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Kanye West officially now a billionaire: Forbes Rapper Kanye West is now a billionaire, thanks largely to the basketball shoes bearing his name that he developed with Adidas, Forbes magazine said on Friday. The rough figure of the wealth of Kim Kardashian’s hubby is USD 1.3 billion, the magazine said in announcing the musician is now on its list of people worth at least USD 1 billion. The 42-year-old, Chicago-born rapper’s Yeezy footwear often sells for more than USD 200 a pair in the United States and elsewhere. West was associated with Nike for years but broke away in 2013,...

Malayalam actor Ravi Vallathol passes away Malayalam actor Ravi Vallathol passed away at his residence in Thiruvananthapuram on Saturday. He was 67. Vallathol made a mark in Malayalam show business as a writer, actor and television personality. A couple of years ago, he retired due to his health condition. According to reports, Vallathol was undergoing treatment for Alzheimer’s at a Thiruvananthapuram hospital. The members of Malayalam film industry shared fond memories of Ravi Vallathol. Malayalam superstar Mammootty recalled that it was Vallathol who anchored his first interview for Doordarshan. “Ravi’s passing has caused me a lot of pain. He was a good...

South Asia needs a humanitarian response to the COVID-19 pandemic: Ranil Wickremesinghe The SAARC Secretariat should play an active role in the region’s response to COVID-19, along with “someone in-charge”, according to Sri Lanka’s former Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe. “I don’t know if it can be handled from Kathmandu alone. If you can, well and good. But you may need another city. It can be Bengaluru, Colombo, any city,” he said on Friday. “This is a good time for a regional cooperation programme. This is a global pandemic without a global leadership. Maybe the region can’t provide leadership for all....

Aung San Suu Kyi turns to Facebook to get coronavirus message out Yangon, Myanmar – Broadcasting live from Myanmar’s capital, Naypyidaw, Aung San Suu Kyi shuffled some papers, looked straight at the camera and smiled before welcoming her guests to a teleconference call on Facebook. “Currently, migrant workers are coming back from Thailand and some have resettled in the country. So we are taking the necessary steps to provide quarantine facilities,” the country’s de facto leader told the more than 300,000 viewers who had tuned into her broadcast on Wednesday. Alongside her, the screen featured three of Myanmar’s labour leaders. The...

Divya Bharti died 27 years ago Nothing can explain why a person is trolled when that person is not even remotely connected with an event from the past. Warda Nadiadwala, wife of producer Sajid Nadiadwala, has to deal with this routinely as trolls target her over Divya Bharti. Now, speaking to Bollywood Hungama in a live chat, Wardha spoke about her husband’s former wife, who died of an accident 27 years ago. She added how Divya’s memories continue to be part of her family’s life and how close her family remains to hers. Explaining how close her family still is that Divya Bharti’s...

Rajeev Khandelwal says casting couch is not rape: ‘The one who gives in is equally responsible’ Actor Rajeev Khandelwal has shared his views on the prevalence of casting couch in the glamour industry and believes those who fall prey to the practice always have the choice to say no. The Table No 21 actor had recently revealed that he was once propositioned by a star filmmaker in exchange of a two-film deal, ahead of his Bollywood debut. Being asked for sexual favours in return for acting roles is something many people say is prevalent in the Indian film industry. Many people from...

China President Xi Jinping says to boost investments, employment China will step up investment in various sectors including 5G, artificial intelligence, transport and energy and boost employment, President Xi Jinping said on Thursday, as the world’s second-largest economy reels from the coronavirus epidemic. The official Xinhua news agency reported that Xi, speaking during a visit to northwestern Shaanxi province, said the long-term trend of improvement in the Chinese economy has not changed but said Beijing will take steps to boost the real economy, especially the manufacturing sector. Xi said Beijing will focus on the employment of college graduates, migrant workers...

Chris Wood says lockdown disastrous for Indian economy Lockdown in countries like India and Indonesia are more disastrous for human welfare and economies since there is no help for small businesses nor are there unemployment benefits, said Christopher Wood, Global Head of Equity Strategy at Jefferies. In the latest weekly note Greed & Fear, Wood said the situation in countries like India and Indonesia is in contrast with the US where the Small Business Administration’s Paycheck Protection Programme will provide up to $349 billion in forgivable loans to small businesses to pay their employees for eight weeks during the health...

Both Covid-19 patients test negative, Tripura free from coronavirus, says CM Biplab Deb Tripura Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb on Thursday said the state has become free from coronavirus disease Covid-19 after its second patient tested negative. “ …The second corona patient of Tripura has been found NEGATIVE after consecutive tests. Hence, our State has become Corona free. I request everyone to maintain Social distancing and follow Government guidelines. Stay Home Stay Safe,” Deb tweeted. Out of the two Covid-19 patients, the first one – a woman – was released from the isolation ward of a hospital in Agartala on...

Arnab Goswami gets interim relief for three weeks from SC in FIRs against him The Supreme Court on Friday granted Republic TV Editor-in-Chief Arnab Goswami interim protection for three weeks and ruled that no coercive action will be taken against the journalist till then, Bar and Bench reported. Goswami can move an anticipatory bail application during the three weeks, it said. A bench of Justices DY Chandrachud and MR Shah made the observations while hearing a petition filed by Goswami seeking no coercive action should be taken on the first information reports filed against him in various states for allegedly defaming Congress President Sonia Gandhi....