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International News

Biden doubles U.S. spending on preparations for extreme weather

The $1 billion will help communities prepare for hurricanes, floods and wildfires, with a portion allotted specifically to disadvantaged communities, the White House said.

It said the United States had 22 separate weather- and climate-related disasters in 2020 costing a total of nearly $100 billion in losses.

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Africa Specialty Risks unveils Parametric Underwriting Division

Mikir Shah, CEO of ASR, commented: “The establishment of the parametric division demonstrates our commitment to de-risking investment and increasing resilience across the African continent. Our vision is to unlock greater and more streamlined protections for insureds, ensuring that inward investment in Africa continues to boost economic activity and growth on the continent, via the integration of innovative, technological solutions. 

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As China grows old, elder care costs loom large

According to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), in about 25 years, one-third of China’s population will be retirees, and their living and health care expenses will take up one-fourth of the country’s Gross domestic product (GDP). Moreover, China’s increasing elderly population will reduce the supply of labor force and increase the burden on families’ elder care and the pressure on the supply of basic public services.

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Ship owner says Suez Canal was at fault over Ever Given grounding: Lawyer

The Ever Given, one of the world’s largest container ships, became jammed across the canal in high winds on March 23, and remained grounded for six days, blocking traffic in both directions and disrupting global trade.

The vessel has since been held in a lake between two stretches of the canal as the Suez Canal Authority (SCA) pursues a $916.5 million claim against Japanese owner Shoei Kisen.

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CNA Paid $40 Million in Ransom After March Cyber Attack

Ransomware attacks — and particularly payments — are rarely disclosed so it’s difficult to know what the biggest ransoms have been. The average payment in 2020 was $312,493, according to Palo Alto Networks, a 171% increase over the previous year. The $40 million payment is bigger than any previously disclosed payments to hackers, according to three people familiar with ransomware negotiations.

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Biden directs US federal agencies to mitigate financial risk from climate

An executive order Biden issued Thursday calls for concrete steps to mitigate climate risks, while protecting workers’ life savings, spurring job creation and helping the United States lower greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to climate change.

New regulations could be issued on the banking, housing and agriculture sectors, among others.

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