Delegates from the Americas meet to discuss disaster risk
A major meeting of delegates from 35 countries of The Americas meet Wednesday (June 8) in Paraguay to discuss disaster risk reduction across the region.
The region ranks second to Asia as the most disaster prone region of the world with 93 major recorded disasters in 2015. The UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR) says that 31.6 per cent of disaster mortality in the world over the last 10 years has been in the Americas.
“This is a very important gathering for the Americas. It is the first opportunity for the region to discuss how to implement the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction and a sign of the region’s commitment to strengthening disaster risk governance,” said UNISDR head Robert Glasser.
The two-day meeting will aim to develop guidelines for a regional action plan that will encourage countries and communities to reduce disaster risk and potential losses.
Top 15 insurance brokerage in $2 billion acquisition talks
A sale of top 15 US insurance brokerage Acrisure could be a step closer. Reuters reports that talks are underway between the brokerage’s owners and Blackstone Group.
It was reported in January that current owner Genstar was considering a sale which could value the brokerage at $2 billion. Blackstone has been the frontrunner to acquire Acrisure but there is no certainly that talks will result in a deal.
Canadian pot users not “smokers” say two major insurers
Two Canadian insurance companies have changed their position on pot smokers. The National Post reports that Sun Life and BMO have made the move based on the latest medical evidence.
Sun Life, the report says, will assess marijuana users as non-smokers unless they also smoke tobacco. BMO will allow those who smoke up to two “marijuana cigarettes” per week to be classed as non-smokers.
“They’re trying to get an edge on the other companies,” Lorne Marr of LSM Insurance in Toronto suggested to
the Post. “I don’t think they’re just trying to lower consumers’ premiums.”
