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When the United States imposed sanctions on four Pakistani entities - including National Development Complex (NDC) - this week to target the country's long-range missile program, one question remained unanswered: why the US is after Pakistan's ballistic missile program. It was often said that Pakistan's missile and nuclear programs didn't fit into US' larger geostrategic objectives. The other factor for the US opposition to Pakistan's missile and nuclear programs was because of the country's economic, security and political vulnerabilities. The US is thought to have conducted war-games on how to secure Pakistan's nuclear assets in case the South Asian nation slipped into chaos or any rouge elements took over. However, for the first time a senior US official made a stunning claim about Pakistan's long-range missile program. A senior White House official on Thursday said nuclear-armed Pakistan is developing long-range ballistic missile capabilities that eventually could allow it to strike targets well beyond South Asia, making it an "emerging threat" to the United States. Deputy National Security Adviser Jon Finer's surprise revelation underscored how far the once-close ties between Washington and Islamabad have deteriorated since the 2021 US troop withdrawal from Afghanistan. It also raised questions about whether Pakistan has shifted the objectives of nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programs' long intended to counter those of India, with which it has fought three major wars since 1947. Speaking to the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, Finer said Pakistan has pursued "increasingly sophisticated missile technology, from long-range ballistic missile systems to equipment, that would enable the testing of significantly larger rocket motors". If those trends continue, Finer said, "Pakistan will have the capability to strike targets well beyond South Asia, including in the United States". The number of nuclear-armed states with missiles that can reach the US homeland "is very small and they tend to be adversarial", he continued, naming Russia, North Korea and China. "So, candidly, it's hard for us to see Pakistan's actions as anything other than an emerging threat to the United States," Finer said. His speech came a day after Washington announced a new round of sanctions related to Pakistan's ballistic missile development program, including for the first time against the state-run defence agency that oversees the program. There was no immediate official reaction to the latest claims by the US official. However, privately officials strongly dismissed the US concerns as "absurd". One official explained that Pakistan's nuclear and missile programs were only aimed at thwarting India. Pakistan's ballistic missile program, according to the official, was part of the country's overall deterence to ward off any misadventure from neighbouring India. "The claim that our missile program is a threat for the US is simply bizarre," said another official. Pakistan is developing long-range ballistic missile system in order to neutralise the Indian defense shield. As part of the program, Pakistan conducted the first test of Ababeel in January 2017, followed by its second test six years later in October 2023. During these six years, continuous work on this technology has been ongoing at NDC. Ababeel has a range of 2,200km and can carry more than one war heads both nuclear and conventional. Pakistan also successfully tested Shaheen-III which has a range of 2,750km. Experts say none of the long-range missiles has a range beyond India. But to target US or its interests, Pakistan requires a missile that ranges over 10,000km. One official said how on earth Washington has come to this conclusion that first Pakistan manufactures long-range missile and then hit the targets in the US. Another fear of the US, some observers think, is that Pakistan's missile program could pose a threat to its ally Israel. The real target of the US sanctions is to target Pakistan's space program. The US is worried that Pakistan is trying to build a Space Launch Vehicle. The space launch vehicle has duel use. It can be used for satellite launch but at the same time for Inter-Continental Ballistic Missile (ICBM), which can have range from 8000 to 15000km. But officials rubbished such claims, saying Pakistan's space program was meant for peaceful use. Some observers think that the US, under the pretext of Pakistan's missile program, is targeting the Chinese interests. The US has long feared that China is helping Pakistan's missile and nuclear programs, a claim strongly dismissed by both sides. The latest US move is reminiscent of the sanctions imposed on Pakistan after the US withdrawal in 1989 in wake of Soviet troops ouster from Afghanistan. The Pressler Amendment, which was passed in 1985 to keep an eye on Pakistan's nuclear program, was finally invoked by the US President in 1990. Senior Bush refused to certify that Pakistan was not developing nuclear weapons, leading to cutting of all security and other assistance. Officials said such moves by the US would only deepen trust deficit and lend credence to voices who believe that Washington has never been a trustworthy partner of Islamabad. They added that previously Pakistan had shown that such sanctions made little impact and the latest one would also prove to be counterproductive. COMMENTS Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive. For more information, please see our
By MARY CLARE JALONICK and MATT BROWN WASHINGTON (AP) — Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee to lead the Defense Department, said he had a “wonderful conversation” with Maine Sen. Susan Collins on Wednesday as he pushed to win enough votes for confirmation. He said he will not back down after allegations of excessive drinking and sexual misconduct. Related Articles National Politics | Donald Trump will ring the New York Stock Exchange bell. It’ll be a first for him National Politics | The Trump and Biden teams insist they’re working hand in glove on foreign crises National Politics | ‘You don’t know what’s next.’ International students scramble ahead of Trump inauguration National Politics | Trump is threatening to raise tariffs again. Here’s how China plans to fight back National Politics | Trump won’t be able to save the struggling US beef industry Collins said after the hourlong meeting that she questioned Hegseth about the allegations amid reports of drinking and the revelation that he made a settlement payment after being accused of a sexual assault that he denies. She said she had a “good, substantive” discussion with Hegseth and “covered a wide range of topics,” including sexual assault in the military, Ukraine and NATO. But she said she would wait until a hearing, and notably a background check, to make a decision. “I asked virtually every question under the sun,” Collins told reporters as she left her office after the meeting. “I pressed him both on his position on military issues as well as the allegations against him, so I don’t think there was anything that we did not cover.” The meeting with Collins was closely watched as she is seen as more likely than most of her Republican Senate colleagues to vote against some of Trump’s Cabinet picks. She and Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski, a fellow moderate Republican, did not shy from opposing Trump in his first term when they wanted to do so and sometimes supported President Joe Biden’s nominees for the judicial and executive branches. And Hegseth, an infantry combat veteran and former “Fox & Friends” weekend host, is working to gain as many votes as he can as some senators have expressed concerns about his personal history and lack of management experience. “I’m certainly not going to assume anything about where the senator stands,” Hegseth said as he left Collins’ office. “This is a process that we respect and appreciate. And we hope, in time, overall, when we get through that committee and to the floor that we can earn her support.” Hegseth met with Murkowski on Tuesday. He has also been meeting repeatedly with Iowa Sen. Joni Ernst, a military veteran who has said she is a survivor of sexual assault and has spent time in the Senate working on improving how attacks are reported and prosecuted within the ranks. On Monday, Ernst said after a meeting with him that he had committed to selecting a senior official to prioritize those goals. Republicans will have a 53-49 majority next year, meaning Trump cannot lose more than three votes on any of his nominees. It is so far unclear whether Hegseth will have enough support, but Trump has stepped up his pressure on senators in the last week. “Pete is a WINNER, and there is nothing that can be done to change that!!!” Trump posted on his social media platform last week.Aspen Technology stock hits 52-week high at $249.94
After rough start under coach Mike Macdonald, the Seahawks' defense has become a strengthMUNICH (AFP) – Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane hit back at criticism levelled at him, saying he would do his “talking on the pitch” after becoming the fastest to 50 goals in Bundesliga history. Kane scored a second-half hat-trick in a 3-0 home win over Augsburg which sent Bayern Munich eight points clear, bringing up his Bundesliga half-century in 43 games. The England captain beat the previous record set by Manchester City’s Erling Haaland in 2021, then at Borussia Dortmund, who reached his half century in 50 games. Kane’s hat-trick was his seventh in the league since arriving in the summer of 2023. Two of Kane’s three goals came from the spot and he has now scored 25 consecutive penalties for club and country in all competitions since missing against France in the 2022 World Cup quarter-finals. The milestone comes after the 31-year-old was criticised during the international break, with some saying he should step aside for Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins. Kane, who was also criticised for some lethargic performances at Euro 2024, told reporters he was “used to that now”, adding he was “experienced enough to know that comes with being one of the top players, one of the top strikers”. Saying he felt “in the best form of his career”, Kane said “all I can do is do my talking on the pitch, like I did tonight”. He said he was yet to talk to incoming England coach Thomas Tuchel, who also lives in Munich, but said “I’m sure we’ll have a conversation on the experiences I’ve had, the good and bad things, and what we can improve.”
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Beyond Bank Australia leverages Cognizant’s expertise to modernize IT infrastructure and enhance operational resilience. SYDNEY and TEANECK, N.J. , Dec. 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Cognizant (NASDAQ: CTSH) has announced a collaboration with Beyond Bank Australia , one of Australia’s largest customer-owned banks, to help revolutionize the digital banking experience. The collaboration aims to enhance operational resilience, streamline processes and improve customer experience through the implementation of innovative technology solutions. Cognizant’s engagement is expected to uplift Beyond Bank’s End User Compute (EUC) teams, automate patching processes, enable self-service and extend the value of existing licenses. These initiatives aim to create an even more resilient and secure environment for Beyond Bank’s operations. Additionally, this collaboration seeks to modernize the bank’s IT infrastructure, establish a Security Operations Centre (SOC) and strengthen vendor assurance frameworks to help align with the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) standards. Beyond Bank’s digital transformation focuses on several key workstreams, including cloud and API architecture modernization and an enterprise-wide Windows 11 migration. These integrations will be designed to be flexible, scalable and secure technology ecosystems that enable the introduction of new products with enhanced speed to market, further preparing Beyond Bank for future growth. Cognizant will also help develop a comprehensive data and information management strategy for Beyond Bank. Leveraging AI, this strategy aims to optimize structured data from core banking systems and organize unstructured data from knowledge management sources for organization-wide insights, enabling more tailored services for its customers. Leveraging Cognizant’s deep banking expertise, Beyond Bank will introduce new products and services designed to better serve a younger demographic, while simultaneously enhancing the overall service experience for all customers. “Our partnership with Cognizant is pivotal in advancing our digital transformation,” said Stevie-Ann Dovico , Chief Information Officer, Beyond Bank Australia. “Their expertise allows us to modernize our IT infrastructure and enhance security, aligning with our values as a customer-owned bank. Cognizant’s comprehensive approach makes them the ideal partner to help us better serve our customers.” “Beyond Bank is a lighthouse client for us in the customer-owned banking sector,” said Rob Marchiori , Australia Country Manager at Cognizant. “By enhancing their digital capabilities, we will help them provide better services to their customers and support paving the way for a resilient banking model that addresses current and future market demands.” The customer-owned banking sector is navigating increased regulatory burdens, economic pressures, and the need for digital transformation. With increased cost-to-income ratios and net interest margins, banks need to modernize operations and enhance customer engagement through innovative technology. The collaboration between Beyond Bank and Cognizant highlights the importance of strategic partnerships in supporting innovation and maintaining service standards in the evolving financial sector. About Cognizant Cognizant (Nasdaq: CTSH) engineers modern businesses. We help our clients modernize technology, reimagine processes, and transform experiences to stay ahead in our fast-changing world. Together, we’re improving everyday life. See how at www.cognizant.com or @cognizant. About Beyond Bank Australia Beyond Bank is one of Australia’s largest customer-owned banks with branches and offices in New South Wales , South Australia , Western Australia , ACT and Victoria . We partner with more than 6000 community organisations around the nation to create and return value for our customers and communities. Beyond Bank is a B Corp, a business that is certified as meeting high standards of social and environmental impact, ensuring their practices benefit people, communities and our planet. To learn more, visit beyondbank.com.au For more information, contact: globalcommunications@cognizant.com Logo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1794711/Cognizant_Logo_V1.jpg View original content: https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/beyond-bank-and-cognizant-join-forces-to-lead-the-future-of-customer-owned-banking-302328900.html SOURCE Cognizant Technology SolutionsFormer First Minister Alex Salmond has been remembered at a memorial in Edinburgh where he was hailed as a "political genius" . High-profile figures including First Minister John Swinney and former Prime Minister Gordon Brown gathered at the city's St Giles' Cathedral. Salmond, 69, died of a heart attack while attending a conference in North Macedonia on 12 October. The St Andrew's Day service included tributes from political allies and opponents as well as musical performances by Dougie MacLean and The Proclaimers. Salmond was buried after a private funeral service on 29 October in the village of Strichen in Aberdeenshire, where he had lived for many years with his wife, Moira. The memorial event was invitation only, with about 500 people attending.
NoneTORONTO, Dec. 11, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Currency Exchange International, Corp. (“Currency Exchange” or the “Company”) (TSX:CXI) (OTCPK:CURN) today announced that Exchange Bank of Canada (“ ” or “ ”) , a federally chartered Canadian Schedule 1 bank and a 100% wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, has filed a notice of appeal with the Federal Court of Canada in relation to the Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada’s (FINTRAC) notice of administrative monetary penalties of $2.46 million involving the Bank. This administrative action does not assert that EBC has been involved in money laundering or terrorist financing. “EBC takes its compliance, monitoring, and reporting obligations very seriously,” said President and CEO, Randolph Pinna. “We believe that substantial enhancements were implemented in recent years and EBC remains committed to maintaining the highest standards of ethical conduct and regulatory compliance. EBC will continue to ensure our compliance regime keeps pace with evolving standards and industry practices.” EBC is of the opinion that the penalty is not commensurate with the alleged violations. Given that this matter is the subject of an appeal, EBC does not intend to comment further at this time. Currency Exchange International is in the business of providing comprehensive foreign exchange technology and processing services for banks, credit unions, businesses, and consumers in the United States and select clients globally. Primary products and services include the exchange of foreign currencies, wire transfer payments, Global EFTs, and foreign cheque clearing. Wholesale customers are served through its proprietary FX software applications delivered on its web-based interface, www.cxifx.com (“CXIFX”), its related APIs with core banking platforms, and through personal relationship managers. Consumers are served through Group-owned retail branches, agent retail branches, and its e-commerce platform, order.ceifx.com. The Group’s wholly-owned Canadian subsidiary Online FX, Exchange Bank of Canada, based in Toronto, Canada, provides foreign exchange and international payment services in Canada and select international foreign jurisdictions. Customers are served through the use of its proprietary software, (“EBCFX”), related APIs to core banking platforms, and personal relationship managers. For further information please contact: Bill Mitoulas Investor Relations (416) 479-9547 Email: Website:
The billing of London-born former Chelsea boss Hayes against England’s Dutch manager Sarina Wiegman – arguably the best two bosses in the women’s game – had generated more buzz in the build-up than the players on the pitch, despite it being a rare encounter between the two top-ranked sides in the world. Hayes enjoyed her return to familiar shores but felt the US lacked the “killer piece” after they looked the likelier side to make the breakthrough. Elite meeting of the minds 🌟 pic.twitter.com/R4d8EArqTp — U.S. Women's National Soccer Team (@USWNT) November 30, 2024 Asked what was going through her mind during the national anthem, Hayes said: “I was definitely mouthing (it), and Naomi (Girma) and Lynn (Williams) could see that I was struggling with where to be and all that. “I got to the end of the anthems and I thought, ‘that’s so ridiculous. I’m proud to be English and I’m proud of our national anthem, and I’m also really proud to coach America’. “Two things are possible all at once. I don’t want to fuel a nationalist debate around it. The realities are both countries are really dear to me for lots of reasons, and I’m really proud to represent both of them.” The Lionesses did not register a shot on target in the first half but grew into the game in the second. US captain Lindsey Horan had the ball in the net after the break but the flag was up, while Hayes’ side had a penalty award for a handball reversed after a VAR check determined substitute Yazmeen Ryan’s shot hit Alex Greenwood’s chest. Hayes, who left Chelsea after 12 trophy-packed years this summer, said: “I’ve been privileged to coach a lot of top-level games, including here, so there’s a familiarity to being here for me. “It’s not new to me, and because of that there was a whole sense of I’m coming back to a place I know. I have a really healthy perspective, and I want to have a really healthy perspective on my profession. “I give everything I possibly can for a team that I really, really enjoy coaching, and I thrive, not just under pressure, but I like these opportunities, I like being in these situations. They bring out the best in me. “You’ve got two top teams now, Sarina is an amazing coach, I thought it was a good tactical match-up, and I just enjoy coaching a high-level football match, to be honest with you. I don’t think too much about it.” Hayes had travelled to London without her entire Olympic gold medal-winning ‘Triple Espresso’ forward line of Trinity Rodman, Mallory Swanson and Sophia Smith, all nursing niggling injuries. Before the match, the 48-year-old was spotted chatting with Wiegman and her US men’s counterpart, fellow ex-Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino, who was also in attendance. England were also missing a number of key attackers for the friendly including Lauren Hemp, Lauren James and Ella Toone, all ruled out with injury. "This shows where we are at and we need to keep improving. It is November now. This is good but we want to be better again. We have to be better again." 👊 Reaction from the boss ⬇️ — Lionesses (@Lionesses) November 30, 2024 Wiegman brushed aside suggestions from some pundits that her side were content to settle for a draw. She said: “I think we were really defending as a team, very strong. We got momentum in the second half, we did better, and of course both teams went for the win. “So many things happened in this game, also in front of the goal, so I don’t think it was boring. “We wanted to go for the win, but it was such a high-intensity game, you have to deal with a very good opponent, so you can’t just say, ‘Now we’re going to go and score that goal’. “We tried, of course, to do that. We didn’t slow down to keep it 0-0. I think that was just how the game went.”
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