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Here is a masonry blog layout with no sidebarCovid vaccine rush in China raises fears of booming black market
As developers from AstraZeneca Plc to Pfizer Inc. near the finish line for their coronavirus vaccines, nations are preparing for the challenge of rolling them out, with inevitable supply shortages fueling concerns about inequitable distribution and even the emergence of illegal markets. One place where vaccine delivery is already being road-tested is China, which has allowed local developers’ shots for emergency use since mid-year.
Europe’s drugs watchdog expects first marketing application for coronavirus vaccine in days
India’s COVID-19 caseload goes past 92 lakh; no. of active cases increases by 6,079
Cost of one dose of the Sputnik V vaccine will be less than $10 for international markets
Covid passports seen as key to resuming international travel
A test program will begin with British Airways parent IAG SA this year before arriving on Apple Inc. devices in the first quarter of 2021 and Android from April, IATA said. Travelers will be able to share their status with border authorities or present a QR code for scanning.
“We need to have global rules and standards” on measures like rapid testing and vaccination so there can be a “step forward” for the industry, Pieter Elbers, the head of the Dutch arm of Air France-KLM, said in a Bloomberg TV interview Tuesday. The health advances “will definitely help to restore confidence in travel.”
As more countries pledge zero emissions, coal finance evaporates
With insurance companies, banks and other financiers pulling out of coal “we are seeing a real tide of all these forces moving in capital markets,” Lachlan Shaw, head of commodities research at ANZ, said at the virtual Coaltrans Asia conference.
“What’s changed more recently is we have seen China, Japan and South Korea all commit to net-zero carbon emissions targets,” he said.
Aviva exits Italian life insurance unit in $475-million sale
Blanc announced in August that Aviva would focus on its operations in the U.K., Ireland and Canada, signaling that underperforming units in other countries could be disposed of. The company sold control of its Singapore business in September and is also pursuing a sale of its French unit.
The deal adds to a flurry of recent insurance activity, topped by last week’s $9.6 billion takeover of RSA Insurance Group Plc in the biggest acquisition of a U.K.-listed company this year. On Friday, Zurich Insurance Group AG revealed it’s in talks to buy MetLife Inc.’s U.S. property and casualty unit.
No-deal Brexit will do more damage to the economy than the coronavirus, Bank of England governor warns
“Well, I think the long-term effects … would be larger than the long-term effects of COVID,” Bailey said when asked by a lawmaker about the consequences for the economy if Britain and the European Union fail to strike a post-Brexit trade deal.
London and Brussels remain locked in negotiations ahead of the Dec. 31 expiry of Britain’s Brexit transition period.
Pandemic Is a Surprise Boon for Women in the World’s Back Office
“There is so much talent in smaller cities that has been untapped so far,” said Madhavi Lall, head of human resources at Deutsche Bank India. “Flexible work arrangements would certainly bring that talent to the fore, especially women who find it difficult to migrate or shift their base.”
The pandemic has pushed discussions on future work models and strategies, especially with regard to arrangements like staggering employee shifts, rotating days or weeks of in-office presence, she said. And that along with the change in India’s government rules will enable more women to join the workforce.
Japanese FWD Fuji Life adopts Swiss Re’s automated underwriting solution, to offer digitalised customer experience
FWD Fuji Life customers can digitally submit their information and receive initial policy offerings directly at the point of sale, substantially simplifying the customer journey without the hassle of handling paper forms. Applications are automatically checked for any incomplete information to further speed up the process. Customers get their policies on the spot, and they are better protected with the right questions asked via Magnum.
AXA XL appoints Nicola Harris as Head of Energy, UK and Lloyd’s market
Peter Welton, Chief Underwriting Officer for Marine, Energy & Aerospace, UK & Lloyd’s market, commented: “Global economic uncertainty resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic has significantly affected the global energy market, which was already facing several headwinds. Having the right team in place is an integral part of our commitment to our clients, as they manage the associated risks today and in the future.
MHA guidelines: Local restrictions like night curfew allowed; Prior consultation with Centre needed for any lockdown outside containment zones
The state and UT governments will take all necessary measures to promote COVID-19 appropriate behaviour and to ensure strict enforcement of wearing of face masks, hand hygiene and social distancing. In order to enforce the core requirement of wearing of face masks, authorities may consider administrative actions, including the imposition of appropriate fines, on persons not wearing face masks in public and workspaces.
Lakshmi Vilas Bank-DBIL merger effective from Nov 27: RBI
UNICEF and IATA partner to deliver COVID-19 vaccines to over 92 countries
World agonises over new COVID curbs as infections approach 60 million
COVID-19 pandemic could be stopped if at least 70% public wore face masks consistently: Study
“The highly efficacious facemask, such as surgical masks with an estimated efficacy of around 70 per cent, could lead to the eradication of the pandemic if at least 70 per cent of the residents use such masks in public consistently,” the scientists, including Sanjay Kumar from the National University of Singapore, wrote in the study
Indian govt to invest $812 million in NIIF
Javadekar also said that the AIFL will predominantly focus on under construction, greenfield, brownfield assets with less than one year of operations whereas NIIF IFL will operate as a take-out vehicle for mature operating assets.
It is expected that well-capitalized, well-funded and well-governed NIIF debt Platform can play a major role in infrastructure financing and development of Bond Market in India by acting as a AAA/AA-rated intermediary between the bond markets and infrastructure projects and companies.
Fintechs seen eating into market share of established insurers, EU says
Insurers and reinsurers such as AXA and Munich Re have been investing in so-called insurtech companies, considered a faster way for them to adapt to technology changes.
Stephen Catlin, chairman and chief executive of Convex, a newcomer to the insurance, told the event that fintech firms faced a learning curve to compete with established players.