Sohini Das And Aneesh Phadnis

Stories by Sohini Das And Aneesh Phadnis

Vodafone Idea reworking business plans

Vodafone Idea reworking business plans

Rediff.com   30 Sep 2021

Vodafone Idea (Vi) is working on a fresh business plan that could alter its funding requirements. Addressing shareholder queries at the company's annual general meeting (AGM) on Wednesday, Vi chairman Himanshu Kapania said the exact amount will be worked out upon submission of a new business plan. "The management is working on a new business plan and will come to the board with the funding requirements," Kapania told shareholders in his first AGM as chairman.

Bharat Biotech plans to supply 90 million Covaxin doses a month by Dec

Bharat Biotech plans to supply 90 million Covaxin doses a month by Dec

Rediff.com   30 Sep 2021

In September, Bharat Biotech aimed to supply 35 million doses, and take this up to 55 million by October. This is still less than what the Indian government expects from the company.

Mystery fever in wake of falling Covid cases raises alarm

Mystery fever in wake of falling Covid cases raises alarm

Rediff.com   20 Sep 2021

The sudden spike in cases of fever in India has claimed over 100 lives in five states, including UP, MP, Bihar, Haryana, and West Bengal. In UP, Firozabad and Mathura alone have reported 72 cases.

Explained: What USFDA full approval to Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine means

Explained: What USFDA full approval to Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine means

Rediff.com   17 Sep 2021

Pfizer can show the FDA approval to the Indian regulator and present a case that based on whatever data submitted, the US regulator has granted a full marketing nod, says Sohini Das.

Covid Vaccine: Syringe manufacturers are ramping up

Covid Vaccine: Syringe manufacturers are ramping up

Rediff.com   15 Sep 2021

The Centre is looking to procure around 1 billion syringes between September and December to support the COVID-19 vaccination drive.

Gennova's mRNA vaccine to come in powder form, stay stable at 2-8C

Gennova's mRNA vaccine to come in powder form, stay stable at 2-8C

Rediff.com   14 Sep 2021

Gennova has also got permission for phase-2 and 3 clinical trials for its lyophilised mRNA vaccine for injection from the subject expert committee advising the Central Drugs Standards Control Organisation, reports Sohini Das.

Govt developing multi-variant Covid-19 vaccine

Govt developing multi-variant Covid-19 vaccine

Rediff.com   14 Sep 2021

Government institutions and pharma industry are examining if a 'cocktail' approach to making a multi-variant Covid-19 vaccine works against multiple strains of the ever-mutating virus, reports Sohini Das.

2nd year running, brands take a backseat for Ganeshotsav amid curbs

2nd year running, brands take a backseat for Ganeshotsav amid curbs

Rediff.com   14 Sep 2021

It is Mumbai's favourite festival and is celebrated each year with fervour and frenzy. But when the city welcomes "Ganpati Bappa" this Friday, the celebrations will be low key. With a cap on the size of idols, ban on processions and restrictions on devotees visiting pandals, celebrations are toned down for the second year in a row. Festival budgets have shrunk and as a result, corporate sponsorships have dried out.

'Jet Airways' revival plan is discriminatory'

'Jet Airways' revival plan is discriminatory'

Rediff.com   3 Sep 2021

Challenging the "illegal" reduction in its claim by the erstwhile resolution professional (RP) in the Jet Airways revival plan, the Punjab National Bank (PNB) has moved the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) citing discrimination. The NCLAT on Thursday issued notices to RP Ashish Chhawchharia and the committee of creditors on PNB's plea to set aside the insolvency court's approval of the airline's revival plan. It has posted the matter for further hearing on September 21.

Focus on hospitals as India braces for Covid third wave

Focus on hospitals as India braces for Covid third wave

Rediff.com   1 Sep 2021

The health system is trying to ensure that it isn't caught by surprise -- the way it was last time. So, hectic preparations are on.

Pharma majors shift focus to inhalants, nasal spray for Covid

Pharma majors shift focus to inhalants, nasal spray for Covid

Rediff.com   30 Aug 2021

While Lupin is working on a Remdesivir powder for inhalation, Glenmark has tied up with a Canadian Biotech firm for nitric oxide nasal spray that reduces Sars-CoV-2 viral load and thus transmission.

Gennova's mRNA Covid vaccine gets nod for Phase 2-3 trials

Gennova's mRNA Covid vaccine gets nod for Phase 2-3 trials

Rediff.com   25 Aug 2021

If things go according to plan, the vaccine would be available in the market by the end of this year.

Why Air India is leaving passenger luggage behind at Delhi airport

Why Air India is leaving passenger luggage behind at Delhi airport

Rediff.com   23 Aug 2021

Air India is leaving behind some 50 bags at the Delhi airport as it flies to the US, reducing what it carries after the closure of Afghanistan's airspace increased flight time by at least 30 minutes. Air India flies the Boeing 777 and 787 aircraft to New York, Newark, Chicago, Washington and San Francisco.

Indian students hung out to dry

Indian students hung out to dry

Rediff.com   21 Aug 2021

With Canada, Australia extending restrictions, admission seekers are deferring their studies or looking elsewhere.

More bad news: Vodafone Idea may get notice for licence fee delay

More bad news: Vodafone Idea may get notice for licence fee delay

Rediff.com   20 Aug 2021

The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) is in the process of issuing a show-cause notice to Vodafone Idea (Vi) for delaying the payment of licence fee. Companies pay 8 per cent of their adjusted gross revenue as licence fee. This also includes a universal service obligation levy. The fee is collected from each of the 22 telecom circles in the country on a quarterly basis.

Novovax Covid vaccine likely to get nod in India ahead of US

Novovax Covid vaccine likely to get nod in India ahead of US

Rediff.com   18 Aug 2021

Adar Poonawalla said he was hopeful that Covovax, the Novavax vaccine made by SII, will be launched around October this year for adults and for children by the first quarter of next year, depending on DCGI approvals.

Vi lost 12.4 mn subscribers in Q1, most since March '20

Vi lost 12.4 mn subscribers in Q1, most since March '20

Rediff.com   16 Aug 2021

Vodafone Idea (Vi) lost 12.4 million subscribers in the first quarter of FY22, the most since the fourth quarter of FY20, as the second wave of Covid hurt its operational and financial performance. Vi had managed to trim subscriber losses in the third and fourth quarters of FY21. However, it lost 12.4 million subscribers and its customer base shrunk to 255.4 million in the first quarter of FY22. Sequential fall in 4G users was modest, indicating that most of the loss was in the low-margin 2G segment.

Despite nod foreign Covid vaccines likely to be delayed over indemnity clause

Despite nod foreign Covid vaccines likely to be delayed over indemnity clause

Rediff.com   11 Aug 2021

India is not keen to 'bow down' to demands related to indemnity against legal liabilities in case any vaccine recipient develops severe adverse reactions post inoculation.

Minimum one-way Delhi-London airfare zooms over Rs 1 lakh

Minimum one-way Delhi-London airfare zooms over Rs 1 lakh

Rediff.com   9 Aug 2021

Minimum one-way air fares between Delhi and London are priced upwards of Rs one lakh in August due to limited number of seats, data collected by Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) shows. The United Kingdom has included India in the amber list and the change came into effect from Sunday. With this, passengers from India needn't undergo institutional quarantine and can self-isolate at home for 10 days.

Meeting 1.35 bn vax dose target in Aug-Dec a long haul

Meeting 1.35 bn vax dose target in Aug-Dec a long haul

Rediff.com   6 Aug 2021

While Covishield supplies would meet the target of 500 mn doses between August and December, it looks like Covaxin would miss the target of 400 mn unless the partner sites of Bharat Biotech ramp up very rapidly, reports Sohini Das.