May 2020

Vaccine to prevent Covid-19 will take long time to be ready: Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw A safe Vaccine to prevent COVID-19 could take a very long time to be ready, so there is a need to deal with the pandemic for next few years and invest more in healthcare, Biocon Executive Chairperson Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw said on Saturday. She was speaking in a webinar on ‘Pharma and Healthcare’s New Normal: Engaging With Customers in Uncertain Times; Business Model Post-COVID-19’, organised by CorpGini. “…We believe that it will take a very long time before you can actually have a safe vaccine that can be accessible to...

Omi Vaidya on life in lockdown in Washington DC: This country is run by capitalism, people in power more focused on money than lives Actor Omi Vaidya’s opening statement, talking to us from Washington, DC where he lives, is “I am okay. We are all alive!” Describing the situation there in the current Covid-19 pandemic, he says it’s not great. “It’s not a lockdown like in India, which it should be. It’s starting to open up here, because this country is run by capitalism, so people in power are a little bit more focused on making money, than lives sometimes....

Ajit Jogi, the original rebel, passes away at 74 NEW DELHI : Ajit Jogi – the first chief minister of Chhattisgarh, one of the most prominent leaders in the state and remembered for his rebellious public life – passed away at the age of 74 on Friday after prolonged illness in Raipur. He was one of the most prominent political leaders of the state who rebelled against Congress’ top leadership to form his own regional political outfit. Jogi began his political journey nearly 35 years ago when he joined the Congress party after quitting his job as Indian Administrative Service (IAS)...

Bejan Daruwalla, famous astrologer, dies at 89 Famous astrologer Bejan Daruwalla died at a private hospital in Ahmedabad on Friday evening, his family said. He was 89. His son Nastur Daruwalla, speaking to PTI, denied the speculation on social media that his father had contracted coronavirus. Daruwalla was suffering from only pneumonia, he said. The Apollo Hospital in the city confirmed that Daruwalla died during treatment, reported PTI. “Saddened by the demise of renowned Astrologer Shri Bejan Daruwalla. I pray for the departed soul. My condolences. Om Shanti….,” tweeted Gujarat chief minister Vijay Rupani. Source: Hindustan Times

Former Malaysian PM Mahathir and supporters removed from ruling party The former Malaysian prime minister Mahathir Mohamad and his son Mukhriz were removed from the ruling party on Thursday for apparently going against party constitution and insisting to sit with the opposition in the May 18 Parliament session instead of supporting the party led by Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin, reported Reuters. Mahathir, 94, had said he would seek to oust Muhyiddin from office for making a “backdoor arrangement” that brought back into power a graft-tainted party rejected by voters in an election in 2018. In a letter circulated widely on...

IIT-IIM alumnus S Gopalakrishnan appointed as additional secretary in PMO S Gopalakrishnan, a senior Tamil Nadu cadre IAS officer, has been appointed as additional secretary in the Prime Minister’s Office. Gopalakrishnan’s appointment was cleared by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday. The 1991 batch IAS officer is currently serving at the ministry of electronics where his responsibilities include issues related to e-governance, Internet of Things, artificial intelligence, emerging technologies, startups and innovation. Gopalakrishnan is an electrical engineering graduate from Indian Institute of Technology Madras and a postgraduate from the Indian Institute of...

JP Morgan’s Kalpana Morparia set to retire Kalpana Morparia (pictured), chairman of JP Morgan South Asia and South East Asia, plans to hang up her boots by early next year. Leo Puri, former chief executive officer (CEO) of UTI Mutual Fund, will replace her. The global banking major said in a statement Morparia, 72, had expressed her desire to retire, but agreed to stay until Q1 2021. She would oversee the smooth transition of her India, and South and South East Asia responsibilities, it said. Murali Maiya will become the new CEO for South and South East Asia, and will report to...

Anthony Fauci says coronavirus vaccine in 2020 viable Anthony Fauci, the U.S. government’s top infectious-disease expert, said there’s a “good chance” a vaccine may be deployable by November or December. Cases soared in Brazil, and police opened an investigation into Rio de Janeiro’s handling of the crisis, while Mexico had its deadliest day yet. The European Union will propose a fiscal package worth more than $800 billion, and Japan is planning new economic stimulus valued in excess of $1 trillion. The euro-area is faring worse than hoped, facing a recession as bad as the European Central Bank’s more pessimistic forecasts....

Huawei CFO Meng Wanzhou loses bid to end US extradition fight in Canada Huawei Technologies Co. Chief Financial Officer Meng Wanzhou failed to persuade a Canadian judge to end extradition proceedings, keeping her under house arrest in Vancouver as the fight against U.S. efforts to prosecute her moves forward. The ruling marks an early victory for U.S. authorities but is likely to further strain relations between Canada and China. On Tuesday, China — Canada’s second-biggest trading partner — called for Meng’s immediate release “to avoid continuous damage of China-Canada relations.” Two Canadians, detained within days of Meng’s arrest in December...

Karnataka to name new flyover after Savarkar, opposition parties rage The decision of the B S Yediyurappa-led BJP government in Karnataka to name a new flyover in Yelhanka, Bangalore in honour of V D Savarkar has been opposed by the two chief opposition parties in the state– Congress and Janata Dal (Secular). The newly-built flyover will be inaugurated by Chief Minister Yediyurappa on Thursday, which is the 137th birth anniversary of Veer Savarkar. Senior Congress leader and leader of opposition in the Assembly, Siddaramaiah questioned the state government’s move to name the flyover in honour of Savarkar saying, “This is...