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Eco/Invest/Demography

White House considering intellectual property waiver for COVID-19 vaccines

Critics say waiving the WTO’s agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property could reduce the safety of vaccines, and that setting up production in new places would sap resources needed to boost production in existing locations.
The United States and several other countries have thus far blocked negotiations at the World Trade Organization (WTO) about a proposal led by India and South Africa that would waive the IP rights of pharmaceutical companies to allow developing countries to produce COVID-19 vaccines.

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India politicians promise to pay women for housework

Out of five states that count votes on Sunday, three are likely to implement the stipends. Both the ruling coalition and the opposition contenders down south in Tamil Nadu and Kerala have promised monthly income support to homemakers. That includes the country’s main opposition Congress party, which has pledged 2,000 rupees ($27) for homemakers each month in both the northeastern state of Assam and Kerala.

“Monthly income support by state governments — if implemented effectively — will put money in the hands of those who have been cash-strapped during the pandemic and address their unmet consumption needs,” she said. “This can also contribute towards creating demand in the economy as a whole.”

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India’s LIC emerges as the 3rd strongest and 10th most valuable global insurance brand in 2021

According to the latest report released by Brand Finance the total value of the world’s top 100 most valuable insurance brands has declined by 6 per cent, decreasing from $462.4 billion in 2020 to $433.0 billion in 2021

12 Chinese brands in ranking account for 30% of total brand value as brands leverage significant volume premium of Chinese market
US brands buck negative sector trends – 26 brands featured record 14% cumulative brand value growth year-on-year

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Maha lockdown to be extended by 15 days beyond Apr 30: Tope

In view of the alarming rise in the COVID-19 cases, the Maharashtra government on April 4 announced a weekend lockdown and restrictions on the movement of people in the night during the weekdays till April 30.

The government had also clamped other restrictions like the closure of private offices, theatres and salons to curb the unprecedented surge in the cases.

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India’s GDP to grow at 11% this fiscal, surge in COVID cases may put economic recovery at risk: ADB

For FY2022, India’s GDP is expected to expand at 7 per cent, it added.
China’s gross domestic product (GDP) is forecast to expand 8.1 per cent in 2021 and 5.5 per cent in 2022. East Asia’s GDP is expected to grow 7.4 per cent in 2021 and 5.1 per cent in 2022, it said.

Further, it said the gross domestic product (GDP) of South Asia is expected to rebound to 9.5 per cent this year, following a contraction of 6 per cent in 2020, before moderating to 6.6 per cent next year (2022), it said.

ADB said the economic growth in developing Asia is set to rebound to 7.3 per cent this year, supported by a healthy global recovery and an early progress on COVID-19 vaccines. The projected resurgence follows a 0.2 per cent contraction last year.

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Russia fines Apple $12 mln for alleged app market abuse

The Federal Antimonopoly Service (FAS) said on Tuesday that U.S. tech giant Apple’s distribution of apps through its iOS operating system gave its own products a competitive advantage.Facebook, TikTok and Alphabet’s Google have also come under fire. The FAS said in a statement it had imposed a turnover fine on Apple of 906.3 million roubles ($12.1 million) for the alleged violation of Russian anti-monopoly legislation.

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