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AstraZeneca acknowledges potential link between vaccine and rare blood clots in UK court
The Daily Telegraph' reports that in a legal document submitted to...
WHO says bird flu risk currently low, asks countries to remain vigilant
The UN-agency said countries should implement infection control...
U.K. points to Political Risk in new Hong Kong business guidance
The UK government updated its guidance Tuesday for the business risk level in Hong Kong to include a warning that a China-drafted national security law imposed last year was “already reducing the extent to which the people of Hong Kong are able to exercise their fundamental rights and freedoms.”
The guidance also lays out recent political changes in Hong Kong, citing “increasing concerns” about freedom of speech and the risk of police action against perceived national security threats.
Australian regulator raises antitrust doubts over Aon’s $30-billion Willis Towers bid
The regulator said the deal may lead to price increases or reduced service levels for large or high-value commercial insurance customers and may also limit the insurance coverage and pricing smaller brokers could get for their customers.
Food delivery Apps may be forced to employ Gig workers in Spain
Under rules expected to be proposed as soon as this week, companies such as Uber Eats, Deliveroo and Barcelona-based Glovo may be forced to offer wages, social security and unemployment benefits to 30,000 platform couriers working in the euro area’s fourth-largest economy, a labor ministry spokesperson said on Tuesday.
Uber defends contractors ahead of EU law on gig workers’ rights
The company has been criticized for classifying its drivers as independent contractors rather than employees entitled to rights, such as a minimum wage, paid holidays and rest breaks.Uber has a mixed record in defending its business model. It scored a victory in California in November last year when voters passed a proposition allowing it to treat its drivers as contractors. One of its biggest tests so far will be on Feb. 19 when the UK Supreme Court will rule on workers’ rights.
France to boost cyberdefence after hospital malware attacks
The hospital in Villefranche-sur-Saone, located north of the city of Lyon, said its phone system went down during a cyberattack on Monday that forced a preemptive shutoff of the internet service and other networks to keep the ransomware from spreading.
The hospital also had to postpone surgeries planned for the following day. but said patient safety was preserved. The Dax hospital in southwestern France reported a similar attack last week. Without phones and computers working, health care workers had to use pen and paper for record keeping. The French cybersecurity agency is helping to investigate the attacks.
UN: 130 countries haven’t received single Covid-19 vaccine dose
He urged the leading economic members of G20 to establish an emergency task force to bring together “the pharmaceutical companies and key industry and logistics actors”.
“To better understand this pandemic and prepare for the next one, all countries must make available all data from the earliest days of any outbreak. And going forward, all countries should participate in a transparent and robust process for preventing and responding to health emergencies, so the world learns as much as possible as soon as possible.”
Arctic blast: 100 million Americans brace for more cold, ice and snow
Blame the polar vortex, a weather pattern that usually keeps to the Arctic, but is increasingly visiting lower latitudes and staying beyond its welcome. Scientists say global warming caused by humans is partly responsible for making its southward escapes longer and more frequent.
Munich Re Life and Health announces new leadership for Southeast Asia and Digital Solutions
Munich: Munich Re has announced two senior appointments in its Life and Health business in the region. Aravind Srinivas will lead the Group’s Southeast Asia business and Tobias Frenz takes on responsibility for a newly formed business capability...
Africa Specialty Risks Group partners with GIC Re & Peak Re to launch new capacity for African region
ASR has secured additional multi-year binder capacity of up to $25 million per risk through a partnership with India’s GIC Re and annual capacity from Hong Kong based Peak Re.
Mikir Shah, CEO,ASR, said “ Securing additional capacity could not come at a more meaningful time for ASR. Following our launch mid-Pandemic in September 2020, we have seen a reduction in available capacity as traditional underwriters withdraw from emerging markets to focus on their more developed domestic markets”
UK Supreme Court allows Nigerians to sue Shell in English courts – ruling
Nigeria’s Ogale and Bille communities allege their lives and health have suffered because repeated oil spills have contaminated the land, swamps, groundwater and waterways and that there has been no adequate cleaning or remediation.