Virus resurgence 😷
Fresh protests, Pharma contract, and Microsoft gets nosy.
Hi 👋, Tanvi here.
Filter Coffee is a newsletter that hits your inbox every morning with notable tech and business news scoops to jump start your day. Sign up below for free 👇
Let’s go ahead and get started:
Virus resurges in China 😷
Beijing’s plans of reopening businesses and theaters have been put on hold as new cases have begun spooking health officials in the past 2 days.
The reopening was put into motion after Beijing had not seen any new cases for nearly 2 months. Now fearing a second wave of infections, Chinese officials have come down hard, putting all sports events on hold and closing schools and restaurants until further notice.
The new cases appeared on Thursday and were reported in people who did not have any recent travel history. Residents will now be subject to temperature checks, and strict distancing norms in public locations.
Streaming giant deepens regional focus, this time in Africa 🖥️
After Netflix’s deal with Network18 to acquire regional content in India last week, the online streaming giant has now partnered with famed Nigerian filmmaker Mo Abudu to produce content original to Africa.
Abudu’s famous production company EbonyLife TV will work directly with Netflix to create series and original films.
Regional content is extremely important for Netflix to win the global streaming wars and so far they have done a great job of winning local bases.
In all, the winner of this strategy is local talent, because actors and creators now get to distribute and display their work to a global audience.
RIL’s dream sells like hot cake💪
Reliance’s Jio continues to attract new investors. World’s largest consumer-focused private equity firm L Catterton now invested another Rs. 1,894 Crores into the company in exchange for a 0.39% stake.
With that, Reliance Industries Ltd. has now sold off around 22.38% of Jio to outside investors, which include Facebook, and top investment houses like Silver Lake and Vista Equity.
Jio’s ambition of providing a broad range of new-age digital services including entertainment, financial services, broadband, ecommerce etc. to nearly 400 Million users across the country presents an unmatched opportunity.
Pharma company to supply vaccine 💉
AstraZeneca, one of the giants leading the fight to discover a COVID-19 vaccine, has signed a contract with 4 European governments to supply them with its potential vaccine upon availability.
The contract is to send 400 million doses of the vaccine that is developed by the University of Oxford and AZ in partnership. This deal is the first such contract signed by Europe’s Inclusive Vaccine Alliance (IVA), a group formed by France, Germany, Italy and the Netherlands to secure vaccines for all member states.
The delivery of the potential vaccines will start by the end of 2020.
Tweet of the day -
May we urge you to make a conscious effort to support the small guy when you buy things through this new week.
Small businesses across the world are facing the brunt of the pandemic led economic devastation. Most of them completely lack the scale, resources, and the ability that allows large corporations to keep fighting a storm like this. It is believed that nearly 15-20% of small businesses are never coming back once the lockdowns end.
If you can, then consider buying from the small guys. It may cost you slightly more sometimes but looking out for each other is the only way we can get through this quickly.
About the idea mentioned in this Tweet, if anyone is building this for India, please let us know. We will be happy to give a shout.
What else are we Snackin’ 🍿
📈 Cases in India cross 3.33lakh, death toll stands at 9,500 - India’s COVID fight keeps getting harder as cases rise and death toll is close to 12k now. The increase in detected cases is also because the nation has ramped up active testing across high risk areas. Thankfully, recovery rates continue to remain high as well.
✊ Black man shot dead by police, more protests erupt in Atlanta, protestors burn Wendy’s - just as the BLM protest was calming, yet another police shooting in Atlanta, USA has put spotlight on the issue. A man sleeping in his car was questioned by cops, and then arguments ensued, which ended up with the police shooting at him as he was trying to flee from the scene. Follow on protests have turned violent and the city Police chief has resigned.
📱 Google Pixel global shipment hits 7.2 million, crosses One Plus’ mark - the battle for smartphone dominance may seem like it's over, but not for late bloomer Google. The company’s Pixel has been selling like hot cake, now beating One Plus’ sales for 2019 as per IDC. Pixel’s unit sales grew 52% YoY to reach the highest volume ever with strong sales success in India. Google is now planning on launching a more affordable Pixel called Pixel 4a.
✈️ Government says Arogya Setu app not mandatory for travel - the contact tracing app pushed by the central government has had its fair share of controversy for being invasive and snoopy, after Govt. asked all travelers to mandatorily have it installed. After several petitions in courts, now the Central Government in its response to a question raised by KA high court has backtracked on its compulsory call, saying the app is optional. The app has been downloaded more than 100 Million times so far.
🛒 Instacart valued at $14 billion after surge in demand due to pandemic - the pandemic has become a blessing for delivery and most other internet service companies. One of USA’s largest grocery delivery apps, Instacart, nabbed some $225 Million at a $14 Billion valuation as demand has tripled and revenue more than doubled. The company will use the money to employ over 500,000 new workers in 2020.
😰 Earthquake tremors felt in Rajkot - According to the National Center for Seismology, an earthquake of 5.5 magnitude struck Gujarat’s Rajkot district yesterday. The tremors were felt in cities like Kutch, Rajkot, Ahmedabad and Patan. There were no immediate casualties or loss of property reported.
Hope you took a thing or two away from today’s edition. 😀
If you like it, show us some love by clicking the heart icon below. And don’t forget to invite your friends.