Latest News & Insights

People Moves: DeCotis Welcomes Production Underwriter for Personal Lines

DeCotis Specialty Insurance, headquartered in Providence, Rhode Island, hired Frank Moran Jr. as a production underwriter on its personal lines team. In this role, Moran is responsible for driving submission flow, developing a pipeline for new business opportunities and continuing …

California Real Estate Agent Sentenced in LA Wildfire Gouging Case

A real estate agent who tried to price gouge a couple who lost their home during the Los Angeles wildfires was sentenced for false advertising. California Attorney General Rob Bonta announced the sentencing of real estate agent Mike Kobeissi for …

Climate Models Become More Precise Even as Political Attacks Sharpen

As back-to-back heat waves batter the US and Europe, scientific models linking climate change to extreme weather are increasingly important for policymakers and commercial enterprises like insurers. But a growing political backlash aims to undermine their credibility. Climate scientists can …

Damaged Manhattan Tower Owner to Reconstruct 15 Floors After Evacuation

The developer behind the Midtown Manhattan tower that was evacuated over structural concerns Tuesday says it has a plan to fix the issue, including reconstructing 15 floors that were added to the original building as part of its conversion into …

Western Europe Records Hottest June on Record, EU Scientists Say

Western Europe just experienced its warmest June on record, EU scientists confirmed on Thursday, after an extreme heatwave at the end of the month smashed temperature records, disrupted power supplies and shut schools. Last month was also the second-warmest June …

Southwestern Japan Prepares for Powerful Typhoon Bavi; Taiwan Expects Deluge of Rain

A large and powerful typhoon approached a remote chain of islands in Japan’s southwest on Friday, prompting authorities to warn of violent winds, torrential rain, landslides and flooding in what could be the region’s most destructive storm in years. Typhoon …

US to Explore Allowing Driverless Cars Without Steering Wheels

The head of the top US auto safety regulator said the agency “absolutely” will consider ending requirements that driverless cars include steering wheels, a potential boon for Tesla Inc. and other robotaxi companies rethinking traditional vehicle design. “If you’re developing …

Catastrophic Storms to Test China’s Resilience in 2026, Scientists Warn

The floodwaters that ravaged southern China this week look set to expand to other provinces with the imminent arrival of Super Typhoon Bavi, with scientists warning extreme weather would only grow more frequent this year. The expected weather systems will …

Europe’s Financial Stability Watchdog Examining Private Credit Risks, Adviser Says

The EU’s financial stability watchdog is examining the risks private credit poses to the region’s banks and economy, one of its advisers said, and may recommend regulators be given greater direct oversight of the $3.1 trillion shadow lending industry. Richard …

El Niño Likely Strongest in 75 Years, US Forecasters Say

The weather-roiling El Niño that emerged across the Pacific last month has continued to build and will likely be one of the strongest in more than 75 years, the US Climate Prediction Center said. Sea surface temperatures of 1C (1.8F) …

Viewpoint: Second-Hand Risk – The Growing Threat of Used Equipment in Data Centers

As data center construction accelerates across the U.S. and globally, the conversation has rightly focused on environmental impact and land use. But there is a less viable risk accumulating in the supply chain that we believe risk managers would do …

Conspiracies, Lies and US Influencers Drive UK Street Violence

When he saw the video, Luqman Saeed knew what was coming. A lecturer at Ulster University in Belfast, he’s spent more than a decade studying how conflicts start and how people are driven to radical ideologies and violent ends. He …

Fla. Supreme Court Reverses Lower Court on Compensability of a Workplace Shooting

The Florida Supreme Court just made it a little easier for workplace assault victims to claim workers’ compensation benefits, even if it can’t be proven that an attack was work-related. The high court on Thursday overturned a 2023 ruling from …

Two Florida Industry Veterans Launch Growth Platform for Agencies

Two veteran Florida insurance agency owners have launched a growth platform for agencies, aimed at helping them build better businesses, carrier relationships and lead generation. Kingdom Growth Partners, based in Jacksonville, is led by David Wilson, national director with American …

WCIRB: 2025 California Workers’ Losses and Expenses 102% of Earned Premium

Incurred losses and expenses in California workers’ compensation in calendar year 2025 were $15.7 billion, or 102% of earned premium, up from 99% of earned premium in 2024. The Workers’ Compensation Insurance Rating Bureau of California released the 2025 California …

NY Fed Says Mid-Atlantic Firms Aren’t Done Passing on Tariff Costs

Many Mid-Atlantic U.S. businesses aren’t done raising prices due to President Donald Trump’s slate of import tax increases, new research from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, released on Wednesday, said. “Our latest regional business surveys reveal that nearly …

Trucordia Acquires Assets of Dominion Insurance Services in California

Trucordia acquired the assets of Dominion Insurance Services Inc. in California. Dominion is a boutique brokerage with a specialty focus in lawyers professional liability and other professional liability lines. Related: Trucordia Acquires Illinois’ Hecht-Stout Insurance Agency Trucordia is the group …

Illinois Governor Signs AI Regulation Bill That Aims to Mitigate Risks

Gov. JB Pritzker signed artificial intelligence legislation modeled after similar bills in California and New York on Monday, furthering a push for a state-driven national framework in lieu of federal regulations. “Congress and the president ought to be passing similar …

Texas Lawmakers Continue Push to Ban TCH Products

The Texas Senate Committee on Health and Human Services held a public hearing Tuesday to gather information that will shape future legislation on THC products sold in the state. Lawmakers made arguments against THC that harkened back to the days …

AM Best Revises Outlook to Positive for Illinois’ National Group

AM Best has revised the outlook to positive from stable for the Long-Term Issuer Credit Ratings (Long-Term ICR) and affirmed the Financial Strength Rating (FSR) of A (Excellent) and the Long-Term ICR of “a” (Excellent) of OMS National Insurance Company, …

Brown & Riding Launches National Private Client Practice

Brown & Riding this week announced the launch of its new national Private Client Practice, a specialty practice area focused on affluent personal lines risks. The practice is led by Courtney Kerr, a seasoned private client professional, and backed by …

People Moves: HDI Global US Names Chief Underwriting Officers

HDI Global (HDI) said it has strengthened its underwriting leadership team in the U.S. with the appointments of Bevan Greibesland as chief underwriting officer, specialty lines, and Bruce Griffin as chief underwriting officer, long tail lines. Greibesland joined HDI in …

Boston Joins Suits Against Social Media Giants Alleging Harm to Students

Mayor Michelle Wu announced that the city of Boston, on behalf of Boston Public Schools (BPS), has filed a lawsuit against Meta and other social media companies, including TikTok, Snapchat, and YouTube, alleging that these platforms deliberately target minors with …

Hormuz Ship Insurance Demand Drops as Owners Get Nervous

London marine insurers have been seeing fewer inquiries for journeys to transit the Strait of Hormuz and some said the cost of cover had risen, in a sign of growing caution from shipowners as the US and Iran exchange attacks. …

California Bill to Let Insurers Use Driver Telematics Mulled by Legislature

A California bill to enable carriers to offer auto insurance discounts for good driving behavior is making its way through state Legislature. Assembly Bill 311 would amend the state’s bedrock insurance law, Proposition 103. The bill, the Consumer Driving Data …

Honda’s Insurance Agency Operations Stall, Services ‘Paused’

About a year after launching, Honda Insurance Solutions is no longer in operation. Editor’s Note: Updated late July 9 to include a statement from American Honda Finance Corporation (AHFC). Started as a licensed insurance agency for Honda and Acura owners …

Viewpoint: Insurance, Cybersecurity Are Twin Pillars of Resilience for iGaming Industry

Executive summary: Once seen as niche, the iGaming, or the online gambling and sports betting industry, has come of age — now a regulated global market, expanding rapidly and attracting mainstream attention. In this article, Elizabeth Grima of the specialty …

Amwins and Dragoneer Consortium Reaffirm $5.3B Bid for Australia’s Steadfast

Australia’s Steadfast said on Thursday that Amwins Group and Dragoneer Investment had reaffirmed their takeover proposal valuing the insurance broker at A$7.7 billion ($5.34 billion), prompting a four-week extension of the exclusivity period. Here are some details: The consortium reaffirmed …

Hormuz Ship Traffic Grinds to Near Halt After US, Iran Strikes

Traffic through the Strait of Hormuz came to a near standstill after the US struck Iran for a second straight day, leaving a fragile truce between the two sides looking increasingly shaky. Renewed hostilities, which caused oil and fuel prices …

UK Water Regulator Finds Severn Trent Breached Wastewater Duties

UK water regulator Ofwat found that Severn Trent Plc had “serious failings” in how it deals with wastewater and sewage as part of a broad investigation into practices of utilities in the sector. Ofwat didn’t impose a fine on Severn …