Disasters deadlier but cost insurers less

ZURICH • Catastrophes in 2015 proved more deadly than the previous year, although the total cost to the insurance industry is likely to be 8.6 per cent lower at US$32 billion (S$45.2 billion), reinsurance specialist Swiss Re has said.

Some 26,000 people died from disasters this year, more than double the fatalities counted in 2014, according to Swiss Re's annual "sigma" report on expected global insured losses yesterday.

REUTERS

Julie Bishop screened at Melbourne airport

MELBOURNE • A security worker at Melbourne airport was suspended from her job after supposedly singling out Australia's Foreign Minister Julie Bishop for screening. It was revealed yesterday that Ms Bishop was stopped by the worker while on her way to board a flight to New York on Sept 22. The worker has since been reinstated.

XINHUA

French chef fined for destroying forest

ANNECY (France) • Michelin-starred French chef Marc Veyrat, chosen to cook for world leaders at the United Nations climate talks in Paris, was yesterday served a €100,000 (S$153,000) fine for destroying the forest around his Alpine restaurant.

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE