Varinder Brar on his heartbreak song ‘Kyu’: ‘Dives into raw, unfiltered emotions’

Mumbai, July 23, 2024
Singer Varinder Brar released his new track titled ‘Kyu’ on Tuesday and shared that the song delves into the raw, unfiltered emotions of heartbreak and betrayal.

The three-minute and 30-second song is a soulful ballad that explores a man’s struggle with a cheating lover.

The track captures the intense pain of heartbreak, taking listeners on an emotional rollercoaster through the raw and unfiltered feelings of betrayal and lost love.

Talking about the song, Varinder said: ” ‘Kyu’ dives into the raw, unfiltered emotions of heartbreak and betrayal. This song is different from anything I’ve done before because it doesn’t just tell a story; it relives an experience that so many of us have faced.”

“The vibe is intensely emotional, and I wanted every note and every word to resonate with the listener’s own journey through love and loss. I hope it offers a sense of understanding and solace to anyone who’s ever felt the sting of betrayal,” he added.

‘Kyu’ is a poignant exploration of love turned sour, capturing the universal pain of broken hearts.

The music is composed by Gill Saab, and the music video is directed by Shera.

The song is streaming on the VYRL Originals YouTube channel.

Varinder is known for his songs like ’12 Bande’, ‘Jatt Life’, ‘Goli’, ‘Thaa’, ‘Lush Jawani’, ‘Villagers’, ‘Kafla’, ‘Takkar’, ‘Gunda’, ‘The Lion’, and ‘Vyah’, among many others.

He also collaborated with singer and rapper Yo Yo Honey Singh for the 2012 album ‘Born This Way’, which featured songs like ‘Mitro Piyareyo’, ‘Johny Walker’, and ‘Kudi Nawaba Di’.(Agency)

Bangladesh A, Sri Lanka A to tour Pakistan in August, November

Lahore, July 23, 2024
Pakistan Shaheens will play four additional four-day and six 50-over matches this year when Bangladesh ‘A’ and Sri Lanka ‘A’ visit Pakistan in August and November, respectively.

Following the second four-dayer against Bangladesh ‘A’ in Darwin, Australia, which will conclude on July 29, both Pakistan Shaheens and Bangladesh ‘A’ will go toe-to-toe in two four-dayers from August 10-13 and August 17-20 in Pakistan. Venues for which has to be decided.

The four-dayers will be followed by three 50-over matches on August 23, 25, and 27.

In November, Sri Lanka ‘A’ will visit Pakistan for five matches against Pakistan Shaheens. The four-dayers will be played from November 11-14 and November 18-21, while the 50-over matches will be held on November 25, 27, and 29. Venues will be announced in due course.

Separately, Pakistan will also defend their ACC Emerging Teams Asia Cup title in October, while the Pakistan U19 team will feature in an U19 50-over Tri-Nation Tournament and ACC Asia Cup U19 in November/December.

The ACC will announce details of the two tournaments in due course.

Schedule:

Bangladesh ‘A’ tour to PAKISTAN

Aug 10-13 – 1st four-day match

Aug 17-20 – 2nd four-day match

Aug 23 – 1st 50-over match

Aug 25 – 2nd 50-over match

Aug 27 – 3rd 50-over match

Sri Lanka ‘A’ tour to Pakistan

Nov 11-14 – 1st four-day

Nov 18-21– 2nd four-day

Nov 25 – 1st 50-over match

Nov 27 – 2nd 50-over match

Nov 29 – 3rd 50-over match.(Agency)

Mrunal Thakur’s watermelon eating video will leave you in splits

Mumbai, July 23, 2024
Actress Mrunal Thakur on Tuesday shared a hilarious video of herself eating watermelon, claiming she is ‘sugar high’.

The actress, who is known for her role in ‘Jersey’, took to Instagram and posted a reel video showcasing her unique way of eating watermelon.

The snippet features Mrunal in a black zipper, with no makeup, and her wet hair open.

In the video, her friend sits behind her, and the actress is asking her to feed her the watermelon.

Mrunal laughs and says, “You have to feed me.”

After taking a bite, she exclaims, “There’s a hair in my mouth.”

Her friend feeds her another piece, and Mrunal responds, “Now there’s water on my chin, wipe it off.”

The video ends with both friends laughing hysterically.

The post is captioned: “Watermelon…Sugar…high.”

Fans were quick to react, with one commenting, “Their non-stop giggling gets me,” and another saying, “How cute.”

On the work front, Mrunal began her acting career in 2012 with the television show ‘Mujhse Kuchh Kehti…Yeh Khamoshiyaan’. She has also featured in shows like ‘Arjun’ and ‘Kumkum Bhagya’,

The actress has also participated in ‘Nach Baliye 7’.

Mrunal appeared in the web series ‘Made in Heaven 2’ and starred in movies like ‘Love Sonia’, ‘Super 30’, ‘Batla House’, ‘Dhamaka’, ‘Sita Ramam’, ‘Pippa’, and ‘The Family Man’.

She recently made a cameo appearance in the Telugu science fiction film ‘Kalki 2898 AD’, which stars Prabhas, Amitabh Bachchan, Kamal Haasan, Deepika Padukone, and Disha Patani.

Mrunal’s upcoming projects include ‘Pooja Meri Jaan’ and ‘Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai’.(Agency)

Centre’s 8-point booster for MSMEs to help them compete globally

New Delhi, July 23, 2024
In a booster for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), the government on Tuesday formulated a detailed package that covers financing, regulatory changes and technology support for them to grow and also compete globally.

Among the measures are a credit guarantee scheme for facilitating term loans to MSMEs for purchase of machinery and equipment without collateral or third-party guarantee.

The scheme will operate on pooling of credit risks of such MSMEs, stated Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman while presenting the Union Budget 2024-25 in Parliament.

Giving more details, the Finance Minister said that a separately constituted self-financing guarantee fund will provide, to each applicant, a guarantee cover up to Rs 100 crore, while the loan amount may be larger.

The borrower will have to provide an upfront guarantee fee and an annual guarantee fee on the reducing loan balance.

“This Budget provides special attention to MSMEs and manufacturing, particularly labour-intensive manufacturing,” she said.

Another measure is to make credit more accessible to MSMEs via a new, independent, and in-house mechanism.

The Finance Minister proposed that public sector banks (PSBs) will build their in-house capability to assess MSMEs for credit, instead of relying on external assessment.

They will also take the lead in developing or getting developed a new credit assessment model, based on the scoring of digital footprints of MSMEs in the economy.

“This is expected to be a significant improvement over the traditional assessment of credit eligibility based only on asset or turnover criteria. That will also cover MSMEs without a formal accounting system,” the Finance Minister noted.

The Minister also proposed a new mechanism for facilitating the continuation of bank credit to MSMEs during their stress period.

The Finance Minister proposed to enhance the limit of Mudra loans to Rs 20 lakh from the current Rs 10 lakh for those entrepreneurs who have availed and successfully repaid previous loans under the ‘Tarun’ category.

For facilitating MSMEs to unlock their working capital by converting their trade receivables into cash, FM Sitharaman proposed to reduce the turnover threshold of buyers for mandatory onboarding on the ‘TReDS’ platform from Rs 500 crore to Rs 250 crore.

This measure will bring 22 more Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs) and 7,000 more companies onto the platform. Medium enterprises will also be included in the scope of the suppliers.

The Finance Minister proposed that SIDBI will open new branches to expand its reach to serve all major MSME clusters within three years and provide direct credit to them.

With the opening of 24 such branches this year, the service coverage will expand to 168 out of 242 major clusters.

The government also proposed that financial support for setting up 50 multi-product food irradiation units in the MSME sector will be provided.

“Setting up of 100 food quality and safety testing labs with NABL accreditation will be facilitated,” the Finance Minister added.

To enable MSMEs and traditional artisans to sell their products in international markets, the Centre proposed that e-commerce export hubs will be set up in public-private-partnership (PPP) mode.(Agency)

Gulfam Khan Hussain’s role in ‘Gehna: Zevar Ya Zanjeer’ is ‘one you will love to hate’

Mumbai, July 23, 2024
Actress Gulfam Khan Hussain, who has joined the cast of ‘Gehna: Zevar Ya Zanjeer’, shared that despite receiving numerous TV offers, she took a break and waited for a strong and impactful role.

Talking about her decision, the ‘Bhagyalaxmi’ actress said: “Let’s say I was missing the adrenaline. I got a lot of offers and calls for TV in the last few months. I had taken a conscious year-long break to catch my breath and travel the world. In this show, my character is one that you would love to hate. After a long time, I’m playing a grey character.”

Speaking about the show, Gulfam shared: ” ‘Gehna: Zevar Ya Zanjeer’ signifies that a cage will be a cage irrespective of it being made of gold. It’s metaphorically significant. People think that if a girl is married off to a well-off family, she will be happy, but many times that’s not the case. All that glitters might not be gold.”

A message to the audience from your character in the show?

The actress said: “The message that every show gives is mostly the same, a woman needs to stand up for her rights, and people around her should help in that. If the family supports positively, there is little one can’t do.”

When it comes to balancing her personal and professional lives, Gulfam manages it smoothly.

The actress added: “We have a few days off a month, so we can plan some breathers accordingly. My husband too travels a lot for work; hence, we as a team juggle everything efficiently.”

‘Gehna: Zevar Ya Zanjeer’ airs on Dangal.

On the work front, Gulfam will soon be seen in a web series titled ‘Waack Girls’, which will stream on Prime Video.

The actress is currently playing the role of Lalita in the show ‘Dhruv Tara-Samay Sadi Se Pare’.

Earlier, she was part of shows like ‘Brij Ke Gopal’, ‘Aladdin – Naam Toh Suna Hoga’, ‘Naamkarann’, and ‘Madhubala – Ek Ishq Ek Junoon’, among numerous others.(Agency)

NextGen Reforms to create more jobs, boost growth soon: FM

New Delhi, July 23, 2024
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Tuesday announced in her Budget speech that the Government will go for Next Generation Reforms to formulate an economic policy framework to delineate the overarching approach to economic development and set the scope of the next generation of reforms for facilitating employment opportunities and sustaining high growth.

“Our government will initiate and incentivise reforms for improving the productivity of factors of production, and facilitating markets and sectors to become more efficient.

“These reforms will cover all factors of production, namely land, labour, capital and entrepreneurship, and technology as an enabler of improving total factor productivity and bridging inequality,” she said.

Effective implementation of several of these reforms requires collaboration between the Centre and the states and building consensus, as the country’s development lies in the development of the states, the Finance Minister explained.

She said to promote competitive federalism and incentivise states for faster implementation of reforms, “I propose to earmark a significant part of the 50-year interest-free loan. Working with the states, we will initiate the reforms”.

The Finance Minister said that land-related reforms and actions, both in rural and urban areas, will cover land administration, planning and management, urban planning, and building bylaws.

These will be incentivised for completion within the next three years through appropriate fiscal support.

Rural land-related actions will include the assignment of Unique Land Parcel Identification Number (ULPIN) or Bhu-Aadhaar for all lands, digitisation of cadastral maps, a survey of map sub-divisions as per current ownership, the establishment of land registry, and linking to the farmers’ registry.

These actions will also facilitate credit flow and other agricultural services, she added.

The Finance Minister also said that land records in urban areas would be digitised with GIS mapping. An IT-based system for property record administration, updating, and tax administration will be established. These will also facilitate the improvement of the financial position of local urban bodies.

She also said that the government will facilitate the provision of a wide array of services to labour, including those for employment and skilling.

A comprehensive integration of the eShram portal with other portals will facilitate such one-stop solution.

The Shram Suvidha and Samadhan portals will be revamped to enhance ease of compliance for industry and trade, she added.

The Finance Minister also said that to meet the financing needs of the economy, the government will bring out a financial sector vision and strategy document to prepare the sector in terms of size, capacity, and skills.

This will set the agenda for the next five years and guide the work of the government, regulators, financial institutions, and market participants.(Agency)

Budget empowers middle class, paves way for ‘Viksit Bharat’: PM Modi

Prime-Minister-Narendra-Modi-in-Parliament

New Delhi, July 23, 2024
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday hailed the Union Budget 2024-25 as ‘holistic and all-inclusive’ and said that it will empower every section of the society while paving the way for ‘Viksit Bharat’.

“This budget will empower all sections of the society. It will take the farmers on a path to prosperity. It will unveil new opportunities for the youth. Thrust on Education and skills training will open these sectors for the next level of growth,” said the Prime Minister, in his first reaction to the Union Budget.

“It will give strength to the middle class. Backward classes will also be strengthened while women’s economic participation in the country’s growth will also be ensured. Small traders as well as MSMEs will find adequate support for fast-paced growth,” he added.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sithraman on Tuesday presented the first Budget of Modi 3.0, showcasing nine priorities of the government.

PM Modi further said that the Budget will give an unprecedented push to job generation and self-employment in the country.

“NDA government in last 10 years ensured that those in the lower and middle-income tax category get relief. Revision in tax slabs and increase in Standard deduction is a step in this direction. Every taxpayer stands to benefit from this,” PM Modi said.

He said that the Budget will act as a catalyst in taking forward the India growth story and make India the third largest country in next few years.

“It will lay a strong foundation for the emergence of Viksit Bharat,” PM Modi stated.(Agency)

Nothing for Punjab in Union Budget, say Congress, Akali Dal

New Delhi, July 23, 2024
The opposition Lok Sabha members from Punjab have criticised the Union Budget as being discriminatory to the state.

Congress’ first-time MP and its chief in Punjab, Amrinder Singh Raja Warring alleged that the Union Budget discriminated against Punjab which needs to be stopped.

“#Why no mention of Punjab in the budget?” he asked.

He said in a post on his X handle: “Disheartened to hear FM @nsitharaman budget proposals. Punjabis had high hopes from the @narendramodi led union government. The FM chose not to mention Punjab even once throughout her speech. The Country’s food bowl deserves special grants for our infrastructural needs but @BJP4India continues to ignore Punjab.”

Shiromani Akali Dal’s lone voice in Parliament, Harsimrat Kaur Badal said the Union Budget will go down as a “Sarkar Bachao” Budget.

She said the Budget was tailor-made for two NDA allies in Bihar and Andhra Pradesh even as farmers, the poor and youth across the country were ignored.

“There is nothing for Punjab in the sixth continuous Budget since Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) exited the NDA alliance and government. Those who joined the BJP to further their own interests in the name of ‘solving Punjab’s issues’ must now answer why the state is facing consistent discrimination at the hands of the Centre,” she added.(Agency)

‘I need to have people criticising me’: Everton striker Beto reflects on social media hate

New Delhi, July 23, 2024
Premier League is one of the most fiercest and brutal leagues in the world. Any player entering the league has to go through the rite of passage, which involves scrutiny and criticism on social media.

Many young players over the years have faltered under pressure and were not given enough chances to overcome their initial face which has seen careers decline and even end.

Everton striker Beto entered the league in the 2024/24 season and is yet to find his footing but the young Portuguese has shown great cool by revealing how he deals with the hate comments.

“We need to understand one thing: football is simple, We play football in our lives and they are working like eight- or 12-hour shifts and they come. Not everybody in this life is going to love you and not everybody in this life is going to hate you. In this sports life, for me, it’s okay,” said Beto to BBC Sport.

“Sometimes I like to read my comments when I played badly or missed chances. They will say ‘Beto is (expletive) with missing chances’. But I like it because I say ‘Ok, I will make this guy shut his mouth’ I take it personal too.

When I’m in training the next week or the next day, I remember it and I say ‘No, this guy is not going to say this about me any more’ and I keep going,” added the 26-yea-old.

Beto joined Everton for a price tag of 25 million pounds from Italian side Udinese and had a dream debut, scoring against Doncaster in the Carabao Cup, however, he played the season as a backup to long time striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin.

He appeared in 37 games for the Toffees with 27 of those appearances being off the bench but the Portuguese talisman looks to be more motivated than ever claiming he ‘needs to have haters.’

“I need to have competition and I need to have people criticising me. I need to have haters. I need these kind of things in my life. Even when I was young it was always like this. When it is football I take it really seriously.

When it is just you playing, there is no competition. Sometimes you can chill, you can miss training, and if you miss a chance you know you will play the next game.

“Competition is different. You need to always be alert. I have notes. I have screenshots from Facebook, YouTube – when they say something like I’m not good enough or something like that. I say Ok, I take a screenshot, I put it on my notes and I read it,” he concluded.(Agency)

Arjun Rampal joins Rana, Venkatesh Daggubati in season 2 of ‘Rana Naidu’

Mumbai, July 23, 2024
Actor Arjun Rampal, who was recently seen in the sports action film ‘Crakk’, has joined the cast of the Telugu-language streaming show ‘Rana Naidu’.

The series focuses on the on-screen father-and-son duo of Rana and Naga Naidu, with the second season promising more adrenaline-pumping drama.

The show also stars Rana Daggubati and Venkatesh Daggubati.

Arjun’s role is set to raise the stakes in this action-packed drama of family feuds and follies. The tension is palpable, and viewers are bracing themselves for a wild ride of power, glamour, and personality clashes.

The series follows the story of the titular character, who makes a living by fixing the messes left behind by his famous clients, earning him the moniker “fixer of the stars.”

Rana faces conflict as he struggles at home, with his bond with his wife and two children being irreparably damaged. The situation takes a turn for the worse when his estranged father, Naga Naidu, is released from prison after serving 15 years for a crime he never committed.

Produced by Sunder Aaron and Locomotive Global, ‘Rana Naidu’ is created by Karan Anshuman and directed by Karan Anshuman, Suparn S. Varma, and Abhay Chopra.

‘Rana Naidu’ season 2 will soon drop on Netflix.(Agency)