United States News

UN Seeks Momentum in Climate Talks as Obama, Hu Speak

China and the United States, the world’s top greenhouse gas emitters, will try to ignite efforts Tuesday to secure a U.N. global warming pact as worries grow of a “dangerously close” deadlock in talks. U.S. President Barack Obama and Chinese …

Hurricane Hugo Today Would Cause $20 Billion in Damage in South Carolina

Hurricane Hugo was the most costly hurricane ever to hit the United States when it made landfall in South Carolina in 1989, causing $4.2 billion in insured damage. Since then, the total insured property along South Carolina’s coast has grown …

White House Targets Insurers for Health Insurance Premiums

The White House kept insurance companies squarely in its sights Tuesday in the push for healthcare reform by releasing research showing that health insurance premiums have risen far faster than inflation in every U.S. state. U.S. states have experienced premium …

U.S. Senate Panel Takes On Health Care Plan

The U.S. Senate Finance Committee opened consideration of its long-delayed health care reform bill Tuesday, with affordability topping the list of concerns for Democrats who control the panel. Committee members filed 564 potential amendments to the health care plan offered …

California’s Poizner Urges No Iranian Investments

Just ahead of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s Wednesday address to the United Nations in New York, California Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner encouraged his fellow state insurance commissioners to follow California’s lead and to probe insurance company investments for ties to …

People

Wells Fargo Insurance Services of Minnesota Inc. named Gina Samland managing director for its Nebraska, Iowa, and Kansas City, Kan., operations. She is based in the Omaha, Neb., office. In her new role, Samland is responsible for operations, carrier relationships, …

The Coverage Conundrum in Chinese Drywall Claims

The Latest Mass Tort Unless you live in Florida or Louisiana, or regularly read the Insurance Journal, you may only now be hearing about the latest mass tort craze: Chinese-Manufactured Drywall (often simply referred to as “Chinese Drywall”). The property …

Obama to Push G20 Leaders to Rethink Global Economy

President Barack Obama said Sunday he would push world leaders this week for a reshaping of the global economy in response to the deepest financial crisis in decades. In Europe, officials kept up pressure for a deal to curb bankers’ …

Mexican Passenger Buses Avoid Safety Checks When Entering U.S., Says Audit

Some Mexican passenger buses are not being inspected when they enter the U.S. because they cross the border on evenings and weekends, there are no inspectors or the crossings lack safe places for inspections, according to a government audit. Daily …

Erin Go Bragh for Willis, as Directors Approve Move to Ireland

Willis Group Holdings Limited has announced that its Board of Directors has approved changing the company’s place of incorporation from Bermuda to Ireland. Willis’ shareholders will vote on the measure to change the place of incorporation, also known as a …