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Update: Wildfire Threat to Oil-Sands Capital Expected to Ease as Winds Shift

The threat of a wildfire bearing down on the unofficial capital of Canada’s oil-sands industry is expected to lessen as temperatures cool and winds shift, though the prospect of rains dousing the flames entirely remains remote. The blaze near Fort …

South Africa’s President Approves Major Health Reform Law; Legal Challenges Expected

South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa signed into law on Wednesday a bill that aims to provide universal health coverage, hailing it as a major step in the journey towards a more just society although critics say they will challenge it …

Brazil States Ask Court to Double Amount Vale, BHP Should Pay for Mining Disaster

Two Brazilian states have asked a court to more than double the amount that miners Vale and BHP, plus a jointly owned tie-up, must pay in damages for a 2015 deadly tailings dam failure, according to a legal document seen …

Britain Rejects Call to Ban Gagging Orders in Financial Services Sector

Britain’s Finance Ministry on Tuesday rejected a call to ban non-disclosure agreements (NDAs), which can be used to silence victims of sexual harassment and abuse, arguing that such clauses do not stop staff reporting concerns to authorities. A report on …

Insurance Research Council: Home Insurance Spend Tops Household Income Growth

According to the Insurance Research Council (IRC), the average homeowners insurance expenditure has become less affordable for U.S. consumers over time. Looking at the the years 2001 to 2021—the latest year in which relevant data is available—homeowners spent about 2% …

US Workers’ Comp Line Still Showing Strong Profits, Lower Claim Frequency

Net written premium in the U.S. workers’ compensation insurance market grew by just 1% from 2022 to 2023, a far smaller percentage than most other property/casualty lines. However, the workers’ compensation line remains the most profitable segment, with a combined …

The Surprising Force Stalling Climate Progress: California Restaurants

In the fight to ratchet down climate emissions and soothe the most dangerous effects of an overheating planet, one of the most withering setbacks in recent memory wasn’t delivered by the oil industry or coal excavators, but, rather, a group …

High Court: E-Scooter Rider Hit by Car Not Eligible for No-Fault PIP Benefits

A man injured when he was hit by a car while he was operating a low speed Segway electric scooter is not entitled to personal injury protection (PIP) benefits under New Jersey’s no-fault auto insurance law, the state’s Supreme Court …

Exxon Is Hit With $726 Million Verdict Over Benzene and Cancer

A jury in Philadelphia found Exxon Mobil Corp. liable for $725.5 million in damages due a former mechanic who claimed its petroleum products exposed him to benzene that caused his cancer, according to his lawyers. The jury found that the …

After Maui, Hawaii Lawmakers Budget Funds for Firefighting Equipment and a State Fire Marshal

Hawaii lawmakers appropriated funds for more firefighting equipment and a state fire marshal after the deadliest U.S. wildfire in more than a century ripped through the historic Maui town of Lahaina and exposed shortcomings in the state’s readiness for such …

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