Shoojit Sircar’s ‘Sardar Udham’ leads with 3 technical awards on IIFA Day One

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Abu Dhabi, June 4 IIFA 2022 took on an electrifying note on Thursday night with a star-spangled concert featuring some of the best musical talents of the country and a fashion parade curated by Falguni and Shane Peacock, rounded off by the announcement of the first series of nine technical awards.

The concert, hosted by Farah Khan with Aparshakti Khurana, saw a power-packed performance by Devi Sri Prasad, the man behind the music of ‘Pushpa: The Rise’ and ‘KGF 2’, followed by virtuoso performances by Guru Randhawa, Honey Singh, Tanishq Bagchi, Neha Kakkar, Asees Kaur, Ash King, and Zahrah S. Khan.

The fashion show saw Jacqueline Fernandez and Ananya Panday dazzle on the ramp, even as the host of the IIFA Awards night, Salman Khan, chilled out with Sara Ali Khan and Dhvani Bhanushali in the audience.

The much-anticipated high point of the evening, though, was the announcement of nine technical awards, three of which went to Shoojit Sircar’s ‘Sardar Udham’ (for best cinematography, Avik Mukhopadhayay; editing, Chandrashekhar Prajapati; and VFX).

Aanand L. Rai’s ‘Atrangi Re’ got two awards (best choreography for the ‘Chaka Chak’ number, Vijay Ganguly; and background score, A.R. Rahman.

Vishnuvardhan’s Sidharth Malhotra-starrer ‘Shershaah’ got the award for best screenplay (Sandeep Shrivastava), Anubhav Sinha’s ‘Thappad’ for best dialogue (Anubhav Sinha and Mrunmayee Lagoo), Tanhaji: The Unsung Warrior’, featuring Ajay Devgn and Saif Ali Khan, for sound design (Lochan Kanvinde), and Kabir Khan’s World Cup cricket drama, ’83’, starring Ranveer Singh, for sound mixing (Ajay Kumar P.B. and Manik Batra).

Shoojit Sircar's 'Sardar Udham' leads with 3 technical awards on IIFA Day One Shoojit Sircar's 'Sardar Udham' leads with 3 technical awards on IIFA Day One Shoojit Sircar's 'Sardar Udham' leads with 3 technical awards on IIFA Day OneShoojit Sircar's 'Sardar Udham' leads with 3 technical awards on IIFA Day One

‘Noonugu Meesala’ Lyrical Song out from ‘Chor Bazaar’

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Chor Bazaar is a romantic action entertainer movie directed by George Reddy fame Jeevan Reddy. The movie casts Akash Puri playing the main lead role along with Subbaraju, Archana, and many others are seen in supporting roles

 

‘Porata Simham’ Lyric video out from VIKRAM

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movie makers of VIKRAM released Porata Simham Lyric video

 

‘VIRATA PARVAM’ Trailer Announcement Today At 4:05 PM

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Rana Dhaggubati’s upcoming movie ‘VIRATA PARVAM’ Trailer Announcement Today At 4:05 PM

 

'VIRATA PARVAM' Trailer Announcement Today At 4:05 PM

Woman implanted with 3D-printed ear made from her own cells

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A 20-year-old woman has become the first in the world to get a human ear implant with a 3D-printed technology that uses her own cells.

The AuriNovo implant, developed by 3DBio Therapeutics (3DBio) — a clinical-stage regenerative medicine company — is a patient-specific, living tissue implant created using 3D-bioprinting technology.

The implant is specifically for patients with microtia, a rare congenital deformity where one or both outer ears are absent or underdeveloped.

In the first clinical trial of the technology, doctors reconstructed the ear of the woman using the patient’s own cartilage cells. The construct was then printed in a size and shape matching the patient’s opposite ear for implantation.

It is a “groundbreaking reconstructive procedure”, 3DBio said in a statement.

The current surgical methods for ear reconstruction requires the harvesting of rib cartilage or the use of porous polyethylene (PPE) implants.

But, “the AuriNovo implant requires a less invasive surgical procedure than the use of rib cartilage for reconstruction,” said Dr. Arturo Bonilla, who performed the transformational implant procedure.

“We also expect it to result in a more flexible ear than reconstruction with a PPE implant. The AuriNovo living tissue implant is designed to provide a better solution for patients born with microtia by transforming their appearance and building their confidence and self-esteem,” added Bonilla, who is also the founder and director of the Microtia-Congenital Ear Deformity Institute in San Antonio, Texas.

The Phase 1/2a clinical trial, which aims to involve 11 people, will be conducted at Los Angeles, California and San Antonio, Texas

Pending the outcome of this trial, researchers will conduct a second and larger trial before seeking US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval of AuriNovo, which has also been granted orphan drug and rare paediatric disease designations by the regulatory body, meaning that it will receive a priority review when ready.

“This is a truly historic moment for patients with microtia, and more broadly, for the regenerative medicine field as we are beginning to demonstrate the real-world application of next-generation tissue engineering technology,” said Daniel Cohen, 3DBio Chief Executive Officer and Co-founder, in a statement.

Cohen stated that the success of the technology could demonstrate its potential to provide living tissue implants in other therapeutic areas in the future.

“Our initial indications focus on cartilage in the reconstructive and orthopaedic fields including treating complex nasal defects and spinal degeneration,” Cohen said.

“We look forward to leveraging our platform to solve other high impact, unmet medical needs like lumpectomy reconstruction and eventually expand to organs,” he added.

 

World food commodity prices declined modestly in May: FAO

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Rome, June 3 World food commodity prices declined modestly in May for the second consecutive month, although wheat and poultry prices pushed higher, the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) reported on Friday.

The FAO Food Price Index averaged 157.4 points in May 2022, down 0.6 percent from April. The Index, which tracks monthly changes in the international prices of a basket of commonly-traded food commodities, however, remained 22.8 percent higher than in May 2021.

The FAO Cereal Price Index increased by 2.2 percent from the previous month, led by wheat prices, which were up 5.6 percent from April and 56.2 percent from their corresponding value a year earlier.

International wheat prices, averaging only 11 percent below the record high reached in March 2008, rose in response to an export ban announced by India and concerns over crop conditions in several leading exporting countries as well as reduced production prospects in Ukraine due to the war.

International rice prices also rose across the board, while coarse grain prices declined by 2.1 percent, with maize prices dropping by even more in step with slightly improved crop conditions in the US, seasonal supplies in Argentina, and the imminent start of Brazil’s main maize harvest.

The FAO Vegetable Oil Price Index declined by 3.5 percent from April, while still markedly higher than its year-earlier level. Prices dropped for palm, sunflower, soy, and rapeseed oils, due in part to the removal of Indonesia’s short-lived export ban on palm oil and sluggish global import demand for soy and rapeseed oils in view of elevated costs in recent months.

“Export restrictions create market uncertainty and can result in price spikes and increased price volatility, the decrease in oilseeds prices shows how important it is when they are removed and let exports flow smoothly,” said FAO Chief Economist Maximo Torero Cullen.

The FAO Dairy Price Index also dropped by 3.5 percent month-on-month. Prices of milk powders declined the most, linked to market uncertainties from the continued Covid-19 lockdowns in China, while robust retail sales and high demand from restaurants in the Northern Hemisphere prevented cheese prices from falling significantly despite weakened global import demand.

Butter prices also dropped on account of a weaker import demand amid improved exportable supplies.

The FAO Sugar Price Index declined by 1.1 percent from April, as a bumper crop in India buoyed global availability prospects.

The weakening of the Brazilian real against the US dollar, along with lower ethanol prices, also pressured world sugar prices downwards.

Meanwhile, the FAO Meat Price Index set a new all-time high, increasing by 0.6 percent in May even as world bovine meat prices remained stable and those of pig meat fell.

The climb was driven by a steep increase in international poultry meat prices, reflecting continued supply chain disruptions in Ukraine and recent cases of avian influenza amid a surge in demand in Europe and the Middle East.

Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan’s mother heaps praise on leading lady Saiee Manjrekar

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Hyderabad, June 3 Dhanalakshmi Unnikrishnan, mother of the late Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan, who watched the movie ‘Major’, lavished praises on Saiee Manjrekar, who played one of the lead roles in the biographical movie.

Dhanalakshmi said, “It was a character about which we were all very concerned, and Saiee handled it very well.”

“After the first screening, I was blown away by how well everything was depicted, and wow, the mix of emotion and love”, she added.

‘Major’ is a film based on Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan, who was martyred in Mumbai in 2008 during the 26/11 terrorist attacks.

The role of Major’s wife comes with a lot of responsibilities. As a result, Saiee’s role as his wife’s character, his childhood sweetheart, best friend, and bond, which one prays for after Major’s untimely death, is crucial.

Saiee’s performance in the film has supported and led, and she does so with the grace and panache of a seasoned performer.

Adivi Sesh depicts the life of Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan in ‘Major’.

Upendra’s movie ‘UI’ gets official launch amid a swirl of celebs

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Hyderabad, June 3 Upendra’s new Kannada film titled ‘UI’ was launched on Friday at Bhandemahakali Temple in Gavipura Guttahalli, Bengaluru.

On Friday morning, Upendra’s upcoming directorial ‘UI’, was launched, at a formal pooja event. The event’s chief guest was actor Shivarajkumar, who was joined by Kiccha Sudeep, Duniya Vijay, Dhananjaya, and Vasishta Simha.

A poster for the upcoming film was also released, featuring a concept design that teases the mysterious crux of ‘UI.’ The presence of a horse-like animal with other caricatures in the poster, it piques interest in the story.

With the film ‘UI,’ Upendra returns to directing after a seven-year hiatus. His most recent film ‘Uppi 2’ was released in 2015.

The regular filming for the film will begin soon. Co-produced by Lahari Films and Venus Entertainers. The cast and crew will be revealed soon.

‘UI’- Upendra.

‘Jawan’, SRK’s first pan-India film to arrive in theatres on June 2, 2023

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Mumbai, June 3 Bollywood megastar Shah Rukh Khan, who earlier teased the fans with his look in ‘Pathan’, is all set to star in filmmaker Atlee’s upcoming action entertainer ‘Jawan’.

Taking a pan-India route, the film will release in five languages – Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, and Kannada on June 2, 2023.

SRK took to his Twitter to share the title announcement video as he wrote in the caption, “An action-packed 2023!! Bringing #Jawan to you, an explosive entertainer in cinemas 2nd June 2023. In Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, and Kannada.”

With this film, life seems to be coming full circle for SRK, who started his journey with the character of Abhimanyu Rai on the television show ‘Fauji’ which aired back in 1989.

Talking about the film, Shah Rukh said, “‘Jawan’ is a universal story that goes beyond languages, and geographies and is for all to enjoy. Credit goes to Atlee for creating this unique film, which has also been a fantastic experience for me as I love action films! The teaser is the just tip of the iceberg and gives a glimpse into what’s to come”.

The special video promises a spectacular event film with high-octane action sequences and talents from across Indian cinema. The teaser video unit features Shah Rukh Khan amidst a rugged backdrop, wounded and wrapped in bandages as a Spaghetti Western background score fills the frame with anticipation.

Filmmaker Atlee, who is known for directing a string of successful blockbuster films in the south like ‘Raja Rani’, ‘Theri’, ‘Mersal’ and ‘Bigil’ to name a few, commented on the occasion, “‘Jawan’ has something in it for everyone be it actions, emotions, drama all woven into creating a visual spectacle. I want to give the audiences an exceptional experience, an event which they all can enjoy, and who better to deliver it than Shah Rukh Khan himself, presented like never before.”

Presented by Red Chillies Entertainment and produced by Gauri Khan under Red Chillies banner, ‘Jawan’ is set to arrive in theatres on June 2, 2023 in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam and Kannada, making it Shah Rukh Khan’s first pan-India film.

SRK already has ‘Dunki’ and ‘Pathaan’ in the pipeline.

Oral cancer may be detected without biopsy

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Lucknow, June 3 Oral cancer may soon be diagnosed without putting the patient through the ordeal of going through a biopsy.

Researchers at King George’s Medical University (KGMU) have come to a step closer to this.

The department of health research organization’s multi-disciplinary research unit (DHR-MRU), which is situated at KGMU, has got encouraging results in its pilot study finding certain biomarkers in the blood and saliva of people that can detect oral cancer.

Two research studies have been conducted which include biomarkers in the blood to detect cancer and the role of Vitamin A and its products in cancer treatment and eradication.

Prof Divya Mehrotra from the department of oral maxillofacial surgery, said: “The first study is on the BCL2 and HSP 70 biomarkers. We conducted the study on 300 cancer and pre-cancerous patients. Blood samples of the two sample groups were mixed which led us to conclude that we can detect cancer through these biomarkers. This will reduce the constant need to conduct a biopsy.”

The second study is about Vitamin A which was conducted on 250 oral cancer patients.

“We studied the role of Vitamin A and its related markers on these patients and found that if the enzyme breaking down Vitamin A is not properly functional, there are high chances of such people getting oral cancer. Such patients also do not respond too well to antioxidant vitamins in their treatment,” she said.

The research is ongoing and is being carried out by a team of scientists.

 

Nani-starrer ‘Ante Sundaraniki’ trailer out

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Hyderabad, June 3 Nani and Nazriya-starrer ‘Ante Sundaraniki’ gears up for its massive release, as the producers, unveiled the theatrical trailer on Thursday.

The trailer continues to trend on YouTube, creating much buzz around its release.

While the teaser has sparked a lot of excitement for the film, the theatrical trailer of ‘Ante Sundaraniki’ promises even more fun in theatres. Nani and Nazriya Nazim’s portrayal of Sundar and Leela Thomas, respectively, added sparkle to the atypical love story.

Vivek Athreya’s trademark hilarity is evident throughout, and the romantic track is unusual but appealing. The TV episode is the most entertaining part of the trailer, which contains numerous witty elements.

‘Ante Sundaraniki’ is set to be released on June 10, and there are high expectations for it.

The Tamil version is titled ‘Adade Sundara’, while the Malayalam version is titled ‘Aha Sundara’. The film is being released in three languages at the same time.

Directed by Vivek Athreya of ‘Mental Madhilo’ fame, the movie stars Nani, Nazriya Fahadh, Nadhiya, Harshavardhan, Rahul Ramakrishna, Suhas, and others.

Top business giants laud Modi, Yogi

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Lucknow, June 3 Top business tycoons who attended the third groundbreaking ceremony here on Friday, lauded the vision and guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the implementation of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath which is helping in the emergence of ‘New India’.

Speaking at the function, Gautam Adani of the Adani group, pointed out: “The Prime Minister is building a new India and trying to restore the lost glory of the nation. He is building a nation that takes center stage on a global platform. He is the architect designing the aspirations of 135 crore people.”

Kumar Mangalam Birla of Birla group said that his group was investing Rs 40,000 crore in projects that bring jobs to 35,000 youths.

He said that UP had emerged as a much-favored investment destination that had been helped by the single window system.

Niranjan Hiranandani of the Hiranandani group said that Uttar Pradesh was moving ahead at the speed of a bullet train.

“I have been in the construction business for almost 40 years but I have never seen this speed of business before,” he said and complimented the state government for cooperation and assistance being extended to businessmen.

 

Congress leaders pray at Charminar temple amid row

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Hyderabad, June 3 Telangana Congress leaders on Friday visited Bhagya Lakshmi temple abutting Charminar amid a temple-mosque controversy at the historic monument.

A day after state BJP chief Bandi Sanjay Kumar attacked Congress over the signature campaign launched by one of its Muslim leaders for the re-opening of the mosque at Charminar, Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka, senior leader V. Hanumantha Rao, MLA Seethakka and others visited the temple to offer prayers.

The Congress leaders said they offered prayers for the speedy recovery of their party chief Sonia Gandhi, who has tested positive for Covid-19.

They dismissed Bandi Sanjay’s allegation that Congress has a secret understanding with Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) and they along with All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) were trying to remove the temple from Charminar.

Vikramarka told reporters that they had been offering prayers at the temple even before Bandi Sanjay started coming here. “This temple is not an asset of BJP or Bandi Sanjay,” he said.

The Congress leaders alleged that the BJP leader was trying to gain political mileage by creating a controversy.

A row erupted after a Congress leader launched a campaign for the re-opening of the mosque at Charminar for Muslims to offer prayers.

Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee secretary Rashed Khan says that Muslims used to offer Namaz at the 16th-century monument till two decades ago. He recalled that the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) closed the mosque on the top floor of the monument after a family of four had committed suicide by jumping down.

He started a signature campaign requesting the ASI and the ministry of tourism and culture to re-open the mosque for prayers. He also plans to make a request to Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao in this regard.

The Congress leader said that the Bhagya Lakshmi temple is an illegal construction as clearly stated by ASI in one of the reports. He said since prayers were being allowed in the ‘unauthorized’ temple, the authorities should allow Muslims to offer prayers in the mosque which has been there since Mohammed Quli Qutb Shah built Charminar in 1591.

However, the Congress leader’s demand angered BJP which alleged a conspiracy to target the temple. Some BJP leaders even demanded Khan’s arrest for trying to create trouble.

Bandi Sanjay, who is a Member of Parliament, warned against any attempt to touch the temple. “Why the demand for Namaz at Charminar now? Just because we started offering prayers at Bhagya Lakshmi temple, you are making this demand,” said Sanjay, who last year launched his padayatra after offering prayers at the temple.

He alleged that Congress has a secret understanding with TRS and they along with AIMIM were trying to create a problem for the Muslim votes.

Shriya Pilgaonkar sheds light on her ‘The Broken News’ character

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Mumbai, June 3 Actress Shriya Pilgaonkar, who will soon be seen sharing the screen with Sonali Bendre and Jaideep Ahlawat in the upcoming web series ‘The Broken News’, recently opened up on her character from the show.

Shedding light on her part in the series, the actress said, “My character Radha Bhargava is interesting and complex. To me, she is the mind of the viewer. I like characters that stand for something. She is a news producer, news anchor, and also an investigative journalist.”

Describing the motive and dimensions of her character, she added, “While she wants to bring out the stories that she strongly feels about, she’s also aware that she needs a powerful way of reaching out to the viewers. She is rebellious, brave, and will do whatever it takes to get the job done.”

The ‘Mirzapur’ actress is elated to be working with Sonali Bendre and Jaideep Ahlawat, as she has admired their works for a long time, “Jaideep is one of the finest actors we have today and I am so grateful that I got to work with Jaideep and Sonali. I have so much love and respect for both of them. Earlier I was just a fan and now I am a friend who is still a fan.”

‘The Broken News’ revolves around two rival news networks and reveals the lives, lies, love and struggles of a dynamic group of journalists.

Awaaz Bharati is an ethical and a credible news channel, headed by Editor-In-Chief Amina Qureshi (played by Sonali Bendre) and Josh 24/7 News, headed by Editor-In-Chief Dipankar Sanyal (played by Jaideep Ahlawat), is India’s No. 1 news channel as per TRPs but believes in sensationalism and invasive journalism.

The series will premiere on ZEE5 on June 10 in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, and Kannada.

 

NRI Festival and Sports Mahotsav gets key Govt approvals for use of logos during mega event

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New Delhi, June 3 The NRI Festival and Sports Mahotsav, being organised by Rejoice Health Foundation as part of the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav (AKAM) celebrations, has got all the necessary permits to use the Indian Government’s ‘Incredible India’, ‘AKAM’ and ‘Fit India’ logos during the six-month-long event, for which Power Sportz is the media partner.

The NRI Festival will be held between July-December this year and will have a series of events across Sports, Health, Fitness and Culture, for which Power Sportz, the world’s first Live Digital Sports channel headquartered in India, will provide global coverage.

The NRI Festival is scheduled between July 1 and December 31 at Delhi/NCR, Goa, Hyderabad, Mumbai, UP, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana and Punjab.

This festival, focusing on the massive 32 million Indian diaspora living in different parts of the world, will have on-ground events involving diaspora participation in all the activities, apart from the NRI communities being spectators at different events.

One of the main issues was getting the Government of India nod to get associated with the NRI Festival, and the permissions have come across seamlessly, with the Culture Ministry giving its approval for the use of its ‘AKAM’ logo, the Tourism Ministry giving its consent to use the ‘Incredible India’ logo and the Youth Affairs and Sports Ministry keen to help by giving the rights to use its signature ‘Fit India’ campaign logo.

With its global coverage, Power Sportz TV is an apt media partner for a festival of such magnitude, given that its digital platform gets viewership across many countries. It’s also available on all apps, web and Amazon Fire TV, and is a free-to-air platform in sync with the Rejoice Foundation’s motto of “being a non-profit foundation”, said Dr. Naval Kumar Verma, chairman Rejoice Health Foundation.

Detailing the reason for associating with the NRI Festival as media partner, Kanthi D. Suresh, Founder and Editor-in-Chief of Power Sportz TV, said on Friday, “Focusing on the Indian diaspora has been part of our vision plan as we have many of the youth diaspora in touch with us, primarily wanting to know as to how they can be a part of sports activities like cricket, football, kabaddi etc.

“We are glad to be playing an important role here,” added Kanthi D. Suresh.

In an earlier interview with IANS, she had revealed about working on a Global Power Sports League, particularly targeting the large Indian diaspora locations to hold these leagues. “We are glad, all this is now happening in India itself,” said Kanthi D. Suresh.

While the launch of the NRI Festival is scheduled in the first week of July, the festival details will be revealed in detail to various NRI Cell heads in India and different parts of the world in due course.

According to sources, different venues and locations, which will hold the events, are being decided jointly by Rejoice Foundation and Power Sportz TV.

The Central Government had in October 2021 directed the print, electronic and digital media to display the logo of ‘Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav’ as part of the campaign to commemorate 75 years of India’s Independence.

“Private media have consistently taken the lead in celebrating India’s patriotic spirit and national achievements. It is advised to use the logo during the period of celebrations so that citizens are made aware of India’s rich history and commitment to a bright future,” the Union Information and Broadcasting Ministry had said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on his recent visit to Denmark, said that India needs to rejuvenate its tourism sector, and in a few years there will be only one destination — that is ‘Chalo India’. He described the Indian diaspora as India’s ambassadors in their respective homelands and urged them to encourage at least five non-Indian friends to visit India.

The NRI Festival will ensure spreading the message of ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’ not only to the Indian diaspora but also to other nationalities who want to associate closely with Indian communities the world over.

 

India vs South Africa: What India will be looking to gain from five-match T20I series

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New Delhi, June 3 After the conclusion of the 2022 edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL), the attention of cricket fans shifts quickly to the upcoming five-match T20I series between India and South Africa, starting on Thursday.

As the road to Men’s T20 World Cup in Australia in October-November, this year resumes, India will be eager to finalize their squad and offer a chance to newbies to showcase their skillsets. Here is what to keep an eye on as far as the hosts are concerned:

Newcomers in the pace attack

With no Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami for this series, India has brought in tearaway right-arm quick Umran Malik and left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh. Amongst the plethora of uncapped Indian pacers who made a splash in IPL 2022, Malik and Singh earned their maiden T20I squad call-ups.

There is an element of excitement in what the young pace duo brings to the table. Malik, 22, has sheer pace, consistently clocking speeds above 150kph and was used as a middle-overs enforcer by Sunrisers Hyderabad in IPL 2022, picking 19 wickets in that phase, something which the Indian team would have taken note of.

At the other end, Singh, 23, isn’t as quick as Malik. But Singh, a left-arm pacer, brings superb death-bowling skills to close out an innings, as his death-overs economy rate of 7.58 in IPL 2022 shows, which is second-best in the tournament after Bumrah’s 7.38.

Singh and Bumrah also shared the honours of bowling the most yorkers in the tournament — 38. With Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Avesh Khan and Harshal Patel in the squad, India have got a fast bowler for almost every scenario ahead of the series against South Africa.

What about Dinesh Karthik the finisher?

After earning a call-up to India’s T20I squad, veteran wicketkeeper-batter Dinesh Karthik had described his return to the national side in the shortest format of the game as ‘most special comeback’. In IPL 2022, Karthik literally grabbed the eyeballs of fans and national selectors as a specialist finisher for Royal Challengers Bangalore, making 242 runs at a strike rate of 220 in the death overs phase.

But how does he fit into the playing eleven? Since the time India crashed out of Men’s T20 World Cup in the UAE last year, they have used Venkatesh Iyer (six times), Ravindra Jadeja and Rishabh Pant (four times each) the most in T20I finishing duties.

With Hardik Pandya back in India’s scheme of things on the back of all-round show and captaining Gujarat Titans to the IPL 2022 trophy, the national think-tank has got a happy headache over who would be their ideal finishers in the run-up to the T20 World Cup. Should Karthik get a fair run against South Africa, it would be a prime chance for him to show the team management his finishing skills and get himself ahead in the race for finishers.

Time for southpaws to step up

In last year’s T20 World Cup, India had an all-right top four in Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul, Virat Kohli and Suryakumar Yadav, which made life simple for a Shaheen Shah Afridi to dismantle them. In their next must-win game against New Zealand, India had reshuffled their top-order, getting Ishan Kishan to open alongside Rahul, a move which backfired spectacularly as the batting never got going against a tight Blackcaps bowling attack.

Though India tried to get Kishan open the batting against West Indies and Sri Lanka, the left-hander’s returns in IPL 2022 (418 runs at an average of 32.15) were far from his fluent self as a mid-tournament slump hit him. Venkatesh Iyer was hit by the second-season syndrome, making just 182 runs at an average of just 16.55. Rishabh Pant didn’t get anything beyond a fifty in his returns of 340 runs at an average of 30.91.

In a batting order where KL Rahul, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shreyas Iyer and Deepak Hooda had decent IPL 2022 seasons with the bat, India would be hoping that the swashbuckling southpaws find their groove and deliver the goods against South Africa.

Lawrence Bishnoi ‘admits’ his gang killed Moosewala: Sources

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New Delhi, June 3 Jailed gangster Lawrence Bishnoi has admitted that his gang was responsible for the brutal killing of acclaimed Punjabi singer Shubhdep Singh Sidhu, popularly known as Sidhu Moosewala, sources said on Friday.

Moosewala, 28, was shot dead on May 29 while he was traveling in a car, and around a dozen assailants fired over 30 shots at him. He was taken to hospital where doctors declared him ‘brought dead.

The Singer’s autopsy report revealed that his body bore 19 bullet injury marks.

“He confessed that his gang is responsible for the killing (Moosewala’s murder) but also said he was not directly behind it as he is lodged in jail,” official sources said.

Currently lodged in Tihar jail in a MCOCA (Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act) case, Bishnoi is allegedly involved in more than five dozen criminal cases lodged against him in Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan and Punjab. He had once threatened to kill Bollywood actor Salman Khan.

The Special Cell of Delhi Police is currently probing the incident from all angles and also questioning Bishnoi in the matter. It was also learnt that gangster Bishnoi is not cooperating with the police. “He is not disclosing details about the incident but admitted that his gang was behind it,” the source said.

Meanwhile, Sachin Bishnoi, nephew of Lawrence Bishnoi, has claimed responsibility for Moosewala’s murder while speaking to a news channel. He claimed that Mossewala’s murder was a revenge for the killing of Youth Akali Dal leader Vicky Middukhera last year in August. Sources said that Vicky Middukhera was a close friend of Lawrence Bishnoi.

TN to isolate int’l travellers with monkeypox symptoms

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Chennai, June 3 The Tamil Nadu health department has written to directors of all the international airports in the state to isolate overseas travellers with monkeypox symptoms.

In a letter to the directors of the airports in Chennai, Coimbatore, Tiruchi, Salem, Madurai, and Tuticorin, the department said that travelers landing from international destinations with symptoms like fever, headache, muscle ache, or exhaustion must be isolated and their samples were taken for testing.

The Director of Health Services in the letter said that these samples, such as fluids in vesicles, blood, and sputum, would be sent to the ICMR-NIV laboratory in Pune through the state public health laboratory for PCR tests.

The department called upon the deputy directors of health in all districts of the state to ensure that strict protocols are followed for the isolated people once they reach home.

While India has not reported any monkeypox cases as of now, countries like the US, Australia, Canada, and Europe have reported the virus.

The department has called upon the health workers to be prepared to deal with the monkeypox disease and to gather proper information on its treatment and prognosis.

 

Billy Porter, Luke Evans signed for Bill Oliver’s drama ‘Our Son’

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Los Angeles, June 3 Billy Porter and Luke Evans are set to star in the custody-battle drama ‘Our Son’, a Bill Oliver directorial.

The film written by Oliver and Peter Nickowitz follows the story of a divorcing couple fighting for custody of their 8-year-old son, reports Deadline.

According to ‘Deadline’, Fernando Loureiro and Guilherme Coelho will produce via their company, Tigresa, along with Eric Binns. CAA Media Finance and ICM Partners are co-representing the film’s distribution rights.

Porter is an actor, singer, director, composer, and playwright best known for his Emmy-winning turn as Ball scene emcee Pray Tell on television network FX’s drama series ‘Pose’.

His theatre credits include the role of Lola in the Broadway musical ‘Kinky Boots, which he originated in 2013-landing Tony, Drama Desk, and Outer Critics Circle Awards, as well as the Grammy for Best Musical-Theatre Album.

In addition, Porter is making his directorial debut with the high school coming-of-age film, ‘Anything’s Possible’, written by Alvaro Garcia Lecuona. He’s also set to direct a queer teen comedy from Gabrielle Union’s I’ll Have Another production, titled ‘To Be Real’.

‘Deadline’ further states that Evans will this year star in Apple’s action-thriller drama series ‘Echo 3′, also appearing in Robert Zemeckis’ live-action retelling of ‘Pinocchio’ for Disney+, and going into production on the film ‘5lbs of Pressure’.

On the small screen, Evans most recently starred in Hulu’s most-watched original series ‘Nine Perfect Strangers’, the Emmy-nominated The Alienist’, and ‘The Pembrokeshire Murders’. The actor has also been seen in Disney’s 2017 live-action ‘Beauty and the Beast film and the ‘Fast & Furious franchise’.

 

Biden urges Congress to act on gun violence amid partisan tensions

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Washington, June 3 US President Joe Biden has urged Congress to take action on gun violence in a prime-time address from the White House.

In his address on Thursday night, he urged Congress to ban assault-style weapons and high-capacity magazines, or at least raise the purchasing age from 18 to 21, reports Xinhua news agency.

Other proposals included expanding background checks, passing “red flag” laws, and repealing the liability shield for gun manufacturers and dealers.

The remarks came after the US was shaken by a spate of mass shootings over the past few weeks.

Biden traveled to Uvalde, Texas, on Sunday to meet families of the victims and survivors of a school shooting on May 24, in which the 18-year-old gunman, killed by responding officers on the scene, used an AR-15-style rifle, a popular range of semiautomatic weapons, to kill 19 children and two teachers.

Democrats and Republicans on Capitol Hill are negotiating gun reform measures but it is unclear how much talk would be turned into action.

Also on Thursday, a committee in the House approved along the party line a package of gun control legislation, a response to the recent mass shootings.

Jim Jordan, the top Republican on the House Judiciary Committee, dismissed the package as partisan.

“No one wants another tragedy. No one wants this to happen again. That’s why it’s regretful that Democrats have rushed to a markup today in what seems more like political theatre than a real attempt at improving public safety or finding solutions,” he said.

Republicans deem such measures, including restricting gun buyers’ age and the sale of magazines, as unconstitutional and depriving Americans of the right to defend themselves.

Representative Dan Bishop, Republican of North Carolina, said that “you are not going to bully your way into stripping Americans of fundamental rights”.

Representative Jamie Raskin, Democratic of Maryland, accused Republicans of “misleading the American public about the Second Amendment”.

“My colleagues are throwing up the Second Amendment as a smokescreen to protect their opposition to any reasonable gun safety regulation,” he said.

In a recent survey of all 50 Republicans in the Senate by The New York Times, most Republicans who had responded either declined to take a position or signaled they would oppose the measures, worrying about infringing on the rights of gun owners.

So far this year, the US has seen at least 233 mass shootings with more than 18,000 deaths due to gun violence, according to the nonprofit organization Gun Violence Archive.

A mass shooting is defined as one in which four or more people were injured or killed,

The US has more guns than any other nation in the world, and that number continues to grow each year.

There are an estimated 400 million guns in the US between police, the military and American civilians, and over 393 million of these guns are in civilian hands, the equivalent of 120 firearms per 100 citizens, according to a 2018 report on global firearms holdings by the Switzerland-based Small Arms Survey.