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21 April 2023
Welcome to Matters of Mind (MM) – 21 April 2023
“Chains of habit are too light to be felt until they are too heavy to be broken.” – Warren Buffett We often blame outside forces on why we’re feeling burn…
21 April 2023
International and local economic news - 21 Apr 23
Cost-of-living crisis – SA CPI accelerates to 7.1% in March, food inflation at 14-year high South Africa’s cost-of-living crisis is worsening as winter looms, with consumer inflation still accelerating and food…
21 April 2023
Insurance and related industry highlights - 21 Apr 23
FSCA report details the deregistration of more than 6,700 inactive retirement funds The reason for the inordinately high number of dormant or inactive retirement funds dates back to the late 1990s/early…
21 April 2023
Investments - 21 Apr 23
Includes Banking, Cryptocurrency, ESG and opinions on investing Big jump in profit for Capitec – which counts one-third of South Africans as customers Capitec noted that the 2023 financial year,…
21 April 2023
Fintech, digitisation and AI - 21 Apr 23
Includes Insurtech, blockchain Momentum brings in-app screening to life insurance offering More than 10 000 screenings have been completed using Momentum’s in-app digital screening tool, LifeReturns, since its debut late…
21 April 2023
Cyber and cyber security - 21 Apr 23
ChatGPT Poised to Expose Corporate Secrets, Cyber Firm Warns The fear is that the chatbots could be exploited by hackers to access sensitive corporate information or perform actions against the…
21 April 2023
Climate change - 21 Apr 23
What Insurers Should Know About PFAS A perfect storm of PFAS liability momentum is building in the midst of climate change, social inflation and digital accessibility, observes Lauren Angelina, a…
21 April 2023
Health care and related topics - 21 Apr 23
Palliative care conference calls for closer collaboration with medical fraternity The conference co-organisers state, “Palliative care is holistic care that uses a multi-faceted approach to improve the quality of life…
21 April 2023
About YOU - 21 Apr 23
Burnt Out? Here’s How to Cope Employee burnout is a problem that has been around for a long time. However, due to the pandemic and the increased use of technology,…
14 April 2023
Welcome to Matters of Mind (MM) – 14 April 2023
“In a world of change, the learners shall inherit the Earth, while the learned shall find themselves perfectly suited for a world that no longer exists.” Eric Hoffer To be…
14 April 2023
International and local economic news - 14 Apr 23
4 reasons inflation will stay stubbornly high for some time The global economy is entering a period of permanently higher inflation fuelled by four deeper forces, according to an…
14 April 2023
Geopolitical news - 14 Apr 23
Finland joins Nato in a major blow to Putin which doubles the length of the alliance’s border with Russia Throughout the cold war, Finland remained a neutral state – although more due to…
14 April 2023
Insurance and related industry highlights - 14 Apr 23
The South African Revenue Service (SARS) as a case study to explore the relationship between state capture and institutional capacity to address serious and organised crime This project will seek…
14 April 2023
Investments - 14 Apr 23
Includes Banking, Cryptocurrency, ESG and opinions on investing Short-term uncertainty versus long-term certainty “If I asked you what’s the risk in investing, you would answer the risk of losing…
14 April 2023
Fintech, digitisation and AI - 14 Apr 23
Includes Insurtech, blockchain InfoReg examines regulation of ChatGPT, AI in SA South Africa’s Information Regulator is holding internal discussions on how to approach the regulation of viral chatbot ChatGPT and…
14 April 2023
Cyber and cyber security - 14 Apr 23
Which Came First, the Cyber Chicken or the Cyber Egg? Cyber war, cyber catastrophe, systemic cyber risk and other terms have become more widespread as cyber threats increase, but panellists…
14 April 2023
Diversity, equity and inclusion - 14 Apr 23
Includes women in work, finance and STEM The science behind a more meaningful understanding of sexual orientation People who are attracted to others of the same sex develop their orientation before…
14 April 2023
Climate change - 14 Apr 23
Seven ways to recycle heat and reduce carbon emissions Heating of space and water in buildings accounts for about 44% of all energy consumed globally according to the International Energy Agency. This…
14 April 2023
Health care and related topics - 14 Apr 23
Industries can harm health in many ways: here are 3 that aren’t so obvious A recent ground-breaking series of reports in the science journal The Lancet unpacks what commercial determinants of health are,…
14 April 2023
About YOU - 14 Apr 23
Expand Your Horizons by Doing It Anyway “We generate fears while we sit. We overcome them by action.” Dr Henry Link There is nothing like being comfy and cosy in our…
31 March 2023
Welcome to Matters of Mind (MM) – 31 March 2023
"The most important habit is choosing the right habit to work on." James Clear It is the end of the first quarter of 2023 and we have another week of…
31 March 2023
International and local economic news - 31 Mar 23
Why the SA Reserve Bank hike took the market by surprise The South African Reserve Bank (SARB) announced a 50 basis point repo rate increase on Thursday, 30 March –…
31 March 2023
Geopolitical events - 31 Mar 23
Finland clears last obstacle to NATO entry in a blow to Putin (Bloomberg) --Finland is poised to join NATO in a matter of days, bolstering Europe’s security architecture and dealing a…
31 March 2023
Insurance and related industry highlights - 31 Mar 23
Government’s SVB Intervention Saved Insurers From Significant D&O Claims Had the federal government not stepped in to make Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) depositors whole, providers of directors and officers insurance…
31 March 2023
Investments - 31 Mar 23
Includes Banking, Cryptocurrency, ESG and opinions on investing A New Chapter of Capitalism Emerges From the Banking Crisis The idea that finance is an arm of the state is back…
31 March 2023
Fintech, digitisation and AI - 31 Mar 23
Includes Insurtech, blockchain Investment in Telematics, Embedded Insurance Will Help Carriers Compete When Auto Market Shrinks The increasing popularity of electric vehicles (EVs), autonomous vehicles (AVs) and shared-mobility platforms will…
31 March 2023
Diversity, equity and inclusion - 31 Mar 23
Includes women in work, finance and STEM Making mentorship and sponsorship work for women in asset management It’s common knowledge that one of the greatest diversity challenges for South African…
31 March 2023
Climate change - 31 Mar 23
Supercell Storms to Hit South More Often: Study America will probably get more killer tornado- and hail-spawning supercells as the world warms, according to a new study that also warns…
31 March 2023
About YOU - 31 Mar 23
Why do we wake around 3am and dwell on our fears and shortcomings? When I wake at 3am or so, I’m prone to picking on myself. And I know I’m not…
24 March 2023
Welcome to Matters of Mind (MM) - 24 March 2023
On 21 March we celebrated Human Rights Day. Ironically it sits heavy in the hearts of many that they are not free to be themselves. We have made so many…
24 March 2023
International and local economic news - 24 Mar 23
Is The Widely Predicted Recession In The Developed World Still Coming? Economic data prints over the last month have been confusing to say the least – in just three weeks…
24 March 2023
Geopolitical news - 24 Mar 23
Ukraine war: Moldova could be the first domino in a new Russian plan for horizontal escalation One of the consequences of Russia’s war in Ukraine is the fact that the…
24 March 2023
Insurance and related industry highlights - 24 Mar 23
Santam Acquires MTN South Africa Device Insurance Book The acquisition, and alliance, is aimed to support MTN South Africa in broadening the reach of device protection to their clients, in…
24 March 2023
Investments - 24 Mar 23
Includes Banking, Cryptocurrency, ESG and opinions on investing. Secret CEO: Credit Suisse ‘resolution’ has set a dangerous precedent Our columnist argues the way in which the Swiss bank has been…
24 March 2023
Fintech, digitisation and AI - 24 Mar 23
Includes Insurtech, blockchain PayShap must be free – Michael Jordaan Former FNB CEO and venture capitalist Michael Jordaan said that prohibitively high transaction costs will stifle the adoption of PayShap.…
24 March 2023
Diversity, equity and inclusion - 24 Mar 23
Includes women in work, finance and STEM. LGBTQ+ rights: African Union watchdog goes back on its own word The primary human rights watchdog in Africa recently made a decision that departed…
24 March 2023
Climate change - 24 Mar 23
Don’t underestimate local leverage for closing the funding gap for climate change in SA, says author Adam Tooze A shift away from a coal-dependent energy mix is in the best interest…
24 March 2023
Health care and related topics - 24 Mar 23
Eastern Cape Health boosts legal teams to fight bogus medical claims The Eastern Cape provincial Health Department is tackling bogus medical negligence team head on, beefing up its artillery of…
24 March 2023
About YOU - 24 Mar 23
“The biggest obstacle to increasing your self-awareness is the tendency to avoid the discomfort that comes from seeing yourself as you really are.” Travis Bradberry Tiny Thought Things you control:…
17 March 2023
Welcome to Matters of Mind (MM) – 17 March 2023
It is quite remarkable that we choose to study what interests us without realising it may require us to do the things we don’t enjoy, like reading and writing. The…
17 March 2023
International and local economic and geopolitical news - 17 Mar 23
Cholera risk in Malawi climbs as Cyclone Freddy wreaks further havoc Malawi, already having battled its worst cholera outbreak this year, faces renewed risk of the water-borne diarrhoeal disease after heavy…
17 March 2023
Insurance and related industry highlights - 17 Mar 23
The News24 Business Awards celebrate the best in corporate South Africa. We recognise companies and CEOs who are doing excellent work in building their businesses, while also going above and beyond in…
17 March 2023
Investments - 17 Mar 23
Includes Banking, Cryptocurrency, ESG and opinions on investing. Standard Bank CEO endorses central bank digital currencies Standard Bank chief executive Sim Tshabalala has expressed qualified support for central bank digital…
17 March 2023
Fintech, digitisation and AI - 17 Mar 23
Includes Insurtech and blockchain. AI isn’t close to becoming sentient – the real danger lies in how easily we’re prone to anthropomorphize it ChatGPT and similar large language models can produce compelling, humanlike…
17 March 2023
Cyber and cyber security - 17 Mar 23
China Is ‘Big Threat’ to Energy Industry, Cybersecurity Official Says “The big threat we all need to be concerned about is China,” Jen Easterly, director of the US Cybersecurity and…
17 March 2023
Climate change - 17 Mar 23
Including nature and energy. Eskom’s ‘quick fix’ to cut load shedding by 2 stages gets the green light The Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Barbara Creecy, has granted…
17 March 2023
Health care and related topics - 17 Mar 23
Treating rare diseases: How digital technologies can drive innovation Pharmaceutical companies are using recent advances in digital technologies to improve care strategies and provide hope for rare disease patients across…
17 March 2023
Study Techniques - 17 Mar 23
Why write? Writing about something teaches you about what you know, what you don’t know, and how to think. Writing about something is one of the best ways to learn about it. Writing…
10 March 2023
Welcome to Matters of Mind (MM) - 10 March 2023
“When elephants fight, it is the grass that suffers.” African proverb Image by Debbie De Jager from Pixabay Insurance industry analysts predict increased risk of civil unrest globally as a…
10 March 2023
About YOU - 10 Mar 23
The Physiology of Self-Compassion by Dr Kirstin Neff For the past decade or so I’ve been conducting research on self-compassion and have found that people who are compassionate to themselves…
10 March 2023
Health care and related topics - 10 Mar 23
Discovery Vitality reveals “ObeCity Index” showing the South African city with the healthiest weight ahead of World Obesity Day; launches Vitality HealthyWeight programme A fun article which needs to be…
10 March 2023
Climate change - 10 Mar 23
Includes nature and renewable energy. Nature in the balance: What companies can do to restore natural capital Join us for a webinar series from March 20 – 29 featuring our…
10 March 2023
Diversity, equity and inclusion - 10 Mar 23
Includes women in work, finance and STEM Transformative perspectives: Women leaders in insurance In this series of interviews, female insurance executives and McKinsey partners offer a rich tapestry of viewpoints…
10 March 2023
Fintech, digitisation and AI - 10 Mar 23
Includes Insurtech, blockchain The road to a digitally enabled insurance industry Every participant in the insurance industry is evaluating digitisation as an essential part of their long term strategy. In…
10 March 2023
Investments - 10 Mar 23
Includes Banking, Cryptocurrency, ESG and opinions on investing Why South Africa’s greylisting didn’t move the rand. At Prescient, we cautiously monitor economic themes, inflation dynamics, labour market trends and market behaviour…
10 March 2023
Insurance and related industry highlights - 10 Mar 23
Allianz Risk Barometer 2023 The Allianz Risk Barometer is an annual business risk ranking compiled by Allianz Group’s corporate insurer Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty (AGCS), together with other Allianz entities, which…
10 March 2023
International and local economic and geopolitical news - 10 Mar 23
How can our universities help to mitigate disaster risk? The destruction caused by the earthquake and its aftershocks that hit Türkiye and Syria in February has turned the spotlight on…
2 March 2023
Welcome to Matters of Mind (MM) – 2 March 2023
For those of you who are receiving this email for the first time, it is all about bringing you articles, discussions, podcasts and commentaries that will open your mind to…
2 March 2023
Fintech, digitisation and AI - 2 Mar 23
Includes Insurtech, blockchain, AA (Advanced Analytics) On the brink: Realizing the value of analytics in insurance Advanced analytics (AA)—including artificial intelligence and machine-learning methods— continues to be a top-of-mind topic…
2 March 2023
Insurance and related industry highlights - 2 Mar 23
China Urges State-Owned Firms to Drop Big 4 Auditors Over Data Security Concerns Chinese authorities have urged state-owned firms to phase out using the four biggest international accounting firms, signaling…
2 March 2023
Investments - 2 Mar 23
Includes Banking, Cryptocurrency, ESG and opinions on investing. What did SA fund selectors think of the budget? To find out how the Citywire South African community felt about what the…
2 March 2023
International and local economic and geopolitical news - 2 Mar 23
It’s official — South Africa fails to avoid greylisting The move constitutes a blow to SA’s international financial standing around the world, and the Reserve Bank has warned that greylisting could…
2 March 2023
Cyber and cyber security - 2 Mar 23
Ransomware Attacks on Industrial Firms Increased by 87% in 2022 Hackers last year targeted mining industries in Australia and New Zealand, and continued their focus on renewable energy companies in…
2 March 2023
Diversity, equity and inclusion - 2 Mar 23
Includes women in work, finance and STEM Working women in South Africa proved their resilience during COVID - as a result they’ve enhanced their well-being Our study investigated the impact of COVID-19 on…
2 March 2023
Climate change - 2 Mar 23
La Niña is finishing an extremely unusual three-year cycle – here’s how it affected weather around the world It was anchovy fishermen in Peru who first noticed and named El Niño events in…
2 March 2023
About YOU - 2 Mar 23
How do I improve my immunity? Expert shares tips on what to do - and what to avoid The human immune system is arguably the most complex system in the human…
22 February 2023
Welcome to Matters of Mind (MM) - 22 Feb 2023
This is our first newsletter on the new Matters of Mind site and we are pleased to bring you a range of articles starting locally with the National Budget. For…
22 February 2023
Health care and related topics - 22 Feb 23
Surgery risks are disproportionately high for women in Africa - new study Improving surgical care for women in low- and middle-income countries is a global health priority. It’s also critical for sustainable…
22 February 2023
Climate change - 22 Feb 23
Includes impact on nature. EU considers ban on ‘forever chemicals’, urges search for alternatives The European Union on Tuesday started to consider a proposal to ban widely used substances known as…
22 February 2023
Fintech, digitisation and AI - 22 Feb 23
Includes Insurtech As ChatGPT’s Popularity Explodes, U.S. Lawmakers Take an Interest ChatGPT, a fast-growing artificial intelligence program, has drawn praise for its ability to write answers quickly to a wide…
22 February 2023
Investments - 22 Feb 23
Includes Banking, Cryptocurrency, ESG and opinions on investing. Global financial markets are flying – but who knows for how long What a difference a new year can make. By the end…
22 February 2023
Insurance and related industry highlights - 22 Feb 23
Extreme inflation and natural disasters call for disciplined risk management The combined impact of economic and geopolitical crises is causing virtually unprecedented levels of complexity in the business environment for…
22 February 2023
International and local economic news; geopolitical events - 22 Feb 23
South Africa’s 2023 budget in a nutshell Finance minister Enoch Godongwana delivered the 2023 National Budget Speech on Wednesday, 22 February. The budget touched on many points and topics, including…
22 February 2023
About YOU - 22 Feb 23
Author Talks: How to stay healthy no matter what One would expect a book on health to focus on the clinical, on exercise, or on healthy eating. We address that,…
16 February 2023
Welcome to Matters of Mind (MM) - 16 Feb 23
"The paradoxical union of intellectual humility and ambition is something that every student can ... and should cultivate. It’s what makes learning possible." Jonathan Malesic This is our first newsletter…
16 February 2023
About YOU
I’ve spent years studying happiness – here’s what actually makes for a happier life It’s one thing to know what makes people happy, but quite another to live a happy life…
16 February 2023
Perspectives and insights to success
What is resilience? Resilience is the ability to not only recover quickly from a crisis but to bounce back better—and even thrive. This McKinsey article is packed to the brim…
16 February 2023
Health care and related topics
Health care and related topics NHI not being built on any one country’s model – Crisp There was no one country on which SA could model its NHI, deputy director-general…
16 February 2023
Climate change
Climate change Climate Is Forcing the Most Risk-Aware Industry to Reinvent Itself It’s becoming a big problem. Insurance provides companies and individuals with the peace of mind that, for a…
16 February 2023
Diversity, equity and inclusion
Diversity, equity and inclusion Women’s voices are missing in the media – including them could generate billions in income How can the news media represent women’s voices better? The answer might…
16 February 2023
Cyber and cyber security
Cyber and cyber security The role of cyber liability insurance in protecting SA businesses According to recent research, South Africa is the world’s sixth biggest cybercrime hotspot, with ransomware attacks…
16 February 2023
Fintech, digitisation and AI
Fintech, digitisation and AI Naked strips down to success with $17m series B funding Naked, a South African artificial intelligence (AI)-driven insurtech company that offers a fully digital way for consumers…
16 February 2023
Investments
Investments Includes Banking, Cryptocurrency, ESG and opinions on investing Tax season is ending soon – here’s how to get the most out of your tax efficient savings products The tax…
16 February 2023
Insurance and related industry highlights
Insurance and related industry highlights How the insurance industry can mitigate SA’s climate-related losses and boost economic resilience South Africa faces numerous risks today, but none are as severe and…
16 February 2023
International and local economic news; geopolitical events
International and local economic news; geopolitical events Earthquakes in Turkey to Cost Insurers More Than $1 Billion, Verisk Estimates “These devasting earthquakes caused not only extensive physical damage, but also…
MM Recent Newsletters
21 April 2023
Welcome to Matters of Mind (MM) – 21 April 2023
“Chains of habit are too light to be felt until they are too heavy to be broken.” – Warren Buffett We often blame outside forces on why we’re feeling burn…
21 April 2023
International and local economic news - 21 Apr 23
Cost-of-living crisis – SA CPI accelerates to 7.1% in March, food inflation at 14-year high South Africa’s cost-of-living crisis is worsening as winter looms, with consumer inflation still accelerating and food…
21 April 2023
Insurance and related industry highlights - 21 Apr 23
FSCA report details the deregistration of more than 6,700 inactive retirement funds The reason for the inordinately high number of dormant or inactive retirement funds dates back to the late 1990s/early…
21 April 2023
Investments - 21 Apr 23
Includes Banking, Cryptocurrency, ESG and opinions on investing Big jump in profit for Capitec – which counts one-third of South Africans as customers Capitec noted that the 2023 financial year,…
21 April 2023
Fintech, digitisation and AI - 21 Apr 23
Includes Insurtech, blockchain Momentum brings in-app screening to life insurance offering More than 10 000 screenings have been completed using Momentum’s in-app digital screening tool, LifeReturns, since its debut late…
21 April 2023
Cyber and cyber security - 21 Apr 23
ChatGPT Poised to Expose Corporate Secrets, Cyber Firm Warns The fear is that the chatbots could be exploited by hackers to access sensitive corporate information or perform actions against the…
21 April 2023
Climate change - 21 Apr 23
What Insurers Should Know About PFAS A perfect storm of PFAS liability momentum is building in the midst of climate change, social inflation and digital accessibility, observes Lauren Angelina, a…
21 April 2023
Health care and related topics - 21 Apr 23
Palliative care conference calls for closer collaboration with medical fraternity The conference co-organisers state, “Palliative care is holistic care that uses a multi-faceted approach to improve the quality of life…
21 April 2023
About YOU - 21 Apr 23
Burnt Out? Here’s How to Cope Employee burnout is a problem that has been around for a long time. However, due to the pandemic and the increased use of technology,…
14 April 2023
Welcome to Matters of Mind (MM) – 14 April 2023
“In a world of change, the learners shall inherit the Earth, while the learned shall find themselves perfectly suited for a world that no longer exists.” Eric Hoffer To be…
14 April 2023
International and local economic news - 14 Apr 23
4 reasons inflation will stay stubbornly high for some time The global economy is entering a period of permanently higher inflation fuelled by four deeper forces, according to an…
14 April 2023
Geopolitical news - 14 Apr 23
Finland joins Nato in a major blow to Putin which doubles the length of the alliance’s border with Russia Throughout the cold war, Finland remained a neutral state – although more due to…
14 April 2023
Insurance and related industry highlights - 14 Apr 23
The South African Revenue Service (SARS) as a case study to explore the relationship between state capture and institutional capacity to address serious and organised crime This project will seek…
14 April 2023
Investments - 14 Apr 23
Includes Banking, Cryptocurrency, ESG and opinions on investing Short-term uncertainty versus long-term certainty “If I asked you what’s the risk in investing, you would answer the risk of losing…
14 April 2023
Fintech, digitisation and AI - 14 Apr 23
Includes Insurtech, blockchain InfoReg examines regulation of ChatGPT, AI in SA South Africa’s Information Regulator is holding internal discussions on how to approach the regulation of viral chatbot ChatGPT and…
14 April 2023
Cyber and cyber security - 14 Apr 23
Which Came First, the Cyber Chicken or the Cyber Egg? Cyber war, cyber catastrophe, systemic cyber risk and other terms have become more widespread as cyber threats increase, but panellists…
14 April 2023
Diversity, equity and inclusion - 14 Apr 23
Includes women in work, finance and STEM The science behind a more meaningful understanding of sexual orientation People who are attracted to others of the same sex develop their orientation before…
14 April 2023
Climate change - 14 Apr 23
Seven ways to recycle heat and reduce carbon emissions Heating of space and water in buildings accounts for about 44% of all energy consumed globally according to the International Energy Agency. This…
14 April 2023
Health care and related topics - 14 Apr 23
Industries can harm health in many ways: here are 3 that aren’t so obvious A recent ground-breaking series of reports in the science journal The Lancet unpacks what commercial determinants of health are,…
14 April 2023
About YOU - 14 Apr 23
Expand Your Horizons by Doing It Anyway “We generate fears while we sit. We overcome them by action.” Dr Henry Link There is nothing like being comfy and cosy in our…
31 March 2023
Welcome to Matters of Mind (MM) – 31 March 2023
"The most important habit is choosing the right habit to work on." James Clear It is the end of the first quarter of 2023 and we have another week of…
31 March 2023
International and local economic news - 31 Mar 23
Why the SA Reserve Bank hike took the market by surprise The South African Reserve Bank (SARB) announced a 50 basis point repo rate increase on Thursday, 30 March –…
31 March 2023
Geopolitical events - 31 Mar 23
Finland clears last obstacle to NATO entry in a blow to Putin (Bloomberg) --Finland is poised to join NATO in a matter of days, bolstering Europe’s security architecture and dealing a…
31 March 2023
Insurance and related industry highlights - 31 Mar 23
Government’s SVB Intervention Saved Insurers From Significant D&O Claims Had the federal government not stepped in to make Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) depositors whole, providers of directors and officers insurance…
31 March 2023
Investments - 31 Mar 23
Includes Banking, Cryptocurrency, ESG and opinions on investing A New Chapter of Capitalism Emerges From the Banking Crisis The idea that finance is an arm of the state is back…
31 March 2023
Fintech, digitisation and AI - 31 Mar 23
Includes Insurtech, blockchain Investment in Telematics, Embedded Insurance Will Help Carriers Compete When Auto Market Shrinks The increasing popularity of electric vehicles (EVs), autonomous vehicles (AVs) and shared-mobility platforms will…
31 March 2023
Diversity, equity and inclusion - 31 Mar 23
Includes women in work, finance and STEM Making mentorship and sponsorship work for women in asset management It’s common knowledge that one of the greatest diversity challenges for South African…
31 March 2023
Climate change - 31 Mar 23
Supercell Storms to Hit South More Often: Study America will probably get more killer tornado- and hail-spawning supercells as the world warms, according to a new study that also warns…
31 March 2023
About YOU - 31 Mar 23
Why do we wake around 3am and dwell on our fears and shortcomings? When I wake at 3am or so, I’m prone to picking on myself. And I know I’m not…
24 March 2023
Welcome to Matters of Mind (MM) - 24 March 2023
On 21 March we celebrated Human Rights Day. Ironically it sits heavy in the hearts of many that they are not free to be themselves. We have made so many…
24 March 2023
International and local economic news - 24 Mar 23
Is The Widely Predicted Recession In The Developed World Still Coming? Economic data prints over the last month have been confusing to say the least – in just three weeks…
24 March 2023
Geopolitical news - 24 Mar 23
Ukraine war: Moldova could be the first domino in a new Russian plan for horizontal escalation One of the consequences of Russia’s war in Ukraine is the fact that the…
24 March 2023
Insurance and related industry highlights - 24 Mar 23
Santam Acquires MTN South Africa Device Insurance Book The acquisition, and alliance, is aimed to support MTN South Africa in broadening the reach of device protection to their clients, in…
24 March 2023
Investments - 24 Mar 23
Includes Banking, Cryptocurrency, ESG and opinions on investing. Secret CEO: Credit Suisse ‘resolution’ has set a dangerous precedent Our columnist argues the way in which the Swiss bank has been…
24 March 2023
Fintech, digitisation and AI - 24 Mar 23
Includes Insurtech, blockchain PayShap must be free – Michael Jordaan Former FNB CEO and venture capitalist Michael Jordaan said that prohibitively high transaction costs will stifle the adoption of PayShap.…
24 March 2023
Diversity, equity and inclusion - 24 Mar 23
Includes women in work, finance and STEM. LGBTQ+ rights: African Union watchdog goes back on its own word The primary human rights watchdog in Africa recently made a decision that departed…
24 March 2023
Climate change - 24 Mar 23
Don’t underestimate local leverage for closing the funding gap for climate change in SA, says author Adam Tooze A shift away from a coal-dependent energy mix is in the best interest…
24 March 2023
Health care and related topics - 24 Mar 23
Eastern Cape Health boosts legal teams to fight bogus medical claims The Eastern Cape provincial Health Department is tackling bogus medical negligence team head on, beefing up its artillery of…
24 March 2023
About YOU - 24 Mar 23
“The biggest obstacle to increasing your self-awareness is the tendency to avoid the discomfort that comes from seeing yourself as you really are.” Travis Bradberry Tiny Thought Things you control:…
17 March 2023
Welcome to Matters of Mind (MM) – 17 March 2023
It is quite remarkable that we choose to study what interests us without realising it may require us to do the things we don’t enjoy, like reading and writing. The…
17 March 2023
International and local economic and geopolitical news - 17 Mar 23
Cholera risk in Malawi climbs as Cyclone Freddy wreaks further havoc Malawi, already having battled its worst cholera outbreak this year, faces renewed risk of the water-borne diarrhoeal disease after heavy…
17 March 2023
Insurance and related industry highlights - 17 Mar 23
The News24 Business Awards celebrate the best in corporate South Africa. We recognise companies and CEOs who are doing excellent work in building their businesses, while also going above and beyond in…
17 March 2023
Investments - 17 Mar 23
Includes Banking, Cryptocurrency, ESG and opinions on investing. Standard Bank CEO endorses central bank digital currencies Standard Bank chief executive Sim Tshabalala has expressed qualified support for central bank digital…
17 March 2023
Fintech, digitisation and AI - 17 Mar 23
Includes Insurtech and blockchain. AI isn’t close to becoming sentient – the real danger lies in how easily we’re prone to anthropomorphize it ChatGPT and similar large language models can produce compelling, humanlike…
17 March 2023
Cyber and cyber security - 17 Mar 23
China Is ‘Big Threat’ to Energy Industry, Cybersecurity Official Says “The big threat we all need to be concerned about is China,” Jen Easterly, director of the US Cybersecurity and…
17 March 2023
Climate change - 17 Mar 23
Including nature and energy. Eskom’s ‘quick fix’ to cut load shedding by 2 stages gets the green light The Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Barbara Creecy, has granted…
17 March 2023
Health care and related topics - 17 Mar 23
Treating rare diseases: How digital technologies can drive innovation Pharmaceutical companies are using recent advances in digital technologies to improve care strategies and provide hope for rare disease patients across…
17 March 2023
Study Techniques - 17 Mar 23
Why write? Writing about something teaches you about what you know, what you don’t know, and how to think. Writing about something is one of the best ways to learn about it. Writing…
10 March 2023
Welcome to Matters of Mind (MM) - 10 March 2023
“When elephants fight, it is the grass that suffers.” African proverb Image by Debbie De Jager from Pixabay Insurance industry analysts predict increased risk of civil unrest globally as a…
10 March 2023
About YOU - 10 Mar 23
The Physiology of Self-Compassion by Dr Kirstin Neff For the past decade or so I’ve been conducting research on self-compassion and have found that people who are compassionate to themselves…
10 March 2023
Health care and related topics - 10 Mar 23
Discovery Vitality reveals “ObeCity Index” showing the South African city with the healthiest weight ahead of World Obesity Day; launches Vitality HealthyWeight programme A fun article which needs to be…
10 March 2023
Climate change - 10 Mar 23
Includes nature and renewable energy. Nature in the balance: What companies can do to restore natural capital Join us for a webinar series from March 20 – 29 featuring our…
10 March 2023
Diversity, equity and inclusion - 10 Mar 23
Includes women in work, finance and STEM Transformative perspectives: Women leaders in insurance In this series of interviews, female insurance executives and McKinsey partners offer a rich tapestry of viewpoints…
10 March 2023
Fintech, digitisation and AI - 10 Mar 23
Includes Insurtech, blockchain The road to a digitally enabled insurance industry Every participant in the insurance industry is evaluating digitisation as an essential part of their long term strategy. In…
10 March 2023
Investments - 10 Mar 23
Includes Banking, Cryptocurrency, ESG and opinions on investing Why South Africa’s greylisting didn’t move the rand. At Prescient, we cautiously monitor economic themes, inflation dynamics, labour market trends and market behaviour…
10 March 2023
Insurance and related industry highlights - 10 Mar 23
Allianz Risk Barometer 2023 The Allianz Risk Barometer is an annual business risk ranking compiled by Allianz Group’s corporate insurer Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty (AGCS), together with other Allianz entities, which…
10 March 2023
International and local economic and geopolitical news - 10 Mar 23
How can our universities help to mitigate disaster risk? The destruction caused by the earthquake and its aftershocks that hit Türkiye and Syria in February has turned the spotlight on…
2 March 2023
Welcome to Matters of Mind (MM) – 2 March 2023
For those of you who are receiving this email for the first time, it is all about bringing you articles, discussions, podcasts and commentaries that will open your mind to…
2 March 2023
Fintech, digitisation and AI - 2 Mar 23
Includes Insurtech, blockchain, AA (Advanced Analytics) On the brink: Realizing the value of analytics in insurance Advanced analytics (AA)—including artificial intelligence and machine-learning methods— continues to be a top-of-mind topic…
2 March 2023
Insurance and related industry highlights - 2 Mar 23
China Urges State-Owned Firms to Drop Big 4 Auditors Over Data Security Concerns Chinese authorities have urged state-owned firms to phase out using the four biggest international accounting firms, signaling…
2 March 2023
Investments - 2 Mar 23
Includes Banking, Cryptocurrency, ESG and opinions on investing. What did SA fund selectors think of the budget? To find out how the Citywire South African community felt about what the…
2 March 2023
International and local economic and geopolitical news - 2 Mar 23
It’s official — South Africa fails to avoid greylisting The move constitutes a blow to SA’s international financial standing around the world, and the Reserve Bank has warned that greylisting could…
2 March 2023
Cyber and cyber security - 2 Mar 23
Ransomware Attacks on Industrial Firms Increased by 87% in 2022 Hackers last year targeted mining industries in Australia and New Zealand, and continued their focus on renewable energy companies in…
2 March 2023
Diversity, equity and inclusion - 2 Mar 23
Includes women in work, finance and STEM Working women in South Africa proved their resilience during COVID - as a result they’ve enhanced their well-being Our study investigated the impact of COVID-19 on…
2 March 2023
Climate change - 2 Mar 23
La Niña is finishing an extremely unusual three-year cycle – here’s how it affected weather around the world It was anchovy fishermen in Peru who first noticed and named El Niño events in…
2 March 2023
About YOU - 2 Mar 23
How do I improve my immunity? Expert shares tips on what to do - and what to avoid The human immune system is arguably the most complex system in the human…
22 February 2023
Welcome to Matters of Mind (MM) - 22 Feb 2023
This is our first newsletter on the new Matters of Mind site and we are pleased to bring you a range of articles starting locally with the National Budget. For…
22 February 2023
Health care and related topics - 22 Feb 23
Surgery risks are disproportionately high for women in Africa - new study Improving surgical care for women in low- and middle-income countries is a global health priority. It’s also critical for sustainable…
22 February 2023
Climate change - 22 Feb 23
Includes impact on nature. EU considers ban on ‘forever chemicals’, urges search for alternatives The European Union on Tuesday started to consider a proposal to ban widely used substances known as…
22 February 2023
Fintech, digitisation and AI - 22 Feb 23
Includes Insurtech As ChatGPT’s Popularity Explodes, U.S. Lawmakers Take an Interest ChatGPT, a fast-growing artificial intelligence program, has drawn praise for its ability to write answers quickly to a wide…
22 February 2023
Investments - 22 Feb 23
Includes Banking, Cryptocurrency, ESG and opinions on investing. Global financial markets are flying – but who knows for how long What a difference a new year can make. By the end…
22 February 2023
Insurance and related industry highlights - 22 Feb 23
Extreme inflation and natural disasters call for disciplined risk management The combined impact of economic and geopolitical crises is causing virtually unprecedented levels of complexity in the business environment for…
22 February 2023
International and local economic news; geopolitical events - 22 Feb 23
South Africa’s 2023 budget in a nutshell Finance minister Enoch Godongwana delivered the 2023 National Budget Speech on Wednesday, 22 February. The budget touched on many points and topics, including…
22 February 2023
About YOU - 22 Feb 23
Author Talks: How to stay healthy no matter what One would expect a book on health to focus on the clinical, on exercise, or on healthy eating. We address that,…
16 February 2023
Welcome to Matters of Mind (MM) - 16 Feb 23
"The paradoxical union of intellectual humility and ambition is something that every student can ... and should cultivate. It’s what makes learning possible." Jonathan Malesic This is our first newsletter…
16 February 2023
About YOU
I’ve spent years studying happiness – here’s what actually makes for a happier life It’s one thing to know what makes people happy, but quite another to live a happy life…
16 February 2023
Perspectives and insights to success
What is resilience? Resilience is the ability to not only recover quickly from a crisis but to bounce back better—and even thrive. This McKinsey article is packed to the brim…
16 February 2023
Health care and related topics
Health care and related topics NHI not being built on any one country’s model – Crisp There was no one country on which SA could model its NHI, deputy director-general…
16 February 2023
Climate change
Climate change Climate Is Forcing the Most Risk-Aware Industry to Reinvent Itself It’s becoming a big problem. Insurance provides companies and individuals with the peace of mind that, for a…
16 February 2023
Diversity, equity and inclusion
Diversity, equity and inclusion Women’s voices are missing in the media – including them could generate billions in income How can the news media represent women’s voices better? The answer might…
16 February 2023
Cyber and cyber security
Cyber and cyber security The role of cyber liability insurance in protecting SA businesses According to recent research, South Africa is the world’s sixth biggest cybercrime hotspot, with ransomware attacks…
16 February 2023
Fintech, digitisation and AI
Fintech, digitisation and AI Naked strips down to success with $17m series B funding Naked, a South African artificial intelligence (AI)-driven insurtech company that offers a fully digital way for consumers…
16 February 2023
Investments
Investments Includes Banking, Cryptocurrency, ESG and opinions on investing Tax season is ending soon – here’s how to get the most out of your tax efficient savings products The tax…
16 February 2023
Insurance and related industry highlights
Insurance and related industry highlights How the insurance industry can mitigate SA’s climate-related losses and boost economic resilience South Africa faces numerous risks today, but none are as severe and…
16 February 2023
International and local economic news; geopolitical events
International and local economic news; geopolitical events Earthquakes in Turkey to Cost Insurers More Than $1 Billion, Verisk Estimates “These devasting earthquakes caused not only extensive physical damage, but also…