Kangana Ranaut Invites Priyanka Gandhi To Watch Emergency. Her Reply

Actress Kangana Ranaut, who is gearing up for her upcoming movie 'Emergency', has shared that she extended an invitation to politician Priyanka Gandhi Vadra.

The film is based on the 21-month period from 1975 to 1977 when former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi declared a state of emergency across the country by citing internal and external threats to the country.

The actress, who portrays the role of Indira Gandhi in the film, spoke with IANS in the run up to the film's release on January 17.

She told IANS, "I actually met Priyanka Gandhi in the parliament. And the first thing I told her was, 'You should watch the emergency'. She was very gracious'. She said, 'Yeah may be'. So let's see if they would want to watch the film. I think it's a very sensitive and sensible portrayal of one episode and one personality also. And I have taken great care to portray Mrs. Gandhi with great dignity. Because I see when I started to do a lot of research, there was so much focus and so much material about her personal life, whether it was her relationship with her husband or many friends or controversial equations".

She continued, "I thought to myself that there is so much more to every person. When it comes to women, especially, they're always reduced to their equation with men around them. And of course, sensational encounters. In fact, most of the controversial material was about all that. But I have portrayed her with so much dignity and sensibility. And I think that everybody should see this film".

Kangana said that Indira Gandhi was also a very loved leader also.

"Apart from some very crazy things that happened during the emergency and other few things, I think she was very loved and celebrated. Being a three-time Prime Minister is not a joke. She was loved and celebrated".

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

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Fresh Bumrah Setback For India Ahead Of Champions Trophy Squad Selection

The injury incurred by India's top paceman Jasprit Bumrah, in the 5th and final Test against Australia in Sydney, seems to be worse than thought. Though the injury was defined as a mere 'back spasm' when Bumrah left the field for a hospital on Day 2 of the Test, the trouble is likely to keep him on the sidelines for a longer period. A report has claimed that while Bumrah is set to miss the entire white-ball assignment against England - featuring 5 T20Is and 3 ODIs - his participation in the forthcoming ICC Champions Trophy is also in danger.

India has already seen Bumrah miss some crucial events due to injury issues and the selectors are keen not to let that happen again. Hence, risking the senior pacer against England is all but out of the picture. Despite his injury trouble, Bumrah is expected to make it to India's Champions Trophy squad, though his participation with be conditional, as per a report in RevSportz.

The team management would require clearance from the National Cricket Academy (NCA) medical staff if Bumrah is to be used in the ICC event.

"A little frustrating (on injury) but sometimes you have to respect your body, and you can't fight your body," Bumrah had said after the conclusion of the Sydney Test. "Sometimes, you have to accept. Would have loved to bowl on the spiciest wicket of the series. Just had a little discomfort after the first innings."

Some of the other players who have been out of action for a while like Mohammed Shami and Kuldeep Yadav are also reportedly being monitored over a potential comeback.

Among batters, Yashasvi Jaiswal looks set to be included in India's ODI side too, and feature against England in the 50-over as well as T20 rosters. Jaiswal, however, is being brought in only as a backup opener by the selectors.

Rohit Sharma is expected to open as the captain of the team alongside Shubman Gil. Following them would be Virat Kohli and Shreyas Iyer will bat at No. 3 and No. 4 respectively. KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant are competing for the wicket-keeper's slot at the moment but Sanju Samson isn't a strong contender for the spot. Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, and Kuldeep Yadav are expected to form the spin trio, while Washington Sundar is also expected to be picked by the Ajit Agarkar-led selection panel.

Hardik Pandya too is set to be added to the roster though there isn't much confirmation on Nitish Kumar Reddy for the mega event. Varun Chakravarthy is another spinner who is on the selectors' radar but his compatibility with the 50-over format is something that hasn't been proven yet.

India pacer Mohammed Siraj is expected to be rested for the T20I series against England but is likely to find his name in the squad list for the ODI assignment against the same side. He is also likely to be picked for the Champions Trophy, alongside Arshdeep Singh.

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2 Women Fall In Front Of Rhinos In Kaziranga. Here's What Happened Next

Home to one-horned rhinos, Kaziranga National Park in Assam is a favoured destination for nature enthusiasts. A jeep safari ride offers visitors a chance to catch a glimpse of one-horned rhinos and other animals. But a usually fun ride turned bone-chilling for a mother-daughter duo that narrowly escaped with their lives.

In an undated video that is making rounds on the internet, a rhinoceros is seen walking inside the park behind a jeep. In the background, three jeeps, full of tourists, prepare to take a right turn. As the first two jeeps speed up, a young girl, along with her mother, falls flat on the ground. The two let out a cry for help.

At that moment, we see another rhino aggressively approaching the tourists' vehicle. Looking at the rhino stomping in anger, the third jeep pulls back.

The incident reportedly occurred in the Bagori range of Kaziranga National Park.

The two women narrowly escaped the danger. Reportedly, they managed to avoid the rhinos and successfully climbed back into the jeep.

Another tourist captured the terrifying incident on camera, and it has since gone viral on social media, raising concerns about tourist safety.

The Kaziranga administration has launched an investigation into the incident. They have urged tourists to remain vigilant during safaris.

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Huawei Enjoy 70X With 6,100mAh Battery, Satellite Messaging Feature Launched: Price, Specifications

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Cops Go To Arrest A Man In Bihar, End Up Clashing With His Family, Locals

A police team that went to arrest a man in Bihar's Darbhanga district was allegedly attacked by the accused's family and other locals on Saturday, leading to massive clashes between them. The incident took place in the Laheriyasarai area when the family of the accused, Jitendra Yadav - who was reportedly an accused in a dowry case - tried to free him from the arrest.

A video of the incident shows a large group of mob throwing stones at the police officials and trying to snatch their guns. They also tried to block the main road by burning tyres to prevent the police from reaching the accused's house.

Three officials, including two sub-inspectors and a constable, were injured in the incident. They have been taken to a hospital for treatment.

"The incident took place in the Abhanda area under the jurisdiction of Laheriasarai police station when a police team went to arrest a person against whom a warrant was issued by a court. The family members of the accused and other locals suddenly attacked the police team... they also forcibly freed the accused," Darbhanga (Sadar) Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) Amit Kumar, said.

According to the police, a team of additional security personnel was sent to the area to stop the attack and disperse the crowd.

"The locals tried pushing children in the crowd...so we did not fire back at them much. They pelted stones at the security personnel. However, the situation was brought under control after mild use of force," Kumar said.

The police have detained five people, including the man against whom the arrest warrant was issued.

A case has been registered and the matter is being further investigated, officials said.

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Mossad Spy Was Publicly Hanged By Syria In 1965. Israel Wants His Body Back

Businessman Kamel Amin Thaabet arrived in the Syrian capital of Damascus in 1962. He threw lavish parties, became part of the city's social elite and quickly gained access to the country's most powerful men. Three years later, he was publicly executed in central Damascus' Marjeh Square. Why? Because Kamel Thaabet was Eli Cohen, an elite spy working for Israel's Mossad. 

Israeli authorities are intensifying efforts to recover Cohen's body. Known as one of Israel's most legendary spies, Cohen's infiltration of Syria's political and military elite provided intelligence crucial to Israel's success in the 1967 Six-Day War. Despite decades of attempts, the location of Cohen's burial site is undisclosed, with Syrian authorities reportedly relocating his body multiple times to prevent their retrieval.

Cohen was born in 1924 in Alexandria, Egypt, to a family of Egyptian Jews. Following the establishment of Israel in 1948, Cohen's family immigrated to the newly founded state. Cohen himself followed in 1957, after years of Zionist activism that reportedly included aiding the covert migration of Egyptian Jews to Israel.

After serving in Israeli military intelligence, Cohen was recruited by Mossad in the early 1960s. Using his fluency in Arabic, Spanish, and French, Mossad crafted an elaborate cover identity for Cohen. He became Kamel Amin Thaabet, a Syrian businessman whose family had emigrated to Argentina. Cohen relocated to Buenos Aires, where he ingrained himself within the Arab and Syrian diasporas, gaining trust and access that would later prove critical to his mission.

In 1962, Cohen moved to Damascus under his assumed identity, where he quickly ascended to prominence within Syrian society. Known for hosting lavish parties attended by influential political and military figures, Cohen used these gatherings to extract valuable intelligence. His efforts yielded detailed information about Syrian fortifications in the Golan Heights, later aiding Israel's capture of the territory in the Six-Day War.

Cohen's espionage activities, however, came to an abrupt end in 1965. Syrian intelligence, with assistance from the Soviet Union, identified his covert radio transmissions to Israel. On January 24, 1965, Syrian authorities raided his home. Cohen was arrested, tried, and convicted of espionage.

Despite international pleas for clemency, Cohen was publicly hanged on May 18, 1965.

Since his execution, the whereabouts of Cohen's body have been a source of contention. Syria has consistently refused Israeli requests to repatriate his body, rejecting multiple offers of prisoner exchanges. Syrian officials have admitted to relocating it multiple times to thwart Israeli recovery attempts.

In 2018, Mossad successfully retrieved Cohen's wristwatch from Syria. 

The collapse of the Assad regime in parts of Syria has created new opportunities for negotiation. Reports suggest that Israeli officials, including Mossad Director David Barnea, are directly involved in talks with former members of the Assad government. These discussions are reportedly facilitated by Russian mediators.

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6 Dead In Explosion At Fireworks Factory In Tamil Nadu's Virudhunagar

Six people died and many more were injured in an explosion at a fireworks factory in Tamil Nadu on Saturday morning. The incident took place in the Virudhunagar district, where majority of the state's firecracker factories are located.

According to the police, the number of victims is likely to rise as the condition of several injured people remains critical, reported news agency IANS.

The fire department has extinguished the blaze and is currently engaged in rescue operations, officials said.

While the exact cause of the explosion has not been identified, cops suspect a power leakage or friction between explosives during the preparation of firecrackers may have triggered it.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin expressed his condolences over the loss of lives. He also announced a compensation of Rs 4 lakh for the families of the victims.

Last year, Virudhunagar witnessed 17 accidents in the firecracker factories, killing at least 54 people. In September, Stalin visited the area and urged fireworks factory owners to take safety measures to prevent such accidents.

The fireworks industry reportedly employs nearly four lakh workers across 1,150 factories in Virudhunagar, with Sivakasi alone accounting for 70 per cent of India's firecracker production.

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Video: Bumrah Makes Khawaja Pay For Konstas' Mistake As Tempers Flare

Australia's young opening batter Sam Konstas has time and again shown his intent to not limit his talking to his bat. In the last over before stumps on Day 1 of the 5th Test between Australia and India on Friday, Konstas unnecessarily riled up Jasprit Bumrah over a matter that didn't even involve him. Right after the incident, Bumrah removed Konstas' opening partner Usman Khawaja at the striker's end, prompting an act of aggression from the Indian pacer, prompting Virat Kohli to join in as well. 

It all happened on the penultimate delivery of the day when Khawaja took a little time to get ready at the striker's end, resulting in Bumrah's rhythm getting disturbed. However, the non-striker Konstas involved himself in the incident by uttering a few words to Bumrah, riling up the pacer.

Fiery scenes in the final over at the SCG!

How's that for a finish to Day One #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/BAAjrFKvnQ

— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) January 3, 2025

On the next delivery, Bumrah got Khawaja caught in slips, thanks to KL Rahul's brilliant effort.

After taking the wicket, Bumrah charged at Konstas at the non-striker's end as a part of his celebratory act. Kohli, who is known to wear his heart on his sleeve, also came running from the slip cordon and seemingly charged at Konstas.

Bumrah vs Konstas. CINEMA #AUSvIND | #INDvsAUSTest pic.twitter.com/B0Rhsg1hMC

— (@SaffronTwitz) January 3, 2025

Earlier, India disappointed with the bat yet again, putting a total of 185 runs on the board, that too after stand-in skipper Jasprit Bumrah contributed 22 runs with the bat. Rishabh Pant was the top-scoring batter for India on the opening day, scoring 40 runs before giving-in to his attacking instincts yet again. Kohli, on the other hand, disappointed again by scoring just 17 runs before getting dismissed to the outside off delivery again.

India had benched Rohit Sharma in the match over poor form but his replacement Shubman Gill failed to make his start count as well, scoring just 20 runs before getting dismissed by spinner Nathan Lyon.

Bumrah's solitary wicket before stumps on Day 1 set the desired platform for India ahead of Day 2. India would hope for a few quick wickets early on Day 2.

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Why New Orleans Residents Are Trading Guns for PlayStations

A day before the deadly pickup truck attack, residents of New Orleans participated in a city-supported gun buyback initiative meant to improve public safety amid Louisiana's loosened gun ownership laws. The event, organized by a local nonprofit, saw dozens of individuals exchanging guns for gaming devices, with no questions asked as long the firearms were functional.

Over the course of two hours on Tuesday, city police officers received and dismantled 32 revolvers, shotguns and semi-automatics, all traded in exchange for gaming consoles, such as the PlayStation 5, according to a report by the Associated Press.

Among the participants was Leticia Clanton, 50, who chose to swap her weapon for a PlayStation 5 worth about $500. While Ms Clanton had a permit to carry a concealed handgun she had owned for the past decade, she also has eight young grandchildren running around her home.

"With all the grandkids and all the violence that they got going on, it's time to get it up off the street," Clanton said.

As for the PlayStation? "It's going to be for all of them to share when they come to the house," she said.

'Games For Guns'

Over the last six months, the city has reportedly collected 94 guns through three such buyback programmes. A local nonprofit called Unchained Realities is organizing these exchanges as part of its Nola Grown gaming program that engages young people in the city with gaming.

According to the AP report, the nonprofit has set up two centres for youth to build skills and open up pathways to the gaming world  -- whether as a competitive player or through game development, graphic design and coding. A third centre is reportedly in the works.

"If my inbox is filled up with people who say they want to do this, I just felt a necessity to go out and try to raise some more money," said JD Carrere, co-director of the gaming program.

Louisiana Gun Ownership Laws

The Buybacks came in response to Louisiana's more relaxed gun ownership restrictions and harsher sentencing for violent crimes.

New Orleans has historically had one of America's highest homicide rates. However, murders and non-fatal shootings have decreased significantly in the past two years, according to the New Orleans Police Department.

Over the years, Louisiana has toughened its laws for violent crimes. Shortly after taking office in 2024, Republican Governor Jeff Landry pushed a tough-on-crime agenda and brought laws to curb crime in the Grand Old Party (GOP) dominated state.

Among the laws passed is one mandating 17-year-olds be charged as adults. Another law requires anyone convicted of a crime to serve 85 per cent of their sentence before they can be released.

But it also eased the gun ownership restrictions. As per a law which went into effect in August, most people 18 years or older can carry a concealed weapon without a government permit.

Truck Attack In New Orleans

At least fifteen people were killed and dozens of others were injured after US Army veteran Jabbar swerved around makeshift barriers and barreled into revellers in New Orleans' crowded French Quarter on New Year's Day. Police officials said 42-year-old Jabbar may have had the help of others to carry out the attack, as three improvised pipe bombs were found nearby in the tourist-drawing French Quarter, including one in Jabbar's truck.

The attack took place around 3:15 am near the intersection of Canal and Bourbon Streets, a historic tourist destination known for its music and bars where crowds were celebrating the New Year. The suspect drove a white Ford F-150 electric pickup into a group of pedestrians, then exited and was killed in a shootout with police -- two of whom were wounded.

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Diljit Dosanjh Faces Legal Action Over Alcohol Songs After Ludhiana Concert

Singer and actor Diljit Dosanjh's highly anticipated New Year's Eve concert in Ludhiana was marred by legal controversy following a complaint filed by Punditrao Dharenavar, an assistant professor from Chandigarh.

The complaint prompted the Deputy Director of the Women and Child Department, Government of Punjab, to issue a formal notice to Ludhiana's District Commissioner, urging them to prevent the singer from performing certain songs during his live show on December 31, 2024.

The notice, which was addressed to the local authorities in Ludhiana, specifically calls for a ban on songs that have been accused of promoting alcohol, such as 'Patiala Pegg', '5 Tara Theke', and 'Case (Jeeb Vicho Feem Labbiya)', even if modified with altered lyrics.

The complaint references prior warnings issued to Diljit Dosanjh by various commissions, where he was advised against performing these controversial tracks.

Despite these advisories, the singer has allegedly continued to perform them with slight alterations to the lyrics.

Panditrao Dharenavar, who filed the complaint, expressed strong concerns over the impact of such songs, particularly on young audiences, especially when underage children are in the audience.

Further complicating the situation, Dharenavar cited a ruling from the Punjab and Haryana High Court, which in 2019 directed the police to ensure that no songs promoting alcohol, drugs, or violence are played at public events, including live concerts.

According to the court's decision, songs that glorify substances like alcohol or drugs have a detrimental impact on impressionable children.

Panditrao has also made it clear that he is prepared to escalate the matter to the Punjab and Haryana High Court if the concert proceeds with these tracks.

He further criticized Dosanjh for performing such songs while wearing a pagadi, a traditional headgear that he believes should not be associated with promoting negative values.

The Ludhiana concert, which was added as a last-minute stop on Dosanjh's Dil-Luminati India Tour, marked the grand finale of his three-month nationwide performance schedule.

Initially, the tour was set to conclude in Guwahati, but the Ludhiana show was announced on December 23 and sold out within minutes of ticket sales opening.

In the days leading up to the Ludhiana performance, Diljit Dosanjh had already faced scrutiny in other cities for similar reasons.

During his concert in Hyderabad in November, he received a legal notice from the Telangana government, which cited a complaint about his performance of alcohol and violence-promoting songs.

Additionally, during his Indore show, the singer addressed the issue of black market ticket sales, defending himself against accusations that his tickets were being resold for inflated prices.

The controversy surrounding Diljit Dosanjh's song lyrics isn't new. Earlier in the year, the singer made headlines for his comments on alcohol in his music.

During a performance in Ahmedabad, he promised that he would cease making songs about alcohol if the Indian government enacted a nationwide ban on liquor. "If all the states declare themselves as dry states, I promise I won't sing about alcohol ever again," Dosanjh stated.

Despite these ongoing legal challenges, Dosanjh's Dil-Luminati tour has been a major success, with tickets selling out quickly at every stop.

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

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