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IANS News

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Indo-Asian News Service or IANS is a private Indian news agency. The IANS was founded by Indian American publisher Gopal Raju as the India Abroad News Service. It was later renamed the Indo-Asian News Service. The IANS has its main offices located in Noida.

Articles Written By IANS News

Manushi Chhillar roped in by home state Haryana to spread COVID-19 awareness
2266 days ago
Bollywood

Manushi Chhillar roped in by home state Haryana to spread COVID-19 awareness

Mumbai, March 27 (IANS) Former Miss World Mansuhi Chhillar, who is all set to make her Bollywood debut in "Prithviraj" opposite Akshay Kumar, has been roped in to spread the message of self-isolation and social-distancing among people of her home state Haryana amid the outbreak of COVID-19. She has been roped in by the Chief Minister of Haryana Manohar Lal Khattar for the initiative.## Manushi will be posting videos requesting the people of Haryana to stay at home to fight the COVID-19 pandemic.## Manushi says: "The whole of India is in a state of crisis and it is my duty as a citizen of this country to raise as much awareness as possible among my fellow countrymen about the coronavirus pandemic. My roots are in Haryana and I'm hugely responsible to raise my voice on things that affect my brothers and sisters of the state."## The former beauty queen hopes that the video reaches out to everyone and helps raise more awareness about COVID-19.## "There is an urgent and immediate need to self-isolate and socially distance ourselves to save lives and we should all respect the all India lockdown that is in place to curb the virus."## In a video directed at the people of Haryana, Manushi says: "We all know that coronavirus has pushed us to a state of immense crisis. And together we will need to fight it, we will need to stop it."## She also called for the citizens of the state to act responsibly and respect the all India lockdown order given by the Prime Minister of the country, Narendra Modi.## She said: "We will need to unite and act responsibly. I'm staying at home. I'm social distancing to protect myself and everyone I love and care for. You should also stay at home and self-isolate.## "India is on lockdown and you will need to respect that. It is the only way to stop the spread of coronavirus and save lives. You and only you have the power to save the nation. Be responsible. Be a citizen that India is counting on."## For more and latest news about Bollywood, stay tuned with us.

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Akshay Kumar: Right now those who stay at home are the only superstars
2266 days ago
Bollywood

Akshay Kumar: Right now those who stay at home are the only superstars

Mumbai, March 27 (IANS) Tiger Shroff is a promising actor and has the potential to become a superstar, feels Akshay Kumar. However, the Bollywood actor is of the opinion that the label of "superstar" in the current situation can only be given to those people who are staying at home ensuring their and their family's safety.## Akshay's words come at a time when the entire nation is witnessing a lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic.## It all started when trade analyst Joginder Tuteja tweeted a video where he speaks about how Tiger Shroff is set to be a superstar with his upcoming movies like "Rambo", "Heropanti 2" and "Baaghi 4".## Reacting to his tweet, Akshay Kumar wrote: "Absolutely in agreement with you on this Joginder, @iTIGERSHROFF is going great guns but at this time the one and only superstar is the one who will stay at home ensuring his and his family's safety. Urging each one of you to be a superstar."## Bollywood superstar Akshay Kumar is repeatedly urging citizens to cooperate with the government during the 21-day nationwide lockdown.## In a recent video shared on social media, the actor said: "Have some people lost it? Who all are not understanding the meaning of lockdown? Lockdown means you are supposed to stay at home, with your family and not roaming around in the streets. Are you trying to show how brave you are by stepping out? It is not going to help. You will end up landing in the hospital and affect your family as well. Nobody will be safe if you behave in a careless manner."## For more and latest news about Bollywood, stay tuned with us.

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Tamil actor-doctor Sethuraman dies of cardiac arrest at 36
2266 days ago
Kollywood

Tamil actor-doctor Sethuraman dies of cardiac arrest at 36

Chennai, 27 March (IANS) ‘Kanna Laddu Thina Aasaiya star and doctor Sethuraman passed away due to a cardiac arrest in the late hours last night at his residence here. He was 36.## The actor's demise comes to a shock to his friends, family, and colleagues in the film industry.## A dermatologist by profession, Sethuraman was introduced in Tamil films by his friend actor Santhanam. After his first film, he went on to star in films such as "Vaaliba Raja", "Sakka Podu Podu Raja'' and ''50/50''.## Actor Santhanam took to his Twitter account to say: "Totally shocked and depressed on the demise of my dear friend Dr.Sethu. May his soul rest in peace".## The young doctor married Uma on February 12, 2016, and the couple has a child. He had suffered a spine injury and underwent surgery in 2017. It is said that he went through serious mental and physical stress due to the same.## Sethuraman is the owner Z clinic -- a chain of skincare and cosmetology clinics in Chennai.## For more and latest news about Kollywood, stay tuned with us.

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'Iron Man 2' actor arrested for alleged attempt to sell fake COVID-19 cure
2266 days ago
Hollywood

'Iron Man 2' actor arrested for alleged attempt to sell fake COVID-19 cure

Los Angeles, March 27 (IANS) Actor Keith Lawrence Middlebrook, who appeared in "Iron Man 2" and TV hit "Entourage" has been arrested by FBI agents for reportedly attempting to sell a fake coronavirus cure.## Middlebrook is facing one felony count of attempted wire fraud for reportedly soliciting investments for a company called Quantum Prevention CV Inc. to market pills he claimed would prevent COVID-19 infections and a shot to cure the virus, reports aceshowbiz.com.## He was arrested in Los Angeles on March 25, following an FBI sting, in which he reportedly delivered a pack of pills to an undercover agent posing as an investor.## Middlebrook "falsely claimed" to at least one potential backer that basketball icon Earvin 'Magic' Johnson was on the board of directors, but according to the affidavit, "Mr. Johnson confirmed to investigators that he knew nothing about Middlebrook's company."## US Attorney Nick Hanna, for the Central District of California, has warned people to beware of similar scams during the coronavirus pandemic.## For more and latest news about Hollywood, stay tuned with us.

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Telugu star Allu Arjun contributes Rs 1.25 cr for COVID-19 aid
2266 days ago
Tollywood

Telugu star Allu Arjun contributes Rs 1.25 cr for COVID-19 aid

Hyderabad, March 27 (IANS) Telugu star Allu Arjun has contributed Rs 1.25 crore for the battle against coronavirus outbreak in Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and Kerala.## The actor made the announcement through a video message he shared with IANS on Friday.## "The COVID-19 has taken the world by storm and changed our everyday lives, but even at times like this people like doctors, nurses, military, policemen and many other sectors have done a great contribution to our society," he says in the video.## Drawing inspiration from them, he would also like to do his bit.## "With all humility, I would like to announce Rs 1.25 crore to the people of Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Kerala," he says.## He also appealed to the public to maintain hygiene and practice isolation.## This comes a day after his uncle and superstar Pawan Kalyan and Allu's cousin Ram Charan announced donations to the government's relief fund to battle the COVID-19 pandemic.## Chiranjeevi, Mahesh Babu, and Prabhas are other Telugu superstars who have contributed to the cause.## For more and latest news about Tollywood, stay tuned with us.

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Indians with OCD should avoid watching news around COVID-19
2266 days ago
Lifestyle

Indians with OCD should avoid watching news around COVID-19

New Delhi, March 27 (IANS) At a time when over 1.3 billion Indians have been asked to stay indoors, people who are claustrophobic or suffer from obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) are finding it difficult to obey the 'Lakshmana Rekha Prime Minister Narendra Modi has drawn in from of all homes.## According to health experts, such people should first unplug themselves from the news around new coronavirus (COVID-19) and divert their minds towards constructive thoughts and engage in indoor games.## "People with OCD and those who are claustrophobic need to try and avoid reading or seeing too much negative news. Instead, they can opt for completing the work pending for some time which is a constructive channelization of the energy," said Dr Sameer Malhotra, Director, Department of Mental Health and Behavioural Sciences, Max Super Speciality Hospital, Saket.## "If under treatment, do not stop the medications at this juncture, and if the symptoms are significant, psychiatric intervention may also be required," Malhotra told IANS.## Indians are currently living with 21-day nationwide lockdown, which started from Tuesday midnight.## According to the World Health Organization (WHO), OCD is the sixth most disabling psychiatric disorder in the world.## Dr Samir Parikh, Psychiatrist and the Director of the Department of Mental Health and Behavioural Sciences, Fortis Healthcare said that in the face of a pandemic, if you have claustrophobia, OCD or any other form of phobia or anxiety, it is important to ensure that you continue to follow your treatment regimen.## "Stay connected to your doctors, take your medications regularly and also ensure that you continue to take regular therapy sessions through teleconsultations,' Parikh emphasized.## Family too would play a very pertinent role in providing support and being understanding of the challenge being face by the individual.## "Concurrently, it is important to ensure that one engages in maintaining a work-life balance, take care of certain lifestyle-related elements such as the sleep-wake cycle and also engage in activities of interest during this period," Parikh noted.## Malhotra said that it is time to rationalize negative thoughts into positive and meaningful thoughts.## "Discuss general topics, try and engage in healthy conversations at home. It is also the best time to bond with family members," he added.## For more and latest news about Life-Style, stay tuned with us.

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Richa Chadha attacks hotel for holding elderly couple 'captive'
2266 days ago
Bollywood

Richa Chadha attacks hotel for holding elderly couple 'captive'

New Delhi, March 27 (IANS) Actress Richa Chadha recently used her social media presence to highlight the plight of an elderly couple who were allegedly being held against their will at a hotel in Gurugram, despite testing negative for COVID-19.## In a series of tweets, Richa has made a case against Lemon Tree Hotels in Gurugram, according to a report in hindustantimes.com. Later, however, she said that the matter had been resolved by the hotel.## "@LemonTreeHotels Aerocity, Delhi: Gurugram, has held 2 ppl captive for the past 5 days, despite the doctor allowing them to go home and self-quarantine. They're in their late 60s, the man is severely diabetic. His sugar has risen, he's gone into keto-acidosis, could go into a coma," wrote @RichaChadha.## She added: "If urgent medical help is not provided. Do you want people to die, @LemonTreeHotels? @HaryanaPolice27 @cmohry please look into this urgently. You are a service industry, not a hospital. If anything happens to them, there's a big lawsuit coming your way. Get them out now."## According to Richa's tweets, the couple tested negative at Delhi's Ram Manohar Lohia hospital. "If you can't let them go, please provide medical assistance. As of now, even medical professionals from @LemonTreeHotels don't want to examine him because of COVID stigma. @SatyendarJain @DelhiPolice," she wrote.## The website reports Richa as saying later that the matter had been resolved. "Thank you to each and every one of you who amplified this tweet. Reached someone at @LemonTreeHotels, says the center is now using their hotels as facilities. Either way, medical help is on its way to the senior citizens. All this happened, because of a tweet thread... but, but take a pause to think. I am a privileged person, with access to tech, relative social media influence. What does the common man do at a time like this? Hamara ye haal to unka kya hoga? Sigh! Thanks, tweeple. Prayers seem to be the best bet, in these uncertain times," she wrote.## For more and latest news about Bollywood, stay tuned with us.

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Emraan Hashmi on COVID-19: All this because someone wanted to eat a bat
2266 days ago
Bollywood

Emraan Hashmi on COVID-19: All this because someone wanted to eat a bat

Mumbai, March 27 (IANS) While there is no scientific evidence yet to prove the coronavirus was first transmitted from a bat to a person who might have consumed the animal, actor Emraan Hashmi made such a case in his latest tweet with mock conviction.## "And all this because some person thousands of miles away wanted to have a freakish culinary experience like eating a BAT," tweeted @emraan Hashmi, venting ire on someone in the faraway Chinese city of Wuhan who might have consumed an infected bat to contract COVID-19, and then pass it on to others, thereby planting the seed of the ongoing global pandemic.## At the last count, over half a million coronavirus cases have been confirmed worldwide, with more than 22,000 deaths. In India so far, there have 16 deaths reported and the number of cases that have tested positive has risen to 694. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has declared a 21-day national lockdown to stem the spread of the virus.## For more and latest news about Bollywood, stay tuned with us.

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Jenna Dewan listened to Sanskrit prayer during childbirth
2266 days ago
Hollywood

Jenna Dewan listened to Sanskrit prayer during childbirth

Los Angeles, March 27 (IANS) Actress Jenna Dewan, who recently welcomed her son Callum, had a smooth birthing experience.## In an interview to People magazine, the "Step Up" star opened up about her experience delivering her second baby and how Sanskrit music helped her a lot to maintain calmness during that time.## "I'd heard this from a lot of people, that there's something that happens with the second baby, that there's a little bit calmer and peace in knowing what's happening. Knowing what's coming down the line, you are able to be a little more present and enjoy all of it and it's so true," she said.## Jenna had asked her fiance Steve Kazee to be on hand to play "The Devi Prayer", which is a 20 minute Sanskrit prayer that helps with meditation and relaxation if she needed it.## She added: "It's a very peaceful song. It always puts me at ease. I put that on our playlist and I said to Steve, 'If I ever start to look like I'm getting anxious or if I was having a rough time, just please play that. He was actually born to that song."## For more and latest news about Hollywood, stay tuned with us.

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Naseeruddin Shah: Short films difficult to make than feature films
2266 days ago
Bollywood

Naseeruddin Shah: Short films difficult to make than feature films

Mumbai, March 27 (IANS) Naseeruddin Shah stars in the short film, "The Wallet", and the veteran actor cannot seem to stop praising the film's debutant director Saumitra Singh.## "Just as the miniature is more difficult to make than a large canvas, short stories are more difficult than to write a novel, I feel short films are also difficult to make than feature films since they have to be brief.## "Among all the short films I have done in the past couple of years, I would recommend 'The Wallet', written and directed by Saumitra Singh, which is a very simple, sweet and moving story. I really enjoyed working on it even though it is helmed by a first-time director. He was very clear with what he wanted."## The short film recently released on Jio Cinema and it features Shah with Navni Parihar in pivotal roles. The film narrates an incomplete love story of an elderly couple.## Writer-director Saumitra Singh explained why every project was important to him: "Every project, every journey is a learning experience. Yes, it's often a roller coaster ride, but that's the fun of it. I feel grateful to have worked with great icons of our film industry like Naseeruddin Shah and Navni Parihar."## "The Wallet" has garnered much appreciation in the festival circuit around the globe, winning over 50 awards across festivals.## For more and latest news about Bollywood, stay tuned with us.

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Angelina Jolie does her bit to feed underprivileged kids
2266 days ago
Hollywood

Angelina Jolie does her bit to feed underprivileged kids

Los Angeles, March 27 (IANS) Actress Angelina Jolie has donated $1 million as an effort to feed underprivileged children whose access to school lunches has been cut off due to closures amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.## She has given $1 million to the charity No Kid Hungry, which says it has so far spread $2 million across 30 states to feed low-income children and their families, reports dailymail.co.uk.## "As of this week, over a billion children are out of school worldwide because of closures linked to coronavirus," said Jolie, 44.## "Many children depend on the care and nutrition they receive during school hours, including nearly 22 million children in America who rely on food support. No Kid Hungry is making resolute efforts to reach as many of those children as possible," added the actress, known for her philanthropy.## She has worked extensively with the United Nations and co-wrote a Time essay promoting UNESCO's new Global Education Coalition, which seeks to facilitate remote education as schools close around the world.## In 2006 the star and her former husband Brad Pitt started their own charity named after their eldest son Maddox, 18, and focused on his native Cambodia. The organization keeps 10 schools running in Cambodia. Jolie separately funds girls' schools in Afghanistan and Kenya.## Jolie is not the only celebrity to throw her support behind No Kid Hungry as Jennifer Garner and Amy Adams started a fundraiser for them last week.## For more and latest news about Hollywood, stay tuned with us.

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Veteran artist Satish Gujral passes away at 94
2266 days ago
TV

Veteran artist Satish Gujral passes away at 94

New Delhi, March 27 (IANS) Renowned artist and architect Satish Gujral passed away late Thursday at the age of 94.## A recipient of the Padma Vibhushan, the second-highest civilian award of India, in 1999, the highly celebrated painter was the younger brother India's former Prime Minister Inder Kumar Gujral.## His death was mourned by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, among other dignitaries of note.## Modi tweeted: "Satish Gujral Ji was versatile and multifaceted. He was admired for his creativity as well as the determination with which he overcame adversity. His intellectual thirst took him far and wide yet he remained attached with his roots. Saddened by his demise. Om Shanti."## Gujral was born on December 25, 1925, in pre-Partition India, and studied art in Lahore and Mumbai.## Gujral, a well-collected artist, was one of the few who have consistently dominated the art scene in India for the entire post-independent era.## He won an equal, if not more, acclaim as an architect. He has designed the building of the Belgium Embassy in New Delhi.## Vice President of India M. Venkaiah Naidu tweeted: "Saddened to learn about the demise of the eminent painter, artist, sculptor, muralist and one of the pioneers of Contemporary Indian Art, Shri Satish Gujral. The nation will always remember his contributions to the field of art and culture. May his soul rest in peace."## Stay tuned...

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