Montreal - The Canadian Securities Administrators (CSA) is warning the public to be vigilant for unsolicited communications that come from scammers posing as CSA staff or staff of CSA members.

TORONTO – The Canadian Securities Administrators (CSA), the Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization (CIRO), and the Ombudsman for Banking Services and Investments (OBSI) remind investors that they all offer investors services related to claims or complaints free of charge.

Africa’s population is the youngest of any region, with more than 400 million young people aged 15 to 35 out of a total of 1.5 billion. But even though rising numbers of this cohort—a “youth bulge”—enter the labor market every year, African economies a... Source: IFPRI Malawi: Malawi Strategy Support Program

Date: Tuesday December 3 Time: 09:00 AM-01:00 PM Location: Steigenberger Tahrir, Diamond Hall This event is organized in collaboration between Sawiris Foundation for Social Development (SFSD), the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), a... Source: IFPRI Egypt Country Office

The objective of this analysis is to gain more insight into the coping behavior of households in Mali when facing covariate shocks and stressors of different kinds Source: IFPRI Africa Regional Office (AFR)

The objective of this analysis is to gain more insight into the coping behavior of households in Mali when facing covariate shocks and stressors of different kinds Source: IFPRI Africa Regional Office (AFR)

IFPRI is pleased to participate in the 29th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP29) being held in Baku, Azerbaijan from November 11 to November 22, 2024. COP29 is a pivotal opportunity to accelerate action to tackle the climate crisis. With... Source: IFPRI Malawi: Malawi Strategy Support Program

We are thrilled to announce that we have decided to make tickets to this year’s

When the Fire Nation begins to believe that the country will perish if Zuko stays in power, Avatar Aang and his friends must protect the ruler.

"Children are disappearing in the Fire Nation capitol! Avatar Aang and his friends are doing everything in their power to save them--but will it be enough?! What's worse, when Azula--the mad sister of Fire Lord Zuko--appears on the scene, Zuko locks down the capitol to catch her, igniting fear and riots in the streets! Will Zuko follow in his evil father's footsteps in order to save those he holds dear?!"--Amazon.com.

"It's been a year since the horrific events at Freddy Fazbear's Pizza, and Charlie is just trying to move on. Even with the excitement of a new school and a fresh start, she's still haunted by nightmares of a masked murderer and four gruesome animatronic puppets. Charlie thinks her ordeal is over, but when a series of bodies are discovered near her school bearing wounds that are disturbingly familiar she finds herself drawn back into the world of her father's frightening creations. Something twisted is hunting Charlie, and this time if it finds her, it's not letting her go." -- Publisher's description.

"In Taisho-era Japan, kindhearted Tanjiro Kamado makes a living selling charcoal. But his peaceful life is shattered when a demon slaughters his entire family. His little sister Nezuko is the only survivor, but she has been transformed into a demon herself! Tanjiro sets out on a dangerous journey to find a way to return his sister to normal and destroy the demon who ruined his life … After their initial confrontation with Kokushibo, the most powerful of Muzan's demons, Tokito is severely wounded and Genya has been cut in half— but is still alive! Can his regenerative power heal even this fatal wound? Then the Hashira Himejima and Sanemi square off against Kokushibo and unleash all the skill they have against him. Himejima is blind, but if he can see into the Transparent World, he might have a chance. Who will survive this whirlwind of flashing blades?"-- Provided by publisher.

"After centuries of preparation and training, the Demon Slayer Corps has come face-to-face with their nemesis, Muzan Kibutsuji. It is a desperate battle and several Demon Slayers have already been killed. Tanjiro himself has engaged Muzan, and, despite giving it everything he has, is taken out of the fight! Although severely injured and near death, he sees a vision of his ancestor that may hold the key to finally destroying Muzan! Can Tanjiro recover enough strength to fight Muzan to the finish?" -- Provided by publisher

On the very day of his wedding to the beautiful Mercedes, a young merchant sailor named Edmond Dantès is falsely imprisoned for life, laying to waste his plans of marriage and hard-earned fortune. Following several long years in prison he has managed to escape and reinvent himself as the mysterious Count of Monte Cristo. It is the reign of Napoleon Bonaparte and the Count has been plotting his revenge on the three men who had him falsely imprisoned. With a new identity, an incredible education abroad and a vast fortune, he has returned completely unrecognizable to those who had committed their crimes against him.

The Stories of Edgar Allan Poe is a brilliant collection of some of his best-known stories: The Tell Tale Heart (a murder's haunting guilt), The Cask of Amontillado (a story of brilliant revenge), and The Fall of the House of Usher (an ancient house full of very dark secretes). Also included in this collection are The Mask of the Red Death (horrors of 'the Plague'), and the most famous of all his poems: The Raven (a lover's decline into madness). Best read in a dimly-lit room with the curtains drawn, Poe's brilliant works come to life in darkly thrilling ways in this Manga Classic adaptation.

"Bruce Wayne's latest ward, Tim Drake, has all the makings of becoming the greatest Robin yet. He's intelligent, athletic, and levelheaded, and his detective skills rival those of his mentor. However, every Boy Wonder who has come before has endured tragedy, and Tim may be no exception when his parents are marked for death by the sinister Obeah Man. Will the Dark Knight stop the Obeah Man in time, or must Tim face a deadly rite of passage in order to be worthy of inheriting the mantle of Robin?"--Provided by publisher.

Selina Kyle returns to Gotham City as new socialite Holly Vanderhees, but she needs to outsmart rival Batwing to rise to the top of the city's criminal underbelly.

"Starting off with an attack on S.T.A.R. Labs in Gotham City by a giant robot that steals an entire room of the laboratory— Batman is going to have to stop it before it can cause more harm … and with Lex Luthor freshly back in Gotham— he knows where to start his search. Will Batman be able to topple the billionaire before he leaves Gotham?" -- Provided by publisher.

"Rumors of Heine's bloody connection to their father initially causes the princes' trust in their tutor to waver. When the truth of how Heine came to be the royal tutor is fully brought to light, will the darkness of years past yield to a brighter future— together?" -- Description provided by publisher.

"A brilliant general in the service of Venice, Othello is also the new husband of the adoring— and young— Desdemona, whose innocent hero worship has blossomed into love. But can a beautiful girl, so much younger than her husband, truly be faithful? Othello's trusted ensign Iago seems to think not. Can Othello trust him? Can Othello trust anyone? Manga Classics presents Shakespeare's classic story of love, hate, vengeance, and betrayal, in its full, original glory!" -- Description provided by publisher.

"Giant, sprawling future Gotham City is under martial law, protected and regulated by a private security force led by the infamous Peacekeepers. Their mandate is to maintain the safety of the citizens of Gotham, regardless of any Constitutional rights, and to hunt down, incarcerate, or kill all masked vigilantes, villains, and criminals in the city limits. It's a dangerous and violent look at a possible future Gotham City and the heroes and villains who live there!" -- Provided by publisher.

"Yona finally meets Jaeha, the Green Dragon. Unfortunately, Jaeha has no desire to follow her on her quest! Yona offers to help Jaeha and his fellow pirates, so Captain Gi-gan challenges her with a perilous quest to test her courage." -- Cover.

"In order to free the port town of Awa from an evil tyrant, Yona and her friends team up with Jaeha, the Green Dragon, and his fellow pirates. While Hak and the others are fighting Yang Kum-ji's forces, Yona and Yun infiltrate a human trafficking operation! When the enemy closes in and things look dire, what will Yona do?" -- Page [4] cover.

"Welcome to the possible future state of Gotham. The Magistrate, a freelance military and surveillance corporation, has been hired by Gotham's leadership to turn the old city into a futuristic surveillance state free of vigilante-based crime/heroics. Batman, horrified to see what his city was becoming, fought tooth and nail against Magistrate— and they killed him for it. Or did they? Bruce Wayne survived this assassination attempt, and has been laying low for years now trying to sort out how to beat Magistrate. The only problem? He doesn't think he can anymore. They're too big, they're too powerful. And the latest horrific revelation? They have eyes everywhere. It's left to Batman for one last mission. Destroy their command center, expose the drones, and free the city. Whatever the cost." -- Provided by publisher.

Presents, in graphic novel format, the story of the Haitian Revolution and its role in Napoleon's decision to sell Thomas Jefferson and James Monroe the whole Louisiana Territory, when they sought to buy only New Orleans.

"A fun, action-packed fantasy adventure about a girl, her dog, and magic gone wrong! Quiet … birds … nature … . That's what Aster expects when her parents move their whole family to the middle of nowhere. It's just her (status: super-bored), her mom and dad (status: busy with science), her brother (status: has other plans), and … magic? In her new home, Aster meets a mysterious old woman with a herd of dogs who gives her a canine companion of her own. But when she and her dog Buzz are adventuring in the forest, they run into a trickster spirit who gives Aster three wishes. After wishing for the ability to understand and talk to her dog, she becomes only able to talk in dog language … and the trouble she gets into is just starting. Maybe the middle of nowhere will be more interesting than Aster thought."

"Magic turned Aster's life upside-down— and it's not over! Get ready for more family, more fun, and even more magic in this graphic novel adventure. Moving to the middle of nowhere has been less of a disaster than Aster expected. Her mom's science experiments are actually pretty cool; her dad's cooking has gotten much better; her new dog is possibly the best canine companion anyone could ask for. And she's gotten to save the day— and her family— and the whole valley she lives in— from various magical calamities in what even she has to admit were extremely fun adventures. So now she can have a break, right? Guess what? Oh no; things get even more interesting." -- Description provided by publisher.

"This middle-grade graphic novel for fans of Roller Girl and Smile introduces Jamila and Shirley, two unlikely friends who save each other's summers while solving their neighborhood's biggest mysteries. Jamila Waheed is staring down a lonely summer in a new neighborhood— until she meets Shirley Bones. Sure, Shirley's a little strange, but both girls need a new plan for the summer, and they might as well become friends. Then this kid Oliver shows up begging for Shirley's help. His pet gecko has disappeared, and he's sure it was stolen! That's when Jamila discovers Shirley's secret: She's the neighborhood's best kid detective, and she's on the case. When Jamila discovers she's got some detective skills of her own, a crime-solving partnership is born. The mystery of the missing gecko turns Shirley and Jamila's summer upside down. And when their partnership hits a rough patch, they have to work together to solve the greatest mystery of all: What it means to be a friend." -- Description provided by publisher.

"Nyuki is a brand-new honey bee, and she has a lot of questions. Follow her on a lifelong journey as she annoys her sisters, avoids predators, and learns to trust her inner voice as she masters the way of the hive. Includes a section at the end of the book called 'Odds & Ends' with facts and information about bees."--Provided by publisher.

A first installment in a graphic-novel rendering of Season 10 from the beloved animated series finds Twilight adjusting to new leadership responsibilities by recruiting her friends to help explore potentially dangerous regions throughout Equestria.

"Raised from a kitten by a kindly old ninja master, Claude now spends his days as the pampered house cat of an eleven-year-old boy. But when trouble arises, Claude dons his mask and springs into action as Cat Ninja— Metro City's secret protector." -- Provided by publisher

"Sail the Pacific Islands in search of destiny and the demigod Maui in this retelling of Disney Moana. Moana is a spirited teenager who loves the ocean, yet she is forbidden to travel beyond the reef that surrounds her island home of Motunui. But she feels called to something more, and wants to discover who she was meant to be. When darkness begins to consume the island, and nature is out of balance, Moana knows the solution lies beyond the safety of the reef. Following the messages of her ancestors, and with encouragement from the ocean itself, Moana sails into the open sea to find the demigod Maui and right a wrong from his past. Together they face rough waters, monstrous creatures, and the unknown, in a mission to stop the darkness from spreading, and restore life to the islands! Become a master wayfinder in this action-packed story as Moana's love for the sea turns her into a hero among her people, the gods, and the ocean." -- Provided by publisher

"Considered by many historians to be the greatest American president, Abraham Lincoln led the Union at the greatest turning point in the nation's history. Abraham Lincoln: Defender of the Union! tells the story of one of America's most admired figures in graphic novel format. From his childhood on a farm in Kentucky to the battlefields of the Civil War, Abraham Lincoln served the United States with resolve, intelligence, and courage unlike that of any other president. Readers of all ages will be entertained and educated by the full-color illustrations and historically accurate narrative of this graphical biography." -- Provided by publisher.

"A fascinating and entertaining biography of Alexander Hamilton, in graphic novel format. Alexander Hamilton: The Fighting Founding Father!tells the story of one of the most ambitious and controversial figures in American history in a graphic novel format. From a rough childhood on the Caribbean island of Nevis to the highest levels of American politics, Alexander Hamilton's life was filled with adventure, conflict, and controversy. Full-color illustrations and an entertaining narrative make this graphical biography of America's first Secretary of the Treasury accessible for readers of all ages." -- Provided by publisher.

"When Amelia Earhart became the first woman to make a solo flight across the Atlantic Ocean in 1932, she immediately became an American icon and a subject of endless fascination for generations to come. In Amelia Earhart: Pioneer of the Sky!, the story of the bold and daring aviator's life is presented in graphic novel format, with full-color illustrations and historically accurate details. From her hardscrabble childhood to her final flight— and mysterious disappearance— Earhart's journey will entertain, captivate, and inspire readers of all ages." -- Provided by publisher

"Benjamin Franklin has been called one of the most accomplished and influential Americans in history, and his role in shaping the United States has had a lasting impact that is still felt today. Franklin's research into topics as varied as electricity, meteorology, demography, and oceanography were as wide-ranging and important as his travels, which took him across the globe as a diplomat." -- Provided by publisher.

"A graphic biography of civil rights leader and American icon Martin Luther King Jr. This graphical biography tells the story of the most prominent leader of the American civil rights movement. With full-color illustrations and a historically accurate narrative, Martin Luther King Jr.: Voice for Equality! will inform and entertain readers of all ages. From his childhood in Atlanta to his rise as an international icon of human rights and a fiery orator who refused to back down in the face of adversity, King's life story serves as an ongoing source of inspiration." -- Provided by publisher.

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Last week I had a wonderful experience attending the 2019 African Green Revolution Forum, held in Accra, Ghana. Many stakeholders, including political leaders, policymakers, researchers, and private sector and civil society representatives, gathered at the Forum, focusing on the role of the digital revolution in driving sustainable food system transformation in Africa. At a plenary […]

Tackling global challenges to food systems means we must better understand the future of aquatic foods. Research is critical to understand emerging opportunities for innovations—including the rise of lab-grown fish—and how these innovations can advance a healthy, sustainable, and equitable food system. To advance this research, I recently had the honor of formalizing a new […]

Recently I had the pleasure of engaging several events focusing on the intersection of food, nutrition, and health in China. First, I participated in the 3rd Belt & Road Initiative Global Health International Congress, held in Xi’an, which brought together stakeholders with a vision to strengthen exchanges and cooperation in health research for the Belt […]

I had the pleasure of meeting with FAO Director-General Qu Dongyu in Rome this week. On behalf of IFPRI, I had the chance to renew the Memorandum of Understanding with FAO to further strengthen collaboration and partnership toward our shared goal of achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030. Building on successful IFPRI-FAO partnerships, […]

Growing consensus in the scientific community indicates that higher temperatures and changing precipitation levels resulting from climate change will depress crop yields in many countries over the coming decades. This is particularly true in low-income countries, where adaptive capacity is low. Many African countries are particularly vulnerable to climate change because their economies largely depend on climate-sensitive agricultural production.

"Ethiopia's agricultural sector, which is dominated by smallscale, mixed-crop, and livestock farming, is the mainstay of the country's economy. It constitutes more than half of the country's gross domestic product, generates more than 85 percent of foreign exchange earnings, and employs about 80 percent of the population. Unfortunately, Ethiopia's dependence on agriculture makes the country particularly vulnerable to the adverse impactsof climate change on crop and livestock production.

Ethiopia possesses abundant water resources and hydropower potential, yet less than 5 percent of irrigable land in the Blue Nile basin has been developed for food production, and more than 80 percent of Ethiopians lack access to electricity. Consequently, the Ethiopian government is pursuing plans to develop hydropower and irrigation along the Blue Nile River in an effort to tap into this underused potential.

After a decade of stagnation during the 1990s, investments and human resource capacity in public agricultural research and development (R&D) averaged more than 20 percent growth in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) during 2001–2008. In 2008, the region spent $1.7 billion on agricultural R&D (in 2005 purchasing power parity dollars)—or $0.8 billion (in 2005 constant US dollars)—and employed more than 12,000 full-time equivalent (FTE) agricultural researchers.

Mechanization service providers in Myanmar were originally interviewed by telephone in early May 2020 in order to determine how their businesses were being affected by COVID-19 related restrictions. The results of that survey were published in Myanmar Strategy Support Program Policy Note 07. To trace the continuing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on their economic activities, a second phone survey of mechanization service providers was done in mid-June 2020. This Policy Note reports on the results of this second survey.

 New research conducted by Tenable®, Inc., the exposure management company, has uncovered more than 26,500 potential internet-facing assets among Southeast Asia’s top banking, financial services and insurance (BFSI) companies by market capitalisation across Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

On July 15, 2024, Tenable examined the external attack surface of over 90 BFSI organisations with the largest market capitalisations across the region. The findings revealed that the average organisation possesses nearly 300 internet-facing assets susceptible to potential exploitation, resulting in a total of more than 26,500 assets across the study group.

Singapore ranked the highest among the six countries assessed, with over 11,000 internet-facing assets identified across its top 16 BFSI companies. Over 6,000 of those assets are hosted in the United States. Next on the list is Thailand with over 5000 assets. The distribution of internet-accessible assets underscores the need for cybersecurity strategies that adapt to the rapidly evolving digital landscape.

“The results of our study reveal that many financial institutions are struggling to close the priority security gaps that put them at risk. Effective exposure management is key to closing these gaps,” said Nigel Ng, Senior Vice President, Tenable APJ. “By identifying and securing vulnerable assets before they can be exploited, organisations can better protect themselves against the growing tide of cyberattacks.” 

Cyber Hygiene Gaps 
The Tenable study revealed many potential vulnerabilities and exposed several cyber hygiene issues among the study group, including outdated software, weak encryption, and misconfigurations. These vulnerabilities provide cybercriminals with easily exploitable potential entry points, posing potential risk to the integrity and security of financial data. 

Weak SSL/TLS encryption 

A notable finding is that among the total assets, organisations had nearly 2,500 still supporting TLS 1.0—a 25-year old security protocol introduced in 1999 and disabled by Microsoft in September 2022. This highlights the significant challenge organisations with extensive internet footprints face in identifying and updating outdated technologies.

Misconfiguration increases external exposure

Another concerning discovery was that over 4,000 assets, originally intended for internal use, were inadvertently exposed and are now accessible externally. Failing to secure these internal assets poses a significant risk to organisations, as it creates an opportunity for malicious actors to target sensitive information and critical systems.

Lack of encryption 

There were over 900 assets with unencrypted final URLs, which can present a security weakness. When URLs are unencrypted, the data transmitted between the user's browser and the server is not protected by encryption, making it vulnerable to interception, eavesdropping, and manipulation by malicious actors. This lack of encryption can lead to the exposure of sensitive information, such as login credentials, personal data, or payment details, and can compromise the integrity of the communication.

API vulnerabilities amplify risk

The identification of over 2,000 API v3 out of the total number of assets among organisations' digital infrastructure poses a substantial risk to their security and operational integrity.

APIs serve as crucial connectors between software applications, facilitating seamless data exchange. However, inadequate authentication, insufficient input validation, weak access controls, and vulnerabilities in dependencies within API v3 implementations create a vulnerable attack surface.

Malicious actors can exploit such weaknesses to gain unauthorised access, compromise data integrity, and launch devastating cyber attacks.

“The cybersecurity landscape is evolving faster than ever, and financial institutions must evolve with it, so they can know where they are exposed and take action to close critical risk” Ng added. “By prioritising exposure management, these organisations can better protect their digital assets, safeguard customer trust, and ensure the resilience of their operations in an increasingly hostile digital environment.”

About Tenable
Tenable® is the exposure management company, exposing and closing the cybersecurity gaps that erode business value, reputation and trust. The company’s AI-powered exposure management platform radically unifies security visibility, insight and action across the attack surface, equipping modern organizations to protect against attacks from IT infrastructure to cloud environments to critical infrastructure and everywhere in between. By protecting enterprises from security exposure, Tenable reduces business risk for more than 44,000 customers around the globe. Learn more at tenable.com. 

Notes to Editors:

1. Tenable examined the top 12-16 BFSI companies discoverable based on market cap. 
2. In the context of this alert:

• An asset is a domain name, subdomain, or IP addresses and/or combination thereof of a device connected to the Internet or internal network. An asset may include, but not limited to web servers, name servers, IoT devices, network printers, etc. Example: foo.tld, bar.foo.tld, x.x.x.xs.
• The Attack Surface is from the network perspective of an adversary, the complete asset inventory of an organisation including all actively listening services (open ports) on each asset.