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Vaccine storage issues could leave 3 billion people without access

The vaccine cold chain hurdle is just the latest disparity of the pandemic weighted against the poor, who more often live and work in crowded conditions that allow the virus to spread, have little access to medical oxygen that is vital to Covid-19 treatment, and whose health systems lack labs, supplies or technicians to carry out large-scale testing.

FPIs remain net buyers in Oct so far amid better than expected financial results

The total net investment during the period under review stood at Rs 17,749 crore. In September, FPIs were net sellers at Rs 3,419 crore. The investment in Indian markets has come at a time when most of emerging markets like Brazil, South Africa, Taiwan, and Thailand have seen net outflows in 2020.This shows that foreign investors perceive India to be performing well in the immediate as well as long horizon,” co-founder and COO at Groww Harsh Jain noted.

Pandemic to change Indian insurance sector’s landscape: IndiaFirst Life

“The amount of business that will happen through the protection portfolio will increase by leaps and bounds, and on the savings side people will prefer opting for guaranteed return based products because the minute the guarantee return is not there then you are dependent on the whims and fancies of the market and today because of the uncertainty very-very few people are open to bet on the market,”IndiaFirst Life deputy CEO Rushabh Gandhii said.

All citizens in the country to get free COVID-19 vaccine: union minister Sarangi

The governments of Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh, Assam and Puduchchery have already announced free of cost COVID vaccines for the people of their states, while Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has demanded free vaccine for all citizens across the country.Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced that all people will be provided free of cost vaccines. An estimated Rs 500 odd will be spent on vaccination of each person,

Changing global retirement planning

Global life expectancy went up by five years between 2010 and 2015, the fastest increase since the 1960s. A post-pandemic boost to healthcare investment may make us all live longer, on average.
Asians naturally don’t want to die working, and many societies have some form of non-family safety net. Japan has a public long-term care insurance. In South Korea, Taiwan, Singapore, Hong Kong, and Malaysia, retirees expect the government to play a role in ensuring income security.
Indians have an even keener wish. Given the country’s youthful demographics, constrained state finances and underdeveloped pension markets, even limited financial assistance for the elderly may have to be “purchased” by them from the next generation.

WHO reports third straight daily record in virus cases

According to the WHO’s figures, there have been more than 42.3 million confirmed cases of the respiratory disease, while nearly 1.15 million people have lost their lives, including 6,570 on Saturday.

Nearly half of Saturday’s new cases were registered in the WHO’s Europe region, which logged a one-day record high of 221,898 cases.

In total, more than nine million cases have now been registered in the region.

Apple fixes 6 malicious apps posing as Adobe Flash installers

Cyber criminals managed to pass malicious apps through the Apple app “notarization” process for the second time this year, reports ZDNet.
The six new notarised apps posed as Flash installers.

Once installed, the apps would download and install the OSX/MacOffers adware.

OSX/MacOffers is known for modifying the search engine in the victim’s browser.

The six malicious apps have now been de-notarised by Apple.

Xi’s carbon neutrality vow to reshape China’s five-year plan

“The understanding is that there is no time to waste if China is to achieve carbon neutrality by 2060.,said Kevin Lo, Associate Director at the David C. Lam Institute for East-West Studies in Hong Kong, who studies China’s environmental policies.

Experts say China needs to bring the share of coal in its total energy mix from 58% last year to less than 50% by 2025, and provide enhanced support for technology like carbon capture.

It could start by setting an absolute emissions cap for the first time, said Zou Ji, head of the Energy Foundation China, which has been involved in five-year plan research.

South Korea urges people to get flu vaccinations despite death tolls

“Vaccination offers far greater benefits compared to side effects, and both the WHO and domestic and overseas experts agree,” Health Minister Park Neung-hoo told a briefing on Sunday, in a reference to the World Health Organization.

Last year, more than 1,500 elderly people died within seven days of receiving flu vaccines, but those deaths were not linked to the vaccinations, the government said.

As South Korea presses on with its inoculations, southeast Asia’s tiny city state of Singapore became one of the first nations this week to call a temporary halt to the use of two influenza vaccines, as a precaution.

Amazon wins arbitration order against Future’s deal with Reliance

But Amazon’s investment came with contractual rights that include a right of first refusal and a non-compete-like pact, media had reported, and Amazon later started arbitration proceedings in Singapore.

“It’s a comprehensive victory for Amazon,” a source with direct knowledge of the decision said. “They’ve won an injunction to stop the deal.”
Future Retail on Monday hinted that it may challenge the arbitration award from the Singapore-based arbitration center before Indian legal forums, to ensure that its Rs 24,713 crore deal proceeds unhindered and without any delay.

Insurance costs too steep? Try writing your own

“For many, insurance has become or is becoming more expensive, so people are turning to captives,” said Rodney Bonnard, insurance leader for EY UK Financial Services.

“We are seeing a massive uptick.Seventy-six new captives were formed this year globally, a 200% year-on-year growth, according to insurance broker Marsh. That level of growth is “unprecedented”, Michael Serricchio of Marsh Captive Solutions told a recent webinar.

Swiss Re raises $ 775 mn Cat bond for California Earthquake Authority, to protect Californians against earthquakes

“Swiss Re’s mission as a company is to make the world more resilient. We’re delighted to partner with CEA which has been helping to protect Californians from the financial consequences of earthquakes for almost 25 years,“ said Jonathan Isherwood, Swiss Re’s CEO Reinsurance Americas and Regional President.

“Only around 13% of Californians who purchase residential insurance also have earthquake protection. It’s not a matter of if, but when, the next one strikes. This transaction supports CEA’s ability to extend financial protection to a greater number of California residents who are highly exposed to earthquakes.“