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Climate change is the biggest human health risk, says Africa’s disease boss
Jean Kaseya, director general of the Africa Centres for Disease...
UBS sees shift in new billionaires away from entrepreneurs to inherited wealth
"This is a theme we expect to see more of over the next 20 years,...
WHO says COVID-19 pandemic is ‘one big wave’, not seasonal
“People are still thinking about seasons. What we all need to get our heads around is this is a new virus and…this one is behaving differently,” Margaret Harris told a virtual briefing in Geneva, urging vigilance in applying measures to slow transmission that is spreading via mass gatherings
Moderna,Pfizer start decisive COVID-19 vaccine trials,eye year-end launches
Moderna could have tens of millions of doses ready when and if the vaccine is deemed safe and effective, Collins told reporters on a call.
Pfizer said that if the trial was successful, it could seek regulatory approval as soon as October and supply vaccines for 50 million patients, at two doses each, by the end of the year.
Munich Re Automation Solutions announces partnership with new Asia-Pacific clients
By utilising Munich Re’s underwriting rules and expertise through ALLFINANZ’s analytics and reporting capabilities, HLA and HLM Takaful will be able to streamline their current underwriting processes and be more cost effective
InsurTech fundraising rebounds as over $1.5 billion invested in Q2 2020; four more ‘mega-rounds’ completed
At 74, deal count was down 23% from Q1, but many individual rounds were larger as investors continued to turn away from Seed and Angel deals in favour of support for more mature ventures. P&C sector investments predominated, accounting for 68% of funding, but the share of L&H sector investments was up 17 points to 32%, as the pandemic crisis continues to compound the value of technology, and particularly telehealth, in the segment. Also notable was the initial public offering of Lemonade and the acquisition of two incumbent insurance companies by InsurTechs, Hippo and Buckle
S.Africa’s Santam to pay $60 mln as BI claims ti virus-hit firms within months:CEO
Regulator the Financial Services Conduct Authority (FSCA) said last week that the main South African insurers involved would offer clients relief payments to help see them through, though some businesses or their law firms raised concerns including about how long it would take to pay out the money.
Germany prepares “action plan” to reform banks, insurers and payment companies post Wirecard scandal
Financial watchdog BaFin, which reports to Scholz’s ministry, was sued by Wirecard investors who say the regulator turned a blind eye to widespread evidence of an accounting scandal.
Guy Carpenter appoints MD of global risk solutions
Piatti will be responsible for originating and driving opportunities to better serve our clients in the customized reinsurance space across Europe and MENA, including structured reinsurance treaties and capital management/solvency-related transactions. As clients look to further optimize their reinsurance programs, Guy Carpenter is continuing to enhance its ability to create such customized products
Prudential partners PAI Health to measure physical activity on digital health app,Pulse
PAI Health services will be available to Pulse users across 11 markets in Asia.
Nic Nicandrou, chief executive of Prudential Corporation Asia, said, “It has never been a more important time than now to help people build health resilience and boost immunity by adopting a more active lifestyle. Through Pulse, we are committed to providing leading technology, content and services to help people live healthier lives. We are excited to add PAI Health’s programme to our platform and provide new actionable heart health insights to users, so we can help them live healthy and well, for longer.”
Global airlines less hopeful on COVID-19 recovery
“The second half of this year will see a slower recovery than we’d hoped,” IATA Chief Economist Brian Pearce said. June passenger numbers were down 86.5% year-on-year, the organisation said, after a 91% contraction in May.
Recovery prospects are weakened by the spread of COVID-19 in the United States and developing countries together representing 40% of global air travel, IATA said.
Toyko,Sydney aim to lure edgy Hong Kong financial firms, but Singapore a top draw
Institutions have not made any major moves from Hong Kong as yet, but they are being circumspect even about discussing contingency plans as the topic is sensitive and many hope to expand in mainland China.
Busan in South Korea is offering tax breaks and rent free offices to financial firms, while Taiwan’s top regulator told Reuters he hoped the island’s rule of law and democratic values would attract business.
The political upheaval in Hong Kong has created an opportunity for Australia and Sydney to become a stronger regional financial centre,” Senator Andrew Bragg wrote to Australia’s Treasurer this month, proposing policy changes.
“Tokyo will, frankly, struggle to steal significant market share from, let alone replace, Hong Kong,” said Steven Tran, a partner at law firm Mayer Brown in Hong Kong, who was previously based in Tokyo for four years.