Tropical Storm Claudette Pounds Gulf Coast with Rain, Floods
Thunderstorms and high winds on the east side of Tropical Storm Claudette battered the Florida panhandle and much of Alabama on Saturday, as the weather system moved toward the North Carolina coast. The National Hurricane Center declared Claudette organized enough …

Grim California Wildfire Outlook Has Insurers Forking Over Big Bucks for Modeling
Severe drought and searing temperatures are not the only proof that Californians should be worried about wildfires this year. A glaring piece of evidence that there’s ample cause for concern is this: those who will be on the hook for …

Ship Carrying Chemicals Sinks Near Sri Lanka Capital, Prompting Pollution Fears
COLOMBO, Sri Lanka – A container ship carrying chemicals sank off Sri Lanka’s capital on Thursday nearly a month after catching fire, raising concerns about a possible environmental disaster. The ship’s operator said the wreck of the Singapore-flagged X-Press Pearl …

Scale Underwriting Introduces Social Media Influencer Liability
Scale Underwriting, a Founder Shield company that provides tailored insurance products for high-growth companies, has launched Scale Social, a media liability insurance policy for social media influencers and their agencies. Scale Social provides US-based influencers and agencies, particularly those with …

South Dakota Records Second Earthquake This Month
Another earthquake has been recorded in South Dakota, the fifth since December. According to the United States Geological Survey, a 2.6 magnitude quake was recorded about 6:30 a.m. Wednesday with the epicenter about 60 miles east of Rapid City. It’s …

People Moves: Carpenter’s Schwebach to Aon’s Reinsurance Solutions; Mellor to Credit and Political Risks Team at Miller
This wrap-up of international People Moves details two recent appointments at Aon’s Reinsurance Solutions and insurance broker Miller, in Minneapolis and London, respectively. A summary of these new hires follows here. Insurance broker Aon plc announced that Eric Schwebach has …

People Moves: W.R. Berkley Promotes Middleton; PMA Promotes Hopper
Middleton Appointed President of Berkley Mid-Atlantic Group W. R. Berkley Corporation has appointed Michelle D. Middleton as president of Berkley Mid-Atlantic Group (BMAG). She succeeds John F. Kearns, who has been named chairman of the operating unit and will remain …

AM Best Upgrades Credit Ratings of Southern Mutual Church Insurance
AM Best has upgraded the Financial Strength Rating to A (Excellent) from A- (Excellent) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating to “a” (Excellent) from “a-” (Excellent) of Southern Mutual Church Insurance Co. in Columbia, South Carolina. The ratings firm also …

Aon-WTW Merger Would Help Boost Industry’s Innovation. Aon CEO Makes the Case.
The enhanced ability to innovate is a principal motivator for Aon’s proposed acquisition of Aon and Willis Towers Watson. It’s a message that Aon CEO Greg Case has been emphasizing since the $30 billion deal was announced in March 2020. …

FEMA Extends Aid Deadline in 31 Kentucky Counties Hit by Flooding
Federal emergency officials have extended a deadline for Kentuckians to register for assistance due to damage from severe flooding, Gov. Andy Beshear said. The deadline to apply for help from the Individual Assistance program is now July 8, he said. …