The marine insurance landscape is rapidly evolving in the wake of conflict in the Middle East. Also, a conflict involving Iran will have material implications for the insurance market in Singapore, given its role as a regional aviation hub and one of the world's leading maritime centres, according to Mr Nick Francis, Marine Partner at Kennedys, a global litigation and dispute resolution firm.
The situation in the Middle East, especially in countries directly involved in the conflict, continues to evolve in quick time. The situation on the ground in each country is nuanced, changing rapidly (sometimes by the hour), and travellers are being advised to assess their own risk profile and reasons for going there.
The Australian federal government and the country's insurance industry through their Hazard Insurance Partnership Programme (HIPP) have reached a significant milestone to improve the availability and affordability of insurance in Australia.
The Auckland High Court in New Zealand has imposed a final penalty of NZ$2.1m ($1.26m) on ASB Bank for fair-dealing breaches relating to its insurance and banking services.
The Thai insurance regulator, Office of the Insurance Commission (OIC), has launched a "PRIME Generation 1" programme to develop risk management and insurance planning talent. This will help the insurance community to support the new era of global risks.
The South Korean financial services regulator's new consumer protection advisory committee will introduce veto rights for the chief consumer officers (CCOs) on insurers' product review committees.
HDI Global has appointed Mr David Wilson as Global Head of Claims Energy and Power. It is a newly created role that aims to strategically focus on strengthening the end-to-end energy and power proposition for clients and broker partners by bringing claims even closer to underwriting and risk expertise.
The population of Japan has continued to shrink, with the number of births in Japan falling for the 10th straight year in 2025, according to official data. Preliminary data from the Japanese Ministry of Health shows that in 2025, a total of 705,809 babies were born, down by 2.1% from 2024.
Aviation insurance has emerged as a critical pressure point as a consequence of the Middle East conflict. To minimise risk, Singapore-based aviation insurers and reinsurers would need to carefully manage exposure to hull war, passenger liability and third-party risks, according to Mr Tristan Thompson, Aviation Partner at Kennedys, a global litigation and dispute resolution firm.