March 2020

Coronavirus outbreak: Anand Mahindra proposes lockdown for a few weeks NEW DELHI: Mahindra Group Chairman Anand Mahindra on Sunday proposed lockdown for the next few weeks, expressing concerns over reports that India is likely to have already reached stage-3 of coronavirus transmission. He also offered the facilities of the group’s hospitality arm as medical care facilities while the group will work on how its manufacturing facilities can make ventilators. “Going by various reports from epidemiologists, it is highly likely that India is already in stage-3 of transmission. Cases could rise exponentially with millions of casualties, putting a huge strain on...

Iran refuses U.S. help: ‘Possibly your medicine is a way to spread the virus’ DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Iran’s supreme leader refused U.S. assistance Sunday to fight the new coronavirus, citing an unfounded conspiracy theory that the virus could be man-made by America. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s comments come as Iran faces crushing U.S. sanctions blocking the country from selling its crude oil and accessing international financial markets. But while Iranian civilian officials in recent days have increasingly criticized those sanctions, 80-year-old Khamenei instead chose to traffic in the same conspiracy theory increasingly used by Chinese officials about the new...

‘He’s proven it’ – Shivnarine Chanderpaul considers Virat Kohli best batsman in the world Shivnarine Chanderpaul was one of the most unattractive yet effective batsmen in world cricket during his playing days. Recently, the left-hander was in India to play in the Road Safety World Series 2020 but because of the coronavirus outbreak, the veterans’ tournament got postponed. The former southpaw, who featured in a cricket match in the series in India after August 2018, made 61 off 41 balls in the first game against India though his team lost. In the second match against South Africa, he made 21....

Track legend Carl Lewis wants Olympics postponed for two years WASHINGTON: Nine-time Olympic track and field champion Carl Lewis says he wants a delay of up to two years for the Tokyo Olympics but rejects any bid to cancel them outright. The 58-year-old US athletics legend told Houston television station KRIV that he backs the calls for postponement by USA Track and Field and USA Swimming due to disruptions caused by the coronavirus pandemic. “The best part about that is they’re creating some solidarity in their message,” Lewis said. “I just think it’s really difficult for an athlete to prepare,...

Former Real Madrid president Lorenzo Sanz dies after contracting coronavirus Former Real Madrid president Lorenzo Sanz, who was hospitalised with coronavirus, died on Saturday at the age of 76, his son announced. Sanz was in charge of the Spanish giants from 1995-2000, overseeing two Champions League titles. “My father has just passed away. He did not deserve this ending and in this way,” tweeted his son, Lorenzo Sanz junior. Three days ago, Sanz Jr., a former professional basketball player, said that his father had been admitted to a Madrid hospital aer suering the symptoms of the coronavirus which has killed...

Actor Prabhas puts himself in self-quarantine South superstar Prabhas has announced that he is in self-quarantine in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. In a short statement posted on Twitter, the Baahubali actor said he recently returned from Georgia after completing a film’s shoot and, therefore, decided to keep himself in isolation. “On safely returning from my shoot abroad, in light of increasing risks of COVID-19, I have decided to self-quarantine. Hope you all are also taking the necessary precautions to be safe(sic),” Prabhas tweeted on Saturday. Source: Telangana Today

Entourage actor Debi Mazar tests positive for coronavirus Debi Mazar, known for movies like Goodfellas and TV shows like Entourage, is the latest celebrity to be tested positive for coronavirus. Debi announced the news on her Instagram account. She wrote about her experience in detail, “I have just tested positive for Covid-19.I AM OK! About a month ago my entire home(husband and two teen daughters) got an odd bug- Low grade fever,headaches,sore throat,body aches,ears ringing and a dry cough.It cleared up quickly.Seasonal I thought?but it felt unusual/different… Two weeks later,March 15th,I woke up with all those same symptoms but super intense body...

Veteran Tamil director-actor Visu passes away Meenakshisundaram Ramasamy Viswanthan, popularly known as Visu in the Tamil film industry, passed away due to kidney failure on March 22. He was 74. The actor-director was a prominent figure in Kollywood in the 80s and 90s. He began his career working as an assistant under legendary filmmaker K Balachander. Visu’s first movie was Pattina Pravesam (1977). He got his first break with hit comedy movie Thillu Mullu, which starred Rajinikanth. As a director, Visu was known for his message-driven family dramas. He has helmed several blockbusters like Samsaram Adhu Minsaaram, Penmani Aval Kanmani, Thirumathi...

Lockdowns Not Enough to Defeat Coronavirus, Says WHO’s Emergency Expert Mike Ryan Countries can’t simply lock down their societies to defeat coronavirus, the World Health Organization’s top emergency expert Mike Ryan said on Sunday, adding that there need to be public health measures to avoid a resurgence of the virus later on. “What we really need to focus on is finding those who are sick, those who have the virus, and isolate them, find their contacts and isolate them,” Mike Ryan said in an interview on the BBC’s Andrew Marr Show. “The danger right now with the lockdowns … if...

German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Quarantine After Meeting Coronavirus-Infected Doctor Berlin: German Chancellor Angela Merkel will quarantine herself at home after being treated by a doctor who has since tested positive for the novel coronavirus, a government spokesman said Sunday. “The Chancellor has decided to quarantine herself at home. She will be tested regularly in the coming days… (and) fulfil her official business from home,” Steffen Seibert said in a statement. The doctor had visited Merkel Friday to vaccinate her against the pneumococcus bacteria. It could take some time to determine whether the chancellor is herself infected as “a test would...