News
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August 10, 2026
OpenAI Pauses Some Work on New Astra Model on Cyber Concerns
OpenAI is pausing some internal work around one of its upcoming artificial intelligence models to implement stricter safeguards after the system was found to be significantly more adept at cybersecurity tasks. The ChatGPT maker said on Friday it R...
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August 10, 2026
Heat Deaths Top 25,000 in Europe as Scorching Weather Persists
Extreme heat has killed more than 25,000 people across Europe this year, according to the latest available data compiled by Bloomberg. Germany recorded the highest toll, with an estimated 11,900 excess deaths linked to heat since April, according to ...
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August 10, 2026
Taylor Farms Recalls Salsa and Guacamole Over Salmonella Risk
Taylor Farms on Sunday said it was recalling more than a dozen prepared food items containing jalapeños, including salsas and guacamole, from retailers over concerns about potential salmonella contamination. The California-based supplier said it had ...
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August 10, 2026
Alabama Courthouse Workers Smelled a Rat. Court Must Decide if Insurer Defends Suit
A group of 32 county workers in Greene County, Alabama, became so fed up with what they said were rats, faulty air-conditioning and a leaky roof at the county courthouse that they sued their own county commissioners in 2020. The …...
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August 10, 2026
Teva Seeks to Keep Israel Ties From Philadelphia Jury, Cites Gaza War
Teva Pharmaceuticals has asked a U.S. judge to prevent insurer Humana from telling jurors it is an Israeli company at a major drug price-fixing trial, arguing that strong public views over the Gaza war could prejudice proceedings and affect its ̷...
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August 10, 2026
New York Strengthens Law on Inspections of Cooling Towers in City
About a month after an outbreak of Legionnaires disease hit New York City, New York Gov. Governor Kathy Hochul has signed legislation strengthening regulations on cooling tower inspections aimed at preventing future public health hazards. The new law...
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August 10, 2026
Body Found in California Home Burned by Wildfire Believed Started by Chain Saw
A dead body was found inside a central California home burned by a wildfire that investigators believe was accidentally started by sparks from a chain saw, authorities said last week. Herbert Wayne Smith, 65, was arrested in connection with the ̷...
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August 07, 2026
Meta Ordered to Pay $567 Million In New Mexico for Teen Mental Health Fund
A New Mexico state court ordered Meta on Thursday to pay $567 million into a teen mental health fund and change how its platforms function for young users after finding the company is to blame for harming children’s wellbeing. Judge …...
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August 07, 2026
Trump Calls Texas’ Data Center Opposition a “Mistake”
President Donald Trump this week criticized Texas for being anti-data centers, just days after Republican Gov. Greg Abbott paused industry-wide approvals until the companies provide the state with more information on things like power and water use. ...
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August 07, 2026
Texas Bakery Fined $25K for Child Labor and Back Wages Violations
The U.S. Department of Labor has recovered thousands in back wages and assessed penalties after a federal investigation revealed child labor, minimum wage, and overtime violations by the operators of three La Panaderia Bakery & Café locations in ...
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August 07, 2026
Pritzker Signs Bills Giving Insurance Department Power to Overturn Rate Changes
Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker this week signed legislation that gives the state’s insurance department authority to object rates it deems are excessive, inadequate, or unfairly discriminatory. HB 4273 and SB 714 allow the Illinois Department ...
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August 07, 2026
Chinese AI Model Kimi K3 Escapes Sandbox in Third-Party Test, Researchers Say
Chinese firm Moonshot’s latest artificial intelligence model broke out of a cyber-testing environment, researchers said, in the latest incident that raises concerns about how well AI companies control their technology. Moonshot’s Kimi K3 ...
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August 07, 2026
People Moves: Paulk Named COO of Old Republic Excess & Surplus
Old Republic International Corporation announced that John Paulk has been appointed Chief Operating Officer of Old Republic Excess & Surplus, reporting to Ralph Sabbagh, President. In making this announcement, Craig Smiddy, Old Republic Internati...
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August 07, 2026
Ignite Specialty Risk Launches Australian Operations, Led by Stormont-Sainsbury
Ignite Specialty Risk, the London-based managing general agent, has launched operations in Sydney, Australia, led by Lucinda Stormont-Sainsbury. “Australia is an important strategic market for Ignite and establishing our Australian operations m...
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August 07, 2026
Jury Finds No Malpractice by NY Law Firm in Patriot National Downfall
A Broward County jury on Thursday exonerated the Simpson Thacher & Bartlett law firm, finding the large New York firm’s lawyers were not negligent in the downfall of Patriot National, the Florida insurance services firm that went bankrupt a...
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August 07, 2026
Major Hedge Funds Targeted in Wave of Attempted Cyberattacks
Hackers launched a wave of sophisticated attacks on Wall Street firms in recent days, targeting information systems at major money managers, according to people familiar with the matter. Point72 Asset Management informed investors on Wednesday that i...
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August 07, 2026
Allstate Introduces Large Language Model, ALLIE
Allstate CEO Tom Wilson said the insurer has a “technology-drive strategy, not a strategy supported by technology.” And the next step in the strategy is the build of ALLIE – Allstate’s Large Language Intelligent Ecosystem. Speaking ...
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August 07, 2026
Washington Arson Suspect Timed Fire for High Wind Day
The 37-year old man suspected of starting one of the fires burning around Spokane, Washington told a detective that he planned the arson attack for Sunday to coincide with a “high winds” day, according to court documents. That blaze was &...
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August 07, 2026
AIG’s General Insurance Q2 Underwriting Income Up 10%
Second quarter 2026 underwriting income in American International Group’s (AIG) General Insurance segment increased nearly 10% compared with the prior year, to $686 million. Insurance financial results for Q2 included catastrophe losses of $210...
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August 07, 2026
Munich Re Posts Better-Than-Expected Profit Amid Low Loss Claims
German reinsurer Munich Re on Friday posted a 6% rise in net profit in the second quarter, defying expectations for a drop and lifted by low major loss claims. Net profit in the quarter of €2.211 billion ($2.55 billion) compares …...
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August 07, 2026
AXA XL to Acquire Corporate Intelligence and Cybersecurity Consultancy, S-RM
AXA XL announced it has entered into an agreement to acquire S-RM, the London-based specialist corporate intelligence and cybersecurity consultancy — raising its shareholding from approximately 49% to 100% ownership. Financial details of the de...
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August 07, 2026
Proposed Hormuz Passage Deal Not Feasible for Shipping Industry, Sources Say
A proposed deal between Iran and Oman that would give Tehran control over ships entering the Gulf through the Strait of Hormuz is not easily workable due to U.S. sanctions and restrictive insurance clauses on any payments, four industry sources ̷...
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August 07, 2026
NOAA Maintains Forecast for Below-Normal Atlantic Hurricane Season
Nearly halfway through the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season, NOAA’s prediction of below-normal activity in the Atlantic basin remains unchanged. Today, forecasters from NOAA’s National Weather Service updated the number of expected named st...
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August 07, 2026
People Moves: Aon Names Fletcher Head of M&A, Transaction Advisory, North America
Aon named Tim Fletcher head of M&A, transaction advisory and financial services, North America. Fletcher has over 20 years of industry experience and has served as national practice leader for Aon’s Financial Services Group (FSG) for five y...
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August 07, 2026
Pressured by Tesla, European Regulators Keep ‘Full Self-Driving’ Safety Data Secret
Four months ago, the Netherlands approved Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (FSD) system and has since then advocated for its adoption across the EU. But Dutch road regulator RDW won’t tell the public why it concluded the driver-assistance system...
