Support for Obama's health plan grows

DOING what he does best appears to be paying off for US President Barack Obama.

Right place, right time for Snowball's chances

A great many skills are involved in running a financial institution.

Auto Insurance Coverage Options and Other Benefits

Auto insurance market is a competitive market. Auto insurance companies provide competitive rates on their auto insurance policies.

Historic win for Obama as health bill passed

WASHINGTON: The biggest expansion of America's social safety net in 30 years - a health-care program that will provide almost universal coverage to Americans - was passed by the Senate on Christmas Eve, guaranteeing the President, Barack Obama, a place in history.

Obama's health bill stumbles in Senate

WASHINGTON: The signature bill of Barack Obama's first year - health reform that curbs costs and picks up 30 million uninsured people - is looking sick.

Daly throws weight behind obesity battle

HAD yesterday been the opening round of the $1.5 million Australian Open at NSW Golf Club, the golf sadists would have loved it. Rather, it was practice day, with a howling southerly blowing.

Liquidated liquidator: Ariff has $200 for $7.7m debts

THE banned liquidator, Stuart Ariff, has assets of $200 in cash and a claim for unpaid professional fees to satisfy his 37 creditors who are owed $7.7 million.

Building insurance needs renovation

THE NSW Government is getting ready for another attempt to fix the home building insurance mess. By law, builders in NSW cannot build homes unless each project is covered by builders' warranty insurance. This is intended to cover their clients in case the builder defaults, or goes bankrupt or dies, or the work is not up to standard. The problem is that in NSW, as in most other states, redress can only be obtained through the insurance as a last resort. Cover may be compulsory, but the client who pays for it must exhaust every other avenue first if something goes wrong €“ pursuing the builder through the courts for damages, and sending him bankrupt. Only when all that has been done, or if the builder disappears or dies, will the insurance company consider paying out.

Obama presses health-care circuit breaker

THE White House hopes a trigger that would allow the government to offer health insurance to many Americans will break the logjam on health-care legislation.

AIG shows life after near-death with $2.16bn profit

AIG, the troubled insurer kept alive last year by a $US180 billion ($213 billion) US Government bail-out, has crept back into the black with a quarterly profit of $US1.82 billion.

Forced Fire Insurance

All Australian's living in areas determined to have a high risk of bushfires may be forced to take out compulsory fire insurance, if a recommendation by the Insurance Council of Australia is ratified.

AIG Insurance Bailout

The US Government announced yesterday that it will provide embattled insurance company AIG with a further $US30 billion ($46 billion) in federal assistance.

In The Herald: 1862

* The Australian colonies were concerned that a ruckus that had begun in November between Britain and America could lead to war. Trent, a British mail vessel on a Britain-West Indies mail run, was intercepted by a Union man-of-war, San Jacinto, which captured two Confederate commissioners, John Slidell and James Mason. Banks were looking at their rates of exchange and insurance companies were considering war risks.

Left High And Dry

EIGHT months, 98,000 claims and $1.47 billion in payouts after the Pasha Bulker storm of last June, two of the world's biggest insurance companies are holding out against a Cardiff club and a Wallsend restaurateur.

10 Years Ago In The Mercury

The four multi-car pile-ups at Bulli Tops this week could cost insurance companies more than $500,000.

Bird's-eye View

Depending on how you look at it Nissan is either about to revolutionise the way we park cars or save insurance companies a motser on small claims.

In Brief

LEGAL HELP FOR VICTIMS A LEGAL hotline to provide free assistance to Hunter flood victims has been set up with the help of the Newcastle Law Society. The hotline will handle a variety of inquiries ranging from those who wish to seek advice before speaking to insurance companies, to more complicated disputes. The hotline can be reached on 1800 357 596.