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Hindustan Times
4 hours ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
First of 3 flights evacuating Indians from Iran's Mashhad lands in Delhi
The first of three chartered evacuation flights carrying Indian nationals from conflict-hit Iran arrived in Delhi late Friday night, following Iran's decision to ease airspace restrictions for the operation. Those on board had earlier been moved from Tehran to safer locations. Additional flights may be arranged in the coming days for others wanting to return to India, according to a senior Iranian diplomat. Those on board had earlier been moved from Tehran to safer locations. Additional flights may be arranged in the coming days for others wanting to return to India. (File)(Vipin Kumar/HT Photo) 'Iran's airspace is currently closed, but we're facilitating limited access for the safe evacuation of Indian nationals,' said Mohammad Javad Hosseini, deputy chief of mission at the Iranian embassy. Around 1,000 Indians, mostly students pursuing professional courses, were relocated from Tehran to Qom and then to Mashhad. These evacuees will be flown to Delhi on three Iranian-operated charter flights arranged by India, Hosseini said. Two more evacuation flights are set to arrive on Saturday. This evacuation is taking place as the Iran-Israel war enters its second week, following Israel's large-scale aerial offensive launched last week. Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump said he is considering joining Israel in the conflict and will make a decision within two weeks, leaving open the possibility of negotiations to end the hostilities. More evacuation flights to land on Saturday Sources familiar with the situation said that another flight is scheduled to bring back more Indian nationals who were earlier moved from Iran to Turkmenistan via a land route. This evacuation flight from Ashgabat is expected to arrive in New Delhi early Saturday morning. None of the evacuation flights are flying over Pakistani airspace. Hosseini noted that additional flights may be arranged in the coming days, including a possible one on Sunday, to help Indians wishing to return home. He added that the Iranian foreign ministry is coordinating closely with India's external affairs ministry and the Indian embassy in Tehran to ensure the safe evacuation of Indian citizens. 'We are arranging for the safe passage of Indians who want to [leave] via air or via road through third countries, or directly from Iran,' Hosseini said. A separate group of 110 Indian students, who had been relocated from Tehran to Qom and then taken to Armenia by land, reached Delhi on a flight from Yerevan on Thursday. At the time the hostilities began, triggered by Israeli airstrikes on Iranian military and nuclear sites over the weekend, there were around 10,000 Indians in Iran—many of them students. India has not issued any formal advisories urging its citizens to leave Iran or Israel, but it has asked nationals in both countries to remain alert and limit their movement. Indian authorities have also recommended that citizens move out of Tehran. Hosseini said that all Indian nationals in Iran are safe, except for a few who sustained injuries when an Israeli airstrike struck a student dormitory in Tehran over the weekend. (With inputs from Rezaul Laskar)
Hindustan Times
7 hours ago
- Sport
- Hindustan Times
Discipline and Bhagat Singh: What drives Indian-origin US fighter Mansher Khera
New Delhi: Mixed martial arts can be unforgiving. Discipline, belief and hunger are some words thrown around in the sport. But for Mansher Khera, those reminders are inked into his skin. Literally. Mansher Khera in action against Aziz Khaydarov during their Road to UFC bout in May. (UFC) Etched across his ripped torso is the face of Bhagat Singh, the Indian revolutionary who went on a 116-day hunger strike and eventually died for his beliefs when he was only 23. Khera got the tattoo over a decade ago, long before he entered the octagon. 'That was my first tattoo,' he told HT, 'Honestly, for me, it was his mindset towards the cause. He was willing to die for it. That kind of commitment… that's what inspires me every single day.' 'I feel like every morning when I wake up and I look at that tattoo, it just keeps me disciplined, it keeps me sharp, it keeps me grounded.' It's that spirit that carried Khera to his Road to UFC in Shanghai in May to a unanimous decision win over Aziz Khaydarov. His opportunity came at 33, an age some might consider too late to start their UFC dreams but the New Jersey-based fighter isn't too fussed about that. 'I think about (age) all the time, if I'm being honest. But this is my passion,' he said. 'I don't have anything else in my life… I'm not married, I don't have kids. I might be old, but I don't have anything else and I'm training like an 18-year-old. I know my skills will speak for themselves.' Born to Indian immigrants in America, Khera's story is driven by resilience. His parents, Sukhdev Singh Khera and Abhilash Khera, arrived in America with 'zero dollars to their name,' building a life from scratch. 'I draw a lot of inspiration from them… their life was way harder than mine. So when I'm training and I'm tired, I think of that.' Although his parents were back in the US, Khera grew up in India, attending a strict boarding school where discipline was carved into routine. Waking up at 7 am, six-day weeks, and a culture of toughness. 'That environment hardened my mind,' he recalled. 'So now when I'm in the gym and I don't want to push through, I still do it. Because I've been through worse.' When he moved back to New York as a teen, the transition jolted him a little, as it would for a person of colour. 'I was somewhat of an outcast… people picked on me, and I got into a lot of fights.' However, martial arts allowed him to feel a sense of belonging, and soon, the gym became his sanctuary. The mat doesn't care about colour, after all. 'On the mats, it's simple. No one cares about your race or background. They care if you show up and work. That's how you earn respect.' Now, Khera splits his training between CULTR Fight Club in Jersey City, where his coach Rich Ebenhan has shaped his game and Unity BJJ in New York City, a hub for world-class jiu-jitsu players. Khera was also the first grappler that was awarded the black belt by the legendary Marcelo Garcia – arguably the best pound for pound submission grappler. 'I really took my time,' Khera, who started BJJ in 2009, said. 'First, I focussed on Jiu-Jitsu. Once I got good, I moved to kickboxing around 2017-18. Then I mixed it all up around 2021. Now I'm ready for the big stage.' The big stage is, of course, UFC. 'There are UFC champions older than me. Look at (Alexander) Volkanovski, look at Islam (Makachev). I know I can achieve that. I have nothing holding me down. It's attainable. No distractions. This is it.' He already has his eye on Australia's Quilan Salkild, the fighter who last defeated Indian UFC fighter Anshul Jubli. 'I'd love to fight him. I want that win on my record,' he said. But beyond the wins and belts is a desire to build something more lasting. 'I want my legacy to be honest. For it to reflect that I never quit. I showed heart, grit. And I stayed true to myself. I want people coming up in the game to look at me and say, 'He didn't sell out. He did it his way.'' Khera may not have the flashiest style or the most roaring trash talk. But he has an unyielding discipline, a fighter's spirit, the all-round skills and Bhagat Singh' commitment as a reminder. And it might just be enough to take him where he believes he belongs.
Hindustan Times
7 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Reel life in the dark room of Emergency
It didn't take even three decades for the sovereign democratic Republic of India to face a nation-wide internal Emergency (June 25, 1975–March 21, 1977), which in practice meant democratic despotism and electoral autocracy. Both paradoxical and contradictory-in-terms, when film producers, directors and artistes saw how their freedom was clipped while the censorial scissors became extra-constitutionally sharper in the hands of an elected despot. After the Emergency got over, the newly elected Janata Party government at the Centre published a White Paper on Misuse of Mass Media During the Internal Emergency in August 1977, that listed all branches of mass media (including cinema) and examined how their rights were violated through the reckless abuse of power. Playback singer Kishore Kumar was another artiste who fell out with the authorities during the Emergency. (HT Photo) My story begins with two instances from Southern India that the White Paper did not mention. Incidentally, on the very day of the clamping of the draconian Emergency, i.e. June 25, 1975, a Kannada film was winding up its shooting while a Malayalam film project was being launched in Bengaluru; the Malayalam film crew was in the Karnataka capital because at that time the State government was offering a subsidy of ₹ 50,000 to producers who made films in that state. The Malayalam film was Kabani Nadi Chuvannappol (When the Kabani River Turned Red, 1975). The director of the film, PA Backer, and its producer, Pavithran, are no more, but I spoke with TV Chandran, who debuted as an actor in Kabani (Chandran is better known as a screenwriter and director in Kerala today). Chandran recalled how they were harassed during the shoot because the film dealt with the theme of student revolt against the establishment. Later, the censors asked the producer to chop off nearly 1,000 feet of the footage. Parts of the film were reshot and was resubmitted to two central representatives. The film was screened for the two men at the massive Kalaivanar Arangam theatre in Madras (Chennai), who did not find anything objectionable in it. However, Kabani Nadi Chuvannappol was withdrawn from a cinema hall in Thiruvananthapuram a couple of weeks after its release under government instruction. This time, the police ordered further cuts. The second story is about the Kannada film, Chanda Maruta (Rogue Winds, 1975) starring Snehalatha Reddy and directed by her husband Pattabhi Rama Reddy. The film, inspired by P Lankesh's play Kranthi Bantu Kranthi had, in fact, prophesied the Emergency. The censors banned the film. On June 25, 1975, Snehalata Reddy, who was one part of the lead pair (along with Girish Karnad) in Samskara (1970), Pattabhi Rama Reddy's adaptation of UR Ananthamurthy's celebrated novel, was imprisoned on false charges. She was tortured in Bangalore Central Prison and passed away while on parole on January 20, 1977. She was only 45. Eminent Malayalam writer-director MT Vasudevan Nair had planned to make a film about her, which, unfortunately, didn't happen. However, Uma Chakravarti's documentary Prison Diaries (2019) provides us an invaluable document about the imprisonment of a number of women who resisted the Emergency through the life of Snehalatha Reddy. Anand Patwardhan's 1978 film Prisoners of Conscience is a chronicle of how, under the Emergency, dissenters were detained and tortured in prisons. Among the films the White Paper mentions is Aandhi (Storm, 1975) directed by Gulzar and starring Sanjiv Kumar and Suchitra Sen. The film's heroine was to be modelled on Indira Gandhi but that idea was dropped. Permission was granted only after the producer revised the film. Kissa Kursi Ka, directed by Amrit Nahata in 1975, fared worse. The film was a satire on the politics of that time. It was first banned and later, its prints were confiscated. The film as well as its negative were destroyed. Andolan, directed by Lekh Tandon (1975) dealt with the 1942 movement. It could not be released because the producer was ordered to cut all the portions dealing with underground activities that were contextualised around the story. Even the blockbuster Sholay wasn't spared. The censors asked the producer to change the end scenes. Playback singer Kishore Kumar was another artiste who fell out with the authorities during the Emergency. As a result, his songs were banned from the radio and television, both controlled by the government, and the sale of gramophone records with his songs was made unlawful! Such bullying and arm-twisting by the central government were commonplace during the 21 months of the Emergency. Like Snehalatha Reddy and Kishore Kumar, not everyone meekly surrendered. Actor Dev Anand opposed the Emergency publicly and described it as a 'dark night, a nightmare, an insult to the people'. He even formed a political party – the National Party of India – which had to be disbanded when he failed to find suitable candidates to fight elections after the Emergency was lifted in 1977. As the nation commemorates the 50th anniversary of the Emergency, these instances of pushback should be remembered. Amrit Gangar is a Mumbai-based author, curator and historian. The views expressed are personal.
Hindustan Times
8 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
HT City Delhi Junction: Catch It Live on 21 June 2025
Wondering where to celebrate International Day Of Yoga or make the most of World Music Day or just relive the good old fun of skateboarding? Here's a specially curated list for you to experience both these and more in the Capital: Catch It Live on Saturday, 21 June 2025.(Photo: Anurag Mehra/HT) What: Baarish – Art, Music, Monsoon Where: Travancore Palace New Delhi, 10A KG Marg, Connaught Place When: June 21 Timing: 5.30pm Entry: Nearest Metro Station: Mandi House (Blue & Violet Lines) #DelhiTalkies What: Go Skate Day Where: Backyard Skatepark, Block A1, 428, Dhankar Road, Neb Sarai, Sainik Farm When: June 21 Timing: 4pm Entry: Free Nearest Metro Station: Saket (Yellow Line) #DelhiTalkies What: Yoga with Puppies by Pawasana Where: Creative Detox Studio, S-440, Block S, Greater Kailash (GK) I When: June 21 Timing: 11am Entry: Nearest Metro Station: Greater Kailash (Magenta Line) #LitTalk What: The Penguin Dialogues Where: Kiran Nadar Museum of Art (KNMA), 145, DLF South Court Mall, Saket When: June 21 Timing: 7pm Entry: Free Nearest Metro Station: Saket (Yellow Line) #Staged What: Yet It Moves Where: Muktadhara Auditorium, 18-19, Bhai Vir Singh Marg, Sector 2, Gole Market When: June 21 Timing: 6.30pm Entry: Free Nearest Metro Station: Rajiv Chowk (Blue & Yellow Lines) #LitTalk What: Poetry reading Where: Planterie, Bldg #4, Panchsheel Park, N Block Market When: June 21 Timing: 11am Entry: Nearest Metro Station: Hauz Khas Metro Station (Yellow & Magenta Lines) For more, follow HT City Delhi Junction
Indian Express
13 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
ABCD actor Lauren Gottlieb ties the knot with longtime beau Tobias Jones in lavish Tuscany wedding. See pics
Actor-dancer Lauren Gottlieb tied the knot with her long-time beau Tobias Jones, in a lavish wedding in Tuscany, Italy. The beautiful ceremony had a dreamy white themed intimate wedding with family members and close friends in attendance. The ABCD actor share a bunch of adorable pictures of the ceremony. They had gotten engaged in August 2024. Lauren took to her Instagram handle and shared the carousel of pictures. Along with the post, she wrote in the caption, 'Mr. & Mrs. Jones. 11.06.2025. On a Tuscan hilltop, with our hearts wide open, we promised each other forever. We've always felt this love was out there. A once-in-a-lifetime kind of love. And when we found it, and it felt like coming home. Marrying each other was the most beautiful day of our lives. It was joy. It was peace. It was everything we've ever dreamt of!' She also thanked the wedding planners in the rest of the caption. Check out the post: A post shared by Lauren Gottlieb (@laurengottlieb) The bride wore a white wedding gown with an off-the-shoulder design and lace embroidery. Tobias donned a classic black and white tuxedo to match his wife. He chose a black blazer with black pants, and a black bow tie. Their ceremony had a live singer performing as Lauren walked down the aisle with her father, a champagne tower for the guests, and fireworks with Coldplay's A Sky Full of Stars playing in the background. ALSO READ | Lauren Gottlieb reveals why she left India at the peak of fame: 'I was spiralling with the cultural and language barriers…' Lauren confirmed the news to HT and said, 'It was truly a dream come true — from the quietest moments to the biggest surprises.' Remembering the day she and Tobias said 'I do'. I woke up the morning of the wedding before anyone else. As I got ready, I was oddly calm. And then… it was time. When I saw Tobias standing at the altar in his custom Prada tux, I kept telling myself, remember, every second of it. Don't forget a single thing.' Her husband Tobias Jones is a London-based video creator and director. They got engaged at Aruba Ocean Villas in the Caribbean, last year. The couple met on Instagram in 2021, and were in a long-distance relationship for a long while.
