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Trump signs order to speed review of psychedelics

Article 0 Comments President Donald Trump on Saturday directed his administration to speed up reviews of certain psychedelic drugs, including ibogaine, which recently has been embraced by combat veterans and conservative lawmakers despite having serious safety risks. Ibogaine and other psychedelics remain banned under the federal government’s most restrictive category for illegal, high-risk drugs. But the administration is taking steps to ease restrictions and spur research on using the drugs for medical purposes, including conditions like severe depression. “Today’s order will ensure that people suffering from debilitating symptoms might finally have a chance to reclaim their lives and lead a happier life,” Trump said as he signed an executive order on the drugs. The Republican president said his directive will help “dramatically accelerate” access to potential treatments. “If these turn out to be as good as people are saying, it’s going to have a tremendous impact,” he said. Veteran organizations and psychedelic advocates have long contended that ibogaine, which is made from a shrub native to West Africa, has great promise for hard-to-treat conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder and opioid addiction. Trump’s announcement follows pledges by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and other administration officials to ease access...

Managed services recognized as strategic engine for AI acceleration: KPMG 0

Managed services recognized as strategic engine for AI acceleration: KPMG

More than 90 percent of executives view managed services as essential for agentic AI delivery Eighty-seven percent of respondents have already woven managed services directly into their plans for digital transformation Leaders cite AI capability as their top consideration in managed services, followed by overall tech proficiency, data expertise, and a strategic transformation mindset Fifty-six percent of buyers cite AI management as their top priority for managed services investment over the next two years, followed by cybersecurity at 33 percent Managed services is now a strategic priority for 99 percent of organizations, with two‑thirds expecting the model to drive major operating, business, and strategic impact within 24 months London, UK (Apr. 7, 2026) – In the race for agentic artificial intelligence, companies have discovered a new shortcut: managed services. More than 90 percent of executives now view this model as an essential engine for agentic AI delivery, helping companies leapfrog the technical debt and talent gaps that often stall AI investment. That’s according to the global KPMG Managed Services Outlook Survey 2026, with research and analysis by IDC, which explores the use of managed services by 1,200-plus senior leaders. The survey finds that managed services are not on the sidelines; they...

Majesco Spring ’26 Release Redefines What Insurers Should Expect from Their Core Solutions in an Intelligent Era of Insurance 0

Majesco Spring ’26 Release Redefines What Insurers Should Expect from Their Core Solutions in an Intelligent Era of Insurance

New release empowers carriers with streamlined workflows, intelligent automation, and performance enhancements to accelerate growth and reduce operational friction Morristown, NJ (Apr. 7, 2026) – Majesco, the insurance industry’s foremost innovator in cloud and AI-native software, has announced its Spring ’26 Release, a bold step forward in helping insurers simplify and optimize operations, move faster, and unlock greater business value from their core systems. Built on customer feedback, this release addresses key pain points across Majesco’s product portfolio enabling insurers to eliminate operational friction and time to focus on high-value activities that deliver business and customer value amid evolving market demands. “Spring ’26 marks an important step forward for our customers as they navigate increasing complexity and rising expectations across their businesses,” said Manish Shah, President and Chief Product Officer at Majesco. “This release advances Majesco’s vision for intelligent, connected, and AI-powered core operations built around intelligence on tap, human–agent teams that enable insurers to scale rapidly, operate with agility and resiliency, and generate business value faster than traditional companies by deeply integrating AI in business processes across the value chain.” Built around the theme Redefine Possible, the Spring ’26 Release introduces new capabilities designed to reduce friction, improve visibility,...

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Ex-CEO, Ex-CFO of Bankrupt AI Company Charged With Fraud

Article 0 Comments The former chief executive and chief financial officer of iLearningEngines, which provided AI-driven business automation technology, were indicted on charges they defrauded investors and lenders by fabricating “virtually all” of the now-bankrupt company’s customer relationships and revenue. Former CEO Puthugramam Chidambaran, who founded iLearningEngines in 2010, and ex-CFO Sayyed Farhan Ali Naqvi were charged in a 10-count indictment with running a continuing financial crimes enterprise, securities fraud, wire fraud, and conspiracy to commit securities fraud and wire fraud. The indictment was made public on April 17 in the Brooklyn, New York, federal court. Chidambaran, 57, was arrested in Potomac, Maryland, where he lives, while Naqvi, 44, of Houston, was arrested in San Jose, California, prosecutors said. The criminal enterprise charge carries a maximum sentence of life in prison. Lawyers for the defendants did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Prosecutors said iLearning marketed itself as an artificial intelligence-driven digital education company with an “out-of-the-box AI platform,” and claimed to earn revenue mainly by selling licenses for its educational and training platforms to customers, including healthcare companies and schools. According to the indictment, the defendants used forged sham contracts to make it seem that iLearning’s customers were...

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India Approves $1.4 Billion Maritime Insurance Pool

Article 0 Comments India has approved a 129.8-billion-rupee ($1.4 billion) guarantee for a maritime insurance pool, a minister said on Saturday, as wars and sanctions prompt insurers to withdraw cover, threatening trade flows. The pool will run for 10 years and can be extended by a further five years, Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said. “There was a need for a domestic maritime risk covering pool to maintain sovereignty and continuity of trade in face of withdrawal of coverage due to sanctions or due to geopolitical tensions,” according to a statement issued by the government. Several major reinsurers including India’s only ⁠state-backed reinsurer GIC Re have either withdrawn cover or sharply raised premiums, leaving the industry with limited reinsurance support, Reuters reported earlier this month. Reinsurers provide vital support to insurers by helping them spread risk. Among issues leading the industry to scale back coverage are the Iran war and Western sanctions on Russia. The insurance pool will cover all maritime risks, including hull and machinery, cargo and war risk, the statement said. Policies will be issued by member insurers using combined underwriting capacity of about 9.50 billion rupees. Inflation-Linked Allowance Hiked The government said in a separate statement...

Triple-I/Fenix24 Report Identifies Emerging Cybersecurity Priorities for Insurers 0

Triple-I/Fenix24 Report Identifies Emerging Cybersecurity Priorities for Insurers

Malvern, PA (Apr. 2, 2026) – The Insurance Information Institute (Triple-I), in partnership with Fenix24, is pleased to announce the publication of a new report examining how insurance companies are managing their own cybersecurity risks and where critical vulnerabilities remain: Cybersecurity for Insurers: Squaring Safety with Service. The report found that while property/casualty insurers have made impactful cybersecurity investments, gaps remain in areas including patching cadence, authentication practices, and recovery testing, which are all weaknesses that could complicate responses to today’s threat environment. The report draws on a series of conversations with insurance industry executives, with questions aligned to best practices, regulatory requirements and security controls commonly required in cyber insurance underwriting. “Insurers occupy a paradoxical position in the cybersecurity landscape,” said Sean Kevelighan, CEO, Triple-I. “They assess cyber risk for policyholders and establish security requirements as conditions of coverage, yet they also need to demonstrate their own cybersecurity practices meet or exceed evolving standards.” “Most organizations have tested their recovery plans for natural disasters or standard IT outages, but not for ransomware attacks,” said Mark Grazman, CEO of Fenix24. “Understanding what actually happens in a ransomware scenario is critical to architecting true resiliency. It’s not just backups at risk,...

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State Farm Agrees to $15M Settlement for Underpaid Vehicle Claims in Arkansas

Article 0 Comments A federal judge last month approved a preliminary class settlement resolving claims that State Farm underpaid Arkansas policyholders for total loss vehicle claims by applying an erroneous valuation method. Under the settlement agreement, State Farm will pay $15.6 million to policyholders who filed a total loss claim between November 2016 and October 2021 and whose claim payment was based on an appraisal report from Audatex. Plaintiffs allege that State Farm used valuation reports prepared by Audatex that underrepresented the actual cash value of a loss vehicle by applying typical negotiation adjustments. The use of the typical negotiation adjustments systematically “thumbs the scales” against policyholders, plaintiffs argue. State Farm stopped using Audatex in October 2021. The company denies all the claims and allegations raised. Lead plaintiff Rose Chadwick’s vehicle was deemed a total loss in December 2020. State Farm valued total loss claim at $4,121 and paid Plaintiff Chadwick $1,383 as the net claim amount, relying on a market-driven valuation report from Audatex. According to Chadwick’s class action complaint, filed in November 2021 in the Eastern District of Arkansas, the market-driven valuation report provided the prices of four different comparable vehicles advertised for sale online and applied a...

Coforge and Solstice Innovations Partner to Redefine P&C Insurance Modernization Through Agentic AI 0

Coforge and Solstice Innovations Partner to Redefine P&C Insurance Modernization Through Agentic AI

Princeton, NJ (Apr. 2, 2026) – Coforge, a global AI-native engineering services leader, is pleased to announce a strategic partnership with Solstice Innovations, Inc. to accelerate agentic AI-led adoption of modern core insurance technology for P&C insurers. Under the agreement, Coforge will establish a dedicated Center of Excellence (CoE) powered by its Forge-X AI platform, enabling faster, more intelligent client onboarding, system integration, migration, quality engineering, and business process transformation for Solstice and its customers. The Coforge–Solstice partnership brings together two AI-native capabilities that in combination will redefine P&C insurance modernization through agentic AI. Solstice’s agentic Equinox™ platform defines the destination as a modern, intelligent core system that transforms how insurers operate, leverage, interface with and pay for their technology products. Coforge Forge-X defines the journey of an AI-driven delivery engine that gets insurers there faster and with greater confidence. Together, they create an end-to-end modernization proposition that is both technically differentiated and commercially compelling for P&C insurers across multiple lines of business. Coforge Forge-X will serve as the primary accelerator for moving Solstice’s prospective and existing clients from legacy environments onto the Equinox platform with greater speed, lower risk, and measurably reduced implementation cost. “The partnership between Coforge and...

Ontario and Quebec Ice Storm Anniversary: Insured Losses Total $466 Million 0

Ontario and Quebec Ice Storm Anniversary: Insured Losses Total $466 Million

Canada’s costliest disaster of 2025 underscores the importance of building more resilient communities Toronto, ON (Mar. 31, 2026) – Insured damage from last year’s late March ice storm in Ontario and Quebec is now estimated at $466 million, according to the latest figures from Catastrophe Indices and Quantification Inc. (CatIQ), following an initial estimate of $342 million issued shortly after the event. The storm was the costliest severe weather event of 2025 across the country and now ranks as the sixth costliest in Ontario’s history. “Severe weather events continue to intensify. Insured losses from catastrophic weather and wildfires have nearly tripled over the past decade, rising from $14 billion annually to $37 billion, while claims have almost doubled,” said Maximilien Roy, Vice-President, Strategy, Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC). “This reality demands a different approach to how we build and plan communities – and investing in resilience now is critical to keeping Canadians safe and insurance available and affordable.” Canada’s P&C insurance industry continues to urge governments of all orders to take meaningful action to reduce growing disaster risks by investing in flood‑defence infrastructure, strengthening land‑use planning to keep development out of flood‑prone areas, expanding FireSmart initiatives in communities at high wildfire risk, and...

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Spain’s Blackout Probe Blames Grid Operator, Government, Watchdog

Article 0 Comments An inquiry by the Spanish Senate blames the government, as well the country’s grid operator and energy watchdog, for last year’s unprecedented blackout, according to preliminary conclusions made public on Wednesday. The probe by the upper house – which is controlled by the opposition People’s Party (PP) – is the first to assign blame for the outage that plunged large parts of Spain and Portugal into darkness for up to 16 hours on April 28, 2025. The nine‑month investigation said the blackout was not an unforeseeable accident, but rather caused by long‑standing structural weaknesses that were already known. “The blackout was the result of a known vulnerability, of a system that had been sending warnings for some time, and of a failure to act with the required diligence,” PP senator Alicia Garcia told reporters. The preliminary report cited repeated voltage swings in the weeks and months leading up to the blackout as evidence of mounting problems in the electricity system. The Senate commission held grid operator Red Electrica, a unit of Redeia, and the Energy Ministry primarily responsible for the outage, while also criticizing energy and antitrust regulator CNMC for what it described as regulatory and supervisory...