Latest from Arab Banks
Leader Live
3 minutes ago
- Business
- Leader Live
Check your meter before Energy Price Cap changes on Monday
Consumers should submit readings before midnight on June 30 to avoid being overcharged, and to ensure that smart meters are working properly. Accurate readings prevent suppliers from estimating usage and applying previously higher prices to energy used after June 30, as Ofgem resets the cap on what suppliers can charge every three months. The latest change from £1,849 to a lower rate of £1,720 on July 1 represents a 7% drop, with average annual bills falling by around £122. Bad news! Ofgem's energy Price Cap that dictates the rate 2/3 homes in Eng, Scot & Wales pay, is now predicted to rise even more than before. I've knocked up this table showing today's new average predictions (from 3 big firms) for the Cap for someone on supposed 'typical use';… However, this is still £582 more than households were paying before the energy crisis began in autumn 2021. Advice Direct Scotland, a charity which runs the national energy advice service is among charities calling for a 'longer-term solution to the scourge of fuel poverty' with a UK-wide social energy tariff, to support low-income households which would automatically place the most vulnerable people on cheaper deals. It said that anyone unable to submit readings by June 30 should do so as close to the date as possible and advised taking a photo of the meter in case of disputes, and suggested checking for more favourable tariffs. The next price cap update will be announced by Ofgem in August, and many people are still struggling with record levels of debt. More on energy bills Conor Forbes, policy director at Advice Direct Scotland, says: 'Lower gas and electricity prices will come as a relief for households, but bills remain significantly higher than they were before the energy crisis began. 'It's important to submit meter readings before the new price cap comes into force, to prevent being overcharged. 'For extra peace of mind, take a dated photo of the meter. If you have a smart meter, make sure it's working. 'People can also take practical action by examining their bills, finding out how much they are paying, and checking if there are cheaper options available with other suppliers. 'Struggling customers should know they do not have to suffer in silence. Our expert team is on hand for anyone who needs help, no matter their circumstances. 'However, a longer-term solution to the scourge of fuel poverty is a UK-wide social energy tariff, which would automatically put vulnerable people on the cheapest deals.' Household energy debt has reached alarming levels, underscoring just how much pressure both consumers and suppliers are under. Overall arrears remain alarmingly high, with 75% of the total debt having no repayment plan in place. The average debt per customer is £1,200, exacerbating an already pressurised market and making it increasingly difficult for both customers and suppliers to manage rising costs. 'Today's figures from Ofgem show that household energy debt has continued to rise, with an increase of £300m in Q1 of 2025, having now grown for ten consecutive quarters," says Matt Turner-Tait, Senior Manager at specialist Energy & Utilities consultancy, BFY Group. "There have been some well-intended attempts by the government and regulatory bodies to relieve the issue – such as the Warm Home Discount becoming accessible to double the number of households previously, or Ofgem's prepayment meter review prompting suppliers to return £18.6m to customers through compensation and debt write offs. "However, these measures don't provide the much-needed long term relief that customers need. "Since the covid crisis, the UK retains the most expensive electricity bills out of 25 other European countries – which highlights the need for urgent, sustainable action at policy level. Suppliers can provide some relief to customers through early engagement, accessible advice, and smarter tools for managing bills - this will help customers retain some financial stability.'
Forbes
5 minutes ago
- Forbes
Delete Every App That's On This List—‘Risks Are Too Great'
You should never use these apps on your phone. Republished on June 28 with new national security warnings over use of these apps. Tens of millions of Android and iPhone users are being warned they have installed free apps that leave them at serious risk. Those users could now be sending their sensitive data to companies under the control of the Chinese government. Earlier this week, I reported on the list of iPhone and Android apps issued by the Tech Transparency Project (TTP). These are all VPNs — virtual private networks. Apps which are meant to make users safer and more secure but are doing the very opposite. 'Millions of Americans have downloaded apps that secretly route their internet traffic through Chinese companies,' TTP says. It last reported on this threat in April, and now says 'Apple and Google app stores continue to offer private browsing apps that are surreptitiously owned by Chinese companies… six weeks after they were identified.' A raft of warnings now have followed that report, urging users to delete the apps. 'The risks are too great' to keep them on your phone, warns Top10VPNs Simon Migliano. 'In light of these findings, I strongly urge users to avoid Chinese-owned VPNs altogether." For its part, Google says it is "committed to compliance with applicable sanctions and trade compliance laws. When we locate accounts that may violate these laws, our related policies or Terms of Service, we take appropriate action.' While Apple makes similar assurances, and says it enforces App Store rules but does not differentiate its handling of apps by the location of their developers. It does say where VPNs are concerned that data sharing with third parties is prohibited. vpnMentor's Lisa Taylor says this is 'no surprise,' that "China usually uses different methods to gain other countries' citizen's personal information, most of which are often covered behind a legal front.' And that 'free VPNs are perfect cover up to these kind of operations,' often recording user activity even when they say they don't. BeyondTrust's James Maude agrees. 'If you aren't paying for a product, you are the product. These VPN services are a perfect example of the hidden costs of free apps where users seeking more privacy online are potentially unknowingly feeding data to a foreign nation state out of fear their local coffee shop Wi-Fi is spying on them.' While Black Duck's Vijay Dilwale calls TTP's report 'a sobering wake-up call that VPNs, which claim to protect privacy, can pose very serious security risks, especially when their true ownership is hidden. These apps have access to all user traffic, and when handled by Chinese-based entities, the implications are well beyond individual privacy.' TTP reports that all of the VPNs it has identified "are listed as free in the app stores. But during TTP's May spot check, researchers observed that some of the VPNs offered in-app purchases on top of whatever users get with the 'free' app.' This lack of transparency, Taylor told me, 'is one of the main reasons why we do not recommend free VPNs and we are concerned that with all the content restrictions throughout the world, people are flocking to free VPNs.' Migliano says "true internet freedom and privacy depend on transparency and trust. Yet despite being made aware of glaring privacy failures and opaque corporate structures, Google and Apple continue to permit these high-risk apps on their platforms.' There are also some more serious national security concerns that have been raised. The nature of these apps on devices with obscure geographical locations and ownership is a major issue when it comes to those handling sensitive data or making their locations. Cequence Security's Randolph Barr warns 'there's no question Apple and Google can and should do more to mitigate the national security and privacy risks posed by VPN apps with undisclosed foreign ownership, particularly those tied to hostile nation-states.' Which raises a question around an added layer of app store security. 'While they have frameworks in place for data protection and transparency,' Barr told me, 'enforcement is often inconsistent or delayed, especially when developers obscure their true ownership through complex corporate structures. Conducting deeper vetting requires significant legal, technical, and geopolitical effort, something these platforms have been slow to scale.' This leaves a vacuum others may need to fill. Barr suggests the following mitigating actions, and says if they can't be handled at app store level, they must be done by organizations needing to control such risks: Deepwatch's Chad Cragle has issued the same warning. 'When owned by Chinese companies and hidden behind layers of shell companies, it becomes a serious concern. Apple advocates for protecting our privacy, yet these apps are still accessible. Google?' Cragle says 'they often allow nearly any app on their store. It's time for the platforms to take responsibility and set the example. You can't claim to prioritize privacy if you're letting other parties control the playbook. If they don't properly scrutinize these apps, they're not just passively allowing it—they're helping to create the problem. And let's be honest, this isn't just about privacy; it's about national security, too.' Here is the list of apps from TTP's report: Apple App Store: Google Play Store: The Android app vpnify is also in TTP's report, but has now relocated outside China and has contacted TTP to update its information and to be removed from the report.
The Hindu
5 minutes ago
- Sport
- The Hindu
CONCACAF Gold Cup 2025 quarterfinals — Who have qualified, knockouts schedule, live streaming info
The group stages of the 2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup are done and dusted, with only eight teams remaining in the race for the title. Fifteen teams from CONCACAF and Saudi Arabia from AFC – joined on invitation – were divided into four groups of as many teams each. The top two teams from each group qualified for the quarterfinals. The Gold Cup is taking place across 13 venues in the United States of America, which is also hosting the FIFA Club World Cup. Mexico, the most successful team in the tournament with nine titles, is still on the hunt for a 10th, and will face the Saudis in a bid for the semifinal spot. Which teams have qualified for CONCACAF Gold Cup quarterfinals? United States Costa Rica Guatemala Canada Mexico Saudi Arabia Panama Honduras CONCACAF Gold Cup quarterfinal schedule: Date Match Kick-Off time (local time) Kick-Off (in IST) Venue June 28 Panama vs Honduras 7:15 pm 4:45 am (June 29) State Farm Stadium, Glendale June 28 Mexico vs Saudi Arabia 10:15 pm 7:45 am (June 29) State Farm Stadium, Glendale June 29 Canada vs Guatemala 4:00 pm 1:30 am (June 30) U.S. Bank Stadium, Minneapolis June 29 United States vs Costa Rica 7:00 pm 4:30 am (June 30) U.S. Bank Stadium, Minneapolis How to watch CONCACAF Gold Cup 2025 quarterfinals? All matches of CONCACAF Gold Cup 2025 will be live streamed on Fubo and Fox Sports Network will broadcast the matches in the United States.
Int'l Business Times
5 minutes ago
- Climate
- Int'l Business Times
Europe Bakes In Summer's First Heatwave As Continent Warms
Southern Europeans braced Saturday for the first heatwave of the northern hemisphere summer, as climate change pushes thermometers on the world's fastest-warming continent increasingly into the red. Temperatures are set to rise to 37 degrees Celsius (99 Fahrenheit) in Rome, driving the Eternal City's many tourists and Catholic pilgrims to the Vatican alike towards the Italian capital's 2,500 public fountains for refreshment. With residents of the southern French port city of Marseille expected to have to cope with temperatures flirting with 40C (104F), authorities in the country's second-largest city ordered public swimming pools to be made free of charge to help residents beat the Mediterranean heat. Two-thirds of Portugal will be on high alert on Sunday for extreme heat and forest fires, with 42C (108F) expected in the capital Lisbon, while visitors to -- and protesters against -- Amazon tycoon Jeff Bezos's Friday wedding in Venice likewise sweltered under the summer sun. "I try not to think about it, but I drink a lot of water and never stay still, because that's when you get sunstroke," Sriane Mina, an Italian student, told AFP on Friday in Venice. Scientists have long warned that humanity's burning of fossil fuels is heating up the world with disastrous consequences for the environment, with Europe's ever-hotter and increasingly common blistering summer heatwaves a direct result of that warming. The heatwave is forecast to become even more intense on Sunday. Spain, which has in past years seen a series of deadly summer blazes ravaging the Iberian peninsula, is expecting peak temperatures in excess of 40C (104F) across most of the country. According to the Spanish meteorological agency, temperatures may even register 42C (108F) in some areas, including the Guadalquivir, Guadiana, and Tagus regions. The past three years have been the hottest in Spain's history. With peaks of 39C (102F) expected in Naples and Palermo, Sicily has ordered a ban on outdoor work in the hottest hours of the day, as has the Liguria region in northern Italy. The country's trade unions are campaigning to extend the measure to other parts of the country. In Nice, on the French Riviera, nearly 250 portable fans have been distributed to schools over the past two weeks to help cope with the heat. The heatwave comes hot on the heels of a series of tumbling records for extreme heat, including Europe's hottest March ever, according to the EU's Copernicus climate monitor. As a result of the planet's warming, extreme weather events including hurricanes, droughts, floods and heatwaves like this weekend's have become more frequent and intense, scientists warn. By some estimates 2024, the hottest year in recorded history so far, saw worldwide disasters that cost more than $300 billion. Scientists warn that humanity's burning of fossil fuels is causing ever-hotter summers AFP Tourists by the Bridge of Sighs in Venice walking in the heat AFP
Business Standard
5 minutes ago
- Business
- Business Standard
Interarch Building Solutions bags Rs 77-cr order from Amara Raja Infra
Interarch Building Solutions announced that it has secured an order worth Rs 77 crore from Amara Raja Infra. The formal purchase order is currently awaited. According to an exchange filing, the contract involves the design, engineering, manufacturing, supply, and erection of a pre-engineered steel building system. The firm also noted that it expects to receive a 10% advance payment along with the order. Interarch clarified that neither the promoter, promoter group, nor any group companies have any financial or other interest in the awarding entity. The official announcement was made on 27 June 2025, after market hours. Interarch Building Products is a leading provider of pre-engineered steel building solutions in India. The company possesses integrated capabilities encompassing design and engineering, manufacturing, and on-site project management for the installation and erection of pre-engineered steel structures. The companys standalone net profit surged 30.2% to Rs 38.68 crore on a 20.2% increase in net sales to Rs 385.47 crore in Q4 FY25 compared to Q4 FY24. The scrip rose 1.50% to settle at Rs 2,131.35 on Friday, 27 June 2025.
