5 top tech gifts for the holidays

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LONDON, ON , Nov. 25, 2024 /PRNewswire/ - VersaBank ("VersaBank" or the "Bank") (TSX: VBNK) (NASDAQ: VBNK ), a leader in digital banking and cyber security solutions, today announced its wholly owned subsidiary DRT Cyber Inc.'s ("DRTC") Penetration Testing division, Digital Boundary Group, Inc. ("DBG"), has obtained System and Organization Controls 2 ("SOC2") Type 1 Certification. This certification affirms that DBG's services comply with the SOC Trust Services Criteria for Security, thereby providing customers, particularly those in regulated industries, with increased confidence in DBG's ability to strengthen their security posture and mitigate cyber risks. "DRTC has a track record of strong, steady growth and, as a premier North American provider in the increasingly critical cybersecurity services industry, we are focused on accelerating that growth," said David Taylor , President and Chief Executive Officer, VersaBank. "This certification – the gold standard of testing and compliance in IT security -- further enhances the value proposition of our state-of-the-art cyber security capabilities for our customers, supporting DRTC aggressive growth plans." "Our core mission is to help our customers protect their organization's systems, digital assets, and sensitive data from cyber threats," said Gurpreet Sahota , President, DRTC. "Achieving SOC2 Type 1 Certification underscores our commitment to fulfilling that mission in adherence with the industry's most trusted and respected security standards. We are excited about the benefits and enhanced trust the certification will bring to the business." Developed by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants ("AICPA"), SOC2 outlines how organizations manage customer data according to stringent Trust Services Principles, including Security, Availability, Processing Integrity, Confidentiality, and Privacy. The attestation process included a rigorous compliance audit conducted by Ernst & Young. About DRT Cyber Inc. DRTC helps leading government, public sector organizations, and corporations harden their cybersecurity posture and achieve compliance. Through a combination of strategic penetration testing, compliance alignment and secure digital storage services, DRTC helps its customers achieve exposure and risk management objectives. DRTC conducts approximately 850 security engagements a year, supporting government agencies and global corporations across a range of critical industries, including manufacturing, financial services, and the energy sector. DRTC is a subsidiary of VersaBank and operates offices in the United States and Canada . For more information, visit www.drtcyber.com About VersaBank VersaBank is a North American bank (federally chartered in Canada and the US) with a difference. VersaBank has a branchless, digital, business-to-business model based on its proprietary state-of-the-art technology that enables it to profitably address underserved segments of the banking industry in a significantly risk mitigated manner. Because VersaBank obtains substantially all of its deposits and undertakes the majority of its lending electronically through financial intermediary partners, it benefits from significant operating leverage that drives efficiency and return on common equity. In August 2024 , VersaBank launched its unique Receivable Purchase Program (RPP) funding solution for point-of-sale finance companies, which has been highly successful in Canada for nearly 15 years, to the underserved multi-trillion-dollar US market. VersaBank also owns Washington, DC -based DRTC., a North America leader in the provision of cyber security services to address the rapidly growing volume of cyber threats challenging financial institutions, multi-national corporations and government entities. VersaBank's Common Shares trade on the Toronto Stock Exchange ("TSX") and Nasdaq under the symbol VBNK. Visit our website at: www.versabank.com Follow VersaBank on Facebook , Instagram , LinkedIn and X SOURCE VersaBank

JERUSALEM (AP) — Israel approved a ceasefire agreement with Lebanon's Hezbollah militants on Tuesday that would end nearly 14 months of fighting linked to the war in the Gaza Strip. The ceasefire, starting at 4 a.m. local time Wednesday, would mark the first major step toward ending the regionwide unrest triggered by Hamas’ attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023. But it does not address the devastating war in Gaza , where Hamas is still holding dozens of hostages and the conflict is more intractable. Hours before the ceasefire with Hezbollah was to take effect, Israel carried out the most intense wave of strikes in Beirut and its southern suburbs since the start of the conflict and issued a record number of evacuation warnings. At least 42 people were killed in strikes across the country, according to local authorities. Another huge airstrike shook Beirut shortly after the ceasefire was announced. There appeared to be lingering disagreement over whether Israel would have the right to strike Hezbollah if it believed the militants had violated the agreement, something Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu insisted was part of the deal but which Lebanese and Hezbollah officials have rejected. Israel's security Cabinet approved the U.S.-France-brokered ceasefire agreement after Netanyahu presented it, his office said. U.S. President Joe Biden, speaking in Washington, called the agreement “good news” and said his administration would make a renewed push for a ceasefire in Gaza. The Biden administration spent much of this year trying to broker a ceasefire and hostage release in Gaza but the talks repeatedly sputtered to a halt . President-elect Donald Trump has vowed to bring peace to the Middle East without saying how. Still, any halt to the fighting in Lebanon is expected to reduce the likelihood of war between Israel and Iran, which backs both Hezbollah and Hamas and exchanged direct fire with Israel on two occasions earlier this year. Netanyahu presented the ceasefire proposal to Cabinet ministers after a televised address in which he listed accomplishments against Israel’s enemies across the region. He said a ceasefire with Hezbollah would further isolate Hamas in Gaza and allow Israel to focus on its main enemy, Iran. “If Hezbollah breaks the agreement and tries to rearm, we will attack,” he said. “For every violation, we will attack with might.” The ceasefire deal calls for a two-month initial halt in fighting and would require Hezbollah to end its armed presence in a broad swath of southern Lebanon, while Israeli troops would return to their side of the border. Thousands of additional Lebanese troops and U.N. peacekeepers would deploy in the south, and an international panel headed by the United States would monitor compliance. Biden said Israel reserved the right to quickly resume operations in Lebanon if Hezbollah breaks the terms of the truce, but that the deal "was designed to be a permanent cessation of hostilities.” Netanyahu’s office said Israel appreciated the U.S. efforts in securing the deal but “reserves the right to act against every threat to its security.” Lebanon’s caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati welcomed the ceasefire and described it as a crucial step toward stability and the return of displaced people. Hezbollah has said it accepts the proposal, but a senior official with the group said Tuesday it had not seen the agreement in its final form. “After reviewing the agreement signed by the enemy government, we will see if there is a match between what we stated and what was agreed upon by the Lebanese officials,” Mahmoud Qamati, deputy chair of Hezbollah’s political council, told the Al Jazeera news network. “We want an end to the aggression, of course, but not at the expense of the sovereignty of the state," he said, referring to Israel's demand for freedom of action. “Any violation of sovereignty is refused.” Even as ceasefire efforts gained momentum in recent days, Israel continued to strike what it called Hezbollah targets across Lebanon while the militants fired rockets, missiles and drones across the border. An Israeli strike on Tuesday leveled a residential building in central Beirut — the second time in recent days warplanes have hit the crowded area near downtown. At least seven people were killed and 37 wounded, according to Lebanon's Health Ministry. Israel also struck a building in Beirut's bustling commercial district of Hamra for the first time, hitting a site around 400 meters (yards) from Lebanon’s Central Bank. There were no reports of casualties. The Israeli military said it struck targets linked to Hezbollah's financial arm. The evacuation warnings covered many areas, including parts of Beirut that previously were not targeted. The warnings sent residents fleeing. Traffic was gridlocked, with mattresses tied to some cars. Dozens of people, some wearing pajamas, gathered in a central square, huddling under blankets or standing around fires as Israeli drones buzzed overhead. Israeli military spokesman Avichay Adraee issued evacuation warnings for 20 buildings in Beirut's southern suburbs, where Hezbollah has a major presence, as well as a warning for the southern town of Naqoura where the U.N. peacekeeping mission, UNIFIL, is headquartered. UNIFIL spokesperson Andrea Tenenti said peacekeepers will not evacuate. The Israeli military also said its ground troops clashed with Hezbollah forces and destroyed rocket launchers in the Slouqi area on the eastern end of the Litani River, a few kilometers (miles) from the Israeli border. Under the ceasefire deal, Hezbollah would be required to move its forces north of the Litani, which in some places is about 30 kilometers (20 miles) north of the border. Hezbollah began firing into northern Israel on Oct. 8, 2023, saying it was showing support for the Palestinians, a day after Hamas carried out its attack on southern Israel, triggering the Gaza war. Israel returned fire on Hezbollah, and the two sides have exchanged barrages ever since. Israel escalated its bombardment in mid-September and later sent troops into Lebanon, vowing to put an end to Hezbollah fire so tens of thousands of evacuated Israelis could return to their homes. More than 3,760 people have been killed by Israeli fire in Lebanon the past 13 months, many of them civilians, according to Lebanese health officials. The bombardment has driven 1.2 million people from their homes. Israel says it has killed more than 2,000 Hezbollah members. Hezbollah fire has forced some 50,000 Israelis to evacuate in the country’s north, and its rockets have reached as far south in Israel as Tel Aviv. At least 75 people have been killed, more than half of them civilians. More than 50 Israeli soldiers have died in the ground offensive in Lebanon. Chehayeb and Mroue reported from Beirut and Federman from Jerusalem. Associated Press reporters Lujain Jo and Sally Abou AlJoud in Beirut and Aamer Madhani in Washington contributed. Find more of AP’s war coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-warPep Guardiola’s side avoided the indignity of a sixth successive defeat in all competitions and looked on course for a welcome victory thanks to a double from Erling Haaland – the first from the penalty spot – and a deflected effort from Ilkay Gundogan. Yet Guardiola was left with his head in hands as Feyenoord roared back in the last 15 minutes with goals from Anis Hadj Moussa, Sergio Gimenez and David Hancko, two of them after Josko Gvardiol errors. Arsenal delivered the statement Champions League win Mikel Arteta had demanded as they swept aside Sporting Lisbon 5-1. Arteta wanted his team to prove their European credentials, and goals from Gabriel Martinelli, Kai Havertz, Gabriel, Bukayo Saka and Leandro Trossard got their continental campaign back on track in style following the 1-0 defeat at Inter Milan last time out. A memorable victory also ended Sporting’s unbeaten start to the season, a streak of 17 wins and one draw, the vast majority of which prompted Manchester United to prise away head coach Ruben Amorim. Paris St Germain were left in serious of danger of failing to progress in the Champions League as they fell to a 1-0 defeat to Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena. Kim Min-jae’s header late in the first half was enough to send PSG to a third defeat in the competition this season, leaving them six points off the automatic qualification places for the last 16 with three games to play. Luis Enrique’s side, who had Ousmane Dembele sent off, were deservedly beaten by Bayern who dominated chances and possession. Elsewhere, Atletico Madrid were 6-0 winners away to Sparta Prague, Julian Alvarez and Angel Correa each scoring twice whilst there were also goals from Marcos Llorente and Antoine Griezmann. Barcelona ended tournament debutants Brest’s unbeaten start with a 3-0 victory courtesy of two goals from Robert Lewandowski – one a penalty – and Dani Olmo. Lewandowski’s first was his 100th Champions League goal, only the third man to reach the mark after Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. A Castello Lukeba own goal saw Inter Milan go top of the standings with a narrow 1-0 win over RB Leipzig at San Siro, whilst Bayer Leverkusen were emphatic victors against Red Bull Salzburg, Florian Wirtz scoring twice to move Xabi Alonso’s side into the automatic qualification places. Atalanta continued their strong start, albeit whilst conceding a first goal in Europe this season in a 6-1 win away to Young Boys, whilst Tammy Abraham scored the decisive goal as AC Milan beat Slovan Bratislava 3-2.

In a significant advancement for automated trading technology, Avenix Fzco has launched Pivlex, a sophisticated forex robot designed to transform the landscape of gold trading. This innovative platform represents a new frontier in the integration of artificial intelligence with traditional trading methodologies. Pivlex's architecture centers on an advanced algorithm specifically engineered for the gold market. Working within the M1 timeframe on the MetaTrader 4 platform, this forex robot employs a unique approach to market analysis that sets it apart from conventional trading tools. The system's core functionality revolves around the continuous monitoring of support and resistance levels. Through sophisticated AI processing, Pivlex identifies crucial price points and executes trades based on these key indicators. By placing strategic pending orders around these levels, the platform works to capitalize on both upward and downward price movements. What distinguishes Pivlex is its adaptive learning capabilities. The system continuously refines its approach based on market conditions, adjusting pending orders and modifying positions as needed. This dynamic response to market changes helps ensure that trading strategies remain effective even in volatile conditions. The intelligent automation at Pivlex's core extends beyond basic trade execution. The system incorporates: These features work in concert to create a robust trading environment that combines technological sophistication with practical utility. Avenix Fzco has developed Pivlex with a strong focus on community building. The platform connects traders through a dedicated network, facilitating knowledge exchange and strategy sharing. This collaborative approach helps create a more comprehensive trading experience that benefits from collective insights and experiences. The community aspect extends beyond mere social networking. Traders can: This focus on community development helps create a more enriching trading environment that supports both novice and experienced traders. Avenix Fzco has emerged as a leading innovator in the fintech sector. The company's dedication to advancing trading technology has consistently pushed the boundaries of what's possible in automated trading. Pivlex represents their latest achievement in merging artificial intelligence with practical trading applications. Step into AI-powered gold trading – visit Avenix Fzco's website to experience Pivlex in action. https://pivlex.com/Luxury Group Charts New Territories Through Global Sotheby's Brand Partnership, Offering Once-in-a-Lifetime Auction Experiences

McCray scores 21 as Jacksonville knocks off Siena 75-64

In a significant development in Maharashtra's political landscape, candidates who switched parties before the recent assembly elections faced notable defeats across the state, suggesting public disapproval of political opportunism. Former state minister Harshvardhan Patil experienced a decisive loss in Indapur. Running under Sharad Pawar's NCP (SP) banner, Patil was defeated by sitting Congress MLA Dattatray Bharne, who had the backing of Ajit Pawar-led NCP. Bharne secured 1,17,236 votes against Patil's 97,826 votes. Similarly, in Kagal and Tasgaon, other political figures who shifted allegiances also met with losses. Samarjeet Ghatge, previously of the BJP, lost to NCP minister Hasan Mushrif, and former BJP MP Sanjaykaka Patil, now with NCP, was defeated by Rohit Patil in Tasgaon, as voters largely favored continuity and party loyalty. (With inputs from agencies.)

Lawyer Kwame Jantuah has raised concerns about the lack of collaboration between sitting presidents and former presidents in Ghana, particularly when the latter are in opposition. During an interview on TV3’s Ghana Decides show, Jantuah emphasized the need for unity among all political leaders for the greater good of the country. He pointed out that while some efforts have been made to engage past presidents, this cooperation is often minimal. “When we have a president in power, they don’t tend to work with past presidents in opposition to any significant degree. Nana Addo made an effort to change this early in his tenure when he called former presidents to the Flagstaff House for discussions,” Jantuah noted. The lawyer stressed that this unity is especially critical during national crises, such as the ongoing galamsey (illegal mining) issue. He argued that the galamsey crisis, which has led to severe environmental degradation, cannot be tackled by any single political party alone—whether it be the National Democratic Congress (NDC) or the New Patriotic Party (NPP). According to Jantuah, it would be beneficial for the current President to involve former President John Mahama, traditional leaders, and independent bodies in discussions to find a lasting solution to the galamsey menace. Jantuah also expressed his concerns about the continued destruction of water bodies and forest reserves due to illegal mining activities. He criticized the Mineral Commission for its lack of action in enforcing regulations and protecting Ghana’s natural resources, warning that the environmental damage caused by galamsey remains unchecked. In closing, Jantuah urged the current administration to prioritize national unity and collaboration with former leaders to address critical issues like illegal mining and to safeguard the country’s resources for future generations.Family feuds see candidates of NCP and Shiv Sena win in Maharashtra‘Squad’ Democrats demand Biden ‘take action’ on Equal Rights Amendment in final days