March 2020

‘Game of Thrones’ star Indira Varma tests positive for coronavirus, says ‘it’s not nice’ LONDON: “Game of Thrones” star Indira Varma has revealed that she has tested positive for coronavirus. Her diagnosis comes two days after fellow “Game of Thrones” actor Kristofer Hivju also said that he tested positive for the COVID-19 infection. Varma, who played the role of Ellaria Sand in the epic HBO series, took to Instagram on Wednesday to share the news. “I’m in bed with it and it’s not nice. Stay safe and healthy and be kind to your fellow people,” she wrote. The 46-year-old actor...

Indiabulls boss in UK, says can’t join ED probe due to flight bar NEW DELHI: Indiabulls chairman Sameer Gehlaut and Kapil Wadhawan of DHFL have cited the Covid-19 outbreak to express their inability to appear before Enforcement Directorate in connection with the probe into alleged quid pro quo between them and Yes Bank co-founder Rana Kapoor. Sources said that Gehlaut has conveyed to the ED that he left for the UK before summons were served on him and would not be able to join the investigation into whether he allegedly paid Rs 685 crore as bribe to Kapoor in exchange...

Bill Gates says coronavirus shutdowns could last up to 10 weeks Bill Gates, who last week said he’s stepping down from the board of Microsoft to devote more time to philanthropy, told Reddit users on Wednesday that the coronavirus shutdown could last as long as 10 weeks — if things go well. “If a country does a good job with testing and ‘shut down’ then within 6-10 weeks they should see very few cases and be able to open back up,” he said. Gates, whose foundation has committed up to $100 million to help with the global COVID-19 response, used...

‘They will welcome me very soon,’ says Ranjan Gogoi amid Opposition staging walkout from Rajya Sabha NEW DELHI: Former Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi on Thursday took oath as Rajya Sabha member amid uproar in the House. “They will welcome me very soon. There are no critics,” Gogoi told reporters as he left the Parliament premises after taking oath as an MP of the Upper House. The members of opposition parties staged a walk out from the House as Gogoi took oath. Meanwhile, Union Minister Ravishankar Prasad welcomed Gogoi in the Rajya Sabha. President Ram Nath Kovind had nominated...

Ex-SBI chief Arundhati Bhattacharya resigns from CRISIL board Crisil on March 19 said that Arundhati Bhattacharya, the past chairman of State Bank of India, has submitted her resignation as independent director of the company effective April 15. In her resignation, Bhattacharya has indicated that the reason for her resignation is her decision to accept a full time role as chairperson and CEO in another company, the filing said. “Bhattacharya, an Independent Director of the company, has submitted her resignation as a director of the company, which will take effect on April 15, 2020,” Crisil Ltd said in a filing to BSE. She...

Pakistani Bureaucrat Uses Shah Rukh Khan Movie to Compose a Coronavirus Awareness Song In the grim times of coronavirus outbreak (COVID-19) that has claimed 8965 lives worldwide as of March 19, a Pakistani bureaucrat has come up with a novel way to educate the masses on how to contain the disease by taking notes from Bollywood tunes. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), washing your hands regularly and social distancing can prevent the spread of the deadly virus that has sent the world in self-isolation lockdown. Since then videos from doctors and celebrities alike from across the world have flooded the Internet with...

‘Lord, Stop it’: The Pope Has Asked God to End the Coronavirus Epidemic While Pope Francis, the head of the Catholic Church has mostly been restricted to the walled confines of the Vatican since the national lockdown in Italy was imposed on March 9, he decided to step out, to pray. He left the Vatican on the Sabbath and went to Rome, where he prayed at Basilica of Saint Mary Major and the church of San Marcello al Corso Sunday, reported Newsweek. When asked by La Repubblica journalist Paolo Rodari what he prayed for at the two churches, the pontiff replied: “I asked the...

Yes Bank: Anil Ambani appears before ED in Mumbai Reliance Group Chairman Anil Ambani on Thursday appeared before the Enforcement Directorate in Mumbai in connection with a money-laundering probe against Yes Bank promoter Rana Kapoor and others, officials said. The agency is expected to record the statement of Ambani under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act. The 60-year-old businessman arrived at the ED office in Ballard Estate around 9:30 am. Ambani’s nine group companies are stated to have taken loans of about Rs 12,800 crore from the crisis-ridden bank, that reportedly were under “stress”. Source: moneycontrol

IndiGo CEO Ronojoy Dutta announces salary cuts of up to 25% IndiGo’s CEO Ronojoy Dutta on Thursday informed employees about a company-wide top down 5%-25% salary cut in a cost-cutting exercise in reaction to the coronavirus crisis which has dismantled airline operations in India and across the world. In an email, Dutta said he was taking a 25% cut, while other executives above the senior vice president level would take 20% reductions. Vice presidents and pilots would have to bear a 15% cut, and others, including cabin crew, would be in for 5%-10% deductions. “We know how hard it is...

Sonam Kapoor compares UK and India’s response to coronavirus as she flies back home, says ‘our govt is doing its best’ Sonam Kapoor Ahuja and husband Anand flew back to India on Wednesday from London. The actor took to social media to share her experience and also to appreciated the authorities for the precautions being taken. Taking to Instagram stories, Sonam mentioned that the couple flew from London to New Delhi. Prior to her flight, she mentioned that she was “heading back to India with her husband” and that she couldn’t wait “to get home”. On reaching Delhi, she again took...