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It’s not just Alison Hammonds warm personality, wonderful one liners and her ability to fall off a sturdy countertop (watch 70’s week for that stand out moment) that have caught the eye of onlookers this series. But her fashion. The 49-year-old has won over the nation with her affordable high street looks. Wearing a mix of dresses and co-ords throughout the series all in bright patterns and colours Alison has said in the past that she wants fashion to be first and foremost comfortable. As The Great British Bake Off concludes tonight, in which we see Alison wearing a lilac polka dot dress from Dancing Leopard, which sadly is no longer available to buy. However, her other outfits throughout the series have caught the attention of many, with fans asking on social media where her outfits are from and fear not, as Deputy Fashion Editor Abby McHale shows you where exactly to shop her looks from. Read more in fashion Colourful Leopard Print Wearing this dress for last week's semi-final Alison showed her playful wild side with this colourful leopard print number. A fun twist on the print that is dominating the high street currently, this particular dress is from Scamp & Dude. For £110 it is at the higher end of the high street, but also comes in lots of different leopard print shades. Plus keep your eyes peeled as the brand currently as up to 30 per cent off in the Black Friday sales. Most read in Fabulous Orange and Green Co-ord Now as Bake Off is filmed during the spring summer months of the year a few pieces Alison wore have now sold out. Including the top half of this green and orange co-ord from Never Fully Dressed. However, the trousers are still available to buy on Asos and there are plenty of other similar co-ords available directly on Never Fully Dressed. The great things with co-ords is how many outfits they can make, as well as wearing together you have the option to also wear separate to create even more looks. Star Dress Alison is no stranger to vibrant prints and that is certainly the case with this star dress. By the brand Twisted Wunder, who Alison has worn on the previous series of the show, you can find it stocked on the likes of Simply Be. Still available to buy now it’s reduced down from £69 to £48.30 and goes up to a size 28. The empire line style of this dress is great for those with a larger bust as it fits nicely up top before skimming down the rest of your body, with lovely capped sleeves to finish off. Denim Dress This denim dress worn by Alison in the second week of the show this season is one of the less vibrant pieces. However, you really can’t go wrong when it comes to denim as it never goes out of style. This dress in particular is from Monsoon and retails for £75. With buttons down the middle and a tie font detail it makes for a dress that you can wear no matter the season. For this time of year pair with some tights, knee high boots and a long wool coat, for a smart look that will also keep you warm. Leopard Print Dress To open the show this year Alison opted for the print of the season - leopard. In the classic neutral colours this ticks all the boxes as a dress that is bang on trend. From Karen Millen it’s clear that Alison likes these shirt style dresses with a tie front detail, having worn multiple similar styles throughout the series. This one retails for £89 but is currently in the sale for just £36. Accessorise with some gold jewellery as Alison has done here and let the dress do the the rest of the talking. Monochrome Co-ord We know Alison loves a satin co-ord, usually with an elasticated waist and flowy top half, they’re a super comfortable lightweight option. And that is certainly the case for this two piece. READ MORE SUN STORIES This one from River Island is currently on sale, but hurry as there aren’t many sizes left. The shirt is down to £25 from £45 and the trousers are down to £35, also from £45. SHE graces our televisions every Friday, as she co-hosts This Morning with Dermot O'Leary. But just how did Alison Hammond first find fame? 2002 - Alison competed in Big Brother, and was the second housemate to be evicted . She won over viewers with moments such as when she broke the table in the garden by jumping up and down on it. It was this year that she also started presenting for This Morning in a guest capacity. 2003 - Alison had a small acting role on TV drama Doctors. 2004 - This was the year that Alison returned to reality television, starring in shows including Celebrity Fit Club and Celebrity Stars in their Eyes - for which she performed as Nina Simone. 2010 - After several years of presenting gigs and reality show appearances, Alison was signed up to appear on I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! She came in 10th place. 2014 - This was a busy year for Alison as she competed on both Celebrity Masterchef and Strictly Come Dancing, coming in 10th in the latter. 2020 - Alison appeared on The Great Stand Up to Cancer Bake Off - her first, but not last, time in the famous tent. 2021 - Alison co-hosted This Morning for three episodes alongside Phillip Schofield. It was later announced that Alison and Dermot would be replacing Eamonn Holmes and Ruth Langsford as presenters of This Morning on a Friday. 2023 - Alison was announced as the new co-host of The Great British Bake Off, replacing Matt Lucas to present alongside Noel Fielding. 2024 - Following the death of Paul O'Grady, Alison stepped in as host of For The Love of Dogs. 2025 - An eight-part series titled Alison Hammond's Big Weekend will premiere on BBC one next year, as she spends 48 hours with a celebrity in a bid to really get to know them.Among the swirling masses of Pax Unplugged , frantically running through the convention’s labyrinthine passages, I desperately search for Room 103. I am late to meet Michaël Croitoriu, the head of Edge Studios, to discuss the new Arkham Horror: The Roleplaying Game Starter Set — a Lovecraftian pulp-horror game that’s meant to bridge the gap between role-players and board gamers . Earlier that week, a review copy had landed on my front door. While the box intrigued me, its wealth of components (which include character portfolios, an assortment of punchboards, handouts, maps, decks of cards, and 24 dice) were as intimidating to this RPG reporter as any eldritch horror . Ten minutes past the hour, weaving past a frenzy of con-goers holding their latest gains, I find Croitoriu waiting for me. As he explains the game, my anxieties slowly fade, replaced by a curiosity about this earnest effort to convert board game purists through the expansive world of Arkham . While at first it seems overwhelming, when broken down, each part of the game is relatively easy to understand. “So easy a 10-year-old could learn it,” was a phrase the Arkham team kept repeating when people walked up to the room for demo play, though they also stated the content of the game was more suitable for ages 14 and up. Leah Hawthorne, one of the game’s lead designers, said she “doesn’t like to use the word simple because then people think it doesn’t have strategic depth.” While the system is easy to learn, there’s an element of resource management built into it that adds the crunchy tactical elements board-gamers are used to. The base mechanic of the system uses a replenishing d6 dice pool, with stats that require a corresponding target number to be met, which are different for each character’s strengths and weaknesses. In combat, damage depletes your dice pool, limiting the number of actions you can take per round until they are replenished. There is no initiative during conflict-oriented scenes, which allows players to strategize with each other and lean into one another’s strengths, rather than place all the focus on a single overpowered character. The set up of the game is also intentionally designed to be game master friendly, adding in more narrative focused elements of the game that ask players to worldbuild alongside the GM in a “bubble of benevolence” a phrase Croitoriu repeated multiple times in our interview. This shared responsibility of play at the table is built into the games’ components, like a GM screen that lies flat on the table, rather than hiding secrets (and rolls) behind it. “The person I am now is the result of the games I played at the table,” Croitoriu said. While the Arkham franchise has previously been known for other tabletop iterations like the original 1987 board game by Richard Lanius, that personal relationship to TTRPGs is why the Arkham Horror RPG “tries to address different preconceptions of RPGs and onboard people into role-playing games.” Among those preconceptions are barriers to entry for people unfamiliar to tabletop gaming — which is why the starter set is broken down into one-hour sessions. Croitoriu believes a lot of pre-game prep is also a barrier, which is why the starter set includes a 48-page tutorial style booklet that teaches players as they go. The RPG core rulebook sits at a reasonable 256 pages, a “threshold [EDGE] will never cross,” Croitoriu said, referencing a line of connected materials that would follow the starter set release in 2025: an adventure collection in March, a free RPG day supplement, a box set at Gen Con, and another sourcebook at Halloween. Arkham Horror RPG Starter Set The box includes a campaign, 5 character portfolios, 24 dice, high quality tokens, 3 double-sided maps, and player handouts. Gaming News Tabletop Games
Three of these images are fake. Can you spot the real image? Some images generated by artificial intelligence have become so convincingly real that there is no surefire way to spot the fakes. But experts say there are still things we can try to detect fakes. "Media literacy is super awesome," said Matt Groh, assistant professor at Northwestern University. "But it needs to extend to AI literacy. Like the classic kind of things that you want to teach in media literacy, we still need to teach those same things. We just need to add the AI portion to it now." RELATED STORY | Nobel Prize in physics awarded to 2 scientists for discoveries that enabled artificial intelligence Groh's team at Northwestern released a guide on how to spot AI generated images. The full preprint paper was released in June. "So what we've done is we've articulated 5 different categories of artifacts, implausibilities," Groh said. "Ways to tell AI-generated image apart from a real photograph." The academic preprint guide offers detailed tips, tricks and examples on spotting AI-generated images. It also teaches important questions to consider when consuming media. Anatomical implausibilities The first and easiest telltale signs: anatomical implausibilities. Ask yourself: Are the fingers, eyes, and bodies off? Are there extra limbs or do they bend strangely? Are there too many teeth? Stylistic implausibilities Ask yourself: Do images seem plastic, glossy, shiny or cartoonish? Are there overly dramatic or cinematic? Functional implausibilities Ask yourself: Is text garbled? Is clothing strange? Are objects not physically correct, like how this backpack strap merges into clothing? Violation of physics Ask yourself: Are light and shadows off? Are there impossible reflections? Sociocultural implausibilities Ask yourself: Are there images that are just too unbelievable or historically inaccurate? RELATED STORY | AI voice cloning: How programs are learning to pick up on pitch and tone "What we're trying to do is give you a snapshot of what it looks like in 2024 and how we can help people move their attention as effectively as possible," Groh said. "Education is really the biggest thing. There's education on the tools," said Cole Whitecotton, senior professional research associate at the National Center for Media Forensics. Whitecotton encourages the public to educate themselves and try AI tools to know their capabilities and limits. "I think everybody should go out and use it. And look at how these things do what they do and understand a bit of it," he said. "Everyone should interact with ChatGPT. In some way. Everyone should interact with Midjourney. And look at how these things do what they do and understand a bit of it." Whitecotton suggests being inquisitive and curious when scrolling through social media. "If you interacted with every piece of content in that way, then there you would be a lot less likely to be duped and to be sort of sucked into that sort of stuff, right?" he said. "How do you interact with Facebook and with Twitter and all these things? How do you consume the media?" Whitecotton added. RELATED STORY | Biden's AI advisor speaks on AI policy, deepfakes, and the use of AI in war While AI-generated images and videos continue to evolve, Groh and his team offer a realistic approach to a changing technological landscape where tips and tricks may become outdated quickly. "I think a real, good, useful thing is we build this. We update this every year. Okay, some of these things work. Some of these things don't. And I think once we have a base, we're able to update it," Groh said. "I think one of the problems is we didn't have a base. And so one of the things we're really excited about is even sharing our framework, because I think our framework is going to help people just navigate that conversation." So were you able to guess which image is real? If you guessed the image of the girl in the bottom left corner, you are correct! "It sucks that there's this misinformation in the world. But it's also possible to navigate this new problem," Groh said. If you want to test yourself even more, the Northwestern University research team has released this site that gives you a series of real and AI-generated images to differentiate.
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By ZEKE MILLER, Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump’s transition team on Tuesday signed an agreement to allow the Justice Department to conduct background checks on his nominees and appointees after a weeks-long delay. The step lets Trump transition aides and future administration staffers obtain security clearances before Inauguration Day to access classified information about ongoing government programs, an essential step for a smooth transiton of power. It also allows those nominees who are up for Senate confirmation to face the background checks lawmakers want before voting on them. Teams of investigators have been standing by to process clearances for Trump aides and advisers. “This agreement with the Department of Justice will ensure President Trump and his team are ready on Day 1 to begin enacting the America First Agenda that an overwhelming majority of our nation supported on Election Day,” said Susie Wiles, Trump’s designate to be White House chief of staff. The announcement comes a week after the Trump transition team signed an agreement with the Biden White House to allow transition staff to coordinate with the existing federal workforce before taking office on Jan. 20. The White House agreement was supposed to have been signed by Oct. 1, according to the Presidential Transition Act, and the Biden White House had issued both public and private appeals for Trump’s team to sign on. Security clearances are required to access classified information, including on ongoing operations and threats to the nation, and the Biden White House and outside experts have emphasized to Trump’s team the importance of having cleared personnel before Inauguration Day so they could be fully briefed and ready to run the government. Republican Senators have also insisted on FBI background checks for Trump’s nominees before they face confirmation votes, as has been standard practice for decades. Lawmakers have been particularly interested in seeing the findings of reviews into Trump’s designated nominee for defense secretary, former Fox News host Pete Hegseth, and for Rep. Tulsi Gabbard to be director of national intelligence. “That’s why it’s so important that we have an FBI background check, a committee review of extensive questions and questionnaires, and a public hearing,” said. Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine on Monday. John Thune, the incoming Senate Republican leader, said the Trump team “understands there’s going to have to be a thorough vetting of all these nominees.” AP congressional correspondent Lisa Mascaro contributed.
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Andhra Pradesh promised on Friday to look into and “act” on charges that the Adani Group and its top executives paid massive bribes in the state for solar power contracts, while the Congress vowed to press for action in Parliament and global banks began reviewing fresh credit to the conglomerate, as fallout intensified from the US indictment of Gautam Adani that has wiped nearly $28 billion off his empire’s value in two days. Stocks of some Adani Group companies rallied — Ambuja Cements rose 3.50%, ACC climbed 3.17%, and the flagship Adani Enterprises advanced 2.16% — while value eroded rapidly from some others, including Adani Green Energy, which tanked 8.20%, Adani Energy Solutions that slumped 6.92%, and Adani Power that dropped 3.23%. “I have all the chargesheet reports filed there (US). It is in the public domain. Will study it (the allegations and indictment). Will act on it and inform you,” Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu told the state assembly, terming it a “very sad development” that had hurt the state’s prestige. The largest alleged bribes — approximately ₹ 1,750 crore — were reportedly offered to officials in Andhra Pradesh when YS Jagan Mohan Reddy was the chief minister. The state’s power distribution companies had entered into agreements with the Solar Energy Corporation of India (Seci) on December 1, 2021, for approximately seven gigawatts of solar power. The Biju Janata Dal (BJD), which governed Odisha where prosecutors say the bribery scheme began, strongly rejected the allegations. “The types of allegations made in the name of Odisha are baseless and not based on facts,” former Odisha energy minister and BJD MLA PK Deb told PTI. He insisted the state government had no role in the agreements, which “remained confined among Gridco, the distribution company and the SECI.” Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge demanded immediate government action against the tycoon. “As he (Adani) is in India, action should be taken against him, he should be arrested. The government knows everything, so they should quickly take action against him in corruption cases,” Kharge told reporters. He said the Congress will raise the issue in Parliament’s upcoming session and demand an inquiry into the charges. “We will raise the issue in the Parliament and we will demand an inquiry,” Kharge said, accusing Prime Minister Narendra Modi of “shielding” Adani. Adding to Adani’s troubles, global banks are considering halting fresh credit to his group while maintaining existing loans, sources told Reuters. Senior executives at two of Adani’s global lenders said they have had multiple internal calls to discuss their exposure and potential impact of the indictment. “We believe domestic, as well as some international banks and bond market investors, look at Adani entities as a group, and could set group limits on their exposure,” ratings agency S&P warned in a statement, noting the group will need regular access to equity and debt markets given its large growth plans. The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) is making preliminary checks to see if disclosures made by Adani entities were inadequate and if they breached local market regulations, a SEBI official told Reuters. The regulator did not respond to requests for comment. The fallout of the indictment had till Thursday led to Adani Green cancelling a scheduled $600 million US bond sale, while Kenya scrapped both a $2 billion airport control deal and a $736 million power transmission line contract with the group. Research firm CreditSights highlighted refinancing for the conglomerate’s green energy business, which is at the center of the allegations, as its biggest near-term concern. Adani Group dollar bonds dropped sharply for a second day on Friday. The US Department of Justice indictment alleges that between 2020 and 2024, Adani executives collaborated with those from another company, Azure Power, to pay bribes to Indian government officials in five states to obtain solar energy supply contracts projected to generate more than $2 billion in profits over 20 years. The scheme allegedly began in Odisha before expanding to other states including Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Chhattisgarh and Jammu & Kashmir. The Adani Group has strongly denied the allegations as “baseless” and vowed to “seek all possible legal recourse.” Adani has not appeared in public or commented on social media since the indictment and his whereabouts remain unclear. The White House too briefly referenced the issue, saying it was confident India and the US can navigate the crisis surrounding the bribery charges. Press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre emphasising that U.S.-India relations “stand on an extremely strong foundation,” while referring specific questions about the indictment to the Justice Department and Securities and Exchange Commission. The fresh controversy comes almost two years after US short-seller Hindenburg Research accused the group of improper use of offshore tax havens and stock manipulation -- charges that Adani denied but which led to a stock rout wiping more than $100 billion in market value. The conglomerate’s market capitalisation, which stood at $235 billion before last year’s Hindenburg report, has now fallen to $148 billion. (With inputs from Reuters)Lucintel Forecast Carbon Fiber Market to Reach $5.0 Billion by 2030 12-10-2024 11:12 PM CET | Logistics & Transport Press release from: ABNewswire Trends and Forecast for the Global Carbon Fiber Market According to the recent study the carbon fiber market is projected to reach an estimated $5.0 billion by 2030 from $3.4 billion in 2023, at a CAGR of 6% from 2023 to 2030. Growth in this market is primarily driven by growth, owing to factors such as increasing demand for lightweight and fuel-efficient vehicles, aerospace advancements, wind energy expansion, and growing applications in sports and leisure sectors. Carbon fiber is widely used in industries such as automotive, aerospace, wind energy According to the recent study the carbon fiber market [ https://www.lucintel.com/carbon-fiber-market.aspx ] is projected to reach an estimated $5.0 billion by 2030 from $3.4 billion in 2023, at a CAGR of 6% from 2023 to 2030. Growth in this market is primarily driven by growth, owing to factors such as increasing demand for lightweight and fuel-efficient vehicles, aerospace advancements, wind energy expansion, and growing applications in sports and leisure sectors. Carbon fiber is widely used in industries such as automotive, aerospace, wind energy, sports equipment, construction, and marine, among others. The major drivers for market growth are growing demand for high performance and lightweight composite materials and increasing performance requirements in the end uses. Browse 119 figures / charts and 113 tables in this 306 -page report to understand trends, opportunities and forecast in carbon fiber market by end use (aerospace, industrial, and sporting goods), precursor type (PAN BASED based and Pitch based based), tow size (small tow (24k)), modulus (standard modulus, intermediate modulus, and high modulus), and region (North America, Europe, and the Rest of the World). Lucintel forecasts that industrial will remain the largest end use segment and aerospace is expected to witness highest growth over the forecast period. PAN based carbon fiber will remain the largest segment and pitch based is expected to witness the highest growth over the forecast period. Download sample by clicking on carbon fiber market APAC is expected to remain the largest market and it is also expected to witness the highest growth over the forecast period due to demand from the industries of aerospace, automotive, and wind energy. Toray Industries Inc., Hexcel Corporation, Mitsubishi Rayon Corporation Limited, Cytec Solvay Group, SGL Carbon Group, Teijin Limited, Formosa Plastics Corporation, DowAksa, Hyosung Corporation, Nippon Graphite Fiber Corporation, Kureha Corporation, Osaka Gas Chemical Corporation Ltd., Dalian Xingke Carbon Fiber Co., Jilin Jiyan High-Tech Fibers, Anshan Sinocarb Carbon Fibers Co., Ltd., Sinosteel Jilin Carbon Co., Ltd., Weihai Tuozhan Fiber , Zhongheng New Material, Zhongfu Shenying Carbon Fiber Co., Ltd., and Jiangsu Hengshen Fiber Materials Co., Ltd. are the major suppliers in the carbon fiber market. This unique research report will enable you to make confident business decisions in this globally competitive marketplace. For a detailed table of contents, contact Lucintel at +1-972-636-5056 or write us at helpdesk@lucintel.com About Lucintel At Lucintel, we offer solutions for you growth through game changer ideas and robust market & unmet needs analysis. We are based in Dallas, TX and have been a trusted advisor for 1,000+ clients for over 20 years. We are quoted in several publications like the Wall Street Journal, ZACKS, and the Financial Times. Contact: Roy Almaguer Lucintel Dallas, Texas, USA Email: roy.almaguer@lucintel.com Tel. +1 972.636.5056 Explore Our Latest Publications [ https://www.lucintel.com/hypersonic-flight-market-in-canada.aspx ] [ https://www.lucintel.com/industrial-truck-market-in-canada.aspx ] [ https://www.lucintel.com/%C2%A0motor-for-humanoid-robot-market-in-canada.aspx ] [ https://www.lucintel.com/overhead-travelling-cleaner-market-in-canada.aspx ] Pallet Truck Market in Canada Recreational Vehicle Market in Canada Media Contact Company Name: Lucintel Contact Person: Roy Almaguer Email:Send Email [ https://www.abnewswire.com/email_contact_us.php?pr=lucintel-forecast-carbon-fiber-market-to-reach-50-billion-by-2030 ] Phone: 9726365056 Address:8951 Cypress Waters Blvd., Suite 160 City: Dallas State: TEXAS Country: United States Website: https://www.lucintel.com/carbon-fiber-market.aspx This release was published on openPR.
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Union City Commissioner Jeremy Ramage resigned from his post on Monday. He also relinquished his spot on the commission for the upcoming term, which begins on Jan. 1, 2025. Union Mayor Larry Solomon read from Ramage’s resignation letter at the commission meeting on Monday. Ramage did not attend the meeting. “Recent increased responsibilities at work will no longer afford me the time required to serve on the commission,” Ramage’s letter reads. “It has been an honor to serve the residents of the City of Union, and I am especially proud of the work we have accomplished over the past several years.” Keep up with the latest NKY news with our daily newsletter Sign up Ramage’s resignation comes amidst concerns about the operations of the recent election in which some residents claim to have received wrong ballots at two Union polling places. Boone County Clerk Justin Crigler has attributed the problems to “human error.” Ramage received the third highest number of votes in the 2024 general election, according to current results. It is unclear at this time if Ramage’s decision is related to the election; his resignation letter doesn’t mention it. Unofficial election results for the Union City Commission. Table and data provided | Kentucky Secretary of State Ramage first joined the commission in 2014. “Jeremy and I started this City of Union administration ten long years ago when we both got elected at the same time,” Solomon told LINK nky in an email after the meeting. “In all that time I found Jeremy to be always a professional and a clear decision maker. I truly enjoyed working with Jeremy... or JR as I always called him!” What happens next will depend on if the election results are challenged in court. If no challenge comes down the pike, then there will be open spot on the commission come the new year. Typically, open commission spots are filed by mayoral appointment, which is then affirmed or denied with a vote from the rest of the commission. An electoral challenge in court, on the other hand, could lead to varying results depending on the actions of the judge assigned to the case. LINK nky has reached out to Ramage for additional comment. We will update with brief once he responds. Before you go.... Can you help us make a difference? The reporters and editors at LINK nky are dedicated to covering Northern Kentucky and providing you with the information you need to be an informed citizen. If you value what you get from LINK nky, please join us with a tax-deductible donation so we can continue doing the local reporting that matters to you. Will you chip in to LINK nky today? YES, I'LL CHIP IN! SUPPORT LOCAL NEWS DONATEIndian Bank, which was established on March 5, 1907 and officially started operations on August 15, 1907, has a legacy of over a century. It has navigated several economic crises, becoming a leading financial institution in India. As on September 30, 2024, Indian Bank is the seventh largest public sector bank with a total business of ₹12.44 lakh crore. Public opinion sought On November 2, 1906, a circular went out, inviting people to share their views on starting a “Native Bank in Madras”. The immediate trigger was the failure of the Madras-based Arbuthnot Bank in 1906, which caused misery to depositors, with a cascading effect on the local economy, according to details from the bank. “Also, at the time of the failure of Arbuthnot Bank, the Swadeshi Movement was launched at the Calcutta session of the Indian National Congress in 1906. The establishment of the bank reflected the nationalistic desire for a reliable, Indian-managed financial institution,” say Indian Bank officials. V. Krishnaswamy Iyer, a prominent Madras lawyer, played a pivotal role in the establishment of the bank. S.Rm.M. Ramaswami Chettiar, one of the bank’s first directors, went on to become its inaugural chairman. Raja Sir Annamalai Chettiar, a highly respected leader, joined the board in 1915, contributing significantly to its growth and development. Head office at Parry’s Corner The head office was initially opened in Parry’s Buildings at Parry’s Corner. As the operations grew, the head office was shifted to the Bentinck’s Building on North Beach Road (now Rajaji Salai) in July 1910. Subsequently, it was shifted in May 1970 to 31, Rajaji Salai (now renumbered as 66, Rajaji Salai, Chennai-600001). The bank started out with an initial capital investment of ₹8 lakh. In 1907, the bank’s emblem featured a banyan tree, symbolising overall progress, expansive growth, and continuous prosperity. Another component of the emblem was the frontal view of an elephant, with a long trunk symbolising the bank’s strength. In July 1978, the bank adopted its current logo, featuring three arrows that symbolise savings, investment, and surplus. The bank opened its second branch in Madurai on December 14, 1908, followed by the third in Coimbatore. It expanded internationally with the establishment of its first overseas branch in Colombo, Sri Lanka, in 1932. It went on to open a branch in Singapore in 1941. Before Independence, Indian Bank played an important role in financing local businesses. In 1947, the bank had 73 branches with a total business of ₹27.85 crore and a net profit of ₹0.78 crore. After Independence, it financed industries and offered financial services. The bank’s business, which stood at ₹27.85 crore in 1947, grew to ₹161.43 crore by the time of its nationalisation in 1969. Accounts and deposits In the 1950s, the bank introduced savings and current account services, followed by fixed deposits in the 1960s. The 1980s marked the arrival of ATMs and debit cards, and in the 1990s, online banking and home loans were introduced. Over the years, the bank acquired the businesses of Royalaseema Bank, Bank of Alagapuri, Salem Bank, Mannargudi Bank, and Trichy United Bank. In 1990, the bank acquired the Bank of Thanjavur that had a business of ₹114.64 crore. And the most significant recent merger was the amalgamation of Allahabad Bank with Indian Bank. The merger was completed on April 1, 2020. Indian Bank came out with its initial public offering in February 2007. The bank had offered 8.5955 crore equity shares, of which 10% were reserved for the employees. The issue was over-subscribed 32.03 times and the issue price was ₹91. The bank mobilised a total ₹762.14 crore (₹85.95 crore in equity capital and ₹696.9 crore in share premium). After this issue, the Indian government’s holding in the share capital stood at 80%. Indian Bank was officially listed on the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) and the National Stock Exchange (NSE) after the initial public offering. On the listing day, the equity shares of the bank touched a high of ₹105 in the BSE and ₹100.25 in the NSE. The bank took its maiden step in technology adoption during the 1980s by introducing ATMs and electronic fund transfer. In the 1990s, the bank embraced ALM-TBC, taking its first step towards digitisation. It became a forerunner in introducing tele-banking and online banking. During the 2010s, the bank focused on expanding digital services, launching mobile wallets. At the same time, the bank re-doubled its efforts at financial inclusion in rural areas, empowering under-served communities with digital banking tools. And more recently, the bank has embraced artificial intelligence (AI) and partnered with fintech companies. Now, the bank is headed by Shanti Lal Jain, who is the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer. As on September 30, 2024, the bank has 5,856 domestic branches: 1,983 rural branches, 1,532 semi-urban branches, 1,174 urban branches, and 1,167 metro branches. The bank also operates three overseas branches and has one International Banking Unit at Gift City in Gujarat. The official data show the bank caters to the needs of over 100 million customers with 40,671 employees. Lending to individuals, small businesses, and public sector enterprises is the bank’s major business. Demand may increase The bank also focuses on providing customised solutions to corporates and government departments. In an email, the bank officials told The Hindu that the demand in retail banking and agriculture is expected to rise, driven by the growing economy and increasing financial inclusion in rural areas. Over the next two years, the bank plans to enhance its digital services and continue expanding its mobile banking, internet banking, and other online services. The bank’s net profit, which stood at ₹753 crore (on a stand-alone basis before the amalgamation of e-Allahabad Bank) for the year ending March 31, 2020, surged to ₹8,063 crore for the year ending March 31, 2024. In the first half of the current fiscal (September 2024), the bank reported a net profit of ₹5,110 crore. Published - December 22, 2024 10:51 pm IST Copy link Email Facebook Twitter Telegram LinkedIn WhatsApp Reddit
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