Tara Sutaria recalls how it was ‘quite tough to navigate’ her first Hindi song ‘Shaamat’

Mumbai, June 23, 2024
Actress Tara Sutaria on Sunday reminisced about her first Hindi song, ‘Shaamat’, which she recorded for the 2022 action thriller film ‘Ek Villain Returns’ and said as a trained western classical and pop singer for the last 20 years, she found it challenging to navigate her technique and sound to suit her character.

Taking to Instagram, Tara shared a series of behind-the-scenes pictures from the shoot of the song.

Along with the snaps, she wrote: “A little over two years ago, I recorded my first Hindi song #SHAAMAT which is at 93 MILLION views today.. This was for our film #EkVillainReturns where I play a singer.

It felt serendipitous as one seldom gets to sing for oneself in film.. As a trained western classical and pop singer for the last 20 years it was quite tough to navigate my technique and sound to fit and suit my character’s..”

“English and Hindi music are both close to my heart but entirely different when it comes to training, sound and technique! In retrospect, SO glad to have taken a leap and grateful to experience so much love toward the song. Such sweet memories with everyone too!@mohitsuri@arjunkapoor @ankittiwari@badboyshah You made it special,” added Tara in her post.

Tara’s huge fan base took to the comment section, expressing their admiration.

One fan wrote, “And we need a new song,” while another said, “It’s forever my favourite.”

A fan commented, “Currently my looped song,” and another remarked, “You looked like a diva here.”

The lyrics of ‘Shaamat’ are penned by Prince Dubey, and the music is by Ankit Tiwari. Directed by Mohit Suri and produced by T-Series and Balaji Motion Pictures, the film, which is a sequel to the 2014 film ‘Ek Villain’, stars John Abraham, Arjun Kapoor, Disha Patani, and Tara Sutaria.

Meanwhile, Tara was last seen as the lead in the survival thriller film ‘Apurva’.(Agency)

Katie Ledecky creates history at US Olympic swim trials

New Delhi, June 23, 2024
Katie Ledecky made history at the US Olympic swim trials in Indianapolis as the seven-time Olympic champion became the first woman to win four titles at a single trials, with her 800m freestyle victory.

Finishing in eight minutes and 14.12 seconds, Ledecky was more than six seconds clear of her nearest challenger on Saturday, reaffirming her status as the world’s quickest in this event for the 16th time, reports BBC.

This remarkable performance sets the stage for Ledecky to extend her Olympic medal haul at the Paris 2024 Olympics. She is slated to compete in the 400m freestyle, 800m freestyle, 1500m freestyle, and the 4x200m freestyle relay.

Among these events, the 800m freestyle holds particular significance as Ledecky aims to join the legendary Michael Phelps as the only swimmers to win four consecutive gold medals in the same Olympic event.

In Paris, Ledecky not only seeks to extend her legacy but strives for the historic fourth consecutive gold in the 800m freestyle.

Ledecky’s journey to greatness began at the London 2012 Olympics, where she captured the 800m freestyle gold at just 15 years old.

Her wins in Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020 in the same event have been pivotal in her accumulation of 10 Olympic medals, making her one of the most decorated swimmers in history.(Agency)

UK: Power outage in Manchester airport causes massive delays, cancelation

London, June 23, 2024
Manchester Airport recorded massive disruption and flight delays due to a power outage on Sunday morning.

According to the airport’s press release, the power cut caused significant disruption, leading to the cancellation of flights from Terminals 1 and 2. Passengers scheduled to travel from these terminals today are advised not to come to the airport until further notice, reports Xinhua news agency.

Over 15 flights were cancelled, according to the airport’s departure board.

Sunday’s delay has drawn complaints from many travellers.

Till press time, power has been restored, and the international airport said it was working to get passengers waiting inside the airport on flights as soon as possible.

As Britain’s global gateway in the north of England, Manchester Airport served over 25 million passengers in 2023. It is undergoing the final phase of a transformation program worth 1.3 billion pounds ($1.64 billion), which is set for completion in 2025.(Agency)

‘Bigg Boss OTT 3’: Sana gets emotional on her birthday; Naezy says he wanted to be a scientist

Mumbai, June 23, 2024
The second day on the controversial reality show ‘Bigg Boss OTT 3’ witnessed social media influencer Sana Sultan Khan getting overwhelmed with emotions on her birthday.

The reality of being away from her loved ones hit hard as Sana gazed at a picture frame of her family, leading to tears and an emotional outburst.

Also on day two, the audience witnessed a fight between TV actors Sai Ketan Rao and Sana Makbul.

Sana tells rapper Naved Shaikh a.k.a Naezy her side of the egg fight with Sai. She defends her actions and shares what really happened, spilling the tea about Sai Ketan in the process.

YouTube sensation Shivani Kumari showcased her mimicry skills, leaving the housemates in the split.

During a candid conversation, Sana Sultan asked Naezy: “Aapne padhai kya ki thi?” (what did you study?)

To this, Naezy, who is known for his songs ‘Khamakha’, ‘Tragedy Mein Comedy’, ‘Azaad Hu Mein’, said: “Maine science study kia tha.” (I studied science).

This left Sana in surprise, and said: “Kya baat kar rhe ho science se lekar rapper ban gaye ho? Ye kya scene hai.”

Naezy continued saying, “Mujhe scientist banna hai. I have studied chemistry, zoology and botany.”

Sai asked Naezy: “Till where you have studied?”

Replying to the ‘Agni Sakshi’ actor, Naezy said: “I have done graduation in all these subjects.”

Continuing, the conversation, Sai said: “I have done graduation in engineering. I have studied computer science”.

Actor Ranvir Shorey says to Sai: “Wow.. so, you have an alternate career if ever needed.”

The show also has TV actress Poulomi Das, social media influencers Vishal Pandey and Lovekesh Kataria’, ‘Vada Pav’ girl Chandrika Gera Dixit, YouTuber Armaan Malik and his two wives Payal and Kritika, astrologer Munisha Khatwani and Indian boxer Neeraj Goyat as contestants.

The show, hosted by Bollywood superstar Anil Kapoor, is streaming on JioCinema Premium.(Agency)

Football Leaks hacker Rui Pinto claims he has proofs of Man City FFP breach

New Delhi, June 23, 2024
The large cloud that hangs above the heads of Manchester City’s period of dominance grows even darker as the hacker behind the ‘Football Leaks scandal’ Rui Pinto has claimed he has handed five hard drives to French and German authorities with millions of documents which will find ‘criminal relevancy’ agianst the club.

Manchester City have 115 financial fair play FFP charges for failure to provide accurate financial information.

These charges include failure to provide accurate details for player and manager payments, failure to comply with UEFA’s rules including Financial Fair Play, breaching Premier League’s PSR rules, failure to cooperate with Premier League investigations and are expected to face a hearing for alleged financial irregularities.

The Portuguese national Pinto has been under witness protection since 2020. Despite being found guilty of attempted extortion and unauthorised access to data. He received a four-year suspended sentence from a Portuguese court last year and avoided prison.

He is currently in a safe-house and attended the OffShore-Alert Marbella Conference via video call, The Sun reports.

“The Man City releases showed amounts of money being paid into by the club that were not mentioned to the football authorities. These documents form part of the Premier League investigation into City.

I have now handed five hard drives to French and German authorities with millions of documents, including more on City and I have described what is on each. I am confident they will find criminal relevancy,” the 35-year old was quoted by The Sun.

“We have been approached by investigators to share information regarding Manchester City that has not been released before.“We haven’t released the information yet but we have a massive file of Manchester City-related documents that has yet to be released. The files will be published at some point, we cannot say when but we will do it,” added Pinto’s legal representative.

Pep Guardiola’s side recently became the first side in Premier League history to lift the league title for four consecutive seasons but face huge legal hurdles in the future.

The FFP charges have been looming over the club’s head as questions are being raised behind the legality of their recent success.(Agency)

Claims of Ayodhya Dham rly station’s boundary wall collapse fact-checked: Here’s what happened

New Delhi, June 23, 2024
The news of Ayodhya Dham railway station’s boundary wall collapsing after the season’s first rainfall spread like wildfire on the social media and drew a slew of reactions from the netizens.

Many expressed shock over the collapse of the boundary wall at the slightest trigger of monsoons, while others raised questions over its durability.

A viral video of the collapsed boundary wall also went viral on the social media, where a portion of it could be seen leaning towards the other side while another small portion being caved in to ground.

The viral claim, meanwhile, has been fact-checked by the Press Information Bureau (PIB), the nodal agency of the government for disseminating information to the media.

The PIB categorically dismissed the claims and termed it ‘misleading’.

It says that the boundary wall shown in the video is part of the old railway station.

It further informs that the boundary wall caved in because of the excavation work carried out by a private entity.

Water-logging outside the railway station area is another reason for this, it said.

Notably, the refurbished Ayodhya Dham railway station was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi last year.

Four Vande Bharat Express trains were also started from the city to enable the influx of more pilgrims to the Ayodhya Dham.

Earlier in the day, as the video spread on social media, it sparked a debate in political circles as well as social media, with all raising concerns over the quality of infrastructure development in the region.

Many in political circles expressed dismay over the fragility of the wall, which was apparently built to survive for a long term and withstand many adversities including the monsoon.(Agency)

Sonakshi-Zaheer completing legal must-dos at bride’s Bandra pad; brothers Luv-Kush missing

Mumbai, June 23, 2024
Bollywood’s newest couple, Sonakshi Sinha and Zaheer Iqbal, are completing the legal formalities required for their civil marriage at the bride’s new apartment, 81 Aureate, which is located near the Rang Sharda Auditorium at Bandra West, Mumbai.

According to the media reports, the ‘Heeramandi’ actress had purchased the lavish apartment in September last year. It is situated on the 26th floor of the building. The sea-facing apartment is spread across 4,210.87 square feet and is reportedly priced at Rs 11 crore.

Ahead of the wedding, Zaheer visited a mosque to offer prayers before setting off for Sonakshi’s apartment. In videos, Zaheer is seen leaving his Bandstand home for the wedding. He’s seen sporting a grey-and-black checkered shirt paired with a parrot-green cap.

The 35-year-old actor smiled at the paparazzi and flashed a thumbs-up sign.

Close friends Huma Qureishi and Saqib Saleem were with Sonakshi on Saturday night. Yo Yo Honey Singh arrived on Sunday with the stated intention of attending the wedding and dancing without drinking,

Riteish and Genelia Deshmukh said they were all set to attend the wedding bash at the Shilpa Shetty-owned upmarket Bastian restaurant on Linking Road. And there was much speculation about whether Bollywood’s ‘Bhaijaan’ Salman Khan, old friend of Zaheer’s father who played Cupid and got the couple to meet, will attend the wedding.

Sonakshi’s brothers, Luv and Kush, meanwhile, have been conspicuous so far by their absence.

Sonakshi and Zaheer, the man she lovingly describes as her ‘personal psycho’, have been dating for the past seven years. Salman Khan, a friend of Zaheer’s family who gave Sonakshi her Bollywood break in action-comedy ‘Dabbang’ (2010), played Cupid.

Zaheer, too, made his debut with ‘Notebook’, a Salman Khan film where he was cast opposite another newbie, Pranutan Bahl, daugther of actor Mohnish Bahl, and granddaughter of Nutan.

It is said that Salman introduced Sonakshi to Zaheer on the sets of ‘Notebook’ in 2017. Zaheer’s father Iqbal Ratansi, who has well-established jewellery and real estate businesses, is a childhood friend of Salman Khan.

Sonakshi, now better-known for playing Faridan Bai, the main antagonist in ‘Heeramandi’, and Zaheer have starred together in the critically panned 2022 film ‘Double XL’, where he plays a London-based TV line producer, Zorawar Rahmani.

The ‘Heeramandi’ star’s next film is the horror comedy ‘Kakuda’, which also features Riteish Deshmukh and Saqib Saleem in the lead roles.(Agency)

T20 World Cup: ‘I can sleep better now’, says Rashid after Afghanistan’s historic win over Australia

Kingstown, June 23, 2024
Afghanistan skipper Rashid Khan reckons he can sleep better now after his side beat Australia by 21 runs in their Super Eight game of T20 World Cup at the Arnos Vale Stadium on Sunday (as per IST).

In defence of 148, where Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran shared an opening stand of 118 runs, all-rounder Gulbadin Naib took 4-20, including taking out Glenn Maxwell, as Afghanistan bowled out Australia for 127 to get their first win over the opposition in international cricket and leave the race to semi-finals from Group 1 wide open.

“I think I can sleep better now. But that was a night which didn’t let me sleep. The game (in Mumbai during last year’s ODI World Cup, where Maxwell made 200) kept coming into my mind and it was 90 plus percent we were in the game.

“The way Maxi played that night took the game away from us and definitely I didn’t sleep whole night. I feel like tonight because of the happiness I won’t be able to sleep. That’s how happy the whole team and the whole country. It’s a massive win for us as a team, and nation.

“It’s not just like a bilateral game. It’s a World Cup game, and definitely in a World Cup, you’re beating a best side, which is a great achievement. Beating a team like that, who won 2021 T20 World Cup, it always gives you so much energy and doesn’t let you to sleep as well,” said Rashid in the post-match press conference.

He also felt fielding made a huge difference in outcome of the match going into Afghanistan’s favour, as Australia spilled many catching chances and gave away runs via misfields.

“It plays a massive role in the game. Either you play T20 or ODI, but fielding is something which is under the control, and for that, you have to put the effort in. Once you have that bad day in the fielding, it always keeps you away from the game.

“Especially in a short format, where you make those small mistakes, it’s pretty hard for you to come back. In ODI, yes, you have 50 overs where you can make a comeback. But to me, I think in T20, you don’t have any excuse.

“You don’t have any space where you can come back again into the game. Definitely, I think fielding play a crucial role as the batting and bowling. To me, batting and bowling is 25-25. 50% is something which is fielding. If you lose something in that, it does make you to a losing side,” he said.

Rashid signed off by saying Afghanistan emerging victorious against Australia will mean a lot to fans back home, who have been celebrating on the streets in various cities.

“It gives the people back home so much hope and especially to the young generation getting involved into the cricket and getting the attention into the sports and also for the nation – cricket is the only source of happiness back home.

“I feel like we are so lucky to be here giving those happiness to the people back home. We hardly see those kind of events back home where they could celebrate and enjoy those moments. But winning these big games in the World Cups gives them so much happiness. That’s something which really, really satisfy me.

“I don’t care about taking one wicket, two, three, five, or six wickets – but when I see those people having those smiles and celebration back home in every street of Afghanistan, that is something which gives me so much energy and also motivates me for the upcoming games, where I will be able to make them more proud. As a team we can make them more proud and give them more happiness,” he concluded.(Agency)

1 killed, 7 missing after landslide in China

Changsha, June 23, 2024
One person was killed, and seven others remain missing as of noon after a landslide in a county in central China’s Hunan Province on Sunday, according to the local publicity department.

The landslide happened in Douxi Village, Xinhuang Dong Autonomous County of Huaihua City, and was reported to the county’s emergency response centre at around 4 a.m. on Sunday.

It led to the collapse of four houses, reports Xinhua news agency.

Earlier, eight people were reported missing in the aftermath of the landslide.

All other people at the site have been relocated to safe areas, and rescue work is underway.

Rainstorms hit many parts of Hunan from Saturday to Sunday morning, according to the local meteorological authority.

The province issued warnings for rainstorms and flooding on Sunday, predicting that storms will hit northern and central parts of the province in the coming week and disaster risks will be high.

As of Sunday morning, one person was killed, and another was missing due to waterlogging caused by the heavy rain in Wuqiangxi Township, Yuanling County of Huaihua City, said the county’s publicity department.

The county has been hit by heavy rain. Heavy downpours or rainstorms hit parts of the Sichuan Basin, Guizhou, Hunan, Jiangxi, Zhejiang, Fujian, Guangxi, Guangdong, Henan, Hubei and Heilongjiang this month, leading to extensive damage and deaths caused by floodings.(Agency)

Capt Neikezhakuo Kenguruse’s bravery is an inspiration for all of us: Lt Gen Sahi

Kolkata, June 23 2024-

Lt Gen Harjeet Singh Sahi, GOC, Spear Corps of the Army’s Eastern Command on Sunday said that Capt Neikezhakuo Kenguruse’s bravery during the Kargil War is an inspiration ‘for all of us’.

“The Kenguruse Memorial Run is not just an event but a symbol of our endearing respect and remembrance for Capt Neikezhakuo Kenguruse, MVC (Posthumou). His bravery during the Kargil War is an inspiration for all of us,” Lt Gen Sahi said during an event organised at Kenguruse Memorial Run at Bhagat Stadium, Rangapahar Military Station in Dimapur, Nagaland to honour the valiant sacrifice of Capt Neikezhakuo Kenguruse.

Capt Kenguruse, who was from Nagaland, made the supreme sacrifice on the night of June 28, 1999, after single-handedly neutralising a strategically located machine gun post and killing four of the enemy, two of them with his commando knife.

Over 750 individuals, including all ranks and families of the Spear Corps, participated in the run. Participants had the option to compete in 2 km, 5 km, and 10 km runs, ensuring an inclusive event for all ages and fitness levels.

The highlight of the event was the presence of Capt Kenguruse’s parents, who were felicitated by Lt Gen Harjeet Singh Sahi, GOC, Spear Corps.

Lt Gen Sahi expressed deep gratitude for the sacrifices made by Capt Kenguruse and his family. He also motivated the participants by awarding prizes to the winners of all categories.

Capt Kenguruse is the only Maha Vir Chakra recipient in the Army Service Corps (ASC) till date.

Though Capt Kenguruse was commissioned into the ASC, he was assigned the post of a Ghatak platoon commander with the 2 Rajputana Rifles during Operation Vijay (Kargil War). He was part of the raid on Area Black Rock (also known as Area Three Pimples). The well-sited enemy machine gun post on a cliff face was hampering the approach to the main objective of his Battalion.

This was when Capt Kenguruse volunteered to lead a daring commando raid on the gun position. Even as he led his team in the climb, they came under heavy mortar and automatic fire, resulting in heavy casualties. The Captain was himself hit in the abdomen by splinters.

Undeterred by his injuries, Capt Kenguruse continued to lead his team till the final cliff face. A rock wall separated them from the enemy machine gun position. The officer removed his boots and socks to get a better grip, picked up a rocket launcher and charged the machine gun post all by himself.

After firing the rocket at the machine gun post, he shot two of the enemy with his rifle. He finished off the remaining two with his knife in hand-to-hand combat before succumbing to his injuries. (Agency)