INSURANCE NEWS
US Seizes Sanctioned Oil Tanker Off Coast of Venezuela, Trump Says
The U.S. has seized a sanctioned oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela, President Donald Trump said on Wednesday, a move that sent oil prices higher and sharply escalated tensions between Washington and Caracas. “We’ve just seized a tanker on …
DOJ Stops Monitoring Houston Illegal Dumping in Retreat From Environmental Justice
The U.S. Justice Department has withdrawn from an agreement with the city of Houston to curb illegal dumping in Black and Latino neighborhoods, part of the Trump administration’s broad dismantling of environmental justice initiatives. Federal authorities quietly ended the monitoring …
OpenAI Warns New Models Pose ‘High’ Cybersecurity Risk
OpenAI on Wednesday warned that its upcoming artificial intelligence models could pose a “high” cybersecurity risk, as their capabilities advance rapidly. The AI models might either develop working zero-day remote exploits against well-defended systems or assist with complex enterprise or …
Driverless Taxis Are Heading to UK, but Who’s Liable When Something Goes Wrong?
Driverless taxis are a bit like buses. You wait ages for one, and then a fleet arrives all at once. The US firms Waymo and Uber have both said their vehicles will be on the streets of London in 2026. …
Crypto Traders Seek Out Extra Security as Kidnappings Rise
To maintain an edge in the volatile, non-stop world of cryptocurrency trading, it helps to be chronically online. Telegram, Discord and Reddit forums are full of investors swapping tips, memes and — when they get lucky — posting screenshots of …
Stable Operating Conditions Expected for European Insurers in 2026
Fitch Ratings’ outlook for the EMEA insurance sector is “neutral” for 2026, as Fitch expects the underlying operational and business conditions to remain mostly unchanged, compared to those in 2025. Core credit drivers trend in different directions but overall leave …
Higginbotham Enters Indiana with Synergy Insurance
Higginbotham has acquired Mishawaka, Indiana-based Synergy Insurance, giving the firm its first footprint in the state. Synergy Insurance Group is an independent insurance agency providing services to businesses and individuals across northern Indiana and southern Michigan. Higginbotham provides insurance, financial …
Court Clerk in Murdaugh Trial Pleads Guilt to Showing Sealed Exhibits
The former court clerk in South Carolina who helped out with the murder trial of attorney Alex Murdaugh pleaded guilty Monday to criminal charges for showing sealed court exhibits to a photographer and lying about it in court. Former Colleton …
Is a Mass. Auto Insurer Allowed to Refuse to Offer Coverage Due to Flood Warning?
Can an auto insurer in Massachusetts refuse to offer collision and comprehensive coverages during a flood warning despite a state law that makes it mandatory to offer such coverages? The industry and public are on the road to finding out. …
People Moves: Howden Taps Former Gallagher Exec Strickland to Launch Space Insurance Practice; Liberty Promotes Groenen to Head of Portfolio Solutions, Europe
This edition of International People Moves details appointments at Howden and Liberty Speciality Markets. A summary of these new hires follows here. Howden Taps Former Gallagher Exec Strickland to Launch Space Insurance Practice Howden, the London-based insurance intermediary group, has …
Trump Giving Farmers Hit by China Trade War $12B in Aid
President Donald Trump announced a $12 billion farm aid package Dec. 8 — a boost to farmers who have struggled to sell their crops while getting hit by rising costs after the president raised tariffs on China as part of …
Settlement Approved for New Orleans Archdiocese to Pay Hundreds of Abuse Victims
he New Orleans Archdiocese will pay at least $230 million to hundreds of victims of clergy sexual abuse under a settlement approved Monday by a federal judge that follows years of negotiations. Richard Trahant, an attorney representing victims in the …