Category:

International News

Covid-19: Delta variant ‘poised to take hold’ in Europe, warns WHO

During a press briefing on Thursday, WHO’s Dr Hans Kluge said the variant also known as the delta variant, has shown signs of being able to evade some vaccines and warned that many vulnerable populations, particularly those over age 60, remain unprotected.
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Thursday warned that COVID-19 cases and hospitalisations are “very clearly” on the rise in the country and that he continues to assess the vaccination data to decide on whether to end all lockdown measures by June 21.

read more

Emerging risks set to shape a post-COVID-19 world:Swiss Re

COVID-19 to worsen income inequality; growth in the global middle class slowed and poverty levels rose in 2020
• Government support programmes have kept alive unviable zombie companies, leading to increased credit and financial market risks
• Electric vehicles and other decarbonised means of transport can
cut up to 24% of current C02 emissions from fuel combustion

read more

Global insurance industry faces IFRS 17 costs estimated at $15 to $20 bn:Willis Towers Watson

Kamran Foroughi, Global IFRS 17 Advisory Leader at Willis Towers Watson, said: “This is an extraordinary figure that will naturally lead to many questions from Boards and investors.
“For many, significant improvements will also be required in business processes and finance operations to deliver IFRS 17 efficiently and link with other metrics. With smart investment and the right people, an insurer’s IFRS 17 programme has the potential to help deliver long-term annual savings to show against the daunting up-front costs.”

read more

Global crackdown on organised crime after high-tech U.S.-Australia sting

The operation, which was conceived by Australian police and the FBI in 2018, saw officials in the United States take control of the ANOM messaging app, which is popular with organised crime networks.

When an Australian underworld figure began distributing customised phones containing the app to his associates as a secure means to communicate, police could monitor their messages. The gangs believed the system was secure because the phones did not have any other capabilities – no voice or camera functions were loaded – and the app was encrypted.

read more

US to treat growing ransomware incidents as terror attacks

Christopher Wray, Director of the FBI, told The Wall Street Journal that the country is facing a similar challenge like 9/11, and the Bureau has identified about 100 different types of ransomware, several of them being traced to Russia.

“There are a lot of parallels, there’s a lot of importance, and a lot of focus by us on disruption and prevention. There’s a shared responsibility, not just across government agencies but across the private sector and even the average American,” Wray told WSJ on Saturday.

read more