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Shyam Sundar Kalani, Who Played Sugriva and Bali in Ramayan, Passes Away Actor Shyam Sundar Kalani, who played the role of Sugriva and his brother Bali in the Ramanand Sagar’s Ramayan has passed away. He cause and date of his demise is not yet known. Arun Govil and Sunil Lahri who played Lord Ram and Lakshman respectively have condoled fellow actor Shyam’s death on social media. Taking to the microblogging site Twitter Arun wrote, “Sad to know about demise of Mr Shyam Sundar who played the role of Sugreev in Ramanand Sagar’s “Ramayan”… A very fine person and a gentleman....

Coronavirus Outbreak: IMF anticipates sharpest negative economic growth fallout since Great Depression Washington: The year 2020 could see the worst global economic fallout since the Great Depression in the 1930s with over 170 countries likely to experience negative per capita income growth due to the raging coronavirus pandemic, IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva said on Thursday. Georgieva made the remarks during her address on “Confronting the Crisis: Priorities for the Global Economy” here ahead of next week’s annual Spring meeting of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank. “Today, the world is confronted with a crisis like no other....

Amit Shah Directs BSF to Enhance Vigil Along Pakistan, Bangladesh Fronts; Ensure No Cross-border Movement New Delhi: Union Home Minister Amit Shah has directed the BSF to enhance vigil along the Indian borders with Pakistan and Bangladesh, especially in the non-fenced areas, a senior official said on Friday. The minister reviewed the security of the two borders on Thursday with Border Security Force (BSF) officials via a video conferencing and directed the force to ensure that no cross-border movement takes place at these two fronts, Joint secretary in the ministry, Punya Salila Srivastava told reporters during a daily briefing. The interaction...

Need to gradually lift lockdown, have unconventional exit strategy: Dr Devi Shetty NOIDA: Talking about the next steps after the lockdown in India, experts at Bennett University’s global online conference on Covid-19: Fallout & Future on Thursday agreed that social distancing needs to continue in various forms even after the lockdown to control the spread of the virus. Narayana Hospitals chairman Dr Devi Shetty expressed concern about the economic impact of the lockdown due to coronavirus and said there is a need to gradually lift the restrictions. Shetty proposed that after the lockdown, the hotspots can remain sealed while the...

At 3.8 cases per million, India’s rate of infection still fairly low: Union health minister Harsh Vardhan NEW DELHI: Social distancing and lockdown are potent “social vaccines” against the Covid-19 pandemic that has engulfed over 200 countries, health minister Harsh Vardhan said on Thursday, detailing the government’s focus on 133 hotspot districts as a critical component of a concerted containment strategy. “I can state with utmost confidence that in terms of data or statistics on Covid-19, India is much better placed than any other country,” the minister said while addressing an international online conference on Covid-19 organised by Bennett University....

Mom rides 1,400km on scooty to get son home HYDERABAD: Braving the stringent lockdown norms, a school teacher rode 1,400km on her two-wheeler to bring her son back home. Razia Begum, a teacher in Bodhan, Nizamabad, undertook the arduous journey as her son was stuck in Andhra Pradesh’s Nellore town. The teacher, who took a permission letter from police, was stopped at several places but managed to convince authorities about the necessity of undertaking the journey. “It was not difficult,” she told reporters after reaching her hometown with her son. Razia’s son Nizamuddin, an intermediate student, was enrolled in a...

At UNSC meet, UN chief Guterres warns of bio-terrorism, social unrest Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned the UN Security Council on Thursday that the coronavirus pandemic is threatening international peace and security — “potentially leading to an increase in social unrest and violence that would greatly undermine our ability to fight the disease.” The UN’s most powerful body, which has been silent on Covid-19 since it started circling the globe sickening and killing tens of thousands, issued its first brief press statement after the closed meeting. It expressed “support for all efforts of the secretary-general concerning the potential impact of the...

Nepal PM emphasises importance of maintaining supply lines amid Covid-19 Nepal Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli on Friday stressed the importance of maintaining cross-border supply lines amid the Covid-19-related lockdown during a telephone conversation with his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi. The two leaders exchanged views on the Covid-19 crisis and the challenges it poses to the health and safety of citizens of both countries and the region. They also discussed steps taken in their countries to tackle the pandemic. Oli tweeted that he had emphasised the need to provide good care to citizens of both countries who have been stranded...