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IT services companies to suspend hiring this year: Mohandas Pai India’s information technology services industry would see hiring freeze this year and senior level staff taking a 20-25 per cent salary cut due to the adverse impact of the coronavirus pandemic, says IT industry veteran T V Mohandas Pai. The former Chief Financial Officer of IT services major, Infosys Ltd, said the IT industry has done a “fabulous, unbelievable and remarkable” job in transitioning more than 90 per cent of its employees to work from home. It has achieved this task by setting up infrastructure at home, taking permission from...

Urgent need for measures to prevent economy from falling into slumber: Sajjan Jindal NEW DELHI: The lockdown has had a positive effect in containing the virus. But it’s imperative to also move focus on economic wellbeing, Sajjan Jindal, Chairman, JSW Group has said commenting on the Covid-19 outbreak & its impact on the Indian economy. “We need to rise now to ensure that the economy does not fall into a slumber that will take huge efforts to awaken,” Jindal said in a statement issued on Tuesday. “The virus while controlled will be a threat till we find a vaccine. However,...

Pakistan’s Sana Mir announces retirement from international cricket Three months after her snub from Pakistan’s World T20 squad, former skipper Sana Mir, on Saturday, announced her retirement from international cricket. Mir, whose last appearance for Pakistan came in an ODI against Bangladesh in November 2019, stated that she felt it was the right time for her to ‘move on’ and expressed her gratitude for having gotten the opportunity to be a part of the beautiful game of cricket for over 14 years. “Last few months have provided me with an opportunity to contemplate. I feel it is the right time for...

Say no to domestic violence: Shikhar Dhawan amid lockdown India opener Shikhar Dhawan and wife Ayesha on Monday put out a video on social media to send an important message regarding domestic violence. With people staying at home amid coronavirus lockdown, reports of domestic violence have also come out a lot more in recent times. Dhawan, who is currently spending time with his family during the lockdown period, urged people to put an end to this social evil by choosing the right partner for themselves. His Twitter post read: “While I enjoy my time at home with my loving family,...

Umar Akmal banned for 3 years from all forms by PCB Disciplinary Panel on corruption charges Controversial cricketer Umar Akmal has been banned from all forms of cricket for a period of 3 years on corruption charges by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Disciplinary Panel. The PCB Anti-Corruption officials had charged Umar with in two separate cases of not reporting an approach made to him to spot fix matches in the Pakistan Super League 5. Umar, who was provisionally suspended on Feb 20 and barred from playing in the Pakistan Super League for his franchise Quetta Gladiators, has been charged...

Kate Winslet reveals her interaction with an Indian fan of Titanic Titanic (1997) is one of the most iconic films probably in the history of cinema. The film left everyone moist-eyed and showed the extent that can love push someone to sacrifice. The film’s leading lady Kate Winslet, who won hearts with her onscreen chemistry with Leonardo Di Caprio in the film, recently made a revelation that left many fans surprised. During an interview with a leading daily, the actress got nostalgic and remembered that during a trip to the Himalayas in India post the film, an old Indian man...

Kriti Sanon says star kids get their second movies before first one is out: ‘It took me 3 years to get my Vogue cover’ Actor Kriti Sanon is grateful for all the success she has enjoyed in Bollywood so far. However, she also acknowledges that the journey would have been much easier if she had been the child of a star. Talking to Pinkvilla in an interview, Kriti talked about all the self doubt she went through in the early days of her career. “When you don’t come from a film family, you don’t get your second film before your first film releases. Which...

Over one million IT employees will continue to work from home post-lockdown: Kris Gopalakrishnan More than one million information technology employees are expected to continue to work from home even after the coronavirus-inflicted lockdown situation returns to normalcy, says IT industry veteran Senapathy (Kris) Gopalakrishnan. The former President of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) said the IT services industry has actually managed to transition people to work from home during the ‘stay-at-home’ period. “And that was not a trivial task. A large number of people who have to be supported with technology infrastructure to work from home; business processes will...

Donald Trump might appoint Indian-American Seema Verma as new health secretary NEW YORK : US President Donald Trump may replace Health and Human Services secretary Alex Azar and Seema Verma, the head of government health insurance programmes, is one of those under consideration to succeed him, according to media reports. Quoting anonymous White House sources, several media outlets reported on Saturday that top White House officials were discussing removing Azar and that Verma and Deborah Birx, the coordinator of the White House Coronavirus Task Force were the leading candidates to replace him. If Verma does get the job, she will be...

New Zealand has won a battle against virus transmission: PM Jacinda Ardern WELLINGTON: Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern on Monday claimedNew Zealand had scored a significant victory against the spread of thecoronavirus, as the country began a phased exit from lockdown. “There is no widespread, undetected community transmission in NewZealand,” Ardern declared. “We have won that battle.” After nearly five weeks at the maximum Level Four restrictions — with only essential services operating — the country will move to Level Three late on Monday. That will allow some businesses, takeaway food outlets and schools to reopen. But Ardern warned there was...