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Jumbo jet sunset: coronavirus hastens the end of the Boeing 747

Stricken carriers are grounding their ageing, four-engined giants as cash runs out

When Sir Richard Branson marked the 25th anniversary of Virgin Atlantic in 2009, he and the model Kate Moss posed on the wing of a Boeing 747. This symbol of the jet age was the only option for the billionaire showman. But a decade later, the plane has become a symbolic casualty of the chaos engulfing the airline industry during the coronavirus pandemic. Last week, Virgin Atlantic said it would retire all seven of its 747s.

More than 1,500 of the jumbo jets have been delivered over the 52 years it has been in service, but analysts say the savage decline in passenger traffic as governments seek to contain the spread of Covid-19 could hasten the decline of the plane, heralding an ignominious end for the so-called Queen of the Skies.

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Brazilian court lifts restrictions on gay and bisexual men giving blood

Supreme court decision hailed as victory for LGBT community

Brazil’s supreme court has overturned rules that limit gay and bisexual men from donating blood in a decision considered a human rights victory for LGBT+ people in the country.

The move came as more nations review restrictions on blood donations imposed during the 1980s HIV/Aids crisis, with some countries applying blanket bans, some have waiting periods after gay sex, and others – like Italy – having no limitations.

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Anatomy of a cruise: how the Ruby Princess came to dock and disembark with coronavirus

The inquiry into the management of the ship’s arrival in Sydney in March has revealed a detailed timeline of who knew what and when

A special commission of inquiry has held five days of hearings into the Ruby Princess cruise ship, which has so far has been linked to 21 deaths and almost 700 cases of Covid-19 across Australia.

The inquiry, overseen by Bret Walker SC, had two days of hearings on 22 and 23 April, and then three days of hearings this week.

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Pass judgment on Adele's talent, not on how much she weighs | Barbara Ellen

It’s depressing that the singer’s new skinny look matters more to some than her extraordinary voice

It seems that Adele’s weight is fast becoming a feminist issue, although not in the way people usually mean. Last year, images of the singer’s extreme weight loss rocked the world. When she released a photo to mark her 32nd birthday last week, the internet exploded all over again. Some people thought her new look was great; others considered it a (whisper it) betrayal. Some accused her of having a gastric band; others bitched that she would soon pile it all back on again. “She looks good.” “She looks bad.” “She looks weird.” And on it goes.

Adele isn’t new to this: her weight was also discussed (admiringly, critically, endlessly) before she lost it. In the modern musical landscape, where female artists specifically are viciously pressured to be perma-slim, the message seemed to be that she was one of those rare talents who were “allowed” to be bigger. At other times, the focus on her weight verged on patronising and reductive, as though her BMI-based “relatability” was the main draw and her talent a poor second.

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The Observer view on the world needing the United Nations more than ever

Seventy-five years after VE Day, the pandemic is a sharp reminder of the urgency of international co-operation

Franklin D Roosevelt did as much as anyone to ensure the allied victory 75 years ago. Following Japan’s sneak attack on Pearl Harbor in December 1941, and Nazi Germany’s declaration of war four days later, the US president willingly joined the fight, able at last to overcome isolationist opposition in Congress and answer Winston Churchill’s pleas to formally take Britain’s side.

Yet biographers suggest the defeat of fascism took second place in Roosevelt’s mind to the postwar creation of an international organisation guaranteeing future global peace and security. At a White House meeting with Churchill that same month, they agreed that their new alliance, incorporating the Soviet Union and other anti-Axis countries, should be named the “United Nations”.

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Covid-19: isolated and alone, Britain has become the sick man of Europe

The disasters of Trump, Brexit and coronavirus have been made all the worse by our weak and incompetent leaders


Britain is in a lonely place right now. It resembles the scene of a bad traffic accident where shocked passers-by look away with pity and horror in their eyes. Alarmed by what they see, governments around the world practise their own form of social distancing. Once again, Britain is the sick man of Europe.

Lethal mismanagement of the coronavirus pandemic is not the sole reason for this un-splendid isolation. The disease’s sudden onslaught is the third national disaster in almost as many years. The first was the decision to walk away from Europe. The second was the advent of Donald Trump and his anarchic America First agenda.

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Can I visit my family or parents for Mother's Day? Australia’s coronavirus lockdown rules and restrictions explained

Can you get takeaway coffee with a friend? What about visiting your family or parents for Mother’s Day? Laws to stop spread of Covid-19 seem to change daily and in some states carry a big fine. Untangle them with our guide

Australia is well into its second month of Covid-19 lockdowns and every state enforcing physical distancing laws slightly differently.

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The ultimate quiz from this week in sports history | Jonathan Howcroft

There might not have been any live sport to enjoy over the past week but it was a memorable one in history. See how much you can recall from the week ending 10 May

Forerunner of the modern AFL, the VFL hosted its first round of matches on 8 May 1897, but who took home the competition’s inaugural premiership?

Melbourne

Geelong

Collingwood

Essendon

Perhaps the greatest ODI batsman in history was born on 8 May 1970, but which of these statements about Michael Bevan is true?

First Canberra-born cricketer to represent Australia

First man to play 300 ODIs

First man to retire with an ODI average above 60

A man who took his nickname “The Finisher” to such extremes he was always the first to clear his plate during team meals

Wally Lewis claimed his final State of Origin man of the match award on 8 May 1991, but on how many occasions was the Emperor of Lang Park considered best afield in his 31 Origin appearances?

31

20

12

8

The tennis circuit should be in the middle of the European clay season right now, counting down to Roland Garros and Ash Barty’s defence of the Coupe Suzanne Lenglen. But can you remember who the Queenslander beat in last year’s French Open final?

Simona Halep

Naomi Osaka

Markéta Vondroušová

Amanda Anisimova

Mark Williams won his third world snooker title on 7 May 2018, 15 years after his second, but during his celebrations, how did he honour a bet he had made at the beginning of the tournament?

By appearing at his post-win press conference nude

By taking a midnight dip in the nearby River Don

By reciting Hamlet’s soliloquy in the middle of one of England’s most important regional theatres

By retiring

Melbourne Victory and Melbourne City have only met once in an A-League finals contest, and it happened on 8 May 2015 with Victory romping home 3-0. What was the official attendance that night?

60,873

50,873

40,873

30,873

Australian boxing great Lionel Rose died on 8 May 2011, but at what weight did he hold the lineal world title?

Flyweight

Bantamweight

Featherweight

Lightweight

Leicester City lifted the Premier League trophy on 7 May 2016, becoming the unlikeliest champions in the competition’s history. The presentation ceremony featured a spine-tingling rendition of Nessun Dorma from which tenor?

Andrea Bocelli

Placido Domingo

Luciano Pavarotti

Bryn Terfel

The Super Netball season was supposed to get underway last weekend with which side defending their premiership?

NSW Swifts

Sunshine Coast Lightning

Melbourne Vixens

Collingwood Magpies

Andrew McLeod made the first of his 340 AFL appearances for Adelaide on 5 May 1995, but who traded the dual Norm Smith medallist a few months earlier, without him ever pulling on that club’s guernsey?

Brisbane

Port Adelaide

Fremantle

West Coast

With just three seconds remaining in the deciding fifth game of the first round of the 1989 NBA playoffs Michael Jordan nailed “The Shot”. But who did the Chicago Bulls eliminate in such dramatic fashion on 7 May 31 years ago?

Boston Celtics

New York Knicks

Philadelphia 76ers

Cleveland Cavaliers

Australia began their campaign to secure a maiden ICC Women’s T20 World Cup on 6 May 2010 with a group match against England. Both teams finished 104 all out, and both ended the super over six for two. How was the result decided?

Coin toss

Fewest extras

Most sixes

Points shared

The eyes of the football world were trained on Milan on 6 May 1970 to witness which Dutch side become the first to lift the European Cup?

Ajax

Feyenoord

PSV Eindhoven

FC Twente

The magical four-minute barrier for the mile was broken by Roger Bannister on 6 May 1954 in Oxford, but whose record did he overhaul to set the new mark?

John Landy

Herb Elliott

Peter Snell

Gunder Hägg

Dan Christian was born on 4 May 1983. A successful all-rounder at first-class and 50-over level, Christian has made the T20 franchise circuit his own. How many professional teams (states, counties and franchises) has he represented during his career?

17

12

8

5

13 and above.

Congratulations. Top of the class

10 and above.

You've been immersed in nostalgic re-runs, haven't you?

7 and above.

No disgrace in being average

4 and above.

Plenty of room for improvement

0 and above.

Perhaps use isolation to read up on some history?

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Kylie Moore-Gilbert feels abandoned by Australia, sources in Iranian prison say

Academic has reportedly told other prisoners she is outraged at the government’s handling of her imprisonment

British-Australian woman Kylie Moore-Gilbert is despairing at her isolation inside Tehran’s Evin prison, believing she has been abandoned to her decade-long sentence, according to sources within the prison.

Political prisoner Moore-Gilbert, who has spent more than 600 days inside the notorious Ward 2A of Tehran’s Evin prison, much of it in solitary confinement, was convicted in a secret trial and sentenced to 10 years prison on charges of espionage.

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Factional flareup: can Gladys Berejiklian keep her unruly ministers focused on the main game?

The NSW premier is trying to project a sense of order during Covid-19 but the men in her team are indulging in a kind of sabotage

Since well before Christmas the New South Wales premier, Gladys Berejiklian, has been dealing with crises: first the drought, then bushfires that ravaged her state, then the Covid-19 pandemic that has affected everyone.

Every morning at 8am Berejiklian fronts the media for her Covid-19 briefing, trying to project a sense of calm, order and empathy, urging the people of NSW to stick with the restrictions.

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Global report: Anthony Fauci and two other White House Covid-19 taskforce members to self-quarantine

Fauci and heads of CDC and FDA potentially exposed to coronavirus; Boris Johnson to announce UK lockdown changes

Three members of the White House coronavirus taskforce have placed themselves in self-quarantine after contact with someone who tested positive for Covid-19. It comes as the British prime minister, Boris Johnson, prepares to unveil his “roadmap” to a new normality in a national broadcast and global infections pass four million.

Dr Anthony Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Dr Robert Redfield, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration, Stephen Hahn, are all expected to work remotely due to potential exposure to Covid-19.

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'Time to click reset': coronavirus offers chance to end Australia's welfare wars

The doubling of jobseeker was the biggest change to social security in decades. Now experts want the government to push aside ideology and establish a permanent equitable safety net

This is the third in our series on Life after lockdown, which looks at how the Covid-19 pandemic could change Australia for good

What does Australia owe Racheal Wellman, just 23? What are her chances in this country now, and as Australia begins to emerge from the coronavirus pandemic?

Wellman worked as a barista 25 to 30 hours a week in a St Kilda cafe. It was a casual job, so no paid holidays, no sick pay, no job security. But it was “fantastic”, she says, especially after being unemployed for a time, couchsurfing at friends’ houses and sometimes sleeping rough at Flinders Street station.

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Lessons learned: what Australia needs to do to avoid a second Covid-19 wave

Experts say to prevent future outbreak clusters, workers need to have job safety if they are feeling sick and unable to work

Improvements in communication, personal protective equipment training, initial infection responses and social distancing have emerged as key areas of improvement if Australia is to avoid a second wave of coronavirus infections after lockdowns ease.

While the government has linked the uptake of its Covidsafe tracing app to a return to normal, the chief medical officer, Brendan Murphy, in April identified the bolstering of health authorities’ ability to respond to and contain localised clusters as an essential step to reassessing measures.

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NSW warns ‘complacency biggest threat’ as most states move to ease Covid-19 restrictions

Victoria only state to retain strict rules, as cafes, playgrounds and pools set to reopen across country

Victoria is the only state not to have announced an easing of coronavirus restrictions as New South Wales signals it will relax its laws from Friday and Western Australia declares most people will be able to return to work from Monday week.

NSW premier Gladys Berejiklian announced the easing of restrictions on Sunday, increasing the number of visitors permitted in private residences from two to five, allowing outdoor gatherings of up to 10, and up to 10 dine-in patrons at cafes and restaurants, provided each patron has 4 sq metres of space. The use of outdoor pools, gym and play equipment will also be permitted.

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Coronavirus Australia updates live: anti-lockdown protest in Melbourne as NSW and WA set to ease Covid-19 restrictions – latest news

Cafes and restaurants will reopen for limited numbers of people as part of a relaxation of Covid-19 rules in both states. Follow all the latest news, live

We will leave our live Australian coverage there for the day. You can follow our rolling global coverage here or read a summary here.

Here’s how things stand in Australia:

South Australia has established a rapid response team to deal with any coronavirus outbreaks in nursing homes.

Twenty-seven of the 97 people to die in Australia after testing positive to Covid-19, died in nursing homes.

The dedicated SA Pathology team has been assembled to provide greater protection for some of the state’s most vulnerable citizens.

If an outbreak occurs, the team will immediately test everyone in the facility, helping to quickly identify cases, limit the spread and protect both residents and staff.

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Inquests into six Oxfordshire deaths to be heard at coroners court

THE INQUESTS into the deaths of six people who died in Oxfordshire will be heard at court this week.





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Ms. Juicy Posts Emotional Tribute To Miss Minnie



They had a complicated relationship.




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Earthquake rattles Maniwaki region

The earthquake happened at 3:04 p.m. and was centred 24 kilometres west-northwest of Maniwaki.




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Andy Serkis says 'The Batman' is going to be the darkest incarnation yet

Andy Serkis says the upcoming Batman film will be darker and broodier than the previous cinematic incarnations.




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Robert Downey Jr helped convince a ‘scared’ Mark Ruffalo to join the MCU

Mark Ruffalo was “scared” when the Marvel Cinematic Universe approached him about portraying the Hulk in 2012’s The Avengers. 




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The best films on TV: Sunday, 10 May

This Sunday enjoy some family fun, cathartic vengeance, and sprawling multi-generational dramas.




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Author Alison Roman Apologizes to Chrissy Teigen After Receiving Major Backlash

Cookbook author and New York Times cooking columnist Alison Roman has publicly apologized to Chrissy Teigen after receiving backlash for comments she made about her fellow culinary...




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Why Emma Stone's Fans Are Convinced She's Already Married to Dave McCary

Wedding bells?! Here's a new celebrity theory making the internet rounds: fans are convinced that Emma Stone is already married to Saturday Night Live writer, Dave...




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Priyanka Chopra Adorably Crashes Nick Jonas' Virtual Happy Hour With The Voice Coaches

In the second installment of The Voice's virtual happy hour, the show's coaches shared their attempts at keeping busy and sane during quarantine, by sipping cocktails and sharing their...




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Reese Witherspoon's Party Planner Shares How to Host the Perfect Zoom Bash For Any Celebration

Continued social distancing doesn't have to mean the end of socializing. As the planet continues to stick close to home in the effort of slowing the global coronavirus pandemic, time...




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Andy Cohen Says His Son Benjamin and Anderson Cooper's Son Wyatt Will Be 'Best Friends'

A lifelong friendship awaits Andy Cohen and Anderson Cooper's sons. The 51-year-old TV host took some time while in quarantine to answer a few fan questions on his Instagram Story on...




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Cara Delevingne and Ashley Benson Are Officially ''Moving On'' Following Their Recent Split

Ashley Benson and Cara Delevingne don't seem to have plans for reconciliation. After almost two years since the two began dating and one year since they went public with their...




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Netflix's Too Hot to Handle Francesca Farago and Harry Jowsey Get Engaged During Zoom Reunion

Nothing is stopping these two lovebirds. The infamous Too Hot to Handle couple Harry Jowsey and Francesca Farago are officially engaged. During a recent Zoom reunion of the...




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One&Only's banana wholemeal pancakes with cranberry-apricot sauce

Brunch, sorted




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FDA authorizes first coronavirus antigen test

The test, which involves swabbing the inside of the nose, can produce results in minutes.




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Trump administration announces plan for distributing remdesivir after chaotic rollout

HHS will ship 14,400 vials of the drug to state health departments, putting the onus on them to decide which hospitals get some of the country's limited supply.




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Covid-19 coronavirus: Reopenings bring new cases in South Korea, virus fears in Italy

South Korea's capital closed down more than 2100 bars and other nightspots on Saturday because of a new cluster of coronavirus infections, Germany scrambled to contain fresh outbreaks at slaughterhouses, and Italian authorities worried...




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How plot to overthrow Venezuelan regime lacked everything - except 'cojones'

Ever since he fled Venezuela last year, opposition senator Hernan Aleman has dreamed of toppling President Nicolas Maduro.But, like many of the exiles now holed up in next-door Colombia, he knew that those who talked of doing it...




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Covid 19: Kids develop mysterious illness possibly tied to coronavirus

Critically ill children have been ending up in intensive care units with shock-like symptoms in recent weeks, adding yet another mysterious layer to the coronavirus pandemic. New York health officials began issuing alerts on...




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Covid 19 coronavirus: Barack Obama labels Donald Trump's coronavirus response 'absolute chaotic disaster'

Former US President Barack Obama harshly criticised President Donald Trump's handling of the coronavirus pandemic as an "absolute chaotic disaster" during a conversation with ex-members of his administration, according to a recording...




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Covid 19 coronavirus: Dramatic arrest of a mother protesting in Sydney shocks bystanders

Dramatic footage has surfaced of a woman being pulled away from her screaming son by a number of police officers while protesting during the coronavirus pandemic.Two clips shared to Facebook depict the woman speaking with police...




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Coronavirus in Sweden: What life is like in a country without lockdown laws

Unlike most images of public spaces around Australia and the rest of the world, life in Sweden paints a much different picture.In lieu of a strict, national lockdown, the Scandinavian country has asked its citizens to self-police...




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Covid 19 coronavirus: Anti-lockdown protesters clash with police in Melbourne

Dozens of anti-lockdown protesters swarmed the steps of Victoria's Parliament House today with several people being arrested.More than 200 people flouted social distancing restrictions to furiously demand an end to the coronavirus...




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Start Of WGA Contract Talks With AMPTP Delayed Until May 18

The WGA and the AMPTP have delayed the start of their contract negotiations by a week because of scheduling issues. The talks for a new film and TV deal, which had been set to start next week, will now begin on May 18. The AMPTP is also in the midst of negotiating a new contract […]




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Coronavirus In L.A. County: 44 More Deaths And 1,011 New Cases Confirmed

The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health confirmed 44 additional deaths related to COVID-19 and 1,011 new cases in the county on Saturday. These latest figures bring the coronavirus toll to 31,197 cases and 1,512 fatalities, according to the health department website. The numbers were released as hiking trails and parks reopened today, although […]




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Obama Calls Trump Administration’s Response To Coronavirus “An Absolute Chaotic Disaster”

Former President Barack Obama has sharply criticized President Donald Trump’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic, describing the administration’s response as “an absolute chaotic disaster” during a call with fellow Democrats, according to a recording obtained by Yahoo News. The blistering comments came during a Friday call with the Obama Alumni Association, which is made up […]




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BET Mourns Death Of Andre Harrell As Production Of Network’s Uptown Records Mini Is Delayed By COVID-19

As the music world today is reeling from the news of Andre Harrell’s death at the age of 59, his colleagues and friends are celebrating the career of the Uptown Records founder. Harrell’s milestone career and personal story also are the subject of Uptown, a three-part original scripted miniseries, which was greenlighted by BET Networks […]




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Dr. Anthony Fauci Goes Into “Modified Quarantine”

Dr. Anthony Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and undisputed media star of the COVID-19 White House press briefings, is going into “modified quarantine” after making a “low risk” contact with an White House staffer who tested positive for the novel coronavirus. The member of the White House’s coronavirus […]




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Tina Fey Returns To ‘Weekend Update’ As Martin Short, Josh Gad & Danny Trejo Join ‘SNL’ Season Finale

Tina Fey returned to Saturday Night Live to lament the quarantine and dream about Governor Cuomo’s alleged nipple ring. The SNL alum and 30 Rock creator joined Michael Che on her old post on Weekend Update, where she famously appeared alongside Jimmy Fallon and Amy Poehler between 2000 and 2006. She joked about Zoom backgrounds, […]




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How To Watch Byron Allen’s Star-Studded ‘Feeding America Comedy Festival’

Some of the biggest names in comedy are coming together tonight on NBC for a Byron Allen-driven special to raise money for COVID-19 relief. The two-hour broadcast titled the “Feeding America Comedy Festival” will be co-hosted by Allen, Tiffany Haddish, Billy Crystal, and Kenan Thompson. The special will feature pre-recorded comedy segments from Kevin Hart, […]




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Tisca Chopra: I will never be a morning person




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Ayushmann ready with song tribute for all moms on Mother's Day




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This Mother’s Day meet your favourite mother-child duos on &TV!




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Nora Fatehi: Insomnia be creeping on me every time I try to sleep