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Coronavirus is 10 times deadlier than seasonal flu, NIAID chief Fauci says WASHINGTON : The novel coronavirus spreading across the globe is “10 times more lethal than the seasonal flu,” the government’s top infectious disease official told a House hearing, where he warned the US must take serious mitigation efforts now. “Bottom line: It’s going to get worse,” National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases director Anthony Fauci told the House Oversight and Reform Committee. “If we don’t do very serious mitigation now, what’s going to happen is we’re going to be weeks behind” in containing the spread. Source: Livemint

Myanmar MPs reject bid to allow Suu Kyi to become president Myanmar’s parliament rejected on Wednesday a proposed constitutional amendment that would have allowed the country’s de facto leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, to officially become president. The rejection had been expected because the proposal was opposed by the military, which under the constitution adopted when it held power, holds enough parliamentary seats to block any constitutional change. The defeated motion was one of several constitutional changes proposed by Suu Kyi’s ruling National League for Democracy party, with most expected to be blocked. Article 59(f) of the constitution bars a person...

Coronavirus pandemic | US Defence Secretary Mark Esper’s visit to India on March 15-16 called off US Defence Secretary Mark Esper’s visit to India on March 15-16 has been called off due to the coronavirus threat, Defence Ministry officials said on Thursday. The trip, during which Esper was supposed to meet his Indian counterpart Rajnath Singh, is among the several events being postponed because of the coronavirus infection. A two-day conference organised by the Manohar Parrikar Institute of Defence Studies and Analysis (IDSA), which was to start from Thursday, has also been postponed due to the COVID-19 threat. The defence...

Rakesh Jhunjhunwala’s wealth catches Coronavirus; big bull loses Rs 603 crore in his favourite stock The butchery that equity markets witnessed on Thursday left investors poorer by more than Rs 12 lakh crore in market capitalisation of BSE-listed firms. S&P BSE Sensex tanked 3,100 points to trade at 32,589 points while the broader NSE Nifty-50 index plunged 900 points trading below at 9,557 mark. Amidst the massacre, even the big bull of Indian equity markets, Rakesh Jhunjhunwala likely saw his wealth depreciate. The billionaire investor lost Rs 603 crore from his much-adored  Titan Company Limited in just one trading session. According to the information available...

Fortunate that BJP opened doors for me: Jyotiraditya Scindia BHOPAL: Former Congress leader Jyotiraditya Scindia on Thursday said he considers himself fortunate that the BJP accepted him in the party and assured party workers that he will work wholeheartedly for them. Speaking at the state BJP office, Scindia also said the one thing he was bringing to the table was hard work. “I am feeling fortunate to join the BJP. Party president JP Nadda, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and home minister Amit Shah opened the doors of this party for me,” Scindia said. “I have brought only one thing with...

Rajinikanth unveils blueprint, says ‘can’t imagine being CM’; no political party for now Chennai: Will the suspense over Rajinikanth’s political debut be over today? This was the question on everybody’s minds when it was announced that the south Indian superstar is likely to hold a press conference Thursday morning.  Thalaivar (Tamil for boss)– as Rajinikanth is fondly known, while addressing a huge gathering in Chennai today laid out a general model on which his political party will be based. He did not, however, announce a launch date or the name of his party -which continues to be on paper as of now.  Source:...

Tom Hanks, Wife Test Positive for Coronavirus in Australia Oscar-winning actor Tom Hanks and his actress wife, Rita Wilson, have tested positive for the new coronavirus while in Australia for a movie shoot. The couple sought medical help after experiencing body aches and fatigue, among other symptoms, the “Forrest Gump” star, 63, tweeted. “We Hanks’ will be tested, observed, and isolated as long as public health requires,” Hanks said in his Twitter post. “Not much more to it than a one-day-at-a-time approach, no? We’ll keep the world posted and updated.” Source: Bloomberg

Harvey Weinstein sentenced to 23 years in prison, voices sympathy for men in #MeToo era Former movie producer Harvey Weinstein was sentenced to 23 years in prison on Wednesday for his sexual assault and rape convictions last month after delivering a rambling statement to the court expressing sympathy for men accused in the #MeToo movement while saying he is trying to be a better person. The sentence was handed down in Manhattan criminal court by Justice James Burke. A jury on Feb. 24 found Weinstein – once one of Hollywood’s most powerful figures – guilty of sexually assaulting former production...

Technically, we will be in recession in most parts of the globe, including India: Mark Mobius At a time when markets are seeing a bloodbath across the globe, what do you think has led to the accelerated selloff today? Was it Trump’s comment, his mishandling of the situation or is it genuine panic about the virus and its escalation? Initially, Trump tried to downplay the issue for a good reason. He did not want to spread panic but when no payroll tax cut was announced, that was a disappointment to the US markets. The US market leads everybody nowadays because...

Coronavirus confirmed as pandemic by World Health Organization WHO chief Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the number of cases outside China had increased 13-fold in two weeks. He said he was “deeply concerned” by “alarming levels of inaction”. A pandemic is a disease that is spreading in multiple countries around the world at the same time. Hours later Italy said all shops except food shops and pharmacies would close. Announcing the toughest lockdown seen yet in Europe, Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte said bars, hairdressers, restaurants and cafes that could not guarantee a metre’s distance between customers and non-essential company departments...