Two decades after the world's first major computer virus, an author finds the perpetrator in Manila.

The financial independence of professional sportspersons has never been more important than during this Coronavirus-caused lockdown period. And given their limited sources of income due to no sporting activity, it's unfair if these athletes are refused their due.

Maharashtra's long distance-running trio of Jyoti Gawate, Srinu Bugatha and Kalidas Hirave emerged champions at the Dailyworld Marathon in Chandigarh on March 31 last year but are yet to receive their monetary rewards.

Women's full marathon winner Gawate (who clocked 2:50:02) and men's full marathon champion Bugatha (2:25:55) were both entitled to cash awards of R2 lakh each, while half marathon winner Hirave's (1:06:02) prize money was R1,25,000. Among the three, only Bugatha has received a part payment so far.

"I have been calling the organisers several times since last year for my prize money. I have spoken to different people each time. Initially, a person called HS Gujral gave me assurances. Then, one Ravi Sharma spoke to me, followed by some PC Kushwaha and now the last person I spoke to a few days ago is one Manish Tiwary. But my money has still not come. An amount of Rs 2 lakh is huge for an athlete like me who is jobless. I have won over 15 marathons till date and each time, I have received my prize money within 45 days," Gawate, 33, who lives in Parbhani, told mid-day on Tuesday.

Army Sports Institute (Pune) athlete Bugatha, who is currently at home in Vizianagaram, Andhra Pradesh due to the lockdown, said the organisers are not even answering his calls. "Of the R2 lakh, I received only R50,000 and that too just a month back after a lot of follow ups. Now, they're not even responding to my phone calls. I requested them many times, pleading that it's my hard-earned prize money but to no avail," said Bugatha, 27, claiming that the Ethiopian and Kenyan runners received their prize cheques immediately.

The trio are now contemplating legal action. "We have only been getting false assurances from the organisers that they will deposit our money soon. We have made dozens of calls to them. Now, Srinu, Jyoti and myself are thinking of sending them a legal notice," said Hirave, 27, from his home in Wai, Satara. Dailyworld's Editor-in-chief Tiwary told mid-day that the cash awards will be handed over soon. "This event was done in association with the Punjab government. We have received a part payment from them and are awaiting the balance which has caused this delay. Still, out of 90 winners in all categories, we have paid 87 athletes. We will check our records and pay the others immediately. These athletes are our stars and it's our responsibility to take care of them," said Tiwary.

Catch up on all the latest sports news and updates here. Also download the new mid-day Android and iOS apps to get latest updates.

Mid-Day is now on Telegram. Click here to join our channel (@middayinfomedialtd) and stay updated with the latest news

Hospital patient's hands contain dangerous 'superbugs' that can trigger a wide range of hospital-related infections, reports a new study. For decades,

Resistance proportions for eight antibiotic-bacterium pairs in Poland have increased in recent years, from 22% in 2005 to 25% in 2015, and could go up to 26% by 2030, should current trends in antibiotic consumption, population and economic growth continue into the future. Resistance proportions in Poland were higher than the OECD average in 2015 (17%).

Resistance proportions for eight antibiotic-bacterium pairs in the United States have increased in recent years, from 20% in 2005 to 23% in 2015, and could go up to 25% by 2030, should current trends in antibiotic consumption, population and economic growth continue into the future. Resistance proportions in the United States were higher than the OECD average in 2015 (17%).

Resistance proportions for eight antibiotic-bacterium pairs in Canada have been stable around 14% between 2005 and 2015, and are not predicted to increase by 2030, should current trends in antibiotic consumption, population and economic growth continue into the future. Resistance proportions in Canada were lower than the OECD average in 2015 (17%).

Resistance proportions for eight antibiotic-bacterium pairs in the Netherlands have slightly increased in recent years, from 3% in 2005 to 5% in 2015, and could go up to 6% by 2030, should current trends in antibiotic consumption, population and economic growth continue into the future. Resistance proportions in the Netherlands were markedly lower than the OECD average in 2015.

Resistentie onder acht antibiotica-bacterie paren is licht gestegen in de laatste jaren, van 3% in 2005 naar 5% in 2015. Dit kan toenemen tot 6% in 2030 als de huidige trends in antibioticaconsumptie, bevolkingsomvang en economische groei doorzetten. De resistentie prevalentie in Nederland is aanmerkelijk lager dan het OESO gemiddelde in 2015 (17%).

Resistance proportions for eight antibiotic-bacterium pairs in Australia have increased in recent years, from 7% in 2005 to 10% in 2015, and could go up to 12% by 2030, should current trends in antibiotic consumption, population and economic growth continue into the future. Resistance proportions in Australia were lower than the OECD average in 2015 (17%).

Court hears claim in lawsuit that has laid bare feud over media, retail and hospitality empire

The world needs to act now to avert the threat from antimicrobial resistance

Another week in quarantine. As the world adjusts to working from home under mandatory stay-at-home orders, hackers are keeping busy. Microsoft said this week that coronavirus-related attacks are on the rise but still make up just a fraction of the overall malicious activity. Cybersecurity companies seem to be faring mostly well — in part thanks […]

Apple will patch a newly discovered iPhone vulnerability that security researchers say hackers have already used to steal data from their victims’ devices. News of the vulnerability dropped Wednesday by security firm ZecOps. Zuk Avraham, the company’s chief executive, said the firm found the bug last year during a routine investigation. At least six organizations […]

Apple plans to fix an iPhone email security bug, Magic Leap cuts 1,000 staffers and Google is requiring all advertisers to identify themselves. Here’s your Daily Crunch for April 23, 2020. 1. A new iPhone email security bug may let hackers steal private data According to security firm ZecOps, the bug is in the iPhone’s […]

There are some startups that behave like sprinters, and others that run a marathon. I came across Instabug when I was in Cairo in 2013. Born during the chaotic era of the Arab Spring, this plucky startup managed to make it to TechCrunch Disrupt, then Y Combinator in 2016, then a $1.7 million in seed […]

We’ve been brought up to believe our faces should be squeaky clean, but research shows our obsession with anti-bacterial soaps could be damaging our health.

Tiny droplets of water make the bugs take on an altogether different look - looking inflated by the covering of liquid.

The news will bring relief to health officials in Zika-infected Miami after fears the insects had grown a resistance to insecticide.

The medic treated a 'small number' of patients at Worthing Hospital in West Sussex (pictured) on February 4 and 5 before they became unwell and 'self-isolated'.

Pennsylvania State Police are investigating after the release of bed bugs in a Walmart store on Thursday and Friday. A container was found in a jacket pocket and on the men's department floor.

Dr Sam Wang, a polling expert who said he would eat a bug if Donald Trump won more than 240 electoral votes during Tuesday's election has made good on that promise on Saturday.

Mia Wilson, 23, was on a First Bus in Leeds when she says a row broke out between a mother and the bus driver about a pram occupied by a cat (circled) taking up the remaining pushchair space.

WARNING GRAPHIC CONTENT: Donna Corden, 47, a mother-of-three from Leeds, had half of her face removed after developing a deadly infection after hitting her head on the oven.

The 34-year-old reality star and entrepreneur revealed daughter Marlie-Mae caught a viral bug earlier this week.

Thousands of Republican Nation Convention delegates have been warned to wash their hands before eating after party staff were hit by norovirus which causes vomiting and diarrhea.

The unusual appearance of the treehopper insect from Nicaragua - Kaikaia gaga - brings to mind the outlandish costumes worn by the pop star Lady Gaga.

Travis Scott celebrated his birthday in style on Thursday by getting behind the wheel of a brand new Bugati.

While many of us may use retail therapy during these stressful and uncertain times, Cristiano Ronaldo is no different as he has reportedly splashed out £8.5million on a limited edition Bugatti.

Fed-up voters used the Twitter hashtag #bahhumbug to moan about the political clash coming in midst of Christmas parties and school nativity plays.

It’s no slouch. On Germany’s unrestricted motorways, it’ll cruise happily and legally top-down in the ‘slow’ lane at 100 mph.

Bosses at Kahn Automobiles are offering a £20,000 reward for help catching a hooded vandal who smashed a Bugatti Veyron's windscreen with an iron bar at the dealership in Leeds.

While technical details are sparse, the French car manufacturer claims it will be the 'world's most powerful, fastest, most luxurious and most exclusive production super sports car.'

Floyd Mayweather Jnr was in typically lavish form as he flexed his muscles behind the wheels of his newly-purchased THIRD Bugatti Veyron on Sunday night.

The 37-year-old British TV personality shocked The Masked Singer panelists while revealing she was Ladybug on Wednesday's episode featuring guest Triumph, The Insult Comic Dog.

Andrew Lane, 65, from Essex contracted necrotising fasciitis during surgery in 2013, but speaking to Take a Break magazine, his wife insists their relationship has not suffered.

The bug affects users who attempted to back up their photos between November 21 and the 25 last year and caused 'some videos in Google Photos [to be] incorrectly exported to unrelated users' archives.'