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International News

Canada unprepared for facing climate change induced mega-hurricane-risk:Swiss-re-

But as ocean surfaces warm, the frequency, duration and intensity of storms increase. That’s extending their range and making Canada, where just one or two tropical cyclones make landfall each year, more vulnerable, according to the Zurich-based company, which provides reinsurance to 15% of the country’s insurance industry.

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Italy probes Allianz Direct, Zurich for alleged cartel among automobile insurers

In a statement, the Italian Competition Authority said the companies involved were able to charge consumers higher premiums for automobile insurance policies as a result of the insurers and price comparison companies regularly sharing reports, prepared by the price comparers, of “sensitive information” on the market for auto policies.The probe involves, among others, Allianz Direct, Admiral Intermediary Services, Linear, Genertel, Zurich and price comparison websites such as facile.it.

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Hackers offer decrypt key to Irish Health Service with a catch

While seeming to offer an olive branch — sharing a link to download the decryption key — the group reiterated its threats to disclose patient data unless Irish authorities paid the $20 million ransom demand.

“We are providing the decryption tool for your network for free,” the hackers said in the message posted on Thursday, which was reviewed by Bloomberg News. “But you should understand that we will sell or publish a lot of private data if you will not connect us and try to resolve the situation.”

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US ramps up surutiny of highly transmissible Covid variant first detected in India

A just-released U.K. study found the Pfizer Inc.-BioNTech SE vaccine was “highly effective” against a form of the B.1.617 variant two weeks after the second dose, affirming preliminary data from Phase 3 clinical trials. Still, the mutation has arrived in the U.S. at a time when anti-pandemic measures are loosening and around 60% of the population isn’t yet fully vaccinated.

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European Union to offer 3 types of Covid-19 passports from July 1

The scheme will allow EU citizens to travel more freely within the EU in total health safety and will support economic sectors dependent on free movement, Reynders told journalists.

Three types of certificates will be available free of charge, in paper or digital format: one attesting vaccination with an EU-approved shot; a second showing negative test results; and the third for people who have recovered after having been infected with Covid-19.

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