March 2020

Coronavirus: Alibaba founder Jack Ma pledges 1.8 million masks and aid to Asia Jack Ma, Asia’s richest man, pledged 1.8 million face masks and 210,000 coronavirus test kits to some of the continent’s poorest nations, the latest step in an ongoing effort from his foundation to push back against what’s become a global pandemic. Ma joined Twitter on Monday to announce that the Jack Ma Foundation and Alibaba Foundation were shipping a donation of emergency supplies to the U.S. Having previously aided virus-fighting efforts in Japan, Iran and Italy, the Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. co-founder’s philanthropic groups also expanded to send thousands of...

Iran’s Rouhani says COVID-19 measures may be eased within weeks Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani has said he expects measures taken to combat the spread of the highly infectious coronavirus, including social distancing, to be eased within the next two to three weeks. Accusing “counter-revolutionaries” of attempting to shut down economic production, Rouhani said in a televised address on Saturday his country “has to do everything” to return economic activity back to normal.  Source: Aljazeera

Coronavirus: Rs 1,000 each to be given to over 35 lakh workers, Yogi Adityanath says LUCKNOW: Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath on Saturday said that an amount of Rs 1,000 each will be given to 15 lakh daily wage labourers and 20.37 lakh construction workers across the state via direct benefit transfer. “Rs 1000 each will be given 15 lakh daily wage labourers and 20.37 lakh construction workers via direct benefit transfer to help them meet their daily needs,” Adityanath said. Source: The Times of India

Nico Hulkenberg Makes F1 Comeback With Virtual Grand Prix Series It turns out Nico Hulkenberg will compete in an F1 race this season after all. Not for the World Championship and not in an actual F1 car but in close imitation. The German driver announced that he would participate in the upcoming Virtual Grand Prix Series. Yesterday, F1 announced a new Esports event called the Virtual Grand Prix Series as a replacement for cancelled races. All the current F1 drivers are free to participate in the event but so far, the list only includes Max Verstappen. Hulkenberg joins several other motorsport stars...

Modi Ji, aapki leadership bhi kaafi..: Kevin Pietersen reacts to Indian PM’s ‘explosive batsmen’ tweet With the deadly novel coronavirus making its presence felt in India, former England skipper Kevin Pietersen who shares strong ties with Indian cricket fraternity sent a heartfelt message that too in Hindi to win many hearts on social media. Pietersen posted a special message dedicated to the citizens of India in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic that has postponed or cancelled plethora of sporting events across the globe. From the 13th season of the Indian Premier League (IPL) to English Premier League (EPL), almost every...

‘Everything in my life started after I bowled Sachin Tendulkar out’: Bhuvneshwar Kumar on the game-changing event in his career From a stubborn teenager who rebelled when his parents didn’t want him to focus on cricket at the cost of his studies, Bhuvneshwar Kumar has undoubtedly come a long way. As one of India’s most reliable pace bowlers, Kumar has everything going for him today. But this wasn’t always the case as Kumar reveals in a tell-all webisode of Cricbuzz’s new show, Spicy Pitch. Kumar started his cricketing journey like any other young Indian— playing gully cricket in his hallway...

James Bond’s Daniel Craig won’t leave his fortune to children after he dies Hollywood star Daniel Craig won’t be leaving his fortune to his children, saying he plans to live life large and then leave what’s left to charity. Craig, who has an estimated $145 million fortune, won’t be giving his children hand-outs, saying his philosophy is to “get rid of it or give it away before you go”, reports aceshowbiz.com. The 52-year-old told Saga magazine: “I don’t want to leave great sums to the next generation. I think inheritance is quite distasteful.” Craig has a 28-year-old daughter from his...

Legendary country singer Kenny Rogers dies at 81 (CNN)Kenny Rogers, whose legendary music career spanned nearly six decades, has died at the age of 81, his publicist Keith Hagan told CNN. The artist’s family announced his passing on Rogers’ verified Twitter account, saying he died Friday night from natural causes under the care of hospice and surrounded by family. “Kenny Rogers left an indelible mark on the history of American music. His songs have endeared music lovers and touched the lives of millions around the world,” a statement posted by Hagan says. Rogers was inducted to the Country Music Hall of Fame in...

PK Banerjee passes away after battling illness, leaves void in football KOLKATA: At around 5.10 pm, the lifeless figure of Pradip Kumar Banerjee was placed on a makeshift platform in the park in front of his GD block residence at Salt Lake. Sitting beside him were his daughters Paula and Purna, and brother Prasun Banerjee. A few metres away, a host of former players who ruled Indian football in the 1970s and 1980s, stood as if frozen in time, as a hundred-odd admirers paid their last respects. PK, 83 – the life and voice of Indian football for over five...

Kanika Kapoor booked for negligence after leaving a trail of quarantined VIPs The Lucknow police lodged an FIR against Bollywood singer Kanika Kapoor for alleged negligence in compliance of necessary directives to safeguard against the spread of deadly Coronavirus disease post her return from London earlier this month. She tested covid-19 positive on Friday and left a chain of VIPs behind who had either put themselves on self-isolation or earmarked for monitoring by the administration. Lucknow Commissioner of Police, Sujeet Pandey confirmed that an FIR was lodged at Sarojini Nagar police station under Indian Penal Code section 188, 269, 270...