Hormuz Shipping Traffic Remains Muted With no US-Iran Deal in Sight, Data Shows
At least seven ships – mainly dry bulk vessels – have crossed the Strait of Hormuz in the past 24 hours, in line with muted activity in recent days, shipping data showed on Monday, while talks between Iran and the …
POSTED APRIL 27, 2026 12:13 PM |
Iran War Disrupts the Circuit Board Supply Chain, Raises Costs for Tech Firms
The conflict in the Middle East has disrupted supplies of crucial raw materials and pushed up prices of the printed circuit boards (PCB) used in almost all electronic devices, from smartphones and computers to AI servers, industry sources and executives …
POSTED APRIL 27, 2026 12:02 PM |
People Moves: HUB’s Drayer Joins Patriot Growth as Northeast President
Patriot Growth Insurance Services, headquartered in Fort Washington, Pennsylvania, hired Andrew Drayer as regional president, Northeast. He succeeds Bill Donato, who previously held this role and now serves as president of retail insurance. Drayer brings experience across commercial insurance, operations, …
POSTED APRIL 27, 2026 11:55 AM |
NYC Begins 10 Days of Flying Taxis With Manhattan-JFK Flights
Joby Aviation Inc. is planning to fly electric air taxis between John F. Kennedy International Airport and Manhattan this week to show off its quieter, zero-emission aircraft in a city weary of noise pollution. The demonstration flights will be New …
POSTED APRIL 27, 2026 11:53 AM |
Europe’s Markets Watchdog Warns Cyber Threats Are Growing as AI Speeds Up Risks
The chief of Europe’s securities regulator said the risks from and potential speed of cyberattacks are growing, joining a chorus of warnings from financial supervisors on the threats posed by artificial intelligence models that are evolving quickly. Geopolitical tensions have …
POSTED APRIL 27, 2026 11:12 AM |
General Atlantic-Backed Indian Insurer Acko Eyes Up to $2.5B Valuation in IPO: Sources
India’s Acko Insurance is targeting a valuation of between $2 billion and $2.5 billion in its planned initial public offering and is eyeing a listing in early 2027, two people familiar with the matter said. Backed by investors including General …
POSTED APRIL 27, 2026 9:10 AM |
Michigan Cleared in Lawsuit Over 2020 Dam Collapse
The state of Michigan was cleared of liability Thursday in a disastrous 2020 dam failure that flooded communities, destroyed more than 100 homes and drained a popular lake. Court of Claims Judge James Redford acknowledged the “real and lasting damages” …
POSTED APRIL 27, 2026 7:00 AM |
NFL’s Rooney Rule Meets Biggest Challenge in Trump’s DEI Crackdown
The most-recognizable diversity policy in sports is facing the biggest challenge in its history. Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier, who has been endorsed by President Donald Trump, is calling for the end of the National Football League’s Rooney Rule, a …
POSTED APRIL 27, 2026 6:00 AM |
Commercial Lines Rates Continue to Soften, Says Ivans Index
Premium renewal rates in the first quarter 2026 decreased for all major commercial lines compared to the fourth quarter 2025, according to the Ivans Index. “Q1 sets an important baseline for 2026, with commercial rates continuing to soften as the …
POSTED APRIL 27, 2026 5:12 AM |
Trend of Fewer Insurance M&A Deals ‘Bottoming Out’: OPTIS
Insurance agency mergers & acquisitions in the first three months of 2026 were down 6% compared with the same period last year. It was the 10th consecutive quarter of deal volume below the long-term trend line but, investment banking and …
POSTED APRIL 27, 2026 5:12 AM |
South Carolina Senate Votes to Suspend $1M Liquor Liability Insurance Requirement
Eight years after South Carolina lawmakers forced a $1 million liquor liability insurance requirement on bars and restaurants, and one year after they tweaked the law with conditional coverage requirements, the state Senate is trying again. Senators voted last week …
POSTED APRIL 27, 2026 5:01 AM |
Former Ransomware Negotiator Pleads Guilty to Aiding Attackers
A former ransomware negotiator has pleaded guilty to charges he helped a ransomware group extort tens of millions of dollars from companies. Angelo Martino, 41, of Land O’Lakes, Florida, worked for a cyber incident response company as a ransomware negotiator …
POSTED APRIL 27, 2026 5:01 AM |
Tornado Tears Through Oklahoma Town, Damaging 40 Homes
Raeann Hunt scrambled to her cellar as a tornado bore down on her Oklahoma community. “It is headed right for us,” she recalled thinking, as she peeked outside, unable to contain her curiosity. Huddled inside the dark 8-by-8 foot (2.44-by-2.44 …
POSTED APRIL 27, 2026 5:00 AM |
CFTC Sues New York to Block Oversight of Prediction Markets
The U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission sued New York on Friday, accusing the state of invading its authority to regulate prediction markets by filing lawsuits accusing Coinbase Financial Markets COIN.O and Gemini Titan GEMI.O of promoting gambling. In a complaint …
POSTED APRIL 27, 2026 5:00 AM |
Water to Surge into Drought-Depleted Lake Powell But at Costs Elsewhere
Canyons in eastern Utah will churn this spring with huge volumes of water—as much as 50,000 toilets flushing constantly at the same time—in a desperate attempt to maintain electricity generation for thousands of homes across much of the Western U.S. …
POSTED APRIL 27, 2026 5:00 AM |
People Moves: Alliant Appoints Cusack as President, Alliant Property & Casualty
Alliant Insurance Services named Michael J. Cusack president of Alliant Property & Casualty. Cusack previously served as head of Alliant Specialty, responsible for overseeing 16 industry verticals and expanding Alliant’s specialty business across the U.S. Cusack has more than 35 …
POSTED APRIL 27, 2026 5:00 AM |
Maine Governor Blocks First State Freeze on New Data Centers
The Democratic governor of Maine, Janet Mills, on Friday vetoed a bill that would have made it the first U.S. state to impose a moratorium on large new data centers, even as local opposition to the electricity-hungry facilities grows. The …
POSTED APRIL 26, 2026 6:30 PM |
Massive Ice Sheets Threaten Homes in Northern Michigan
Large chunks of ice rammed into homes along Michigan’s Black Lake in the northeastern Lower Peninsula as constant spring rainfall and winter melt left many homes flooded and threatened to overflow stressed dam systems. Photos and video posted to social …
POSTED APRIL 24, 2026 4:52 PM |
Inszone Acquires Michigan’s James R. Vozar Insurance Agency
Inszone Insurance Services announced the acquisition of James R. Vozar Insurance Agency. With offices in Athens, Quincy, and Union City, Michigan, this acquisition further strengthens Inszone’s presence in the Midwest and adds deep specialized knowledge in the agricultural sector to …
POSTED APRIL 24, 2026 4:45 PM |
A 50% Surge in Zombie Oil Wells Prompts Texas to Crack Down on Toxic Water Leaks
Texas is planning new rules to speed up its response to so-called zombie oil wells after the number of sites leaking toxic wastewater increased more than 50% this year. Oil companies in the largest US crude-producing state are pumping so …
POSTED APRIL 24, 2026 4:40 PM |
FTC Settles Case Against Anesthesia Company
he U.S. Federal Trade Commission is settling its case against a private equity portfolio company it says was used to buy up anesthesiology practices and raise prices in Texas, according to court documents filed on Thursday. WHY IT’S IMPORTANT The …
POSTED APRIL 24, 2026 4:28 PM |
Study Finds ‘Alarming’ High Flood Risk for 17M Americans on Atlantic, Gulf Coasts
More than 17 million people along the U.S. Atlantic and Gulf coasts are at the highest risk of being affected by flooding, with New York and New Orleans standing out, according to one of the most comprehensive studies ever of …
POSTED APRIL 24, 2026 2:12 PM |
Wildfires in Georgia and Florida Destroy 50 Homes and Force Evacuations
Huge plumes of smoke blanketed swaths of the Southeast on Wednesday as crews battled rapidly growing wildfires that destroyed more than 50 homes in Georgia and forced hundreds to flee the drought- and wind-fueled flames. Some of the biggest blazes …
POSTED APRIL 24, 2026 2:03 PM |
Bayer Shareholders Keep the Squeeze on CEO Over Roundup Lawsuits
As Bayer AG tries to draw a line under costly Roundup herbicide litigation in the US this year, shareholders are using its annual general meeting to make clear that the stakes are higher than ever — including for Chief Executive …
POSTED APRIL 24, 2026 1:43 PM |
Trump Says He’ll Probe Banks Over Response to LA Wildfires
President Donald Trump said he would look into the actions of banks in their response to last year’s devastating Los Angeles wildfires following a meeting with that city’s mayor, Karen Bass. Trump said he met with Bass and other officials …
POSTED APRIL 24, 2026 1:27 PM |