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International News

Public, not polluters, too often pay to clean up environment, EU auditors say

“Polluters need to pay for the environmental damage they cause,” said report author Viorel Stefan. “Up to now, though, European taxpayers have far too often been forced to bear the costs that polluters should have paid.”

The auditors looked at a sample of 42 environmental clean-up projects, backed by 180 million euros ($214 million) of EU funds, to fix issues like industrial pollution and contaminated landfill sites in Italy, Poland and Portugal.

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U.K. is easing Covid rules, bringing businesses fresh concerns

Ministers highlight the link between infections, hospitalizations and deaths has been weakened by one of the world’s most advanced vaccination programs, yet infections have increased by two-thirds in the past week, fueled by the fast-spreading delta variant.
Tony Danker, director-general of the Confederation of British Industry, said it will be “critical” to build both customer and employee confidence and that the government has a “vital” role to play in providing guidance to employers. The big question remains: Will consumers come back?

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Unveiling its last petrol car, Lotus sets off in pursuit of Porsche

The Emira, which will start at around 60,000 pounds ($83,000), is the first new petrol Lotus model in more than a decade but it will be the last powered by fossil fuels.
Lotus is currently developing an electric sports car platform in partnership with Renault for the French company’s Alpine brand, and that framework will also be available to other carmakers.
Lotus and its Chinese owner Geely want to transform what is now a tiny company making some 1,500 sports cars a year into an electric powerhouse churning out tens of thousands of high-end saloons and sports-utility vehicles (SUVs) as well.

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Up to 1,500 businesses affected by ransomware attack, says US firm’s CEO

One of those tools was subverted on Friday, allowing the hackers to paralyze hundreds of businesses on all five continents. Although most of those affected have been small concerns – like dentists’ offices or accountants – the disruption has been felt more keenly in Sweden, where hundreds of supermarkets had to close because their cash registers were inoperative, or New Zealand, where schools and kindergartens were knocked offline.

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New Zealand gov’t to establish consumer data right

“Any data shared through the consumer data right will only take place with a person’s informed consent and would be strictly used for the reasons agreed upon. For example, if a person was seeking financial advice, they could ask their bank to share data, such as transaction information, with their chosen adviser,” New Zealand, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister David Clark said.

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AXA XL appoints Marine Ress as Chief Underwriting Officer, Casualty for APAC & Europe

Etienne Champion, Chief Underwriting Officer, APAC & Europe, said: “The casualty insurance market has seen increased frequency and severity of losses in recent years and is undergoing transformation due to the emergence of new risks, notably those associated with new technologies. Our clients and brokers turn to us to help them navigate these developments.”

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