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Mumbai, March 20 (IANS) This is not a time to hold on to ego. Rather this is the time when we should all come together to fight a bigger threat that looms large in the form of coronavirus, feels veteran Bollywood actor Rishi Kapoor. The actor took to social media to express his concern for the citizens of Pakistan.## "With all due respect, Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan should also advise his country to take adequate precautions. People of Pakistan are also dear to us. Once we were one. We are concerned too. This is a global crisis. No ego matter this. We love you guys. Humanity zindabad!" Kapoor tweeted.## Kapoor's words struck a chord with Pakistani singer Shafqat Amanat Ali. "Thank you so much for your lovely wishes. Much love and respect to you. You are right, we are all in this together and this is not about countries, but about humanity. Humanity Zindabad! Hope we overcome this threat soon. Love and best wishes to you," Ali commented.## Meanwhile, shooting for all formats of entertainment -- films, TV and digital -- has been stopped in Bollywood and other film industries all over India. Actors, filmmakers, and technicians are confined in their homes, like most citizens across the country.## For more and latest news about Bollywood, stay tuned with us.

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Chennai, 20 March (IANS) Actor Trisha, a UNICEF brand ambassador, took to social media to share an advisory against the COVID-19 pandemic. In a video that the actress posted in Tamil and English, she informs her followers about ways to avoid contracting the virus, which includes the basics such as washing hands with soap and contacting the medical helpline if the symptoms begin to show.## "Novel coronavirus or COVID-19 can be stopped. Together we can do it," she said.## In 2017, Trisha Krishnan became the first south-Indian to be bestowed with the UNICEF celebrity advocate status.## Her profile includes responsibilities such as advocating for the rights of the youth, especially girls. Trisha has also addressed problems faced by children in Tamil Nadu and Kerala such as anemia, early marriage, child labor, and child abuse.## Speaking about the decision to induct Trisha as UNICEF brand ambassador, Zachariah, Chief of UNICEF office (Tamil Nadu and Kerala), said Trisha is an icon for the younger generation.## "She has the power to amplify the children's issues and address the violation of child rights in the family, community and in public spaces. She will also promote education and health of adolescents and the value of girl child in family and society," Zachariah noted.## Not just her, actors Chiranjeevi, Mahesh Babu, Prabhas, Mohanlal and Dulquer Salmaan have asked fans to stay safe during the global pandemic.## Trisha was recently in the news for walking out of the Chiranjeevi-starrer "Acharya". "Sometimes things turn out to be different from what was initially said and discussed. Due to creative differences, I have chosen not to be part of Chiranjeevi sir's film. Wishing the team well. To my lovely Telugu audiences -- hope to see you soon in an exciting project," she said.## "Acharya" makers are in talks with Kajal Aggarwal to replace Trisha in the film, according to a report in koimoi.com, though an official confirmation is still awaited.## Trisha currently has multiple projects lined up. She will be seen in "Ponniyin Selvan", "Raangi", "Sugar" and "Ram".## For more and latest news about Tollywood, stay tuned with us.

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New Delhi, March 20 (IANS) As the deadly new coronavirus (COVID-19) continues to spread and hand sanitizers disappear at both retail and online stores, Google researchers have dug out a German-Hungarian physician and scientist known as the "saviour of mothers" by proposing handwashing way back in 1847.## Celebrating the efforts of Dr. Ignaz Semmelweis in the times of hand sanitizing and cleanliness to prevent the spread the germs on top of every human's mind of Earth.## Born in 1818, Semmelweis was an early pioneer of antiseptic procedures.## He discovered that the incidence of puerperal fever (also known as "childbed fever") could be drastically cut by the use of hand disinfection in clinics.## Puerperal fever was common in mid-19th-century hospitals and often fatal.## Semmelweis proposed the practice of washing hands with chlorinated lime solutions in 1847 while working in Vienna General Hospital's First Obstetrical Clinic, where doctors' wards had three times the mortality of midwives' wards.## He later published his findings in a book titled 'Etiology, Concept, and Prophylaxis of Childbed Fever'.## Despite various publications of results where hand-washing reduced mortality to below 1 percent, Semmelweis's observations conflicted with the established scientific and medical opinions at that time and his ideas were rejected by the medical community.## Hand cleanliness was largely ignored, rejected or ridiculed at that time.## He was dismissed from the hospital for political reasons and harassed by the medical community in Vienna, being eventually forced to move to Budapest.## In 1865, Semmelweis supposedly suffered a nervous breakdown and was sent to an asylum by his colleague.## He died 14 days later, at the age of 47, after being beaten by the guards, from a gangrenous wound on his right hand which might have been caused by the beating, according to media reports.## The scientist instituted a policy of using a solution of chlorinated lime (calcium hypochlorite) for washing hands between autopsy work and the examination of patients.## He did this because he found that this chlorinated solution worked best to remove the putrid smell of infected autopsy tissue, and thus perhaps destroyed the causal "poisonous" or contaminating "cadaveric" agent hypothetically being transmitted by this material.## For more and latest news about Life-Style, stay tuned with us.

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Lucknow, March 20 (IANS) Singer Kanika Kapoor of "Baby Doll" fame on Friday announced that she has tested positive for the novel coronavirus. She might be the first Indian celebrity to have become victim of COVID-19.## "For the past four days I have had signs of flu, I got myself tested and it came positive for COVID-19. My family and I are in complete quarantine now and following medical advice on how to move forward.## "Contact mapping of people I have been in touch with is underway as well," Kanika, who had returned from London to Lucknow a few days ago, wrote on Instagram.## She also urged her followers to take proper precautions amid the coronavirus outbreak.## "At this stage, I would like to urge you all to practice self-isolation and get tested if you have the signs. I am feeling ok, like the normal flu and a mild fever, however, we need to be sensible citizens at this time and think of all around us. We can get through this without panic only if we listen to the experts and our local, state and central government directives. Wishing everyone good health. Jai Hind! Take care," Kanika added.## For more and latest news about Bollywood, stay tuned with us.

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Mumbai, March 19 (IANS) Internet sensation Dhinchak Pooja is the latest celebrity to come up with a song about coronavirus. ## On Thursday, Pooja released her latest number titled "Hoga na corona". The song starts off with the disclaimer that it is only meant to raise awareness about the diesases and does not in any way try to work as medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. ## The disclaimer also adds that anyone displaying COVID-19 symptoms should immediately consult a doctor. It even adds that no animals were harmed while shooting the video. ## The song goes: ## Corona corona kaam yeh karo na ## Dua yeh karo na ## Kisi ko yeh ho na ## Hoga na corona ## Haath tu dhona ## Jaldi se sona ## Time na khona ## Tension tum lo na ## Babu ho ya sona ## Baad mein na rona ## Mazaak mein na lo na ## The song is avaialable on YouTube, the platform that made Dhinchak Pooja a star thanks to her hits such as "Selfie maine le li aaj", "Swag wali topi" and "Dilon ka shooter". ## For more and the latest news about Digital Media, stay tuned to us.

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Los Angeles, March 20 (IANS) Pop star Miley Cyrus has revealed how she is staying connected with her father, singer-songwriter Billy Ray Cyrus, amid the coronavirus outbreak. ## Miley spoke of how her father has now bought an iPhone to stay in touch with his loved ones in these times of social distancing, but she added that her father wasn't all that great at knowing how to use it, reports femalefirst.co.uk. ## "My dad is crazy, he got two Blackberries because he says it equals one iPhone. He's still on the Blackberry. It's really sad because he has to go to my grandma's house to FaceTime, because my grandma knows how to FaceTime and he doesn't!" Miley revealed. ## Miley opened up about her family's high-tech means to stay connected on Instagram TV. ## For more and the latest news about Hollywood, stay tuned to us.

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New Delhi, March 20 (IANS) Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday highlighted the battle for justice that took seven years to be delivered to Nirbhaya, and urged for a pledge that another Nirbhaya should not happen, as others hailed the parents struggle after all four convicts were hanged in an early morning execution. ## "Seven years later, Nirbhaya's convicts were hanged. Today is the day to take a pledge - that there will be no second Nirbhaya . Police, courts, state government, central government - everyone has to take a pledge that together we will remove the loopholes of the system and will not let this happen to any daughter in future," Kejriwal said. ## BJP MP and fomer cricketer Gautam Gambhir said: Hanged till death! Finally! I know we are late Nirbhaya. #NirbhayaJustice ## BJP leader Manjinder S. Sirsa said: Beginning the day with the News of Justice! I salute the struggle done by Nirbhaya's parents to see this day. ## Former beauty queen and actress Sushmita Sen said: A Mother's resilience Folded hands Asha Devi sees it through!! Finally some justice!! #Nirbhaya Dugga Dugga Folded hands ## Veteran actor Rishi Kapoor said: Nirbhaya Justice. 'Jaisi karni waisi bharni'. Let this set an example not only in India but world over. Punishment for rape is by death. You have to respect womanhood. Shame on the people who delayed the execution. Jai Hind! ## Bollywood actress Preity G Zinta said: If #Nirbhaya rapists were hung in 2012 the judicial system would have stopped so much crime against women. Fear of the law would have kept the lawless in check. Prevention is always better than cure. It's time the Indian govt. takes steps for judicial reforms. #RIPNirbhaya. Finally the #Nirbhayacase comes to an end. I wish it would have been faster but I'm happy it's over. Finally she & her parents are in peace. #RIPJyoti #RIPNirbhaya #Justicedelayed #TookTooLong ## Actor Riteish Deshmukh said: "#JusticeForNirbhaya My thoughts and prayers are with the parents, friends & loved ones of Nirbhaya. The wait has been long but the justice has been served." He further wrote, "Stricter law enforcement, harsher punishment & fast courts for quick justice is the only way to instil fear in monsters who even think of such heinous acts. #JusticeForNirbhaya" ## Nirbhaya was gang raped in December 2012, which led to her death on December 29, thirteen days after the attack. Four of the convicts were hanged earlier on Friday after thrice they managed to dodge the rope. ## For more and the latest news about Politics, stay tuned to us.

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Los Angeles, March 19 (IANS) Hollywood star Matthew McConaughey hopes something good can come out of COVID-19 crisis and that Americans can come together to end years of deep political division. ## McConaughey made the observation in a video message posted on Twitter on Tuesday, as bars and restaurants remained shut across cities owing to the coronavirus outbreak, including in New York and Los Angeles, reports aceshowbiz.com. ## After telling his followers to take care of themselves and not to "get paranoid" during the crisis, the actor delivered a message of unity. ## He said: "Let's do our due diligence and take the precautions we need to take care of ourselves and those of us around us. Right now, more than ever before, we're more dependent on each other than we ever have been. ## "But, we have an enemy in coronavirus that is faceless, raceless, sexless, nondenominational and bipartisan. And it's all an enemy that we agree, we're gonna beat. We wanna beat, and we're gonna beat 'em." ## Expressing hope that the virus would lead to political change, he added: "So, in this time when people are gonna move on, the economy's gonna be in shambles for who knows how long, there is a green light on the other side of this red light that we're in right now." ## "I believe that green light is gonna be built on the values that we can enact right now. Values of fairness, kindness, accountability, resilience, respect, courage. If we practice those things right now, when we get out of this, this virus this time might be the one time it brings us all together and unifies us, like we have not been in a long time," he added. ## For more and the latest news about Hollywood, stay tuned to us.

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Mumbai, March 19 (IANS) Actress Isha Koppikar reunites with filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma in an upcoming untitled web series. She feels although the filmmaker is going through a bad phase in career right now, no one can downplay his contribution to Indian cinema for the cult films he once made. ## "I have finished shooting a major part of the web show. RGV is the showrunner and presenter of the show. The web series has been directed by four directors and after they finish the shooting of all episodes, they submit their work to RGV. He will look after post-production and hopefully create magic," Isha told IANS, about her latest collaboration with the filmmaker. ## Isha shot to fame for her dance number "Khallas" in Varma's 2002 film "Company", which is till date considered one of the most powerful films about the underworld that Bollywood has ever made. Later, she also worked in Varma productions such as "Darling" and "Shabri". ## Varma's last few Hindi releases like "Veerappan" and "Sarkar 3" fared below expectation and the filmmaker has also courted controversy for his comments on socio-political issues. Isha hopes with his upcoming show, RGV will get out of his rough patch. ## "Ram Gopal Varma is a genius. Look at the kind of films he has made, those are cult films of Indian cinema. The first Hindi horror film that I watched and loved was "Raat". Then all the other films, whether it is "Bhoot", "Rangeela", "Satya" -- you name the film and the genre -- horror, romantic-musical, gangster-action -- and he has made a cult film in that genre," she said. ## Isha continued: "In our lives, at times we go through a low phase but that does not mean that the person is finished. It is true that in the entertainment industry, every Friday could be a good Friday' or a bad Friday'," she laughed, adding: "I hope with the upcoming web series, RGV claims his space back again." ## Apart from the web series, Isha is also working on the Tamil science fiction film "Ayalaan". Directed by R. Ravikumar, the film also features Rakul Preet and Sharad Kelkar. ## According to the actress, the film will offer a unique experience to the audience. ## "Ayalaan will be an interesting film to watch out for because in the film we are using VFX quite interestingly. In fact, that is why the film will take more time than any regular film in post-production. Most of the time we use prosthetic but in this one, we are focusing on VFX," Isha said. ## For more and the latest news about Bollywood, stay tuned to us.

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New York, March 19 (IANS) Getting too much or too little sleep, may be bad for your heart, say researchers, adding that people who get seven or eight hours of sleep per night have less stiffness in their arteries, which is associated with a lower risk of developing heart disease or suffering a stroke. ## "The message, based on our findings, is 'sleep well, but not too well.' Getting too little sleep appears bad for your health but too much seems to be harmful as well," said study lead author Evangelos Oikonomou from Yale University in the US. ## For this analysis, researchers assessed sleep patterns in 1,752 people living in the Corinthia region of Greece using a standard questionnaire. ## They ranged in age from 40 to 98 years, with a mean age of 64 years old ## Participants were then divided into one of four groups based on self-reported sleep duration: normal (seven to eight hours a night), short sleep duration (six to seven hours a night), very short sleep duration (less than six hours a night) or long sleep duration (greater than eight hours a night). ## At the time of the study, each participant also underwent ultrasound imaging to measure the thickness of the inner part of the arterial wall. ## Thickening of the arterial walls reflects plaque buildup and is associated with an increased risk of stroke and other cardiovascular events. ## The researchers found that even after accounting for other known risk factors for heart disease or stroke, people who slept less than six hours or more than eight hours a night had significantly greater odds of having plaque buildup in the walls of their carotid arteries--a 54 per cent and 39 per cent increase, respectively--compared with those who got seven or eight hours of shut eye. ## The study adds to mounting evidence that sleep patterns, similar to diet and exercise, may play a defining role in someone's cardiovascular risk. ## "We don't fully understand the relationship between sleep and cardiovascular health. It could be that sympathetic nervous system withdrawal or a slowing [of this system] that occurs during sleep may act as a recovery phase for [usual] vascular and cardiac strain," Oikonomou said. ## "Moreover, short sleep duration may be associated with increased cardiovascular risk factors--for example, unhealthy diet, stress, being overweight or greater alcohol consumption--whereas longer sleep duration may be associated with a less active lifestyle pattern and lower physical activity," Oikonomou added. ## The research is scheduled to be presented at the American College of Cardiology's Annual Scientific Session Together with World Congress of Cardiology on March 28-30 in the US. ## For more and the latest news about Lifestyle, stay tuned to us.

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New Delhi, March 19 (IANS) Bollywood actress Sonam Kapoor Ahuja and her husband Anand Ahuja have chosen to self-quarantine in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, on returning from London. ## The couple is currently on quarantine at their home in Delhi. ## A video has gone viral on the Internet where Sonam is seen interacting with her mother-in-law Priya Ahuja from her first floor window. Mrs Ahuja stands outside her home across the street, and both maintain safe distance. ## Sonam, who has just returned from London, has lauded the government's efforts to handle the coronavirus outbreak. She recently tweeted suggestions for netizens, which reads: "Hygiene is the best way to avoid the Coronavirus. Washing hands thoroughly, avoid touching your face and stay away from crowded areas. a healthy lifestyle ( good sleep, food and excercise ) is important. Also have supplements that boost immunity ( vit c and d , zinc)." ## Meanwhile, as shooting activity has come to a halt, B-Towners are forced to remain within the confines of their homes. Most of them are using up the time to pursue hobbies such as reading, painting and music, while many have aggressively taken to fitness regimes including yoga and workout sessions. ## For more and the latest news about Bollywood, stay tuned to us.

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New Delhi, March 19 (IANS) Amid the social distancing, family members can still find some 'me-time' together but with precautions and being vigilant, health experts said on Thursday. ## Although various state governments have banned large gatherings -- Delhi Government has made an order to avoid gathering of over 25 people eat at one place - families can plan indoor parties with precaution. ## "Close family members can enjoy their evenings and dinners but with precautions and being vigilant. People should be aware about the do's and don'ts and if a family consist of elderly person (above the age of 60 years) or those who have chronic, stable illnesses, like diabetes, hypertension, asthma, should definitely avoid even the smallest of gathering," Dr RS Mishra, associate director and consultant, internal medicine, Max Super Specialty Hospital, Saket, told IANS. "The so-called social animals have to act like responsible citizens and need to understand the situation. The only definitive and well proven way of preventing the n-COVID 2019 is social distancing," said Mishra. ## Small family gatherings are still allowed in India also people have to be vigilant that whoever is attending the gathering should not have any illnesses. ## "Individualism needs to be replaced by altruism and social responsibility. We are in a time where our collective social responsible efforts can help us collectively as a society beat the corona epidemic in our country," said Dr Samir Parikh, Director, Mental Health & Behavioural Sciences, Fortis Healthcare. ## "This is not about individuals, their social needs, their likes and needs- it is about ensuring that we contribute to the government efforts, comply with the medical advisories- we maintain social distancing, ensure the right hygiene and sanitizing practices. ## "Stay connected, talk to family friends, use social media, take time for your own self- but maintain social distancing," Parikh elaborated. ## With one more death reported from Punjab on Thursday, India's death toll due to novel coronavirus reached four. The earlier three deaths were reported from Delhi, Karnataka and Maharashtra. ## In India, there are 167 active cases of Covid-19 cases at present, while 15 people have recovered and have been discharged from the hospital. ## "The precautions include hand hygiene, maintaining distance between two people, and avoid anybody who has a recent travel history to other countries or who is not well to be a part of the gathering," said Mishra. ## For more and the latest news about Lifestyle, stay tuned to us.