WATCH: This Adorable Video Of Taimur Ali Khan Bumping Into Father Saif Ali Khan’s Interview Will Make Your Sunday Bright!

Recently, Saif also opened up about his son's reaction to the lock down, he reportedly said that his son is happy to have his parents around.

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Doctors' Association Urges Union Health Minister To Provide Accommodation To Medics Advised Home Quarantine

The Federation of Resident Doctors' Association (FORDA) has written to the Union Health Minister, Dr. Harsh Vardhan, seeking assistance regarding accommodation facilities for resident doctors advised for home quarantine.

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Salman Khan Extends Ramzan Wishes, Advises Fans To Stay Home During Lockdown

The 54-year-old actor also condemned the stone-pelting incidents that occurred with the health officials amid the coronavirus outbreak.

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No Evidence Proves Antibodies Can Protect From A Re-Infection: WHO

The WHO warned on Saturday that there was still no evidence that people who test positive for the new coronavirus and recover are immunised and protected against reinfection

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Pakistanis panic over unavoidable bank paperwork in person

When Askari Bank blocked accounts of customers who had not completed their biometric verification in time, people flooded to its branches in panic. The bank’s crackdown was a good way to force people to comply with anti-money laundering regulations—but under the lockdown, it was a risky business.

At least 90 accounts were blocked in a single branch, according to an insider who requested that we don’t identify him. To be fair, the bank had been pushing people for a year and with repeated reminders to get their biometrics done. But by the time March rolled around and the lockdown had intensified there was good reason to suspend it to avoid long lines. The older the branch, the larger the customer base, the higher the number of suspended accounts, said the insider.

The risk was so great of spreading coronavirus that the bank had to reverse its decision and extend the deadline two months, he added. “Keeping in view the Covid-19 crises, accounts have been temporarily reactivated,” Askari Bank wrote in response to our queries. It did not explain, however, why the decision was taken in the first place.

This may not be the only case in which bank employees and customers have been put at risk since the lockdown was put in place more than a month earlier. Branch-level operations remain a concern for both staff and customers.

Muslim Commercial Bank and Bank Al Habib Limited customers complained, for example, that branches asked them to collect their cards in person. “We refer to your appended email and advise that as per [the] bank’s policy, ATM card[s] may only be collected by personally visiting the relationship branch and producing the original CNIC,” Bank Al Habib’s Customer Services Division said. This is standard practice at some banks, but customers said it was risky and questioned why a courier could not be used? MCB’s response was awaited when this report went online.

As with other essential services, banks were exempted from lockdown restrictions as long as they implemented social distancing. The central banked advised reduced operations from 10am to 4pm till April 28. “The SBP has instructed banks to facilitate customers as much as possible, especially under the prevailing situation,” the SBP’s chief spokesperson Abid Qamar said. The priority was to avoid crowding. “How they do it, is up to the banks.”

For its part, the central bank took measures to minimize physical banking. It made interbank electronic transfers free, allowed instant clearance of cheques (that would take two days, weeks in some cases) and asked banks to ensure ATMs worked 24 hours. It asked banks to wash currency notes collected from hospitals. Banks can credit customer accounts for the amount and issue fresh notes or old ones after putting them in quarantine for 15 days.

The SBP said banks can close branches if a staffer is infected or it doesn’t have enough resources to implement social distancing.
Despite this, long lines were still forming in Karachi at least. “Since branches deal with customers, they are mostly crowded,” said one bank’s employee. “Therefore, there is no work at the branch level that can be done from home.”

Despite the growing use of internet banking and mobile banking apps, there are only 3.3 million internet banking users (as of June 2019) in Pakistan, a country of 207 million with 60% of the population over the age of 15 years.
Pakistanis prefer cash to electronic transactions. Even in e-commerce, 90% of payments are cash-on-delivery transactions. Critics say that the banking sector is largely paper-based which is why people need to go in for signatures, validation and biometrics.

“There may be unavoidable reasons to call people to the bank,” said another banker who works in National Bank of Pakistan and could not be named as he was not authorised to speak to media. “For example, we are calling people who receive pensions so they can collect their cards and use digital banking.” People also need to be called in if discrepancies surface on source of income or the courier is not reliable.

Of course, banks are trying to promote digital banking and many have given their staff targets. “In the first phase, the entire staff was asked to activate online banking accounts and in the second phase, we have been given a target for new mobile wallet accounts,” said one banker. “These targets have been linked to our performance. We have been educating customers on how to use mobile banking apps. This is the model the banking industry will be working on even after the coronavirus crisis subsides.”

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Coronavirus Update: Global Covid-19 Death Toll Exceeds 200,000

Coronavirus Update: More than 2,864,070 cases were registered in 193 countries and territories. Of these cases, at least 772,900 are now considered recovered, AFP reported.

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Sindh launches coronavirus mental health support hotline

Sindh has launched a psychosocial support service for those affected by the coronavirus pandemic.

It is an initiative of Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah,

The idea is to provide tele-counselling to help patients cope with any mental health problems as a result of the outbreak.

The online service can be reached here and patients can also reach out on the helpline 1093.

The service is called ‘Counseling and Psycho Social Support Service’. It will help people overcome anxiety and depression in quarantine or isolation.

It was launched with the support of UNICEF and the United Nations Development Programme.

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Anyone leaving home unnecessarily will be arrested: Quetta DC

Anyone leaving their homes without good reason will be arrested, says Quetta’s deputy commissioner.

Aurangzeb Badini said over 3,000 shops have so far been sealed for violating the rules of the coronavirus lockdown, while 1,600 people have been arrested.

He said those leaving their house unless required will be shifted to a quarantine centre.

Separately, Balochistan government spokesperson Liaquat Shahwani tweeted that 78 people were arrested on Saturday and 107 shops sealed in Quetta for violating the lockdown.

He claimed that a total of 2,707 shops have been sealed so far over violations.

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27,000 Sri Lankans abroad wants to return – Foreign Secretary

• Repatriation of Overseas Sri Lankans constrained by limited availability of quarantine facilities
• Sri Lanka engaged with Kuwait to secure an extension of amnesty deadline 

Foreign Secretary Ravinatha Aryasinha has said, so far repatriations have been carried out by the Government identifying the most vulnerable categories of Overseas Sri Lankans (OSLs), in the face of the limited availability of quarantine facilities in the country, as Sri Lanka continues to seek to gain control over the spread of COVID 19 in Sri Lanka.

In comments on Friday -24 April, (to Sirasa Radio and the “Dawasa” TV programme), the Secretary said through the ‘Contact Sri Lanka’ web portal and other means, to-date, over 27,000 OSLs have expressed their wish to return.

The number includes over 17,000 migrant workers and dependents, 6,000 students and about 3,000 short term visa holders and tourists.

Secretary Aryasinha said the government’s focus in the present wave of repatriation was on students and those on government training in South Asia, considering the particular vulnerability they faced from a medical perspective.

The repatriation process is being operationalized by Sri Lanka Missions in those countries in consultation with the Ministry, the Covid 19 Task Force and a host of national agencies. Similar developing situations elsewhere are also being closely monitored by the Ministry of Foreign Relations and appropriate recommendations will be made for the consideration of the policy makers, for decision and facilitation for repatriation.

Meanwhile, Sri Lanka’s network of 67 Missions are assisting and facilitating Sri Lankan expatriates in need. In addition to provision of dry rations and medicines, where necessary with the assistance of local Sri Lanka community and religious organizations, Missions are also facilitating extension of visa, enabling repatriation/transfer of funds through banking channels, coordination with educational institutes and overall ensuring the well-being of OSLs.

He said the specific situation in Kuwait, where an amnesty has been declared for over 19,000 workers who are out of status, has been a key focus of the Ministry.

The Governments of Sri Lanka and Kuwait are in discussion to extend the amnesty period and the modalities of implementation were the focus of a discussion held this week by Foreign Minister Dinesh Gunawardena and the Kuwaiti Ambassador in Colombo Khalaf M. M. Bu Dhhair, pursuant to a telephone conversation held between Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa and the Kuwati Prime Minister His Highness Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah.

Foreign Secretary said following these discussions, conscious of the difficulty in repatriating persons to Sri Lanka at this time, a mutually beneficial decision is expected.

Secretary Aryasinha noted, that Missions had been able to minimize the vulnerability faced by the OSLs migrant workers in most settings. Assistance provided by International organizations such as IOM, Caritas and Red Crescent societies have been supportive to further the efforts of the Missions. He said the Mission in Seoul, ROK had assured that while there had been delays in some commencing their employment contracts, their jobs were secure. The Mission is also engaged in discussions with local authorities to extend the contractual periods of those currently due to complete their contracts in the ROK. The Mission is additionally seeking opportunities to fill any gaps in employment, which could arise due to the dislocation caused by the present pandemic.

Requests by SL workers abroad to return will only be considered once Covid19 is completely eradicated – SLBFE

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Boris Johnson is under pressure from his own party to reset the UK's relationship with China after Beijing 'consistently lied' about the coronavirus pandemic

Getty

• Boris Johnson is under growing pressure from his party to reset the UK's relationship with China. 
• Conservative Members of Parliament told Business Insider that the party's attitude to Beijing had "hardened" after the Chinese government had "consistently lied" about the coronavirus pandemic.
• The Conservative chair of the UK Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee said the pandemic would inevitably change Johnson's government's attitude to China.
• Senior members of Johnson's government have previously warned that there will be a "reckoning" with Beijing after the crisis and said the UK could not go back to "business as usual" with China.
• Conservative critics of China within Johnson's party have set up a new grouping designed to pressure the government on the issue.
• Johnson risks a major rebellion from his party if he pushes ahead with plans to allow the Chinese telecoms company Huawei to develop the UK's 5G network.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Boris Johnson is under growing pressure from within his own party to reset Britain's relationship with China and axe the UK's controversial deal with Chinese telecoms company Huawei.

Influential Conservative MPs say attitudes towards China within Johnson's party have "hardened" in light of the coronavirus crisis, after Beijing "consistently lied" about the pandemic and failed to "face up to its responsibilities."

See the rest of the story at Business Insider

NOW WATCH: A cleaning expert reveals her 3-step method for cleaning your entire home quickly

See Also:

• 'The country is in a state of trauma': COVID-19 has made the US a breeding ground for propaganda and a goldmine for foreign spies
• Atlanta's mayor told people to ignore the Georgia governor's decision to reopen businesses
• Trump says Boris Johnson 'sounded incredible' as the UK prime minister prepares to return to work after the coronavirus

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‘You Got A Friend In Me’: Tom Hanks Writes Heartfelt Letter To Bullied 8-year-old Boy Named Corona, Gifts Him Typewriter

You have to read the heartwarming letter that Tom Hanks sent to a boy, who was bullied at school because of his name.

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Liquor Shops Among These Others That Can't Open Up: All You Need To Know About Govt's Latest Order

Bars and liquor shops will not be allowed to open or sell alcohol despite the new order by the Ministry of Home Affairs that allowed the opening of stores that sell non-essential items.

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China sends team of doctors, medical aid to Pakistan

Another team of Chinese doctors reached the Islamabad International Airport on Saturday. They also brought medical aid with them.

The doctors was received by Joint Chief of Staff Committee Chairperson General Nadeem Raza.

According to the ISPR, the team has an expertise in dealing with patients affected by the novel coroanavirus. The doctors will stay in the country for the next two months.

They will also analyse Pakistan’s medical services and will advise doctors and paramedic staff working on the front line.

The Pakistan Army said that this help from China was a proof of the strong relations between both the countries and their support for each other during tough times.

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Thailand, South Korea cut defence budgets to bolster coronavirus funds

Thailand and South Korea have announced that they will be cutting their 2020 defence budgets by THB18 billion (USD557 million) and KRW 904.7 billion (US$733 million) respectively to allocate more funds to COVID-19 relief measures, according to the Janes and Army Technology.

Thailand’s cut reduces its 2020 defence budget to about THB213.7 billion, decreasing it by nearly 8% compared to the planned military expenditure of THB231.7 billion.

This was confirmed by Royal Thai Army spokesman Colonel Winthai Suvaree in a press conference on April 22.

The amount slashed will be allocated for a stimulus package aimed at alleviating the impact of the coronavirus crisis in the country.

So far, around 2,900 cases of the virus have been confirmed in Thailand.

Meanwhile, in South Korea, the revision of the defence budget shows a 1.8% decrease from the initial KRW 50.15 trillion budget to KRW 49.25 trillion (US$40.34 billion). The outbreak of COVID-19 in South Korea has induced an economic downturn.

To fund emergency relief payments, the government has decided to revise the 2020 defense budget for the second round of the 2020 Supplementary Budget Proposal. South Korea has reported nearly 11,000 COVID-19 cases.

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US coronavirus death toll tops 50,000

Gyms, hair salons and tattoo parlors had a green light to reopen Friday in the state of Georgia as the United States surpassed the grim milestone of 50,000 deaths from the coronavirus pandemic.

As the southern state lifted restrictions on a list of businesses that also included nail salons and bowling alleys, President Donald Trump warned that Governor Brian Kemp may be moving too fast.

“Spas, beauty salons, tattoo parlors, & barber shops should take a little slower path,” Trump tweeted.

At the same time, Trump said he had told Kemp, a Republican ally, “to do what is right for the great people of Georgia (& USA)!”

The mixed messaging was the latest from a president whose remarks from the White House podium have frequently raised eyebrows, including most recently a suggestion that disinfectant could be injected to treat patients with COVID-19.

Trump sought to walk back his disinfectant comments on Friday, claiming somewhat unconvincingly that he had been speaking “sarcastically.”

Chris Edwards, owner of the Peachtree Battle Barber Shop, said he was “happy” about being allowed to reopen his store in an Atlanta strip mall, where most businesses nevertheless remained closed.

“I’m a small businessman,” Edwards told AFP as he gave a trim to a middle-aged man.

“If I don’t cut hair I don’t make money,” Edwards said. “We’re being safe, we’re being clean, it’s all you can do.”

Edwards was wearing a mask, but the customer was not. Since opening at 7:00 am the barber said he had five or six clients.

Rob Flat, owner of Tried & True Tattoo a few blocks away, said he was only taking appointments, not walk-ins, but had not had any customers yet.

“We’re definitely looking forward to opening, but we want to be responsible,” Flat said.

Kemp’s reopening plan — which requires people to wear masks and establishments to check customers for symptoms — has met with criticism from some business owners and residents in the Peach State who voiced fears it is too soon.

Several businesses with permission to open, including some fitness centers and hair salons, remained shuttered in Atlanta Friday.

“Believe in Science, Not Kemp,” said a sign displayed by a person who honked repeatedly while driving past the governor’s mansion. “Stay Home, Stay Safe,” read another.

One man raised his middle finger towards the mansion as he drove past.

Eden Lio, a restaurant hostess and bookbinder who lost both her jobs in the crisis, was nonetheless participating in the rolling protest.

“We’re going to get more sick if we open today,” the 20-year-old said through her cloth mask. “We’re not ready at all.”

Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms echoed that sentiment and urged residents of the capital city to “just stay home.”

“There is nothing essential about going to a bowling alley or giving a manicure in the middle of a pandemic,” she told ABC News in a denunciation of Kemp’s order.

With the state’s infection numbers and deaths rising, she said it was “irresponsible” to allow businesses to open now.

The United States is the country hardest-hit by the virus, with more than 890,000 confirmed cases and 51,017 deaths as of late Friday afternoon, according to a toll by Johns Hopkins University.

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Maha Sangha unanimously agreed with the decision not to convene the dissolved legislature – PMD

• Country should learn to be courageous during a disaster
• Measures to celebrate Vesak using electronic media
• Govt. requested to assist to develop unutilized lands belonging to temples
• Maha Sangha says President will be remembered as a leader who saved the country twiceP
• invites Maha Sangha for a meeting on 3rd Friday every month

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa enlightened the Maha Sangha on the measures taken by the Government to control the spread of COVID – 19 virus and their progress during a meeting held at the Presidential Secretariat yesterday (24).

President explained about the control of the spread, quarantine process, reliefs granted to people and future measures to revive the national economy.

The support rendered by every segment of the society including health, security and the entire state mechanism in the face of current challenges is enormous, President said.

President stressing the necessity of a strong Parliament to fulfil the aspirations of the people bestowed on him with the landslide victory said that there are no Constitutional powers to reconvene the old Parliament but to convene a new one.

President said that he expects to meet Maha Sangha regularly on 3rd Friday of every month and expressed his anticipation of blessings and guidance of Maha Sangha as he stated in front of Ruwanweli Seya and during the assumption of office.

Nayaka Theros of all three Chapters said that they approve the conduct of the President and the Government.

Stating that the country should not be put in jeopardy by reconvening the old Parliament Maha Sangha unanimously agreed with the decision not to convene the dissolved legislature.

Ven. Niyangoda Vijithasiri Thero said the previous Parliament should take the responsibility for the current financial crisis in the country.

Ven. Thrikunamale Ananda Thero, the Maha Nayaka of the Amarapura Sri Dharmarakshitha Chapter said that when looking at the initiatives taken by the President to prevent the spread of coronavirus as well as for the future, it is clear that there is a new vision being implemented in the country.

Ven. Prof. Medagoda Abayathissa Thero was of the view that the measures implemented by the President to prevent the spread of the coronavirus could be an example for other countries in the world. The young generation of the country and other various groups have invented many new products. ‘This is a golden opportunity for a better future’, the Thero further said. He also said that the Maha Sangha of the country will always support the steps being taken by the President.

Ven. Prof. Indugare Dhammarathana Thero presented a set of proposals comprising 12 points to make the Motherland secure.

Ven. Dr. Diviyagala Yasassi Thero and Ven. Prof. TubulleSeelakkanada Thero pointed out the importance of creating an environment to celebrate the Vesak festival using electronic media while remaining at homes. It was decided to appoint a Committee in this regard.

Maha Nayaka of the Asgiriya Chapter Most Ven. Wendaruwe Upali Thero said that the steps taken by the President to feed the hungry including the beggars are commendable.

The Maha Nayaka Theros and Anu Nayaka Theros representing the Tri-Nikayas and Maha Sangha participated in this meeting.

(PMD News)

 

 

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Donald Trump Says He Spoke 'Sarcastically' About Injecting Disinfectants Into Covid-19 Patients

On his suggestion to medical experts for using UV light, heat, or injecting disinfectants into the Covid-19 patients as a potential treatment, the President clarified he was being "sarcastic".

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'There is no reason to be bailing out Middle Eastern overproduction': Analysts break down how to prevent further oil price volatility

Business Insider via Google Maps

• US oil prices have recovered with West Texas Intermediate trading just above $17 barrel as of 09:15 EST on Friday.
• International prices recovered, however, following President Trump's comments that he ordered the US Navy to "shoot down" Iranian gunboats if they harassed American ships at sea.
• WTI prices have been highly volatile over the past week due to a lack of demand and storage space, particularly in Cushing, Oklahoma.
• Markets Insider spoke with analysts to ask how the US oil market can prevent further volatility.
• Track the price of oil live with Markets Insider.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

When oil markets suffer, a tweet by US President Donald Trump can make all the difference. 

Oil prices recovered this week from historical lows following a tweet by Trump on Wednesday instructing the US Navy to "shoot down any and all Iranian gunboats" if they harass US ships at sea. 

See the rest of the story at Business Insider

NOW WATCH: How waste is dealt with on the world's largest cruise ship

See Also:

• The SEC took action against 23 companies for making false claims about COVID-19
• A set of closely watched business surveys gave a terrifying glimpse into the scale of Europe's looming coronavirus recession
• Morgan Stanley reveals 17 energy-stock picks to buy now that the price of oil has collapsed — and which companies it says to avoid

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How 'Professor Lockdown' helped save tens of thousands of lives worldwide — and carried COVID-19 into Downing Street

J-IDEA; Ruobing Su/Business Insider

• Professor Neil Ferguson, of Imperial College London, authored a paper that prompted the UK to scrap its coronavirus strategy.
• Ferguson's team warned Boris Johnson that the quest for "herd immunity" could cost 510,000 lives, prompting an abrupt U-turn.
• His simulations have been influential in other countries as well, cited by authorities in the US, Germany, and France.
• During the pandemic, Ferguson caught COVID-19 himself. Around the same time, a wave of infections swept 10 Downing Street, hospitalizing Johnson.
• A competing model from the University of Oxford, and some criticism from contemporaries, is casting a shadow on his work and the government's reliance on modelling.
• Here's what we know about "Professor Lockdown" and the gold standard in science that is Imperial College.  
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

There has never been a more momentous era to be an epidemiologist.

The last 20 years have played host to a flurry of pathogen outbreaks; Foot and Mouth in 2001, SARS in 2003, Swine Flu in 2011, MERS in 2012, and Ebola and Zika in 2014.

See the rest of the story at Business Insider

NOW WATCH: How the Navy's largest hospital ship can help with the coronavirus

See Also:

• A fringe movement that claims bleach is a miracle cure is jubilant after Trump floated injecting disinfectant as a treatment for COVID-19
• A leading disinfectant company urged people not to inject themselves with its products, hours after Trump said it might kill the coronavirus inside the human body
• A comprehensive timeline of the new coronavirus pandemic, from China's first COVID-19 case to the present

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World Leaders On Facebook 2020: Modi Most Popular; Find Out Others In The List

Donald Trump is the second most popular world leader on Facebook, with more than 26 million likes and Jordan’s Queen Rania is in the third position with 16.8 million likes

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Temporary suspension of SriLankan Airlines scheduled flights due to COVID-19 outbreak extended to 15th May

Temporary suspension of SriLankan Airlines scheduled flights due to Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak extended to 15th May 2020

Full Statement from Sri Lankan Airlines 

April 25 2020, Colombo: As the travel restrictions imposed by the countries in our global network continue to be in place due to the COVID 19 pandemic, SriLankan Airlines is compelled to extend the temporary suspension of its scheduled passenger flights till 15th May, 2020.

The Airlines’ cargo services will continue to operate from its worldwide network, facilitating essential supplies of medical resources, equipment as well as perishable cargo in support of governments and industries during this tumultuous period – bringing in vital revenue for the airline and foreign exchange into the country.

Continuing to reach out to fellow Sri Lankans in need, SriLankan Airlines will operate special passenger flights as and when required.
For further information and clarifications, passengers are requested to contact their travel agents, their nearest SriLankan Airlines Office or the Airlines’ Global Contact Centre on +94117771979

Exit Strategy for Colombo Municipality Area by College of Community Physicians

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Pankaj Tripathi Starts Conversational Series For Fans Amid Covid 19 Lock down

Actor Pankaj Tripathi has found an interesting way of engaging with fans during the ongoing coronavirus lockdown.

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Sara Ali Khan Cracks 'Knock Knock' Joke With Brother Ibrahim To Beat Quarantine Blues

24-year-old Sara Ali Khan took to Instagram and shared the video where she starts the game by saying, " Knock Knock!

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A timeline of Trump's musings on the false idea of injecting 'light' and 'disinfectant' to treat coronavirus — from a presentation to Trump's claim he was being 'sarcastic'

Reuters

• At a press conference on Thursday night, US President Donald Trump, pondered, aloud, whether shining "very powerful light" inside the human body or injecting "disinfectant" could kill off the coronavirus.
• Trump said Friday that he was just being "sarcastic" when he mused about ingesting people with "light" and "disinfectant" to treat COVID-19.
• But earlier, Dr. Deborah Birx, White House coronavirus response coordinator, defended the comments. "When he gets new information he likes to talk that through," she told Fox News.
• The US Centers for Disease Control also reminded people on Friday that, "Household cleaners and disinfectants can cause health problems when not used properly."
• Here's a timeline of Trump's comments.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

At a press conference on Thursday night, President Donald Trump, pondered, aloud, whether shining "very powerful light" inside the human body or injecting "disinfectant" could kill off the coronavirus.

Here's a timeline of how Trump came to make this claim — and the subsequent fallout:

See the rest of the story at Business Insider

NOW WATCH: Here's what it's like to travel during the coronavirus outbreak

See Also:

• 'Let Mitch McConnell say no to it': Rep. Tim Ryan explains his plan to help the working class and give nearly every American over 16 years old $2,000 per month during the pandemic
• 'The country is in a state of trauma': COVID-19 has made the US a breeding ground for propaganda and a goldmine for foreign spies
• White House press secretary says Trump was taken out of context when he suggested on live television that Americans might use disinfectant and light to treat the coronavirus

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After Delhi, Bengaluru Hospital To Conduct Plasma Therapy Trials On Coronavirus Patients

Bengaluru is all set to test plasma therapy as a treatment option for those infected with the coronavirus. Delhi which is one of the hotspots of coronavirus in the country has just recently completed plasma therapy tests with four Covid-19 patients.

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Amid Lockdown, Govt Allows Local Shops To Reopen: List Of What Will Open, What Will Remain Closed

Shops that are allowed to reopen from today include those located in residential complexes within municipal areas, but at a 50 per cent strength and after taking necessary precautions.

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AutoNation is returning $77 million in US payroll assistance coronavirus relief loans

Associated Press

• AutoNation Inc <AN.N>, the largest US auto dealership chain, said on Friday it will return $77 million it received in forgivable loans from the US Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) meant to help struggling small businesses and employees during the coronavirus outbreak.
• Marc Cannon, a spokesman for the company, told Reuters that AutoNation was "clearly eligible and applied on behalf of the 7,000 employees furloughed caused by the COVID-19 crisis."
• On Thursday, the Small Business Administration issued new guidelines on the program and soon after AutoNation called a board meeting "and decided to cancel all PPP applications and return all PPP funds" by May 7.
• The loans are forgivable if companies use at least 75% on payroll expenses. AutoNation said it had planned to use all of the funds on payroll.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - AutoNation Inc <AN.N>, the largest US auto dealership chain, said on Friday it will return $77 million it received in forgivable loans from the US Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) meant to help struggling small businesses and employees during the coronavirus outbreak.

Marc Cannon, a spokesman for the company, told Reuters that AutoNation was "clearly eligible and applied on behalf of the 7,000 employees furloughed caused by the COVID-19 crisis."

See the rest of the story at Business Insider

NOW WATCH: Why electric planes haven't taken off yet

See Also:

• Delta's CEO said he would support an 'immunity passport' program or other steps to jumpstart travel as the airline reports its first quarterly loss in more than 5 years
• 'The supervisor coughed in a coworker's direction as a joke': As coronavirus cases at the US Postal Service surpass 1,200, employees say a lack of supplies and care is putting them at risk
• The 1,000-bed US Navy hospital ship that docked in New York to help the city brace for coronavirus is leaving — see inside the USNS Comfort

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'Let Mitch McConnell say no to it': Rep. Tim Ryan explains his plan to help the working class and give nearly every American over 16 years old $2,000 per month during the pandemic

L: AP Photo/John Locher R: House Television via AP

• Rep. Tim Ryan, a moderate Democrat from Ohio, told Business Insider that Democrats need to be bold and include more aggressive stimulus measures in their next response to the pandemic.
• "I want everybody to say, 'Look, Democrats understood what I was going through, and they pushed hard,'" Ryan said in an interview. "Let Mitch McConnell say no to it."
• Ryan's frustrations seem to be shared by more progressive members of the Democratic caucus, such as Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who voted against the most recent stimulus measure, saying it did not do enough for working families.
• "By giving Republicans what they wanted in [that] bill without extracting any real concessions from them, we eliminated any incentive for them to work with us on these other urgent needs," a spokesperson for Ocasio-Cortez told Business Insider.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Moderate and progressive Democrats in the House increasingly agree: Congress needs to do far more — and be seen as doing far more — for a working class that is struggling to make ends meet through what may prove to be the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression. 

State-wide stay at home orders put in place to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus, which has killed more than 51,000 Americans as of Friday night, has also shuttered much of the US economy. More than 26 million people have filed for unemployment over the last five weeks, with about 1 in 6 Americans losing their jobs since the middle of March, as the Associated Press reported.

See the rest of the story at Business Insider

NOW WATCH: How waste is dealt with on the world's largest cruise ship

See Also:

• Trump signs $484 billion stimulus package into law
• 'The country is in a state of trauma': COVID-19 has made the US a breeding ground for propaganda and a goldmine for foreign spies
• White House press secretary says Trump was taken out of context when he suggested on live television that Americans might use disinfectant and light to treat the coronavirus

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3 more Covid19 patients identified last night. Total infected 420

3 more Covid19 patients have been identified last night taking the total number of patients to 420.

Health Ministry yet reveal the areas of these patients were identified from.

With these patients Sri Lanka has recorded 52 patients yesterday.

The post 3 more Covid19 patients identified last night. Total infected 420 appeared first on NewsWire.

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‘Everyone’s drinking, from grandmas to kids’. Moscow police union chairman describes what cops themselves think about crowds at subway entrances and arresting people for walking their dogs

The Moscow police have been sharply criticized since the onset of the coronavirus pandemic. Police routinely arrest citizens under questionable circumstances for violating the quarantine and permit rules. Police action in mid-April resulted in huge lines at subway entrances — at a time when social distancing is particularly important. At the same time, police officers themselves are increasingly falling ill with COVID-19. Meduza spoke with Mikhail Pashkin, the chairman of the Moscow Interregional Police Union, about how the epidemic is affecting the work of law enforcement.

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Las Vegas mayor says without definitive evidence that the city's warm weather will allow it to be at the 'forefront of America's 'reopening''

Gregory Bull/AP

• Las Vegas Mayor Carolyn Goodman said on Twitter Friday that the city's warm weather would allow it to be at the "forefront of America's 'reopening.'"
• Despite not having definitive evidence of the effect of heat on the virus, Goodman said, "it is assumed that it will deter [the virus'] ferocity."
• Experts have warned that there is no proof the coronavirus will stop spreading in warmer weather.
• Goodman faced intense backlash this week for saying she would lift the city's coronavirus lockdown as part of a national experiment.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Las Vegas' "dessert heat" will help it slow the spread of the coronavirus and allow it to lift coronavirus lockdowns earlier than other parts of the country, Mayor Carolyn Goodman claimed on Twitter Friday.

"Although, it has not been clearly determined as to the effect that extreme warmth will have on the virus, it is assumed that it will deter its ferocity," Goodman said. "Our hot summer coupled with our unique economy compel us to be at the forefront of America's 'reopening.'"

See the rest of the story at Business Insider

NOW WATCH: Inside London during COVID-19 lockdown

See Also:

• Gov. Newsom has ordered autopsies dating back to December to understand 'when this pandemic really started to impact Californians'
• As many as half of Europe's COVID-19 deaths were people in long-term care facilities
• The Grim Reaper is headed to Florida beaches to protest their opening. Meet the attorney under the cloak.

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