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International News

Wildfires, thawing permafrost pose new challenge to curb climate change: Study

As temperatures rise and permafrost thaws, carbon dioxide and methane trapped within the long-frozen soil are released. The deeper the thaw, the more gas is released.

That threatens to create a feedback loop that contributes to even more warming of the atmosphere, scientists warn in a study published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

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WHO says authorised vaccines effective against new variants, but cautions against overseas travel

“Right now, in the face of a continued threat and new uncertainty, we need to continue to exercise caution, and rethink or avoid international travel,” Hans Kluge said, adding that “pockets of increasing transmission” on the continent could quickly spread. The so-called Indian variant, which may be more transmissible, has now been identified in at least 26 of the 53 countries in the WHO Europe region, Kluge said during his weekly press conference.

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How Mumbai’s City Officials Made It More Covid-Ready Than Delhi

With a population of 16 million spread across glistening skyscrapers, apartment complexes and sprawling slums, Mumbai is the world’s second-most densely packed city, according to data from the United Nations. About 32,000 people are crammed in per square kilometer. That makes lessons from India’s financial capital particularly valuable as fears grow about outbreaks in other crowded places from Bangkok to Kathmandu.

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USA and China to lead global insurance industry’s growth in 2021: Allianz

the USA (+5.3%) and China (+13.4%) are likely to be the two growth engines. Following the sharp slump in the previous year, the recovery in the life segment (+5.7%) will be somewhat stronger than in the p&c segment (+4.2%).

The strong growth should continue in subsequent years, driven by the increased focus on sustainability and the further rise of the emerging markets.

Globally, average growth of over 5% over the next ten years appears possible.

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