Latest news with #IFS
IOL News
5 hours ago
- IOL News
eThekwini Municipality corruption trial: Defence questions Integrity Forensic Solutions' appointment
Sandile Ngcobo an accused in a corruption trial is challenging the appointment of forensic company. He is also accused in another matter with Zandile Gumede a former mayor of eThekwini. Image: Doctor Ngcobo / Independent Media In another corruption case involving former eThekwini Municipality officials, the defence has questioned the appointment of forensic company Integrity Forensic Solutions (IFS) and has filed an application to compel the state to provide a report stating that the company was irregularly appointed by the city. When IFS was appointed by the eThekwini City Integrity and Investigations Unit (CIIU) to probe into the irregularities of the Durban Solid Waste (DSW) tender of R320 million, it came across more than R3 million in tender irregularities. As a result, Nhlakanipho Ziphozinhle Mthembu, Inhlanzi Catering and Events (PTY) LTD, Sandile Ngcobo, Vuyiswa Ngcobo, and Mndeni Mkhize are charged with fraud, corruption, conspiracy to commit corruption, and money laundering. The State is alleging that Mthembu, Inhlanzi Catering, which is represented by Mthembu, Ngcobo, and Mkhize, unlawfully misrepresented to the municipality that lawful procurement processes in line with the Supply Chain Management (SCM) were followed by Sandile and Mkhize in awarding Mthembu a tender. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad Loading The State further alleges that the accused failed to declare a conflict of interest. Moreover, the State alleges that emergencies were created by Sandile and Mkhize, which allowed for the dispensing of the formal procurement processes. It also alleges that Mthembu and Inhlanzi catering were awarded the tender due to a cover quoting by Mkhize and was approved by Sandile. Sandile is a former deputy head of SCM and former Bid Adjudication Committee (BAC) in the municipality. He is also charged in the DSW matter with the former mayor of eThekwini, Zandile Gumede. Additionally, the State alleges that between June 2018 and March 2019, Mthembu paid R100,000 in bribes or gratification to the married couple, Sandile and Vuyiswa, to act dishonestly in their positions. Vuyiswa, at the time, was the principal clerk in the municipality. According to the State, the money was used in the purchase of a property in Ballito for Sandile and Vuyiswa. All the accused are currently on trial at the Durban Commercial Crimes Court. Their trial was supposed to commence earlier this week on Monday and finish on Friday; however, counsel for Sandile and Vuyiswa, advocate Jimmy Howse SC, told the court that new evidence was dramatically exposed in the Gumede trial. He told the court that they approached the State to ask them to provide information about a report that stated that the appointment of IFS was unlawful. Howse told the court that the eThekwini municipality probed to the appointment of IFS. The company that probed was Masama Consulting, and it issued a report afterwards. 'The conclusions in that Masama report are that the appointment of IFS was irregular. Masama's report suggests further that the appointment of IFS was unauthorized and fraudulent,' Howse told the court. He said they were bringing an application to compel the State to give them this report and other annexures. Howse explained that the State had told them to obtain the Masama report and all annexures, including invoices to the municipality. 'Last month in the Gumede case, my client posed a similar application. Where the state said documents are not relevant, we must ask the municipality. We brought a compelling application. Madam Balton (Judge Sharmaine Balton) issued an order compelling the State to provide those documents,' Howse said. Advocate Simphiwe Mlotshwa, counsel for Mthembu, Inhlanzi Catering, and Mkhize, said they would also be joining the application. State prosecutor advocate Bongi Mbambo said the investigation was done by IFS and the Hawks. She added that the State did not have the Masama report; Defence must approach the municipality. She said Masama did not form part of the docket. 'We are willing to consider the application that they want to serve us,' she said. The matter was postponed to Friday.
Tahawul Tech
15 hours ago
- Business
- Tahawul Tech
AI Appreciation Day 2025 celebrates a smarter, safer, and more ethical future
Tech leaders across industries explore how AI can drive innovation while staying anchored in inclusivity, transparency, and trust AI Appreciation Day on 16 July offers a moment to acknowledge the extraordinary advancements artificial intelligence has brought to our world—streamlining operations, enhancing security, improving decision-making, and opening up new frontiers of creativity. However, this celebration also comes with a shared responsibility: ensuring that innovation is pursued in an ethical and inclusive manner. Across the Middle East and beyond, industry leaders are reimagining how AI is built and deployed. From advocating for diverse datasets and explainable algorithms to enforcing data security and environmental accountability, the consensus is clear: AI must serve people, protect privacy, and foster trust. In this exclusive feature, Tahawultech curates expert perspectives on how AI leaders are aligning innovation with purpose, building a future where intelligent systems are not only powerful but principled. spoke to leading industry experts who agree that AI must be driven by trust, ethics, and inclusivity. Innovation is meaningful only when paired with transparency, diverse data, human oversight, and accountability. The future of AI lies in building systems that are not just smart but also fair, secure, and human-centric. Industry voices: Rahul Misra, SVP & Managing Director – Middle East and Africa, IFS To lead in AI, we must align profit with principles. At IFS, we believe innovation is most powerful when human-centred, intentional, and deployed responsibly. augments human creativity and judgement ethically. AI leaders must design with transparency, ensure decisions are explainable, and embed inclusivity from data to deployment. This is not only ethical—it is smart business. Trust drives adoption, inclusion fuels relevance, and ethics ensure resilience. The future belongs to those who scale innovation and responsibility as twin engines of progress, not trade-offs. Rob T. Lee, Chief of Research, SANS Institute Businesses are under pressure to adopt AI rapidly. Speed is vital for survival, but it brings risks—many AI tools lack mature security safeguards. Racing ahead without protection is reckless. Organisations must assess AI capabilities swiftly without compromising security—much like F1 racing combines speed with safety. Executives should establish clear security guidelines, such as the SANS AI Security Controls, to enable safe adoption. Speed without safety undermines trust and leads to failure. Speed + Safety = Success; anything less leads to collapse. Joanna Mainguy, Sustainability Accelerator Director, AVEVA AVEVA, a recognised industrial AI leader for over 20 years, actively develops standards and solutions to reduce the environmental footprint of digital technologies. We collaborate with the Green Software Foundation to lower emissions and with ITU's Green Digital Action to shape AI software measurement standards. Our focus is on reducing energy usage and enhancing environmental impact. AI is vital in decarbonisation, integrating renewables, and supporting complex data flows within green energy systems. Ezzeldin Hussein, Regional Senior Director, Solution Engineering – META, SentinelOne AI must be developed with inclusivity, transparency, and ethics embedded throughout. Fair AI starts with diverse data and representative teams to avoid bias. Transparent and explainable systems build trust with users and regulators, particularly in critical applications. Ethical innovation creates long-term value, protects reputation, and ensures compliance. Internally, all staff—from executives to engineers—must understand AI's societal impact and be empowered to speak up. External partnerships further align AI with shared social values. The future of AI depends not just on what is possible, but on what is right. Ramprakash Ramamoorthy, Director of AI Research, ManageEngine Integrating innovation and profit with ethics, transparency, and inclusivity is essential. AI leaders can achieve this by embedding ethical principles and human oversight across all development stages. While automation boosts efficiency, it cannot replace human creativity or fairness. Responsible AI requires clear guidelines, continuous upskilling, and viewing employees as partners in change. Balancing automation with ethics and transparency supports human potential and fosters trust and resilience. Mohit Bector, Commercial Head – UAE & GCC, ASUS Business True progress demands innovation rooted in ethics. Transparency in AI decision-making is essential to earn user trust. People will not trust what they do not understand. Diverse teams help identify design flaws and mitigate bias. Ethics must be built into every step of the AI lifecycle, with clear rules, regular reviews, and accountability. When AI supports rather than controls, it fosters trust—translating into long-term profitability. Subho Halder, Co-founder & CEO, Appknox Mobile remains at the forefront of digital business—and among the most targeted. In the Middle East, 53% of organisations are most concerned about attacks on connected devices, including mobiles. At Appknox, we use AI to test, secure, and monitor mobile apps at scale, helping businesses stay ahead of threats while meeting compliance. From real-time checks to automated threat detection, AI enables security at the pace of innovation. On AI Appreciation Day, we recognise how automation enhances both protection and competitive edge. Salah Suleiman, Managing Director – South Gulf, Trend Micro AI is now indispensable for tackling modern cyber threats—analysing billions of signals, detecting patterns, and enabling proactive defence. At Trend Micro, AI powers the Trend Vision One™ platform, offering real-time threat intelligence and cross-layer protection. On AI Appreciation Day, we celebrate how AI has shifted cybersecurity from reactive to proactive, matching the speed and complexity of today's digital landscape. Abdullah Alsaeed, Co-founder & Chief Strategy Officer, Mozn AI Appreciation Day prompts us to reflect on the responsibility behind technological progress. At Mozn, we believe AI must be built with purpose, transparency, and an understanding of local and regional contexts. As we embrace AI's transformative power, we remain committed to solutions that empower industries, honour cultural values, and uphold the highest ethical standards. Dinesh Varadhrajan, Chief Product Officer, Kissflow AI has democratised access to knowledge and creativity—but now we must democratise AI development itself. Too often, digital solution creation is limited to a select few, leaving business teams sidelined and innovation stuck in 'AI pilot purgatory.' At Kissflow, we believe combining AI with low-code/no-code platforms unlocks this potential for everyone. The future belongs to those who empower people to build—not just consume—AI-driven solutions. Levent Ergin, Chief Strategist for Climate, Sustainability and AI, Global Head of ESG Strategic Alliance Partnerships, Informatica AI's potential is increasingly evident in the MENA region, addressing urgent challenges like climate change and economic diversification. Agentic AI enhances decision-making in energy, finance, and infrastructure, while Generative AI empowers youth and businesses to innovate without deep technical expertise. With its unique position, the MENA region can lead in using AI to drive inclusive innovation, sustainability, and global impact. Matt Cloke, Chief Technology Officer, Endava AI should not be defined by one 'killer app'—its true power lies in incremental improvements. Like Valentine's Day celebrates everyday gestures, AI's value comes from enhancing daily operations across fraud detection, billing, reporting, and customer experiences. Leaders should embed AI into everyday workflows, focusing on consistency and integration rather than hype. On AI Appreciation Day, let's celebrate AI as a continual enabler of smarter, faster businesses. Assim Khedr, Engineering & Training Manager – Middle East, Axis Communications AI Appreciation Day is a moment to reflect on how AI is reshaping security, safety, and performance. Axis research shows 34% of customers believe AI and GenAI will significantly influence future business. Responsible and ethical use is key to realising AI's benefits. AI should augment human intelligence—driving smarter, safer, and more sustainable operations. Inna Weiner, AVP Product, AppsFlyer GenAI demos may be flashy, but lasting impact comes from strong use cases and execution. The future is not about automating for appearances but making impactful, data-driven decisions. Agents learn by doing—requiring iteration, speed, and resilience. This growth mindset era rewards those willing to build fast, learn quickly, and evolve continuously. Ziad Nasr, General Manager – Middle East, Acronis AI is reshaping real-time decision-making and data security. At Acronis, we use AI for threat analysis, incident prioritisation, and agentic systems that enhance cyber resilience. But with power comes responsibility—ethical, transparent use is essential. Cybersecurity leaders must ensure AI balances innovation with core values to protect what matters most. Johnny Karam, Managing Director & VP, International Emerging Region, Cohesity The UAE is a global leader in AI-driven transformation, appointing Chief AI Officers and launching the world's first AI university. At Cohesity, we echo this vision—AI must be secure, resilient, and trusted. With a strong focus on digital sovereignty, AI can boost government efficiency and national security. But this potential is only realised through responsible deployment, grounded in governance, transparency, and trust. Naji Atallah, Head of Construction & Manufacturing – EMEA Emerging, Autodesk The UAE has set a global benchmark for ethical and inclusive AI, supported by its AI Strategy 2031 and dedicated university. At Autodesk, we align with this vision, using AI to promote sustainable design and construction. Our Trusted AI framework ensures transparency, security, and ethical use, while reducing environmental impact. On AI Appreciation Day, we celebrate AI's role in shaping a more resilient and equitable future. Philippe Deblois, VP, Global Solutions Engineering, Dynatrace AI reduces complexity and drives innovation, but its real value lies in building long-term business resilience. Many organisations fail due to a gap between ambition and execution. The most successful treat AI as a strategic enabler—grounded in trusted data, clear goals, and a sharp focus on measurable outcomes. Agentic AI holds vast potential, but its success depends on starting with purpose and transparency. Nader Paslar, General Manager at CODE81 On AI Appreciation Day, we at CODE81 recognize the vital role of Machine Learning (ML) in elevating safety and trust within finance. ML drives real-time fraud detection and empowers financial institutions to counter threats swiftly and accurately. By decoding complex transactional patterns, ML minimizes risk and fortifies customer confidence. Serving from within Ghobash Group's technology cluster, we're dedicated to delivering secure, AI-driven solutions through automation and low-code innovation. Today, we're proud to showcase how ML is transforming finance across our region, making it smarter, safer, and more resilient for all.
Indian Express
16 hours ago
- General
- Indian Express
Video of rescued leopard swimming across river after being released into the wild wins hearts: ‘A scene out of the Jungle Book'
A breathtaking drone footage showing a leopard swiftly swimming across a river after being released into the wild post a rescue is winning hearts on social media. Shared by Paarveen Kaswan, an Indian Forest Service (IFS) officer, the viral video shows the big cat making smooth strokes through the water and heading towards dry land. 'When this #leopard swimming through #river was documented. Through a monitoring drone. Micro drones are used for keeping a watch and doing anti poaching duties. This leopard was released after rescue, hence being monitored and guided,' Kaswan wrote on X. Watch here: When this #leopard swimming through #river was documented. Through a monitoring drone. Micro drones are used for keeping a watch and doing anti poaching duties. This leopard was released after rescue, hence being monitored and guided. — Parveen Kaswan, IFS (@ParveenKaswan) July 12, 2025 The video quickly drew attention, with several users being left mesmerised. 'These are the true treasures of the world – rivers, mountains, plants and animals. So good to see. Hoping that forests and wildlife will be protected further in India,' a user wrote. 'Lovely video. Such a magnificent animal and the lovely clear river waters,' another user commented. 'Wonderful…leopard looks healthy and agile. Congratulations! And the river, how clean is that…which river is this?' a third user reacted. 'This is stunning just like a scene out of a jungle book. Beautifull,' a fourth user said. Last month, a harrowing video of a leopard attacking a labourer in Uttar Pradesh stunned the Internet. The incident happened at a brick kiln in the Lakhimpuri Kheri district, Uttar Pradesh, when the leopard suddenly charged at him from nearby fields. However, the man fought back and tackled the big cat.
The Print
a day ago
- The Print
MM Hills tiger deaths: DCF Chakrapani suspended over unpaid dues to anti-poaching watchers
The reason for suspending Chakrapani this time was his 'failure in the basic duty of ensuring timely payment of wages' to contractual employees hired as anti-poaching watchers to patrol the sanctuary. The report investigated how the tiger watchers and rangers, who were not directly employed by the forest department, had not received their salaries for March, April, and May this year. This was despite the state authority transferring the funds in April. This is the second time IFS officer Chakrapani has been suspended, the first being in 2023 when he was suspended as DCF of the Bengaluru Urban division over illegal tree felling. New Delhi: Three weeks after a tigress and her four cubs died of poisoning at the Male Mahadeshwara Hills Wildlife Sanctuary in Karnataka, the state government has ordered the suspension of Y Chakrapani, deputy conservator of forests (DCF), MM Hills Wildlife Division. The killing of the five tigers was the biggest single-day mortality recorded in India since the beginning of Project Tiger. A preliminary report by a high-level committee headed by the additional principal chief conservator of forests (APCCF) of Karnataka and comprising top forest officials was released Monday, which ascertained the cause of death as poisoning. The tigers were found near a cow carcass, which officials said could have been poisoned to kill the big cats. The exact details of the toxic compound consumed will be shared after results from the Forensic Science Laboratory arrive. The preliminary report said the committee's investigations had also found that the anti-poaching watchers had staged a protest on 23 June, three days before the tiger bodies were discovered in the Hoogyam range of the wildlife sanctuary. 'They (staffers) all have been taking loans from local sources at high interest rates for the survival of their families. But they also said they have been doing their duty sincerely and patrolling the areas assigned to them as per the instruction of their seniors,' read the preliminary report. History of the case On 26 June, five tigers were found dead inside the Male Mahadeshwara Hills Wildlife Sanctuary in the Hoogyam range. The tigers were found less than 1 km away from an anti-poaching camp inside the sanctuary, raising alarms in the Karnataka government regarding negligence by forest officials and lack of monitoring by anti-poaching watchers. Within two days, the forest department arrested three people suspected of poisoning the tigers. The accused were from a nearby village and are suspected to have poisoned the tigers in an act of revenge after one of their cattle was killed by a big cat. However, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said a high-level inquiry committee will be formed to investigate the incident. "I am deeply pained by the tragic death of five tigers — a mother and her cubs — in M.M. Hills Sanctuary, Chamarajanagar. Karnataka takes immense pride in its wildlife heritage, and such a loss is heartbreaking. A high-level committee has been formed to investigate the incident.… — CM of Karnataka (@CMofKarnataka) June 28, 2025 Soon after the tigers were found, Karnataka Environment Minister Eshwar Khandre also suspended the range forest officer (RFO) and assistant conservator of forests (ACF) for dereliction of duty. Now, Y Chakrapani is the third official to be suspended in the case. (Edited by Gitanjali Das) Also Read: Bandhavgarh elephant deaths: IVRI report indicates presence of fungal neurotoxin, no pesticides
ITV News
2 days ago
- Business
- ITV News
Is the treasury hinting at tax rise wiggle room?
Darren Jones, chief secretary to the Treasury, is a fastidious minister who chooses his words carefully. So I was struck by what he said Monday morning about the pledges on tax his party made in its 2024 election manifesto. He said the promise meant: 'Not increasing the headline rate of income tax or employee national insurance and not to increase the headline rate of VAT. That was a very clear promise coming into the election.' The thing is that's not what the manifesto says. These are its words: 'Labour will not increase taxes on working people, which is why we will not increase National Insurance, the basic, higher, or additional rates of Income Tax, or VAT.' As you can read, the only reference to 'rates' is in respect of income tax. In relation to national insurance (NI) and VAT, the manifesto just says those taxes won't be increased. Now I won't rehearse again whether Labour breached its manifesto pledge by pushing up employers' NI (though the just-exited head of the IFS, Paul Johnson, says in the latest Rest is Money podcast that the hike in employers' NI was a blatant manifesto breach). I am interested in Jones talking about not increasing the 'headline rate of VAT'. That is because he may have inadvertently opened a window on Treasury thinking about how to raise perhaps £20bn or so in the autumn budget that may be needed to fill a hole in the public finances, to restore Reeves's fiscal rules headroom. The question is what Jones means by the 'headline rate'. Does he just mean the 20% most of us are conscious of because it applies to so many items, or is he also referring to the 0% on food and the 5% on energy (there are also other lesser categories where the rates are 5% or nil)? The point is that the chancellor could cut the main rate of VAT to, say 18%, and raise that kind of money by eliminating the vast categories of our spending that incur nil or 5% VAT. To be clear, the politics for Starmer and Reeves of putting up the price of food and energy when living standards remain squeezed would be difficult. It would seem to contradict Labour's manifesto promise not to put up costs for 'working people'. But it is striking that Jones' words were about the headline rate (singular) of VAT, rather than ruling out an increase in the scope and burden. He also made the distinction that Labour's working people's pledge in the manifesto relates to 'payslips', not indirect taxes like VAT. All of which means such a VAT rise is in play, unless and until Jones, Reeves, or Starmer tell us otherwise.
