Shriya Pilgaonkar joins jury for Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles 2024

Mumbai, June 22 2024-

Actress Shriya Pilgaonkar says she is honoured to join the jury panel of the Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles (IFFLA) for the Shorts category at the 2024 edition of the festival.

“I am honoured and thrilled to be invited as a jury member for the short film category at the Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles 2024. I look forward to attending the festival in LA and watching these stellar shorts by emerging South Asian filmmakers,” she added.

The actress said: “The atmosphere at film festivals is always creatively energising and deeply inspiring. I’m excited to meet and interact with diverse storytellers and performers, and to witness the incredible lineup of films at IFFLA.”

Shriya is known for her work in series such as ‘Mirzapur’, ‘Guilty Minds’, ‘Taaza Khabar’, and ‘The Broken News 2’. She has also made her mark in international projects, including the British series ‘Beecham House’ directed by Gurinder Chadha and the French film ‘Un plus Une’ by veteran filmmaker Claude Lelouch.

The festival will commence on June 27 and conclude on June 30.

This year, the intriguing submissions in the Shorts Program include ‘Hema’ featuring Rajshri Deshpande, ‘Last Days of Summer’, and ‘Lori’, among others.

Additionally, the festival will close with ‘Maharaja’ starring Vijay Sethupathi and Anurag Kashyap. Guneet Monga and Karan Johar’s ‘Kill’ starring Lakshya are some of the films from India at IFFLA 2024. (Agency)

Aftab Shivdasani to star in ‘musical, romance, horror’ film titled ‘Kasoor’

Mumbai, June 22 2024-

Actor Aftab Shivdasani will be starring in an upcoming film titled ‘Kasoor’, which is a “musical, romance, and horror genre.”

Following the success and enthusiastic response to ‘Sirf Ek Bandaa Kafi Hai’, producer Asif Shaikh of Practical Productions has roped in Aftab for the musical horror film ‘Kasoor’, presented by Bablu Aziz.

Confirming the news, producer Asif said: “It’s a very unique concept — a musical romance horror. When Aftab heard the story, he was very excited about the subject. The audience will see Aftab Shivdasani in a very different role on the silver screen.”

“It’s an author-backed role, and we are in the process of finalising one female lead and another male lead alongside Aftab. The announcement for these roles will follow soon.”

Directed by Glen Barretto and written by Mudassar Aziz, the story revolves around three main characters.

The 45-year-old actor was first selected as the Farex baby at the age of 14 months. He was then seen in films such as ‘Mr. India’, ‘Shahenshah’, ‘ChaalBaaz’, ‘Awwal Number’, ‘C.I.D.’, and ‘Insaniyat’ as a child star.

Aftab made his debut as a leading actor in 1999 with ‘Mast’, directed by Ram Gopal Varma. He subsequently appeared in films such as ‘Kasoor’, ‘Awara Paagal Deewana’, ‘Hungama’, and ‘Masti’.

In 2018, Aftab made his debut in Tamil cinema with ‘Bhaskar Oru Rascal’ and in Kannada cinema with ‘Kotigobba 3’ in 2021.

The actor was last seen in Hindi cinema in the 2019 film ‘Setters’, a crime thriller directed by Ashwini Chaudhary. The film also stars Shreyas Talpade, Sonnalli Seygall, Vijay Raaz, Ishita Dutta, Pavan Malhotra, Jameel Khan, and Pankaj Jha.

It revolves around examination cheating rackets in India, showcasing an eponymous racket where brilliant students sit for exams in place of weaker students for money. (Agency)

Nurse assaulted in Sydney : Nurse security guards injured

Sydney, June 22 2024-

A male offender armed with a knife has been arrested after three security guards and one nurse got injured at a Sydney hospital.

At around 11:30 p.m. local time on Friday night, police were called to a hospital in Westmead following reports of a man having assaulted staff, reports Xinhua news agency.

The health precinct is located approximately 20 km west of Sydney’s central business district.

Upon arrival, officers were informed that a 39-year-old man had stabbed two male security guards, aged 25 and 24, respectively, with a third male security guard suffering a dislocated shoulder.

Besides, a 29-year-old male nurse also sustained minor injuries.

New South Wales Police Force confirmed that the male offender remains under police guard at the hospital, and inquiries are ongoing.

As per reports from the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, he was a patient of the hospital, and all four staff members sustained injuries while attempting to subdue him. (Agency)

Weight loss linked with reduced cancer risk in people with obesity: Study

San Francisco, June 22 2024-

Real-world weight loss is linked with a decreased risk of obesity-related cancers, a new study has said.

The study published in the journal American Diabetes Association comprised 172 patients including 100,143 in the control arm and 5,329 cases.

The median body mass index (BMI at censoring (kg/m2.) was 34.2 for cases and 34.5 for controls, which are considered to have obesity according to the US-based Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

For each cancer endpoint, logistic regression models were used to assess the association of body mass index (BMI) change with three, five, and 10-year intervals before cancer diagnosis (for cases) versus controls.

The study found that the risk was reduced for renal cell carcinoma (three years), multiple myeloma (10 years), and endometrial cancer (three and five years) among primary cancer endpoints.

“This study reinforces how crucial it is to treat obesity as a chronic disease,” said Kenda Alkwatli, MD, Clinical Fellow at Cleveland Clinic, and author of the study.

“We are hopeful that these results can help us better understand how we can use weight loss to address comorbidities including cancer in patients with obesity,” she added.

As per the researchers, obesity is linked to higher risks of at least 13 types of cancer due to excess estrogen and elevated insulin, including breast, kidney, ovary, liver, and pancreatic cancer. (Agency)

Chhota Shakeel’s brother-in-law & terror-funding accused dies in Mumbai hospital

Mumbai, June 22 2024-

A terror-funding accused Arif Abubakar Sheikh alias Arif Bhaijaan, died during treatment following a cardiac arrest at a government hospital, here on Saturday, a lawyer said.

Adv. M.B. Shaikh said that the accused Sheikh — the brother-in-law of fugitive gangster Chhota Shakeel — had been rushed to the Sir J J Hospital late Friday night following breathlessness and related problems where he succumbed during treatment.

A relative claimed at the hospital that Sheikh, 63, who was lodged at the Arthur Road Central Jail, was hale and hearty with no known health problems, but the jail and hospital authorities were not revealing anything about his condition.

After completing the necessary formalities, Sheikh’s body was handed over to his relatives for the last rites this afternoon.

Sheikh and his brother Shabbir were nabbed by the National Investigation Agency in May 2023 in connection with a terror-funding case filed in February 2022 against the absconder mafia don Dawood Ibrahim Kaskar, Chhota Shakeel and others.

They were accused of arms smuggling, narco-terror, money laundering, printing and circulating fake currencies, and acquiring assets with ill-gotten wealth, among other offences.

The duo was also charged with harbouring terror links with global outfits like Al-Qaeda, Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) and others.

Besides the Sheikh brothers, another associate Salim Qureshi alias Salim Fruit was arrested in August 2023 on suspicion that he had grabbed Dawood’s mafia empire after the death of the latter’s sister Haseena (Kaskar) Parker. (Agency)

‘Vada pav girl’ Chandrika Dixit reacts to being called attention-seeker

Mumbai, June 22 2024-

Chandrika Dixit, who gained fame as the “vada pav girl,” has opened up about being called an “attention seeker” due to her disputes and videos related to her food cart in the National Capital.

When asked about what she would say to people accusing her of creating “drama” to gain attention, Chandrika told IANS: “I am just keeping my point of view; there is nothing like that. I was running my cart two years ago too and could have done things to gain attention back then when I started and needed money…”

“If people think it is planned… then I want this to happen because I want to go really ahead in life.,” she added.

Talking about joining ‘Bigg Boss OTT 3’, Chandrika said: “The opportunity I have got is big; I will do it well, and the reason for doing it is because of the hard work we are doing for our family… It is for a great future for my son. I think I will get help from this.”

Chandrika, who reportedly earns Rs 40,000 per day, has no specific game plan for the show.

She said: “I will get to know inside only. I have no plans from before. I have always heard my elders say that never plan, as it never happens. So, I will do what I will face spontaneously.”

“People think that Chandrika has a lot of attitude and fights a lot, probably they will get to know something else about me when they see me there.”

Chandrika plans to treat the contestants to her homemade food.

“This will be my first priority because I love to feed people, and they will like the food I will make,” she said.

What does she plan to do next?

“I will do everything that takes care of my business and my family… I have a small dream: I want to give my family and son a very comfortable life and also have some time for myself, where I don’t have to think before spending money.” (Agency)

King’s latest rap number ‘Bawe Main Check’ celebrates the growth he has achieved

Mumbai, June 22 2024-

Musician King has recently released a new rap song called ‘Bawe Main Check’ in collaboration with rapper Raga and shared that the track celebrates the growth the two have achieved.

King said: ” ‘Bawe Main Check’ is all about celebrating the journey and growth we’ve achieved. It’s a track that keeps the energy high and stays true to who we are. I’m excited for everyone to vibe with this one.”

Created in collaboration with rapper Raga and produced by music producer UKato, the song features both artists delivering a raw and energetic number that resonates with the audience.

Sung, written, and composed by King and Raga, ‘Bawe Main Check’ is now streaming on all music platforms and is available to watch on King’s YouTube page under the Warner Music India label.

King, whose real name is Arpan Kumar Chandel, was one of five finalists on the MTV reality show ‘MTV Hustle’ in 2019. He shared his rap videos on various social media profiles while he was still in school and started his YouTube channel ‘King Rocco’ in 2012, uploading his first ‘Boombass’ video in 2015.

Some of his most popular numbers include ‘OOPS’, ‘Iiconic’, ‘Tu Aake Dekhle’, and ‘Maan Meri Jaan’, among many others. (Agency)

Indian compound women’s team secures hat-trick of gold medals at Archery World Cup

Antalya, June 22 2024-

Top-ranked Indian compound women’s team clinched the gold medal at the Archery World Cup Stage-3 on Saturday. The formidable trio of Jyothi Surekha Vennam, Aditi Swami, and Parneet Kaur emerged victorious against sixth-ranked Estonia in a tightly contested final, triumphing 232-229.

Indian Compound Women’s Team secures historic hat-trick gold at Archery World Cup.

This victory marks a historic hat-trick of gold medals for the Indian team in the 2024 Archery World Cup series, having previously secured top honours in the stages held in Shanghai and Yecheon earlier this year.

At Stage 3 in Antalya, the Indian women’s team began their campaign with a first-round bye in a field of just 10 countries. They then showcased their skill and determination by defeating El Salvador 235-227 and the host nation, Turkey, 234-227, to secure their place in the final. Against Estonia, the Indian archers maintained their composure and accuracy, sealing their third consecutive gold medal.

In contrast, the top-ranked Indian men’s compound team, comprising Priyansh, Abhishek Verma, and Prathamesh Fuge, faced a more challenging journey. They narrowly missed out on a place in the final after a dramatic semifinal shoot-off against Turkey. Both teams were tied at 236, but Turkey edged out India by shooting closer to the center in the shoot-off (30*-30).

Despite the setback, the Indian men’s team put up a valiant fight in the bronze medal match against France. In a closely fought contest, India fell short by a single point, losing 236-235, and finishing fourth in the tournament. (Agency)

T20 World Cup: Someone has to stick in and play along, says Hope after blistering 82* vs USA

Bridgetown (Antigua), June 22 2024-

West Indies opener Shai Hope made the most of the opportunity after replacing Charles Johnson in the playing 11 as he smashed an unbeaten 82 off 30 balls to guide the side to an emphatic nine-wicket win against the USA in the T20 World Cup Super Eight clash on Saturday (as per IST).

Hope silenced his critics with his thundering knock studded with eight sixes and four fours as West Indies chased 130 in 10.5 overs. Commenting on his innings, Hope said he stuck to his plans and played according to the situation.

“To be honest, it’s just the situation, man. It’s whatever is required. There’s some games where the conditions may be challenging and you have to fight. You can’t just go out there and try to smash every ball for six or four. Someone has to stick in and play along. I don’t think people realise that,” Hope said in the post-match press conference.

The opener added that he knew that net run rate would come into play to support the team in the semi-final berth and his blistering strike rate was a reflection of that.

“We understood what’s at stake here. We know that in this situation run-rate could play a part. So, 105 strike-rate wasn’t going to be the play today. So again, just playing the situation. That’s the one thing that I pride myself on as a batsman, as a cricketer,” he said.

West Indies lost their opening Super Eight match against defending champions England and they needed to win with a big margin against the USA to remain in contention for semis.

When asked if they made any calculations for the chase, Hope replied, “Not entirely. We didn’t want to get too far ahead of ourselves because sometimes that can play on the negative side.

“So yes, we understood the importance of getting the game finished quickly, but we didn’t want to get too far ahead of ourselves. The aim was to play the powerplay as normal as we could, put away the bad balls, put the guys on the pressure at the start of the over, stuff like that, and then we assessed after the powerplay and then decided that we wanted to finish by a certain stage,” he added.

With two points in as many matches, the Windies and England sit at second and third spots respectively and are very much alive in the tournament.

West Indies will next take on table toppers South Africa at North Sound in Antigua on Monday, June 24 while England will play against last-placed USA in Bridgetown on Sunday. (Agency)

‘Bigg Boss OTT 3’: Sana Makbul says ‘I won’t cook for you’ to Sai Ketan Rao as ugly fight erupts

Mumbai, June 22 2024-

It has only been a day since the contestants entered the ‘Bigg Boss OTT 3’ house, and the fights have already begun.

Television actress Sana Makbul and Sai Ketan Rao got into an ugly spat over the unfair distribution of food.

In the upcoming episode, a fight erupts over a breakfast dispute that divides the house into vegetarian and non-vegetarian factions.

The conflict begins when Ranvir Shorey questions Chandrika Dixit and Payal Malik about the unequal distribution of meals, citing concerns about balanced diets.

This leads to a heated argument, with the vegetarians countering Ranvir’s claims by highlighting the ration shortage.

The argument escalates between Sana and Sai Ketan, who said: “Having only two eggs for breakfast isn’t acceptable. We’ll go hungry. Don’t impose your decisions and opinions on us.”

Sana then refuses to cook for Sai, who replies, “I don’t need your food or eggs. I’m not obligated to heed your words — you’re not Bigg Boss. Save your acting for outside and stop playing the victim in everything.”

Other contestants intervened to diffuse the situation.

The show airs on JioCinema Premium. (Agency)