coronavirus impact News

COVID-19 Pressures Threaten About 4,000 Small UK Financial Firms

Britain’s market watchdog warned about 4,000 small financial firms are at greater risk of failure from the coronavirus as the country endures a third lockdown. The Financial Conduct Authority said Thursday that the pandemic is pushing the firms to the …

British Columbia’s New COVID-19 Restrictions Disrupt Construction Projects

CALGARY, Alberta – Restrictions imposed by British Columbia to fight the spread of COVID-19 infections after the holiday break have disrupted work at construction sites of a Rio Tinto hydropower project and BC Hydro’s Site C dam. A total of …

Insurance Journal’s Most Noteworthy Topics of 2020: International

COVID-19 and mergers and acquistions were just two of noteworthy topics of 2020 covered by the International section of Insurance Journal. Other notable topics included business moves — from startups and existing companies — and natural and manmade catastrophes. We …

Many Nations Close Borders to British Travelers over Fears of New Coronavirus Strain

DOVER, England – A slew of countries closed their borders to Britain on Monday over fears of a highly infectious new coronavirus strain, heightening global panic, causing travel chaos and raising the prospect of UK food shortages days before the …

COVID-19 Fuels Abandonment of Ships – and Their Cargoes and Crews

From the deck of their tanker, Captain Samig Nabiyev and his crew could see the smoke and fire rising over the Port of Beirut, 900 meters away. When the flaming warehouse exploded, the force of the blast knocked Nabiyev flat …

Canada Regulator to Allow Insurers, Banks to Pay Some Special Dividends

TORONTO – Canada’s financial regulator said on Monday it could allow institutions to pay special non-recurring dividends under “exceptional circumstances,” even as it maintains a March moratorium on broader dividend increases and share buybacks. The Office of the Superintendent of …

Insurers, Regulators Warn About Safety of Jets Reactivated After Pandemic Storage

SYDNEY – Regulators, insurers and experts are warning airlines to take extra care when reactivating planes left in extended storage during the COVID-19 pandemic, citing potential pilot rustiness, maintenance errors and even insect nests blocking key sensors. The unprecedented number …

COVID, Economy, Social Inflation Warrant Negative Commercial Lines Outlook: A.M. Best

U.S. commercial lines insurers will continue to be tarnished by an A.M. Best negative outlook, thanks to COVID-19 economic uncertainty, social inflation and other challenges. A.M. Best first revised its outlook for the segment to negative from stable in April, …

Royal Caribbean Cruise Cut Short When Passenger Tests Positive for COVID-19

SINGAPORE – An elderly passenger on board a Royal Caribbean “cruise to nowhere” has been diagnosed with the coronavirus, prompting the voyage to be cut short as the vessel returned to Singapore on Wednesday. The 83-year-old guest on board the …

‘Urgent Action’ Needed to Help Stranded Sailors and Avoid Supply-Chain Risks

Fidelity International is calling for urgent action to address the humanitarian crisis and supply-chain risks caused by the more than 400,000 seafarers who are stranded aboard vessels and a similar number who remain ashore with little prospect for work or …