Vegetarians offered life insurance carrot (Guardian Unlimited)
Vegetarians and fish-eaters are being offered reduced-price life insurance through a scheme launched today by a not-for-profit insurance business. Non-meat eaters will be offered a 6% discount on premiums available from Animal Friends Insurance (AFI), in a deal believed to be the first of its kind.

Taiwan Life Has Loss on Subprime Fund; Shares Fall (Update1) (Bloomberg.com)
Aug. 2 (Bloomberg) -- Taiwan Life Insurance Co. booked a NT$428 million ($13 million) loss in the first half on its investment in a Bear Stearns Cos. fund containing U.S. sub-prime mortgages. The company's shares slumped.

Fitch Ratings Updates Quantitative Ratings on U.S. Life Insurance Companies (Business Wire via Yahoo! Finance)
CHICAGO----Fitch Ratings has updated the Quantitative Insurer Financial Strength ratings assigned to life insurance companies in the U.S., resulting in 196 rating affirmations, 29 rating upgrades, and 13 rating downgrades.

Vegetarians offered cheaper life insurance (Insurance Business Review)
Animal Friends Insurance, a not-for-profit UK insurance organization, has launched a new scheme that offers vegetarians lower premiums on life insurance, The Guardian has reported.