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Global CO2 emissions could fall by up to 7% this year amid pandemic: research

China saw the largest drop in emissions in April, followed by the United States, Europe and India.

In the countries with the strictest lockdown restrictions, emissions from aviation plunged 75% in early April, while emissions from land transport fell by 50% and from power generation by 15%.Emissions from industry declined by around 35%, with a lack of data causing some uncertainty. Emissions from residential buildings, however, increased by 5%, the study said.

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Johnson & Johnson to stop selling talc-based baby powder in U.S. and Canada

J&J faces more than 16,000 lawsuits from consumers claiming its talc products, including Johnson’s Baby Powder, caused their cancer. The majority are pending before a U.S. district judge in New Jersey.

The lawsuits allege that the company’s talc products have been contaminated with asbestos, a known carcinogen. J&J said it “remains steadfastly confident in the safety of talc-based Johnson’s Baby Powder,” citing “decades of scientific studies.”In April, a New Jersey judge ruled that thousands of plaintiffs who allege that J&J’s talc products caused cancer can go forward with their claims, but face limits on what expert testimony will be allowed in trials.

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COVID-19 to accelerate use of drone technology among insurers, says GlobalData

Drone technology will become more widespread in insurance as natural disasters hit different geographies. Climate change has worsened extreme weather conditions such as hurricanes, floods, and tsunamis as well as non-weather natural disasters like earthquakes, volcanoes, and wildfires. After a disaster during the lockdowns, home insurers can use drones to inspect properties while still social distancing.

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WHO oversight body backs pandemic review, suggests reforms

“An imperfect and evolving understanding is not unusual during the early phase of a novel disease emergence. Many uncertainties still remain about COVID-19,” the seven-member panel said. It warned that “rising politicization of pandemic response” is impeding defeat of the virus, adding: “WHO cannot succeed without unified global political support”.

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Over 2 million UK self-employed claim COVID grants – Sunak

The scheme, which was launched last week and provides grants of up to 7,500 pounds, is part of the government’s attempts to soften the hit of the coronavirus shutdown on the economy.

Sunak said the centrepiece of Britain’s economic policy response to COVID-19 – a programme to pay 80% of the wages of temporarily laid-off employees – now covered 8 million workers.

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