Insurance Archives - Residential Property Insurance & Business Management

Chinese tourist sites packed as country comes out of lockdown, but experts say risk still high April 6, 2020
Large numbers of people flocked to popular tourists sites and major cities across China over the country's holiday weekend, despite warnings from health authorities that the risk posed by the coronavirus pandemic remains far from over.
Italy records lowest death rate in two weeks
Queen Elizabeth calls for unity amid pandemic, promising 'We will meet again' April 5, 2020
Queen Elizabeth II addressed the coronavirus pandemic and offered reassurance in a rare televised speech.
Drive-thru funerals are being held in the epicenter of Spain's coronavirus pandemic April 6, 2020
Every fifteen minutes or so, a dark hearse pulls up in front of the crematorium of Madrid's sprawling La Almudena cemetery.
Heated disagreement breaks out in Situation Room over hydroxychloroquine April 6, 2020
What you need to know about coronavirus today
He beat coronavirus and may save others April 6, 2020
A California man who was diagnosed with the coronavirus and recovered has donated his plasma to help others fighting the potentially deadly virus.
Frenchman rescued from mountains after breaking quarantine to buy cigarettes April 6, 2020
Millions of people around the world are adjusting to life under coronavirus safety measures, and France has ordered its population to stay at home.
Inside an ER during the coronavirus outbreak April 6, 2020
One emergency room. 40 minutes. Six patients went into cardiac arrest. Four died before they made it out of the ER.
India holds candlelit vigil as pandemic crisis looms April 6, 2020
A nationwide candlelight vigil was held across India to show solidarity in the nation's fight against the Covid-19 pandemic. Confirmed cases in Dharavi, a densely-populated slum, have raised concerns about the spread of the virus. CNN's Vedika Sud reports.
The global economy just got a $1 trillion infusion from Japan April 6, 2020
Japan is committing nearly $1 trillion to try to protect its economy from the fallout from the coronavirus pandemic.
Has Covid-19 been in humans for several months already? April 4, 2020
Leading scientists tell CNN that it's possible the virus didn't just come from bats in the past months, but that it could made the leap to humans many months, perhaps even years ago before it then transferred among people to become as lethal as it has. CNN's Nick Paton Walsh reports.
Brazil's favelas are left to combat Covid-19 on their own April 6, 2020
As Covid-19 spreads like wildfire in Brazil, those who live in densely populated hilltop slums, known as favelas, are left to fend for themselves. CNN's Michael Holmes reports.
India has closed its railways for the first time in 167 years. Now trains are being turned into hospitals April 6, 2020
When Prime Minister Narendra Modi imposed a nationwide lockdown on March 25, Indian Railways took the unprecedented move of suspending passenger trains across the country until April 14.
Chernobyl radiation levels spike as forest fires rage April 6, 2020
Radiation levels near the site of the Chernobyl nuclear reactor disaster have spiked as firefighters battle to contain two forest fires in the area.
Global stocks and US futures rally on coronavirus hopes April 6, 2020
Global stocks and US futures surged on Monday as new data suggested that efforts to contain the coronavirus pandemic may be starting to pay off in Spain, Italy and New York.
How the very rich are different in the Covid-19 fight April 6, 2020
I have spent two decades reporting on people at the nexus of money, power and culture. I've written books about corruption among the country's wealthiest 1%, Wall Street greed and the ruthlessness of New York real estate titans. So these past few weeks I have been on the phone to many people who are not […]
A tiger at the Bronx Zoo tests positive for coronavirus April 6, 2020
Nadia, a tiger at the Bronx Zoo in New York, has become the first of her kind to test positive for the coronavirus.
Boris Johnson 'remains in charge' after coronavirus hospital admission, UK government says April 6, 2020
A senior British government minister said Boris Johnson was able to continue running the country despite being admitted to a London hospital for persistent coronavirus symptoms.
Queen gives rare address to rally Britons April 6, 2020
Britain's Queen Elizabeth II will make a rare broadcast address to the nation on Sunday evening to urge people to practice "self-discipline and resolve" in the face of the coronavirus pandemic.

Insurers Say Forced Payouts for Excluded Virus Losses Risk Destabilizing Industry April 6, 2020
World insurers told governments on Monday that making them pay out on losses suffered due to the coronavirus that were not covered by policies risked destabilizing the insurance industry. With the global economy hammered by measures to halt the spread …
Simon Jessop
Willis Towers Watson Postpones Planned Sale of Miller Insurance April 6, 2020
Willis Towers Watson is postponing its planned sale of its London wholesale broker subsidiary, Miller Insurance Services. “Given the current COVID-19 outbreak and associated uncertainty, we have paused our current efforts to explore strategic alternatives for Miller. WTW and Miller …
BHSI Launches Professional Technology Liability Cover in Australia, New Zealand April 6, 2020
Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance (BHSI) announced that it has launched Professional First Technology Liability Insurance policies in Australia and New Zealand. Both policies offer broad, customizable professional liability protection for the full scope of services provided by technology and tech-related …
Thai Insurer’s Coronavirus Cover Draws ‘Overwhelming’ Demand April 6, 2020
The founder of one of the world’s best-performing insurance firms this year never imagined its policies to cover illness from the coronavirus would draw “overwhelming” demand when it began selling them well before the pathogen spread across Thailand and the …
Anuchit Nguyen
West Virginia Governor’s Coal Companies to Pay $5M in Fines for Safety Violations April 6, 2020
Billionaire West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice’s coal companies have agreed to pay more than $5 million for thousands of mine safety violations, federal prosecutors said Wednesday. The civil case brought by prosecutors in Virginia last year on behalf of the …
Anthony Izaguirreirre
Alliant Names Dolan, Graham National Wrap-Up Program Leaders April 6, 2020
Newport Beach, Calif.-headquartered Alliant Insurance Services has tapped Kevin Dolan and Craig Graham to co-lead the national wrap up insurance team for Alliant Construction Services Group. Dolan is based in New York City and Graham is based in Los Angeles. …
Forecaster Sees ‘Greater Than Average’ Hurricane Season This Year April 6, 2020
The 2020 Atlantic hurricane season could see a greater than average number of major hurricanes because of warmer seas and favorable weather patterns, forecasters from Colorado State University’s Tropical Meteorology Project said on Thursday. Four major hurricanes packing winds of …
Andrew G. Simpson
Federal-State Pandemic Training Focused on Flu, Not New Virus April 6, 2020
In August, months before the first case of the new coronavirus was documented, some of Colorado’s top health officials gathered in a room at the state Department of Public Health and Environment to train for a pandemic. The hypothetical scenario: …
Andrew G. Simpson
Coronavirus Impact on Aviation Insurance: Gallagher April 6, 2020
Airplanes with a total insured value of more than $160 billion are grounded around the world, presenting risks for insurers, a report said on Friday. Singapore has the largest number of planes standing idle at airports, at 205, with Hong …
Travelers to Provide $100 Million Cash Flow Boost to Agents Amid Coronavirus Crisis April 5, 2020
The Travelers Companies announced that it will accelerate commission payments to eligible agents and brokers to help them ease liquidity concerns due to the COVID-19 crisis. In total, Travelers said it is accelerating more than $100 million, which it called …
California Commissioner Orders Insurance Claim, Coverage Deadline Extensions April 3, 2020
California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara has issued a notice to insurers ordering them to stop enforcing policy or statutory deadlines on policyholders for claims or coverage until 90 days after the statewide “state of emergency” or other “state of emergency” …
Mississippi Businesses Shift Production During Pandemic April 3, 2020
As the nation hunkers down and people shelter in place amid the coronavirus pandemic, several Mississippi businesses have stayed open, switching gears to make much-needed products. A jeans company is making face guards, a coffeehouse is making loaves of bread …
JULIO CORTEZ
Gender Reveal Party Sparks 10-Acre Fire in Florida April 3, 2020
A gender reveal party mixed with explosives sparked a 10-acre fire in Florida. It happened Saturday in Brevard County, WESH-TV reported. The county has prohibited open burning because of an increase in fires, and officials are urging people to follow …
47 Long-Term Care Sites in Louisiana Seen as Coronavirus ‘Clusters’ April 3, 2020
As coronavirus cases spike ever higher in Louisiana, the state’s nursing homes, assisted living sites and adult residential care facilities are showing more and more “clusters” of the virus, but the full scale of the outbreak at those sites remains …
Melinda Deslatte and Janet McConnaughey
Oklahoma’s Insurance Risk Partners Joins BRP Group April 3, 2020
Oklahoma City-based Insurance Risk Partners (IRP) has entered into a partnership with BRP Group Inc. to become part of their BKS-Partners operating group. IRP was formed in 2016 by industry veterans Paul and David Brown, and Patrick Truhlar, who have …
Illinois Lawsuits Challenge Society Insurance’s Coronavirus Claim Denials April 3, 2020
Two lawsuits have been filed in federal court in Illinois by a group of businesses — who were forced to close their operations by government authorities as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic — over the denial of business interruption …
New Jersey Manufacturer Cited for Safety Lapse After Employee Amputation April 3, 2020
The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited BWay Corp., doing business as Mauser Packaging Solutions, for workplace safety and health hazards after an employee suffered an amputation on Sept. 26, 2019, at the Lawrence …
Why Artificial Intelligence Is Not the Answer for All Businesses April 3, 2020
The temptation for businesses to use artificial intelligence and other technology to improve performance, drive down labor costs, and better the bottom line is understandable. But before they pursue automation that could put the jobs of human employees at risk, …
A Coronavirus Outbreak Among Farm Workers Would Be Catastrophic: Viewpoint April 3, 2020
There is no evidence that Covid-19 has been transmitted by food or food packaging, according to U.S. federal health agencies. How the virus fares among food workers may be a different story. By law, food manufacturers must prevent anyone who …
Francis Wilkinson, Bloomberg View
Glyphosate Settlement Talks Delayed by Coronavirus, Bayer Reports April 3, 2020
Talks between Bayer AG and plaintiff lawyers to settle claims that the German company’s glyphosate-based weedkillers cause cancer have been slowed by the coronavirus pandemic, Bayer’s Chief Executive told daily Handelsblatt. “This is about currently not being able to meet …

Total among companies seeking force majeure on EDF contracts: sources April 6, 2020
Energy major Total is among several power suppliers that tried to declare force majeure on buying nuclear power from EDF, sources said, as the coronavirus outbreak has pushed prices in the French electricity market far below existing contracts.
HSBC Hong Kong shareholders mull legal action over dividend suspension April 6, 2020
HSBC shareholders in Hong Kong are calling for an extraordinary meeting with the bank's management and considering legal action against its decision to scrap dividend payments.
JPMorgan CEO Dimon does not rule out suspending 2020 dividend due to coronavirus crisis April 6, 2020
JPMorgan Chase & Co could consider suspending dividend for 2020 due to the ongoing coronavirus crisis, Chief Executive Officer Jamie Dimon said on Monday, even as the bank rolled out relief measures for customers and small businesses.
Safaricom, Vodacom finalise M-Pesa acquisition from Britain's Vodafone April 6, 2020
Kenya's leading telecom firm Safaricom and South Africa's Vodacom said on Monday that they had completed the acquisition of popular mobile money platform M-Pesa from Britain's Vodafone .
Canada, U.S. farms face crop losses due to foreign worker delays April 6, 2020
Mandatory coronavirus quarantines of seasonal foreign workers in Canada could hurt that country's fruit and vegetable output this year, and travel problems related to the pandemic could also leave U.S. farmers with fewer workers than usual.
American joins United, others in suspending more NYC flights on coronavirus spike April 6, 2020
American Airlines Group Inc said late Sunday it would suspend more flights in and out of New York City's three main airports for about a month, joining other airlines that have cut flights to the area following a spike in coronavirus cases.
BMW sees demand falling further after first quarter sales plunge due to coronavirus April 6, 2020
BMW is expecting a further decline in global demand as the coronavirus outbreak takes its toll, a spokesman said on Monday, after the German carmaker reported a 20.6% drop in first quarter sales to 477,111 vehicles.
Kia compact vehicles contractor suspends production April 6, 2020
A South Korean contract manufacturer for Kia Motors' compact vehicles has suspended production, a company official said on Monday, citing a drop in overseas demand as the coronavirus outbreak has spread across Europe.
Stocks jump on virus hopes, oil hit by OPEC+ delay April 6, 2020
World stock markets jumped on Monday, encouraged by a slowdown in coronavirus-related deaths and new cases, though a delay in talks between Saudi Arabia and Russia to cut supply sent oil tumbling again.
Oil falls after Saudi Arabia, Russia delay meeting April 6, 2020
Oil prices fell on Monday after Saudi Arabia and Russia delayed a meeting to discuss output cuts that could help reduce global oversupply as the coronavirus pandemic pummels demand.
Tesla engineers show ventilator prototype on YouTube April 6, 2020
Engineers at Tesla Inc showed a prototype for a ventilator on Sunday evening in a video published on the company's YouTube channel, as hospitals around the country overwhelmed by coronavirus patients face device shortages.
Solid chip sales unlikely to cushion Samsung's virus-hit first quarter profit April 6, 2020
The coronavirus-driven global shift to working from home is set to have boosted demand for Samsung Electronics' memory chips from laptop makers and data centres, but first-quarter profits are likely to remain flat as the outbreak weakened consumer electronics sales.
EasyJet founder digs in on battle with management over Airbus order April 6, 2020
Stelios Haji-Ioannou, easyJet's founder and biggest shareholder, on Monday intensified his battle with the airline's management over a huge aircraft order with Airbus which he says it should cancel.
Futures jump on hopes of slowdown in coronavirus cases April 6, 2020
U.S. stock index futures jumped about 4% on Monday after President Donald Trump expressed hope that the coronavirus health crisis in the United States was "leveling-off" in some of the country's hardest-hit areas.
Britain's BT commits to no job losses over coronavirus April 6, 2020
The head of Britain's biggest telecoms firm BT said he would donate his salary to health workers for at least six months and award a pay rise to his frontline staff who are maintaining broadband networks during the coronavirus shutdown.
Lufthansa's Belgian carrier suspends flights until mid-May April 6, 2020
Belgium's Brussels Airlines, a Lufthansa subsidiary, has extended its suspension of flights until at least May 15, it said on Monday.
Peugeot parent secures further 3 billion euros of loans April 6, 2020
Peugeot-owner PSA said on Monday it had secured a further 3 billion euros ($3.3 billion) of loans, strengthening its financial position in the wake of the hit to the global automotive industry from the coronavirus crisis.
Top Michelin executives agree to pay cuts to help with COVID-19 response April 6, 2020
French tyre company Michelin said on Monday that its leading executives had agreed to take pay cuts as a gesture of solidarity to help deal with the negative effects of the hit to its business from the COVID-19 outbreak.
Norwegian Air's March traffic tumbles 60% amid virus lockdown April 6, 2020
Norwegian Air's passenger volume fell by 60% year-on-year in March as it grounded planes amid efforts to halt the spread of the new coronavirus, and will book a hedging loss of $102 million as the cost of fuel has plunged.
As Germany reels from coronavirus, some officials debate impact on banks April 6, 2020
As Germany rolls out a 750 billion-euro economic stimulus package, officials and experts are discussing whether German lenders, including Deutsche Bank AG and Commerzbank AG, will be able to weather the economic fallout of coronavirus without state help.