🏭️ Vaccine production

Good morning. "Joker 2" is anticipated to incur losses between $150M and $200M during its theatrical run.

Let's hope your day goes significantly better than the film's projected performance.

- Ruchirr Sharma & Shatakshi Sharmaa  

TABLE OF CONTENTS

• 🏭️ Vaccine production

• 🗞️ Bite-sized summaries

  • 🇨🇦 Relationship in jeopardy

  • 💰️ Bonus shares!

  • 💔 Political violence erupts

• 🧑‍🍳 What else is cookin’?

• 🍿 Entertainment, Entertainment, Entertainment

MARKETS

🇮🇳 India

• Indian stock markets closed positively on Monday. Key sectors like IT and banking outperformed, led by Wipro and Tech Mahindra. Despite foreign institutional selling, domestic investors showed strong buying interest, reflecting market resilience amid global economic concerns.

🌍️ International

• U.S. stock markets closed higher, with the S&P 500 and Dow reaching record highs. The Dow surpassed 43,000 for the first time, driven by strong technology stocks like Nvidia and Arm Holdings. Despite a light trading day due to a federal holiday, investor optimism was fuelled by positive bank earnings and upcoming corporate reports amid concerns over economic growth.

HEALTHCARE

🏭️ Vaccine production

India has solidified its position as a global leader in vaccine production, manufacturing 50% of the 8 billion doses distributed worldwide in the past year, according to Union Health Secretary Punya Salila Srivastava.

Speaking at the India Leadership Summit 2024, she highlighted India’s pharmaceutical industry as a key driver of cost savings in healthcare, particularly in the US, where it saved $219 billion in 2022 alone.

India also has the highest number of US FDA-approved pharmaceutical plants outside the US, further strengthening its influence on the global stage. The country’s robust healthcare reforms, such as the introduction of the National Medical Commission Act, have bolstered its medical workforce, improving the accessibility and quality of healthcare.

Srivastava emphasized India’s growing collaboration with the US, particularly in healthcare, focusing on cancer research and pandemic preparedness. The two nations have agreed on joint strategies to strengthen global biopharmaceutical supply chains and address public health challenges.

Overall: India’s efforts extend beyond domestic priorities, with its commitment to global health through initiatives like the Quad Cancer Moonshot Initiative and contributions to vaccine supply programs in the Indo-Pacific region.

These efforts align with the country's vision of "One World, One Health," showcasing India’s pharmaceutical production and global healthcare collaboration leadership.

Read more: Economic Times

GENERAL OVERVIEW

🗞️ Bite-sized summaries

🇨🇦 Relationship in jeopardy - Canada expelled six Indian diplomats, accusing them of involvement in a "campaign of violence" orchestrated by the Indian government. Canadian authorities, including the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, alleged that Indian diplomats coerced local individuals and businesses to gather information. This evidence, reportedly linked to violent acts and targeting South Asian communities, was presented to India. In response, India condemned the claims as baseless, withdrew its High Commissioner from Canada, and expelled Canadian diplomats. The incident marks a further deterioration in India-Canada relations, with both sides accusing each other of supporting extremism and political interference.

📈 Inflation is up (again) - India's retail inflation rose to 5.49% in September 2024, a nine-month high, driven by rising vegetable prices and a low base from the previous year. This exceeded the Reserve Bank of India's (RBI) medium-term target of 4%, marking the first time inflation surpassed this threshold since July. Food inflation surged to 9.24%, significantly affecting rural and urban areas. While vegetable inflation spiked, fuel inflation remained negative at -1.39%. The RBI maintained its inflation forecast at 4.5% for fiscal 2024-25, monitoring price pressures closely as inflation remains within its 2-6% tolerance range.

HEADLINES

🧑‍🍳 What else is cookin’?

What’s happening in India (and around the world 🌍️)

• Nike veteran Elliot Hill officially had his first day as Nike CEO.

• Good news for 5G stans, as a majority of 5G users experience a reduction in call drop, and faster data speed, according to a survey.

• Tatas plan to beef up AI Express with Air India and Vistara planes.

• Boeing says it's cutting 10% of its workforce, or about 17,000 employees.

• Delhi government imposes ban on firecrackers to combat air pollution.

CULTURE

🍿 Entertainment, Entertainment, Entertainment

• Do Patti trailer launches.

• New Zealand into Women’s T20 World Cup semis after Pakistan all out for 56.

• Tom Holland doubles down on sobriety with nonalcoholic beer launch.