Companies increasingly factor extreme weather into their strategic planning and a report from the United Nationsdue on Friday is expected to underscore the heightened risks they face.

More than a million homeowners living in older houses along the coastlines and riverbanks of the United States are being jolted by federal flood insurance rate hikes under a law passed in the wake of devastating storms.

Swiss Re said on Monday that July hail storms in northern and southern Germany could cost the company around $240 million to settle claims.

Swiss Re said on Monday that July hail storms in northern and southern Germany could cost the company around $240 million to settle claims.

The massive floods that devastated swaths of southern Alberta in June are estimated to be the costliest natural disaster in Canadian history, with property damage at $1.65 billion.

The massive floods that devastated swaths of southern Alberta in June are estimated to be the costliest natural disaster in Canadian history, with property damage at $1.65 billion.

The man some call Canada's Warren Buffett, as part of a consortium, has offered $4.7 billion to acquire troubled smartphone maker Blackberry.

The Philippines evacuated northern coastal villages, suspended ferry services and called in fishing boats on Friday as an approaching category-five storm, already labelled a super typhoon, gained strength on a path set for southern China.