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International News

EU aims to set global standards for AI, fines for violations

The move comes as China moves ahead in the AI race, while the COVID-19 pandemic has underlined the importance of algorithms and internet-connected gadgets in daily life.

“On artificial intelligence, trust is a must, not a nice to have. With these landmark rules, the EU is spearheading the development of new global norms to make sure AI can be trusted,” European tech chief Margrethe Vestager said in a statement.

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AIIB launches Sustainable Development Bond framework

Under the framework, annual reporting on the Bank’s overall portfolio level and project level environmental and social benefits will be made available on the AIIB official website.

“Under its mission of Financing Infrastructure for Tomorrow, AIIB will continue to scale up its sustainable and inclusive investments to meet clients’ needs for low-carbon and climate-resilient infrastructure,”said Domenico Nardelli,treasurer,AIIB

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HSBC Life appoints global head of customer proposition

In her new role, Ying will lead HSBC Life’s Product Strategy, Proposition and Governance teams, reinsurance capabilities, and Bermuda captive business. She will lead the rapid evolution of HSBC Life’s nascent Health and Employee Benefits platforms, shape the business’ sustainability agenda, and embed a systematic customer-centric design culture in both our products and platforms. 

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Governments need to be ‘insurers of last resort’ to protect businesses from pandemic risks: Report

Jad Ariss, Managing Director, The Geneva Association, said: “It is a tragedy that businesses, particularly SMEs, have suffered so much financial loss during the pandemic as a result of the lockdowns, which were beyond their control. The public sector had to step in with multi-trillion dollar emergency relief measures. Governments and insurers must work together on how to close the massive protection gap exposed by COVID-19, with governments as the leading players.”

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Kenyan insurer Pula offers lifeline to African farmers hit by climate change, to foray into Brazil and India

CEO Thomas Njeru co-founded the company in 2015 with Dutch entrepreneur Rose Goslinga after the pair spotted a gap in the insurance market.
Because of climate change, farmers are having to contend with unpredictable rain patterns, frequent droughts and even the emergence of new pests and diseases, Njeru said.In January, Pula raised $6 million in a funding round led by London-based TLcom Capital, to invest in new markets, strengthen existing products and design new ones. Njeru said the company’s next targets are Brazil and India.

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TikTok faces claim for billions in London child privacy lawsuit

Anne Longfield, the former Children’s Commissioner for England alleged that every child that has used TikTok since May 25, 2018, may have had private personal information illegally collected by ByteDance through TikTok for the benefit of unknown third parties.

“Parents and children have a right to know that private information, including phone numbers, physical location, and videos of their children are being illegally collected,” she said, as a website to detail the case goes live.

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Covid vaccine-makers largely protected on side effects

While some governments will pay compensation due to sufferers, others assume it is the responsibility of the companies even after drug agencies back the vaccines.
In the US, the Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness Act authorises the health secretary “to limit legal liability for losses relating to the administration of medical countermeasures such as diagnostics, treatments, and vaccines”.

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