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Indian industry welcomes UK Finance Minister Rishi Sunak’s coronavirus action plan The Indian industry in the UK has welcomed the “unprecedented” rescue package unveiled by Britain’s Indian-origin Finance Minister Rishi Sunak to help businesses in Britain combat the impact of the coronavirus pandemic. Sunak on Tuesday announced a whopping 330-billion pounds worth of rescue measures in the House of Commons, including easier to access loan facilities, liquidity assistance for businesses through the ongoing crisis period and a 12-month business rates holiday for the retail and hospitality sector. “This unprecedented support package is very welcome. The Chancellor has extended a third...

Bajaj Auto board approves reappointment of Rajiv Bajaj as MD & CEO Bajaj Auto on Wednesday said its board has approved the re-appointment of Rajiv Bajaj as Managing Director and CEO of the company. The approval was given in board meeting held on Tuesday. “Rajiv Bajaj, Managing Director and CEO of the company, whose five-year term expires on March 31, 2020, has been re-appointed for a further period of five years with effect from April 1, 2020,” the company said in a filing to BSE. However, the re-appointment of subject to approval of the shareholders of the company at the...

This is not the usual buy-on-dips market: Stephen Roach There is a carnage across financial markets, not just on Wall Street. There is a carnage in crude market, precious metal prices have also corrected, emerging markets are in downturn – the wealth erosion now runs into trillions of dollars. What is your view of the world? Do you think what has become bad to horrible could become nightmarish?The virus turning into a pandemic is a nightmare already, and the global economy is in an extraordinarily precarious place right now. There is widespread contraction of global economic activity. The question is...

HSBC appoints Noel Quinn permanent chief executive HSBC has appointed Noel Quinn as its permanent chief executive, drawing a line under a seven-month search to find a new leader for Europe’s largest bank.  Mr Quinn was appointed interim chief executive of the Asia-focused lender in August when his predecessor, John Flint, was ousted after just 18 months in the role because he had lost the confidence of the board of directors and chairman Mark Tucker. Mr Quinn, 57, is a company “lifer” who joined the lender in 1987 via a subsidiary of Midland Bank, which was subsequently taken over by HSBC....

Bong Joon Ho’s Oscar-winning film Parasite starts streaming from March 27 on OTT South Korean filmmaker Bong Joon Ho’s best picture Oscar winner Parasite will be available to Indian audiences from March 27 on Amazon Prime Video. In a first-of-its-kind effort, Parasite will also be available with Hindi dubbing on the Prime Video India service. Directed and co-written by Bong, the film follows the lives of a poor family, the Kims as they con their way into becoming the servants of a rich family, the Parks. But their easy life gets complicated when their deception is on the verge of...

No Pakistan batsman can play for teams like Australia, England, India: Javed Miandad Former Pakistan captain Javed Miandad tore into the Pakistan Cricket Board for giving a long rope to ‘non-performing’ players, saying that no player from the current Pakistan side can find a place in teams like Australia, England, South Africa, New Zealand, and India. “I want to ask them is there anyone from Pakistan who can replace players in teams like Australia, England, South Africa, New Zealand, and India? “None of our batsmen can play in these teams. We have bowlers but none in the batting line-up. “This...

Blaise Matuidi is second Juventus player to test positive for coronavirus Juventus and France midfielder Blaise Matuidi has tested positive for the coronavirus, the Turin-based Serie A club said in a statement on Tuesday. Juve said Matuidi, a World Cup winner with France in 2018, was in self-isolation at home and not showing any symptoms. He is the second player at the club, one of the biggest in Europe, to test positive after Daniele Rugani last week. The Juventus statement read: “Blaise Matuidi has undergone medical tests that have revealed his positivity to the Coronavirus-COVID-19. “The player, as of Wednesday 11 March, has been in...

Sanjay Bangar approached for Test batting consultant’s position by Bangladesh Cricket Board The Bangladesh Cricket Board has approached former India batting coach Sanjay Bangar to become the national team’s consultant in red-ball cricket. A BCB official told PTI that Bangar was approached for the Test batting consultant’s role but there has not been any clear response from him. “He has been offered but we are not sure. We are hearing that he could also be occupied elsewhere,” the official said. Former South Africa international Neil McKenzie is currently working with the Bangladesh batsmen in the shorter formats. Bangar was with...

Emilia Clarke Doesn’t Like to Date Actors, Confesses She is ‘Single Right Now’ Actress Emilia Clarke doesn’t like to date other actors as she feels successful actor relationships are “few and far between”. She said: “I am single right now … Dating in this industry is interesting. I have a lot of funny anecdotes, a lot of stuff I can say at a fun dinner. I was (dating actors) but I’m not now. I mean, I wouldn’t say I’ve completely sworn off them, but I do think actor relationships that are successful are few and far between, and you have...

‘Game of Thrones’ Actor Kristofer Hivju Tests Positive for Coronavirus Game of Thrones and The Fate of the Furious actor Kristofer Hivju has revealed that he has tested positive for the novel coronavirus. Hivju is most famous for playing Tormund Giantsbane on the HBO series GoT. Hivju, a Norwegian actor, said he and his family are self-isolating upon hearing the news. Hivju said he is currently in Norway. “We are in good health – I only have mild symptoms of a cold,” he wrote. “There are people at higher risk for who this virus might be a devastating diagnosis, so...