Dec. 30, 2020
As
individuals and businesses alike prepare for a return for post-pandemic
life, it is becoming clear that the transition will not happen
overnight. For example, according to CNN Business,
several companies and technology groups have begun developing
smartphone apps or systems for individuals to upload details of their
COVID-19 tests and vaccinations that could be shown — a "vaccine
passport" — to enter concert venues, stadiums, movie theaters, offices,
or even countries. Of particular interest for the business community is
the use of such documentation to travel. Cathay Pacific, JetBlue,
Lufthansa, Swiss Airlines, United Airlines, Virgin Atlantic, and
hundreds of health systems across the U.S. and Aruba have partnered with
the Common Trust Network, an initiative by The Commons Project and the
World Economic Forum, to create an app that allows users to upload
medical data that can be shown to authorities without revealing
sensitive information. The app would also list health pass requirements
at the points of departure and arrival based on the flyer's itinerary.
In addition to the questions such actions cause with regard to privacy
and transparency, there are also a variety of additional variables to
consider such as the type of vaccine administered (Pfizer, Moderna, a
Russian vaccine, a Chinese vaccine, etc.), as each has different
efficacy rates.
Geopolitical
tensions and a dramatic rise in offensive and defensive cyber
capabilities are leading India to join Iran, Russia, China, and North
Korea as a top nation-state actor, according to the Dark Reading newsletter.
It said India's capabilities are growing at least partially in reaction
to activities in China. Diplomatic relations between the two nations
are at a low point, and India has banned more than 200 Chinese apps,
citing security concerns. At the same time, high unemployment in India
as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic has created a large population of
technically skilled people in need of income, leading to an increase in
cybercrime.
China will
overtake the U.S. to become the world's largest economy by 2028, five
years earlier than previously forecast, due to the impact of the
COVID-19 pandemic. A new report from the Centre for Economics and Business Research,
a U.K.-based think tank, said one of the impacts of the pandemic has
been to "redistribute economic momentum with Asia doing the best and
Europe worst." The report said the Chinese government's vigorous
reaction to the crisis resulted in less damage to the country's economy
compared with others, and said China is forecast to post a 2% growth
rate in 2020.
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