Linq Blue Automates and Personalizes iMessage Outreach to Boost Engagement and Efficiency BIRMINGHAM, Ala. , Nov. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Linq, the world's leading mobile CRM and lead capture platform, announces Linq Blue — an iMessage automation tool designed to revolutionize sales communication. This breakthrough feature empowers businesses to automate and personalize customer outreach via iMessage—without requiring an iPhone. Launching January 2025 , Linq Blue offers seamless messaging capabilities that drive higher response rates and unlock new levels of sales efficiency. Why Linq Blue is a Game-Changer Enhanced Engagement : iMessage campaigns have been shown to increase response rates by 29% over traditional SMS outreach. Seamless CRM Integration : Linq Blue integrates with popular CRM platforms such as Salesforce, HubSpot, and Microsoft Dynamics, allowing users to manage iMessage communications directly from their existing workflows. Device-Agnostic iMessage Campaigns : Users can send blue text campaigns from any device, including Android, by utilizing a dedicated phone number provided by Linq. Advanced Automation : Users can schedule messages, create sequences and campaigns, and automate confirmation messages to streamline customer interactions. Unlimited Messaging : Linq Blue offers unlimited messaging capabilities, enhancing communication. Reserve Your Spot Today Linq Blue is now open for early access reservations to a closed beta. Learn more and reserve your spot at https://linqapp.com/s/imessage-automation/ About Linq: Founded in Birmingham, AL , Linq is a rapidly growing tech company that transforms the way businesses manage contacts, relationships, and workflows. With a focus on mobile-first solutions, Linq integrates seamlessly with existing CRM platforms like Salesforce and HubSpot, offering an easy-to-use interface that enables teams to work effectively, no matter where they are. For more information, visit www.linqapp.com . View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/linq-launches-blue-messages-for-sales-302314658.html SOURCE Linq
The hype and excitement with artificial intelligence is starting to morph into substantive concerns: helping people and organizations achieve greater success. Questions now loom: will AI help deliver superior customer experience, enrich peoples’ work experience, and create entrepreneurial opportunities? Or is it just the latest shiny new thing? When done right, AI can be a very successful tool for wowing customers, pleasing employees, and launching new ventures. However, the key is to do AI right — in an ethical and trustworthy manner. Trust and ethics in AI is what is making business leaders nervous. For example, at least 72% of executives responding to a recent survey from the IBM Institute for Business Value say they “are willing to forgo generative AI benefits due to ethical concerns.” In addition, more than half (56%) indicate they are delaying major investments in generative AI until there is clarity on AI standards and regulations. Successful AI is, and will always be, a people-centric process. Boosting people in their work. Delivering products and services to customers. Keeping things running smoothly. “AI technology is still in its early stages, and we have to assume that human input and oversight will continue to be crucial in developing responsible AI," said Jeremy Barnes, vice president of ServiceNow. While the level of human involvement required may change as AI continues to evolve, “I don’t believe it will ever be a fully hands-off process,” said Barnes. “Continuous improvement in AI requires regular monitoring and updates, relying on user research and human expertise for valuable insights and feedback. This ensures AI systems can evolve and adapt effectively and ethically.” As with everything else in life, trust in AI needs to be earned. That trust is likely to keep improving, but it’s something that will evolve over years. Right now, trust is possible, but only under very specific and controlled circumstances, said Doug Ross , US chief technology officer at Capgemini Americas. "Today, guardrails are a growing area of practice for the AI community given the stochastic nature of these models,” said Ross. “Guardrails can be employed for virtually any area of decisioning, from examining bias to preventing the leakage of sensitive data." At this time, generative AI use cases require significant human oversight, agreed Miranda Nash , group vice president for applications development and strategy for Oracle. “For example, generative AI embedded in business processes helps users with first drafts of employee performance summaries, financial narrative reports, and customer service summaries.” The key word here is “help,’” Nash continued. “The responsibilities of end users haven’t changed. They still need to review and edit for accuracy to ensure their work is accurate. In situations where AI accuracy has been validated with months or even years of observation, a human may only be needed for exception handling.” The situation is not likely to change soon, Jeremy Rambarran , professor at Touro University Graduate School, pointed out. “Although the output that's being generated may be unique, depending on how the output is being presented, there's always a chance that part of the results may not be entirely accurate. This will eventually change down the road as algorithms are enhanced and could eventually be updated in an automated manner.” It’s important, then, “AI decisions should be used as just one input into a human-governed orchestration of the overall decision-making process,” said Ross. How can AI be best directed to be ethical and trustworthy? Compliance requirements, of course, will be a major driver of AI trust in the future, said Rambarran. “We need to ensure that AI-driven processes comply with ethical guidelines, legal regulations, and industry standards. Humans should be aware of the ethical implications of AI decisions and be ready to intervene when ethical concerns arise.” It’s also important to “foster a culture of collaboration between humans and AI systems,” Rambarran said. “Encouraging interdisciplinary teams composed of domain experts, data scientists, and AI engineers to all work together to solve complex problems effectively is vital.” Scoreboards and dashboards are tools that can facilitate this process, said Ross. “We can also segment decisions into low, medium, and high-risk categories. High-risk decisions should be routed to a human for review and approval.” AI won’t progress beyond the shiny-new-object phase without the governance, ethics, and trust that will enable acceptance and innovation from all quarters. We’re all in this together.
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Nigel Farage has hinted he could take legal action against Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch after she accused his Reform UK party of publishing fake statistics showing membership surpassing that of the Tories. Ms Badenoch said the digital counter on Reform’s website was “ coded to tick up automatically ” when it recorded membership on Boxing Day morning ticking past the 131,680 figure declared by the Conservative Party earlier this year. She accused Reform UK of “fakery”. Demanding an apology from Ms Badenoch for what he said were “disgraceful accusations of fraud and dishonesty”, he vowed to take some action in the next two days. “I’m going to take some action in the next couple of days, and I’ve got to decide exactly what it is, but I’m certainly not going to take it lying down,” he said after being asked if he would sue the Tory leader, according to The Telegraph . “I think it’s an absolutely outrageous thing for her to have said. “I know she’s got a very bad temper. I know she’s well known for lashing out at people, but I am not at all happy, and I’m going to take some action.” He said he would confirm within two days what the action would be if she did not apologise for the “intemperate outburst”. It’s the latest twist in the spat between the two parties on the right of UK politics. Despite the dispute, Mr Farage said people were continuing to join the party with Reform UK’s ticker showing 143,968 members on Friday night. Labour is the UK’s biggest political party, with 370,450 at the end of last year. As Ms Badenoch made her claim about the Reform UK figure being false, she also suggested the Conservatives ’ own membership figures had risen in recent weeks, writing on social media: “For a party that pretends to hate the establishment so much, they are copying and pasting the fake Tony Blair/Alister [sic] Campbell’s spin book. “How do I know for certain the Reform announcement is not true? Because the Conservative Party has gained thousands of new members since the leadership election. But we don’t shout about it...we are building quietly and steadily on principles and values, not gimmicks.” Mr Farage said he would gladly invite a firm to audit Reform UK’s membership numbers if the Conservatives did the same. “We understand you are bitter, upset and angry that we are now the second biggest party in British politics, and that the Conservative brand is dying under your leadership,” he wrote on social media. “However, this not an excuse to accuse us of committing fraud.”Russia Set To Name New Ambassador To United StatesChess grandmaster Magnus Carlsen returns to a tournament after a dispute over jeans is resolved
The big picture: AMD is rumored to announce its flagship gaming CPU, the Ryzen 9 9950X3D, at CES 2025 in Las Vegas in January. Ahead of its official launch, multiple leaks have already revealed key features and specifications. The latest leak discloses details about the chip's clock speed, cache, TDP, and other critical specifications. According to a CPU-Z screenshot posted on X by tipster @94G8LA , the Ryzen 9 9950X3D will feature a boost clock of up to 5.65GHz – slightly lower than the 5.7GHz maximum frequency of the standard Ryzen 9 9950X. Earlier rumors, however, suggested that the 9950X3D might share the same clock speed as its non-X3D counterpart. The leaked screenshot identifies the chip as revision GNR-B0 with the code name Granite Ridge, confirming its status as an upcoming Zen 5 CPU. It is listed with 16 cores, 32 threads, a bus speed of 99.78MHz, and a maximum CPU multiplier of x56.5. The CPU-Z data also reveals a TDP of 170W, which matches that of the standard Ryzen 9 9950X but exceeds the 120W TDP of the 7950X3D by 50W. https://t.co/gaRLbdpToW pic.twitter.com/YovV98drQa The image also reveals that the CPU will feature 96MB + 32MB of L3 cache, indicating that both CCDs include 32MB of L3 cache, while the 3D V-Cache chiplet adds an additional 64MB layer. This configuration gives the Ryzen 9 9950X3D a total of 144MB of cache, comprising 128MB of L3 and 16MB of L2. This is consistent with the 3D V-Cache setup of its predecessor, the Ryzen 9 7950X3D. Notably, the chip is marked as an engineering sample, signifying that it is currently undergoing validation testing. This also implies that AMD might adjust some of the specifications, particularly the clock speeds, before the final product hits the market. In addition to the Ryzen 9 9950X3D, AMD is expected to unveil its RDNA 4 GPUs at CES 2025. According to multiple rumors, the company may forego the Radeon RX 8000 naming convention for its next-generation graphics cards, opting instead to market them as part of the Radeon RX 9000 series. Furthermore, Team Red is rumored to introduce FSR 4 at the event, showcasing its continued advancements in graphics technology.
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Chuck Woolery , whose game-show hosting career included tenures at Wheel of Fortune and Love Connection , has died at age 83. Mark Young, Woolery’s friend and podcast cohost, shared the news on X on Saturday. “It is with a broken heart that I tell you that my dear brother @chuckwoolery has just passed away,” Young wrote. “Life will not be the same without him. RIP, brother.” Young told TMZ he was at Woolery’s home in Texas when the former TV host reported not feeling well and went to lie down. When Young checked in later, Woolery was having trouble breathing, and despite a 911 call, Woolery died shortly thereafter. Woolery was born on March 16, 1941, in Ashland, Kentucky, to a business owner and a homemaker, according to The Hollywood Reporter . After stints at the University of Kentucky, in the U.S. Navy, and at Morehead State University, Woolery moved to Nashville to start a music career. He and singer Elkin “Bubba” Fowler formed the psychedelic pop duo The Avant-Garde, and their song “Naturally Stoned” peaked at No. 40 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1968. Lorimar Television/ Everett Collection A singing performance on The Merv Griffin Show led Woolery to audition for a new game show, originally titled Shopper’s Bazaar , that Merv Griffin was developing at the time. After some tinkering, Wheel of Fortune debuted on NBC on January 6, 1975. Griffin earned a Daytime Emmy for his Wheel work and hosted the show until 1981, when a salary dispute led producers to replace him with Pat Sajak . Woolery moved on with a job hosting the syndicated dating game show Love Connection from 1983 to 1994, pulling in 4.5 million viewers a day at one point. He also emceed the game show Scrabble from 1984 to 1990, and between the two shows, he was earning $1 million a year by 1986, as People reported at the time. Woolery also hosted the game show Greed on Fox from 1999 to 2000 and Lingo on Game Show Network from 2002 to 2007. In recent years, Woolery stoked controversy with his political views, posting a tweet that sparked antisemitism accusations in 2017 and then claiming in 2020 that “everyone [was] lying” about the coronavirus pandemic , as Newsweek reported. He also argued that minorities didn’t need civil rights, according to the Associated Press . Woolery was married four times, and his ex-wives included actor Jo Ann Pflug. He had eight children and stepchildren, per THR . More Headlines:How major US stock indexes fared Friday, 11/22/2024
Jake Okechukwu Effoduh is an assistant professor at the Lincoln Alexander School of Law, Toronto Metropolitan University in Canada. He is an international lawyer and human rights activist and serves as a member of the World Economic Forum’s Global Future Council on Frontier Risks, focusing on identifying key future shocks and proposing policy opportunities to build resilience against global risks. In this interview with KENNETH ATHEKAME , he spoke on a number of issues, including the some of the frontier risks the global community will likely confront; how governments, businesses, and international organisation can mitigate the risks; his human rights activism, and his vision for the future of global human rights. Excerpts: What are the most critical frontier risks that the global community faces in the next decade, and why are they particularly challenging? The proverb “When the music changes, so do the dance” reminds us that as our world evolves, so do the challenges we face. In the coming decade, the global community will confront several critical frontier risks. Top of my prediction is the risk associated with Artificial Intelligence (AI) and automation. While AI offers immense potential, it also poses risks such as job displacement, algorithmic colonization, and the amplification of existing inequalities, especially in regions like Africa. The challenge lies in harnessing the benefits of this tech while mitigating adverse effects. Another thing that is obvious is Climate Change. As we see, the increasing frequency of extreme weather events threatens food security, livelihoods, and infrastructure. For our people, we live in a continent heavily reliant on agriculture, so this presents a formidable challenge. And then lastly, with how the COVID-19 pandemic left a devastating impact on global health, future pandemics could even be more disruptive, particularly in regions with limited healthcare infrastructure. And lest I forget, another frontier risk is cybersecurity threats, which I often speak about because as digital integration deepens, vulnerabilities to cyber-attacks increase. We are seeing more and more risks to national security and even economies. These risks are particularly challenging, and this is so because of their interconnected nature, as well as rapid evolution. We need international solidarity and some form of global coordination to address them effectively. How do you define ‘frontier risks,’ and how do they differ from conventional risks? “Frontier risks” are unprecedented, high-impact challenges that emerge from the cutting edges of technological, environmental, and societal change. Unlike conventional risks, which are often known and manageable through existing frameworks, frontier risks are characterized by uncertainty, complexity, and the potential for systemic disruption. They require innovative approaches and proactive governance to navigate effectively. What actions should governments, businesses, and international organisations prioritise to mitigate emerging frontier risks? To mitigate emerging frontier risks, a collaborative and multifaceted approach is essential. We need to engage diverse stakeholders, including marginalized communities, in policy formulation to ensure that our interventions are equitable and effective. We also need to equip populations with the knowledge and skills necessary to adapt to technological advancements and the shifting economic landscapes we are witnessing. I don’t think we have strong enough infrastructure, so we need to develop resilient infrastructure capable of withstanding environmental and cyber threats. How do you see public-private partnerships (PPPs) evolving to address complex and interconnected risks such as climate change, pandemics, or AI governance in Africa? In Africa, public-private partnerships are poised to play a pivotal role in addressing complex risks, especially when it comes to resource mobilisation. I think PPPs can pool the much-needed resources to fund large-scale initiatives, such as renewable energy projects, that combat climate change. Also, when it comes to innovation and tech transfer, collaborations can facilitate the transfer of cutting-edge technologies and best practices to address things like the current health crises and will help enhance AI governance. The public sector can rely on private sector expertise, and then the private sector can complement public sector efforts in building robust systems and infrastructure. That’s the kind of symbiotic engagement we need. But I must say that for these partnerships to be effective, they must be grounded in transparency, mutual benefit, and the same shared commitment to societal well-being and not just capitalist gains. How do advances in technology—such as AI, biotechnology, or quantum computing—contribute to both the emergence and mitigation of frontier risks? So, as we all know, technological advancements are double-edged swords. New technologies can introduce unforeseen challenges, such as the many bias dilemmas we are seeing with AI systems, biosecurity concerns in biotechnology, and security vulnerabilities in quantum computing. Quantum computing alone, poses significant security vulnerabilities, notably its potential to break current public-key cryptographic systems, rendering them ineffective. So, beyond the excitement of quantum, there’s a lot to caution there. I don’t think we have developed quantum-resistant cryptographic algorithms to safeguard our digital communications infrastructure. Anyways on the other hand, these technologies offer tools to address existing problems. AI can enhance disaster response, biotechnology can lead to medical breakthroughs, and quantum computing can solve complex challenges that have never ever been solved before, so I guess the key lies in steering technological development towards inclusive and ethical applications, ensuring that innovations serve to mitigate rather than exacerbate risks. What lessons have been learned from recent global crises, such as the COVID-19 pandemic or geopolitical conflicts, that inform how we prepare for future frontier risks, using Africa as a case study? The COVID-19 pandemic has illuminated several lessons for Africa. The first is the importance of local solutions. Reliance on global supply chains proved precarious; local production and self-reliance are crucial! The other lesson is how the shift to digital platforms like Zoom highlighted the need for robust internet access and technological literacy. We saw that public measures were more effective when communities were actively involved and informed. As our people say, “Wisdom is like a baobab tree; no one individual can embrace it.” Collective effort and shared knowledge are essential in preparing for future risks. How do you see the role of the Global Future Council on Frontier Risk evolving in the coming years? The Global Future Council on Frontier Risk will increasingly serve as a nexus for interdisciplinary collaboration, foresight, and policy innovation. Its role will involve identifying emerging risks, advising policymakers and perhaps fostering global dialogue in a truly impactful way. What innovations or strategies are you most excited about for addressing the challenges of frontier risk? I’m particularly enthusiastic about the future development of more “Explainable AI,” that is, AI systems and tools which aim to make AI decision-making processes transparent and understandable. This innovation is crucial for building trust and ensuring that AI systems are accountable, especially in diverse cultural contexts like in Nigeria and across Africa. Also, I look forward to the establishment of inclusive data governance frameworks that prioritize the participation of marginalized communities in decision-making processes. Such frameworks are what can ensure that technological advancements are equitable and culturally sensitive. What is one frontier risk that you think is currently being underestimated, and why should the world and Africa pay closer attention to it? The proliferation of deepfake technology is a frontier risk that is currently underestimated. Deepfakes have the potential to disrupt every single society on this planet, especially by how they could be used to deceive and spread misinformation, undermine trust in media, and destabilise political processes. In Africa, where digital literacy varies, the impact could be particularly severe, leading to social unrest and eroding democratic institutions as we have seen in countries like Gabon, Kenya, Nigeria and South Africa. Proactive measures, including public awareness campaigns and the development of detection technologies, are essential to mitigate this risk. If you could implement one change globally to better prepare for frontier risks, what would it be and why? I would advocate for the establishment of a global frontier risk observatory, an international body dedicated to monitoring, researching, and providing guidance on emerging frontier risks. This observatory would facilitate the sharing of knowledge, resources, and best practices, ensuring a coordinated and informed global response. By pooling expertise and fostering collaboration, we can enhance our collective resilience against the uncertainties of the future. What motivates you personally to focus on frontier risks, and what do you find most rewarding about this work? My motivation stems from a deep commitment to social justice and the desire to ensure that technological advancements benefit all of humanity, particularly marginalised communities. The most rewarding aspect of this work is witnessing the empowerment of individuals and communities as they harness technology to improve their lives. It’s fulfilling to contribute to the development of policies and frameworks that promote equity, inclusivity, and resilience in the face of emerging challenges. It’s also rewarding that I get the chance to teach students, lawyers and even judges about these issues and see them apply the learning in their work. Can you tell us about your journey into the field of human rights? What inspired you to pursue this path? My journey into human rights advocacy began during my university years at the University of Abuja, where I was actively involved in student organisations focused on human rights and social justice. Hosting radio programs like “Flava” and “Talk Your Own: Make Naija Better” for more than 12 years further exposed me to the challenges faced by marginalized communities across Nigeria. These experiences ignited a passion to use my legal expertise to advocate for the rights of the underserved, particularly in the context of technological advancements. What specific areas of human rights do you specialise in, and why did you choose them? How do you stay motivated when facing challenges or setbacks in your work? I specialise in the intersection of artificial intelligence and human rights, focusing on how AI can serve the needs of marginalized populations, especially in Africa and the Global South. This specialisation was driven by the recognition that technological advancements, while holding great promise, also pose significant risks to human rights if not properly governed. Facing challenges is inherent in this field, but I draw motivation from the resilience of the communities I serve and the belief that equitable technological progress is achievable. What role do you think non-governmental organisations (NGOs) play in advancing human rights, and how do you collaborate with them? What strategies have you found most effective for raising awareness or mobilizing action on human rights issues? NGOs are pivotal in advancing human rights; they act as watchdogs, advocates, and service providers. Collaborating with NGOs allows for grassroots engagement and the amplification of marginalised voices. Effective strategies for raising awareness include leveraging media platforms, as I did with my radio programs, and utilising digital tools to disseminate information widely. Mobilising action often requires community involvement, education, and the creation of platforms for dialogue and advocacy. How do you assess the effectiveness of international tribunals or courts in prosecuting human rights violations? International tribunals still play a crucial role in holding perpetrators accountable and setting legal precedents. Today we may see examples of how their effectiveness can be hindered by geopolitical influences, and other factors like limited enforcement mechanisms and the challenges they face in securing cooperation from states. But we cannot underestimate the value of tribunals and courts, even at the international level. Strengthening these institutions is what we need right now. And this requires enhancing their independence, ensuring adequate resources, and fostering international collaboration to support their mandates. Can you explain the role of governments in protecting human rights and where they often fall short? Governments are the primary duty-bearers in upholding human rights and are responsible for creating and enforcing laws that protect citizens. However, shortcomings often arise due to corruption, lack of political will, inadequate resources, or oppressive policies. To fulfill their obligations, governments must commit to transparency, accountability, and inclusive governance that prioritises the well-being of all citizens. One of the reasons we have governments in the first place is because we need them to fulfil this role of human rights protection! What changes would you recommend to current international human rights laws or frameworks? I recommend incorporating provisions that address the challenges posed by emerging technologies, such as AI and biotechnology, to human rights. Additionally, there should be a greater emphasis on inclusive data governance policies that consider the unique contexts of the Global South. This approach ensures that technological advancements do not exacerbate existing inequalities but instead promote equitable development. How do you ensure the voices of affected communities are amplified in human rights advocacy? To amplify the voices of affected communities, it’s essential to engage in participatory advocacy, where community members are active contributors rather than passive recipients. Until the lion learns to speak, the tale of the hunt will always glorify the hunter. Capacity-building initiatives are a priority, and then we facilitate platforms for storytelling and ensure representation in decision-making processes. There are many ways. But by empowering communities to tell their own stories, we promote authentic advocacy that reflects their lived experiences. What role does technology play in advancing or hindering human rights efforts? How do you approach situations where governments deny or refute evidence of human rights abuses? Like I said earlier, technology serves as a double-edged sword, even in human rights efforts. On the one hand, it enables documentation, dissemination, and mobilisation, as seen in the use of mobile technology for human rights advocacy in Nigeria. On the other hand, it can be used for surveillance and censorship. So, in situations where governments deny evidence of abuses, it’s crucial to employ rigorous documentation methods, collaborate with international bodies, and leverage technology to gather and preserve irrefutable evidence, like we already do at the Center for Human Rights Science, where I am a fellow. What is your vision for the future of global human rights, and what steps do you believe are essential to achieve it? My vision for global human rights is a world where technological advancements are harnessed to promote equity, justice, and the well-being of every single individual irrespective of class, race, ethnicity, status, orientation, tech-enablement or gender, name it. This is why I speak about the need to develop inclusive policies that consider the unique contexts of the Global South, ensuring that AI and other technologies do not exacerbate existing inequalities. This is also why I speak about “Responsible AI,” not just “safe” or “productive,” but designed to respect human rights. But AI is a deterritorial technology; not one country can master the governance of it all hence, why we need to keep encouraging international cooperation, even when it is difficult, to address transnational challenges and share best practices. Nigerians and Africans have a relevant voice in the development and implementation of technologies that impact their lives, and we must work towards a future where the fundamental human rights of everyone are upheld even in the face of rapid technological change.
Article content The Toronto Raptors finished out 2024 similarly to how the team has fared all year — with a resounding loss. Toronto fell for the 10th game in a row, this time 136-107 against the visiting Atlanta Hawks on Sunday night. Eager to rebound from allowing the most points in franchise history on Boxing Day in Memphis, the Raptors defended a bit better and showed more fight, but were way too careless, turning the ball over nearly at will and once again simply could not hit three-point shots. With Trae Young (34 points) and DeAndre Hunter (22) cooking for the Hawks, the result never seemed much in doubt as Toronto fell to 7-25 on merit. Only two teams head into 2025 with fewer wins than this group. Scottie Barnes led the Raptors with 19 points, RJ Barrett added 17, but neither played particularly good games, nor did most of their teammates. The night actually started with good news though, with the Raptors saying pre-game that wing Bruce Brown would make his season debut following a series of false starts. Brown had not played in 7.5 months when an off-season of rest did not get his ailing knee back to 100%. Brown underwent surgery on the eve of training camp and had been working on reconditioning for more than a month, with a return expected to be imminent. Instead, as Brown explained on Saturday, it took far longer than expected for him to feel confident enough to suit up due to residual soreness, but the day finally came on Sunday. Brown looked sharp, throwing down a hammer dunk, playing strong defence and sending Gradey Dick in for a jam too at one point. Brown had eight points by halftime and finished with 12 off the bench. Toronto also welcomed back Jakob Poeltl, who had missed four games. The team is 4-33 without its starting centre over the last two seasons, but his timing seemed off as fouls piled up. Rookies Ja’Kobe Walter and Jamal Shead also played after missing one and two games, respectively. That gave Toronto as full a house as it has had for most of the season, even with backup point guard Davion Mitchell joining starter Immanuel Quickley on the sidelines. The Hawks played without Dyson Daniels, plus scoring guard Bogdan Bogdanovic and veteran big man Larry Nance Jr., who had played Saturday. The team shot 40% from three against Miami despite Young’s 2-for-9 performance. Toronto had six turnovers in the first three minutes of the game, keeping control of the ball on only one of the first seven possessions and 10 in the quarter. The Raptors finished with 31 turnovers, one off the franchise record. And it could have been even worse had Daniels, the NBA steals and deflections leader, been able to play. Atlanta is finding its form, with four straight wins. In a weird scheduling quirk, the Hawks will head from Toronto to Denver and then Los Angeles and beyond. Toronto next plays at Boston in an early tip Tuesday prior to New Year’s Eve, before hosting Brooklyn to kick off the New Year. Toronto went 20-62 since last January 1, one of the worst records in a calendar year since the franchise’s inception. @WolstatSunAustin Ekeler injury update: Commanders' RB exits after big hit vs. Cowboys
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A look back at 2024 in photosThis actress won the prestigious Miss India crown and appeared in over 25 films, gracing the covers of 108 magazines. Despite her success, she never had a solo hit. Can you guess this actress? Published: November 24, 2024 9:57 PM IST By Edited by This actress rose to fame in the 2000s, starring in several blockbuster films alongside Salman Khan and Ajay Devgn. She was also crowned Miss India and was the runner-up at the Miss Universe pageant. The actress is currently celebrating her 43rd birthday in Australia. Can you guess which actress are we talking about? Meet actress who quit Bollywood forever after becoming... Her name is none other than Celina Jaitley. She starred in superhit films like No Entry and Golmaal Returns. Her last appearance was in the 2011 film Thank You, featuring Akshay Kumar and Bobby Deol. She also made a cameo in the Kannada film Shrimathi in the same year. In 2012, Celina gave birth to twin boys and took a step back from the industry. Although Celina Jaitley has distanced herself from films, she remains active on social media, often sharing throwback photos, videos, and stories related to her film career. She also frequently posts pictures and videos with her children. Birthday Reflections On her birthday, Celina Jaitley shared a heartfelt post on Instagram, reflecting on her achievements and challenges. She posted a picture of herself striking a pose on the floor. Celina wrote, “Birthday Girl (hashtag). As I stand at another milestone, I can’t help but reflect on the incredible journey that has brought me here. From winning the Miss India crown to being the runner-up at Miss Universe...” She continued, “25 films, 36 brand endorsements, 108 top magazine covers, the blessing of twin boys, a Filmfare Award, the Harvey Milk Foundation’s Leela Watson Award, United Nations Ambassadorship, and countless unforgettable moments... I am here.” What does Celina do for a living? Celina shared how each achievement, experience, and challenge has shaped the woman she is today. “A woman who is grateful for the past and excited for what’s to come. Today is not just another birthday; it’s a day of transformation, rejuvenation, and watching myself grow. Stay with me, because so much more is to come!” For breaking news and live news updates, like us on or follow us on and . Read more on Latest on . TopicsPresident Nikos Christodoulides reportedly presented a plan of Cyprus’ possible future accession to NATO to US President Joe Biden at their meeting in October 30 at the White House. According to Katherini , the plan, which was “eagerly accepted” by Washington, is “detailed, well-thought-out, with long-term planning and consisting of many interdependent stages.” Kathimerini ’s correspondent in the US capital said the Christodoulides also presented the plan to NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte on the sidelines of the European Political Community Summit in Bucharest. Christodoulides, according to Kathimerini, sets as a priority the formalisation of the relationship between Cyprus and NATO. To achieve this, a chain of events must ensue, starting with developments on the Cyprus problem and progress on Euro-Turkish issues . Nicosia also asked the United States to procure US defence equipment through a three- or five-year agreement; further upgrade the field of training members of the National Guard in US military academies; and decisive contribution of the United States to the gradual modernisation of Cyprus’ defense capabilities and means to NATO standards.
These two institutions enslave climate-stricken nations with debt, making the consequences of any climate disaster that much worse. As yet another United Nations Climate Change Conference fails to produce a strong commitment to urgent climate action, the climate crisis is on course to get much worse. While its effects, such as unprecedented flooding, devastating droughts, storm surges, biodiversity loss and more intense hurricanes appear novel in the eyes of many in the Global North, these disasters have caused immeasurable destruction for decades across the Global South, especially the Caribbean. Extreme weather events not only threaten the economic viability of these societies, but also call into question the role of the most powerful international economic institutions, the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund. Intervention by these bodies has consistently worsened the economic situation of climate-stricken communities. This is why the World Bank and the IMF need to be abolished to save the planet and human lives. Caribbean island nations know this reality all too well. On July 1, Hurricane Beryl slammed into Grenada. Two of its island territories, Carriacou and Petite Martinique, were flattened, as Beryl damaged or destroyed nearly 100 percent of homes and devastated infrastructure. At least six people were killed. The neighbouring island nation of St Vincent and the Grenadines also suffered widespread destruction due to the hurricane. Across the two countries, as many as 80,000 people were affected, with 20,000 people made homeless and 11 killed. Jamaica was not spared either. The hurricane killed at least four people and affected 160,000. Farming communities suffered devastating losses. It has been now almost five months since the hurricane swept through the Caribbean and these communities are still struggling to recover. This is because these island nations have been taken hostage by disastrous deals with the IMF and the World Bank. Instead of helping a region that is at the epicentre of climate disasters, these two institutions force its nations into borrowing arrangements that prioritise austerity and objectives of global capital, rather than immediate and longer-term relief and recovery. As a result, communities suffer under increased public debt and reduced investment in supporting the social infrastructure necessary to respond to climate disasters and mitigate the effects of climate change. In addition, instead of offering unconditional relief and recovery funding on terms required to truly meet the needs of people, these entities have explicitly supported debt-related financial tools like catastrophe insurance or bonds, debt swaps, and now “disaster clauses” integrated into debt contracts. A disaster or hurricane clause adds to the contractual terms of a debt instrument the ability of a borrower to defer payments of interest and principal in the event of a qualifying natural disaster. The clause sets out the kinds of preconditions for specific events or triggers that would permit the borrower to temporarily defer repayments of interest, principal, or both for a period of one to two years. This mechanism does not reduce or eliminate debt. While it purports to offer “relief”, it brings further misery and onerous costs to climate-devastated governments and communities. Take for example the disaster clause, which has been praised and advocated by Caribbean economist and current climate finance adviser of the Inter-American Development Bank, Avinash Persaud, one of the architects of the “Bridgetown Initiative” for the reform of the international financial system. It can only be triggered when an arbitrary threshold like wind speed or financial cost of destruction during a hurricane has been satisfied or exceeded. In the case of Hurricane Beryl, Grenada was able to trigger this clause, but Jamaica was not able to make use of a similar financial tool. In Grenada’s case, the deferred payments will be added back to the principal in subsequent years. In Jamaica’s case, a catastrophe bond could not be used because the hurricane did not meet the so-called “air pressure” parameter, which means investors’ funds remain safe. A catastrophe bond is a high-yield debt instrument arranged by the World Bank and designed to raise money for insurance corporations in the event of a natural disaster. These investors profit as much as 15 percent returns on these instruments when they fail to pay out. If a payout was triggered, bondholders could have paid as much as $150m. These thresholds do not follow scientific evidence or consider the complicated nature and unpredictability of these disasters. That is because they are determined by financial analysts who pursue higher returns for investors. Without sufficient resources for recovery and relief efforts, Jamaica and Grenada may be forced to request recovery loans from the IMF and the World Bank, therefore increasing debt burdens even further. The long-term effect of these arrangements can be seen in Barbuda, Sint Maarten and Dominica, which were devastated by Category 5 Hurricanes Irma and Maria in 2017. My recent visits to these islands, which have not fully recovered, show that debt-related financial instruments are not just wholly inadequate, but utterly unjust. They cannot ensure the social, economic and environmental recovery of communities. In Dominica, for example, debt has mushroomed after the hurricane disaster as climate financing to help it “recover” came in the form of loans. As a result, the nation of 70,000 people is having to pay $30m per year just to service debt. As one Dominican taxi driver put it to me: “The true hurricane started after the hurricane passed.” The hardship that the IMF and the World Bank heap on climate-devastated communities falls in line with the legacies and realities of colonialism. The logic of their mechanisms can be traced back to the insurance system, capital markets, and financial instruments that fuelled the transatlantic slave trade. During that time, enslaved Africans were viewed as chattel and nonhuman property, ships owned by enslavers were insured by major brokers, and slave-produced commodities received investment from colonial governments and financial corporations. These all aimed to accumulate the wealth that produced metropolitan Europe. The World Bank and the IMF operate today as neocolonial institutions that continue the agenda of Euro-American imperial powers. They do not act to mitigate disasters but perpetuate them through debt bondage imposed on climate-devastated countries in the Caribbean and elsewhere. In this moment of multiple, intersecting crises, they are unsuited for the perils and challenges of the climate crisis. To be sure, the World Bank and the IMF were not intended to serve “The Wretched of the Earth” to borrow Frantz Fanon’s language. They were created to prop up Euro-American supremacy and hegemony and protect the interests of global capital. We therefore cannot expect these bodies to be reformed and operate against the economic and political interests of imperial powers and big capital. We need a global movement that calls for and acts on abolishing these institutions for us to meet the demands of these critical times. We need to do away with the World Bank and the IMF for the sake of human lives and for the sake of the planet. The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeera’s editorial stance.
China’s new hobbies will be bad news for most retailers. A fad for biking, hiking, and other physical endeavours has helped companies like $10 billion Amer Sports AS.N tempt shoppers, and the maker of trail shoes and skis is growing sales despite a sluggish economy. But a yen for adventure won’t necessarily be a boon for other brands. Amer, known for its Arc’teryx, Salomon and Wilson brands, will report results for the three months to the end ofSeptember on Tuesday. Quarterly revenue from Greater China is forecast to top $280 million and account for around a fifth of the total, according to the average of analysts’ forecast collected by Visible Alpha. That puts the region’s sales growth on track to hit 40% this year – outpacing other markets. Since Amer’s New York listing in January, its shares have sprinted ahead 50% and now trade on 28 times earnings for the next 12 months, a premium to pure-play consumer stocks like LVMH LVMH.PA and Chinese liquor giant Kweichow Moutai 600519.SS, which both trade on 20 times. Other outdoorsy bets are also enjoying a good run. Sales of Lululemon LULU.O athletic apparel, Shimano 7309.T bike gear and Deckers Outdoor’s DECK.N Hoka sneakers are all climbing. Events such as marathons and even ultra marathons are increasingly common, and popular: only 15% of applicants for the Beijing Marathon nabbed a spot last year. The market for sports clothing and footwear could expand at a compound annual growth rate of 9% between 2022 and 2027, per Euromonitor research cited in Amer’s prospectus. To compare, luxury sales in the world’s second-largesteconomy areforecast to fall by a fifth or more this year, according to a recent Bain & Companyreport. However, overall consumer goods and services aren’t generally keeping up with niche outdoor brands. True, retail sales grew 4.8% year-on-year in October, the fastest pace since February. But government stimulus and incentives flattered the figures by temporarily boosting purchases of big-ticket items like cars and electronics, according to Tommy Wu, an economist at Commerzbank. E-commerce giants Alibaba 9988.HK and JD.com 9618.HK reported tepid earnings last week. Returning retail sales growthto pre-pandemic norms around 10% will be a slog. One reason is that many shoppers now value experiences more than material acquisitions against a gloomy economic outlook. This trend also explains recent phenomena such as so-called “special forces travel” – eschewing once-popular shopping destinations like Paris or Hong Kong for domestic tourist hotspots on a minimal budget – and the rise of camping and road trips. If that’s the trend, China’s big spenders could be more inclined to splurge on hostels and hiking poles thanLouis Vuitton handbags. Some might not buy anything at all: a recent rage for nocturnal cycling involvesstudents spendingthe equivalent of a few dollars each to borrow bikes. Investors can find consumer bright spots, but the retail sector isn’t out of the woods. Source: Reuters Breakingviews (Editing by Robyn Mak and Aditya Srivastav)WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — An online spat between factions of Donald Trump's supporters over immigration and the tech industry has thrown internal divisions in his political movement into public display, previewing the fissures and contradictory views his coalition could bring to the White House. The rift laid bare the tensions between the newest flank of Trump's movement — wealthy members of the tech world including billionaire Elon Musk and fellow entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy and their call for more highly skilled workers in their industry — and people in Trump's Make America Great Again base who championed his hardline immigration policies. The debate touched off this week when Laura Loomer , a right-wing provocateur with a history of racist and conspiratorial comments, criticized Trump’s selection of Sriram Krishnan as an adviser on artificial intelligence policy in his coming administration. Krishnan favors the ability to bring more skilled immigrants into the U.S. Loomer declared the stance to be “not America First policy” and said the tech executives who have aligned themselves with Trump were doing so to enrich themselves. Much of the debate played out on the social media network X, which Musk owns. Loomer's comments sparked a back-and-forth with venture capitalist and former PayPal executive David Sacks , whom Trump has tapped to be the “White House A.I. & Crypto Czar." Musk and Ramaswamy, whom Trump has tasked with finding ways to cut the federal government , weighed in, defending the tech industry's need to bring in foreign workers. It bloomed into a larger debate with more figures from the hard-right weighing in about the need to hire U.S. workers, whether values in American culture can produce the best engineers, free speech on the internet, the newfound influence tech figures have in Trump's world and what his political movement stands for. Trump has not yet weighed in on the rift, and his presidential transition team did not respond to a message seeking comment. Musk, the world's richest man who has grown remarkably close to the president-elect , was a central figure in the debate, not only for his stature in Trump's movement but his stance on the tech industry's hiring of foreign workers. Technology companies say H-1B visas for skilled workers, used by software engineers and others in the tech industry, are critical for hard-to-fill positions. But critics have said they undercut U.S. citizens who could take those jobs. Some on the right have called for the program to be eliminated, not expanded. Born in South Africa, Musk was once on an a H-1B visa himself and defended the industry's need to bring in foreign workers. “There is a permanent shortage of excellent engineering talent," he said in a post. “It is the fundamental limiting factor in Silicon Valley.” Trump's own positions over the years have reflected the divide in his movement. His tough immigration policies, including his pledge for a mass deportation, were central to his winning presidential campaign. He has focused on immigrants who come into the U.S. illegally but he has also sought curbs on legal immigration , including family-based visas. As a presidential candidate in 2016, Trump called the H-1B visa program “very bad” and “unfair” for U.S. workers. After he became president, Trump in 2017 issued a “Buy American and Hire American” executive order , which directed Cabinet members to suggest changes to ensure H-1B visas were awarded to the highest-paid or most-skilled applicants to protect American workers. Trump's businesses, however, have hired foreign workers, including waiters and cooks at his Mar-a-Lago club , and his social media company behind his Truth Social app has used the the H-1B program for highly skilled workers. During his 2024 campaign for president, as he made immigration his signature issue, Trump said immigrants in the country illegally are “poisoning the blood of our country" and promised to carry out the largest deportation operation in U.S. history. But in a sharp departure from his usual alarmist message around immigration generally, Trump told a podcast this year that he wants to give automatic green cards to foreign students who graduate from U.S. colleges. “I think you should get automatically, as part of your diploma, a green card to be able to stay in this country," he told the “All-In" podcast with people from the venture capital and technology world. Those comments came on the cusp of Trump's budding alliance with tech industry figures, but he did not make the idea a regular part of his campaign message or detail any plans to pursue such changes.
Dehradun: The Defence Geoinformatics Research Establishment (DGRE), a laboratory of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), on Sunday issued an orange alert for an avalanche at an altitude of over 3,000 metres in Uttarakhand's Chamoli district over the next 24 hours. The alert is for a period of 24 hours from 5 pm on Sunday to 5 pm on Monday. ET Year-end Special Reads What kept India's stock market investors on toes in 2024? India's car race: How far EVs went in 2024 Investing in 2025: Six wealth management trends to watch out for Uttarakhand State Disaster Management Authority Joint Chief Executive Officer Mohammad Obaidullah Ansari wrote to the district magistrate of Chamoli and drew his attention to the DGRE's orange alert (level 3) for the area. He asked him to take appropriate safety and precautionary measures in view of the alert. All officials concerned should be in alert mode, he said in a communication to the district magistrate. The areas located above 2,500 metres in Chamoli district have witnessed a spell of heavy snowfall over the past few days while the lower areas have received light to medium showers. Artificial Intelligence(AI) Java Programming with ChatGPT: Learn using Generative AI By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) Basics of Generative AI: Unveiling Tomorrows Innovations By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) Generative AI for Dynamic Java Web Applications with ChatGPT By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) Mastering C++ Fundamentals with Generative AI: A Hands-On By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) Master in Python Language Quickly Using the ChatGPT Open AI By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Marketing Performance Marketing for eCommerce Brands By - Zafer Mukeri, Founder- Inara Marketers View Program Office Productivity Zero to Hero in Microsoft Excel: Complete Excel guide 2024 By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Finance A2Z Of Money By - elearnmarkets, Financial Education by StockEdge View Program Marketing Modern Marketing Masterclass by Seth Godin By - Seth Godin, Former dot com Business Executive and Best Selling Author View Program Astrology Vastu Shastra Course By - Sachenkumar Rai, Vastu Shashtri View Program Strategy Succession Planning Masterclass By - Nigel Penny, Global Strategy Advisor: NSP Strategy Facilitation Ltd. View Program Data Science SQL for Data Science along with Data Analytics and Data Visualization By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) AI and Analytics based Business Strategy By - Tanusree De, Managing Director- Accenture Technology Lead, Trustworthy AI Center of Excellence: ATCI View Program Web Development A Comprehensive ASP.NET Core MVC 6 Project Guide for 2024 By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Marketing Digital Marketing Masterclass by Pam Moore By - Pam Moore, Digital Transformation and Social Media Expert View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) AI-Powered Python Mastery with Tabnine: Boost Your Coding Skills By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Office Productivity Mastering Microsoft Office: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and 365 By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Marketing Digital marketing - Wordpress Website Development By - Shraddha Somani, Digital Marketing Trainer, Consultant, Strategiest and Subject Matter expert View Program Office Productivity Mastering Google Sheets: Unleash the Power of Excel and Advance Analysis By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Web Development Mastering Full Stack Development: From Frontend to Backend Excellence By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Finance Financial Literacy i.e Lets Crack the Billionaire Code By - CA Rahul Gupta, CA with 10+ years of experience and Accounting Educator View Program Data Science SQL Server Bootcamp 2024: Transform from Beginner to Pro By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Badrinath-Kedarnath temple committee media incharge Harish Gaur said the sun rose after a gap of several days in Badrinath on Sunday but there is one and a half feet of snow frozen at the Himalayan temple. (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel )Should the U.S. increase immigration levels for highly skilled workers?