INSURANCE NEWS
Broken Wheel Causes Derailment of Train Blocking Swiss Tunnel
The derailment that blocked the Gotthard tunnel in Switzerland last week was caused by a broken wheel on the freight train, according to investigators. The Swiss Accident Investigation Service said its investigators had found pieces of the train’s wheel at …
Markets/Coverages: Chubb Launches Vehicle Tracking System in UK to Stymie Car Theft
Chubb has launched a vehicle tracking system in the UK to help protect the insurer’s customers from car theft. With criminals now often targeting high-value vehicles – particularly “keyless” models – Chubb S5 Vehicle Tracker and Chubb S5 Vehicle Tracker …
2023 Summer Heatwaves – Insights on Heat Stress in a Changing Climate: RMS
Executive summary: Climate change, caused by human activity, is already leading to an increase in the frequency and severity of hot extremes, including heatwaves. While it is difficult to ascribe any given event to climate change, Moody’s RMS says, extreme …
What Are China’s ‘Sponge Cities’ and Why Aren’t They Stopping Urban Floods?
China has been hit by devastating floods in recent weeks, inundating cities and causing deaths and infrastructural damage, as well as raising questions about the effectiveness of its 2015 “sponge city” initiative aimed at reducing urban flood risks. The initiative …
El Niño Expected Between September and November: Australian Weather Bureau
Australia’s weather bureau said on Tuesday the El Niño weather event, associated with hotter, drier weather, was likely to hit during the southern hemisphere spring, between September and November. El Niño, characterized by elevated sea surface temperatures in the eastern …
Typhoon Lan Grounds Flights, Halts Trains as It Crosses Japan
Typhoon Lan reached the coast of central Japan early Tuesday, grounding flights and halting trains as residents braced for heavy rain, flooding and landslides. Known locally as Typhoon No. 7, the storm has been traversing the archipelago’s central belt since …
Ships Remain Backed Up in Black Sea Lanes as Russia Warning Shots Raise Tensions
Merchant ships remained backed up in lanes around the Black Sea on Monday as ports struggled to clear backlogs amid growing unease among insurers and shipping companies a day after a Russian warship fired warning shots at a cargo vessel. …
Fintech Vesttoo Seeks Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Protection
Israel-based fintech Vesttoo is seeking Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in a U.S. court which will enable it to pursue legal action against those responsible for a fake collateral scandal, it said in a statement on Monday. Vesttoo – partly backed …
Don’t Expect Quick Fixes in ‘Red-Teaming’ of AI Models; Security Was an Afterthought
White House officials concerned by AI chatbots’ potential for societal harm and the Silicon Valley powerhouses rushing them to market are heavily invested in a three-day competition ending Sunday at the DefCon hacker convention in Las Vegas. Some 3,500 competitors …
People Moves: MCIEF Names Schoonover to Education Director Spot
The Motor Carrier Insurance Education Foundation (MCIEF) has named Jim Schoonover its new education director. He succeeds Tommy Ruke who founded the organization in 2013. Schoonover, whose mission will be to educate transportation industry insurance professionals, began as a school …
Alabama Tow Truck Operator Set for Trial on Overcharging Insurance Companies
One of five Alabama tow truck operators charged with overcharging insurance companies will go to trial in April, almost four years after the men were hit with insurance fraud charges. Danny Williams, owner of Southport Towing, in Mobile, Alabama, was …
Carolina Roller Coaster Reopens After Large Crack Repaired and Tested
A towering North Carolina roller coaster that shut down in June due to a large crack in its support column reopened Thursday after a month of repairs and testing, the park announced on its website. Carowinds amusement park, which straddles …