Hollywood star Chris Hemsworth has thanked everyone for loving his digital movie "Extraction", which is on its way to become Netflix's "biggest film of all time". Hemsworth took to Instagram to post a video to express his gratitude about the response to the film, reports hollywoodreporter.com.

 

 

 

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🙏🙏🙏 EXTRACTION @thesamhargrave @therussobrothers @netflix @netflixfilm

A post shared by Chris Hemsworth (@chrishemsworth) onMay 2, 2020 at 4:14pm PDT

"Hey, what's up guys, I hope you're doing well. I just want to say a massive thank you to everyone who checked out 'Extraction', you've made it the number one film on the planet right now," said the actor from his gym.

"And it looks like it's going to be Netflix's biggest feature film of all time, which is absolutely mind blowing" he added.

The "Thor" star went on to say: "We are blown away by the response and the support. On behalf of myself, the Russo Brothers, Netflix, our director Sam Hargrave, thank you so so much. We love you guys".

He also addressed the rumors of a sequel to "Extraction".

"There's been a lot of talk and questions about sequels and prequels and all sorts of things, and all I can say is who knows," said the actor, adding: "But with this amount of support, it's something I will be pretty stoked to jump back into."

The action thriller released on Netflix on April 24, and attracted viewership from "an estimated 90 million households in the first four weeks" of its release, according to Hemsworth's previous Instagram post.

With "Extraction", argrave graduated from being Chris Evans' stunt double in "Captain America: The Winter Soldier" for fight scenes and stunt coordinator in "Captain America: Civil War" to a feature director.

Hargrave was an additional second unit director in "Avengers: Infinity War".

For his first film, Hargrave reunited with his "Avengers" family. He got "Thor" star Hemsworth to lead the film, screenplay of which is done by Joe Russo. The film is produced by Russo Brothers (Joe and Anthony Russo), Mike Larocca, Chris Hemsworth, Eric Gitter, and Peter Schwerin.

It revolves around Tyler Rake (essayed by Hemsworth), a fearless, black market mercenary, who embarks on the most deadly extraction of his career when he is enlisted to rescue the kidnapped son of an imprisoned international crime lord.

It has been shot extensively in India, along with other places around the world.

Originally titled "Dhaka", the film also stars Indian actors Randeep Hooda, Pankaj Tripathi, Priyanshu Painyulli, and Rudraksh Jaiswal.

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May the Fourth Be with You! Every year, the 4th of May is celebrated as Star Wars Day as a take on the pun around the catchphrase "May the force be with you". If you've ever watched The Big Bang Theory, you'd know that Sheldon, Lenard, Raj and Howard are some of the biggest Star Wars Fans and everything related to Star Wars gets them super excited.

Throughout the series, the four of them have constantly paid homage to Star Wars through catchphrase dialogues and special episodes. It's always more fun to celebrate something when you celebrate it with other fans especially loyal ones like our four physicists.

Here are 5 times 'The Big Bang Theory' paid homage to Star Wars that you must watch this Star Wars Day:

The Star Wars Gaming Marathon:

"Movies or Video Games? Or Board Games? Or trade-card games? Or Legos? Or dress-up? Or comic books? Or dramatic readings of novelizations? Yes, to All!" That's how excited Sheldon is in the episode "The Weekend Vortex" when he hears his friends want to have a 'Star Wars Marathon'. Showing their passion for Star Wars and the excitement for anything remotely related to it, the show intrigued all the fans of the series.

What to watch out for: Raj's diet plan when in a 48-hour lockdown

Force Awakens Audition

The episode features a special case scenario when Penny couldn't get her BIG Break and Lenard goes an extra mile to get her an ultimate Star Wars movie, which has him excited but makes Penny a little hesitant. Creating a joke around how Howard too applied for the role online, Lenard tries to make Penny feel better.

What to watch out for Howard's audition tape or more like embarrassment tape

James Earl Jones guest stars:

The episode features a special appearance by Mr. James Earl Jones who played the voice of the Darth Vader in Star Wars movies. Sheldon meets Mr. Earl Jones in a restaurant where he takes a liking to Sheldon and the two ends up embarking on a jam-packed night filled with ice cream, karaoke, and even a strip club. Don't we wish the same!

What to watch out for: Sheldon's wild ride on the giant wheel with James Earl Jones aka Mufasa

The opening night of the Star Wars movie, The Force Awakens:

With a special episode for the release of the new Star Wars movie, The Force Awakens, the show takes an important twist in the romantic life of Amy and Sheldon. Simultaneously, Lenard, Raj and Howard have an extra ticket to the opening night of one of the biggest sequels in pop culture history. The excitement and the loyalty for the movie is something that will want you to join in the fun too!

What to watch out for: Sheldon's birthday present for Amy

Leonard and Sheldon drop by Skywalker Ranch to meet George Lucas:

Lenard and Sheldon are on their way to give a lecture at UC Berkeley and decide to make a pit spot in Star Wars director George Lucas' headquarters. Upon arrival, the security guard won't let them in – but, because only Star Wars can throw Sheldon into an illogical frenzy, that doesn't stop him from attempting to run in. The sheer determination with which they want to meet George Lucas will win your hearts.

What to watch out for: Penny vs Amy vs Raj in Ping-Pong competition for Howard's collector's 'Doctor Who Tardis'

That's not all Folks! Watch "The Proton Transmogrification" where Sheldon has an in-dream counselling session with Arthur Jeffries (Bob Newhart) aka Prof. Proton. Also, do not miss out on "The Bow Tie Asymmetry" where Amy's dream wedding becomes Sheldon's dream wedding when Mark Hamill aka Luke Skywalker officiates their wedding.

Tune in to Comedy Central on the 4th of May from 4 pm to 7 pm to watch 7 back to back episodes of The Big Bang Theory and Celebrate Star Wars Day with your favourite Geniuses.

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Hollywood stars Emily Blunt and Dwayne Johnson are set to reteam for a superhero film from The Big Sick co-scribe Emily V Gordon. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the project is an adaptation of the 1990s comic book "Ball and Chain" from writer Scott Lobdell.

Gordon, best known for co-writing 2017 romantic comedy The Big Sick with her husband Kumail Nanjiani, is adapting the script from the comic. Blunt and Johnson, who are currently looking forward to the release of their Disney movie Jungle Cruise, will play a bickering couple who receive superpowers that only work if they can learn to put aside their differences and work together.

Several studios are aggressively competing for the project with streamer Netflix being the frontrunner currently. The movie will be produced by Johnson through his Seven Bucks banner with Dany and Hiram Garcia. Blunt and Kevin Misher will also produce.

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Three Pune-based law students who took the Central Railway's Pune division to the Permanent Lok Adalat over the unhygienic premises of Pune railway station, have won their fight. The railways have been ordered to clean up the station premises at the earliest. The students, Devaangini Telang, 20, Shruti Topkar, 20, and Nikhil Joglekar, 23, are pursuing law from the Marathwada Mitra Mandal's Shankarrao Chavan Law College.

The railways have now been ordered to provide enough toilets on every platform and maintain cleanliness and safety on a regular basis. Lok Adalat Chairman Sudhir J Kale also directed that the platform, railway tracks and foot overbridges be kept clean.

The filthy tracks at Pune Junction Railway Station

They three students — Telang, Topkar and Joglekar — were inconvenienced several times by the severe lack of cleanliness at Pune Junction Railway Station. In September 2018 they filed a petition with the help of Advocate Asim Sarode, a human rights activist. Kale and other members of the Permanent Lok Adalat, Ravikumar Bidkar and Pramod Bansode, presided over the matter, and on February 8 this year, the terms of settlement were issued. The terms stated that the station premises would have to be cleaned-up and broken items repaired at the earliest.

Why petition
Devaangini said, "The toilets were not maintained well. The tiles in some were broken, the taps were not functioning. In some toilets, the light fixtures were missing and where they were installed, they weren't functioning. The number of toilets was insufficient. Toilets for physically challenged people were often found locked. Garbage was thrown near the drinking water taps as well as on the station premises. Wood and rusted iron planks were lying around on the platform causing an obstruction." Nikhil said, "Utilities for the public were found in unsatisfactory condition. We spoke to the authorities but did not get satisfactory replies. That's why we moved the petition."

Terms of settlement
Chairman Kale has directed the railway authority to take appropriate action at the earliest. Nitin Shinde, the Chief Health Inspector of Pune Railway, who was summoned by the Adalat, said, "We have renovated the electrical wiring. The toilets are also kept clean. We also acted against those spitting on the railway station premises or those who vandalised it."

What are Permanent Lok Adalats
Permanent Lok Adalats have been formed under Section 22-B of the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987. They have a chairman and two members and provide a compulsory pre-litigative mechanism for conciliation and settlement of cases relating to public utility services such as transport, post, telegraph, etc.

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Two separate road accidents on the Mumbai Pune Expressway killed four, including two women, and injured three people. Due to the accidents, traffic was slow-moving on Saturday.

In one accident, the police have identified the deceased as Sushmit Mutha, Janaki Nandkar and Rani Gaur. They have not been able to ascertain other identities as of now.

According to the police, one accident that took place on Saturday around 2.55 pm involved an Ertiga car bearing the number MH-14-FG 0205. "It was speeding and lost control and hit the truck bearing number MH-48-4809. Based on the wrist watch a deceased was wearing, the timing of the accident had been confirmed. We have collected the details of deceased based on the their government documents," said an official.

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A 48-year-old dentist from Satara was killed in an accident, when he rammed into a truck, while cycling on the Pune-Satara highway on Saturday. The deceased, identified as Sandeep Shivram Lele, was a well-known runner, cyclist and swimmer.

According to Tejaswini Satpute, superintendent of police, Satara, the incident took place on Saturday morning, when Lele was cycling on the highway. "During our initial investigations, we were told that he was hit by a moving truck," she said. However, eyewitnesses claimed that he rammed into a stationary vehicle. Satpute added, "We are still investigating the incident, and a case will be registered after that."

Also Read: Pune: 32-year-old cyclist on way to rally killed in car mishap

Lele sustained injuries to his neck and was rushed to Yashwant Hospital in Satara, but was declared dead on arrival. He is survived by his wife, Dr Namita Lele, a gynaecologist, and 15-year-old son, Parth.

News of his untimely death has shocked the running community in Maharashtra. Lele was the founder of the Satara Hill Half Marathon and ambassador for H2O Run-Half Marathon. He also competed in several marathons, including the Comrades' Marathon-South Africa 2014, Gold Coast Marathon and Zurich Marathon.

Nikhil Shah, a friend and co-runner, said, "I have known Sandeep since 2013. He was very passionate about cycling and running, and would spend a good part of his weekend on the road." Dr Sandeep Kate, who co-founded the Satara Hill Half Marathon, said that Lele had been preparing for the Ironman Triathlon. "On Saturday, too, he was training along with his friend, when the incident took place. He was an inspiration, and his death is a huge loss for us."

Cyclist dies of heart attack in Pune

In a separate incident, a Pune-based cyclist and trekker Yashodhan Natekar, 35, died of a heart attack at Sinhagad fort on Saturday morning. Natekar had travelled to the fort on his bicycle, and was climbing up the fort, when he collapsed. He was rushed to a local hospital, where he was declared dead.

Also Read: Mumbai crime branch solve three-year old murder case

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Actor Dwayne Johnson just made his teacher's dream come true! The actor sent out a congratulatory message to Carol Propst, an English teacher at Virginia High School, who was retiring after working for 39 years as a teacher. One of her colleagues reached out to Johnson on Twitter and the actor obliged with a video message.

"Today I received the ultimate retirement send-off: a personalized message from Dwayne @TheRock Johnson! Thanks to all my beloved students and colleagues. BVPS, YOU ROCK! #propstrocks," Propst shared on Twitter.

So it happened. I’ll tell the story in a series of tweets but @TheRock reached out to us to surprise @PropstMiss. @news5wcyb videoed it and will run a segment about it tonight at 10. THANK YOU to Dwayne Johnson! Thank you to @garyskeen01 for his major role in this. #propstrocks https://t.co/aVojzFIUcg pic.twitter.com/o4nhmHc4bc

— Noah Ashbrook (@Mr_Ashbrook) May 6, 2020

Dwayne was heard saying, "Hey Carole, Dwayne Johnson here. I wanted to take a moment to say congratulations. Congratulations, Carole, for your retirement from Virginia High School after 39 amazing, incredible years. Wow!"

"Carol. Congratulations! I am so happy for you, and I am so proud of you. And, being that this is teacher appreciation week, on behalf of all parents, Carole I say thank you. Thank you and thank all of your fellow teachers for your wisdom, for your love, for your care, for your discipline — which I needed a lot if you were my teacher. But thank you so much for educating and for caring for our kids," he said.

Day 71. So do I now send our 70 days of thank you tweets to @TheRock? To understand the whole story you first need to see his video he sent to @PropstMiss. I’m editing her reaction video and will post it soon. pic.twitter.com/Sqcin0cOUM

— Noah Ashbrook (@Mr_Ashbrook) May 6, 2020

Dwayne Johnson also sent a gift package to her which included a tequila brand as he said that they would share it one day together.

Seeing her reaction, he responded on Twitter by saying, "Awww I love seeing this. Her reaction is just beautiful. Things like this are the best part of fame."

I‘ll ride with you, Carol ????????????❤️ https://t.co/tevJCWmcAY

— Dwayne Johnson (@TheRock) May 7, 2020

ALSO READ: Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt to reunite for movie adaptation of Ball and Chain

Wayne Rooney may be Manchester United and England's record goalscorer but he still believes he should have found the back of the net more often during his career, even though he was not a natural finisher. Rooney, a teenage sensation at Everton, joined United in 2004 and went on to score 253 goals in 559 appearances during a 13-year spell for the Old Trafford club that saw the Red Devils pile up the trophies. Rooney surpassed 1966 World Cup-winner Bobby Charlton as United's all-time leading scorer, just as he did for England with a tally of 53 goals from 120 caps.

Despite those figures Rooney, writing in his Sunday Times column, insisted: "I'm going to be honest -- and this might surprise you -- but I'm not a natural goalscorer." The 34-year-old, now a player-coach at second-tier Derby County, added: "I was never a Gary Lineker or a Ruud van Nistelrooy; I never looked at myself that way. "I hold the goal records for Manchester United and England and am very proud about that -- yet there have been better No 9s than me. "How did I become a record-breaker if I wasn't a natural scorer? Time," Rooney explained. "I played for United for 13 years, England for 15 years. I had time to break those records -- and looking back I should have scored more."

Rooney backed Harry Kane to break his England record, although he would like the Tottenham Hotspur striker "to stay high as that No 9" after seeing him drop deeper in during the past two seasons. "I don't think it will take long for Harry Kane to claim my England record and it would be a proud moment for me," Rooney said. "I've never been a selfish player and it would be great for England for Harry to get there. Bobby Charlton had to wait 50 years (for Rooney to break his England record) -- I hope it's not so long for me. "The United record might last longer simply because players don't stay at clubs as long as they used to. "Mind you, if (Lionel) Messi or (Cristiano) Ronaldo came to Old Trafford for a swansong they'd probably break it in three or four years."

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Indian Super League (ISL) side Kerala Blasters on Wednesday appointed Mohun Bagan's I-League winning coach Kibu Vicuna as their head coach for the upcoming season. This came hours after the franchise announced that it has parted ways with Eelco Schattorie after one season at the helm of affairs. "We are happy to announce that Kibu Vicuna will take over as head coach for the upcoming season!" Kerala Blasters said in a tweet. Spain's Vicuna oversaw Mohun Bagan win the title with four rounds to spare. The league was suspended midway due to the COVID-19 pandemic and later had to be called off with Mohun Bagan declared champions.

Mohun Bagan have merged with ATK to enter the ISL from next season with Antonio Lopez Habas, who coached ATK to their record third title, in charge of the combined outfit. Dutchman Schattorie was in charge of the Kochi-based outfit in the ISL 2019-20 and could only guide the club to a poor seventh-place finish. "Kerala Blasters FC have parted ways with the Head Coach, Eelco Schattorie. We'd like to thank Eelco for his efforts and services during his tenure and wish him the best for the future," Kerala Blasters had tweeted earlier in the day.

The 48-year-old first landed on Indian shores when he took over Kolkata-based Prayag United back in 2012. He went on to win the IFA Shield and guided the team to a fourth-placed finish in the I-League. After serving as the head coach for Kolkata giants East Bengal for the 2015 season, he joined Avram Grant's NorthEast United setup for parts of the 2016 ISL season, before taking over as head coach for the 2018-19 campaign.

In his very first season as a head coach in the ISL, Schattorie showcased immense tactical guile and took Guwahati-based NorthEast United to the semi-finals for the first time since the club's inception, before being knocked out by eventual champions Bengaluru FC. After leading the NorthEast United to their best-ever campaign in the club's history, Schattorie replaced Nelo Vingada as the Kerala Blasters head coach heading into ISL 2019-20.

The Dutchman, however, could not replicate the same success in Kerala which he had achieved with the NorthEast United as several factors came into play. A host of recurring injuries to key players, including a season-long one to stopper Sandesh Jhingan, severely handicapped Kerala's campaign as they finished seventh on the table with 19 points from 18 matches.

Despite not making the top four, Schattorie's Kerala side found a lot of admirers for their free-flowing attacking style of football.

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Derby County have thanked captain Wayne Rooney for the leading role he played in the club agreeing a wage deferral with players to help the English Championship club survive the coronavirus crisis. Manager Phillip Cocu, his coaching staff, executives and non-playing staff have also deferred part of their salary. "First team players have voluntarily agreed a substantial deferral that is considerably more than has been reported in the media, while Phillip Cocu and his coaching team, and Chief Executive Officer Stephen Pearce and his staff have also agreed significant deferrals," Derby said in a statement.

"Talks across the club have been held in the spirit of unity and co-operation, and everyone has been fully committed to help and play their part. "The club would specifically like to thank Wayne Rooney, the team captain, and Curtis Davies, the Professional Footballers Association's club representative, for their help and support."

Derby seem set for another season in the second tier as they lay 12th in the table when the COVID-19 outbreak brought football to a halt last month. A failure to finish the season is forecast to cost Premier League clubs an estimated ?1 billion ($1.2 billion).

However, the effects of the economic crisis could be even more severe further down the football pyramid as many clubs face a battle to survive.

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Legendary former India footballer Chuni Goswami, who captained the 1962 Asian Games gold-winning team, died on Thursday after suffering a cardiac arrest.

Former Indian footballer Chuni Goswami passes away due to cardiac arrest in Kolkata, West Bengal.

— ANI (@ANI) April 30, 2020

The iconic sportsperson, who also played first-class cricket for Bengal, was 82 and breathed his last at a hospital here. He is survived by his wife Basanti and son Sudipto. "He suffered a cardiac arrest and died in the hospital at around 5pm," a family source told PTI.

BCCI mourns the death of Subimal ‘Chuni’ Goswami, an all-rounder in the truest sense. He captained the Indian national football team & led to them to gold in the 1962 Asian Games. He later played first-class cricket for Bengal & guided them to the final of Ranji Trophy in 1971-72 pic.twitter.com/WgXhpoyLaB

— BCCI (@BCCI) April 30, 2020

Goswami was suffering from underlying ailments, including sugar, prostrate and nerve problems. Goswami played 50 matches for India as a footballer from 1956 to 1964. As a cricketer, he represented Bengal in 46 first-class games between 1962 and 1973.

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Manchester City midfielder Kevin De Bruyne believes the Premier League season will be finished despite the coronavirus pandemic "because the financial aspect is far too important". "My feeling is that we may be able to train again within two weeks. The government wants to restart football as soon as possible to give people something. I think this season will be finished," De Bruyne told Belgian daily Het Laatste Nieuws.

"The financial aspect is far too important in the Premier League. If the season is not finished, it will cause serious problems," he added. Clubs were presented with the league's "Project Restart" plans at a meeting on Friday and were told the remaining 92 matches of the 2019-2020 season must be played at neutral venues. De Bruyne also said he was optimistic about City's participation in next season's Champions League. UEFA has banned the club from European competition for the next two years for "serious breaches" of financial fair-play rules.

"The club told us they're going to appeal and that they're almost certain to get their way. I'm waiting to see what happens, but I trust my club," said De Bruyne. The 28-year-old Belgium international admitted he would be forced to consider his City future if the ban was upheld. "Once we know more, I will make a decision. Two years without playing in Europe would be long but in the case of one year I might see," he said. bnl/jr/mw/nr

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Canadian tennis ace Eugenie Bouchard's tendency to pick dates online is set to become the theme of an upcoming Hollywood romantic comedy.

According to report in The Canadian Press, a script based on Eugenie's date with one of her Twitter followers, John Goehrke, who won a bet on the 2017 Super Bowl, is already being worked upon.

The couple continued to meet thereafter for more dates. However, this story has an update with Eugenie, 26, recently deciding to go on another random date with an online fan.

During an Instagram chat last week, Eugenie, agreed to go on a date with a fan named Bob, who donated GBP 3,210 (Rs 2.7 lakh) to help feed hospital staff battling the Coronavirus pandemic.

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Luxury Sail away
Few things in life (in our books at least) are as fancy as sitting on a sailing boat, heading out into the sea, and watching the sun go down. It reminds us of James Bond movies, where the hero, dressed in his trademark tuxedo, is serenading some woman or the other. So, if you too want to feel as glamorous, take a trip from off the Gateway of India into the Arabian Sea. Sail past lighthouses from a bygone era and catch some of the city’s most iconic landmarks. And if you’re lucky, you might also spot some dolphins frolicking around in the water.
On: January 27 and 28
Starting point:Gateway of India, Colaba
Call: 9930086252
Cost: Rs 1,899

Adventure
Flag off the weekend
This one’s a true-blue Republic Day event, complete with a flag-hoisting ceremony. It will take some effort to pull off, though, since the flag will be hoisted on the top of Mount Kalsubai, which is the highest peak in Maharashtra, towering over the other hills in the range at a height of 5,400 feet. Small steps built into the incline do make the climb easier than it would have been otherwise. But nevertheless, it’s one thing sitting on a sailing boat and heading out into the sea, and another to make your way to the top of a bona fide mountain, steps or no steps.
From: January 25 to 26
Starting point: Pritam Hotel, Dadar West
Log on to: eventshigh.com
Cost: Rs 1,000

Wild escape
Sea it to believe it
The sea off the Konkan coastline houses a number of different types of fish, such as barracudas and groupers. Learn what it’s like to occupy their habitat with a scuba-diving course for beginners, meant even for those who don’t know how to swim. A professional diver will accompany you as you travel down to the depths of the Arabian Sea, where you can experience coral reefs and sealife from close quarters. The event also includes treks to the nearby Sindhudurg and Vijaydurg forts, apart from vegetarian food from the region.
On: January 25 to 28
Starting point: Pritam Hotel, Dadar West
Log on to: insider.in
Cost: Rs 4,500

Heritage
Go back in time
The Fort area is one of the city’s oldest neighbourhoods. The fort itself was built in as far back as 1715 by the British, to ward off invading Marathas. But then its walls were brought down around 1862, which suddenly changed everything. A small English settlement grew into a mercantile hub. Indo-Saracenic, Gothic and neoclassical structures came up to give the area its unique architectural blend of styles. Gradually, it became the bustling precinct that it looks like in the modern era. Take an open-air bus ride around Fort to find out more about the precinct’s heritage, and learn how British India’s “first city” evolved over the years.
On: January 26, 7 am to 9 am
Starting point: Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya, MG Road, Fort
Call: 9930086252
Cost: Rs 1,499

Leisure
Spend a night with the stars
We’ve all watched movies in a closed theatre. But here’s a chance to watch one under the stars, at a camping site just off Gorai beach. The selected film is Wes Anderson’s The Darjeeling Limited, one of the most poignant portrayals of life in India through a foreigner’s eyes. If, however, music floats your boat more than movies, there will also be an indie gig that precedes the screenings, featuring upcoming artiste Bryan Rodrigues. Plus, since it’s a camping event, expect bonfires, long walks and, of course, a barbecue (for what is a great camping experience without one?).
On: January 25 to 26
At: Chowk Dongri, Bhayandar West, near Pali Beach Resort, Uttan
Log on to: insider.in
Cost: Rs 2,200

Fun Ride a new wave
Surfing has always looked like something we’d like to try our hand at (or should that be feet?). The idea of riding a wave before it crashes on the beach does seem like fun. But while we haven’t taken the initiative yet, you can seize the opportunity to get a beginner’s lesson in the sport. The organisers are inviting people of all ages to try out surfing for the first time. The three-day event also includes camping, bonfires, movie nights and games. So all in all, this weekend getaway has something for everyone.
On: January 26, 9 am to January 28, 3 pm
At: Manipal, Karnataka (nearest airport: Mangalore)
Call: 9833157583
Cost: Rs 10,500 (including sessions, food and stay for two nights)

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The Tourism Ministry and the IRCTC have enlisted 60 bloggers from 23 countries, including India, as part of a new publicity blitz to write on luxury trains run by the railways and improve their dwindling occupancy rate. The first-of-its-kind venture will allow the bloggers to take a week-long journey on Palace on Wheels, Maharaja Express, Deccan Odyssey and Golden Chariot in groups of 15 on each of the trains, a tourism ministry statement said today. The first 15 bloggers started their journey today on the Palace on Wheels from Safdarjung Railway Station in New Delhi.

The decision to promote travel on the trains comes after a recent parliamentary panel report pointed out that the occupancy rate during past four years - starting in 2012-13 - had been 29.86 per cent, 32.33 per cent, 41.8 per cent, 41.58 per cent and 36.03 per cent respectively. It had also said that most of the seats on these trains were occupied by passengers who had complimentary tickets. The bloggers, who have been chosen on the basis of their number of followers, will travel to destinations in various states across India on the trains and write about them. "The campaign will generate widespread publicity for the luxury trains as well as the destinations visited, by way of blogs, videos and photos published by the bloggers or Instagramers on their experiences of their journey.

Needless to say this initiative would benefit the railways and the luxury train operators to a large extent", the statement said. The second group will leave Delhi on Maharaja Express on February 10, and the third group is scheduled to leave on Deccan Odyssey on the same day from the Chaatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus in Mumbai. The final group will leave on Golden Chariot on February 19 from Bengaluru on a week-long journey.

The Railway Board, the state sovernments of Rajasthan, Maharashtra and Karnataka and the IRCTC - the tourism arm of the railways - have joined hands to host the bloggers, according to the statement.

After going through the daily grind and slogging, a short break from work becomes the ultimate need of the hour. A small excursion for a day or two is the best way to unwind and get away from the stress and hectic schedule of daily routine city life. Sounds like an exciting idea, right?

When one has time constraints, you can plan a weekend getaway and indulge in interesting recreational activities like camping, cycling, trekking or rafting. You can also explore some amazing places nearby, indulge in shopping, and enjoy local cuisines or mouth-watering delicacies etc. Travelling for such trips is also a lot easier and more convenient, because your home is never too far away. So, get ready to treat yourself and enjoy your life to the fullest during weekend getaways, using these five user-friendly travel apps.

Travel Triangle

Travel Triangle is a registered website of Holiday Triangle Travel Pvt. Ltd. They connect travelers worldwide with multiple local travel experts and agents. Travelers can request personalized packages or choose curated options and book the best travel packages as per their taste & need. The website allows travelers to choose from a wide range of domestic and international destinations. The company has been growing steadily, and now facilitates the travel and bookings of over 200,000 happy tourists annually across the globe.

Cleartrip

Cleartrip is a leading online travel company in India. Based on a straight-forward premise of ¿making travel simple¿ for its customers, Cleartrip achieves this with a clean and clutter-free website, which is fast to load, quick in providing relevant information, simple to navigate, and offers an easy booking process. In 2016 it forayed in the hyper local activities space under the banner of Cleartrip Experiences to become the most comprehensive travel app ever.

Cleartrip Mobile was listed in Apple¿s App Store `Best of 2014¿ list and has also been featured as the `Editor¿s Pick¿. In 2017 Cleartrip received the global CX Visionary award at the 12th annual Genesys Customer Innovation Awards and the SATTE Award for best travel blog in January this year.

We Are Holidays

This online platform enables its users to research, plan, book and share their holidays with a global traveler community. It has created a vibrant holiday space where users are directed to verified. The experience of these experts provides travelers with the insights that you won¿t find anywhere else. The company is a young startup which was founded in early 2011, and its employees have had prior experience working at large OTAs like MakeMyTrip.

Tripoto

Tripoto is one of the largest community of Travelers in the world. Users get a chance to share their amazing travel experiences, discover unique trips and travel itineraries used by other travelers, and connect with an active tourist community from around the world through this website. The platform¿s USP is the ease with which credible travel information can be shared, making it one of the largest crowd-sourced repositories of travel content from across the world.

Travkart

Travkart is a technology backed company offering both online and offline holiday solutions, specializing in fixed departures and curated itineraries. Incorporated jointly by Manheer Singh Sethi and Gursahib Singh Sethi, Travkart was incepted under the aegis of one of the top consolidators in the North Indian travel business and IATA License holder, Sahibji Travels & Tours Pvt. Ltd (established in 1993).

What makes Travkart unique is its commitment to provide smart travel solution to its customers through several unique features and highly convenient tools like Live & Instant Confirmations, Customized Travel Options, Immediate Selling Point (ISP) & Mobile App, Budget Search Tool, Easy & Convenient Payment Gateways. Its B2B marketplace format is beneficial to both travel suppliers and agents.

(Edited by mid-day online desk, with inputs from ANI)

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Gokarna

Goa

For seaside bliss
Goa, Gokarna
Give your mom a break and visit Goa or Gokarna with her, both of which are a hop, skip and jump away from Mumbai. Lie by the beach and allow yourself to be surrounded by the unimaginable pulchritude of Kudle (beach in Gokarna) or Agonda (beach in South Goa) for a calm escape. Sign up for yoga sessions or a meditation programmes to give your mornings a healthy,
peaceful start.
NOTE: Paradise and Half Moon beaches in Gokarna are not advisable for people with arthritis, heart abnormalities, etc, since you have to hike here
CALL 18001028747
LOG ON TO makemytrip.com (for suitable packages)

Warli Art

For an organic getaway
Vangaon
Avail of this special Mother's Day travel package to Vangaon, a few hours from Mumbai, to discover Warli art and culture with. Get in on the history, knowledge and cultural influence behind the world-famous art form and learn directly from renowned artist Sanjay Pahad, whose works are exhibited in galleries around the world. Plus, she gets to spend time on an organic plantation.
NOTE: The exact location will be shared during booking
CALL 9920286319 (Swadesee)
LOG ON TO insider.in

Sula Vineyards

For the indulgence
Nashik's vineyards
How about an indulgent, laid-back weekend filled with a re-telling of childhood tales or soaking in the quiet around acres of vines? Walk in a vineyard and indulge in wine tasting. Even if you're a teetotaller, the expansive vista of the town makes it the ideal escape from the hustle and bustle of Mumbai.
NOTE: Most packaged vineyard tours come with set itineraries that include pick-up, drop, breakfast and more. If you're planning it on a weekday, keep in mind that you have to book in advance
CALL 8040851222 (holidayiq)
LOG ON TO blackgrapeholidays.com; holidayiq.com (for wine tours)

Shirdi Temple

For a spiritual high
Shirdi, Trimbakeshwar,
Ramtek, Paithan
Most of us have been taught our first prayers by our mothers, and what better way to give her a thoughtful surprise than to sign her up for one of the many tours to famous religious sites across Maharashtra. From Hindu mythological connect to stunning temple architecture and spiritual bliss, this idea is sure to strike a chord with her.
NOTE: Paithan is also famous for Paithani silk saris with elaborate zari borders, making them the perfect gift for your spiritually inclined mum
CALL 804873599 (hello travel)
LOG ON TO cultureholidays.com

Bhandardara

For R&R in the hills
Malhar Machi, Bhandardara
Be it a fever or a fit, mums are always waiting around the corner with piping daal khichdi or hot chocolate, like the genie who knows exactly what you need. How about returning the favour? Gift-wrap your mum a relaxing wellness trip packed with spa treatments and massages amid the lush green expanses of the Sahyadris or surrounded by the cascading falls of Bhandardara.
NOTE: Carry trekking shoes, torch and well-stocked medical kit for 
CALL 8888000055 (Malhar Machi)
LOG ON TO travelmango.in

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Anoushka Shankar, who scored the recently restored silent film, Shiraz, recalls the challenge of the task, her upcoming India tour with the film and why Mumbai will always remain special

An emperor's love for his queen was immortalised in white marble in 1653. Three centuries later, when cinema was still at a nascent stage in India, the Taj Mahal and the love story of Shahjahan and Mumtaz Mahal became one of the earliest subjects to be celebrated on the big screen with Franz Osten's silent classic, Shiraz (1928). Almost 90 years on, the film starring Himanshu Rai, Charu Roy, Seeta Devi and Enakshi Rama Rau was restored to its former glory by the British Film Institute (BFI), in a manner most fitting.

The music for Shiraz is a blend of Indian and western instrumentation

While sitar player and composer Anoushka Shankar was invited to score the music of the film, she will also present a live performance, alongside a screening in four Indian cities, being brought here by the British Council and BFI.
We spoke to Shankar about what went into reliving an era musically. Edited excerpts from an interview:

How did a project of this nature come about?
The BFI undertakes frequent film restoration projects, and in 2017, as part of the UK-India Year of Culture, they decided to work on Shiraz. When they asked me to do the score, I was thrilled. I had been wanting to start scoring films for some time. And this seemed like a lovely fit with my musical background and skill set.

Stills from the restored film

How did you approach the music for a silent film?
It's much more challenging to score for a silent film because there's no conversation, and this means it needs constant music. The sheer volume of output required was huge. While we tried to give a feel of the time in which the film is set and the time in which it was made, we also wanted the audience to enjoy a cinematic effect in the music with a rich, modern sound. In some ways, it's been the most creative process that I have been a part of. I found it incredibly fulfilling.

Shiraz: A Romance of India. Pics/British Council and BFI

What does the music sound like?
We are an eight-member orchestra, and it's relatively evenly spaced out for the Indian and western instrumentation. We've used Indian percussion, the bansuri, sitar, cello, piano, violin, clarinet and some elements of live electronic music as well. It's a long film of an hour and 47 minutes, and throughout the duration, I have tried to create variety. For example, the opening piece is purely classical and then, within the course of the first half hour, we move to a different soundscape. When scoring the film, I knew it was going to be a live show as well and I was mindful of making music that people would want to sit and listen to and watch as a show.

How has composing music for Shiraz impacted you as a musician?
Whenever I take up any music project, it involves a mix of something that I have to offer, but also an opportunity where I can learn and grow. With Shiraz, I have grown a lot as a composer. I have learnt how to orchestrate my own music for an ensemble within a western harmony, in a way that allows Indian music to stay. I have also learnt a lot technically.

Around the time Shiraz premiered in London, the Taj was called a blot on Indian culture by an Indian politician...
If you take out the politics and think of it in terms of people, it's like one person putting another person down in order to make himself feel bigger. There is a lack of confidence in that. If someone is a fantastic human being in a way that's different from me, it doesn't make me a bad human being. We are different, but we can both be wonderful. As a culture, we have so much diversity in our history that there is room to celebrate everything.

How do you look at Mumbai as a performance venue?
Mumbai is a place that I have been coming to since I was a child. As a classical musician, it's such an important city. I have had years of memorable concert experiences here with my father initially, and with my own work in more recent years. I am always happy to play for Mumbai. It's a kind of place where you get a cosmopolitan audience that listens to diverse types of music.

On: November 5, 7.30 pm
At: Sri Shanmukhananda Auditorium, Sion East.
Log on to: bookmyshow.com
Entry: Rs 300 onwards

New Delhi: Technology can help children learn and stimulate them to think in new and positive ways, but it needs to be balanced with experiential learning in order to ensure the holistic development of a child, say experts.

Representational picture

Parents can, for instance, look at supplemental activities like gardening. Gardening can not only teach children new skills, self-confidence, and responsibility but can also be a lot of fun for children.

Kashish A Chhabria, counselling psychologist and psychotherapist, and Hemant Mittal, consultant psychiatrist, and counsellor, highlights some do's and don'ts that you may consider using as a guide.

Do's
>> Monitor you child's media consumption, including video games, television, movies, and internet. Make sure you activate the restricted mode when kids use the internet.

>> Communicate with your child about what they observe in video games, television programs or movies. Ask them how they feel about the media they have access to and discuss it with them.

>> Incorporate new activities into your child's life. These can be educational as well as fun. There are games available which teach children about gardening and the different types of plants found in India.

>> Engage children in outdoor activities like nature walks and hikes to get them excited about the interesting flora and fauna prevalent in India.

>> Do get down on the soil with bare hands and feet with your child. It is absolutely okay to be "dirty". (until and unless suggested otherwise by a health practitioner).

Don'ts
>> Learn to negotiate, if your child demands the latest tablet or mobile phone for his or her birthday, give in to their demands provided your child agreed to go for a walk outdoors with you or spends 2 hours thrice a day playing a hands-on experiential game.

>> Do not set up electronic devices in a child's bedroom.

>> Do not allow unlimited access to media instead lay down ground rules. For example, place a time limit on how often or long a child is allowed to use an electronic device, including games and television.

Representational picture

Now days, a gluten-free lifestyle has become one of the most popular diet trends in the market. Every shop/ mall has set of foods stating 'gluten free food'. The demand for these gluten-free foods is increasing. In order to understand the gluten free food trends taking place in the market it is important to understand gluten.

Gluten is a protein found in wheat, barley, rye, oats and their derivatives. Some people are found to be sensitive to gluten and show mild symptoms of intolerance such as chronic diarrhea and vomiting. Celiac disease is associated with an allergic reaction within the inner lining of the small intestine. The linings of the small intestine are destroyed by inflammations caused by the immunological reaction with gluten.

Dr Pradeep Gadge, Diabetologist, Gadge Diabetes Centre, says, "Gluten free products have been around for years suffering from celiac disease. However, the demand has now widened beyond medical needs. The food market started to grow beyond people who were just needs based and into a lifestyle choice. As many people think gluten-free diets are healthier and are giving up gluten to lose weight. It’s basically a fashion. Another common belief that gluten-free diets are healthier (and a growing availability of alternative breads and grain products) are also driving the trend. Gluten-free products have turned from being medicated products for gluten intolerant people to a lifestyle choice. Gluten-free foods are gaining popularity partly because manufacturers and marketers are aligning new product developments with other emerging trends in the food market. These trends include use of plant proteins and grains like quinoa."

There are many celebrities who follows fad diets for weight loss and people are just following them without knowing the medically reason. People want quick fixes, and diets are frequently used as a quick fix for issues. There are many restaurants and café where gluten free foods/dishes are available, and people are following that thinking it’s a low fat and healthier. But that is not true a gluten-free dish may contain a lot more butter or oil, and that is not healthier. It is always better to consult a qualified dietician or nutritionist before starting a diet.

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Calling MS Dhoni his mentor, wicketkeeper batsman Rishabh Pant said the World Cup-winning skipper has his own way of helping the younger crop as he never provides a full solution to a problem, encouraging them to look for answers. Pant, was heir apparent to Dhoni until KL Rahul emerged as a wicketkeeper-batsman in the limited overs format, making the southpaw no more a certainty in the playing XI.

Mentor MSD

"He [Dhoni] has been like a mentor to me, on and off the field. I can approach him freely with any problem I may be facing, and he will never give me the entire solution for it," Pant said in an Instagram live session with his IPL team Delhi Capitals. "This is so that I don't become entirely dependent on him, he gives me hints only that helps me solve the issue myself. He's also one of my favourite batting partners, though we don't bat together often.

Perfect planning

"If Mahi bhai is at the crease, you know things are sorted. He's got a plan in his head, and all you need to do is follow it!" Dhoni, who has not played competitive cricket since July, was supposed to make a much awaited comeback with the IPL, which has now been postponed indefinitely due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

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The thought of standing up to Brett Lee's thunderbolts had taken Rohit Sharma's "sleep away" when he first started out but among the current lot, Josh Hazlewood is one speedster the India swashbuckler "doesn't want to face" in Tests.

Rohit said he will have to be mentally prepared to face Hazlewood when India tour Australia for a Test series later this year, provided the COVID-19 pandemic subsides. Asked to name the toughest pacers he has faced so far, Rohit said, "One bowler is Brett Lee because he didn't let me sleep the previous night on my first tour to Australia in 2007, as I was thinking how to play this bowler who bowls in excess of 150 kmph."

"In 2007, Brett Lee was at his peak. I used to watch him closely and noticed that he was consistently bowling at the speed of around 150-155 kmph. The thought of a youngster like me facing that kind of speed took away my sleep," Rohit said of the former Australian speed merchant on Star Sports' 'Cricket Connected'. Since making his debut in 2007 as a precocious talent, Rohit has gone on to become one of the world's most prolific batsmen, and his exploits in limited overs cricket are second to none.

Rohit has racked up 29 ODI hundreds and six centuries in Test cricket, besides four three-figure mark in the T20 Internationals. "Currently, someone whom I don't want to face in Test cricket would be Josh Hazlewood because he's disciplined and does not move away from that length. He does not give you loose balls," he said. Among the retired lot, Rohit said South African pace great Dale Steyn has also given him nightmares because of his ability to swing the ball at great speed.

"I have two retired favourite bowlers who I never wanted to face, one was Brett Lee and the other was Dale Steyn. I never wanted to face Steyn because playing pace and swing at the same time was a nightmare, it was just unreal." Rohit said he continues to face quality bowlers in the present day with Hazlewood being among the best . "I have watched him enough to understand that. I know for a fact that if I have to go to Australia to play a Test, then I have to be mentally prepared to be disciplined while facing Josh," said the scorer of three double hundreds in ODIs.

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All-rounder Dwayne Bravo is in awe of the current West Indies T20 team's batting depth, saying it is better than the 2016 World Cup-winning side and can intimidate any opposition. "In the last series in Sri Lanka, we had a team meeting, and coach Phil (Simmons) put the team down, the list, and he put it down in batting order, and he had my name down at No. 9," Bravo told ESPNcricinfo. "And I said to the guys, I said listen, I don't think I was ever involved in a T20 team when I am down to bat at No. 9. "I'm just in awe of our batting line-up, and I said to the guys, I said listen, I think this team is actually better than our World-Cup-winning team, and that is no joke, because at the end of the day, you have batting all the way down to No. 10.

Bravo, who returned from international T20 retirement in December last year to strengthen West Indies' title defence, said the batting resources of this "intimidating" team has reduced his role to a specialist bowler. "It's an intimidating team, it's a team to intimidate the opposition, and that excites me. So I will just do my part as a bowler, try to control the back end of the innings, especially closing off the innings with death bowling, which has been, in the past, a bit of a concern for us," said Bravo, who made his international comeback in January against Ireland. "You saw how Oshane Thomas did with his pace in Sri Lanka. Then you have Sheldon Cottrell, now a leader of the attack, Kesrick Williams on the bench, so things starting to look bright again, things starting to look good again."

Bravo also was effusive in his praise for skipper Kieron Pollard, who had taken over the reins of limited over teams last year. "He loves to win (Pollard). That's the most important thing, and as a captain, he'll do anything to win, in the right way and the right spirit, and he's very determined to win, to make a difference," he said. "I remember when they approached him to take over, I said to him, it's going to be a good challenge, a big one, a tough one, but now is the best time. You get both teams at the bottom of the table. There's only one way you can go, which is up, right? "I said now is the right time, you build a team and you create a dressing-room environment where everyone is on the same page."

Pollard has represented West Indies in 113 ODIs and 73 T20Is, scoring 3619 runs and taken 88 wickets. The 32-year-old all-rounder remains a huge figure in limited over cricket, having played in several leagues across the globe, including the IPL. Bravo described Pollard as a "figurehead" and someone who commands respect across the globe for his achievements. "I think what Pollard has is his honesty, which is the most important thing. You have leaders in the past sometimes that said, okay, well, I don't get involved in selection, I had no say, you know, they give all types of excuses and stuff, and the system will be able to manoeuvre them and control them, but Pollard, you can't control him," Bravo said. "...

The players also respect him, because of whatever he has done and achieved in the white-ball format, especially in T20 cricket. So if someone like Pollard is speaking in the dressing room about T20 cricket, we all have to listen, because he's played the most games, he's had success, and he's highly respected around the world."' The 36-year-old also had words of appreciation for for coach Phil Simmons. "And that relationship we have with Phil Simmons as well, it's another good thing. Captain, coach - always have to have a good relationship," Bravo said.

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Former India pacer Ashish Nehra has said that M.S. Dhoni was always open to a chat with his players after a match and his hotel room would always be open for them after the games. "People think that Dhoni doesn't talk much. That is not the case. His room would remain open in the night after matches. Anyone could walk in, order food and discuss cricket," Nehra said while speaking to former India opener Aakash Chopra on his show 'Aakash Vani'.

"Be it in CSK or in the Indian team, Dhoni would pass on the message on what he thinks a player needs to do during a conversation and that would be enough for the players to get the drift," added Nehra who played a lot of cricket under Dhoni's captaincy both for India and at Chennai Super Kings in the Indian Premier League (IPL). Nehra also spoke on former India captain and current Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) President Sourav Ganguly, saying he was a leader who used to back his players to the hilt.

"Dhoni had senior players around him when he took over and the challenge was how to manage them. Dada had a team of juniors and he backed them to the hilt. He would go all out to back his players," said the former left-arm pacer who played 17 Tests, 120 ODIs and 27 T20Is.

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India's limited-over vice-captain Rohit Sharma in an Instagram Live with Australian opener David Warner said India's tour of Australia, which is scheduled after the T20 World Cup, will be a "great way" to restart international calendar.

'Love playing Australia'

"I love playing against Australia. When we won last time [in 2019], it was great for us. You guys [Warner and Steve Smith] were missing [due to ball-tampering bans]. "What our bowlers and batters did there was amazing. I am looking forward to the upcoming tour already. Hope both boards manage to get the series underway. Will be a great way to kick off cricket in the world," Rohit said.

India won their first Test series in Australia, and Warner said he was feeling helpless watching his team lose. "Watching that series was hard as you can't do anything from the outside. But I want to say that India has the best pace attack against left-handers. They zero in one spot and keep bowling there. "Mentally, it was great for Indian cricket but it was hard to watch. I felt helpless," said Warner.

The southpaw said it is unlikely that the T20 World Cup will be staged in his country in October-November because of the COVID-19 pandemic. "The ICC World Cup will not go ahead here by the looks of it. It will be difficult to get everyone (16 teams) together," he said. Warner is also not enthused by the idea of playing in front of empty stands, like Australia did against New Zealand in Sydney in March before the ODI series was called off.

Bizarre experience

"It was a bizarre experience. You could only hear echo of the cricket ball. It was bizarre. We are used to calling 'yes and no' while running between wickets but we did not need to do that. It was literally like playing a warm-up game."

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British Airways may be forced to cut more than a quarter of its workforce as the coronavirus pandemic takes its toll on one of Europe's biggest airlines. Parent company IAG (ICAGY) said in a statement cited by CNN on Tuesday that the Airways is notifying labour unions about a restructuring program which will affect most employees and "may result in the redundancy of up to 12,000 of them." IAG, which also includes Spanish airline Iberia, said its first-quarter revenues declined by 13 per cent to EUR4.6 billion (USD 5 billion) as it swung to an operating loss of EUR535 million (USD 579 million).

The airline group warned that losses in the second quarter would be "significantly worse" and that it expects that "the recovery of passenger demand to 2019 levels will take several years." The warning echos a similar decision made by airline group Lufthansa (DLAKY), which owns national carriers in Germany, Switzerland, Austria and Belgium. Announcing earlier this month that it was permanently reducing the size of its fleet and shuttering one of its low-cost carriers, Lufthansa said that worldwide demand for air travel will take years to recover from the coronavirus.

"What we are facing as an airline ... is that there is no 'normal' any longer," British Airways CEO Alex Cruz said in a letter to staff that was released to CNN Business. "Yesterday, British Airways flew just a handful of aircraft out of Heathrow. On a normal day, we would fly more than 300," he added. The news comes as flight bans and nationwide lockdowns are threatening to bankrupt airlines around the world. The "mounting financial crisis" facing carriers could cause revenues to tumble by as much as 55 per cent this year, or some USD 314 billion, according to the International Air Transport Association.

Virgin Australia collapsed into administration last week, while sister airline Virgin Atlantic confirmed on Monday that it was on the hunt for outside investors to keep it alive. Virgin Atlantic, which is controlled by Richard Branson's Virgin Group, is also seeking a commercial loan from the British government. Earlier this month, British Airways furloughed 30,000 employees on 80 per cent of their regular monthly pay until the end of May, with the government covering the first PS2,500 (USD 3,100) under its coronavirus job retention program.

But Cruz said the outlook for the aviation sector had worsened in the last few weeks and measures taken to conserve cash were not enough. "There is no government bailout standing by for BA and we cannot expect the taxpayer to offset salaries indefinitely," he added. "Any money we borrow now... will not address the longer-term challenges we face," he wrote.

With no certainty on when lockdowns will lift or when countries will reopen their borders, British Airways has to "reshape" itself, Cruz said. "The scale of this challenge requires substantial change so we are in a competitive and resilient position, not just to address the immediate Covid-19 pandemic, but also to withstand any longer term reductions in customer demand, economic shocks or other events that could affect us," he added.

The collapse in air traffic puts about 6.7 million jobs at risk in Europe, according to IATA, which has called for urgent government action to "preserve air services."

In a similar circumstance, Air France-KLM (AFLYY) further announced on Friday that following "several weeks of discussions" with the French government and banks, it had secured EUR7 billion ($7.6 billion) in loans backed by the French state "to help overcome the crisis and prepare for the future."

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The Indian Government has provided an update on the roll-out of the e-Way Bill system, which was introduced on April 1, 2018, confirming it will be extended to another five states from April 15, 2018.

HATHWAY CABLE share price has zoomed 11% and is presently trading at Rs 20.

Meanwhile, the BSE 500 Index is at 12,146 (up 1.2%).

Among the top Gainers in the BSE 500 Index today is HATHWAY CABLE (up 11.5%).

ADANI PORTS & SEZ and CARE RATING are among the top losers today.

Over the last one year, HATHWAY CABLE has moved down from Rs 29 to Rs 20, registering a loss of Rs 9 (down 32.2%).

On the other hand, the BSE 500 has moved down from 14,958 to 12,146, loss of 2,812 points (down 19.2%) during the last 12 months.

The top gainers among the BSE 500 Index stocks during this same period were ADANI GREEN ENERGY (up 432.6%), ABBOTT INDIA (up 145.6%) and NAVIN FLUORINE (up 117.3%).

What About the Benchmark Indices?

The BSE Sensex is at 32,089 (up 1.4%).

The top gainers among the BSE Sensex stocks today are INDUSIND BANK (up 4.0%), HUL (up 3.2%) and KOTAK MAHINDRA BANK (up 2.6%). Other gainers include RELIANCE IND. (up 2.5%) and ICICI BANK (up 2.4%). The most traded stocks in the BSE Sensex are RELIANCE IND. and INDUSIND BANK.

In the meantime, NSE Nifty is at 9,383 (up 1.4%). The top gainers in the NSE Nifty include INDUSIND BANK (up 3.9%), DR. REDDYS LAB (up 3.5%) and KOTAK MAHINDRA BANK (up 3.2%). Other gainers include INDIABULLS HOU. FIN. (up 3.2%) and HUL (up 2.9%) are among the top gainers in NSE Nifty.

Over the last 12 months, the BSE Sensex has moved down from 38,277 to 32,089, registering a loss of 6,188 points (down 16.71%).

HATHWAY CABLE Financial Update...

HATHWAY CABLE net profit declined 168.0% YoY to Rs 131 million for the quarter ended March 2020, compared to a loss of Rs 192 million a year ago. Net Sales rose 5.7% to Rs 1.5 billion during the period as against Rs 1.4 billion in January-March 2019.

For the year ended March 2019, HATHWAY CABLE reported 336.0% decrease in net profit to Rs 2.4 billion compared to net profit of Rs 1.0 billion during FY18.

Revenue of the company grew 1.5% to Rs 16 billion during FY19.

The current Price to earnings ratio of HATHWAY CABLE, based on rolling 12 month earnings, stands at 206.9x.

This article (HATHWAY CABLE Surges by 11%; BSE 500 Index Up 1.2%) is authored by Equitymaster.

Equitymaster is a leading 'independent' equity research initiative focused on providing well-researched and unbiased opinions on stocks listed on the Bombay Stock Exchange.

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