star ocean magical rasp
Oldest Known Wild Bird Has Been Spotted Again — And She's Got A New BoyfriendTexas, Arizona State to meet in CFP clash of old vs. new Big 12 champsDisney Influencer Dominique Brown Dies at 34 After Reportedly Experiencing Allergic Reaction at Holiday Food EventWhen Shylo Malcolm’s week in Cuba came to an end, she assumed her vacation romance was ending, too. Not that she wanted the romance to be over — far from it. Shylo just assumed all vacation flirtations have an obvious end date. “I didn’t want to get my hopes up,” Shylo tells CNN Travel today. Know the news with the 7NEWS app: Download today To her surprise, the object of her affections, Frenchman Yann Dervaux, was keen to share numbers, emails and social media information. In fact, he told her they’d “stay in touch”. “Yeah, right,” Shylo thought. She was returning to her life in Ontario, Canada. Yann was going back to his home near Lille, France. Over 3500 miles (5600km) would soon stretch between them. Still, when Shylo boarded her flight back home, she surprised herself by not feeling sad. Instead, she felt a twinge of excitement. “I’d had such an amazing week, and maybe we wouldn’t see each other again, the future was uncertain,” recalls Shylo. “But I went to Cuba, had the best vacation, had fun with my friends, and I met him ...” Meeting in Cuba Shylo’s trip to Cuba coincided with her 27th birthday in the summer of 2016. When she imagined turning 27, Shylo envisaged herself lounging on a beach, a drink in her hand, the sun’s warm rays on her skin. Shylo recruited two of her oldest and best friends — persuading them with the allure of beaches and cocktails aplenty. The trio picked a resort in coastal Varadero, Cuba, known for its stretch of sandy beaches and vibrant bars. “We were ready to have fun, party it up,” recalls Shylo. But when the trio arrived at their hotel late one June evening, Shylo had to swallow her disappointment. Nothing seemed to be open, and no one seemed to be around. It definitely wasn’t the party atmosphere she’d anticipated. Still, after walking around the resort, Shylo and her friends eventually tracked down the only bar at the resort showing signs of life. They walked inside and glanced around. It was pretty empty. A soccer game blared from a television, and a handful of guys were sitting, beers in hand, watching the screen. Shylo and her friends raised eyebrows at one another. This still was not the vibe they were after. But they decided if the party wasn’t coming to them, they would have to bring the party. So the trio went to the bar, ordered a round of fruity cocktails and grabbed a table. Before long, a couple of the guys in the bar turned their attention away from the soccer and to the group of women. “We all just started talking,” recalls Shylo. A couple of the men were German — Germany, it turned out, was the soccer team playing that evening. While the German guys were happy to chat to Shylo and her group, they were still half-watching the game. But one of the guys was French and less bothered by the soccer happenings. And when he mentioned he was French, Shylo was intrigued — she’d always been a bit of a Francophile, dreaming of visiting Paris. Helping matters, Shylo and her friends were all French speakers. Their high school had run a French immersion program, where some of the classes took place entirely in French. “My friends and I were excited to practise our French, since we hadn’t used it in years,” Shylo recalls. “Immediately we were having a good time.” The Frenchman — of course — was Yann, a 29-year-old tech expert who was in Varadero with a group of friends, all of whom had retreated to bed before Shylo and her friends turned up that night. Shylo thought Yann seemed friendly and sweet but didn’t immediately pinpoint him as a romantic prospect. Yann, on the other hand, fell for Shylo right away. “I remember I looked at Shylo, and she was beautiful,” he tells CNN Travel today. “And also attractive — the way she was speaking, and she seemed so happy.” More rounds of drinks were ordered. The soccer game ended, and the German guys left. But Yann, Shylo and her friends were still in full swing. “We ended up hanging out late that night,” says Shylo. “Then we went to the beach. I don’t even know what time it was. We were up into the early hours of the morning, hanging out as a group.” For Shylo, the prospect of a romantic connection with Yann didn’t cross her mind until the group got down onto the beach. Shylo’s two friends suggested a nighttime swim and immediately ran into the water and started frolicking in the ocean. Meanwhile, Shylo stood back. It looked fun, but she was more than a little apprehensive about the inky black water, illuminated only by moonlight. “I don’t like going into the water when I can’t see,” says Shylo. “Everyone was being spontaneous and going out into the ocean. And I was like, ‘No, I’m not going to do that’.” Noticing Shylo’s hesitance, Yann suggested they could go in together. He offered to give Shylo a piggyback to keep her at a decent distance from the murky depths. “Come, I’ll take you on my back,” he said, smiling. Something about Yann’s presence — teamed with Dutch courage from multiple rounds of fruity cocktails — reassured Shylo. She agreed, leaping onto his back. And that’s when it happened. Shylo realised Yann wasn’t just helping her counter her fear of the ocean. This was definitely flirting. As they waded into the water, laughing and splashing Shylo’s friends as they went, Yann started whispering “sweet nothings” in Shylo’s ear, telling her she was “très belle”. Growing closer It was flattering, and Shylo allowed herself to get swept up in the moment. Still, deep down she remained a little sceptical, assuming Yann was a player who said that kind of thing to all the women he encountered. She figured he’d disappear as soon as they left the beach. But to her surprise, over the next week, Shylo kept crossing paths with Yann. Often Yann was out on day trips, exploring Cuba with his friends. Meanwhile Shylo and her travelling party enjoyed relaxing by the pool. “But we usually found each other, as a group, at night,” says Shylo. “And as the week went on, and we spent more time talking, feelings of romance were definitely there. We enjoyed each other company, and the chemistry between us was great, too.” “Little by little, we talked a little bit more in depth about our lives,” recalls Yann. “We hung out as a group, but Shylo and I were always side by side. I was attracted to her and I liked her joy, her way of thinking and every evening we were looking for each other so we could spend more time together.” Shylo and Yann’s friends were aware of their obvious connection. “My friends were like, ‘You’re on vacation, live it up,’” recalls Shylo. “They said, ‘You don’t know if you’re going to see him, but just have fun while you’re here, get to know him’. They were supportive in that way.” Meanwhile Yann’s friends could see he was falling for Shylo and teased him that it was a “crazy way” to meet someone. “But they were happy for me,” he says. As Yann and Shylo grew more comfortable with each other, they started spending more time with no one else around. It was exciting, but for Shylo, the excitement was also laced with a tinge of panic. “I was like, ‘I’m getting in over my head. I’m kind of screwing myself over’,” she recalls. ‘I thought, ‘This guy’s going to go back to France and he’s so nice and kind to me, but we’re going to go from seeing each other all the time to not seeing each other at all, and then I’m going to have to get over this guy that I just met’.” Shylo had to stop herself mourning the end of the connection before it began. She tried to enjoy the moment. Then, when it came to saying goodbye, things with Yann were left open-ended. That’s why Shylo figured they’d never see each other again. And assuming the worst was a bit of self-protection, as much as anything else. Yann was more hopeful. And when he told Shylo they’d “stay in touch,” he meant it. He looked her up on Facebook as soon as he got home from Cuba and sent a friend request. And when Shylo got home and checked her socials and emails, she spotted the Facebook notification. She was surprised but pleased — and the excitement she’d been tentatively feeling on the aeroplane spilled out into full on happiness. “I thought, ‘OK maybe he’s not going to totally disappear on me,’ ” she says. “This could work.” Long distance After all Shylo’s fears about the vacation romance not lasting and Yann dropping off the face of the Earth, staying in touch happened quite seamlessly, to her surprise. “We ended up talking every single day,” she recalls. “Sending pictures, lots of pictures.” In Cuba, they’d largely communicated in French. Now the messages were a mix of “broken French, broken English”. “Google Translate helped a lot,” says Yann. “We also had some video chat dates, although it was hard because of the time difference,” adds Shylo. On one of their video calls, when Yann was talking about France, an idea crossed Shylo’s mind. “I’d dreamt of going to Paris forever, and I was like, ‘This guy lives in France, maybe we could kill two birds with one stone, I could finally get to see Paris, and I could see this guy again’,” Shylo recalls. At first, Shylo dismissed the idea as “kind of crazy”. “We’d been talking for two months, and I met him once,” she says, “But then I just decided to look up flights, and I found some flights that weren’t too expensive.” When she mentioned the idea to Yann, he was immediately enthusiastic. He encouraged her to book the tickets. “I was really happy to have the opportunity to see her again,” Yann says. “We had shared great memories together when we met, I wanted to share these same moments again.” And so at the end of August 2016 — a couple of months after the Cuba trip — Shylo arrived at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport, ready to spend a few days there with Yann, before they went to Paris together. On the journey over, Shylo was wracked with nervous excitement about reuniting with Yann. “I was like, ‘OK, how is this interaction gonna be? Do we hug? Do we kiss?’ I was just going over, over and over it,” she recalls. In the end, their reunion was “a little awkward” but in a sweet way, as Shylo recalls it. “We were both kind of shy and didn’t know what to do,” says Shylo. “We had a little hug, and then started walking together. But then as the day progressed, we got more comfortable.” Yann was happy that they soon settled back into the easy conversation they’d enjoyed in Cuba. “When we were together over those Cuba evenings, we would always talk to each other, learn everything about each other,” he says. “And when we met in Europe, it was the same mood. We were very happy to see each other again.” It was also exciting for Yann and Shylo to spend time without any friends around, to see how they might work as a couple. “I wanted to see how it would be to be together, how you interact with each other,” says Yann. “It was really important to me to experience that.” Shylo was also encouraged by the fact she felt very cared for by Yann. She was a little apprehensive about being in Europe for the first time, but he made her feel at ease. “He took care of finding accommodation, and planned out activities,” she recalls. “I went for two weeks. And we packed a lot into those two weeks.” The highlight of the trip was the time Yann and Shylo spent together in Paris. “Every day he took me to nice restaurants,” Shylo recalls. “It was such an amazing time. It was like a dream come true for me. I’d been dreaming of it, and then getting to go with this guy who was so sweet. No one had ever spoken to me, how he spoke to me.” When Shylo’s time in Europe came to an end, there were no longer any question marks in her head about whether she and Yann would stay in touch. Yann promised to come and visit Canada a couple of months later, around the holiday season, and he kept to his word. “I wanted to see her as soon as possible,” says Yann. This trip happened to coincide with Yann taking a break between jobs, which allowed him to spend six weeks in Ontario with Shylo. “I took him to see all the things here,” says Shylo. “And because he was here for a longer period of time, we lived together.” It was a taste of what a life together full-time might look like. Shylo also introduced Yann to more of her loved ones, who had time to get to know him over the six weeks, including at a New Year’s Eve party that Shylo hosted. “Everybody loved him,” she says. Closing the distance From then on, Shylo and Yann saw each other every couple of months — visiting one another in France and Canada, and also travelling the globe together — taking vacations to destinations including the Dominican Republic, New Zealand and the UK. “We always had a really good time,” says Shylo, with Yann adding that the time they spent together was filled with “powerful moments.” In between, the time spent apart was always tough. “It’s just not the same, seeing somebody through the screen,” says Shylo. The couple navigated the ups and downs of long distance for some years. They enjoyed some incredible adventures together, but by 2019, they were looking for ways to be together longer term. “We needed to figure out how to close the distance,” says Shylo. Thanks to Shylo’s love of France, the couple had always imagined she might be the one to move. But by the time they came to discuss the idea more seriously, Shylo’s family ties to Canada made the thought of relocating across the world less appealing. “My family was growing at the time, both my sisters had young kids, and I was a little worried about missing out on them growing up, because we’re a pretty close family,” says Shylo. “We do all the holidays together. We do family dinners and stuff like that. So it would have been really hard for me to leave.” For the first time, the couple talked seriously about the idea of Yann relocating to Canada. Yann was open to the idea — he’d grown to love Ontario over the years. He started looking into the logistics of making this dream happen. “And then in November 2019, he came and never left,” says Shylo. It was an exciting step — and a little surreal that after almost four years of travelling across the globe to visit one another, Yann and Shylo were finally living together. It wasn’t always an easy transition. Speaking “Frenglish,” as Shylo describes it, sometimes led to miscommunication. “Add in that he’s a European White male and I’m a Canadian with Jamaican roots Black girl, we’ve definitely come across our share of differences,” she says. “But we manage it and talk things out and try to communicate a little more to avoid problems. “There was a lot of navigating to do. But I’m thankful that he is a very loving person, which is perfect for me.” Yann also highlights Shylo’s “kindness and joy” as some of his favourite traits of hers, as well as “the spontaneity, the projects and ideas she comes up with and so much more”. Navigating the challenges of living together full-time only made Shylo and Yann stronger. And in time, Yann became more anchored in Canada. He took English classes to perfect the language. He got a job he enjoyed in the tech world. He got closer to Shylo’s family and friends. Yann and Shylo felt more connected than ever. Proposal and marriage After a few years of living together in Canada, Yann and Shylo found themselves discussing marriage. It was something they’d talked about before, but as the pandemic waned, the couple began considering the prospect more seriously. “I said, ‘I don’t want to just be a girlfriend forever. It’s important for me, for us, to get married’,” Shylo recalls. “Then Yann started looking at rings, and he proposed with my whole family here, which was really nice.” The proposal, in early 2023, was a surprise for Shylo. Her family had gathered together under the guise of celebrating her sister’s birthday. “Almost everyone was in on it, letting me believe we were having a birthday gathering when in actuality, Yann was going to purpose,” says Shylo. “It perfect that everyone was there for this special moment.” “We were married a couple months later, because we’d already been together seven years. We felt like we didn’t need a long engagement.” The wedding took place in spring 2023, in Canada, with Yann calling it “a wonderful day”. “Shylo was beautiful,” he says. “We rented an Airbnb on a lake and kept it small to just immediate family and bestest friends,” adds Shylo. “It was a crazy day that went by so fast, but it turned out to be absolutely beautiful and everyone enjoyed themselves.” Looking to the future Today, Shylo and Yann are still basking in the joy of their wedding, having enjoyed an extended “extra honeymoon period,” as Shylo puts it. Shylo’s also busy with her business, designing, making and selling travel-themed gifts. She’s also got a blog, Simply Blessed Shy where she chronicles her travel adventures with Yann. “We travel really well together,” says Shylo. “And the fact that he loves travelling just as much as I do, it’s great. He’s my favourite travel buddy.” It’s fitting, says Shylo, that they met and fell in love while travelling. “We met on vacation, he was in France, and I’m from Canada, and we ended up choosing the same resort and being there for almost the same amount of time,” reflects Shylo. “I don’t know if it’s fate. Yann thinks it is. I guess it was meant to be.”
A record-breaking rally for coffee prices shows no sign of slowing down, analysts say, with some warning it could take years for one of the world's most traded commodities to recover. Drought and high temperatures, alongside a global reliance on supplies from relatively few regions, are regarded as the key drivers for the dramatic price rise. "History suggests that coffee prices will only ease back as and when supply improves and stocks are replenished," David Oxley, chief climate and commodities economist at Capital Economics, said in a research note. A record-breaking rally for coffee prices shows no sign of slowing down, analysts say, with some warning it could take years for one of the world's most traded commodities to recover. > 24/7 San Diego news stream: Watch NBC 7 free wherever you are Arabica coffee futures with March delivery hit a fresh intraday high of 348.35 cents per pound on Tuesday, notching their highest level in nearly 50 years. The contract has since cut some of its gains but remains up a whopping 70% year-to-date. The last time the price for arabica beans, the world's most popular variety, traded that high was in 1977 when snow destroyed large areas of Brazilian plantations. Renowned for their smooth taste and sweet flavor, arabica beans make up between 60% to 70% of the global coffee market. They are commonly used in espressos and other barista-made coffee. Drought and high temperatures, alongside a global reliance on supplies from relatively few regions, are regarded as the primary drivers for the recent price rise. Robusta futures, meanwhile, also climbed to a fresh record high in late November. Robusta beans are known for their strong and bitter flavor and are typically used in instant blends. The extraordinary price rally for coffee, which is considered the second-most traded commodity by volume, after crude oil, comes amid concerns over the 2025 crop in Brazil, by far the world's largest producer. Money Report European markets set to open lower as investors digest European Central Bank rate cut New AI winners beyond Big Tech are set to emerge, UK fund manager predicts "The country experienced its worst drought in 70 years during August and September, followed by heavy rains in October, raising fears that the flowering crop could fail," Ole Hansen, head of commodity strategy at Denmark's Saxo Bank, said in a research note published Tuesday. For some, the poor growing weather in Brazil means it could take a long time for coffee prices to unwind. "History suggests that coffee prices will only ease back as and when supply improves and stocks are replenished," David Oxley, chief climate and commodities economist at Capital Economics, said in a research note published on Nov. 29. "Crucially, this is a process that can take years, not months," Oxley said. A staple beverage for billions of people across the world, demand for coffee has been boosted in recent years by growing consumption in China . Production, however, has struggled to keep up. "Like cocoa, coffee is grown in a relatively narrow tropical band, with key producers including Brazil, Vietnam, Colombia, and Ethiopia," Saxo Bank's Hansen said. "This concentration makes it particularly vulnerable to adverse weather conditions, especially in Brazil and Vietnam, which together account for approximately 56% of global production," he added. Read more World’s largest olive oil producer says ‘liquid gold’ prices on track to halve from record levels Orange juice prices are going through the roof — forcing some makers to consider alternative fruits Cocoa and coffee prices have soared to record highs — and Citi says there may still be room to run The U.S. Department of Agriculture said in its semi-annual report last month that it expects Brazil's coffee production for the marketing year 2024/2025 to come in at 66.4 million (60 kilogram per bag) comprising of 45.4 million bags of arabica and 21 million of robusta. The USDA said its forecast reflected a 5.8% drop from its previous projection, attributing the decrease to irregular weather patterns that negatively affected crop development, particularly for arabica trees. "In Brazil, this will be the fifth consecutive arabica harvest that is disappointing because of adverse weather," Carlos Mera, head of agricultural commodities markets at Dutch lender Rabobank, told CNBC via video call. Asked whether the climate crisis appears to be amplifying the risks for coffee production, Mera said it was difficult to measure accurately, but there are growing concerns across the industry that extreme weather could prevent typical growth in coffee trees. Looking ahead, Mera said coffee prices "can certainly go even higher" from their current record levels. For coffee drinkers, analysts say it is practically inevitable that coffee makers will need to pass on the costs to consumers in order to limit the impact of higher bean prices on their bottom line. Nestlé , the world's biggest coffee maker, which owns leading brands including Nescafé and Nespresso, said last month that it would continue raising prices and making packs smaller to offset the impact of higher prices. "Like every manufacturer, we have seen significant increases in the cost of coffee, making it much more expensive to manufacture our products," a Nestlé spokesperson told CNBC via email. "As always, we continue to be more efficient and absorb increasing costs where possible whilst maintaining the same high quality and delicious taste that consumers know and love," they added. Italian coffee maker Lavazza and U.S. coffee giant Starbucks both declined to comment when contacted by CNBC. Also on CNBC Norway hits pause on controversial deep-sea mining plans This startup makes thrifting furniture far easier, even for big retailers like Pottery Barn Richard Branson to young people: 'We can overcome climate change'
ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (AP) — New Jersey gambling regulators have handed out $40,000 in fines to two sportsbooks and a tech company for violations that included taking bets on unauthorized events, and on games that had already ended. In information made public Monday, the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement fined DraftKings $20,000. It also levied $10,000 fines on Rush Street Interactive NJ and the sports betting technology company Kambi. According to documents released by the state, Rush Street accepted 16 bets worth $1,523 in Nov. 2021 on a college basketball game between the University of North Carolina-Asheville and Tennessee Tech University after the game had already concluded with a UNC victory. Kambi told the enforcement division that a trader had failed to manually remove that game from its betting markets, saying it had stopped receiving messages from its own sports data provider due to a network connectivity error. Kambi said it has updated its guidelines and retrained its traders to prevent a recurrence. Kambi, which is based in Malta, did not immediately respond to a message seeking comment Monday. Rush Street declined comment, and DraftKings had no immediate comment Monday. DraftKings stopped using Kambi in 2021. In March 2022 Rush Street took seven bets totaling just under $2,900 on three Magic City Jai Alai games after the results were already known. Kambi told the division it experienced a connectivity issue that allowed the bets to be accepted after the games were over. An explanation of what Kambi did to address the situation was blacked out in documents released by the division. A month earlier Rush Street took 13 wagers worth $8,150 with pre-match odds on a Professional Golf Association match after the event had already begun. In this case, Kambi told the division a newly hired trader failed to enter the correct closing time time for bets on the event. The trader and a supervisor underwent retraining. DraftKings was fined for taking bets on unapproved events including Russian basketball for nine months in 2020 and 2021. It eventually voided over $61,000 in bets and returned the money to customers after being directed to do so by the state. In this case, Kambi told the division it misidentified this particular Russian basketball league as one that was approved for wagering in New Jersey. DraftKings told the state it did not catch the error, either. In 2020, DraftKings accepted 484 wagers on unapproved table tennis matches. Kambi incorrectly enabled the events for wagering without conditions required by the state, the division said. In Feb. 2022, the division said DraftKings took pre-season NFL bets involving specific players but did not give the state specific information on what information was to be included in the bets, drawing 182 wagers worth nearly $7,000 that were later voided and refunded to customers. Follow Wayne Parry on X at www.twitter.com/WayneParryACMumbai: Russian national Pavel Prozorov is the mastermind in the fraudulent activities via OctaFx India Pvt Ltd, through unauthorized forex trading , allegedly earning over Rs 800 crore, said the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in the chargesheet filed before the special court against him and 53 others. The agency attached Pavel's Spanish assets valued at Rs 42 crore after collecting their details and plans to enforce the attachment order in Spain through Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty (MLAT). The OctaFx has no office or any base in India, but is conducting business in the country, said the ED. Pavel, collaborating with Russian partners and two non-resident Indians, used OctaFx's forex trading application to mislead investors with promises of high returns. The ED's investigation showed OctaFx illegally transferred fraudulently earned profit internationally using false import documents through mule accounts (provision by shell firms-individual charging commission). According to the ED's chargesheet, OctaFx's CEO Anna Rudaia, who managed Indian operations, fled from India through illegal routes last year when investigations into her organisation began, as there was a look-out circular against her. The chargesheet lists 13 individuals and 41 companies. Many of the firms are based abroad and under the control of Pavel and an Indian-based dubious e-commerce firm and individuals who had provided mule accounts. The ED Thu issued a press release stating, "The platform gained traction through aggressive promotions, including sponsoring an IPL team, and engaged various production agencies for influencer marketing. Payments to these production agencies were made as foreign inward remittances, through two Estonia-based companies, both related entities of OctaFx and controlled by Pavel Prozorov." The inquiry showed OctaFx's primary involvement in gathering funds from Indian investors under false forex trading premises. The platform frequently changed login URLs and web addresses to hide fraudulent activities, manipulated trades causing investor losses, and diverted funds to e-wallets and fictitious accounts. The organisation utilised fintech workers to create mule accounts linked to shell companies and fake e-commerce websites for payment gateway access. Funds were partially used in online trading, whilst others provided returns to select investors and funded personal luxuries. The platform expanded through social media and referral schemes. Between July 2022 and April 2023, OctaFx generated approximately Rs 800 crore from Indian operations, deemed proceeds of crime. The ED's test account exposed the money laundering scheme, revealing multiple Indian bank accounts connected to commission-based shell companies, with Pavel Prozorov controlling operations through Indian nationals in Spain and Russia. In the chargesheet, the ED said money laundering scheme involved layering illicit funds to further obscure their origins. Once the investor funds were deposited into accounts controlled by shell companies, they were transferred to multiple bank accounts held by various shell entities, which were managed and operated by certain individuals. These mule accounts served as intermediaries, enabling the movement of funds while concealing the true identities of the account holders. Furthermore, the investigation revealed that a portion of the investors' funds was diverted into SEBI-registered Alternative Investment Funds (AIFs), lending a façade of legitimacy to the illicit funds. Mumbai: Russian national Pavel Prozorov is the mastermind in the fraudulent activities via OctaFx India Pvt Ltd, through unauthorized forex trading, allegedly earning over Rs 800 crore, said the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in the chargesheet filed before the special court against him and 53 others. The agency attached Pavel's Spanish assets valued at Rs 42 crore after collecting their details and plans to enforce the attachment order in Spain through Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty (MLAT). The OctaFx has no office or any base in India, but is conducting business in the country, said the ED. Pavel, collaborating with Russian partners and two non-resident Indians, used OctaFx's forex trading application to mislead investors with promises of high returns. The ED's investigation showed OctaFx illegally transferred fraudulently earned profit internationally using false import documents through mule accounts (provision by shell firms-individual charging commission). According to the ED's chargesheet, OctaFx's CEO Anna Rudaia, who managed Indian operations, fled from India through illegal routes last year when investigations into her organisation began, as there was a look-out circular against her. The chargesheet lists 13 individuals and 41 companies. Many of the firms are based abroad and under the control of Pavel and an Indian-based dubious e-commerce firm and individuals who had provided mule accounts. The ED Thu issued a press release stating, "The platform gained traction through aggressive promotions, including sponsoring an IPL team, and engaged various production agencies for influencer marketing. Payments to these production agencies were made as foreign inward remittances, through two Estonia-based companies, both related entities of OctaFx and controlled by Pavel Prozorov." The inquiry showed OctaFx's primary involvement in gathering funds from Indian investors under false forex trading premises. The platform frequently changed login URLs and web addresses to hide fraudulent activities, manipulated trades causing investor losses, and diverted funds to e-wallets and fictitious accounts. The organisation utilised fintech workers to create mule accounts linked to shell companies and fake e-commerce websites for payment gateway access. Funds were partially used in online trading, whilst others provided returns to select investors and funded personal luxuries. The platform expanded through social media and referral schemes. Between July 2022 and April 2023, OctaFx generated approximately Rs 800 crore from Indian operations, deemed proceeds of crime. The ED's test account exposed the money laundering scheme, revealing multiple Indian bank accounts connected to commission-based shell companies, with Pavel Prozorov controlling operations through Indian nationals in Spain and Russia. In the chargesheet, the ED said money laundering scheme involved layering illicit funds to further obscure their origins. Once the investor funds were deposited into accounts controlled by shell companies, they were transferred to multiple bank accounts held by various shell entities, which were managed and operated by certain individuals. These mule accounts served as intermediaries, enabling the movement of funds while concealing the true identities of the account holders. Furthermore, the investigation revealed that a portion of the investors' funds was diverted into SEBI-registered Alternative Investment Funds (AIFs), lending a façade of legitimacy to the illicit funds. Stay updated with the latest news on Times of India . Don't miss yearly career horoscopes 2025 for Aries , Taurus , Gemini , Cancer , Leo , Virgo , Libra , Scorpio , Sagittarius , Capricorn , Aquarius , and Pisces .
Experts shed light on what new PTI move would mean for economy KARACHI: The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) plans to initiate a civil disobedience movement, encouraging overseas Pakistanis to limit their remittances, could hurt the economy, say experts. Former Prime Minister Imran Khan, who has been imprisoned since August 2023 on multiple charges, has threatened to launch a nationwide civil disobedience campaign from December 14 if party demands are not met. As part of this movement, overseas Pakistanis will be encouraged to reduce their remittances and participate in a boycott campaign. “If the PTI launches a civil disobedience movement, it could have serious consequences for Pakistan’s economy. Remittances, which bring in over $30 billion annually, might drop if people are encouraged to use informal channels like hawala instead of official banking systems,” said Saad Hanif, head of research at Ismail Iqbal Securities. “Political instability might scare off investors, weaken the rupee further, and drive up inflation, making life harder for ordinary people. Overall, it could disrupt the government’s plans and push the economy deeper into crisis,” he added. Awais Ashraf, director research at AKD Securities Limited, does not believe that potential civil disobedience will significantly impact remittance flows, as people send this money to support their families and some flows are earnings of freelancers. Remittances to Pakistan have increased to $11.8 billion in July-October FY25, up 34.7 per cent from the same period last year, providing crucial support to the external account. Both the government and the central bank anticipate that remittances will reach historic levels of $35 billion in FY25, averaging $2.9 billion per month so far. These significant inflows will strengthen the reserves, offering a much-needed boost to the economy. A senior banker said that we need to observe how Pakistani expatriates respond to the planned call. In reality, Pakistan regularly receives significant remittance inflows from its migrants working abroad, most of whom belong to the lower and middle classes and typically engage in blue-collar jobs in Gulf countries, particularly Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, he said. However, the expatriates who may have acquired nationality in their host countries often send funds back home during occasions such as Eid festivals, for Hajj, for charity, and for making investments in Pakistan. Khan’s latest announcement comes at a time when the nation’s struggling economy is on the mend, largely thanks to a bailout from the International Monetary Fund. As a result, inflation has decreased, dropping to 4.9 per cent in November. The current account balance shifted to a surplus of $218 million in the first four months of the fiscal year 2025, compared to a deficit of $1.528 billion in the same period last year. As of November, the foreign exchange reserves held by the State Bank of Pakistan amounted to $12 billion, which is sufficient to cover more than two months of imports. Interest rates have also fallen, decreasing by 700 basis points to 15 per cent since June. Moreover, Pakistan’s benchmark stock index has performed well, surpassing 100,000 points. If the economy suffers as a result of the political unrest, the IT industry, which is already suffering from slow speed, is likely to experience more difficulties. The consistent internet disruptions and its slow speed are detrimental to the national economy in general and IT sector in particular, which will further affect adversely the economic activities and damage the reputation of the country if the situation persists, said Saad Shah, an IT exporter. As far as the IT sector is concerned, various IT companies are facing challenges to complete their projects on time despite their multiple efforts of working extra hours due to the prevailing internet situation. Large IT companies having annual contracts with local and foreign clients may survive through managing their work from offshore offices, but medium and small players including freelancers could not have options but to lose projects and clients, Shah added Hanif also expressed that “[civil disobedience] would reduce the country’s foreign exchange reserves. The government could also struggle to collect taxes and utility bills, worsening its financial problems and delaying important projects,” Hanif said. In a message posted on X, Khan announced the formation of a five-member negotiation team. This team is tasked with discussing two key demands with the government: the release of under-trial prisoners and the establishment of a judicial commission to investigate the incidents that occurred on May 9, 2023 and November 26, 2024 -- dates that saw significant protests from Khan’s supporters, which were met with a crackdown from the government and security forces.
Surveyors have called for the adoption of digital mapping to address Nigeria’s security challenges and promote infrastructural development. Speaking at the 2024 Northern Surveyors Forum (NSF) Annual General Meeting and James Dashe Memorial Lecture in Kaduna, experts stressed the need for a comprehensive digital land database to enhance planning and security operations. Ayo Medubi, CEO of Indept Engineering Limited, decried the absence of proper mapping systems across the country, citing their potential to combat insecurity and drive economic growth. “A digital map provides vital information for tackling crime and building infrastructure. The vandalism of power transmission lines causing recent blackouts could have been averted with accurate geographic data,” Medubi said. He emphasised the role of surveyors in supporting national security, noting that proper mapping could help law enforcement access remote areas efficiently and reduce land disputes. Surveyor Kunle Olugbemiro, Registrar of the Surveyors Council of Nigeria, urged the government to prioritize recruiting and empowering surveyors to meet the country’s developmental needs. He said, “Surveying is key to resource management and national development, but our professionals require modern tools and recognition to deliver optimal results.” NSF Chairman, Dr. Isah Funtua Abdulkadir, highlighted advancements in the field, including the use of geospatial technology for security and the launch of a professional journal to promote best practices. He called for increased funding and awareness campaigns to elevate the role of surveyors in governance and development. The Chairman of the Local Organizing Committee, Surveyor Daudu E.M. Andrew, emphasised that accurate geographic data is essential for decision-making, infrastructure expansion, and addressing Nigeria’s socio-economic challenges. Dr. Abdulkadir also appealed to Kaduna State Governor Mallam Uba Sani to establish a permanent NSF secretariat and restore the Office of the Surveyor General in the state to boost land management and development initiatives. Themed “Land Surveying: Enhancing Security Measures and Fostering Physical and Economic Development,” the forum brought together industry leaders to explore innovative solutions for national growth.Animation Guild board defends contract deal as some members critique AI terms
VERMILLION, S.D. (AP) — Aidan Bouman threw a go-ahead touchdown pass in the fourth quarter and Quaron Adams followed with a 70-yard touchdown on a reverse as No. 4 seed South Dakota pulled away late to beat 13th-seeded Tarleton State 42-31 on Saturday in the second round of the FCS playoffs. South Dakota will host the winner of Saturday's matchup between No. 5 seed UC Davis and 12th-seeded Illinois State in the third round. The Coyotes (10-2) trailed by seven points four times until Bouman connected with Keyondray Jones-Logan for a 12-yard touchdown and a 35-31 lead with 9:36 left to play. Tim White intercepted a Victor Gabalis pass, giving South Dakota the ball at its own 15-yard line. Adams, a sophomore receiver, raced to the end zone three plays later for his first career rushing touchdown and the Texans (10-4) never recovered in their first trip to the postseason. Gabalis threw three first-half touchdown passes, giving Tarleton State leads of 7-0, 14-7 and 21-14 at halftime. Travis Theis had two short touchdown runs in the first half to pull the Coyotes even and his 2-yard scoring run 51 seconds into the fourth quarter tied it at 28. Tarleton State took its last lead on a 23-yard field goal by Corbin Poston with 11:23 left to play. Bouman completed 18 of 22 passes for 213 yards and also had a 5-yard scoring toss to Jones-Logan off a deflected pass that stood up to a video review and tied the game at 21. Theis carried 25 times for 130 yards. Gabalis totaled 379 yards on 23-for-31 passing with four touchdowns and three interceptions. Darius Cooper caught nine passes for 161 yards and three scores. Cody Jackson had the other touchdown reception. Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here . AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-footballTech billionaire Elon Musk 's new opinion article in Germany's Welt am Sonntag led the newspaper's opinion editor to resign. Newsweek reached out to Musk's social media platform X, formerly Twitter , via email for comment from the tech tycoon and the WELT Group via email for comment on the editor's resignation Saturday afternoon. Why It Matters Musk, the owner of X, and the CEO of car manufacturer Tesla and space tech company SpaceX , has cozied up to President-elect Donald Trump , especially after his November election win. Now, Musk has grown his influence abroad, appearing in a German newspaper to support the country's Alternative for Germany (AfD) party. The AfD party is viewed as far right and, according to Reuters, the party, at the national level, has been classified by Germany's domestic intelligence agency as a suspected extremism case starting in 2021. What To Know Following the online publication of Musk's commentary on Saturday, which was written in German, Eva Marie Kogel, the editor of Welt am Sonntag 's opinion section, quickly resigned. "I always enjoyed heading the opinion section of WELT and WAMS. Today an article by Elon Musk appeared in Welt am Sonntag. I handed in my resignation yesterday after it went to print," Kogel wrote on X early Saturday morning, according to an English translation of the post written in German. Musk wrote in the opinion piece, according to an English translation by Reuters, "The portrayal of the AfD as right-wing extremist is clearly false, considering that Alice Weidel, the party's leader, has a same-sex partner from Sri Lanka! Does that sound like Hitler to you? Please!" Welt am Sonntag published a statement by the newspaper's editor-in-chief designate Jan Philipp Burgard underneath Musk's commentary. "Musk's diagnosis is correct, but his therapeutic approach, that only the AfD can save Germany, is fatally false," he wrote. The tech tycoon's opinion piece follows a statement he wrote on X on December 20, "Only the AfD can save Germany." What People Are Saying Burgard and Ulf Poschardt, the incoming publisher of Welt am Sonntag , said in a statement to Reuters, "Democracy and journalism thrive on freedom of expression. This includes dealing with polarizing positions and classifying them journalistically." They added that the discussion surrounding Musk's opinion article was "very revealing." Musk's piece had over 300 comments several hours after it was published. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, a Social Democrat , said at a news conference on December 20 in response to Musk's X post, "We have freedom of opinion—it also goes for multibillionaires, but freedom of opinion also means that you can say things that aren't right and don't contain good political advice." He added: "I say emphatically that the democratic parties in Germany all see it differently." Weidel said in a December 20 X post that the AfD "is indeed the one and only alternative for our country; our very last option." She also shared several blurbs taken from Musk's opinion piece on X on Saturday, which have been translated from German to English: What Happens Next German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier scheduled new elections for February 23, seven months earlier than planned after Scholz lost a confidence vote in the German parliament last week amid the country's worsening economic crisis. AfD is polling in second place after the German conservatives, Reuters reported earlier this month. But, according to the Associated Press, Weidel will not realistically become chancellor given that other parties refuse to work with the AfD.
Middle East latest: Israeli strikes kill a hospital director in Lebanon and wound 6 medics in GazaNoneOsisko Metals Corporate Update
Australia’s prime minister said Sunday he was ready to “engage” with billionaire X owner Elon Musk over his criticism of the government’s ban on under-16s joining social media. Anthony Albanese hailed the parliament’s Thursday passage of landmark legislation requiring social media firms to take “reasonable steps” to prevent young teens from having accounts. The law, which will come into effect after 12 months, gives few details of how it will be enforced, including how sites like Facebook, Instagram and X will verify users’ ages. Musk — who has been named Donald Trump’s government efficiency chief in the incoming US administration — posted on X last month that the law “seems like a backdoor way to control access to the Internet by all Australians”. “We will talk to anyone,” Albanese said when asked if he would discuss the legislation with Musk. “With regard to Elon Musk, he has an agenda. He’s entitled to push that as the owner of X, formerly known as Twitter,” Albanese told Australian public broadcaster ABC. When the interviewer mentioned that Musk was also Trump’s “right-hand man”, the prime minister replied: “We will engage, we will engage.” Social media firms that fail to comply with the new law face fines of up to Aus$50 million (US$32.5 million) for “systemic breaches”. Musk’s platform in October lost a legal bid to avoid a US$417,000 fine levelled by Australia’s online watchdog, which has accused X of failing to stamp out harmful posts. – ‘Bullying’ – The government will decide over the next 12 months how to implement the ban, Albanese said, insisting, however, that it would not require people to provide identification. “The obligation will be on social media companies to do everything they can to make sure that those people under 16 don’t have access to social media,” the prime minister said. “We know that social media companies have more information about you and I than some of our friends do,” he added. “We know that they are able to do that, and the obligation will be on them.” Albanese said he was “determined” to implement the legislation. “I’ve met parents who have had to bury their children as a result of the impact that social media has had as a result of bullying, and we need to do something about it,” he said. Several social media giants have promised to work with the government on implementing the law. But they have also criticised the legislation, saying it was “rushed”, full of unanswered questions, and did not take into account the views of experts who opposed it. The UN children’s charity UNICEF Australia warned this week that the law was no “silver bullet” against online harm and could push kids into “covert and unregulated” spaces online. With 2,400 staff representing 100 different nationalities, AFP covers the world as a leading global news agency. AFP provides fast, comprehensive and verified coverage of the issues affecting our daily lives.