Markets/Coverages: Berkshire (BHSI) Enhances UK D&O Liability Offering
Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance (BHSI) announced the launch of Executive First D&O Liability+, its enhanced UK D&O offering for large commercial and financial organizations trading their securities on US exchanges. Key features of the coverage include: Broad, simply worded coverage …
POSTED JANUARY 15, 2026 2:25 PM |
DeSantis Amplifies Warning on ‘Real Perils’ of AI, Data Centers and Pushes Regulation
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is ratcheting up a campaign against the potential dangers of artificial intelligence and data centers, resisting President Donald Trump’s effort to block states from meddling with Big Tech. DeSantis, a two-term governor who’s barred from seeking …
POSTED JANUARY 15, 2026 2:19 PM |
AI Is the Biggest Mover on Allianz Risk Barometer; Cyber Takes Top Spot for Fifth Year
Cyber once again ranked as the top global risk in 2026, according to the latest Allianz Risk Barometer, coming in No. 1 in every region and across all company sizes. Artificial intelligence took the No. 2 spot, up from tenth …
POSTED JANUARY 15, 2026 2:05 PM |
Surging Oil Tanker Insurance Points to Growing Black Sea Chaos
The cost of insuring ships sailing through the Black Sea is surging again, as spiraling attacks on vessels underscore the growing risk of hauling commodities through the region. Underwriters are now charging about 1% of the value of a ship …
POSTED JANUARY 15, 2026 1:36 PM |
People Moves: Mosaic Builds Out Global Transactional Tax-Risk Team; The Hartford Names Hill CUO of Small Business
Mosaic Insurance, headquartered in Hamilton, Bermuda, has expanded its North America and international transactional tax-liability teams to meet heightened demand in the sector, with the recent addition of four tax-risk specialists and the promotion of another. Mosaic’s tax team now …
POSTED JANUARY 15, 2026 1:18 PM |
Financial Lines MGA Verde Risk Management Launched by Asta’s MGA Platform
Asta, the London-based provider of specialist underwriting platforms and services, announced the launch of MGA Verde Risk Management Ltd., which received regulatory approval from the UK regulator in December 2025. Specializing in the financial lines market, predominantly commercial crime, management …
POSTED JANUARY 15, 2026 12:51 PM |
Two Dead in Thailand After Second Deadly Crane Accident a Day Earlier
A crane collapsed onto a road near Thailand’s capital on Thursday, crushing two vehicles and killing two people a day after a similar accident in the northeast caused the derailing of a train and the deaths of 32 passengers. Thailand’s …
POSTED JANUARY 15, 2026 12:09 PM |
Dark Fleet Seeking Russian Protection as US Seizes Oil Tankers
The dark fleet of tankers shipping illicit oil around the world is rushing to seek the perceived protection of the Russian flag after the US started seizing vessels involved in the Venezuelan trade. At least 26 ships have switched registration …
POSTED JANUARY 15, 2026 11:40 AM |
UK Regulators Agree Deal to Coordinate With EU on Critical Tech Providers
British financial regulators, including the Bank of England, have signed an outline deal with their European counterparts to enhance cooperation and oversight of providers deemed critical to the financial services sector, the BoE said on Wednesday. The memorandum of understanding …
POSTED JANUARY 15, 2026 11:10 AM |
SIAA Announces Strategic Partnership With Progressive
SIAA, the nation’s largest alliance of independent insurance agencies, has announced a new partnership with Progressive that will expand members’ access to both personal and commercial lines options. SIAA and Progressive’s partnership is a strategic decision at a time when …
POSTED JANUARY 15, 2026 10:20 AM |
Denmark-US Rift Persists as NATO Nations Deploy to Greenland
Denmark said a “fundamental disagreement” remained after a high-stakes meeting with the US over Greenland as several countries including Germany said they’d send military personnel to the Arctic island. Foreign ministers from Denmark and Greenland met with US Vice President …
POSTED JANUARY 15, 2026 10:12 AM |
Cyber Breach Affected 750,000 Canadian Investors, Regulator Says
Personal information of about 750,000 Canadian investors has been impacted by a “sophisticated phishing attack,” according to the Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization, in an update on the fallout from a major breach disclosed in August. Information that might have been …
POSTED JANUARY 15, 2026 8:57 AM |
People Moves: SPG Names Carpenter VP of Business Development, Infrastructure
Specialty Program Group (SPG) LLC announced that Travis Carpenter has joined the organization as vice president of business development for its Infrastructure Programs Division. In this role, Carpenter will lead national sales and distribution initiatives aimed at accelerating profitable growth …
POSTED JANUARY 15, 2026 8:00 AM |
Scientists Confirm 2025 Was Third-Hottest Year, Trailing 2024 and 2023
Last year was the third hottest on record, according to an analysis of temperature data released Wednesday by three independent agencies. That puts 2025 just behind the second-hottest year, 2023, and the hottest, 2024. What makes this result extraordinary, scientists …
POSTED JANUARY 15, 2026 6:13 AM |
Oracle Sued by Bondholders Over Losses Tied to AI Buildout
Oracle was sued on Wednesday by bondholders who say they suffered losses because the company chaired by billionaire Larry Ellison concealed its need to sell significant additional debt to build out its artificial intelligence infrastructure. The proposed class action was …
POSTED JANUARY 15, 2026 6:02 AM |
Florida Heads for Smallest Orange Crop in Nearly a Century
Florida’s orange harvest is expected to fall to the lowest in nearly a century, as shrinking groves continue to offset improvements in yields. The state is seen producing 12 million boxes of fruit in the 2025-26 season, down 2% from …
POSTED JANUARY 15, 2026 6:01 AM |
$182M Settlement Reached in 2015 New York Train Crossing Crash That Killed 6
A more than $182 million settlement has been reached with victims of a deadly 2015 collision between a train and an SUV at a suburban New York crossing. The majority of the settlement with Metro-North Railroad goes to the families …
POSTED JANUARY 15, 2026 6:00 AM |
People Moves: SAN Group Names Regional VP; RCM&D Hires Surety Division Director
Satellite Agency Network Group, Inc. (SAN), headquartered in Hampton, New Hampshire, hired Sherri Warcholic as regional vice president for Connecticut and Rhode Island. Warcholic will focus on identifying and developing membership opportunities, supporting agency growth throughout the region. Before SAN, …
POSTED JANUARY 15, 2026 6:00 AM |
Musk’s xAI Faces California AG Probe Over Grok Sexual Images
Elon Musk’s artificial intelligence startup, xAI, is under investigation by the California attorney general’s office after the company’s Grok chatbot was allegedly used to create thousands of sexualized images of women and children without their consent. California Attorney General Rob …
POSTED JANUARY 15, 2026 6:00 AM |
Two Big California Home Insurers to Raise Rates By 6.9%
Two large California home insurers will be raising rates for by an average of 6.9% this year, filings with the California Department of Insurance show. CSAA will begin rate increases for nearly 481,800 homeowners starting in March. Mercury Insurance is …
POSTED JANUARY 15, 2026 6:00 AM |
Driver Fails to Back Up Claim That Tesla Touchscreen Defect Caused Accident
Vehicle manufacturer Tesla has won dismissal of a product liability lawsuit claiming that a defective touchscreen in a 2021 Tesla caused an accident. Judge Nelson Roman in federal district court in New York granted Tesla summary judgment because the woman …
POSTED JANUARY 15, 2026 6:00 AM |
Supreme Court Does Not Issue Ruling on Trump’s Tariffs
The U.S. Supreme Court issued three decisions on Wednesday but did not decide the closely watched dispute over the legality of President Donald Trump‘s global tariffs. The court did not announce the next date when it will issue rulings. It …
POSTED JANUARY 15, 2026 5:20 AM |
Update: Verizon Says Service Restored After Thousands Affected by Outage
Updates a previously posted story about the outage. Verizon Communications Inc. said service was restored on its wireless network after a widespread outage across the US that lasted for most of the day on Wednesday. “The outage has been resolved” …
POSTED JANUARY 14, 2026 8:02 PM |
WV Program That Helped Tackle Abandoned Buildings is Running Out of Money
From their home on Charleston’s, West Virginia’s West Side, Tina and Matt Glaspey watched the house on the corner of First Avenue and Fitzgerald Street go downhill fast. A family with a young daughter left because they didn’t feel safe. …
POSTED JANUARY 14, 2026 4:53 PM |
CrowdStrike Defeats Shareholder Lawsuit Over Huge Software Outage
A federal judge dismissed a lawsuit by CrowdStrike shareholders who said the cybersecurity company defrauded them by concealing its inadequate software testing and quality assurance procedures, before a July 2024 outage crashed more than 8 million Microsoft Windows-based computers worldwide. …
POSTED JANUARY 14, 2026 4:09 PM |