Exclusive-India's Shilpa Medicare can make 100-200 million doses of COVID-19 shot, says executive

BENGALURU (Reuters) – Indian drugmaker Shilpa Medicare Ltd has the production capacity to make 100-200 million doses of a recombinant vaccine for COVID-19, a company executive told Reuters on Wednesday.

The company’s shares jumped as much as 9.2% on India’s National Stock Exchange following the news.

Oxford jabs for under-50s should be paused until clots investigated, expert says

China reports African swine fever outbreak in Xinjiang

SHANGHAI (Reuters) – China reported an outbreak of African swine fever in Xinjiang region, the agriculture ministry said on Monday.

The outbreak occurred on a farm of Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps with 599 pigs. Thirty-three pigs were infected and six died, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs said in a statement. It added that the remaining live pigs in the affected area were culled.

Samsung Electronics Issues Q1 Guidance – Quick Facts

Samsung Electronics (SMSN.L,SSNNF.OB,SSNLF.OB) said, based on K-IFRS, for the first quarter of 2021, the company expects: consolidated operating profit of approximately 9.3 trillion Korean won; and consolidated sales of approximately 65 trillion Korean won. The company noted that the guidance figures represent the median of the estimate ranges: operating profit: 9.2 to 9.4 trillion Korean won; and sales: 64 to 66 trillion Korean won. Korean disclosure regulations do not allow earnings estimates to be offered as a range.

For the first quarter of previous year, the company’s operating profit was 6.45 trillion won, and sales were 55.33 trillion won.

Thousands of tourists ‘let into UK every day’ despite ban on foreign holidays

Queen 'told Meghan she could continue acting instead of being full-time royal'

U.S. SEC charges actor with operating $690 million Ponzi scheme

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission said on Tuesday it had charged actor Zachary Horwitz with operating a $690 million Ponzi scheme.

Impax Environmental Markets FY Return Before Tax Declines On Revenue Basis

Impax Environmental Markets plc (IEM.L) reported return on ordinary activities before tax of 242.34 million pounds for the year ended 31 December 2020 compared to 141.66 million pounds, last year. Return per ordinary share increased to 100.46 pence from 74.26 pence. On a revenue basis, return on ordinary activities before tax declined to 6.29 million pounds from 8.19 million pounds, while return per ordinary share was 2.22 pence compared to 3.63 pence.

Fiscal year income was 9.32 million pounds compared to 10.56 million pounds, last year.

Croda To Buy French Fine Fragrance Business Parfex For €45 Mln – Quick Facts

Croda International Plc (CRDA.L) announced Wednesday that its fragrances and flavours subsidiary, Iberchem, has agreed to acquire Parfex S.A., a French fine fragrance business, for a total enterprise value of 45 million euros.

The transaction is subject to customary pre closing conditions and is expected to close by the end of the second quarter of 2021.

Parfex, established in 1985, creates fragrances principally for premium personal care and fine perfumery markets. The company, which employs 75 people, generated 3.6 million euros EBITDA in 2020, and now sells its fragrances in more than 50 countries worldwide.

Parfex is 82% owned by its founders with the remaining free float of shares listed on the Euronext Access market.

Under the deal, Croda has agreed to acquire 93% of Parfex’s outstanding shares, comprising the founding shareholders and certain minority investors. Croda expects to acquire 100% of the total outstanding share capital, subject to a potential tender offer and subsequent de-listing.

Steve Foots, Croda Chief Executive Officer, said, “We believe that transitioning to more natural raw materials is a potential differentiator in the fragrance market. Parfex will play an important role in Iberchem’s plans to increase its sustainable fragrance offerings and further enhances our position in the creation of higher-value fine fragrances.”

Opinion | Lessons From Lynchings

There’s a through-line from a noose on the neck to a knee on the neck.

By Charles M. Blow

Opinion Columnist

Summer holidays abroad could be saved with cheaper Covid tests

Nike Sues Lil Nas X’s Satan Shoes For Trademark Infringement

Nike Inc. filed a trademark infringement lawsuit against MSCHF Product Studio Inc. for its Satan Shoes, which are customized Nike sneakers with satanic themes.

MSCHF, a small marketing company, released the sneakers in collaboration with singer Lil Nas X to promote his new song.

The sportswear giant said the Satan Shoes were produced without its approval or authorization, and that it is no way connected with the project. Nike also said it has no relationship with Lil Nas X or MSCHF.

The red-and-black Satan Shoes had faced social-media criticism for its satanic themes. The sneakers have a red liquid in the sole that its maker claimed to have included a drop of blood. The shoes also has Bible passage Luke 10:18 stitched on the side and a bronze pentagram on the laces.

Brooklyn-based MSCHF said it made 666 pairs, which were sold out quickly for $1,018 a piece.

In its lawsuit, Nike noted that the social media users have threatened to boycott the company over the Satan shoes. It asked the court to permanently stop MSCHF from fulfilling the orders for the shoes.

Nike said, “MSCHF and its unauthorized Satan Shoes are likely to cause confusion and dilution and create an erroneous association between MSCHF’s products and Nike. In the short time since the announcement of the Satan Shoes, Nike has suffered significant harm to its goodwill, including among consumers who believe that Nike is endorsing satanism.”

MSCHF recently released a pair of customized Nike sneakers that it called “the Jesus shoes”, which were said to be filled with holy water.