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Biden pledges £472m for rail project to improve access to Africa’s minerals
WORKERS will save as little as 1p a day under income tax changes in today’s Holyrood Budget — but face massive council tax hikes. Finance Secretary Shona Robison boasted most Scots “will be better off”, despite an end to the rates freeze signalling rises of £71 to £284 a year for typical homes . 3 Shona Robison announced the Scottish Government's draft budget today Credit: PA 3 She said most Scots will be "better off" despite confirming major tax hikes Credit: SCIOT GOV/UNPIXS 3 Scotland income tax brackets compared to the rest of the UK. Numbers in red show Scots worse off, while numbers in green represent being better off. Her income tax tweaks are worth a maximum of a fiver a year to more than a million low earners. Top accountant Bruce Cartwright said: “This small gain will be completely wiped out.” The Nats finance secretary confirmed the end of the council tax freeze - imposed on local authorities last year by Humza Yousaf - and did not bring in a cap on the tax. It came in a budget that was blasted as a “con” over the lack of clarity on council tax and measly income tax breaks dressed up as boosts to Scots. READ MORE ON THE SCOTTISH SUN 'RECORD FUNDING' Scots Finance Minister says 'no reason' for councils to impose tax hikes 'RABBIT OUT THE HAT' SNP announce huge change to two-child benefit cap in Scottish Budget Ms Robison also announced at her budget: A freeze on income tax for the rest of the parliament, and a 3.5 per cent increase to thresholds for the Basic and Intermediate rates Confirmation of a £101million fund for a universal £100 winter fuel benefit for state pensioners £2billion more for Scotland’s NHS And pledges to scrap the two-child cap - a policy designed to pile the pressure on Scottish Labour to back the budget - were also ridiculed as a “policy without a penny”. The spending plans were announced just over a month after the UK Government provided the Scottish Government with a cash boost of £3.4billion last year in their budget. Most read in The Scottish Sun STAR LOST Legendary BBC star dies aged 86 as family pay tribute to his 'amazing life' GER HIT Rangers star sent off in B team game for off the ball clash 'MORE TIME' Tulisa breaks her silence after deleting I’m A Celeb posts & snubbing spin-off FERGIE TIME Lewis Ferguson 'lined up for AC Milan move' with other top club linked Experts said this was a “significant” increase in spending power for ministers - and Ms Robison chose to splash the cash on benefits , local government, and the health service. Announcing a record £1billion uplift for councils, Ms Robison, also committed the government to a “no freeze, no cap” policy on council tax, paving the way for possible gigantic hikes this year for Scottish households. BUDGET REACTION: Rachel Reeves bails out SNP - but is it a trap? An average Band D property in Scotland currently pays £1,418 in council tax. But with a 5 per cent hike, that could increase by £71 per year - or £6 per month. A 10 per cent increase would see £142 per year increase, with a 15 or 20 per cent increase hitting £213 and £283 respectively. EMPTY PROMISES By Lewis McKenzie THE Finance Secretary promised funds to meet NHS waiting targets in 2026 - despite Nats ministers already promising to hit them by THIS YEAR. Shona Robison announced that £200million would be committed in a bid to cut waiting times for patients, with the intention of having no-one waiting for longer than 12 months for a new outpatient appointment, inpatient treatment or day case treatment by March 2026. However, it echoes similar promises made by the SNP Government in 2022, when then-Health Secretary Humza Yousaf announced that the NHS here would aim to “eradicate waits of more than two years”, and then “one year in most specialties” by September 2024. In her Budget statement, Ms Robison told MSPs: “I am today investing almost £200million in our plan to reduce waiting times and improve capacity, to reform the service and make it more efficient, and remove blockages that keep some patients in hospital far too long. Because of today’s record funding, our health service can reduce waiting times. “By March 2026, no-one will wait longer than 12 months for a new outpatient appointment, inpatient treatment or day case treatment. The extra funding we are providing will see over 150,000 extra patients treated as a result.” But, opponents accused Nats chiefs of “moving the goalposts”, as they said it would be “cold comfort” to those stuck waiting for help. Scottish Tory shadow health secretary Dr Sandesh Gulhane said: “The SNP’s only vision for our NHS is rehashing old promises they have already broken. “Trying to talk this up as a new pledge is some shameless spin from the Nationalists, who are out of ideas when it comes to tackling the permanent crisis in our NHS.” Aberdeenshire Council earlier this year floated to residents the idea of a 20 per cent increase to their council tax, equal to an average rise of £27.87 per month - in order to bring in £33.7million and make no savings to budget. And Perth and Kinross Council told residents they faced a whopping hike of 10 per cent this year - equal to an £11.70 per month increase - followed by the same increase in 2026/27, and a six per cent increase in 2027/28. Scottish Borders Council was also considering a potential 10 per cent increase to their council tax for the coming years. In her speech to MSPs Ms Robison warned councils there was “no reason” for significant increases. She said: “While it will be for councils to make their own decisions, with record funding, there is no reason for big increases in council tax next year.” Quizzed by reporters after her speech on whether any councils could decide to raise tax by double-digits, Ms Robison said she would be “very surprised” if any did so. She said: “I think reason will prevail in that local administrations, of various political colours, will not want to have to go out to their public and say, ‘I know we got record levels of funding, but we’re going to hike your council tax up anyway’. “I don’t think that makes any political sense and I’d be very surprised if any local authority was to put themselves in that position.” SMALL BUSINESSES SIDELINED By Lewis McKenzie FAILURE to include small retailers and leisure firms in a rates relief extension was last night described as a “bitter pill to swallow”. Finance Secretary Shona Robison confirmed the Scottish Budget will provide a 40 per cent rates relief for most hospitality venues here - having been urged to replicate measures put in place by Chancellor Rachel Reeves at the UK Budget. Ms Robison said that choices had to be made in the Budget about what is “proportionate” as she defended her decision not to expand the support further. But while welcoming the rates relief for a majority of hospitality firms, the Federation of Small Businesses policy chair Andrew McRae said: “The refusal to extend the same rates relief to our small retailers and leisure providers is a bitter pill to swallow. “The pressures they are facing are exactly the same as those in England and Wales, where relief has continued to be available since July 2022 – the last time such relief was offered in Scotland. “As a result, many retailers will face yet more difficult decisions in the months ahead as they look to protect the future of their businesses and employees.” Speaking to journalists after the Budget, Ms Robison said: “Whatever we did on business rates relief had to be sustainable because we ain’t going to get any consequentials for it next year. “So, whatever we did is probably going to be something the public purse will have to support on an ongoing basis.” And SNP sources claimed that the “no cap, no freeze” policy plus a £1billion boost for local government funding had reduced the impact of planned tax hikes. A senior Scottish Government source said: “We have turned double digits into single digit. “I don’t think double digit council tax rises are needed or reasonable.” Council leaders will meet today to discuss the budget, with Cosla saying they would “spend the coming days analysing the implications for local authorities and the communities we serve.” Experts said last night that the massive potential increases to council tax would “wipe out” any benefits from the income tax handouts from ministers. Ms Robison announced a 3.5 per cent increase in the thresholds for the Basic and Intermediate rate - but this only sees £5 to £15 more in people’s pay packets next year. KEY PLEDGES FROM THE SCOTTISH BUDGET By Lewis McKenzie HEALTH : A “record” £21billion for health and social care, with a promise to end waits of over 12 months for a new outpatient appointment, inpatient treatment or day case treatment by March 2026. COUNCILS : An increase in local government funding of £1billion, while there is no freeze or cap on council tax, paving the way for rises. JUSTICE : Almost £4.2billion funding for the justice system, including £1.62billion for policing, with £3million towards tackling retail crime such as shoplifting. BENEFITS : A promise of funding to mitigate the two-child benefits cap in Scotland, with the aim to do this by April 2026. TAX : No changes to income tax bands, with rates frozen until 2026. The basic and intermediate rate thresholds will increase by 3.5 per cent. HOUSING : Investment of £768million into affordable homes, with funding of £4million aimed at tackling homelessness and prevention pilots. CLIMATE : Funding of £4.9billion towards tackling the climate and nature emergencies BUSINESS : Non-domestic rates relief of 40 per cent for the majority of hospitality firms in Scotland, while the Small Business Bonus Scheme is protected. LBTT (STAMP DUTY) : Commitment to maintain residential rates and bands at their current levels for LBTT. CULTURE : Increase to culture budget by £34million next year, with non-domestic rates support for music venues. TRANSPORT : Investment of £1billion aimed at improving road safety, including continuing to dual the A9, as well as £1.1billion to maintain and renew the country’s rail infrastructure. That is the equivalent to around 1p a day - far less than any council tax hike. Bruce Cartwright, chief executive of ICAS, said the income tax changes offered a “glimmer of hope”. But he added: “But to put this increase into context, it isn’t as much as you would expect – for example, someone earning £25,000 a year will only be £5 better off. “And if they see their council tax bill go up by more than that, this small gain will be completely wiped out.” Scottish Tory finance spokesman Craig Hoy blasted the announcement. He said: “Shona Robison’s income tax plans in reality are a con. “Scots won’t be fooled when they know they will still be facing higher bills under the SNP.” Ms Robison also came under fire for her pledge to “effectively scrap” the two-child cap - but only by 2026. Ministers say they need they can only do so after the UK Government’s Department for Work and Pensions provide the data needed for the policy to be brought in. And they claim it could even need legislation to be passed in Westminster . COMMENTARY By ROSS MARSHALL, Tax Partner at PwC Scotland This budget promised record funding for the NHS and local government; more affordable housing; and claimed that 60 per cent of Scots will be better off compared with those south of the Border. The big question is whether ordinary Scots will feel any better off, and if so, when. In welcome relief for taxpayers, the Finance Secretary froze income tax for the remainder of the Parliament. The announcement of a 3.5% increase in the Basic and Intermediate income tax rates will be welcomed by many, although workers in the Higher, Advanced and Top rate tax brackets will see no changes - and no increase in their monthly take home pay. The young and the elderly were specifically singled out. The two-child benefit cap looks set to go from 2026 onwards, subject to joint working with the Department for Work and Pensions. Many families will welcome the new funding being made available to provide free school meals to P6 and P7 pupils from lower-income households, as well as a proposed pilot scheme for free breakfast clubs across Scotland’s primary schools. In a departure from the rest of the UK, the universal winter heating payment will be restored to every pensioner household. For business operators liable to pay Non-Domestic Rates, the Basic Property Rate on properties (those with a rateable value up to £51,000) is frozen at 49.8p and hospitality owners will welcome the 40% relief for properties which are liable for the Basic rate (capped at £110,000 per business). However, there may be some raised eyebrows at the failure to mirror the UK Government’s approach to rates relief for retail and leisure businesses. And while first-time buyers, among others, will be relieved to hear no further increases to LBTT, landlords or property owners with more than one property will swiftly be impacted by an increase in the Additional Dwelling Supplement to 8% - on top of the standard rates of LBTT already due. The cost of the policy is also estimated to be as much as £250million - but no money has been put towards the plans this year other than a few million for developing the IT software needed to deliver the benefit. The policy has been a thorn in the side of Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar who promised to lobby the Prime Minister , Sir Keir Starmer , over its scrapping. Mr Sarwar backs scrapping the cap himself, but admitted the UK Labour government would not do so after winning the election. But Paul O’Kane, Scottish Labour’s social security spokesman, blasted the move as being without substance. WHAT IS THE BUDGET? Put simply, the Budget is a document published annually by the Scottish Government setting out their plans for taxation and spending over the coming fiscal year - which runs from April 1 to March 30. It is accompanied by the Budget Bill, which sets out those plans in a legal document. MSPs then go on to debate this, with amendments voted upon, before the Bill is passed and becomes law. There will be around £60billion available for spending - mainly funded through annual funding from the UK Government, known as the Scottish block grant, and devolved tax revenues. For this coming year, the UK Government has said it will provide a block grant of £47.7billion - which it says includes an additional £3.4billion as a result of October's UK Budget. This is as a result of the decisions taken by Chancellor Rachel Reeves in the UK Budget in October. At the time, Ms Reeves said the SNP must use the money “wisely”, with First Minister John Swinney having promised his Government will deliver “careful stewardship” of the public finances. He said: “Labour will engage constructively but in reality this is a policy without a penny. “There is no funding allocated to this commitment and no plan within Shona Robison’s budget to deliver it.” John Swinney requires at least two votes to pass the budget - which will be voted on at Stage 1 in the new year . But the Scottish Greens last night said it required major changes before they backed it. The party’s finance spokesman, Ross Greer, said: “The Government has agreed to more modest Green proposals like free ferry travel for young islanders, free bus travel for asylum seekers and higher tax on the purchase of holiday homes, but these measures are not nearly enough to make up for the cuts elsewhere. “Big changes will be needed if they expect the Scottish Greens’ support.” And Scottish Lib Dem leader, Alex Cole-Hamilton, said that the budget’s inclusion of some of his party’s demands did not “guarantee support”. He said: “Let me be clear, this does not guarantee our support. As in all budgets, the devil will be in the detail.” Read more on the Scottish Sun DECEMBER MISERY Scots face blizzards and travel chaos as weather map reveals 75mph storm CHOC OFF Mums fume at Poundland’s ‘rotten’ advent calendar they thought was ‘for dogs’ Joao Sousa, Deputy Director of the Fraser of Allander Institute, added: “This was a Budget with an eye on the election, but storing up risks. “And crucially, what was left unsaid was just as consequential as what Shona Robison mentioned in her speech.”
COLEEN Rooney has wowed I'm A Celebrity fans with her washboard stomach after stripping off for a jungle shower. The WAG, 38, headed straight to the waterfall after getting covered in thousands of critters during the latest Bushtucker Trial. Advertisement 6 Coleen Rooney has stripped off for a jungle shower Credit: ITV 6 The WAG showed off her washboard stomach in a black tankini Credit: ITV 6 Coleen relaxed in a black bikini top and red shorts once clean Credit: ITV The Arcade Of Agony trial was so horrific that Coleen needed help from a medic to get a lodged bug out of her ear with a syringe. The star tried to remain calm as the insect was washed away with a fast shot of saline. Once her ordeal was over, Coleen gathered up a towel and some clean clothes before visiting the waterfall shower. She was then shown washing her hair while wearing a black tankini. Advertisement READ MORE ON COLEEN ROONEY BUG OFF Watch moment I’m A Celeb medics help Coleen after bug gets lodged in her ear JUNGLE JANE I survived wettest I’m A Celeb & now Coleen Rooney’s my pal, says Jane Moore As she tilted her head backwards, the mum-of-four wowed viewers at home with her impressive figure. Once washed and clean, Coleen then sat in camp and chatted to her jungle pals in red shorts and a fresh, black bikini top. Writing on X, one fan said: "#Coleen in the shower and sitting in her bikini top 😍." Another added: "What a woman Coleen Rooney is." Advertisement Most read in I’m A Celebrity 2024 BUG OFF Watch moment I’m A Celeb medics help Coleen after bug gets lodged in her ear Exclusive N-SNUBZ I'm A Celeb's Tulisa left friends 'panicking' after vanishing from hotel Exclusive JUNGLE JANE I survived wettest I’m A Celeb & now Coleen Rooney’s my pal, says Jane Moore FRIEND FALLOUT I'm A Celeb star Tulisa's 'huge row with best pal behind her show snub' And a third penned: "I love Coleen, love her." This is the second time Coleen has wowed I'm A Celeb viewers with her impressive body in the shower since the series begun. Coleen Rooney wows in I'm A Celeb jungle shower - as other stinking campmates refuse to wash In the early days of jungle life, the star was the only famous face in camp willing to wash in the freezing water. The weather in camp had been awful and the other celebrities were refusing to strip off to get clean. Advertisement Coleen's campmate Danny Jones even said: "Since it’s rained I’ve not washed. Don’t fight it, just stink! What do spiders do? "They don’t get up and shower, do they? They just go, ‘I’m gonna go out for the day'." I'm A Celebrity continues tomorrow at 9pm on ITV1/ ITVX 6 Coleen needed a shower after the Arcade Of Agony Bushtucker Trial Credit: ITV 6 A medic had to syringe out a critter that got stuck in her ear Credit: ITV Advertisement 6 Coleen appeared remarkably cool following her bug ordeal Credit: ITV I'm A Celebrity 2024 i'm A Celebrity is back for its 24th series, with a batch of famous faces living in the Aussie jungle. The Sun's Jake Penkethman takes a look at the stars on the show this year.. Coleen Rooney - Arguably the most famous name in the camp, the leading WAG, known for her marriage to Wayne Rooney , has made a grand return to TV as she looks to put the Wagatha Christie scandal behind her. The Sun revealed the mum-of-four had bagged an eye-watering deal worth over £1.5million to be on the show this year making her the highest-paid contestant ever. Tulisa - The popstar and former X Factor judge has made her triumphant TV comeback by signing up to this year's I'm A Celeb after shunning TV shows for many years. Known for being a member of the trio, N-Dubz, Tulisa became a household name back in 2011 when she signed on to replace Cheryl on ITV show The X Factor in a multi-million pound deal. Alan Halsall - The actor, known for playing the long-running role of Tyrone Dobbs on ITV soap opera Coronation Street, was originally signed up to head Down Under last year but an operation threw his scheduled appearance off-course. Now he has become the latest Corrie star to win over both the viewers and his fellow celebrities. Melvin Odoom - The Radio DJ has become a regular face on TV screens after rising to fame with presenting roles on Kiss FM, BBC Radio 1 and 4Music. Melvin has already been for a spin on the Strictly dancefloor and co-hosted The Xtra Factor with Rochelle Humes in 2015 but now he is facing up to his biggest challenge yet - the Aussie jungle . GK Barry - The UK's biggest social media personality, GK, whose real name is Grace Keeling, has transformed her TikTok stardom into a lucrative career. Aside from her popular social media channels, she hosts the weekly podcast, Saving Grace, and regularly appears on ITV talk show, Loose Women. She has even gone on to endorse popular brands such as PrettyLittleThing, KFC and Ann Summers. Dean McCullough - A rising star amongst this year's bunch of celebs , Dean first achieved notability through his radio appearances on Gaydio and BBC Radio 1. He was chosen to join the BBC station permanently in 2021 and has featured prominently ever since. He has enjoyed a crossover to ITV over the past year thanks to his guest slots on Big Brother spin-off show, Late & Live. Oti Mabuse - The pro dancer has signed up to her latest TV show after making her way through the biggest programmes on the box. She originally found fame on Strictly Come Dancing but has since branched out into the world of TV judging with appearances on former BBC show The Greatest Dancer as well as her current role on ITV's Dancing On Ice . Danny Jones - The McFly star was drafted into the programme last minute as a replacement for Tommy Fury. Danny is the second member of McFly to enter the jungle , after Dougie Poynter won the show in 2011. He is also considered a rising star on ITV as he's now one of the mentors on their Saturday night talent show, The Voice , along with bandmate Tom Fletcher. Jane Moore - The Loose Women star and The Sun columnist is braving the creepy crawlies this year. The star is ready for a new challenge - having recently split from her husband . It will be Jane's first foray into reality TV with the telly favourite having always said no to reality shows in the past. Barry McGuigan - Former pro boxer Barry is the latest fighting champ to head Down Under following in the footsteps of Tony Bellew and Amir Khan. It comes after a tough few years for Irish star Barry, who lost his daughter Danika to bowel cancer . He told The Late Late Show in 2021: "She was such an intrinsic part of the family that every day we ache." Maura Higgins - The Irish TV beauty first found fame on Love Island where she found a brief connection with dancer Curtis Pritchard . Since then, she has competed on Dancing On Ice as well as hosting the Irish version of the beauty contest, Glow Up. Since last year, she has been working on building up her career in the US by being the social media correspondent and host of Aftersun to accompany Love Island USA. She even guest hosted an episode of the spin-off, Love Island Games, in place of Maya Jama last year. Rev. Richard Coles - Former BBC radio host the Rev Richard Coles is a late arrival on I’m A Celebrity , and he's ready to spill the beans on his former employer. The former Communards and Strictly star , said the BBC did not know its a**e from its elbow last year. An insider said: "Rev Coles will have a variety of tales to tell from his wild days as a pop star in the Eighties, through to performing on Strictly and his later life as a man of the cloth."NSW Premier Chris Minns has hit out after it was revealed he would be referred to the state’s corruption watchdog over his relationship with a key figure behind the redevelopment of the Rosehill Gardens Racecourse. It was reported on Wednesday a parliamentary committee inquiring into the redevelopment voted to refer the Premier’s relationship with Stephen McMahon, the head of corporate relations at Rosehill Gardens Racecourse’s parent company Australian Turf Club, to the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC). The state government announced in December 2023 its plan to turn the racecourse into a 25,000 home mini-city with a metro station, a public park and new amenities. Mr Minns responded to the ICAC referral plan on Wednesday evening, stating it was a “completely disgraceful” the corruption watchdog was being politicised with “unsubstantiated rumours”. "There is absolutely no evidence or even an attempt to quantify what rule, practice or procedure has been breached," he said. "This is an old-fashioned smear from a group of politicians opposed to changes at Rosehill. "But while opposing a policy may be understandable, unsubstantiated allegations of corruption is a cynical attempt at political point scoring." In announcing the redevelopment proposal last year, Mr Minns claimed the $5 billion project would “re-shape Sydney”. Mr Minns is being accused of a conflict of interest for striking the deal with Mr McMahon, who he has known for more than 20 years, during an informal meet and greet. Minutes from the committee’s deliberations last Friday, which were obtained by 7News, showed opposition and crossbench members voted to refer the Premier to ICAC. “The committee is of the view that the premier should have declared a conflict of interest especially in light of the ICAC ruling on Operation Keppel,” the minutes revealed. Mr Minns was questioned in June about who came to him with the redevelopment idea during a budget estimates hearing. "It would've been — I can't remember his position — but Steve McMahon at the ATC," Mr Minns said at the time. "I have known him for a long time." A report into the proposal will be handed down on Friday. While questions about possible political corruption arose as the state looks into the proposal, many in racing have hit out at the move with racehorse trainer Gai Waterhouse claiming the industry is “incensed” by the plan when testifying to an inquiry in July. She also said members of Australian Turf Club would not agree to sell the track if it was put to them. "The members are who own Rosehill. If they put it to the members now for a vote, it would be overwhelmingly against the sale," Ms Waterhouse said. SkyNews.com.au has contacted the Premier’s office.
Mr Biden told African leaders the resource-rich continent of more than 1.4 billion people had been “left behind for much too long”. “But not anymore,” Mr Biden added. “Africa is the future.” Mr Biden used the third and final day of a visit to Angola – his long-awaited, first trip to sub-Saharan Africa as president – to travel to the coastal city of Lobito and tour an Atlantic port terminal that’s part of the Lobito Corridor railway redevelopment. Mr Biden described it as the largest US investment in a train project outside America. The US and allies are investing heavily in the project that will refurbish nearly 1,200 miles of train lines connecting to the mineral-rich areas of Congo and Zambia in central Africa. The corridor, which likely will take years to complete, gives the US better access to cobalt, copper and other critical minerals in Congo and Zambia that are used in batteries for electric vehicles, electronic devices and clean energy technologies that Mr Biden said would power the future. China is dominant in mining in Congo and Zambia. The US investment has strategic implications for US-China economic competition, which went up a notch this week as they traded blows over access to key materials and technologies. The African leaders who met with Mr Biden on Wednesday said the railway corridor offered their countries a much faster route for minerals and goods – and a convenient outlet to Western markets. “This is a project that is full of hope for our countries and our region,” said Congo President Felix Tshisekedi, whose country has more than 70% of the word’s cobalt. “This is not just a logistical project. It is a driving force for economic and social transformation for millions of our people.” The leaders said the corridor should spur private-sector investment and improve a myriad of related areas like roads, communication networks, agriculture and clean energy technologies. For the African countries, it could create a wave of new jobs for a burgeoning young population. Cargo that once took 45 days to get to the US – usually involving trucks via South Africa – would now take around 45 hours, Mr Biden said. He predicted the project could transform the region from a food importer to exporter. It’s “something that if done right will outlast all of us and keep delivering for our people for generations to come,” he said. The announcement of an additional $600 million took the U.S.’s investment in the Lobito Corridor to 4.0 billion dollars (£3.15 billion).
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Indian organisations are significantly ramping up their cybersecurity investments amid rising digital threats, according to PwC report. Assembly Election Results Live Updates Maharashtra Election Results Jharkhand Election Results Bypoll Election Results 93 % of Indian executives plan to increase their cybersecurity budgets in 2025, with 17% expecting increments of 15% or more, a 1% rise from last year. This underscores the critical importance of cybersecurity, which 61 % of executives identified as their top risk mitigation priority, surpassing digital risks (60%), inflation (48%), and environmental risks (30%). Data breaches remain a pressing concern, with one in three organisations reporting breaches costing over $1 million in the past three years. Additionally, 42% of Indian business leaders are prioritising data protection and remediation as key areas of focus in response to recent cyber incidents. Cloud-related threats emerged as the top risk for 55% of executives, a 3% increase from the previous year. However, half of the security leaders and chief financial officers (CFOs) surveyed admitted they feel least prepared to tackle these risks. 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Discover the stories of your interest Blockchain 5 Stories Cyber-safety 7 Stories Fintech 9 Stories E-comm 9 Stories ML 8 Stories Edtech 6 Stories He added, "By embracing advanced technologies, adhering to foundational cybersecurity principles, and allocating resources effectively, organisations need to stay committed to fortifying defences and safeguarding their future." Regulatory compliance continues to play a pivotal role in shaping cybersecurity strategies. The report found that 74% of CXOs have strengthened their cybersecurity posture in response to evolving regulations. Sundareshwar Krishnamurthy, partner and leader -cybersecurity, PwC India, emphasised, cyber regulations are consistently driving heightened cybersecurity spending, with every executive surveyed acknowledging that regulatory mandates have driven them to bolster their security measures. Generative AI (Gen AI) is proving to be a game-changer in cybersecurity, with 87% of organisations increasing investments in Gen AI for cyber defence strategies. Furthermore, 86% of companies have boosted spending on AI governance , while 80% expressed confidence in their ability to comply with AI regulations. This trend underscores the growing reliance on advanced technologies to tackle increasingly complex cyber threats. Despite the heightened focus on cybersecurity, challenges persist. Only 20% of organisations employ robust methodologies for quantifying cyber risks, which limits their ability to prioritise strategic investments. Sivarama Krishnan noted, "Although a majority of senior leaders acknowledge the importance of quantifying cyber risk to prioritise investments, only one-fifth of organisations are adopting thorough risk quantification methodologies." While 8% of security leaders reported data breaches costing over $20 million, a decrease of 3% from last year, 44% experienced breaches with costs exceeding $500,000 in the past three years. Moreover, 33% of leaders acknowledged that most of their serious data breaches incurred costs of at least $1 million. Assembly Election Results Live Updates Maharashtra Poll Results Highlights 2024 Jharkhand Poll Results Highlights 2024
Biden pledges £472m for rail project to improve access to Africa’s minerals
NEW DELHI: Chief economic advisor (CEA) to the finance ministry V Anantha Nageswaran on Thursday advised India Inc not to seek protective cover of weak currency as it is not a substitute for productivity and investment in research and development. A weak currency can be good for exporters, making their products relatively less expensive for buyers abroad. Nageswaran further said the reliance on weak currency should not be instrumental to boosting exports. Ready to Master Stock Valuation? ET's Workshop is just around the corner!
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Project CHILLD brings its therapeutic services to PeabodyAndrej Jakimovski hit a layup with 8 seconds left, and Colorado upset No. 2 UConn 73-72 in the consolation bracket of the Maui Invitational on Tuesday in Lahaina, Hawaii. Colorado (5-1) rallied from down 11 in the first half to get the win over the two-time defending national champions Huskies. Jakimovski finished with 12 points and 10 rebounds and Julian Hammond III and Elijah Malone each scored 16 for the Buffaloes, who advanced to the fifth-place game in Maui on Wednesday. Down 72-71, Jakimovski drove the right side of the lane and made a scoop shot as he was falling down. UConn called timeout to set up the final play but Hassan Diarra missed a 3-pointer with 2 seconds left. Liam McNeeley led UConn with 20 points, Solo Ball scored 16 and Diarra finished with 11. The Huskies (4-2) lost two straight for the first time since dropping three in a row from Jan. 11-18, 2023. Colorado trailed by eight at halftime and Diarra hit two 3-pointers early in the second half that made it 46-37. The Buffaloes scored the next 11 points to take a 48-46 lead, their first of the game. Hammond bookended that run with a pair of triples. UConn went back in front 55-52 on Tarris Reed Jr.'s driving layup but Malone's bucket with 8:34 left tied it at 59. McNeeley's hook shot gave the Huskies a 63-60 lead before Jakimovski drained a 3-pointer to tie it again with 5:16 left. Ball hit a 3-pointer and a layup to give UConn a five-point lead but Colorado got within 70-69 on two free throws by Malone with 2:04 left. A putback from Jaylin Stewart made it a three-point game with 1:29 remaining. Malone answered with a layup, Javon Ruffin blocked Diarra's shot and Colorado got an offensive rebound with 24 seconds left to set up the winning basket. McNeeley made his first four shots from deep and had 16 points by intermission to lead the Huskies. Colorado had opportunities to make it a close game by halftime but went just 12-for-19 from the foul line and trailed 40-32. UConn attempted only four free throws in the first half and had five players with two or more fouls, including Reed, who had three. --Field Level MediaDallas Brightens the Holiday Season with Kiest Park Festival and Tree Lighting Ceremony
Spears: Environment Canada dangerously optimistic on climate change actionWhite House official: 8 US telecom providers hacked by ChineseCowboys G Zack Martin, CB Trevon Diggs out vs. Commanders
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