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Theatre personality Usha Ganguli passes away On March 27, as locked-down halls marked World Theatre Day, Usha Ganguli posted a message on Facebook, “No fears, no fears, be safe.” She accompanied it with an audio clip of her performance from the play Antaryatra, in which she says, “Mirabai has told us, ‘Even if the greatest calamity befalls me, Mira will not stray from the path of her Lord.’ To stay true to your quest and keep striving is to keep living. I will also live. I have also lived.” On Thursday morning, Ganguli, a veteran actor-director of the Hindi stage, passed...

Aparshakti Khurana says he is yet to reach the stage where he can be compared to brother Ayushmann Khurrana Actor Aparshakti Khurana has said he is yet to reach the stage where he can be compared to his brother, actor Ayushmann Khurrana. While Aparshakti made his debut with Aamir Khan’s Dangal in 2016, Ayushmann started his career with Shoojit Sircar’s Vicky Donor in 2012. He told Pinkvilla in an interview, “I am yet to read any article comparing me and Ayushmann. Moreover, I think I am yet to become an equal to Ayushmann. Comparisons can only be done between equals. I am yet...

Indian-origin doctor in US receives ‘Drive of Honour’ for treating Covid-19 patients An Indian-origin doctor, who is treating Covid-19 patients in the US, received the ‘Drive of Honour’ as part of her efforts to fight the novel coronavirus pandemic. Mysuru-based doctor, Dr Uma Rani Madhusudana, who is currently working at the South Windsor Hospital in Connecticut, USA, received the honour in appreciation for her services rendered for treating Covid-19 patients in America. Various Karnataka ministers, including Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa, congratulated her efforts of treating coronavirus patients. The video of Uma was honoured by her patients who had recovered from Covid-19 and went viral...

Canada PM appreciated for handling Covid-19 crisis, approval ratings increase Canada prime minister Justin Trudeau’s high-profile daily media briefings on the country’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic has helped him enjoy a resurgence in popularity. A new poll stated that “Trudeau’s handling of the Covid-19 crisis lifts his approval to the highest level since 2017.” In fact, his performance is endorsed by 54% of Canadians, according to a new survey from the non-profit pollster Angus Reid Institute or ARI. The enhanced support amid the coronavirus crisis is clear since Trudeau’s popularity has jumped 21% since February this year. As ARI...

Mukhtar Naqvi: Entire Muslim group can’t be held liable for one group’s ‘crime’ Reacting to the situations of Muslims being blamed for the rise in COVID-19 circumstances after Tablighi Jamaat occasion in Delhi, Minority Affairs Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi Thursday stated your complete group can’t be held liable for one group’s “crime”. In an interview with information company PTI, Naqvi stated that many of the minority group members have condemned the Jamaat’s motion. “Whatever that organisation did, criminal negligence or crime…most Muslims have strongly reacted to it, condemned it and called for action against it. Entire community cannot be held responsible for one person or one...

Bengal Governor questions Mamata Banerjee’s ‘red carpet’ to WHO team West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar took to Twitter on Thursday to fire another salvo at the Mamata Banerjee government over the ‘red carpet’ treatment for a World Health Organization (WHO) team and asking the government about the outcome of the visit. “Urge @MamataOfficial to ensure seamless way forward for Central Teams. Concerned at Rebuff to Central Teams. Red Carpet visit of WHO to East Midnapur and Bishnupur. What outcome and gain of WHO visit? Declare! Time to take to Constitution. Let concerned handle Mikes/Brooms,” Dhankhar tweeted. Source: Hindustan Times

Quarantine period of Wadhwans ending today, have informed ED and CBI: Anil Deshmukh Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh on Wednesday said that the State police had written to both the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) informing them that the quarantine period of Kapil Wadhwan and Dheeraj Wadhwan along with their family members was ending at 2 pm on April 22 and the agencies could come and arrest the accused. In a statement, Mr Deshmukh said, “The quarantine period of the accused is ending at 2 pm today. We have written to ED and CBI teams regarding this. Their...

Katrina Kaif to contribute towards food and sanitary needs of Maharashtra daily wage workers Actor Katrina Kaif pledged her contribution towards providing food and sanitary needs to the daily wage earners in Bhandara district of Maharashtra. The actor, through her brand Kay Beauty, has partnered with De’Haat Foundation in their work to aid these workers hit by the nationwide lockdown due to the coronavirus outbreak. In an Instagram Story, Katrina wrote that it has been a ‘tough month for all of us’ but it’s amazing to see the efforts people are making across to overcome this pandemic. Source: India Today

Ramayan’s Sita aka Dipika Chikhlia’s unseen pic with former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee goes viral! New Delhi: The epic show ‘Ramayan’ took over television in the past few days like none! Amid lockdown, watching the amazing ‘Ramayan’ and ‘Mahabharat’ looks like a nostalgia trip which everyone is enjoying. The decision to re-telecast Ramanand Sagar’s ‘Ramayan’ amongst various other old shows has been welcomed by fans, who are in awe of the actors who worked in such popular shows.  The lead actress of Ramanand Sagar’s ‘Ramayan’, Dipika Chikhlia Topiwala, who played Devi Sita on the show is an avid social media...

Raghuram Rajan cautions against giving communal colour to coronavirus NEW DELHI: Cautioning people against giving communal colour to the coronavirus pandemic, former Reserve Bank Governor Raghuram Rajan has said such behaviour could explode and make it much harder for different communities to get along. Rajan’s comments come in the wake allegations that Tabligh-e-Jamat members violated social distancing guidelines and ignored all instructions by organising a massive gathering last month at their centre in Nizamuddin area of Delhi. The gathering is believed to have emerged as a super-spreader of the coronavirus with thousands of cases across the country linked to Jamat...