International & Reinsurance News

Bangladesh Factory Banned by Wal-Mart Still Makes Wrangler Shirts

A Bangladesh factory where Wal-Mart Stores Inc. and Inditex SA inspectors spotted cracks in the wall this month is still making Wrangler shirts for the world’s largest apparel maker, U.S.-based VF Corp. VF confirmed on Saturday it was still using …

Abe Faces Uphill Task in Boosting Foreign Investment in Japan

Japan risks missing, yet again, an opportunity to use foreign investment to help fuel sustained economic growth that has eluded it for the last two decades. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe pledged to make Japan “the world’s easiest country for companies …

UN: $2.5 Trillion in Global Disaster Losses Since 2000

Economic losses from disasters since 2000 are in the range of $2.5 trillion, a figure at least 50 percent higher than previous international estimates, according to a U.N. report. The U.N. Office for Disaster Risk Reduction warned in the 246-page …

Developing Countries May Not Be Ready for Coming Increased Investment: World Bank

The percentage of global investment that goes to developing countries should triple in the next two decades as emerging economies catch up to richer nations and become more integrated into financial markets, the World Bank predicted in a report on …

Emerging Markets to Lead in Insurance Growth: Munich Re

Emerging markets will see the highest growth in premiums for insurance companies this year and next, while Europe lags, according to the world’s biggest reinsurer, Munich Re. In a study published on Thursday, Munich Re forecast growth in property/casualty insurance …

Japan Nuclear Agency Halts Test Reactor Over Safety

Japan’s nuclear watchdog announced Wednesday that the nation’s trouble-plagued next-generation test reactor will not be allowed to restart due to safety violations, dealing a setback to the country’s pro-nuclear government. The Nuclear Regulation Authority’s decision is the latest blow to …

U.S., European Retailers Divided on Safety Plan for Bangladesh Factories

A trans-Atlantic divide between European and U.S. retailers over how best to respond to fatal disasters in Bangladesh textile factories split wide open on Wednesday, with U.S. retailers claiming their European counterparts are giving labor unions too much control over …

BP to Ask UK Government to Intervene on Gulf Spill Payments: BBC

British oil company BP wants Prime Minister David Cameron to intervene with the U.S. government over the escalating cost of compensating U.S. companies for the Gulf of Mexico oil disaster in 2010, the BBC reported Thursday. BP is still fighting …

Terrorism & Political Violence Map: Aon Risk Solutions

The continued threat of a terrorist attack or political violence worldwide persists and is not going away anytime soon. Despite 19 countries showing improved terrorism and political violence ratings, according to Aon’s 2013 Terrorism and Political Violence Map, 44 percent …

North American Retailers Devising Own Bangladesh Workplace Safety Plans

North American retailers on Tuesday discussed forging their own Bangladesh safety agreement–an alternative to a legally binding accord that many European retailers have signed on to–though details of any alternative accord were still unclear. The discussions Tuesday were the latest …

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