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Pollution likely to cut 9 years of life expectancy of 40% of Indians

More than 480 million people living in the vast swathes of central, eastern and northern India, including the capital, New Delhi, endure significantly high pollution levels, said the report prepared by the Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago (EPIC).

“Alarmingly, India’s high levels of air pollution have expanded geographically over time,” the EPIC report said.

Total global reinsurance capacity rises 7% to $ 517 billion in 2020, Munich Re regains top ranking: AM Best

From Asia, there are three reinsurers which are part of top 15 global reinsurers. They are China Re, Korea Re and India’s state owned GIC Re(13), with a global premium of $6,481 billion in 2020.  
Although the global reinsurance industry has been able to absorb the exceptional shock from the COVID-19 pandemic, perils that are becoming more complex and interrelated highlight the need for innovation to cover unmodeled risks as they emerge, and traditional risks as they evolve, according to the special report.

Ping An Insurance denies regulator halted sales of alternative investments

The nation’s largest insurer by market value is facing a setback after impairments related to troubled property developer China Fortune Land Development Co. wiped 20.8 billion yuan ($3.2 billion) from profit in the first half. The company on Friday had signaled the worst of the hit may be over and it may even claw back some of the losses this year if the debt situation of the developer improves.

Uber proposes industry-wide gig worker benefits model in Canada

Uber said it advocates for benefits funds everywhere, but added that labor laws, social safety nets and different cultures meant it would pursue a different approach in every country, with Monday’s proposal tailored to Canada.

Gig companies have long been criticized for the lack of benefits and protections they offer their independent contractor workers. Many labor unions, some lawmakers and the Biden administration have said gig workers should be reclassified as employees.

The companies have also faced several lawsuits in Canada and the United States alleging worker misclassification.

Chinese regulators seek more control over internet firms’ algorithms

Under the draft regulations, companies must disclose the basic principles, purpose and operation mechanism of its algorithm recommendation services, and must include convenient options for users to turn off the recommendation service.

Algorithms should also not be used in ways that may cause addictive behaviors in users, or induce them to spend excessively. It was not immediately clear how that would be enforced.

Majority of corporate employees want to work from home at least once a week: Survey

Among other findings, 91 per cent of the respondents favoured flexible working hours. Stating that the priorities of the workforce have undergone a shift, the consultant said corporate employees want an empathetic employer and work-life balance, more than a comfortable salary. The pandemic has prioritised working in an environment that puts health and well-being at the forefront.

Alpha, Delta and more: Why coronavirus variants are causing alarm

The four variants of concern — alpha, beta, gamma and delta — all carry multiple mutations affecting the spike protein. That raises questions about whether people who have developed antibodies to the “regular” or “wild type” strain — either from a vaccine or from having recovered from Covid — will be able to fight off the new variants.

Weather disasters becoming more frequent and costly, UN agency says

“Thanks to our early warning service improvement we have been able to have a decrease of the casualties at these kind of events, but the bad news is that the economic losses have been growing very rapidly and this growth is supposed to continue,” WMO Secretary-General Petteri Taalas told a press conference.

“We are going to see more climatic extreme because of climate change and this negative trend in climate will continue for the coming decades,” he said.

Covid breakthrough infections in India within expected numbers: INSACOG

The number of reported vaccination breakthroughs in India are well within the numbers expected from the total number of infections, the fraction of population that is vaccinated and the known reduction in the effectiveness of Covishield/Covaxin against infections by Delta.Vaccines continue to protect against severe disease and remain a cornerstone of public health strategy, the bulletin dated August 30 said.