999 jili games 04 Experience The New Hindi Music Video Banarasi Mohabbat By Akash Seth & Bandana DattaBank frauds increased to 18,461, amount involved spikes 8x in H1FY25: RBI NEW DELHI: In the first half of the current fiscal, the number of bank frauds witnessed a significant on-year increase to 18,461 cases. The amount involved in these frauds also jumped more than eight-fold to Rs 21,367 crore, RBI data said. In its report on Trend and Progress of Banking in India 2023-24, RBI presented the performance of the banking sector, including commercial banks, co-operative banks and non-banking financial institutions, during 2023-24 and 2024-25 so far. The number of frauds during April-September stood at 18,461 involving Rs 21,367 crore compared to 14,480 cases involving Rs 2,623 crore in the comparative period of the last financial year, based on the date of fraud reporting. The RBI report said frauds present multiple challenges for the financial system in the form of reputational risk, operational risk, business risk and erosion of customer confidence with financial stability implications. The share of internet and card frauds in the total stood at 44.7% in terms of amount and 85.3% in terms of number of cases. In 2023-24, the number of fraud cases reported by private sector banks (PVBs) accounted for 67.1% of the total. In terms of amount involved, however, public sector banks (PSBs) had the highest share of card and internet frauds was highest for all bank groups in 2023-24. The RBI data said the instances of penalty imposed on regulated entities (REs) increased during 2023- 24 across all bank groups, except foreign banks and small finance banks. The total penalty amount more than doubled in 2023-24 to Rs 86.1 crore, led by public and private sector banks. The amount of penalty imposed on co-operative banks declined during the year, while there was an increase in instances of penalty imposition. While many cases of digital fraud result from social engineering attacks on customers, there is also a rapid increase in the use of mule bank accounts to perpetrate such frauds, RBI said. “This exposes banks not only to serious financial and operational risks, but also to reputational risks. Banks, therefore, need to strengthen their customer onboarding and transaction monitoring systems to monitor unscrupulous activities,” it added. AgenciesTORONTO — Canada's main stock index moved lower Monday, led by losses in technology and utilities stocks, while U.S. stock markets were also down. The S&P/TSX composite index closed down 66.38 points at 25,625.42. In New York, the Dow Jones industrial average was down 240.59 points at 44,401.93. The S&P 500 index was down 37.42 points at 6,052.85, while the Nasdaq composite was down 123.08 points at 19,736.69. “It started pretty positive in the morning. It's just been slowly, slowly grinding down ever since,” said Michael Currie, senior investment adviser at TD Wealth. Some of the market direction Monday was driven by two separate news stories out of China, he said. “The (Chinese) central bank says they're starting to buy gold again, and they're looking to loosen their monetary policy a bit. So that helped oil a lot, helped gold a lot,” said Currie. China also said it’s investigating semiconductor giant Nvidia over suspected violations of anti-monopoly laws, which sent the company’s stock lower. Nvidia’s share price was down 2.6 per cent Monday at US$138.81. Otherwise, “it’s all about interest rates today,” said Currie. In the U.S., investors are awaiting the latest update on inflation later in the week. However, given that the slowing job market is more of a concern for the U.S. Federal Reserve at this point, the data is unlikely to change what investors currently expect from the Fed next week, said Currie: a quarter-percentage-point cut. “Unless there's something really crazy out of the inflation numbers, there’s no reason to expect anything different is going to happen next week,” he said. In Canada, where the central bank is gearing up for a rate decision Wednesday, a larger half-point cut is more likely, he said. Expectations for a bigger cut rose after last week’s jobs report, which saw the unemployment rate jump to 6.8 per cent in November. “The more we're cutting rates, especially the accelerated rate compared to the States, the more that just keeps beating up our dollar,” said Currie. He expects more buzz in the coming months about the divergence between interest rates in Canada and the U.S. as the loonie continues to weaken. “We're seeing it already, and as the gap gets bigger, it'll become more of a story.” However, Currie noted the TSX briefly touched an all-time high earlier in the day. “Basically since the US election, it's just been a non-stop rally,” he said. The Canadian dollar traded for 70.77 cents US compared with 70.74 cents US on Friday. The January crude oil contract was up US$1.17 at US$68.37 per barrel and the January natural gas contract was up 11 cents at US$3.18 per mmBTU. The February gold contract was up US$26.20 at US$2,685.80 an ounce and the March copper contract was up eight cents at US$4.28 a pound. — With files from The Associated Press This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 9, 2024. Companies in this story: (TSX:GSPTSE, TSX:CADUSD) Rosa Saba, The Canadian Press

THE Department of Trade and Industry-Davao Region (DTI-Davao) recorded P150 million in new investments for Cavendish banana exports and P85 million for banana chip exports in 2024. During the Annual Media Interface on December 12, DTI-Davao del Norte Officer-in-Charge Provincial Director Zerline Balleque highlighted that these investments generated 1,000 jobs in the banana sector. Despite this progress, Balleque noted that the sector is still grappling with the effects of Fusarium wilt, commonly known as Panama disease, which has forced the closure of several banana farms. To combat the fungus, the Department of Agriculture (DA) and local government units (LGUs) are employing innovative technologies such as fertilizers and drones. “Fusarium wilt remains a natural challenge. Aside from that, there are also issues with exporting banana products, particularly in making the process more cost-efficient,” Balleque said. She added that while small farms are still struggling, large plantations adhering to good manufacturing practices (GMP) have access to advanced technologies that help limit the disease’s impact. Fusarium wilt, caused by the soil-borne fungus Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. Cubense, primarily affects banana plants, leading to wilting and eventual death. The disease was first discovered in Panama in the early 20th century. From January to December 2024, DTI-Davao assisted 30 exporters, resulting in P45.9 million in export sales and P41 million in domestic sales. According to the Philippine Statistics Authority-Davao (PSA-Davao), bananas remained the top export in the Davao Region in 2023, generating total revenues of $1.19 billion. Coconut oil ranked second with an export value of $263.95 million. Bananas accounted for 48.18 percent of the region’s total exports, solidifying their role as a key economic driver. DEFWASHINGTON (AP) — When President Joe Biden visited Angola last week, one of the highlights was his pledge of hundreds of millions of dollars for an ambitious trans-Africa rail project that would bring copper and cobalt from central Africa to the Atlantic port of Lobito. The project is possible because of the commitment of a $553 million direct loan from the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation, created in 2019 during the first Trump administration to counter China's expansion of its global reach through infrastructure projects, such as the mega-port in Chancay, Peru, inaugurated just last month. On Monday, the U.S. agency celebrated its five-year milestone by vowing to advance U.S. foreign policy and strategic interests through projects around the world such as the one in Angola. It also seeks re-authorization from Congress and a greater ability to invest in more countries when there's a strategic need to compete with China. “We need to be good partners while offering an alternative based on our values," said Scott Nathan, the chief executive officer of the development agency, who was in Angola last week with the president. “Quite simply, we need to continue to show up.” Nathan is set to leave the post. President-elect Donald Trump is yet to name his pick to lead the agency. Over its first five years, the agency has developed a portfolio of more than $50 billion in 114 countries, including solar panel manufacturing in India, a power plant in Sierra Leone, and digital infrastructure in South America. To do that, the agency has leveraged government funding to partner with private investments. Last year, the agency committed to $12 billion in new transactions, using the roughly $800 million in appropriations, Nathan said. Investments by the agency are having a “transformational impact on economic development while concretely advancing U.S. strategic interests,” Nathan said. In Angola, for example, the rail project would help secure the supply chain by cutting both time and cost in transporting critical minerals. National security adviser Jake Sullivan said the agency was created when the U.S. was “ceding the field" to China in a new era of geopolitics. The U.S. needed a vision “calibrated to new geopolitical realities” and that matched ”the scope of the transformational challenges we faced.” It was in 2013 when Beijing launched the massive Belt and Road Initiative to gain markets and influence around the world by building roads, railways, power plants, transmission lines and ports, usually in less-developed regions. A recent report by the U.S. Government Accountability Office said China provided $679 billion for international infrastructure projects such as those in transportation and energy between 2013 and 2021, compared with the $76 billion the U.S. provided in the same period. Western politicians have criticized these Beijing-backed projects for creating debt traps, but Beijing argues that they have brought tangible and much-needed economic benefits to the host countries. In 2018, Congress passed a bipartisan bill that created the U.S. development agency, aimed at bringing private investments into low- and middle-income countries through tools such as equity investment, loan guarantee and political risk insurance. On Monday, Secretary of State Antony Blinken praised the agency for “reimagining how the U.S. does development” and said, through its work, the U.S. has “shown countries that they don't have to resort to projects that are poorly built, environmentally destructive, that import or abuse workers, that foster corruption or burden countries with unsustainable debt.” "We really are the partner of choice,” Blinken said. As challenges lie ahead, Blinken said the agency needs to do even more and in more countries than before.

New Delhi, Dec 15 (IANS): Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla said on Sunday that Hindi is India's soul and identity. He also stressed that Indian languages, especially Hindi, have played a significant role in the development of society and the nation. Addressing the Annual Convention and Hindi Sevi Samman Samaroh organised by 'Etawa Hindi Seva Nidhi' in Uttar Pradesh's Etawa, the Lok Sabha Speaker observed that Hindi has woven the country's cultural diversity into a single thread and empowered it. He was happy to note that Hindi is not only a common language of communication today but has been adopted according to the changing technical landscape. “Today, with the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI), the rich legacy of Hindi literature and poetry is available across the globe,” Birla said, adding that Hindi has also been increasingly used in the fields of justice, administration, and internet technology. He stated that when we look at governance systems and democratic institutions around the world, the importance of Hindi in uniting India's diversity and enforcing its unity becomes evident. Birla also mentioned that during the preparation of India's Constitution, visionary leaders from various states, speaking different languages and dialects, recognised the importance of languages as symbols of unity. They acknowledged Hindi's inherent potential to unite the entire nation. Sharing his experiences in Parliament, Birla stated that India has 22 languages, making it natural for members to speak in their respective languages. With modern technology like AI, Parliament is exploring the feasibility of using facilities like translation, interpretation, and transcription. He referred to his ongoing effort to promote discussions in Indian languages, fostering pride and self-respect among members for their languages. He said, “Times have changed now. In the past, Supreme Court judgments were written in only one language. Now, the Supreme Court has also started translating judgments into multiple languages. In Parliament, we are using 22 Indian languages, which are the languages listed in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution. We are also extending translation facilities for members who want to speak in their own languages.” Birla emphasised the importance of taking pride in Indian languages, culture, and spirituality. He also shared his experiences during foreign visits where people showed great interest in learning and understanding Hindi.Liberty Global Schedules Investor Call for Full-Year 2024 ResultsUBCO researchers engineer DNA to mimic biological catch bonds

All-star Vancouver Canucks goalie Thatcher Demko will make his first start of the season Tuesday. Head coach Rick Tocchet confirmed after morning skate that Demko will be in net when the Canucks host the St. Louis Blues. The 28-year-old netminder from San Diego, Calif., last played on April 24 when the Canucks bested the Nashville Predators in Game 1 of a first-round playoff series. He suffered an injury to the popliteus muscle in his knee during the game and has been working his way back ever since. A number of factors led to Demko starting Tuesday, Tocchet said. “You want him to feel comfortable. You want to, obviously, communicate with him,” he said. “(Kevin Lankinen) was playing well, too. So there wasn’t a pressing issue to get him in. But we want to get him in. We’re excited. Obviously he’s a huge part of our team.” Demko had a 35-14-2 record with a .918 save percentage, a 2.45 goals-against average and five shutouts in regular-season play last year and played in the all-star game for the second time in his career. The veteran goalie is managing his personal expectations as he returns to game action, however. “I think it’d be foolish to say that I’m going to come back and be perfectly sharp and feel like I have my ‘A’ game in game one. Obviously, that takes a little bit of time,” Demko told reporters last week. “Just seeing game reps and things is kind of a last step of fully doing rehab. So I’m not really putting an expectation on that. “Obviously, the way Lanks has played kind of takes a little bit of pressure off of myself to come in and not feel like I have to save the world.” Demko returned to Vancouver’s lineup last week, backing up Lankinen for games against the Columbus Blue Jackets and Tampa Bay Lightning. The Canucks signed Lankinen to a US$875,000 deal during training camp and the Finnish goaltender has split the crease with Arturs Silovs this season, backstopping Vancouver to a 14-8-4 record. Lankinen has been “unbelievable” this season, Demko said. “It’s been really fun to get to know him and be able to watch him play,” he said. “It’s a challenging position he was put in, coming into a new team and being able to manage the workload that he’s been given.” Demko’s return to the crease should act as motivation for the Canucks’ skaters as the team takes on the Blues, Tocchet said. “I think, when you look at the way Demmer has worked hard to get back, a lot of lonely times by himself, it should give guys juice that you want to play well in front of him,” the coach said. You’d be crazy not to. “Maybe there’s extra shot blocking, situations to get the puck in deep when we’re tired to give him a break, things like that. I think we need to do that tonight for him.”

TAMPA, Fla. — A federal judge said Monday that he is not inclined to give prison time in the case against members of the St. Petersburg-based Uhuru Movement, who were convicted in September of conspiring to act as Russian agents. In a sentencing hearing Monday for Augustus C. Romain Jr., a former member of the Black activist group and one of the four convicted defendants, U.S. District Judge William Jung said their conduct ultimately amounted to the exercise of free speech. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.Global State Estimation Software Market Size, Share and Forecast By Key Players-ABB, Siemens, Schneider Electric, Open System International (OSI), General Electric