covid-19

Intellectual Property: How the World Health Organisation is misdirecting itself over vaccine technology

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At this week's press conference a question - which appeared to be planted - was asked about the release of intellectual property on vaccines.

Mr Antonio Guterres, the United Nations Secretary-General, who will, with our WHO Director-General, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus both had extensive replies on hand, indicating that they were not taken by surprise. There is no criticism of that. However, their replies were focussed on two issues - neither of which were public safety or, ironically, intellectual property.

CoNet Section:

Intellectual Property

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You are unvaccinated and I respect that. I am vaccinated and you should respect that too.

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Ben Geldenhuys' personal and powerful contribution to the vaccination debate that goes beyond the immediate question of CoVid-19.

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Fake vaccines, fake vaccination centres, fake documents and real discrimination characterises the latest phase of Pandemic responses.

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We recently reported on Interpol's interception of fake CoVid-19 vaccines (here ). It was not the first: Brazil had identified, some weeks earlier, fake Sputnik vaccines. But this is just one aspect to a problem that is undermining both vaccination schemes and, therefore, public health but also undermining the possibility of "vaccination passports."

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UAE airline helps evade UK's CoVid-19 border controls by laundering passengers through Dublin.

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The UK recently banned flights from the UAE because of fears over growing corona virus risks. It also added Turkey and Qatar to its red list. Ireland is a special case and there is free movement between the UK and Ireland.

Trying to fly to the UK from the Far East is difficult. At the moment, many flights are via the Middle East or Turkey. Some are via Singapore which is on the UK's "Green list."

But one middle east airline has found a way to circumvent the UK's ban on flights from there - and to facilitate dishonest passengers who want to avoid spending GBP2,000 on quarantine and testing and, of course, risk spreading CoVid-19 into the UK's population.

CoNet Section:

Security and Society

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Fake CoVid-19 vaccines are becoming more common, says Interpol after arrests.

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Any vaccine being advertised on websites or the dark web, will not be legitimate, will not have been tested and may be dangerous. - Interpol.

It doesn't take a rocket scientist to realise that vaccines would be the next vehicle, after personal protective equipment, for fraudsters capitalising on the world's anxiety to find a fix for CoVid-19.

After all, labels and vials aren't exactly difficult to make or come by - and there are very, very established production and distribution networks for a wide range of illegal, and illegally trafficked, copies, entirely counterfeit and somewhere in between drugs.

What is more surprising is that for something with such an opportunity to have taken active steps to combat these risks before distribution of CoVid-19 vaccines started, it's not been...

FCRO Subsection:

Financial Crime News

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Fake CoVid-19 vaccines are becoming more common, says Interpol after arrests.

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Any vaccine being advertised on websites or the dark web, will not be legitimate, will not have been tested and may be dangerous. - Interpol.

It doesn't take a rocket scientist to realise that vaccines would be the next vehicle, after personal protective equipment, for fraudsters capitalising on the world's anxiety to find a fix for CoVid-19.

After all, labels and vials aren't exactly difficult to make or come by - and there are very, very established production and distribution networks for a wide range of illegal, and illegally trafficked, copies, entirely counterfeit and somewhere in between drugs.

What is more surprising is that for something with such an opportunity to have taken active steps to combat these risks before distribution of CoVid-19 vaccines started, it's not been...

FCRO Subsection:

Financial Crime News

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Sometimes, there are no better days.

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We all moan that we are having a bad day, that we need something ranging from coffee to a punch-bag, make hopeful statements that the universe (or whatever) will make tomorrow a better day.

Sometimes we tell ourselves, or each other, to pull our socks up and get on with making something good happen, even though we know, in our heart of hearts that we are deluding ourselves and that, in truth, there are times when we have no control over the present and no influence over the future.

Sometimes, there are no better days.

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Hong Kong suspends Coin Cart

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Media Release 1 December 2020 18:00 HK time.

Temporary suspension of the Coin Cart services

BIScom Subsection:

Retail banking

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Court hearings in a time of pandemic - drama muted.

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The English High Court has provided an example of how difficult it is to arrange hearings in all but the simplest cases while Courts and parties are trying to come to terms with methods of containing the spread of CoVid-19. If there is ever a case study of how problematic the organisations of hearings has become, this is probably it. But, as is usual with legislation, regulation and rules - someone didn't ask enough "what if" questions. Like "what about attendance by persons outside the jurisdiction?"

Publication:

ChiefOfficers.Net

CoNet Section:

Legal Profession

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Tags:

litigation

covid-19

remote hearings

courts

chiefofficersnet

CoVid - 19. No room for complacency

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As the UK finds that opening its pubs might lift the spirits of the people, their ability to contain themselves when consuming spirits or other alcohol risks further outbreaks. The same was found in California last week. Some pubs that were open for two or three days are closed again as people report contagion within hours of their visit. Here are figures published yesterday by the WHO that show that it is important to be responsible for your own safety and that of others while out socialising - or else there's the risk of a terminal decline in the businesses where recreational drinking is available.

In short, so far as responsible behaviour is concerned, put up or pub shut.

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F1: the longest winter

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When we all wrapped up at the end of the 2019 Formula One season, there was the usual end of season feeling: a bit excited, a lot deflated (the Abu Dhabi race does that to me every time - it just doesn't cut it coming after Brazil) and a feeling that the next few months would be punctuated with bits of news from factories, some driver chat and the testing in Barcelona so we northern Europeans get reminded of what sun looks like. And then, it's off to Australia - in reality or virtually - for the season opener that really tells us nothing much about how the season will go and - fun as it is, it's really a shakedown test with points for those that don't shake apart. A huge cock up saw the teams arrive, unpack, set up cars - and then put them all back in the box and go home without a single car doing a lap. Covid-19 had struck and chaos reigned. Until yesterday.

CoNet Section:

Motorsport

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#barbergate - #lockdown - #politicians

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While the world is in lockdown and many if not most countries have ordered the closure of barbers' shops and hairdressers' salons, there is something strange.

CoNet Section:

Compliance

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Rampant Spam shows widening of coronavirus-related frauds

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As spam-filters become more alert to spam-scams, many criminals have moved on from selling overpriced, poor quality or non-existent facemasks and the like.

Following the trend set by UK TV advertising where on-line gambling has reached near-epidemic proportions, there is an increased rash of gambling spams. But the most significant trend is to focus on the lifestyle changes faced by millions as they sit at home wondering what to do next.

FCRO Subsection:

Financial Crime News

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CoVid-19 - Aegis Business Activity Update

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As COVID-19 continues to impact heavily on social and business life across the region we have prepared this weekly summary of what the business situation is like across Asia generally. Our updates, provided by Peter Coleman of AEGIS INTERACTIF ASIA, will look at what business travel and activity is possible and what can be done on the ground in any countries that remain open for domestic business activity.

FCRO Subsection:

Learning

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Withdrawal and CoVid-19 disruption.

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The current stance of both the EU and the UK is that the UK's withdrawal from the EU will not be delayed as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. But even the most optimistic must be aware that with governments both in disarray and fighting on all fronts to try to protect their citizens from the disease, the chances of meaningful work in the exit terms is remote.

And yet, with no constituencies to worry about, the EU's officials are pushing ahead with an ambitious legislative programme intending that such laws will be brought into effect before the UK departs and that the UK will, therefore be bound by them. And what will happen if the deadline is extended?

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