World’s Farmers See Fertilizer Price Surge as Iran War Blocks Exports
The world’s farmers face soaring fertilizer and fuel prices as the war in the Middle East escalates, leaving some scrambling for supplies as the spring planting season approaches. The war, which has closed the Strait of Hormuz, has shut down …
People: Alliant Names McMinn VP in Benefits Group
Alliant Insurance Services named Will McMinn, formerly an employee benefits consultant with USI Insurance, as vice president in Alliant’s employee benefits group. McMinn, with 20 years of experience in the space, will be based in Charlotte, North Carolina, Alliant said …
Legal Fight Over SpaceX Beach Closures Hits Texas Supreme Court
The Texas Supreme Court pondered how far the state can go in limiting access to a public beach during oral arguments Thursday in a case involving the closure of Boca Chica Beach for SpaceX’s rocket launches. Rio Grande Valley environmentalist …
Florida Tank Company Contesting OSHA Fines After Fatal Incident
The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration recently cited a Land O’Lakes, Florida, firm for exposing workers to chemical and respiratory hazards after a fatal incident last summer. PCE Petroleum Contractors Enterprises, a petroleum tank-service company for gas stations and …
Maritime Insurance Premiums Surge as Iran Conflict Widens
As the conflict in the Gulf widens, maritime insurance premiums for war coverage are surging — in some cases by more than 1000% — dramatically driving up the cost of moving energy through a critical maritime corridor. The conflagration sparked …
Reinsurers Triple Ship Insurance Costs After US Torpedo Attack
London-based reinsurers of ships are canceling their coverage of war risk and demanding 200% more to reinstate policies, according to people familiar with the matter, after a US submarine sank an Iranian warship off Sri Lanka, amplifying risk perceptions. Rates …
New Mexico Jurors Heard From Zuckerberg in Meta Child Safety Trial
Jurors in a bellwether trial about the impacts of social media on children watched a deposition of Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg on Wednesday that explored what the architects of Facebook and Instagram knew from internal research about the negative experiences …
Wyoming Project Gets First Construction Permit for Nuclear Reactor in Years
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission on Wednesday approved its first construction permit for a commercial nuclear reactor in eight years, one that will allow a Bill Gates-backed company to build a sodium-cooled reactor in western Wyoming. TerraPower filed for the …
Justin Sun Settles SEC Fraud Case for $10 Million
The Chinese cryptocurrency entrepreneur Justin Sun reached a $10 million settlement to resolve a U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission civil fraud case over his trading activity. Thursday’s settlement requires court approval, with the payment made by one of Sun’s companies. …
Ohio Bill Would Establish Online Auto Insurance Verification
Ohio lawmakers are considering legislation that would establish an online auto verification system intended to hold uninsured drivers accountable. House Representatives Cindy Abrams (R-Harrison) and Jack Daniels (R-New Franklin) are the lead sponsors behind House Bill 678, which requires the …
Michigan Pharmacist Pleads Guilty in $3M Health Care Fraud Scheme
A Michigan pharmacist and business owner who engaged in a five-year pharmacy shortage fraud scheme at two separate pharmacies pleaded guilty on February 24, announced United States Attorney Jerome F. Gorgon, Jr.. Mohammad Hamdan, age 44, from Dearborn Heights pleaded …
High-Tech Snowplows and AI Help Cities Recover From Storms, Cut Insurance Claims
Residents of Syracuse, New York — America’s snowiest city — once barraged a service hotline with street neglect complaints during blizzards, even if plows had passed two hours earlier but the work was hidden by fresh snow. Now public trust …
Amazon Says it Fixed Issue That Led to Website Outage for Thousands
Amazon said March 5 it has resolved an issue related to its software code that had caused an hours-long outage on its website for thousands of shoppers. The disruption, which began around 2:00 p.m. ET, gradually eased to less than …
GL, Workers’ Comp Only Commercial Lines With Monthly Renewal Rate Increase: Ivans
Month over month, premium renewal rates declined across all commercial lines of business except general liability and workers’ compensation, Ivans announced Thursday. The finding came from the technology provider’s February 2026 Ivans Index results. Ivans found the general liability renewal …
People Moves: Green Tree Risk Names Page; TDC Specialty Appoints Spina
Green Tree Risk Partners Names Page Director Green Tree Risk Partners, headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, named Laura Page as director of Green Tree Risk Partners. Page has 20 years of insurance and leadership experience, previously serving as the vice president …
Richmond National Expands Glen Allen Office
Virginia-based specialty insurer Richmond National Group plans to invest $1.75 million to expand operations at the firm’s Glen Allen office. The company said it expects to be hiring as many as 75 new employees for the office. “Five years ago, …
Missile Fire Hinders Middle East Rescue Flights as Airspace Edges Open
Emirati airlines resumed some flights to global cities from the war-hit Gulf on Friday, but a Lufthansa jet that was headed to the region diverted over safety fears and an Air France repatriation flight was forced to turn back due …
More Tankers Come Under Attack as US-Iran Conflict Spreads in the Region
More tankers came under attack in Gulf waters on Thursday as the U.S.–Iran war escalated, and Iranian drones entered Azerbaijan, threatening to spread the crisis to more oil producers in the region. A Bahamas-flagged crude oil tanker was targeted by …
Strait of Hormuz Shipping Is at Near-Total Halt, JMIC Says
Maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz has ground to a near-complete halt, with no oil shipments going through in the past 24 hours, as the Middle East war disrupts the vital waterway. A review of shipping signals have confirmed …
EU Countries Give Final Approval to 2040 Climate Target for 90% Emissions Cut
European Union countries gave the final approval on Thursday to a new climate target to slash greenhouse gas emissions 90% by 2040, pressing ahead with the bloc’s ambitious climate agenda despite political resistance. The new climate target is a hard-fought …



