Attacks on commercial shipping linked to the ongoing Middle East conflict are disrupting global supply chains, as vessels report being struck by “unknown projectiles” and operators alter routes and cargo plans. Several incidents have been recorded thus far, including a Thai-flagged commercial vessel being hit 11 nautical miles north of Oman, causing a fire on board.

Brit Group Holdings has launched a new cyber insurance product aimed at small and medium-sized enterprises. Under the policy, SMEs are covered for multiple incidents during the policy period, with the full policy limit available on an any one claim basis for each event.

The backlog of UK employment tribunal cases has surged to a record level, with the number of outstanding claims rising sharply as the system struggles to keep pace with demand. Data from HM Courts and Tribunals Service shows that open caseloads reached 68,192 at the end of January, an increase of nearly 50% y-o-y. The figure captures both single and multiple claims, meaning the total number of individual claims outstanding exceeds 500,000.

Smarsh has launched a suite of artificial intelligence agents designed to streamline legal discovery and compliance processes. The move reflects a wider shift towards automation in compliance and legal functions, as firms look to deploy AI to cut costs and streamline operations.

Heightened cyber activity linked to the Middle East conflict has raised concerns about the potential for severe cyber attacks that could test insurers’ underwriting models and increase systemic risk, according to analysis by S&P Global Ratings.

Insurers see artificial intelligence as critical to the industry’s future, yet full integration is not yet widespread. This is among the findings of AutoRek’s 2026 Insurance Report. The study, based on 250 interviews with UK and US insurance managers, found that 82% believe AI will dominate in the future, but only 14% have operationalised it.