Hamas blames Israel for ‘assassinating’ its top leader Ismail Haniyeh
Beirut: Hours after the assassination of senior Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Iran’s capital Tehran on Wednesday, the Palestinian Hamas group has accused Israel of being behind the attack, terming it a “grave escalation”. Hamas described Haniyeh as their “brother and leader” and alleged that he was killed in a “treacherous Zionist raid” in his residence, after attending the inauguration ceremony of the new Iranian president.
Israel has not responded to the incident yet, according to Reuters. Senior Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri mentioned that this assassination by the Israeli occupation of Haniyeh is a severe escalation that aims to break the will of Hamas. He also said that Hamas is a “concept and an institution and not persons,” adding that they are confident of victory.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas also condemned the assassination, calling it a “cowardly act and dangerous development,” in a statement from the official Wafa news agency. He urged Palestinians to remain united, patient, and steadfast in the face of the Israeli occupation.
Meanwhile, Israel’s Minister of Heritage Amichai Eliyahu, defend the action, asserting that it is part of a necessary effort to “clean the world from filth” and make the world a better place. “The iron hand that will strike them is the one that will bring peace and a little comfort and strengthen our ability to live in peace with those who desire peace,” he stated.
This incident follows Israel’s claim of killing top Hezbollah commander allegedly responsible for a recent deadly attack in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights.
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Cybercriminals used over 65,000 mule accounts in Karnataka in 2024: Report
Bengaluru: Cybercriminals used more than 65,000 mule bank accounts from Karnataka in 2024 to funnel illicit funds, according to data from the Indian Cybercrime Coordination Centre (I4C), an agency under the Ministry of Home Affairs.
The data, which was cited by Deccan Herald on Monday, indicates that these accounts form only the first layer of fraudster accounts, and the actual numbers may be far higher. The first layer refers to the initial accounts that victims are tricked into transferring their money to, at the behest of cyber fraudsters.
Mule accounts play a crucial role in the operation of cybercrimes by acting as intermediaries between the victim’s bank account and the scammer’s account. These accounts are often created, rented, or purchased by cybercrooks.
Karnataka ranked fifth among Indian states for the number of first-layer mule accounts. It trailed behind Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh, the report added.
Investigators have pointed to negligence by banks as one of the primary reasons behind the proliferation of mule accounts. Despite technological advancements, many banks lack robust monitoring systems to track suspicious accounts and transactions effectively.
"Banks have the responsibility of monitoring suspicious accounts and transactions, but they are often compromised. There is no proper existing system for monitoring such things in many banks, despite technological advancements," DH quoted an Assistant Commissioner of Police-rank investigator as saying.
Furthermore, there are growing concerns about the potential leakage of customer data by bank employees. The officer added the bank representatives not only give out contact information of people but also give details of gullible individuals holding bank accounts with no activity.
These accounts become prime targets for fraudsters, who approach the account holders to buy or rent them for use in scams.
