The insurance industry was not having a good year to begin with, following four hurricanes in Florida, says LeMaire. However, since the insurance market is not as well developed in the region impacted by the deadly waves, and because property values are lower, the industry will not take as great a hit as it has for other major disasters. Hurricane Andrew, for example, cost insurers $18 billion to $19 billion; the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center could cost more than $40 billion. According to LeMaire, early estimates indicate insurers may be liable for about $10 billion as a result of the Asian tsunami. One plus for insurers, he says, is that many of the large global companies were paid premiums in dollars at a time when the currency was valued higher than it is now, when payouts are coming due....

Back to Thailand: Sting played the first concert in an affected country since the tsunami hit when he took the stage in Bangkok Wednesday night:

The near-sellout Wednesday night arena concert, scheduled for the Thai capital before the waves hit, raised 50,000 dollars for tsunami victims in Thailand, including 20,000 from Sting's own pocket, show organisers said.

But the Englishman in Bangkok chose to steer clear of any discussion about the tragedy which has rocked Indian Ocean countries including Thailand, where more than 5,300 people are confirmed dead and another 3,200 missing.

Instead, he opened the show with a song from his latest album, then strapped on his trademark bass and performed a poignant hit from the Police vault which cut to the heart of relief efforts across the region.

The 1979 song, "Message in a Bottle" speaks of a castaway's lonely life and his desperate call for rescue.

"I'll send an SOS to the world, I hope that someone gets my message in a bottle," Sting sang.

....He was forced to cancel a gig in Sri Lanka in mid-February due to the devastation there, but is scheduled to play shows in Malaysia and India in early February.

Sting aims to raise more than one million Australian dollars (762,000 US) for tsunami victims with a benefit concert February 10 at one of Australia's top vineyards after the Sri Lanka date was called off.

The outdoor concert in the renowned Margaret River wine producing region will have an audience of 6,000 wine buffs paying at least 150 Australian dollars for admission, with organisers and support staff all donating their wages and bar takings to relief funds. [AFP]