Searing Heat in California and West Threatens to Break Temperature Records
A short-lived heat wave will send temperatures soaring across California and the U.S. West through the weekend, elevating power demand and raising the risk of health impacts. At least 26 daily records may be broken or tied across the West …
Cotality: Over 33 Million Properties at Risk of Hurricanes, Creating ‘Liquidity Traps’
Cotality said it has identified more than 33.1 million residential properties from Texas to Maine with a combined reconstruction cost value of $11.7 trillion at least moderate risk of sustaining damage from hurricane-force winds. The property data provider, formerly known …
AM Best Revises Outlook to Negative for Oklahoma Farm Bureau Mutual
AM Best has revised the outlook to negative from stable for the Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating (Long-Term ICR) and affirmed the Financial Strength Rating (FSR) of B++ (Good) and the Long-Term ICRs of “bbb+”(Good) for the members of the Oklahoma …
Victoria’s Secret Website Down as Lingerie Seller Addresses ‘Security Incident’
Victoria’s Secret has taken down its U.S. website and says some in-store services will be unavailable as it addresses an unspecified “security incident.” A message to customers remained in place of the popular lingerie brand’s normal shopping site Thursday, stating …
New York Times Agrees to License Content to Amazon for AI Use
The New York Times Co. has reached a deal to license its editorial content to Amazon.com Inc. for use across its artificial intelligence platforms, marking the first such agreement the newspaper company has struck after years of battles between the …
SC Governor Celebrates Dram Shop-Tort Reform Law But Some Want More
South Carolina’s governor has signed a liquor liability and tort-reform bill into law, but some lawmakers said broader changes to the state’s legal system are needed. Senate Majority Leader Shane Massey, who helped push through a compromise dram shop bill …
Iranian Pleads Guilty in US to 2019 Baltimore Ransomware Attack
An Iranian national pleaded guilty to participating in the high-profile 2019 Baltimore, Maryland, ransomware attack, among others, and to causing tens of millions of dollars in losses and disrupted services, the Department of Justice said on Tuesday. Sina Gholinejad, 37, …
Nurse Showed COVID Was Work-Contracted, West Virginia Supreme Court Rules
The West Virginia Supreme Court has ruled 3-2 that a prison nurse is entitled to workers’ compensation benefits for her COVID-19 disease because she provided sufficient evidence that she contracted it in her workplace and not outside of work. Brittany …
US Court Blocks Most Trump Tariffs, Says President Exceeded His Authority
A U.S. trade court blocked most of President Donald Trump’s tariffs in a sweeping ruling on Wednesday that found the president overstepped his authority by imposing across-the-board duties on imports from U.S. trading partners. The Court of International Trade said …
Markets/Coverages: MGA Rokstone Launches International Casualty Division
Rokstone, the London-based specialty re/insurance MGA that is part of the Aventum Group, announced the launch of its International Casualty Division. The move marks the latest milestone in Rokstone’s strategic build-out of its casualty portfolio, following the recent launch of …
Sony Says Spin-Off Will Give Financial Arm Fundraising Capabilities
Sony’s CEO said on Thursday the spin-off of the group’s financial services arm will give that business its own fundraising capabilities. “It is significant that, through the spin-off, Sony (Financial Group) will secure its own fundraising capabilities while continuing to …
Hiscox Appoints Clarke as Chairman Designate
Hiscox Ltd., the Bermuda-based specialist insurer, announces the appointment of Peter Clarke as chair designate, subject to regulatory approval. Clarke will join the board as chair designate on June 1, 2025 and will succeed Colin Keogh as chair with effect …
UK Authorities Charge Director at Center of Fake Plane Parts Probe
The former director of a firm at the center of a global investigation into bogus airplane parts was charged with fraud by UK authorities. The Serious Fraud Office charged AOG Technics Ltd.’s director, Jose Alejandro Zamora Yrala, with fraudulent trading, …
Tesla Targets June 12 Launch of Robotaxi Service in Austin
Tesla Inc. is poised to begin its long-awaited robotaxi service in Austin on June 12, according to a person familiar with the matter, a milestone in Elon Musk’s plan to reshape the company around driverless vehicles and artificial intelligence. The …
Missouri Special Session to Include Discussion on Aid for Tornado Victims
Missouri lawmakers are to kick off a special session Monday to consider aid for tornado victims and a package of financial incentives aimed at keeping the Kansas City Chiefs and Royals from leaving the state for new or improved facilities …
Michigan Court Ends Effort to Sue Oxford School Staff Over Mass Shooting
The Michigan Supreme Court on Wednesday dismissed appeals by families of students killed or wounded at Oxford High School in 2021, ending efforts to hold employees partly responsible for the mass shooting. Under Michigan law, immunity is a high hurdle …
Wildfire Experience Inspires New Contents Claims Insurtech
When Michael Balarezo emerged from the basement office of his Boulder, Colo., home in December 2021, smoke plumes from the nearby Marshall Fire were visible from his driveway. Balarezo, his wife and daughter swiftly stowed emergency clothing, sensitive documents and …
Cargo Ship That Ran Aground in Norway, Nearly Hitting a House, Is Towed Back to Sea
A cargo ship that ran aground in a Norwegian fjord and narrowly missed a house, was pulled back into open water and was being towed to a nearby harbor on Tuesday — five days after the spectacular accident. A tugboat …
US Agrees to End Use of Race, Gender in Highway, Transit Contracts
The Trump administration said on Wednesday it has agreed to end the U.S. Transportation Department’s consideration of race or gender when awarding billions of dollars in federal highway and transit project funding set aside for disadvantaged small businesses. A judge …
Viewpoint: Global Reinsurers Stand Strong Amid Investment Volatility, Natural Disasters
The reinsurance industry has shown significant improvements in operating performance in recent years. Despite facing substantial insured natural catastrophe losses globally, reinsurers achieved robust earnings growth in 2023 and 2024 exceeding their cost of capital. This is largely attributed to …