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I apologise to the countrymen, says PM in Mann ki Baat Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the first Mann ki Baat amid the 21-day-long COVID-19 lockdown, on Sunday, March 29. Here are the updates: “Today, there is only one issue that is gripping the world. I apologise to the countrymen and my conscience says you will forgive me. When I look at the poor people, they must be thinking what kind of the Prime Minister is this who has put you through this hardship. Some of you may be unhappy with the lockdown. There was only this option. It is...

Ratan Tata pledges Rs 1500 cr in support of fight against COVID-19 Joining a number of India Inc leaders who are doing their bit in their own way, Ratan Tata has committed Rs 500 crore to procure protective equipment for frontline workers, respiratory systems for treatment of increasing cases and testing kits in the fight against COVID-19. In a tweet on March 28, Ratan Tata shared a post detailing how Tata Trusts and the group companies will help as India battles to contain the spread of COVID-19. The COVID 19 crisis is one of the toughest challenges we will face as...

Virat Kohli controls the show on field, we leave him to do his job: Ravi Shastri India head coach Ravi Shastri said skipper Virat Kohli has been the driving force behind their success in the recent past and he is the boss when it comes to matters related to Indian cricket team. It was a decade to remember for Virat Kohli as the India skipper also as he dominated the show for his country on the global stage and led from the front. Under Virat Kohli, India have been the top ranked Test side and are only below World Champions...

My Gut Feel is Dhoni’s India Ambitions Might be Over: Harsha Bhogle New Delhi: With uncertainty looming over the upcoming edition of the Indian Premier League, celebrated cricket commentator Harsha Bhogle feels it might be the end of the road for M.S. Dhoni as far as his ambitions of playing for India are concerned. “My gut feel is that his (Dhoni’s) India ambitions might be over. I don’t think Dhoni would have been looking to September-October for the T20 World Cup. Maybe if he just had a great IPL but my gut feel is that was beyond him,” Bhogle said while...

Rishi Kapoor Wants Govt to Open Licensed Liquor Stores Briefly Because People ‘Need Some Release’ Three days after blasting a troll who asked if he has stocked up on alcohol, actor Rishi Kapoor has said the government should open up licensed liquor shops for a brief period in the evenings amid lockdown. Liquor shops are among the business establishments that have been shut during the country-wide 21-day lockdown announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. But the Mulk actor is of the opinion that people should have some access to liquor as “Cops,doctors,civilians etc… need some release”. He said, “State governments...

Minal Dakhave Bhosale: Meet the woman behind India’s first coronavirus testing kit Pune : India has been receiving criticism from all across the world for its poor rate of testing people in the battle against coronavirus. This is set to change as a virologist delivered a working test kit hours before delivering her baby. India’s first coronavirus testing kit reached Indian markets on Thursday to increase frequency to test patients with flu symptoms to confirm or rule out the Covid-19 infection. Mylab Discovery, in the western city of Pune, turned out to be the first Indian firm to get full approval to...

Kamal Haasan Quashes Coronavirus Rumours After Chennai Corporation Pastes Sticker on His House On Saturday, social media was rife with rumours that actor-politician Kamal Haasan has been self quarantining in his Alwarpet house after suspected coronavirus symptoms. The rumours began after municipality and health officials had stuck coronavirus notes infront of his house. Photos of the quarantine sticker pasted in front of Kamal Haasan’s residence went viral. However, Kamal Haasan, in a statement quashed the rumours saying that at present he resides in another house and is practising self-isolation as a precautionary measure. Source: News18

Gadkari Asks NHAI Chief, Toll Operators to Ensure Food, Water Support to Migrant Workers Union Minister Nitin Gadkari on Saturday asked NHAI Chairman and toll operators across national highways to provide food, water and other necessary support to migrant workers. The directions came amid reports that migrant workers are facing severe hardships while stranded at various parts in the country on account of nationwide lockdown in the wake of coronavirus pandemic. “I have advised Chairman NHAI and Highway Concessioners/Toll operators to consider providing food, water or any kind of support to migrant workers/citizens who are trying to reach to their...

World has entered a recession as bad or worse than global financial crisis: IMF chief The coronavirus pandemic has driven the global economy into a downturn that will require massive funding to help developing nations, IMF chief Kristalina Georgieva said Friday. “It is clear that we have entered a recession” that will be worse than in 2009 following the global financial crisis, she said in an online press briefing. With the worldwide economic “sudden stop,” Georgieva said the fund’s estimate “for the overall financial needs of emerging markets is $2.5 trillion.” Source: Livemint

Azim Premji had donated Rs 50,000 crore in 2019, Wipro clarifies Tech giant Wipro has clarified that news reports and social media posts of Founder Azim Premji donating Rs 50,000 crore are misleading as the charitable contribution was made in March 2019. Yes, Premji, the then chairman of Wipro had earmarked 34 percent of his shares worth Rs 52,750 crore to an endowment under the Azim Premji Foundation. The donation was made by the philanthropist in mid-March 2019, making him one of the biggest philanthropists in India’s history. The 74-year-old earlier has donated money for charitable causes wholeheartedly that include...