Source: International Monetary Fund
Disclaimer: IMF Working Papers describe research in progress by the author(s) and are published to elicit comments and to encourage debate. The views expressed in IMF Working Papers are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the views of the IMF, its Executive Board, or IMF management.
Source: International Monetary Fund
Disclaimer: IMF Working Papers describe research in progress by the author(s) and are published to elicit comments and to encourage debate. The views expressed in IMF Working Papers are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the views of the IMF, its Executive Board, or IMF management.
Source: International Monetary Fund
Disclaimer: IMF Working Papers describe research in progress by the author(s) and are published to elicit comments and to encourage debate. The views expressed in IMF Working Papers are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the views of the IMF, its Executive Board, or IMF management.
Source: International Monetary Fund
Disclaimer: IMF Working Papers describe research in progress by the author(s) and are published to elicit comments and to encourage debate. The views expressed in IMF Working Papers are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the views of the IMF, its Executive Board, or IMF management.
Source: International Monetary Fund
Disclaimer: IMF Working Papers describe research in progress by the author(s) and are published to elicit comments and to encourage debate. The views expressed in IMF Working Papers are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the views of the IMF, its Executive Board, or IMF management.
Source: Verizon
Headline: Upgrade to iPhone 16e and save with incredible offers from Verizon
NEW YORK – Verizon will offer iPhone 16e, a new addition to the iPhone 16 lineup, featuring breakthrough battery life, the fast performance of the A18 chip, Apple Intelligence1, and a 48MP 2-in-1 camera system — all at an incredible value. Customers can pre-order the new iPhone 16e starting Friday, February 21, with availability beginning Friday, February 28. Visit verizon.com for complete pricing and availability details,
Starting February 21, Verizon customers can get:
Supercharge your iPhone 16e with Verizon myPlan, built to give you more flexibility, more perks and more value. Whether you’re upgrading to the latest iPhone for yourself or keeping your business running smoothly with a Verizon Business Unlimited Plan, you’ll stay connected with Verizon’s ultra-fast 5G network—built for whatever life throws your way.
With myPlan, you’re in control. Pick the perks that matter to you, like Apple One for just $10/month (Individual Plan) or $20/month (Family Plan), plus get deals on entertainment, shopping and more. It’s your phone, your plan, your way — only with Verizon.
iPhone 16e offers powerful capabilities at a more affordable price. It delivers fast, smooth performance and the best battery life ever on a 6.1-inch iPhone, thanks to the industry-leading efficiency of the A18 chip and the new Apple C1, the first cellular modem designed by Apple. iPhone 16e is also built for Apple Intelligence, the intuitive personal intelligence system that delivers helpful and relevant intelligence while taking an extraordinary step forward for privacy in AI. The 48MP Fusion camera takes gorgeous photos and videos, and with an integrated 2x Telephoto, it is like having two cameras in one, so users can zoom in with optical quality. When outside of cellular and Wi-Fi coverage, iPhone 16e can use Apple’s groundbreaking satellite features — including Emergency SOS, Roadside Assistance, Messages, and Find My via satellite.
With custom-designed components and deeply integrated software, iPhone 16e users can stay connected and get help when it matters most6. iPhone 16e will be available in two elegant matte finishes — black and white — with colorful cases available to accessorize.
iPhone 16e can be activated with an eSIM, a more secure alternative to a physical SIM card. With eSIM, users can quickly activate their cellular plan, store multiple cellular plans on the same device, and stay connected. Verizon supports eSIM Quick Transfer which allows users to transfer their existing plan to their new iPhone.
Visit verizon.com on February 28 to order your new iPhone 16e.
For more details on Apple products, please visit www.apple.com.
1 Apple Intelligence is available in localized English for Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, South Africa, the U.K., and the U.S. Additional languages, including French, German, Italian, Portuguese (Brazil), Spanish, Japanese, Korean, and Chinese (simplified), English (Singapore), and English (India) will be available in April. Some features, applications, and services may not be available in all regions or all languages.
2 $599.99 (128 GB only) purchase w/new smartphone line on Unlimited Ultimate, postpaid Unlimited Plus or Unlimited Welcome plan req’d. Less $419.99 promo credit applied over 36 mos.; promo credit ends if eligibility req’s are no longer met; 0% APR. Offer may not be combined with other offers. Apple Intelligence requires iOS 18.1 or later.
3 $599.99 (128 GB only) purchase w/new smartphone line on Unlimited Ultimate, postpaid Unlimited Plus or Unlimited Welcome plan (min. $65/mo w/Auto Pay (+taxes/fees) for 36 mos) req’d. Less $600 trade-in/promo credit applied over 36 mos.; promo credit ends if eligibility req’s are no longer met; 0% APR. Trade-in must be from Apple, Google or Samsung; trade-in terms apply. Apple Intelligence requires iOS 18.1 or later.
4 Taxes & fees apply. New line w/device payment purchase agmt & Business Unlimited Plus or Unlimited Pro plan req’d. $599.99 credit applied to acct. over the term of your agmt (up to 36 mos, 0% APR); promo credit ends when eligibility requirements are no longer met. Credits begin in 2-3 bills & will include appropriate credit amounts from order date. Cannot be combined with other device offers. This device supports only 5G Ultra Wideband mid-band (C-band), 5G and 4G LTE. iPhone 16e 128GB monthly fee after credit: $0. Offer ends 3.31.2025.
5 iPhone 16e offer only. Plan Requirements: Fed – $15+ with data feature; State & Local – $19.99+ with data feature; State of TN – flat rate plan with data feature (must meet PP requirement). Available to government-liable subscribers only and subject to the terms, provisions and conditions of Verizon Wireless-approved government contracting vehicles. An Offer Recovery Fee (ORF) will be assigned to NASPO MA 152 customer lines that take advantage of select quarterly offers and will be charged on the customer’s bill if the line is disconnected before the end of the line term. 5G and 5G UWB may not be available to all government customers. See terms and conditions of your contract. Pricing excludes taxes and fees and is subject to change without notice. Offer ends 3.31.2025.
6 Apple’s satellite features are included for free for two years starting at the time of activation of a new iPhone 16e . For Emergency SOS via satellite availability, visit support.apple.com/en-us/HT213426. Messages via satellite will be available in the U.S. and Canada in iOS 18 or later. SMS availability will depend on carrier. Carrier fees may apply. Users should check with their carrier for details. Roadside Assistance via satellite is currently available in the U.S. with AAA and Verizon Roadside Assistance, and in the U.K. with Green Flag. Participating roadside assistance providers may charge for services, and iPhone users who are not members can take advantage of their roadside assistance services on a pay-per-use basis. Apple’s satellite features were designed for use in open spaces with a clear line of sight to the sky. Performance may be impacted by obstructions such as trees or surrounding buildings.
Source: WTO
Headline: Applications open for Global Workshop on Government Procurement Agreement (GPA) 2012
The purpose of the Workshop is to deepen participants’ knowledge and skills and share experiences on the interface between government procurement, international trade, development and good governance, with a specific focus on the GPA 2012.
The workshop will seek to familiarize participants with the GPA 2012 and related recent developments in government procurement, the WTO Committee on Government Procurement, and the synergies between the GPA 2012 and other international instruments and free trade agreements. The workshop will also provide an opportunity to learn about the benefits and challenges of acceding to the GPA 2012, the accession procedure, the flexibilities available to developing economies seeking accession, and the observer status in the Committee.
Aspects relating to the implementation of the GPA 2012, including the participation of small and medium-sized enterprises in government procurement markets, the prevention of corrupt practices, domestic review procedures, e-procurement and sustainable procurement will also be addressed.
The workshop will be held in the three WTO official languages — English, French and Spanish.
Who should apply?
The workshop is aimed at government officials from WTO members and observers eligible to benefit from WTO training activities and having policy responsibility and/or a demonstrated background in trade and/or government procurement policy matters. Candidates should also have an excellent knowledge of one of the working languages of the workshop. Successful completion of the WTO e-learning course on the objectives, rules and operation of the GPA 2012 (Course 1) would be an asset. Following registration, the course can be accessed here (available in English, French and Spanish).
How to apply?
Detailed information regarding the application procedure is available here.
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Source: National Ocean Industries Association – NOIA
Headline: BOEM Rescinds Flawed NTL—The Right Decision for Offshore Energy
For Immediate Release: Friday, February 21, 2025NOIA .org
BOEM Rescinds Flawed NTL—The Right Decision for Offshore Energy
Washington, D.C. – National Ocean Industries Association President Erik Milito issued the following statement after the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) rescinded NTL No. 2023-G01, Expanded Rice’s Whale Protection Efforts During Reinitiated Consultation with NMFS:
“The NTL was the direct result of a July 2023 Stipulated Stay agreement between the Biden administration and activist groups—crafted behind closed doors without input from experts, stakeholders, or Congress. This kind of backroom policymaking ignores the best available science, contradicts Congressional directives, and undermines America’s energy independence.
“Shortly after, the Western District of Louisiana issued a preliminary injunction blocking the NTL’s implementation, finding that Interior’s actions were procedurally invalid, arbitrary, and capricious—a decision later upheld by the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. Yet despite the courts striking it down, the NTL continues to create uncertainty for offshore energy development. It is simply bad policy to keep federal guidance in place when it was both legally flawed and developed as a closed-door settlement.
“Although the NTL labeled mitigation measures—such as vessel speed limits and nighttime travel restrictions—as ‘recommendations,’ it urged companies to incorporate them into future plans, sowing long-term regulatory uncertainty. These measures also disproportionately burdened offshore oil and gas operations, undermining job creation, economic growth, and energy security, all without a foundation in science.
“Environmental protection is a shared priority, but it must be pursued through a fair and transparent process. The Rice’s whale remains fully protected under the Endangered Species Act and the Marine Mammal Protection Act, regardless of the NTL. Meanwhile, BOEM and NMFS are following a more established regulatory process as they update the Biological Opinion governing Gulf of America oil and gas permitting and work on the Rice’s whale critical habitat designation, both expected later this year. Unlike the NTL, this process allows for greater transparency, stakeholder input, and adherence to established regulatory norms.”
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About NOIA The National Ocean Industries Association (NOIA) represents and advances a dynamic and growing offshore energy industry, providing solutions that support communities and protect our workers, the public and our environment.
Source: European Central Bank
21 February 2025
Extension of liquidity lines until January 2027
On 23 January 2025 the Governing Council approved the extension of the ECB repo lines with eight non-euro area central banks (Magyar Nemzeti Bank, Banca Națională a României, Bank of Albania, Andorran Financial Authority, National Bank of the Republic of North Macedonia, Central Bank of the Republic of San Marino, Central Bank of Montenegro and Central Bank of the Republic of Kosovo) until 31 January 2027. The decision was taken pursuant to the new framework for euro liquidity lines, which was adopted in 2023.
Eurosystem climate stress test report
On 13 February 2025 the Governing Council took note of the main findings of the 2024 climate stress test on the Eurosystem’s balance sheet, which will feed into the Eurosystem’s climate-related financial disclosures.
Inclusion of provisions on the TARGET Analytical Environment in the T2 Currency Participation Agreement
On 13 February 2025 the Governing Council approved the amendments to the agreement on the use of T2 services (T2 Currency Participation Agreement) to include the TARGET Analytical Environment as a standard feature offered to both current and future signatories of the T2 Currency Participation Agreement.
ECB Opinion on flood insurance
On 4 February 2025 the Governing Council adopted Opinion CON/2025/3 at the request of the Chair of the Oireachtas (Irish National Parliament) Joint Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform and Taoiseach (Irish Prime Minister).
ECB Opinion on indirect participants in, and access to, payment systems, and a new exemption from the cash rule
On 5 February 2025 the Governing Council adopted Opinion ECB Recommendation on the external auditors of the European Central Bank for the financial years 2025 to 2029
On 12 February 2025 the Governing Council adopted Recommendation ECB/2025/6 to the Council of the European Union on the external auditors of the European Central Bank.
Extension of the Integrated Reporting Framework and the Common Data Management investigation phases
On 17 February 2025 the Governing Council approved the revised Quality Review Gate 1 documentation (including the Financial Envelopes and Project Charters), extending until the end of September 2025 the investigation phases of the ESCB and SSM Common Data Management and the ESCB Integrated Reporting Framework projects.
Composition of the design contest jury for the new euro banknotes
On 6 February 2025 the Governing Council took note of the composition of the design contest jury for the new euro banknotes. The jury will prepare a shortlist of designs to support the selection of the final design of the future euro banknotes by the Governing Council and is scheduled to start work in early 2025.
Update of the 2025 Supervisory Examination Programme (SEP) for on-site inspections and internal model investigations at significant institutions
On 30 January 2025 the Governing Council did not object to a proposal by the Supervisory Board for an update of the 2025 SEP for on-site inspections and internal model investigations at significant institutions and outsourcing service providers. The on-site SEP is based on SSM supervisory priorities for 2025-2027 published on the ECB’s banking supervision website.
Source: European Central Bank
21 February 2025
On 19 February 2025 the Governing Council of the European Central Bank (ECB) decided to change the rules on the use of credit ratings issued by external credit assessment institutions (ECAIs) to assess the eligibility of private sector assets for use as collateral under the Eurosystem collateral framework and to determine the haircuts to be applied to those assets. Accordingly, the second-best rating will apply for private sector assets such as unsecured bank bonds, covered bank bonds and assets issued by non-financial corporations. This decision also applies to the accepted non-euro area public sector and follows a thorough review of the rating aggregation rules aimed at making better use of all available credit rating information in the Eurosystem Credit Assessment Framework (ECAF). The review took account of the increased number of ECAIs accepted in the ECAF and the fact that the Eurosystem is open to accepting additional rating agencies once they comply with the ECAF acceptance criteria.
Under the current rules, where multiple ECAI ratings exist, the Eurosystem selects the first-best rating for the purpose of assessing collateral credit quality (when it determines the eligibility of private and public sector assets for use as collateral and assigns the haircuts to be applied). This approach applies to all assets other than asset-backed securities, for which a second-best rating rule is already followed.
Under the new rules, private sector assets will be assessed on the basis of the second-best rating among the ratings from accepted ECAIs. For assets with only one rating from an accepted ECAI, where the second-best rule therefore cannot be applied, a one-notch downgrade will be applied to the available rating to determine the rating relevant for collateral purposes.
The Governing Council also decided that the rules will remain unchanged for assets issued or guaranteed by the euro area public sector (e.g. euro area central, regional and local governments; international and supranational issuers located in the euro area whose shareholders are located in the EU; and agencies recognised by the ECB). These assets, for which the Eurosystem makes regular use of all available credit quality information and applies enhanced due diligence procedures, will therefore continue to be assessed on the basis of their first-best rating.
The Governing Council reserves the right to deviate from credit rating agencies’ ratings if warranted, in line with its discretion under the monetary policy framework, thereby avoiding mechanistic reliance on these ratings.
The change to the rules on the use of external ratings for private sector assets will enter into force no earlier than 18 months from today to allow for an implementation in the Eurosystem IT infrastructure. The date will be announced well in advance, together with the technical details, on the ECB’s website.
For media queries, please contact Carlijn Straathof, tel.: +49 69 1344 23419.
Source: International Association of Drilling Contractors – IADC
Headline: Alert 25-2 – Lifeboat Unexpectedly Descends
In November 2024 while experiencing weather conditions of 60 Knots wind and a 5.0 meter (16ft) sea state, a lifeboat on board a drilling unit working in the North Sea unexpectedly descended to the sea without human intervention from its normally stowed position due to a winch failure. As the lifeboat reached the sea, the crew mobilized to the winch location and attempted to arrest further deployment of the cable, but due to the weather condition the stern wire failed, leaving the lifeboat attached only by the bow wire. Despite efforts to secure it, the bow wire later parted, and the lifeboat drifted away before being recovered…
Source: International Association of Drilling Contractors – IADC
Headline: Alert 25-3 – Nitrogen Cylinder Rupture
Rig crews had just finalized positioning a rack of nitrogen cylinders/bottles nitrogen to begin the pre-charge process of the accumulator cylinders with nitrogen. One nitrogen cylinder, charged to 2,400psi, in a rack that was not connected to charge the accumulator suffered a rupture to the bottom of the cylinder. This rupture scattered the rack, debris, and the remaining 11 cylinders around the immediate area and port aft area of the rig…
Source: Apple
Headline: Apple Intelligence comes to Apple Vision Pro in April
February 21, 2025
UPDATE
Apple Intelligence comes to Apple Vision Pro in April
visionOS 2.4 advances spatial computing with a powerful set of Apple Intelligence features — including Writing Tools, Image Playground, and Genmoji — and introduces Spatial Gallery, the Apple Vision Pro app for iPhone, and more
Today, Apple announced Apple Intelligence is coming to Apple Vision Pro in April. With Apple Intelligence for Vision Pro, users will be able to proofread, rewrite, and summarize text using Writing Tools; compose text from scratch using ChatGPT in Writing Tools; explore new ways to express themselves visually with Image Playground; create the perfect emoji for any conversation with Genmoji; and much more. Apple Intelligence will be available in beta on visionOS 2.4 with support for U.S. English. More features and support for additional languages will roll out throughout the year.
visionOS 2.4 also introduces new apps and features to help users discover and share the magic of spatial computing. Spatial Gallery — a new app for Vision Pro — features a curated collection of spatial photos, spatial videos, and panoramas from artists, filmmakers, photographers, and more. The Apple Vision Pro app for iPhone offers users a new way to download apps and games from the App Store; discover experiences from Apple TV, Spatial Gallery, and more; easily find helpful tips; and quickly access information for their Vision Pro. Enhancements to Guest User make it easier than ever for users to share apps and experiences with family, friends, and colleagues using a nearby iPhone or iPad.
“Apple Vision Pro is helping users communicate, collaborate, and experience entertainment in entirely new ways — and we’re continuing to push the boundaries of what’s possible in spatial computing with visionOS 2.4,” said Mike Rockwell, Apple’s vice president of the Vision Products Group. “With Apple Intelligence, Vision Pro users will be able to take their productivity and creativity to new heights using features like Writing Tools, Image Playground, and Genmoji. And we’re excited for users to discover and share incredible new experiences with Spatial Gallery.”
Apple Intelligence on Apple Vision Pro
Apple Intelligence offers new ways for Apple Vision Pro users to express themselves visually, simplify everyday tasks, and get things done effortlessly — all with groundbreaking privacy protections. An initial set of Apple Intelligence features will be available in April with visionOS 2.4 for users with their device and Siri language set to U.S. English. Support for more Apple Intelligence features and additional languages will roll out throughout the year.
With Writing Tools, users can refine their words by rewriting, proofreading, and summarizing text nearly everywhere they write, including Mail, Notes, and third-party apps. With Rewrite, users can adjust the tone of their text to make it more friendly, professional, or concise, or specify the change they’d like to make using Describe Your Change. Proofread checks grammar, word choice, and sentence structure with suggested edits. Users can also select text and have it recapped in several formats with Summarize. And with Compose, users can ask ChatGPT to generate content for anything they’re writing about.
Image Playground allows users to easily create fun and unique images from themes, costumes, accessories, and places. Users can add their own text descriptions, and can even create images in the likeness of a family member or friend using photos from their photo library. The experience is integrated directly into apps like Messages and Freeform, and is also available as a dedicated app for Apple Vision Pro.
Users will be able to create Genmoji by simply typing or speaking a description into the emoji keyboard. Genmoji can be added inline to messages, shared as a sticker, or sent as a Tapback.
Smart Reply in Messages and Mail identifies questions and suggests relevant replies, so Apple Vision Pro users can easily respond to texts and emails with just a few taps.
With Create a Memory Movie in Photos, users can simply type a description, and Apple Intelligence will pick out the best photos and videos, craft a storyline with chapters based on themes identified from the photos, and arrange them into a movie with its own narrative arc and a soundtrack. As with all Apple Intelligence features, user photos and videos are kept private, and are not shared with Apple or anyone else.
Natural language search in Photos makes it even easier for users to find a specific photo, album, or a moment in a video just by describing it.
visionOS 2.4 also includes support for Priority Messages in Mail, Mail Summaries, Image Wand in Notes, Priority Notifications in Notification Center, and Notification Summaries. Apple Intelligence uses on-device processing to protect users’ privacy whenever possible. For requests that require even larger models, Private Cloud Compute extends the privacy and security of Apple products into the cloud to unlock even more intelligence. When using Private Cloud Compute, users’ data is never stored or shared with Apple; it is used only to fulfill the request. Independent experts can inspect the code that runs on Apple silicon servers to continuously verify this privacy promise, and are already doing so.
Introducing Spatial Gallery
visionOS 2.4 introduces Spatial Gallery, a new app that features a selection of spatial photos, spatial videos, and panoramas curated by Apple for Apple Vision Pro. With Spatial Gallery, users will enjoy breathtaking and intimate moments spanning art, culture, entertainment, lifestyle, nature, sports, and travel, with new content released regularly. At launch, users can discover remarkable perspectives from photographers like Jonpaul Douglass and Samba Diop; new stories and experiences from iconic brands including Cirque du Soleil, Red Bull, and Porsche; behind-the-scenes moments from Apple Originals like Disclaimer, Severance, and Shrinking; and special moments from top artists.
The Apple Vision Pro App for iPhone
Starting in April, Apple Vision Pro users will be able to queue apps and games to download, discover new spatial content and experiences, easily find helpful tips, and quickly access information about their device from their iPhone with the new Apple Vision Pro app. The app will appear for Vision Pro users when they update their iPhone to iOS 18.4, and it can also be downloaded from the App Store.
The Discover page offers curated recommendations for new and noteworthy experiences available on Apple Vision Pro. Users can quickly see popular apps and games on the App Store; nearly 300 3D movies, Apple Immersive titles, and more video content on the Apple TV app; and the latest spatial photos, spatial videos, and panoramas featured in the Spatial Gallery.1 New Apple Immersive titles include “Ice Dive” from the Adventure series; “Sharks” from the Wild Life series; and Man vs. Beast. “Arctic Surfing” — the latest episode of Boundless — debuts worldwide today, while the next episode of Adventure, “Deep Water Solo,” debuts next Friday, February 28.
On the My Vision Pro page, users will find tips for getting the most out of Apple Vision Pro; can easily access information such as their current visionOS version and device serial number; and set up Personalized Spatial Audio. Users with vision correction needs will be able to store and view the App Clip code for their ZEISS Optical Inserts in the Apple Vision Pro app.
Guest User with iPhone and iPad
Apple Vision Pro users around the world have loved sharing the magic of spatial computing with family, friends, and colleagues through Guest User. From Control Center, users can choose which apps their guest can see, and guests can save their eye and hand setup for up to 30 days after their last use.
With new enhancements to Guest User in visionOS 2.4, users can start a Guest User session with their nearby iPhone or iPad. When their device is unlocked, they can choose which apps are accessible to their guest and start View Mirroring with AirPlay, making it easy to guide a guest through their Vision Pro experience.
Availability
Press Contacts
Zach Kahn
Apple
Andrea Schubert
Apple
Apple Media Helpline
Source: Apple
Headline: Apple Intelligence expands to more languages and regions in April
Apple Intelligence, the personal intelligence system that delivers helpful and relevant intelligence, will soon be available in more languages, including French, German, Italian, Portuguese (Brazil), Spanish, Japanese, Korean, and Chinese (simplified) — as well as localized English for Singapore and India.
These new languages will be accessible in nearly all regions around the world with the release of iOS 18.4, iPadOS 18.4, and macOS Sequoia 15.4 in April, and developers can start to test these releases today.
Apple Intelligence marks an extraordinary step forward for privacy in AI and is designed to protect users’ privacy at every step. It starts with on-device processing, meaning that many of the models that power Apple Intelligence run entirely on the device. For requests that require access to larger models, Private Cloud Compute extends the privacy and security of iPhone into the cloud to unlock even more intelligence.
Apple Intelligence will continue to expand with new features in the coming months, including more capabilities for Siri.
Source: Apple
Headline: Apple introduces News+ Food
UPDATE February 21, 2025
Apple News+ subscribers will soon have access to tens of thousands of recipes, restaurant reviews, kitchen tips, and more, right in the Apple News app
Coming with iOS 18.4 and iPadOS 18.4 in April, Apple News+ subscribers will have access to Apple News+ Food, a new section that will feature tens of thousands of recipes — as well as stories about restaurants, healthy eating, kitchen essentials, and more — from the world’s top food publishers, including Allrecipes, Bon Appétit, Food & Wine, Good Food, and Serious Eats.
With the new Food feature, users will be able to find stories curated by Apple News editors, as well as browse, search, and filter tens of thousands of recipes in the Recipe Catalog — with new recipes added every day. The beautifully designed recipe format makes it easy to review ingredients and directions, and a new cook mode takes step-by-step instructions to the full screen. Users can also save their favorite recipes for later and access them offline.
Apple News+ Food will be available to Apple News+ subscribers in April with iOS 18.4 and iPadOS 18.4. Select stories and recipes will also be available for users who do not subscribe to Apple News+.
Source: Apple
Headline: Capturing paradise: Karston Tannis re-creates island vibes with iPhone 16 Pro Max
February 21, 2025
UPDATE
Capturing paradise: Karston Tannis re‑creates island vibes with iPhone 16 Pro Max
As far back as he can remember, Karston Tannis has always had a camera in his hand. From shooting home videos with a camcorder as a kid, to capturing candids of his BMX community around New York City using disposable cameras in his teens, to jetsetting around the world with iPhone 16 Pro Max, the portrait photographer has always felt compelled by the idea of documenting people in their own environments.
“I love telling stories of people in places,” says Tannis, who specializes in lifestyle, fashion, and travel. “I really live for the adventure, so I love a tool that allows me to seamlessly integrate that into a multitude of environments, whether that be the runways at Fashion Week, hanging off the edge of a helicopter, or even documenting the everyday moments of life.”
For a recent shoot spotlighting fashion designers and their bespoke creations, Tannis showcased the vibrancy of the African diaspora, capturing portraits on iPhone 16 Pro Max with a Caribbean-inspired backdrop.
In the images below, explore how Tannis brought the African diaspora to life — from a custom-built boat on the makeshift shores of Saint Lucia, to a fruit stand inspired by the fishing villages and markets of the Caribbean and Ghana, and the rich-hued fashion designs of Tannis’s subjects — through his lens with iPhone 16 Pro Max.
“Shooting natively with iPhone 16 Pro Max allowed me to get the highest quality and retain the most detail. I wanted to create something that had very controlled lighting. The Caribbean is full of such vibrant colors and textures. I really wanted to transform the space and bring the viewer into this new world. I used a big light source reflected into a silver umbrella to mimic midday sun. This provided a dynamic lighting scenario where there was a lot of contrast with specular highlights, but also a big enough source to avoid harsh shadows. The 16 Pro Max is capable of capturing all of those details quickly.”
“iPhone 16 Pro Max was fully capable of capturing and depicting the rich colors and textures of the set while giving flexibility in post to tweak as desired. This gave me infinite possibilities to dial in a signature look in real time.”
“We started losing a lot of the natural light that was coming in through the window. Because we were shifting different colors and there were a lot of warm elements in the space, some of the images tended to read a little bit cooler. I was experimenting with the Dramatic Photographic Style and adjusting color on the fly. It gave this depth in how some of the tones looked toward the shadow side — I love a little bit of that warm flare it gave.”
“I wanted to push the boundaries of what the phone was capable of straight out of the box. It’s not shot in RAW, I didn’t have too many settings applied to it. I just did very basic editing, adjusting the saturation, contrast, and clarity. I really wanted to allow the phone to capture images as it would, because I want people to see that they’re able to utilize this device in such a beautiful way. The quality of the camera system on iPhone continues to level the playing field for creators in various ways.”
Press Contacts
Renee Felton
Apple
Apple Media Helpline
Source: Asia Development Bank
Climate change remains at the forefront of global discourse and policymaking, driving an unprecedented push for impactful climate action. Yet, despite its prominence in the collective consciousness, deep divisions persist over what constitutes effective policy. Now more than ever, understanding the complexities of global policy, financing, and their impact—particularly on agriculture—is crucial.
This book lays the foundation for a holistic understanding of the linkages between climate change and agriculture, exploring the historical drivers of environmental challenges and the evolving interconnections between global economies. It examines how sectoral interdependencies have shifted over time and what this means for designing effective climate policies and shaping the future of climate finance.
As a comprehensive guide to the what, how, and why of climate change and agriculture development, this book brings together key aspects of policy, practice, and finance. It identifies critical gaps in climate action within the context of agricultural growth and offers strategies to bridge them—equipping stakeholders at all levels with the insights needed to drive sustainable and impactful change.
Source: Reserve Bank of India
|
In pursuance of the announcement made in the Statement on Developmental and Regulatory Policies dated October 09, 2024 regarding the review of extant regulatory guidelines on levy of foreclosure charges/ pre-payment penalties on loans, Reserve Bank has released today the draft circular in this regard. Comments/feedback by the stakeholders and members of public on the draft circular may be submitted by March 21, 2025 through e-mail. Final circular shall be issued after considering the stakeholder/ public comments. (Puneet Pancholy) Press Release: 2024-2025/2231 |
Source: Reserve Bank of India
|
Today, the Reserve Bank released its web publication entitled ‘Quarterly Basic Statistical Returns (BSR)-1: Outstanding Credit of Scheduled Commercial Banks (SCBs)1 – December 20242’ on its ‘Database on Indian Economy’ portal (https://data.rbi.org.in Homepage > Publications). It captures various characteristics of bank credit such as occupation/activity and organisational sector of the borrower, type of account and interest rates based on account-level reporting3. Data reported by SCBs {excluding Regional Rural Banks (RRBs)} are presented for bank groups, population groups4 and states. Highlights:
Ajit Prasad Press Release: 2024-2025/2227 |
Source: Reserve Bank of India
|
Today, the Reserve Bank released the web publication ‘Deposits with Scheduled Commercial Banks1 – December 20242’ on its ‘Database on Indian Economy’ portal3 (https://data.rbi.org.in Homepage > Publications). Scheduled commercial banks (SCBs) {excluding regional rural banks (RRBs)} report branch-wise data on type of deposits (current, savings and term), its institutional sector wise ownership, age wise distribution of deposits pertaining to individuals, maturity pattern, size and interest rate range wise distribution of term deposits as well as number of employees in the quarterly ‘Basic Statistical Return’ (BSR) – 2 return. These data are released at disaggregated level (viz., population groups4, bank groups, states, districts and centres). Highlights:
Ajit Prasad Press Release: 2024-2025/2228 |
Source: European Central Bank
21 February 2025
Some 554,000 counterfeit euro banknotes were withdrawn from circulation in 2024. The likelihood of receiving a counterfeit is low, as the number of counterfeits is very small in proportion to genuine euro banknotes in circulation. In 2024, 18 counterfeits were detected per million genuine banknotes in circulation, which is very low compared with the levels observed following the launch of the euro (see chart).
Number of counterfeit euro banknotes detected annually per million genuine notes in circulation
Although the proportion is very small, the actual number of counterfeits has increased compared with the past few years, when the number of counterfeits was exceptionally low following the COVID-19 pandemic. Nonetheless, the number of counterfeits remains lower than in the years leading up to the pandemic.
€20 and €50 denominations continued to be the most commonly counterfeited, together accounting for more than 75% of the total (see table). 97.8% of the counterfeits were found in euro area countries, while 1.3% were found in non-euro area EU Member States and 0.9% in other parts of the world.
Breakdown of counterfeits by denomination in 2024
|
Denomination |
€5 |
€10 |
€20 |
€50 |
€100 |
€200 |
€500 |
|
Percentage of total |
1.3 |
6.8 |
36.0 |
43.6 |
7.9 |
3.8 |
0.6 |
The public does not need to be concerned about counterfeiting but should remain vigilant. Most counterfeits are easy to detect, as they have either no security features or only very poor imitations of the existing features. Notes can be checked using the simple “feel, look and tilt” method described on our dedicated security features web page or on the websites of the euro area national central banks. The Eurosystem also helps professional cash handlers by ensuring that successfully tested machines for handling and processing banknotes can reliably identify counterfeits and withdraw them from circulation.
If you receive a suspicious banknote, compare it side by side with one you know to be genuine. If your suspicions are confirmed, please contact the police or – depending on national practice – your national central bank or your own retail or commercial bank. The Eurosystem actively supports law enforcement agencies in the fight against currency counterfeiting.
For media queries, please contact Nicos Keranis, tel.: +49 172 758 7237.
Source: Reserve Bank of India
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has, by an order dated February 17, 2025, imposed a monetary penalty of ₹1.50 lakh (Rupees One lakh fifty thousand only) on JM Financial Home Loans Limited (the company) for non-compliance with certain provisions of the ‘Non-Banking Financial Company – Housing Finance Company (Reserve Bank) Directions, 2021’ issued by RBI. This penalty has been imposed in exercise of powers conferred on RBI under the provisions of Section 52A of the National Housing Bank Act, 1987.
The statutory inspection of the company was conducted by the National Housing Bank with reference to its financial position as on March 31, 2022 and March 31, 2023. Based on the supervisory findings of non-compliance with RBI directions and related correspondence in that regard, a notice was issued to the company advising it to show cause as to why penalty should not be imposed on it for its failure to comply with the said directions.
After considering the company’s reply to the notice and oral submissions made during the personal hearing, RBI found, inter alia, that the following charge against the company was sustained, warranting imposition of monetary penalty:
The company failed to disclose, the approach for gradation of risk and rationale for charging different rate of interest to different categories of borrowers, to its customers in the application forms and also did not communicate the same explicitly in the sanction letters.
This action is based on deficiencies in regulatory compliance and is not intended to pronounce upon the validity of any transaction or agreement entered into by the company with its customers. Further, imposition of this monetary penalty is without prejudice to any other action that may be initiated by RBI against the company.
(Puneet Pancholy)
Chief General Manager
Press Release: 2024-2025/2225
Source: Reserve Bank of India
|
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has, by an order dated February 20, 2025, imposed a monetary penalty of ₹6.20 lakh (Rupees Six Lakh Twenty Thousand only) on Asirvad Micro Finance Limited (the company) for non-compliance with certain provisions of the ‘Master Direction – Reserve Bank of India (Regulatory Framework for Microfinance Loans) Directions, 2022’, and ‘Appointment of Internal Ombudsman by Non-Banking Financial Companies’ issued by RBI. This penalty has been imposed in exercise of powers conferred on RBI under clause (b) of sub-section (1) of Section 58G read with clause (aa) of sub-section (5) of Section 58B of the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934. The statutory inspection of the company was conducted by RBI with reference to its financial position as on March 31, 2023. Based on supervisory findings of non-compliance with RBI directions and related correspondence in that regard, a notice was issued to the company advising it to show cause as to why penalty should not be imposed on it for its failure to comply with the said directions. After considering the company’s reply to the notice and oral submissions made during the personal hearing, RBI found, inter alia, that the following charges against the company were sustained, warranting imposition of monetary penalty:
This action is based on deficiencies in regulatory compliance and is not intended to pronounce upon the validity of any transaction or agreement entered into by the company with its customers. Further, imposition of this monetary penalty is without prejudice to any other action that may be initiated by RBI against the company. (Puneet Pancholy) Press Release: 2024-2025/2226 |
Source: Samsung
Samsung, India’s largest consumer electronics brand, is set to elevate its smartphone customer service experience with a comprehensive redesign of its service centres. This initiative aims to establish a seamless service-to-sales journey, reinforcing Samsung’s commitment to superior after-sales support with a strong focus on premium customer care.
Designed to deliver an integrated omni-channel experience, the remodelled service centres incorporate advanced digitalised processes to cater to evolving expectations of Samsung’s young and dynamic customer base. They not only boast a diverse product portfolio but also lead the way in technological innovation with advanced diagnostic tools that detect issues with pin-point accuracy.
The upgraded centres break away from traditional layouts, introducing plush, sofa-style seating equipped with inbuilt wireless charging stations to create a lounge-like ambience. Reimagined accessory walls showcase Samsung’s extensive range of wearables, while ultra-large digital screens feature the latest product innovations, offering visitors an immersive experience.
“Over the decades, we have expanded a robust network of service centres to support our existing customer base which is concurrent to the needs of our sales partners. As consumer expectations evolve every day, we wanted to transform these spaces by infusing youthful and efficient design elements to make them more appealing, while keeping traditional customer needs in mind. At the heart of this is Samsung’s commitment to providing a premium experience to its customers,” said Sunil Cutinha, VP, Customer Satisfaction, Samsung India.
To enhance customer interactions, dedicated kiosks will enable visitors to connect with product support specialists, explore new product launches, and stay updated on exclusive offers and discounts. An online appointment booking system will allow customers to schedule their visits in advance, ensuring a hassle-free experience with minimal wait times.
Samsung currently operates more than 3,000 service touch points across India including physical service centres, resident engineers and collection points. The roll-out of the service centre redesign will be implemented in phases across key cities, ensuring an elevated customer experience nationwide.
Source: Securelist – Kaspersky
Headline: Angry Likho: Old beasts in a new forest
Angry Likho (referred to as Sticky Werewolf by some vendors) is an APT group we’ve been monitoring since 2023. It bears a strong resemblance to Awaken Likho, which we’ve analyzed before, so we classified it within the Likho malicious activity cluster. However, Angry Likho’s attacks tend to be targeted, with a more compact infrastructure, a limited range of implants, and a focus on employees of large organizations, including government agencies and their contractors. Given that the bait files are written in fluent Russian, we infer that the attackers are likely native Russian speakers.
We’ve identified hundreds of victims of this attack in Russia, several in Belarus, and additional incidents in other countries. We believe that the attackers are primarily targeting organizations in Russia and Belarus, while the other victims were incidental—perhaps researchers using sandbox environments or exit nodes of Tor and VPN networks.
At the beginning of 2024, several cybersecurity vendors published reports on Angry Likho. However, in June, we detected new attacks from this group, and in January 2025, we identified malicious payloads confirming their continued activity at the moment of our research.
The initial attack vector used by Angry Likho consists of standardized spear-phishing emails with various attachments. Below is an example of such an email containing a malicious RAR archive.
The archive includes two malicious LNK files and a legitimate bait file.
The content of this document is almost identical to the body of the phishing email.
This example illustrates how the attackers gain access to victims’ systems. All these emails (and others like them in our collection) date back to April 2024. We observed no further activity from this group until we discovered an unusual implant, described below. Based on our telemetry, the attackers operate periodically, pausing their activities for a while before resuming with slightly modified techniques.
In June 2024, we discovered a very interesting implant associated with this APT. The implant was distributed under the name FrameworkSurvivor.exe from the following URL:
hxxps://testdomain123123[.]shop/FrameworkSurvivor.exe
This implant was created using the legitimate open-source installer, Nullsoft Scriptable Install System, and functions as a self-extracting archive (SFX). We’ve previously observed this technique in multiple Awaken Likho campaigns.
Below are the contents of the archive, opened using the 7-Zip archiver.
The archive contains a single folder, $INTERNET_CACHE, filled with many files without extensions.
To understand how the SFX archive infects a system when launched, we had to find and analyze its installation script. The latest versions of 7-Zip do not allow extraction of this script, but it can be retrieved using older versions. We used 7-Zip version 15.05 (the last version supporting extraction of the installation script):
The installation script was named [NSIS].nsi, and was partially obfuscated.
After deobfuscation, we were able to determine its primary purpose:
The script searches for the folder on the victim’s system using the $INTERNET_CACHE macro, extracts all the files from the archive into it, renames the file “Helping” to “Helping.cmd”, and executes it.
Below are the contents of the Helping.cmd file:
This file is heavily obfuscated, with several meaningless junk lines inserted between each actual script command. Once deobfuscated, the script’s logic becomes clear. Below is the code, with some lines modified for readability:
The Helping.cmd script launches a legitimate AutoIt interpreter (Child.pif) with the file i.a3x as a parameter. The i.a3x file contains a compiled AU3 script. With that in mind, we can assume that this script implements the core logic of the malicious implant.
To recover the original AU3 file used when creating the i.a3x file, we created a dummy executable with a basic AutoIt script, swapped its content with i.a3x, and used a specialized tool to extract the original AU3 script.
We ended up with the original AU3 file:
The script is heavily obfuscated, with all strings encrypted. After deobfuscating and decrypting the code, we analyzed it. The script begins with a few verification procedures:
The script checks for artifacts associated with emulators and research environments of security vendors. If a match is found, it either terminates or executes with a 10,000 ms delay to evade detection.
Interestingly, we’ve seen similar checks in the Awaken Likho implants. This suggests that the attackers behind these two campaigns share the same technology or are the same group using different tools for different targets and tasks.
The script next sets an error-handling mode by calling SetErrorMode() from the kernel32.dll with the flags SEM_NOALIGNMENTFAULTEXCEPT, SEM_NOGPFAULTERRORBOX, and SEM_NOOPENFILEERRORBOX, thus hiding system error messages and reports. If this call fails, the script terminates.
Afterward, the script deletes itself from disk by calling FileDelete(“i”) and generates a large text block, as shown below.
This block is presumably shellcode that will be loaded into memory and executed. However, it is also packed and encrypted. Once unpacked and decrypted, the AU3 script attempts to inject the malicious payload into the legitimate AutoIt process.
To obtain the shellcode, we saved a dump of the decrypted and unpacked payload once the AU3 malicious script had fully processed it. After removing unnecessary bytes from the dump, we recovered the original payload of the attack. It turned out to be not shellcode but a full-fledged MZ PE executable file.
Our products detect this payload with the following verdicts:
We examined this payload and concluded that it is the Lumma Trojan stealer (Trojan-PSW.Win32.Lumma).
The Lumma stealer gathers system and installed software information from the compromised devices, as well as sensitive data such as cookies, usernames, passwords, banking card numbers, and connection logs. It also steals data from 11 browsers, including Chrome, Chromium, Edge, Kometa, Vivaldi, Brave, Opera Stable, Opera GX Stable, Opera Neon, Mozilla Firefox and Waterfox, as well as cryptocurrency wallets such as Binance and Ethereum. Additionally, it exfiltrates data from cryptowallet browser extensions (MetaMask) and authenticators (Authenticator), along with information from applications such as the remote access software AnyDesk and the password manager KeePass.
This sample contains encoded and encrypted addresses of command servers. Using a simple decryption procedure in the executable file code, we restored the original domain names used as command servers.
By identifying the command server names from this malware variant, we were able to identify other related samples. As a result, we discovered over 60 malicious implants. Some of them had the same payload, and we managed to find additional attacker-controlled command servers (the addresses listed below were used in the identified samples alongside the original command servers):
We’re convinced that the main objectives of this APT group are to steal sensitive data using stealers and establish full control over infected machines via malicious remote administration utilities.
We’ve been tracking the attacks of this campaign since June 2024. However, in January 2025, the attackers showed a new surge in activity, as reported by our colleagues from F6 (previously known as F.A.C.C.T.). We analyzed the indicators of compromise they published and identified signs of a potential new wave of attacks, likely in preparation since at least January 16, 2025:
We managed to download malicious files hosted in repositories seen in the January Angry Likho attack while they were still accessible. Analysis of the files test.jpg and test2.jpg revealed that they contained the same .NET-based payload, encoded using Base64. Last year, we documented Angry Likho attacks that used image files containing malicious code. Moreover, the filenames match those of the samples we recently discovered.
This further confirms that the Angry Likho group, responsible for these attacks, remains an active threat. We are continuing to monitor this threat and providing up-to-date cyber intelligence data about it and the TTPs used by the group.
At the time of our investigation, our telemetry data showed hundreds of victims in Russia and several in Belarus. Most of the SFX archives had filenames and bait documents in Russian, thematically linked to government institutions in Russia. These institutions and their contractors are the primary targets of this campaign.
We attribute this campaign to the APT group Angry Likho with a high degree of confidence. It shares certain similarities with findings from our colleagues at BI.ZONE and F6, as well as previous attacks by the group:
We are continuing to monitor the activity of the Angry Likho APT, which targets Russian organizations. The group’s latest attacks use the Lumma stealer, which collects a vast amount of data from infected devices, including browser-stored banking details and cryptowallet files. As before, the complex infection chain was contained in a self-extracting archive distributed via email. We believe that the attackers crafted spear-phishing emails tailored to specific users, attaching bait files designed to attract their interest. Additionally, we identified more malicious samples linked to this campaign based on common command servers and repositories.
Let’s sum up by highlighting the notable features of this campaign and other similar ones:
To protect against such attacks, organizations need a comprehensive security solution that provides proactive threat hunting, 24/7 monitoring, and incident detection. Our product line for businesses helps identify and prevent attacks of any complexity at an early stage. The campaigns in this article rely on phishing emails as the initial attack vector, highlighting the importance of regular employee training and awareness programs for corporate security.
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Source: Huawei
Headline: Algeria Telecom Partners with Huawei to Deliver 400G WDM National Backbone Network, Accelerating Digital Economy Development
Feb 21, 2025
[Algiers, Algeria, February 21, 2025] Algeria Telecom and Huawei jointly announced the official launch of the national 400G WDM project, building an all-optical premium transmission foundation covering the whole country, helping Algeria accelerate the development of its national digital economy.
Algeria Telecom and Huawei team up to deliver a national backbone network
As the largest telecommunications operator in Algeria, Algeria Telecom has always been committed to promoting the national digital transformation. This cooperation with Huawei aims to enhance the level of Algeria’s network infrastructure by introducing the most advanced 400G ultra-high-speed optical network technology to provide stronger support for the development of the digital economy. Additionally, this network is future-oriented, laying an ultra-high-speed, low latency and sustainable foundation towards intelligence era.
Huawei, as a leading global provider of information and communication technology solutions and smart devices, has rich experience and technical accumulation in the field of optical communication. The 400G ultra-high-speed optical network solution provided by Huawei for Algeria Telecom will have the characteristics of large bandwidth, high reliability, and low latency, which can meet the growing digital business needs in Algeria.
More specifically, the implementation of this project will help Algeria achieve the following goals:
Improve network speed and capacity: The 400G ultra-high-speed optical network will provide higher bandwidth and transmission speed than the existing network, enabling Algeria to better cope with the increasing data traffic demand.
Promote the development of the digital economy: The ultra-high-speed optical network will provide a solid foundation for the development of Algeria’s digital economy and promote the vigorous development of emerging industries such as e-commerce, cloud computing, and big data.
Improve people’s livelihood services: A high-speed and stable network will provide better Internet experience for the Algerian people and promote the improvement of digital service levels in fields such as education, medical care, and government affairs.
Algeria Telecom and Huawei will cooperate closely to jointly promote all-optical network development. Both sides will give full play to their respective advantages to ensure the smooth delivery and stable operation of the network. It is believed that with the joint efforts of both sides, Algeria will embrace a more digital and intelligent future.
Source: Huawei
Headline: Algeria Telecom Partners with Huawei to Deliver 400G WDM National Backbone Network, Accelerating Digital Economy Development
[Algiers, Algeria, February 21, 2025] Algeria Telecom and Huawei jointly announced the official launch of the national 400G WDM project, building an all-optical premium transmission foundation covering the whole country, helping Algeria accelerate the development of its national digital economy.
Algeria Telecom and Huawei team up to deliver a national backbone network
As the largest telecommunications operator in Algeria, Algeria Telecom has always been committed to promoting the national digital transformation. This cooperation with Huawei aims to enhance the level of Algeria’s network infrastructure by introducing the most advanced 400G ultra-high-speed optical network technology to provide stronger support for the development of the digital economy. Additionally, this network is future-oriented, laying an ultra-high-speed, low latency and sustainable foundation towards intelligence era.
Huawei, as a leading global provider of information and communication technology solutions and smart devices, has rich experience and technical accumulation in the field of optical communication. The 400G ultra-high-speed optical network solution provided by Huawei for Algeria Telecom will have the characteristics of large bandwidth, high reliability, and low latency, which can meet the growing digital business needs in Algeria.
More specifically, the implementation of this project will help Algeria achieve the following goals:
Improve network speed and capacity: The 400G ultra-high-speed optical network will provide higher bandwidth and transmission speed than the existing network, enabling Algeria to better cope with the increasing data traffic demand.
Promote the development of the digital economy: The ultra-high-speed optical network will provide a solid foundation for the development of Algeria’s digital economy and promote the vigorous development of emerging industries such as e-commerce, cloud computing, and big data.
Improve people’s livelihood services: A high-speed and stable network will provide better Internet experience for the Algerian people and promote the improvement of digital service levels in fields such as education, medical care, and government affairs.
Algeria Telecom and Huawei will cooperate closely to jointly promote all-optical network development. Both sides will give full play to their respective advantages to ensure the smooth delivery and stable operation of the network. It is believed that with the joint efforts of both sides, Algeria will embrace a more digital and intelligent future.
Source: ASEAN
Senior Officials of ASEAN Member States and China met for the 23rd ASEAN-China SOM-DOC on 21 February 2025 at the ASEAN Headquarters/ASEAN Secretariat in Jakarta. The Deputy Secretary-General of ASEAN for ASEAN Political-Security Community was also in attendance. Ahead of the Post-Ministerial Conference Session with China in July, the Meeting reviewed the implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea and discussed the progress of the negotiations of the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea (COC). The Meeting is the first of several SOM-DOC meetings scheduled for the year.
The post The 23rd ASEAN-China Senior Officials’ Meeting on the Implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (SOM-DOC) convenes at the ASEAN Headquarters/ASEAN Secretariat appeared first on ASEAN Main Portal.
Source: Reserve Bank of India
|
The Reserve Bank of India issued Directions under Section 35A read with Section 56 of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949 to HCBL Co-operative Bank Ltd., Lucknow vide Directive No. LKO.DOS.SED.No.S842/10-12-133/2022-2023 dated February 23, 2023 for a period of six months up to August 24, 2023 as modified from time to time, which were last extended up to February 24, 2025 vide Directive No. DOR.MON/D-71/12.22.133/2024-25 dated November 19, 2024. The Reserve Bank of India is satisfied that in the public interest, it is necessary to further extend the period of operation of the Directive beyond February 24, 2025. 2. Accordingly, the Reserve Bank of India, in the exercise of powers vested in it under sub-section (1) of Section 35A read with Section 56 of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949, hereby extends the Directive for a further period of three months from close of business of February 24, 2025 to close of business of May 24, 2025, subject to review. 3. Other terms and conditions of the Directive under reference shall remain unchanged. (Puneet Pancholy) Press Release: 2024-2025/2217 |
Source: Reserve Bank of India
|
It may be recalled that, in exercise of powers conferred under Section 45-IE (5) (a) of the RBI Act, 1934, the Reserve Bank had, on January 30, 2025, constituted a three-member Advisory Committee to assist Shri Ram Kumar, Administrator of Aviom India Housing Finance Private Limited (AVIOM) in discharge of his duties. The members of the Committee are:
Upon admission of the petition for insolvency resolution process by the New Delhi Bench of the Hon’ble National Company Law Tribunal in respect of AVIOM vide order dated February 20, 2025, the Reserve Bank has decided that the above mentioned three-member Committee shall continue as the Advisory Committee under Rule 5 (c) of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy (Insolvency and Liquidation Proceedings of Financial Service Providers and Application to Adjudicating Authority) Rules, 2019. The Advisory Committee shall advise the Administrator in the operations of AVIOM during the Corporate Insolvency Resolution Process. (Puneet Pancholy) Press Release: 2024-2025/2216 |
