China Media • 18 December 2018

Lee Kuan Yew among foreigners honoured for helping China to open up

China honoured 10 foreigners on Tuesday, including Singapore’s late founding father Lee Kuan Yew, for their part in realising the policy of reform and opening up that propelled China’s economic miracle.

The recipients of the China Reform Friendship Medals are foreigners Beijing regards as having played a key role in helping China open up to the world economically and diplomatically.

Lee, once praised by Chinese President Xi Jinping as “an old friend of the Chinese people”, was awarded for leading Singapore to “deeply engage” in China’s reform and opening. The city state has been an inspiration for China on how to achieve economic prosperity under one-party rule.

NEWS30 April 2026

Starr Bermuda assigned A rating from AM Best

Starr’s new Bermuda reinsurer, IQUW Re Bermuda Limited, today announced that global credit rating AM Best has upgraded its Financial Strength Rating to A (Excellent) and its long-term issuer credit to a+ (Excellent). The outlook for both credit ratings is positive.

NEWS23 March 2026

Starr Completes Acquisition of IQUW Group

Starr, a global investment and insurance organization, today announced that it has completed its acquisition of IQUW Group, creating a broader, more diversified specialty (re)insurance platform with enhanced capabilities across the London market, Bermuda and UK retail motor.

Insights20 February 2026

Battery Energy Storage Systems and Thermal Runaway Risks in Data Centers: The Critical Role of Loss Control for Insurance Coverage

As data centers look for greater power resilience and operational flexibility, Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) are being implemented in many projects currently under construction, most often those using lithium-ion cells. These systems can improve reliability and drive cost savings, but they also introduce new, complex hazards including the risk of thermal runaway. In a thermal runaway event, a battery cell’s temperature escalates uncontrollably, quickly spreading heat and potentially causing fire, toxic gas release, or even explosions. A single failure in a densely packed data center environment can put the whole facility at risk.

Insights11 February 2026

As Data Centers Boom, Construction and Operational Risks Rise

Data centers are among the fastest-growing areas in the U.S. construction sector, fueled by massive investments in artificial intelligence. These and other trends are accelerating data center construction projects, and along with them, a wide range of property and liability risks. This white paper explores the boom in data center development and operations through a risk management lens and offers recommendations for project owners, operators, developers, contractors, and insurance brokers.