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BioNTech owners in talks to invest in German cancer labs group

The billionaire Struengmann family behind Covid-19 vaccine maker BioNTech is in talks to take a stake in German diagnostics firm Munich Leukemia Laboratory (MLL) as it seeks to add investments in the healthcare sector, people close to the matter said.

“We are fundamentally interested in a deeper integration of therapy and diagnostics. That is why we are holding talks with Munich Leukemia Laboratory,” a spokesman for the Struengmann family holding Athos said.

India’s on its way to become the world’s pharmaceutical hub

At present, India is the largest provider of generic drugs globally. Indian pharma companies cater to over half of the global demand for various vaccines, along with 40 per cent of generic drugs demand in the US.

Notably, data from container logistics company Maersk showed that among the refrigerated cargo, pharmaceuticals export out of India rose steeply during 2020, with Q4 alone recording 47 per cent higher volumes as compared to the same period in 2019.

April 1 Renewals:Market pricing remain firm in all classes and territories, Willis Re 

James Kent, Global CEO of Willis Re, said: “The market landscape has not seen much change since 1 January and consequently the important 1 April renewals saw more of the same between reinsurers and their customers. Market results for 2020 illustrate the challenges faced by the global reinsurance sector of reduced investment income, declining prior-year reserve releases, rising COVID-19 loss reserving, and increased volatility in the frequency and severity both of natural catastrophes and man-made losses.

However, reinsurers’ 2020 results, when adjusted for COVID-19 claims reserves, have shown encouraging improvements in underlying combined ratios and buyers’ immediate concerns over capacity availability and pricing have been allayed leading to an orderly renewal.”

U.S. envoy Kerry heads to India to try and lift ‘climate ambition’

India, whose per capita emissions are way lower than that of the United States, European countries and even China, is concerned that binding itself to such a target could constrain the energy needs of its people.

Kerry kicks off his trip on Thursday that will also take him to the United Arab Emirates and Bangladesh, which experts say is especially vulnerable to climate change as it has large numbers of people living in areas barely above sea level, and lacks infrastructure to protect them

Major auto firms log robust sales in March on pent up demand

Toyota Kirloskar Motor, Honda Cars and Mahindra and Mahindra (M&M) also reported strong sales last month as compared to the year-ago period, when dispatches were adversely impacted due to the impending transition to BSVI from April 2020 and the nationwide lockdown to contain the coronavirus pandemic.

The country’s largest carmaker Maruti Suzuki India said its domestic sales stood at 1,49,518 units last month. The auto major had reported sales of 76,976 units in March 2020.

India AstraZeneca shot delay could be ‘catastrophic’ for Africa: health official

The African Union had planned to vaccinate 30-35% of the continent’s population by the end of the year he said. “If the vaccines are delayed we are unlikely to meet our target,” he added.

That AU target primarily relies on supplies from the global COVAX vaccine-sharing facility, through which 64 poorer countries including many in Africa are supposed to get doses from the SII. COVAX aims to provide enough shots for African countries to inoculate at least 20% of their populations.

India launches COVID-19 vaccination for all people above 45, year’s highest single day rise of 72,330 new cases reported

According to the health ministry, Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Karnataka, Punjab, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh continue to show a steep rise in the COVID daily new cases accounting for 84.61 per cent of the new cases reported in a span of 24 hours.

Maharashtra has reported the highest daily new cases at 39,544. It is followed by Chhattisgarh with 4,563 while Karnataka reported 4,225 new cases. India’s active caseload has reached 5,84,055 and now comprises 4.78 per cent of the country’s total infections. A net rise of 31,489 cases has been recorded in the total active caseload in a span of 24 hours.

Coronavirus pandemic to shave 3% off global output in medium term: IMF

The IMF said the prospects for “scarring” from the current crisis remained substantial, even if systemic financial stress and the associated long-lasting economic damage had been largely avoided due to the unprecedented policy actions taken.

The path to recovery remained challenging, especially for countries with limited fiscal resources, the IMF said in a blog post based on its updated World Economic Outlook.

Hong Kong is set to target first SPAC listing by end of year

One major issue in Hong Kong could become securing liability insurance for SPAC directors and officers against incorrect statements and negligence. Such insurance is already double the cost for many Chinese firms listed in the U.S. because of increased scrutiny and activism in recent years, said Sandra Lee, Asia chief executive at reinsurance broker BMS Group.

For the even smaller SPAC market it’s “almost impossible” to get D&O liability insurance, leaving the Chinese owners exposed to claims, Lee said

Investigation begins into how ship got stuck on Suez Canal

Suez Canal Authority (SCA) Chairman Osama Rabie has suggested weather conditions, including high winds, and human error could have played a role in the grounding on March 23.

“Such grave accidents may not be caused by a single factor, part of it could be the wind, another part could be the human element, and another part could be technical,” Rabie told a news conference Monday night after the vessel was freed.

The investigation will include examining the seaworthiness of the ship and its captain’s actions to help determine the causes, Rabie advisor Captain Sayed Sheasha told Reuters.