March 17, 2026DUAL North America Names Ashby CEO
DUAL Group announced the the appointment of Ed Ashby as chief executive officer, DUAL North America, effective March 23. Ashby will lead the U.S. business from New York, reporting to Richard Clapham, CEO, DUAL Group. Ashby joins from Axis, where …

March 17, 2026Howden Announces Leadership Changes for Regional Structure Changes
Howden, the London-based insurance broking group, announces leadership appointments and regional structure changes, aiming to better serve clients and insurer partners. Howden said the changes will more closely align expertise and shape the business …

March 17, 2026Facing Suit From Former Employer, Parrish Appointed Howden CEO, Americas
Howden said Michael Parrish has been appointed CEO, Americas in a move the broker said would align better for clients. “Howden Americas, under Mike’s leadership, will bring together the exciting new retail broking operations in the US with our fast-g …

March 17, 2026Tennessee Minors Sue Musk’s AI System, Alleging it Generated Sexual Images of Them
Three Tennessee plaintiffs, including two minors, sued Elon Musk’s xAI on Monday, alleging that it knowingly designed its Grok image generator to let people create sexually explicit content by using real photos of others. The lawsuit, filed in the Sa …

March 17, 2026‘Zombie’ Second Mortgages Spur New Battles in California, Maryland
In a room outside the Maryland State Senate chamber last winter, consumer advocates were meeting privately with lawmakers to explain how borrowers were losing their homes over “zombie” loans, old second mortgages that they hadn’t heard from lenders a …

March 17, 2026Tornadoes, High Winds Leave Damage Across Parts of the Southeast
From Alabama to North Carolina, tornadoes and probable tornadoes ripped a roof off a warehouse, damaged homes and left many without power across the Southeast. News sites reported that a confirmed tornado, with winds of 85 mph, struck an air-conditio …

March 17, 2026Woman Admits Stealing Checks From Builder and Maryland Automobile Insurance Fund
A Crofton, Maryland woman has pleaded guilty in two separate felony theft schemes, according to Attorney General Anthony G. Brown. On Monday in Anne Arundel County Circuit Court, Carolyn Rae Aldridge admitted to stealing a combined total of $185,296. …

March 17, 2026IMO Chief Says Naval Escorts Won’t Guarantee Ship Safety Through Strait of Hormuz: FT
The head of the International Maritime Organization has said that naval escorts through the Strait of Hormuz will not “100 percent guarantee” the safety of ships attempting to transit the waterway, the Financial Times reported on Tuesday. Military as …

March 17, 2026Middle East War to Intensify Soaring European Corporate Distress
The outbreak of hostilities in the Middle East and surging energy costs are expected to exacerbate soaring levels of financial distress among European corporates, according to Alvarez & Marsal Inc. Even before the US and Israel began their attack …

March 17, 2026Escape Route Through Strait of Hormuz Now Involves Iran Passage
A Pakistani tanker earlier this week became the latest vessel to sail out through the Strait of Hormuz by hewing closely to the Iranian coast, suggesting an approved route that points to Tehran’s tightening grip on the narrow waterway — …