News Broadcasting
Hollywood with Sarah Idan
WION is introducing an entertainment television series that will be hosted by Miss Iraq 2017, Sarah Idan, from the city of Los Angeles. Starting February 2, 2018, ‘Hollywood with Sarah Idan’ promises to bring viewers upto speed with all the happenings in Hollywood. The television series will feature the biggest film releases, celebrity news, interviews with Hollywood bigwigs, the latest music albums, highlights from Award shows as well as the red carpet. In a nutshell, the show will bring to you everything that you need and want to know about Hollywood.
Sarah Idan became the first Miss Iraq to participate in a Miss Universe contest after a gap of 45 years. The 27-year-old is the second Iraqi woman in history to represent her country at an international pageant, a fact that brought her a lot of public and media attention worldwide. She grew up in Baghdad and started working for the United States Army as a linguist when she was only 18 years old – this ultimately granted her the opportunity to travel the US and earn her degree in Music in Los Angeles. She’s a recognised musician in the Middle East and known for her Music in an Egyptian film.
Sarah’s fearless personality and penchant for speaking her mind have made her quite popular among those who aim to break cultural limitations and bring about a positive change in the society. She received death threats for taking a selfie with her Israeli counterpart, Adar Gandelsman. The controversy first arose on Nov 13, 2017 when she posted a selfie with Miss Israel with the caption ‘Peace and Love from Miss Iraq and Miss Israel’. It backfired in ways that she could not have imagined. Having a dual citizenship in the United States helped her escape prosecution in Iraq.
Now based in LA, she will be hosting ‘Hollywood with Sarah Idan’ exclusively on WION. She is excited to team up with the international news channel for this television series as it combines her passion for Movies, Music, Arts and Public Communications.
News Broadcasting
News18 hosts Tamil Nadu town hall ahead of 2026 polls
MK Stalin headlines ‘Next Big Leap’ event from 10am on 23 February in Chennai with leaders and icons.
MUMBAI: Tamil Nadu’s political pot is simmering and News18’s town hall is stirring it up just in time for the 2026 assembly elections boilover. Set for 23 February from 10am onwards in Chennai, the News18 Network Town Hall gathers heavyweights under the banner ‘The Next Big Leap for Tamil Nadu’ to dissect the state’s political pulse, economic edge, and cultural clout. With the 234-seat assembly contest looming as a fiercely competitive showdown, the event spotlights how Tamil Nadu’s identity-driven politics and engaged voters continue to ripple across national debates.
Chief minister MK Stalin leads the charge with a keynote on the theme, sketching his government’s blueprint for governance, development, and staying power pre-polls. Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin chimes in on ‘Voices, Vision & Way Forward’, unpacking generational shifts and fresh narratives. From the opposition corner, AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami tackles ‘Baton Change at the Ballot?’, floating alternatives to the status quo.
Economic vibes get a nudge from industries minister TRB Rajaa on ‘Investment Story Intact?’, probing the state’s draw for big bucks. BJP’s K Annamalai dives into ‘People, Trust & Political Ideology’, positioning his party in the Dravidian-dominated turf. IT Minister Palanivel ThiagaRajan explores ‘Code, Capacity & Citizenship’, on tech’s role in citizen-focused services. TVK’s KG Arunraj questions if ‘Winds of Change are Possible’ in this pattern-prone state.
A panel on innovation features IIT Madras director Prof V Kamakoti, M&M’s Velusamy R, and Electronic Industries Association’s Dr Sasikumar Gendham, musing how AI and knowledge hubs are remaking opportunities. AICC’s Praveen Chakravarty weighs ‘Power Sharing vs Principles’, while former Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan joins the fray. Culture gets its due with composer Anirudh Ravichander on ‘Tamil Music for the World’.
CNN-News18, editorial affairs director Rahul Shivshankar noted, “The News18 Network Tamil Nadu Town Hall… reflects our core editorial focus, to capture the political mood of the state and spotlight the ideas that will shape the next phase of governance and growth.”
Network18, CEO of English & business news Smriti Mehra added, “As Tamil Nadu moves closer to a defining electoral moment… we see it as our responsibility to drive informed and meaningful conversations.”
Network18 managing editor for South, Vivek Narayan said, “The News18 Network Townhall in Tamil Nadu is designed as a platform where policy, politics and public interest intersect.”
Backed by associate partners Tata Motors Commercial Vehicles and Reliance Industries, the live event streams on CNN-News18, News18 Tamil, CTV, and Youtube from 10am on 23 February perfect for catching the sparks, even if you’re not knee-deep in Dravidian drama.
