvsLSG pic.twitter.com/yurToeXJ2t

— Utsav (@utsav045) April 28, 2023

Catch dropped of But it was
a LSG batsman KL Rahul's catch pic.twitter.com/CjeYsWwvfT

— Ankit Pathak 🇮🇳 (@ankit_acerbic) April 28, 2023

KL Rahul after scoring 1(5) in 1st over rather than 0(6). pic.twitter.com/rhyZIn2ZBc

— A.J (@CursedByVecna) April 28, 2023

Punjab Kings opted to bowl against Lucknow Super Giants.

Shikhar Dhawan is back leading Punjab after missing three games due to a shoulder injury.

Sikandar Raza replaced Matthew Short in the Punjab playing eleven and Gurnoor Brar will be making his IPL debut. LSG named an unchanged team.

Punjab Kings: Atharva Taide, Shikhar Dhawan (c), Sikandar Raza, Liam Livingstone, Sam Curran, Jitesh Sharma (w), Shahrukh Khan, Kagiso Rabada, Rahul Chahar, Gurnoor Brar, Arshdeep Singh.

Lucknow Super Giants: KL Rahul(c), Kyle Mayers, Deepak Hooda, Marcus Stoinis, Krunal Pandya, Nicholas Pooran(w), Ayush Badoni, Naveen-ul-Haq, Ravi Bishnoi, Avesh Khan, Yash Thakur.

(With PTI inputs)

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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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Couple Living Apart For 25 Years Seek Divorce. What Supreme Court Said

The Supreme Court has dissolved the marriage of a couple who have been staying separately for 25 years, saying recognising them as married would be "sanctioning cruelty". The couple only lived together for four years.

A bench of Justices Sudhanshu Dhulia and JB Pardiwala said the "complete severance of all meaningful ties and existing bitterness between the two" should be read as "cruelty" under the Hindu Marriage Act.

"We have before us a married couple who have been together as a couple for hardly four years and have been living separately for the last 25 years. They don't have children and their marital bond is completely broke, beyond repair," the Supreme Court said.

"We have no doubt that this relationship must end because its continuation would be to sanction cruelty. Prolonged separation, absence of cohabitation, complete severance of all meaningful ties and existing bitterness between the two should be read as cruelty under the Hindu Marriage Act," the Supreme Court said.

It said the ending of their marriage will affect only them since they have no children.

The man makes more than Rs 1 lakh a month and he has to pay Rs 30 lakh to the woman within four weeks, the Supreme Court said.

The couple got married in Delhi in 1994. He alleged she had an abortion the same year without telling him. He alleged she did not like their house as it was small.

Four years into the marriage, the woman left and filed a case of dowry harassment against him. The man and his brother were arrested and later released on bail. He filed for divorce after that.

The trial court allowed the divorce petition on the grounds of cruelty and long separation. But the Delhi High Court rejected the divorce request, after which the man challenged the high court's decision in the Supreme Court.

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Congress Compares Arvind Kejriwal With Sheila Dikshit Over 45-Crore Spend

The Congress on Thursday launched a scathing attack on the Aam Aadmi Party over the alleged expenditure of Rs 45 crore on Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's official residence, saying it was "shameful" and it was like the party slapping its voters in the face.

The Opposition party also addressed queries about it reaching out to the Aam Aadmi Party on one hand and attacking it on the other, saying there was "no good cop, bad cop" routine and both approaches can co-exist.

Asked about Congress leader Ajay Maken attacking Arvind Kejriwal on one hand and AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge reaching out to the party as part of Opposition unity efforts, party's media department head Pawan Khera said Mr Maken has said the right thing.

Hitting out at the AAP, Mr Khera said, "You call yourself an 'aam aadmi (common man)', it is a different matter that nobody considers you an 'aam aadmi' now. During Covid when people were suffering and there was shortage of oxygen then what were you doing --expenditure of Rs 45 crore on renovating your house, building a swimming pool, draping curtains worth lakhs and crores, fitting tiles, is this Aam Aadmi's government?"

"These are astonishing facts. Some of you would be surprised but not us as we knew what the reality is. But we are still astonished that what kind Aam Aadmi government is this that used to trumpet about its honesty and simplicity," the Congress spokesperson said.

Mr Khera said Mr Maken has pointed to the affidavit that Mr Kejriwal had given, stressing that he will not stay in official residence, not take security and not use a red beacon car.

"Are you looking at his security now, can even an MLA enter the Chief Minister's house? Close to this place was Sheila Dikshit's house when she was Chief Minister and in the mornings, the common man could go and meet her without an appointment, MLAs, workers could walk in anytime," Mr Khera said.

"You can look at the budget of renovation of houses of Sheila Dikshit and her ministers during the 15-year rule and compare it with Rs 45 crore being spent on the house of a chief minister. This is shameful. It is sad that in a way, they are slapping their voters in the face. It is nothing less than that," he said.

Asked about Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge reaching out to the Aam Aadmi Party on one hand and the party attacking it on the other, Mr Khera said, "Kharge ji called the AAP which is a very good tradition and a good way to strengthen ties as we need to have good ties among each other for the fight we are fighting. But this does not mean that is such a mistake comes to the fore, no one comments on it."

"There is no good cop bad cop, both can coexist," he added.

In the wake of reports of spending Rs 45 crore for the "beautification" of the Delhi chief minister's official residence here, Mr Maken has raised questions on Arvind Kejriwal's right to remain in his position.

Ajay Maken alleged that Mr Kejriwal spent Rs 45 crore of public funds on his luxurious bungalow, including on extravagant items like Dior polish, Vietnam marble, expensive curtains, and high-end carpets.

Mr Maken had said Mr Kejriwal promised not to use a car with a red beacon or request additional security beyond what is necessary for a common citizen and refuse a large bungalow and instead live in an ordinary house like a common man.

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

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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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"I Am Here Because Donald Trump Raped Me": US Writer Testifies Before Jury

The New York author who claims Donald Trump raped her in a Bergdorf Goodman dressing room in the 1990s testified in graphic detail about the alleged assault on the second day of the trial over her lawsuit.

E. Jean Carroll, a journalist and former Elle magazine advice columnist, says she kept silent about the alleged attack for decades out of fear that Trump would destroy her if she went public. On Wednesday in Manhattan federal court, she testified that she filed the suit to set the record straight.

"I am here because Donald Trump raped me, and when I wrote about it he said it didn't happen," Carroll, 79, said under questioning by her lawyer. She added: "He shattered my reputation and I'm trying to get my life back."

The jury of six men and three women will decide if Trump, 76, is liable for sexually assaulting Carroll more than two decades ago and defaming her last year by claiming on social media that she fabricated the attack to sell a book. He has denied wrongdoing and argues the case is part of a broader politically motivated "witch hunt."

His lawyer, Joe Tacopina, signaled during his opening argument on Tuesday that he'll seek to undermine Carroll's story by presenting evidence that she is motivated by an animus toward Trump and that she waited too long to come forward with her claim if it were true.

The jury of six men and three women will decide if Trump, 76, is liable for sexually assaulting Carroll more than two decades ago.

Carroll, asked to describe how the alleged assault unfolded, testified that she and Trump ran into each other at the luxury department store while shopping. She told the jury she agreed to help him pick out a gift for a woman.

Kidding Around

Carroll said Trump asked her to go to the sixth-floor lingerie department, where they eventually found a lacy bodysuit that he jokingly suggested she try on. She said she told him he should try it on instead, thinking he would put the bodysuit on over his pants.

Carroll told the jurors she agreed to go into a dressing room with him, thinking it was an amusing moment, "sort of like a Saturday Night Live sketch."

She said Trump then "shut the door and shoved me against the wall. He shoved me so hard my head banged. I was extremely confused and suddenly realized that what I thought was happening was not happening."

She testified that she didn't scream but instead fought to get away, even though Trump is much larger than she is.

'I Can Still Feel It'

"My whole reason for being alive in that moment was to get out of that room," she said. She said she was "trying to wriggle out from under him, but he had pulled down my tights" and assaulted her with his fingers, "which was extremely painful. He put his hand inside of me and curved his finger. As I'm sitting here today I can still feel it."

"I'm proud to say I did get out," Carroll told the court. "I got my knee up and pushed him back."

She fought back tears as she described the guilt she felt over why she went into the dressing room with Trump.

"I was ashamed," she said. "I thought it was my fault. Because I was flirting with him."

Trump on Wednesday morning blasted Carroll's lawsuit in a post on social media, calling the case a "SCAM" and deriding his accuser as "Ms. Bergdorf Goodman."

The case is Carroll v. Trump, 22-cv-10016, US District Court, Southern District of New York (Manhattan).

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