Lupita Nyong’o attended Taylor Swift, Beyonce concerts despite being on vocal rest

Los Angeles, June 20, 2024
Oscar-winning actress Lupita Nyong’o revealed that she injured her vocal cords while working on the upcoming animated movie ‘The Wild Robot’.

The actress had to wear a badge to inform fans why she was keeping quiet at shows.

Appearing on ‘Late Night With Seth Meyers’, she said: “Sometimes people, fans thought I was being rude because I wouldn’t say anything. I’d just be like, (striking a pose).”

“So, then, I just thought, okay, let me let people know what’s going on and that way they’ll have sympathy for me instead of hatred.”

The actress said: “Well, okay, so, she’s a robot. And she goes through this journey to finding, I guess, what we would call humanity, like empathy.”

“And so, at the start of the movie, I chose to do this very kind of like super positive voice. And it was just not in my local register, which is a lot lower.”

“And so, I did it for way too long over a number of days, and I got a vocal polyp. And so, I lost my ability to speak. And my doctor put me on vocal rest. I was on vocal rest for three months.”

The actress wanted to avoid undergoing surgery, especially after being told by her doctor that 35 per cent of people recover naturally, reports femalefirst.co.uk.

“And I was so determined to be part of that 35 per cent. And I did. I cured myself,” she said.(Agency)

Uzbekistan: 4 drown, one missing after car falls into canal

Tashkent, June 20, 2024
A rescue team has retrieved four bodies after a car carrying five persons in it fell into a canal in Uzbekistan’s Syrdarya region, while one person is still missing, local media reported.

According to the press service of the regional Department of Internal Affairs, the accident occurred in Shirin on Monday when the driver lost control and drove the car into the canal.

The driver and the four passengers in the car could not escape, Xinhua news agency reported.

The bodies of the driver and three passengers, as well as the car, were found and retrieved from the water by divers from the emergency rescue team. The search for the remaining passenger is going on.(Agency)

3 IS militants killed in airstrikes in Iraq

Baghdad, June 20, 2024
Three Islamic State (IS) militants were killed on Thursday in airstrikes in the northern province of Kirkuk, the Iraqi military said.

Based on intelligence reports, Iraqi warplanes carried out an airstrike at 6:30 a.m. local time in the rugged area of Wadi al-Shay, southwest of the namesake provincial capital Kirkuk, leaving three IS militants killed, according to a statement from the Security Media Cell, a media outlet affiliated to the Iraqi Joint Operations Command.

The warplanes carried out another airstrike on the nearby caves and tunnels used by the militants, Xinhua news agency reported.

The statement gave no immediate details about the results of the second airstrike, but said more information would be released later.

A source in the Iraqi army told Xinhua on condition of anonymity that a force from Kirkuk Operations Command was dispatched to the scene to search the attacked sites.

The security situation in Iraq has improved since the defeat of the IS in 2017. However, IS remnants have sneaked into the urban centres, deserts, and rugged areas, carrying out frequent guerilla attacks against security forces and civilians.(Agency)

Pankaj Tripathi insists actors are just puppets, writers or directors are masters

Mumbai, June 20, 2024
Actor Pankaj Tripathi, who is known for ‘Singham Returns’, ‘Gangs of Wasseypur’, ‘Masaan’ and several other projects, has said that actors are just puppets and do what writers or directors ask them.

The actor attended the trailer launch of the third season of the fan-favourite show ‘Mirzapur’ at a 5-star property in the Bandra area of Mumbai on Thursday along with Ali Fazal, Shweta Tripathi Sharma, Rasika Dugal, Vijay Varma, Anjumm Shharma, Priyanshu Painyuli, Harshita Shekhar Gaur and Sheeba Chadha.

While the floor wasn’t opened to the media for the interaction, Pankaj told the emcee, “We actors are just puppets. The writers and directors are puppeteers, they run the show and streamline the story. As actors, we do what we are told or briefed about.”

The actor then made a minor correction in the statement as he looked at the media inside the Ballroom and said, “Chaliye, theek hai, upar waala humse karwa raha hai aur hum kar rahe hain…”

Produced by Excel Media & Entertainment, and directed by Gurmmeet Singh and Anand Iyer, the series is set to stream on Prime Video from July 5.(Agency)

Kerala HC introduces sending summons through e-Post on a trial basis

Kochi, June 20, 2024
The Kerala High Court has decided to introduce the issuing of summons, notices, and orders to respondents through India Post’s e-Post service.

This will be done as a pilot project only in the state capital district and after analysing the performance, a decision will be taken on the future course of action, on whether to replicate it in the other 13 districts of the state or not.

The High Court also pointed out that this e-Post service will not be applicable if the court states that the notice should be sent by registered post.

e-Post is a service where the digitally signed notice will be sent to the inbox of the e-Post nodal office as per the recipient’s pin code.

The notice and case file will be downloaded by the postal department and will be delivered to the recipient a day after it is dispatched to the department’s dashboard.(Agency)

Indian-origin Shawna Pandya onboard Virgin Galactic’s new space research flight

New Delhi, June 20, 2024
Indian-origin researcher Shawna Pandya will be part of the second research mission by Richard Branson’s Virgin Galactic and the International Institute for Astronautical Sciences (IIAS) to fly to space aboard the Delta Class spaceship.

It will be the second research mission that IIAS is conducting with Virgin Galactic after the ‘Galactic 05′ mission in November 2023, which tested novel healthcare technologies and examined how fluids behaved in low-gravity to help inform designs for future medical technologies and life-support systems.

The IIAS astronaut crew expected in the research mission includes Kellie Gerardi, a bioastronautics researcher and IIAS Director of Human Spaceflight Operations; Pandya, a physician, aquanaut, bioastronautics researcher, and Director of IIAS’ Space Medicine Group, from Canada; and Norah Patten, an aeronautical engineer and bioastronautics researcher from Ireland.

Pandya was on the first crew to test a commercial spacesuit in zero gravity in 2015. To date, she has flown 10 parabolic flight campaigns, culminating in over 160 parabolas of experience in micro- and reduced gravity.

“We were thrilled with the results from our fluid cell experiment on ‘Galactic 05’, which demonstrated our ability to accurately predict the behavior of fluid in a container in a weightless environment,” said Gerardi.

Virgin Galactic’s VP of Government Affairs and Research, Sirisha Bandla, flew on Virgin Galactic’s ‘Unity 22’ spaceflight, which made her the second Indian-born woman to go to space.

“We’re excited to continue our partnership with IIAS in an expanded capacity,” said Bandla.(Agency)

All people living in Karnataka should learn Kannada: CM Siddaramaiah

Bengaluru, June 20, 2024
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said that it is the responsibility of every Kannadiga to protect Kannada language, land and water.

He gave a call for creating a Kannada atmosphere in Karnataka.

“It is the duty of all to create a Kannada atmosphere. For that, all the people living in Karnataka should learn Kannada. We cannot remain silent like that,” he stated.

He was addressing a gathering after performing Bhoomi Puja for the construction of a bronze statue of goddess Nada Devi Bhuvaneswari near the western entrance of Vidhana Soudha as part of the Karnataka Namakarana Suvarna Mahotsava celebrations organised by the Department of Kannada and Culture.

“Kannadigas are not insolent. But love for Kannada should be developed. We should not become like the bigots in other states. But we should develop respect and admiration for our language, land and country,” he said.

“Everyone must decide to speak in Kannada with those who live in Karnataka. A vow must be taken that no language other than Kannada is spoken. Kannadigas are generous. That is why there is an environment in Karnataka where even those who speak other languages can live without learning Kannada,” he stated.

“The same situation cannot be seen in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Kerala. They speak only in their mother tongue. We also have to speak in our mother tongue. That should make us proud,” the CM said.

CM Siddaramaiah said that he hoped that mother Bhuvaneswari’s statue would inspire everyone in this regard.

He said that the work should be completed by November 2024 as there was no shortage of funds.

The CM said that a bronze statue of about 25 feet height would be constructed in the premises of Vidhana Soudha.

“We have installed statues of many politicians. I think the statue will add to the charm of the Vidhana Soudha,” he stated.(Agency)

Yoga helps Sangita Ghosh stay calm & focused on sets amid taxing studio schedule

Mumbai, June 20, 2024
On the eve of International Day of Yoga (June 21), actress Sangita Ghosh shared how yoga helps her stay focused and calm on the sets as shooting for more than 12 hours a day can be exhausting.

Sangita, who is currently playing Saroj in the show ‘Saajha Sindoor’, said in a statement, “Yoga is incredibly important for someone with a hectic schedule like mine. Shooting for 12-plus hours a day can be exhausting, so staying healthy and fit is crucial. Yoga helps me stay focused and calm, which is essential when I’m on the sets.”

Yoga also helps Sangita keep her body flexible and strong, reducing the risk of being worn out, both physically and mentally.

“Just a few minutes of yoga every day helps me recharge and maintain my energy levels. It also improves my sleep, as I wake up feeling refreshed and ready for another long day at work. Yoga supports my mental well-being as well, helping me manage stress and stay positive. For me, yoga is like a lifeline that keeps me grounded and centred amid the chaos of a busy acting career,” said Sangita, who is known for her work in the television show ‘Viraasat’.

Speaking about her favourite yoga posture, the ‘Doli Saja Ke’ actress said: “My favourite yoga pose, like Surya Namaskar, is a complete workout for me. It stretches and strengthens my entire body, from head to toe. It’s like a full-body refresh, combining flexibility, strength, and mindfulness in one flow.”

Encouraging people to embrace yoga for a better life, Sangita added: “Everyone should practice yoga because it offers so many benefits for both the body and mind. It isn’t about being perfect but about progress and feeling good inside and out.

“It’s a practice that adapts to your needs and abilities, making it accessible to everyone. It’s a journey of self-discovery and growth, offering a path to a healthier, more balanced lifestyle.”

‘Saajha Sindoor’ starring Sangita, Stuti Vinkle, Sahil Uppal, Neelu Vaghela, and Krutika Desai airs on Sun Neo.(Agency)

Removal of ovaries before menopause linked with reduced white matter in brain: Study

San Francisco, June 20, 2024
Women who have their ovaries removed before menopause, particularly before the age of 40, have reduced white matter integrity in multiple regions of the brain later in life, a new study said on Thursday.

White matter refers to the nerve fibres that connect neurons in different areas of the brain.

In the study published in the journal Alzheimer’s & Dementia, the researchers analysed data from the Mayo Clinic Study of Aging to identify women over the age of 50 with available diffusion tensor imaging, a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technique that measures white matter in the brain.

“We know that having both ovaries removed before natural menopause causes abrupt endocrine dysfunction, which increases the risk of cognitive impairment and dementia,” said Michelle Mielke, PhD, professor at the US-based Wake Forest University School of Medicine.

Researchers found that females who had premenopausal bilateral oophorectomy (PBO) before the age of 40 had significantly reduced white matter integrity in multiple regions of the brain.

“There were also trends in some brain regions such that women who had PBO between the ages of 40-44 or 45-49 years also had reduced white matter integrity, but many of these results were not statistically significant,” said Mielke.

She also said that 80 per cent of participants who had their ovaries removed also had a history of estrogen replacement therapy.

Therefore, the study was not able to determine whether the use of estrogen replacement therapy after PBO mitigated the effects of PBO on white matter integrity.

“Having both ovaries removed results in an abrupt decrease in both estrogen and testosterone in women. Therefore, one possible explanation for our results is the loss of both estrogen and testosterone,” Mielke mentioned.(Agency)

Would love to be a part of ‘Panchayat’ like series: Zareen Khan

June, 20 June, 2024 (Yes Punjab News)

Zareen Khan never fails to root for good performances and shows, and she’s done that yet again for ‘Panchayat 3’. The actress recently took to social media to express her admiration for the third season of the popular show.

The actress admired the simplicity of the series, and how the makers have been successful in keep the innocence alive in all the seasons of the show.

Zareen said, “A show like Panchayat is such an escape from the usual thriller, action genre that is dominating the OTT space. We need more of these shows. I hope I get to be a part of such a world. Getting to explore raw and unconventional roles that bring my true potential to the forefront is something that I would really like to get into!!”

The actress also applauded the creators of the show for their attention to detail and for bringing out the charm of village life.

Her post has resonated with viewers and fans, garnering significant attention. On the work front, Zareen has signed some interesting projects, which she will reveal in due course.