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France sees collapse in births to lowest since World War Two
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China’s population drops for 2nd year, raises long-term growth concerns
The National Bureau of Statistics said the total number of people...
Pakistan could be next polio-free nation, says WHO
Speaking at an event on World Polio Day on Saturday here, WHO Country Representative Dr Palitha Mahipala said after over 30 years of effort, the African region was certified as free of wild polio in August, and Pakistan could be the next country on the journey to a polio-free world, the Dawn News reported on Sunday.
Russians who pose threat to US elections have hacked nuclear plants and power grid
In other attacks, it has hijacked the software updates for computers attached to industrial control systems. It has also blasted targets with phishing emails in search of employees, or co-workers, who might have access to critical systems at water, power and nuclear plants.
Xi’s carbon neutrality vow to reshape China’s five-year plan
“The understanding is that there is no time to waste if China is to achieve carbon neutrality by 2060.,said Kevin Lo, Associate Director at the David C. Lam Institute for East-West Studies in Hong Kong, who studies China’s environmental policies.
Experts say China needs to bring the share of coal in its total energy mix from 58% last year to less than 50% by 2025, and provide enhanced support for technology like carbon capture.
It could start by setting an absolute emissions cap for the first time, said Zou Ji, head of the Energy Foundation China, which has been involved in five-year plan research.
South Korea urges people to get flu vaccinations despite death tolls
“Vaccination offers far greater benefits compared to side effects, and both the WHO and domestic and overseas experts agree,” Health Minister Park Neung-hoo told a briefing on Sunday, in a reference to the World Health Organization.
Last year, more than 1,500 elderly people died within seven days of receiving flu vaccines, but those deaths were not linked to the vaccinations, the government said.
As South Korea presses on with its inoculations, southeast Asia’s tiny city state of Singapore became one of the first nations this week to call a temporary halt to the use of two influenza vaccines, as a precaution.
Insurance costs too steep? Try writing your own
“For many, insurance has become or is becoming more expensive, so people are turning to captives,” said Rodney Bonnard, insurance leader for EY UK Financial Services.
“We are seeing a massive uptick.Seventy-six new captives were formed this year globally, a 200% year-on-year growth, according to insurance broker Marsh. That level of growth is “unprecedented”, Michael Serricchio of Marsh Captive Solutions told a recent webinar.
U.S. says AIG settles tax shelter lawsuit, forgoes over $400 million tax credits
“AIG created an elaborate series of sham transactions that were designed to do nothing–and in fact did nothing–other than generate hundreds of millions of dollars in ill-gotten tax benefits,” Acting U.S. Attorney Audrey Strauss in Manhattan said in a statement.
Swiss Re raises $ 775 mn Cat bond for California Earthquake Authority, to protect Californians against earthquakes
“Swiss Re’s mission as a company is to make the world more resilient. We’re delighted to partner with CEA which has been helping to protect Californians from the financial consequences of earthquakes for almost 25 years,“ said Jonathan Isherwood, Swiss Re’s CEO Reinsurance Americas and Regional President.
“Only around 13% of Californians who purchase residential insurance also have earthquake protection. It’s not a matter of if, but when, the next one strikes. This transaction supports CEA’s ability to extend financial protection to a greater number of California residents who are highly exposed to earthquakes.“
U.S. breaks daily record for coronavirus cases with over 84,000 new infections
Health experts have not pinpointed the reason for the rise but have long warned that colder temperatures driving people inside, fatigue with COVID-19 precautions and students returning to schools and colleges, could promote the spread of the virus.
The United States has the most cases in the world at 8.5 million and the most fatalities with 224,000 lives lost. The United States has reported over the past week an average of 60,000 new cases per day, the highest seven-day average since early August.
Countries battle rising coronavirus cases as WHO sees ‘exponential’ rise
WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus had on Friday warned that “too many countries are seeing an exponential increase in Covid-19 cases and that is now leading to hospitals and intensive care units running close to or above capacity — and we’re still only in October.”
“We urge leaders to take immediate action to prevent further unnecessary deaths.”
AstraZeneca resumes U.S. COVID-19 vaccine trial and next week J&J prepares to do same
AstraZeneca said that it is not unusual for some trial participants to fall ill during large scale vaccine trials but that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has reviewed all safety data from the trials globally and deemed it safe to continue testing the vaccine.
AstraZeneca trials in the United Kingdom, Brazil and South Africa resumed last month even as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration continued its investigation into the case.