The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences will allow only films streamed online for the forthcoming Oscars in the wake of the industry-wide shutdown caused by the coronavirus pandemic. The organisers of the annual awards made the announcement on Tuesday, adding that the COVID-19 outbreak had forced the Academy to make the “temporary exception” due to the shutdown of theatres. Earlier, the Academy required that a film be shown in a commercial motion picture theatre in Los Angeles County for a theatrical qualifying run of at least seven consecutive days, during which period screenings must occur at least three…
Author: Our Correspondent
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday called up Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina of Bangladesh to discuss the COVID-19 situation in the two countries. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim told the official news agency BSSs that both the Prime Ministers agreed to take further the SAARC initiative to fight the COVID 19 pandemic subsequent to the video conference of Prime Minister Narendra Modi with SAARC nations on March 15. Prime Minister Hasina thanked India for sending medicines and other medical equipment to Bangladesh to fight the COVID-19 pandemic. He said that both the Prime Ministers extended Bangla Nabo…
Rishi Kapoor, beloved star of films such as Bobby and Chandni, died in a hospital in Mumbai at the age of 67 on Thursday. He fought a long battle with cancer and had spent much of last year in New York being treated. A statement from the Kapoor family said that the actor “remained jovial” and “kept doctors entertained till the end.” Rishi Kapoor, who was famously fond of life, “would like to be remembered with a smile and not with tears,” The family have also appealed that lockdown rules be respected by Mr Kapoor’s fans and well-wishers. Rishi Kapoor’s…
Hollywood superstar Angelina Jolie has expressed her condolences on the demise of Indian actor Irrfan Khan. “I had the privilege of working with Irrfan Khan on the set of A Mighty Heart. He stood out for his generosity as an artist, which made it a pleasure to work in any scene with him. I remember the intensity of his commitment, and equally his smile. I send my condolences and my sympathy to his family, his friends, and all admirers of his work, in India and around the world,” Jolie said in her message. “A Mighty Heart”, is a 2007 drama…
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned Monday that extremist groups are taking advantage of COVID-19 lockdowns to intensify social media efforts to spread hatred and recruit young people who are spending more time online. Even before the coronavirus pandemic, he said, one of every five young people was not getting an education, training or working, and one of every four was affected by violence or conflict. And he lamented that every year, 12 million girls become mothers when they are still children. Guterres told a UN Security Council meeting on youth, peace and security that “these frustrations and, frankly, failures to…
New guidelines to fight COVID-19 which will give considerable relaxations to many districts will come into effect from May 4 when the nationwide lockdown is set to expire, the Union Home Ministry said on Wednesday. Details of the new measures will be communicated in the days to come, the Home Ministry spokesperson said on Twitter. Earlier in the day, the government announced plans to allow lakhs of migrant workers and students stranded at various places for over a month due to the nationwide lockdown to return home. But with the COVID-19 tally rising further, the lockdown could continue beyond May…
Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Wednesday announced extension of curfew in the state by two weeks after May 3, while unveiling steps for limited lifting of the lockdown restrictions from Thursday in the non-containment and non-red zones with strict adherence to Covid-19 safety protocols. Based on the report of the expert committee set up to formulate the state’s exit strategy, and the inputs received from various sections of society, the Chief Minister said it was necessary to continue with the lockdown restrictions for some more time. The curfew or lockdown in the state will now remain in force in Punjab will May 17,…
It’s the desi, rural version of Flipkart and Amazon, and is promoted by the government. Concerned over the severe restrictions on mobility and lack of adequate supplies in times of Covid-19, the government has facilitated the creation of a village-level online retail chain, planning massive supplies of essentials through fast-expanding outlets that are taking orders online and offline, and carrying out home deliveries. The ambitious plan is being led by the Common Service Centres, the rural digital outreach vehicle of the government that reaches over 60 crore people through its nearly 3.8 lakh outlets. The outlets are set up and…
The Hollywood Foreign Press Association, the organisation which conducts Golden Globes, is making more changes to its eligibility rules for the forthcoming awards in light of the coronavirus pandemic. The HFPA implemented new rules last month that are in effect until April 30. However, the HFPA announced on Tuesday morning that the date has been extended indefinitely because of theatre closures due to the global health crisis, reported Variety. “The HFPA will continue to assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on motion picture distribution and exhibition and may make other temporary variations to those rules as it considers appropriate…