INSURANCE NEWS
Risk Strategies Adds Blaisdell Insurance to Benefits Practice in New England
National specialty insurance broker Risk Strategies reported it has acquired George W. Blaisdell Insurance, an employee benefits agency based in Hampton Falls, New Hampshire. The acquisition expands the Risk Strategies Employee Benefits Practice in its New England region. Terms of …
FAA Finalizes Pilot Training, Certification Rules for Air Taxis
The Federal Aviation Administration on Tuesday finalized comprehensive training and pilot certification rules for flying air taxis, addressing a key hurdle to the deployment of electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft. The FAA called the rule “the final piece in …
E. Coli Outbreak Tied to McDonald’s Quarter Pounder Kills 1, Sickens Dozens
One person died and dozens fell ill from E. coli infections linked to McDonald’s Quarter Pounder hamburgers in 10 states, led by Colorado, where 26 people were sickened, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control said on Tuesday. The E. coli …
Firefighter Killed Responding to Connecticut State Park Fire
A Connecticut firefighter was killed while battling a massive brush fire at Lamentation Mountain in Berlin. Governor Ned Lamont ordered flags lowered to half-staff in honor of Robert Sharkevich Sr., a member of the Wethersfield Volunteer Fire Department and former …
Markets/Coverages: MGA Rokstone Inks 3-Year Direct & Fac Property Deal With Aviva
Rokstone, the London-based speciality re/insurance MGA that is part of the Aventum Group, has announced a three-year binding authority agreement with Aviva for its direct & facultative (D&F) property portfolio. The facility enables Rokstone to write global property D&F business …
Thousands Hit by Floods as Trami Tracks Toward Philippines
Tropical Storm Trami has dumped heavy rain across the main island of the Philippines, triggering extensive flooding that’s affected around 150,000 people as the government shut most of its operations. Trami — known locally as Kristine — has maintained its …
Ambani’s Jio in Talks With Allianz for Insurance JVs in India
Jio Financial Services Ltd., controlled by billionaire Mukesh Ambani, has held talks with Allianz SE to set up an insurance partnership in India as the German firm seeks to scrap two existing joint ventures in the country, according to people …
Australia Sues Insurer QBE Over Pricing Discounts, Shares Slip
Australia’s corporate regulator is taking QBE to court, alleging that the country’s biggest insurer by gross written premiums misled more than half a million customers about discounts on various products during a five-year period. The Australian Securities and Investments Commission …
What a Weak La Niña Could Mean for Winter Weather
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Climate Prediction Center says there is a 60% chance that a weak La Niña event will develop this autumn and could last until March. La Niña is part of a natural climate cycle that …
Meta Platforms Defeats Shareholder Lawsuit Over Child Safety Claims
Meta Platforms and Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg won the dismissal of a lawsuit claiming they misled shareholders in Meta’s proxy statement about their ability to ensure the safety of children who use Facebook and Instagram. In a decision on Tuesday, …
Tennessee Pollution Exclusion Confusion: Courts Differ But Clauses Can Apply
Insurers often include exclusions within their liability policies to prohibit coverage for claims arising out of pollution exposure. The exact wording of the exclusion can differ significantly, but the key issue is whether the underlying allegations fall within the scope …
Connecticut Obtains Settlement Over Data Breach Affecting Webster Bank Customers
Connecticut Attorney General William Tong announced a settlement with Guardian Analytics, Inc. and its successor Actimize, Inc., resolving an investigation into a data breach affecting Webster Bank customers’ data. Under the settlement, Guardian and Actimize have agreed to pay $500,000 …