UK Motor Finance Scandal to Cost Lenders $12 Billion
The motor finance industry must pay around 9.1 billion pounds ($12 billion) to compensate UK motorists for unfair vehicle loans under the market regulator’s trimmed, final bill for one of Britain’s costliest financial mis-selling scandals. The headline number, unveiled by …
POSTED APRIL 02, 2026 9:14 AM |
Secret Codes and Yuan Fees Get Ships Through Iran’s Hormuz Tollbooth
In recent days, the operator of an oil tanker stuck in the Persian Gulf received a compelling proposal. After weeks at anchor with missiles and drones passing overhead, it could finally sail safely out through the Strait of Hormuz and …
POSTED APRIL 02, 2026 8:39 AM |
Hopes Dim for Swift End to Iran War After Trump Speech, Oil Prices Surge
Hopes for a swift end to the Middle East war faded on Thursday after U.S. President Donald Trump vowed more aggressive strikes on Iran, sending oil prices back well over $100 a barrel in a blow to consumers around the …
POSTED APRIL 02, 2026 7:53 AM |
Meet the New AI Coworker Who Won’t Stop Snitching to Your Boss
The Slack messages began arriving at 5:47 a.m. on a recent Monday. Three sales proposals had gone out the previous week and none of the team members had scheduled follow-ups. The reminders were crisp, professional and relentless — and they …
POSTED APRIL 02, 2026 7:25 AM |
People Moves: Kalepa Appoints Howell as Head of Product
Kalepa, headquartered in New York City, appointed Audrey Howell as head of product. Howell will lead Kalepa’s product vision and strategy, driving innovation and AI advancements across the platform. Howell has over a decade of product leadership experience building technology …
POSTED APRIL 02, 2026 5:43 AM |
Baidu Robotaxis Freeze Mid-Ride in Wuhan, Trap Passengers
A number of Baidu Inc.’s Apollo Go robotaxis suddenly stopped on the streets of China’s Wuhan city on Tuesday, trapping passengers in vehicles and raising concerns about the safety and reliability of autonomous driving technology. Wuhan police received multiple reports …
POSTED APRIL 02, 2026 5:15 AM |
Perplexity AI Machine Accused of Sharing Data With Meta, Google
Perplexity AI Inc. was accused in a lawsuit of surreptitiously sharing the personal information of its users with Meta Platforms Inc. and Alphabet Inc.’s Google in violation of California privacy laws. As soon as users log into Perplexity’s home page, …
POSTED APRIL 02, 2026 5:13 AM |
EPA Watchdog Finds Nation’s Most Toxic Are Vulnerable to Flooding, Wildfires
About 100 of the nation’s most contaminated toxic waste sites are in areas prone to flooding and wildfires, a potential public health threat to millions of Americans in surrounding communities, the internal watchdog at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has …
POSTED APRIL 02, 2026 5:09 AM |
Viewpoint: Why Brokers Struggle to Navigate Data Complexity and What to Do About It
The insurance industry relies on data to assess and price risks, and to develop products that meet policyholders’ needs. Insurance agencies and brokerages collect data about customers and their risks, and this data in turn is exchanged with underwriters to …
POSTED APRIL 02, 2026 5:05 AM |
People Moves: Lockton Expands California Footprint in Life Sciences
Lockton has expanded its presence in California across the evolving life sciences sector, hiring Cristina Varner as senior vice president and life sciences practice leader for the West region. Varner has more than 25 years of experience in the life …
POSTED APRIL 02, 2026 5:00 AM |
People Moves: Patriot Growth Names Bowie National Cyber Leader
Patriot Growth Insurance Services, headquartered in Fort Washington, Pennsylvania, named Jason Bowie as national cyber practice leader. Bowie has more than 15 years of experience in the insurance brokerage industry, with a background in cyber liability, errors & omissions (E&O), …
POSTED APRIL 02, 2026 5:00 AM |
Judge Says Penn Must Turn Over Information About Jewish Employees to EEOC
A federal judge on Tuesday ordered the University of Pennsylvania to hand over records about Jewish employees on campus to a federal agency as part of an investigation into antisemitic discrimination but said it did not have to reveal any …
POSTED APRIL 02, 2026 5:00 AM |
California Drought, Wildfire Risks Grow as Snow Falls Short
California is heading into its dry season with just a fraction of the snow it typically has across its highest peaks at the end of its winter months, raising the prospects of drought across the most populous U.S. state. Statewide, …
POSTED APRIL 02, 2026 5:00 AM |
Man Charged in Phony Vehicle Accident Reporting Scheme
Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday announced charges against a York County man accused of buying scrapped vehicles at a bargain, insuring them, and reporting accidents that never happened to receive lucrative insurance payouts. Taofiq Salami, of York Haven, has been …
POSTED APRIL 02, 2026 5:00 AM |
Elon Musk Must Face Class Action Over Late Disclosure of Twitter Stake, Judge Rules
A federal judge on Tuesday said former Twitter investors who accused Elon Musk of defrauding them by waiting too long to disclose his initial investment in the social media company may pursue their case as a class action. The decision …
POSTED APRIL 01, 2026 4:25 PM |
Public Adjuster Accused of Swiping $600,000 in Hurricane Ian Insurance Payments
A Florida public adjuster, already facing prosecution for similar alleged misappropriation in 2024, now stands accused of diverting more than $600,000 in insurance settlements for homeowners hit by Hurricane Ian. Francisco Javier Chaparro-Araus, 46, of All Elements Public Adjusters in …
POSTED APRIL 01, 2026 3:52 PM |
Man Who Crashed Into Michigan Synagogue Was Inspired Hezbollah: FBI
An armed man who crashed his pickup truck into a major Detroit-area synagogue earlier in March was inspired by the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah and had sought to inflict as much damage as he could on Jewish people, the FBI …
POSTED APRIL 01, 2026 3:51 PM |
AM Best Downgrades Credit Ratings of Cities and Villages Mutual
AM Best has downgraded the Financial Strength Rating (FSR) to B++ (Good) from A- (Excellent) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating (Long-Term ICR) to “bbb+” (Good) from “a-” (Excellent) of Cities and Villages Mutual Insurance Company based in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin. …
POSTED APRIL 01, 2026 3:47 PM |
Giuliani Fails to Get $10 Million Sexual Harassment Suit in New York Dismissed
A New York judge has ruled that former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani must face a $10 million lawsuit accusing him of sexual assault, sexual harassment, and wage theft. Judge Nicholas Moyne, of the state Supreme Court for New York …
POSTED APRIL 01, 2026 3:27 PM |
Student Shoots a Teacher at Texas High School Before Fatally Shooting Self
A 15-year-old student shot a teacher at a Texas high school and then fatally shot himself Monday, according to authorities, who were still investigating what led to the early morning attack. No other injuries were reported at Hill Country College …
POSTED APRIL 01, 2026 3:05 PM |
Texas AG Sues Container Company Over Chemical Fire
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton filed a lawsuit against Permian Basin Containers, LLC (“PBC”) and related entities for violations of Texas environmental laws and regulations after the company caused a catastrophic chemical fire in Odessa that endangered public health. Paxton …
POSTED APRIL 01, 2026 3:01 PM |
Iranian Missile Hit Oil Tanker in Qatari Waters, Qatar Says
An oil tanker leased to state-owned QatarEnergy was hit by an Iranian cruise missile on Wednesday in Qatari waters, the defense ministry said. Qatar was targeted by three cruise missiles coming from Iran. Two were intercepted while the third hit …
POSTED APRIL 01, 2026 2:00 PM |
Trump Says Iran Ceasefire Only Possible When Hormuz Reopens
US President Donald Trump said he’ll only consider a halt to attacks on Iran when the Strait of Hormuz is reopened, sowing further confusion about how long he’s prepared to continue the war. Iran’s “New Regime President” has asked the …
POSTED APRIL 01, 2026 1:38 PM |
North Korean Hackers Suspected in Axios Software Tool Breach
Axios, a tool widely used to develop software applications, was compromised overnight, introducing a vulnerability in a key part of the internet’s plumbing. Hackers were able to breach one of the few accounts that can release new versions of Axios …
POSTED APRIL 01, 2026 1:23 PM |
Russia and Ukraine Set to Intensify War as World Focuses on Iran
Vladimir Putin made a big deal of Russia’s success in seizing control of Kupyansk in eastern Ukraine late last year, even as Volodymyr Zelenskiy immediately challenged the claim by making a video address from the town. Now Russian forces are …
POSTED APRIL 01, 2026 12:58 PM |