INSURANCE NEWS
Isaias: 47,000 Claims and $582M in Losses in Florida So Far, OIR Reports
The late-season hurricane known as Isaias has so far produced about 47,000 claims in Florida, with estimated insured losses at $582 million, carriers have reported to the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation. A week after the storm made landfall in …
Supreme Court Rejects Google Challenge to US Patent Agency Review Policy
The US Supreme Court declined to hear a challenge by Alphabet’s Google to a US Patent and Trademark Office rule that the company argued has insulated older patents from validity reviews and helped fuel a surge in patent litigation. The …
How One Hacker Used AI Agents, a Few Thousand Dollars to Break Into Websites
Over the past couple of weeks, a cybersecurity researcher watched as a Chinese-speaking hacker broke into websites belonging to more than 100 companies, including farm equipment maker Deere, home appliance company SharkNinja and engine manufacturer Cummins. Yet the hacker did …
Severe Drought Hits Parts of England for First Time Since 1995
A severe drought has been declared for parts of England for the first time since 1995, pushing the government to step up emergency planning as reservoir levels sink far below seasonal norms. Areas of Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Somerset, East Sussex …
Diageo’s Toxic Spill Hits a Pristine River in Scottish Whisky Country
The River Spey in northeastern Scotland is one of the world’s most pristine bodies of water. Stretching across 107 miles, it teems with salmon and trout, supporting communities built on tourism along its shores. Earlier this year, a toxic chemical …
3M to Argue Australia’s $1.4B ‘Forever Chemicals’ Lawsuit Legally Flawed, Court Hears
US conglomerate 3M plans to argue a landmark case brought by Australia over contamination from the company’s use of PFAS “forever chemicals” in its firefighting foam is legally flawed, a court heard on Friday. The claim against the Minnesota-based chemicals …
The Crypto Devices Built to Foil Hackers Came With Spies Inside
At a small cryptocurrency shop in the heart of Kuala Lumpur, a sheet of paper dated Oct. 10 is taped to shutters over the entrance: “Our physical stores are temporarily closed until further notice.” Malaysian retailer CryptoBilis, a reseller of …
French Violence Raises Alert as Protests Flare Across Europe
The violence that rocked France this weekend as cost-of-living protests degenerated into looting and burning nationwide is raising alert levels across Europe, where elections will be held in at least half a dozen countries next year. While France has a …
Report: Auto Insurance Total Loss Frequency Climbs, More Drivers Pay Repairs
The share of auto insurance claims flagged as total losses reached 23.5% in the first half of the year, up slightly from a year earlier, a new report shows. The 2026 Crash Course Mid-Year Update from CCC Intelligent Solutions shows …
Appeals Court Blocks Class Actions Over Tesla’s Self-Driving Claims
A US appeals court threw out an order allowing Tesla customers in California to pursue class action claims accusing the electric vehicle maker of misleading them about the capabilities of its full self-driving technology. In its Oct. 16 ruling, a …
California Hybrid Market Share Hits Record as EV Registrations Decline
Hybrid vehicles accounted for a record 22.8% of new vehicle registrations in California through the first nine months of the year, a new report shows. However, the Q3 2026 California Auto Outlook, published by Auto Outlook Inc. for the California …
Compass Files Suit Over California Home Listing Service Rules
Compass Inc., the top U.S. broker for residential properties, sued California’s largest real estate listing service in the latest escalation of a broader legal fight over timely access to information about homes for sale. The federal court suit filed Friday …