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UK to speed up vaccinations, warns Indian variant may delay full reopening

Britain put India on a travel “red list” in April, meaning all arrivals from India – now suffering the world’s worst wave of COVID-19 – would have to pay to quarantine in a government-approved hotel for 10 days.

Media reports at the time suggested that, because the quarantine requirement was announced four days in advance, many people had sought to fly beforehand. Britain has a large South Asian community.

Cairn Energy sues Air India to enforce $1.2 bln arbitration award – court filing

Cairn filed the lawsuit on Friday in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, seeking to make Air India liable for the judgement that was awarded to Cairn. The lawsuit argued that the carrier as a state-owned company, is “legally indistinct from the state itself.”
The move ratchets up pressure on India’s government to pay the sum of $1.2 billion plus interest and costs that the British firm Cairn was awarded by an arbitration tribunal in December. The body ruled India breached an investment treaty with Britain and said New Delhi was liable to pay.

Delaying 2nd Covid vaccine dose in under 65 may cut deaths: Study

The longer it takes to effectively vaccinate the global population, the greater the likely risk of vaccine resistant strains developing. This has led to calls to prioritise single-dose vaccination for as many people as possible, even if this means delaying a second dose beyond the studied time frame.
Both the Pfizer and Moderna covid-19 vaccines in a standard two dose schedule are highly effective at preventing symptomatic infections and death. But immunity worldwide remains low, partly owing to low vaccination rates.

Obese girls at higher risk of cardiovascular disease in adulthood: Study

Childhood obesity is a growing concern among health authorities and scientists in the field. The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that some 340 million children aged 5-19 worldwide were overweight or obese in 2016. It is well known that childhood obesity is associated with a higher likelihood of metabolic disorders and cardiovascular disease in adulthood.

Mass shooting insurance in high demand as U.S. emerges from lockdown

Client inquiries for what the industry calls active shooter policies have risen 50% year on year in the past six weeks, said Tarique Nageer, Terrorism Placement Advisory Leader at Marsh, the world’s biggest insurance broker.

Such policies gained popularity in recent years following a spate of school shootings. They typically cover victim lawsuits, building repairs, legal fees, medical expenses and trauma counseling.

World Insurance Report 2021: Insurers must blend physical and digital distribution models in a post-pandemic era

AI-based analytical tools and a 360-degree view of customers is essential for a customized customer-experience. The most successful insurers will win and retain customers by reinventing their operating ecosystem to support a ‘phygital’ model based on a mix of physical presence and digital engagement.

“Insurers have an opportunity to convert digital traffic to sales by focusing on a hyper-personalized virtual experience,” said Anirban Bose, CEO of Capgemini’s Financial Services and Group Executive Board Member.

Vaccine lottery: Indian states grapple with how to share COVID-19 jabs

Many poor Indians do not have biometric identification cards that are often required to access public services, including vaccination registration – allowing those who do to jump the vaccine queue. In some instances, residents from the cities of Pune, Bengaluru and Hyderabad have booked slots in rural health centres, driving out into the countryside to get their shots, according to local media reports.

MoF wants staffs of banks and insurance companies to be vaccinated on priority

`In the light of the recent government’s decision to open up vaccination to all persons above the age of 18 years from 1st May 2021.,I would  request you to kindly consider putting in place a special dispensation in your State/UT, to enable the employees/ staff of banks and insurance companies to avail of vaccination easily and on priority basis.This will go a long way in assuring them about their safety/life and will also boost their morale in continuing to provide their best services to customers.” said Madnesh Mishra, joint secretary, MoF

Citigroup forms energy transition group within investment banking – memo

The entity will be headed by Serge Tismen and Shail Mehta, and will focus on companies including those involved in hydrogen, charging infrastructure, carbon capture and sequestration and biofuels, said the memo, the contents of which were confirmed by a bank spokeswoman on Thursday.

U.S. SEC chair planning new workforce data disclosures for public companies

He said staff would propose a new rule on disclosing the workforce or “human capital” metrics. Those disclosures could include data on issues such as workforce diversity, part-time versus full-time workers, and employee turnover, according to advocacy groups that have been pushing for the new rules.

“This is one of my top priorities and will be an early focus during my tenure at the SEC,” Gensler told the gathering.

The SEC is ramping up its ESG agenda to execute on Democrats’ priorities to address issues such as climate change and social injustice.

Covid-19 lab leak theory cannot be ruled out, say leading scientists

“More investigation is still needed to determine the origin of the pandemic,” said the 18 scientists, including Ravindra Gupta, a clinical microbiologist at the University of Cambridge, and Jesse Bloom, who studies the evolution of viruses at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center.

“Theories of accidental release from a lab and zoonotic spillover both remain viable,” the scientists including David Relman, professor of microbiology at Stanford, said in a letter to the journal Science.

COVID-19: Wealthy nations urged to delay youth vaccines, donate to solidarity scheme

“In a handful of rich countries, which bought up the majority of the vaccine supply, lower risk groups are now being vaccinated”, he said.

“I understand why some countries want to vaccinate their children and adolescents, but right now I urge them to reconsider and to instead donate vaccines to COVAX.”   

Tedros reported that vaccine supply in low and lower-middle income countries has not been sufficient to even immunize health and care workers.