Companies

New legislation comes amid push from big oil, as critics warn polluters’ profits prioritized over Americans’ healthUtah has made it nearly impossible for residents to hold fossil fuel companies legally accountable for climate damages in a move one advocacy group described as putting “profits for the biggest polluters over communities”, with other states expected to follow suit.The new state legislation comes as part of a push from big oil and its political allies – including groups tied to rightwing impresario Leonard Leo – for legal immunity in red statehouses and Congress, with a goal of winning state and federal legal immunity similar to the liability waiver granted to the firearms industry in 2005. Continue reading...

• Commercial property insurer FM Global announced April 2, 2026 that the Financial Times has recognized it as one of The Americas' Fastest-Growing Companies of 2026. • The Johnston, Rhode Island-based insurer joins other leading regional companies on the prestigious FT list recognizing high-growth businesses. • The recognition highlights FM's strong business performance and market position in the competitive commercial property insurance sector.

• Venture capitalist Marc Andreessen stated on March 31, 2026, that companies are 75% overstaffed from COVID-era overhiring, using AI as a 'silver bullet excuse' for layoffs. • In an interview on the 20VC podcast, Andreessen argued AI productivity fears mask long-standing business issues rather than genuine job displacement. • The comments highlight tensions in tech hiring amid AI advancements driving economic growth but fueling employee concerns over job security.

• Companies in the US are spending 93% of their AI budgets on technology and only 7% on preparing their workforce, leading to implementation bottlenecks. • Among executives surveyed, 78% report greater benefits from AI in revenue growth than cost-cutting, with experts predicting revenue gains will dwarf efficiency improvements. • Firms treating workforce as an afterthought risk failure despite advanced AI tools, as highlighted by insights from Deloitte, Wharton, and Harvard experts.

Charities say taxes should rise for banks, defence and energy companies which stand to make windfall profitsMiddle East crisis liveRachel Reeves is being urged to raise taxes on businesses generating “windfall” profits linked to the US-Israel war on Iran to fund emergency cost of living support for UK households.With the government under pressure to respond, a group of leading charities, campaigners and trade unions said the chancellor could raise billions by taxing “excess profits” linked to the conflict. Continue reading...

• Lumen Technologies was named to Fast Company's 2026 list of the World's Most Innovative Companies, announced on March 24, 2026. • The recognition highlights Lumen's advancements in networking and edge computing solutions amid U.S. tech infrastructure demands. • This accolade underscores Lumen's role in supporting AI and cloud growth through innovative fiber and digital services.

• Just Capital and CNBC announced the 2026 Rankings of America's largest public companies, evaluating responsible business leadership across 20 industries as AI reshapes the economy. • The rankings highlight industry leaders including Trane Technologies (Construction & Materials), Nike (Consumer Products), Marathon Petroleum (Energy), and others, providing decision-grade data on corporate performance. • Just Capital released enhanced Just Intelligence capabilities in February 2026, including a new AI-powered chatbot that allows users to query corporate performance data and business case libraries.