gun online game
Chuck Woolery, game show host of 'Love Connection' and 'Scrabble,' dies at 83
Bishop Matthew Kukah, the Catholic Archbishop of Sokoto Diocese, has described President Bola Tinubu, his predecessor Muhammadu Buhari, and other past Nigerian leaders as products of an “accidental leadership cycle.” According to Kukah, many of these leaders assumed power without adequate preparation, particularly in a world where the demands of governance are constantly evolving. Kukah made these remarks on Sunday while delivering a keynote address during the commissioning of the new Start-Rite School building and the 4th Amaka Ndoma-Egba Memorial Lecture in Abuja. Reflecting on Nigeria’s leadership history, Bishop Kukah highlighted a recurring pattern of unpreparedness among the country’s leaders. “If we look at Nigeria’s leadership journey, you will find that almost every leader who came to power did so by accident,” he said. “President Tinubu, despite claiming to be prepared for the role, is clearly struggling. We are still trying to find our footing. He took over from Buhari, who had already disengaged from governance.” Read also: Okpebholo sets up panel to probe Obaseki’s administration Kukah continued, “Buhari succeeded Jonathan, a man who never envisioned himself as president but was thrust into leadership due to circumstances. Jonathan took over from Yar’Adua, who planned to return to teaching after his governorship. Yar’Adua succeeded Obasanjo, who was unexpectedly released from prison to become president. Before that, Obasanjo replaced Abacha, who was poised to rule indefinitely until nature intervened. Abacha followed Shonekan, a business executive abruptly drafted to lead the country. The cycle is evident, and the missing link in all of this is knowledge and preparation.” Kukah argued that while Nigeria has embraced democratic principles like “one man, one vote,” its democratic process has repeatedly failed to deliver competent leadership. He stressed that modern leadership requires a deep understanding of the evolving environment and challenges. Opinions Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs. As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake. If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause. Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development. Donate NowNEW YORK (AP) — Yankees slugger Aaron Judge wins his second AL MVP award after leading MLB with 58 home runs.
NEW YORK , Nov. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Report on how AI is redefining market landscape - The global fitness app market size is estimated to grow by USD 55.86 billion from 2024-2028, according to Technavio. The market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 17.78% during the forecast period. Empowering health management amid rising incidence of chronic diseases is driving market growth, with a trend towards innovative coaching platform approach with integrated video workout features. However, failing in user engagement and retention poses a challenge.Key market players include Adidas AG, Alphabet Inc., Apple Inc., ASICS Corp., Azumio Inc., BetterMe Ltd., Diverse Retails Pvt. Ltd., Fiit Ltd., Fitness Connection, Fooducate Ltd., Garmin Ltd., Jefit Inc., MINDBODY Inc., Nike Inc., PEAR Sports LLC, Polar Electro Oy, Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd., Squats Fitness Pvt. Ltd., Under Armour Inc., Wahoo Fitness LLC, WellDoc Inc., and YAZIO GmbH. Key insights into market evolution with AI-powered analysis. Explore trends, segmentation, and growth drivers- View Free Sample PDF Market Driver Fitness apps have become a major trend in the health and wellness industry, with mobile subscribers turning to these digital platforms for convenient, personalized fitness solutions. Advanced features such as activity tracking, calorie counting, and diet monitoring are driving the highest retention rates. The integration of artificial intelligence and machine learning enables customized fitness plans and nutrition guidance. In-app fitness, online training, and virtual fitness classes offer flexibility for users, while wearable technology like smartwatches and fitness trackers help monitor progress. The future of fitness is here, with personalized plans, mental well-being education, and health and hygiene awareness. Regulatory frameworks ensure safety and quality, making fitness apps a popular alternative to conventional gyms and fitness studios. In-home fitness equipment and smart devices offer additional convenience. Personal training fees are now affordable with subscription models, making professional guidance accessible to all. Join the Health Works Collective and Future Fitness to stay ahead of the curve. The global fitness app market is witnessing an emerging trend with the integration of advanced coaching platforms. These platforms offer video workout and video-on-demand (VOD) features, enhancing user experience with more interactive and personalized fitness routines. Major companies are developing innovative coaching solutions to cater to the growing demand for convenience, flexibility, and expert guidance. The integration of video functionality into coaching platforms signifies a shift towards more effective and engaging fitness experiences. This trend is expected to significantly contribute to the growth of the fitness app market during the forecast period. Request Sample of our comprehensive report now to stay ahead in the AI-driven market evolution! Fitness apps have revolutionized the way we approach health and wellness. With features like activity tracking, calorie counting, and diet monitoring, these apps help users stay aware of their fitness levels. Advanced features, such as artificial intelligence and machine learning, provide personalized fitness plans and nutrition guidance. In-app fitness and virtual training offer convenience for those who prefer working out at home. Smart devices like laptops, Phones, tablets, and wearable technology enable seamless integration. However, regulatory frameworks ensure health and hygiene standards are met. Despite the competition from conventional fitness studios, gyms, and personal training, fitness apps boast the highest retention rates due to their affordability and accessibility. Future Fitness and Health Works Collective lead the market with advanced technology and education. Online platforms offer subscriptions for mental well-being, workout routines, and personalized diet charts. The future of fitness is here, and it's in your hands. The global fitness app market faces substantial hurdles in maintaining user engagement and retention. Although the number of initial downloads can be impressive, keeping users engaged over an extended period proves to be more challenging. This issue is exacerbated by the multitude of competing apps, causing user churn as individuals seek out new features and experiences. To sustain engagement, providing fresh and captivating content, such as innovative workout routines, challenges, and motivational rewards, is essential. Neglecting to do so may result in users losing interest or abandoning the app. Furthermore, delivering a smooth user experience and addressing technical concerns promptly is vital for retaining trust and loyalty. Discover how AI is revolutionizing market trends- Get your access now! This fitness app market report extensively covers market segmentation by 1.1 Female 1.2 Male 2.1 Lifestyle monitoring 2.2 Health monitoring 2.3 Others 3.1 North America 3.2 APAC 3.3 Europe 3.4 South America 3.5 Middle East and Africa Fitness apps have revolutionized the way we approach health and wellness, offering convenient and customized solutions for users. These apps provide a wide range of features, from in-app fitness classes and online personal training to activity tracking and diet charts. Virtual fitness has gained immense popularity, allowing users to access workouts and training sessions from the comfort of their homes. Subscriptions offer flexible plans for unlimited access to these features. Awareness of fitness and mental well-being is at an all-time high, leading in demand for fitness apps. Regulatory frameworks ensure the safety and effectiveness of these apps, while smart devices, laptops, phones, and tablets make accessibility a breeze for smartphone users. Health and hygiene are prioritized with features like virtual classes and contactless payments. Personal training and group classes are available online, catering to various fitness levels and goals. Stay tuned for more updates from the dynamic world of fitness apps. Fitness apps have revolutionized the way we approach health and wellness, offering advanced features like activity tracking, calorie counting, and diet chart monitoring. These apps cater to both in-home and virtual fitness experiences, allowing users to access workout routines and personalized fitness plans from their smartphones, laptops, tablets, and wearable devices. In-app education and nutrition guidance provide valuable insights into maintaining a healthy lifestyle, while machine learning and artificial intelligence help tailor plans to individual needs. Virtual fitness training offers convenience and flexibility, with personal training available online at lower costs than conventional studios or gyms. Mental well-being is also prioritized, with features promoting mindfulness and stress management. With the highest retention rates among mobile subscribers, fitness apps are the future of health and fitness, adhering to regulatory frameworks and promoting health and hygiene. 1 Executive Summary 2 Market Landscape 3 Market Sizing 4 Historic Market Size 5 Five Forces Analysis 6 Market Segmentation Gender Female Male Application Lifestyle Monitoring Health Monitoring Others Geography North America APAC Europe South America Middle East And Africa 7 Customer Landscape 8 Geographic Landscape 9 Drivers, Challenges, and Trends 10 Company Landscape 11 Company Analysis 12 Appendix Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focuses on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios. Technavio Research Jesse Maida Media & Marketing Executive US: +1 844 364 1100 UK: +44 203 893 3200 Email: [email protected] Website: www.technavio.com/ SOURCE TechnavioIn the summer of 2015, three Syrian girls who had narrowly survived an airstrike some weeks earlier stood before Tulsi Gabbard with horrific burns all over their bodies. Gabbard, then a US congresswoman on a visit to the Syria-Turkey border as part of her duties for the foreign affairs committee, had a question for them. “How do you know it was Bashar al-Assad or Russia that bombed you, and not Isis?’” she asked, according to Mouaz Moustafa, a Syrian activist who was translating her conversation with the girls. It was a revealing insight into Gabbard’s conspiratorial views of the conflict, and it shocked Moustafa to silence. He knew, as even the young children did, that Isis did not have jets to launch airstrikes. It was such an absurd question that he chose not to translate it because he didn’t want to upset the girls, the eldest of whom was 12. “From that point on, I’m sorry to say I was inaccurate in my translations of anything she said,” Moustafa told . “It was more like: How do I get these girls away from this devil?” Even before Gabbard left the Democratic Party, ingratiated herself with Donald Trump and secured his nomination to become director of National Intelligence, she was known as a prolific peddler of Russian propaganda. In almost every foreign conflict in which Russia had a hand, Gabbard backed Moscow and railed against the US. Her past promotion of Kremlin propaganda has provoked on both sides of the aisle to her nomination. Her journey from anti-war Democrat to Moscow-friendly Maga warrior began in Syria. The devastating conflict was sparked by pro-democracy uprisings in 2011, which were brutally crushed by the Assad regime. It descended into a complex web of factions that drew extremist Islamists from around the world and global powers into the fray. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), a UK-based monitoring group with a network of sources on the ground, . It said at least 162,390 civilians had died in that same time, with the Syrian government and its allies responsible for 139,609 of those deaths. But Gabbard, a veteran of the Iraq War, viewed it all as a “ ” fueled by the West and aimed at removing the dictator from power. She saw Assad – and Russia, when it entered the conflict – as legitimate defenders of the state against an extremist uprising. In 2015, when Russia entered the Syrian war on the side of the dictator Assad, Gabbard expressed support for the move, even as the civilian toll from Moscow’s devastating airstrikes . “Al-Qaeda attacked us on 9/11 and must be defeated. Obama won’t bomb them in Syria. Putin did. #neverforget911,” she wrote on Twitter. It was precisely because of her support for Assad and Russia’s war that Moustafa was keen for her to attend the congressional delegation to southern Turkey to meet the victims of the conflict. “From experience, everyone that we bring over to the border, and they see the victims, they always come back with a realistic view of what’s happening and who is behind the mass displacement and killing and atrocities and so on, and so that was the objective,” he said. “What was shocking was her lack of empathy. She’ll sacrifice the facts, even when it came to little girls in front of her telling her they got bombed by a plane – it didn’t matter.” Charles Lister, a senior fellow at the Middle East Institute who testified twice on Syria to the House Foreign Affairs Committee when Gabbard was a member, spent years debunking her various conspiracy theories about the war. “Her consistent denial of the Syrian regime’s crimes is so wildly fringe that her potential appointment as DNI is genuinely alarming,” he told . Lister said her views “appear to be driven by a strange fusion of America First isolationism and a belief in the value of autocratic and secular leaders in confronting extremism.” They included a suggestion that Syrian rebels chemical weapons attack against their supporters to provoke Western intervention against Assad — something the US intelligence agencies she will soon lead had concluded was false. She declined to call Assad a war criminal , despite masses of evidence, and used a video of Syrian government bombings to in the war. “Her descriptions of the crisis in Syria read like they were composed in Assad’s personal office, or in Tehran or Moscow – not Washington,” Lister added. Gabbard was not swayed by meeting the victims of Assad’s airstrikes in 2015. In fact, two years later, she went to Damascus to meet the Syrian president in person and came away even more convinced of her opinions. The congresswoman said her visit to meet Assad – the first by a sitting US lawmaker since the conflict began – was aimed at bringing an end to the war. “I felt it’s important that if we profess to truly care about the Syrian people, about their suffering, then we’ve got to be able to meet with anyone that we need to if there is a possibility that we could achieve peace,” she told CNN at the time. Gabbard was forced to defend her embrace of Assad and other dictators during her 2020 run for the Democratic presidential nomination. During the Democratic primary debate, she clashed with Kamala Harris, who accused her of being “an apologist for an individual – Assad – who has murdered the people of his country like cockroaches.” “She has embraced and been an apologist for him in a way that she refuses to call him a war criminal. I can only take what she says and her opinion so seriously and so I’m prepared to move on,” added Harris, who would subsequently drop out of the race and later be selected as Joe Biden’s running mate. When Russia invaded Ukraine, Gabbard again found herself defending Russian aggression. “This war and suffering could have easily been avoided if Biden Admin/Nato had simply acknowledged Russia’s legitimate security concerns,” she posted on Twitter in 2022. Gabbard appeared to fall for various conspiracy theories about the conflict that were promoted by Russia, as she had done in Syria. One of those conspiracy theories was a Russian claim about the existence of in Ukraine that were supposedly producing deadly pathogens. She later walked back on those remarks, suggesting that there might have been some “miscommunication and misunderstanding.” Gabbard’s frequent echoing of Kremlin talking points has earned her praise in Russian state media. Indeed, an article published on 15 November in the Russian-state controlled outlet RIA Novosti went so far as to Gabbard a “superwoman.” The possibility that Trump would tap someone with Gabbard’s history to be America’s top intelligence official shouldn’t be a surprise to anyone who followed the president-elect’s first four years in the White House. During his 2018 summit with President Vladimir Putin in Helsinki, the then-president was asked if he believed the US intelligence community’s assessment, which stated that Russia had interfered in the 2016 presidential election on his behalf. That assessment was based on analysis of what was determined to have been state-sponsored campaigns of fake social media posts and ersatz news sites to spread false stories about his Democratic opponent, Hillary Clinton, as well as cyberattacks targeting the Democratic National Committee and prominent operatives associated with the Clinton campaign. But Trump, who’d just spent several hours in a closed-door meeting with Putin, stunned the assembled press and the entire world by declaring that he trusted the Russian leader’s word over that of his own advisers. "President Putin says it’s not Russia. I don’t see any reason why it would be," he replied. Trump would go on to repeatedly clash with his own intelligence appointees during the remainder of his term. He sacked his first DNI, former Indiana senator Dan Coats, after Coats repeatedly declined to back away from the government’s assessment of what Russia had done during the 2016 presidential race. Larry Pfeiffer, the director of George Mason University’s Hayden Center for Intelligence, Policy, and International Security, said Gabbard’s apparent susceptibility to foreign disinformation and her affinity for strongmen will give pause to American allies with whom the US routinely shares intelligence on common threats. Intelligence services, he explained, are notoriously territorial and tight-lipped on sources and methods – particularly when it comes to so-called human intelligence, or Humint, which refers to information collected by and from spies and sources within hostile governments. Pfeiffer said foreign allies are likely already concerned about how a second Trump administration will handle intelligence, given the president-elect’s record. He also predicted that Gabbard’s confirmation as DNI would cause even more problems among skittish partners. “I think they wouldn’t feel like they’ve got an American confidant that they can deal with on a mature level,” he said. “I can guarantee you that the foreign intelligence services of Europe, including the Brits, are all having little side conversations right now about ... what is this going to mean, and how are we going to operate, and what are we going to do now.” The former US intelligence veteran also said Gabbard’s record of spreading foreign talking points calls into question whether she will be able to carry out the DNI’s important responsibility of briefing the president on threats to the nation. He told : “Somebody like Tulsi Gabbard, you look at her long history of statements that seem to come out of the Kremlin’s notebook, her propensity to be influenced by their viewpoint – [it] raises questions as to whether she has the ability to present the intel community’s perspective as it is, or is she going to be one who’s going to want to discount it, influence it, color and change it, or ignore it and just present her own view? “I think it also raises questions of judgement. You know, here’s an individual who seems very prone to misinformation, prone to conspiracy theory. That should worry anybody who’s worried about America’s national security,” he added. Trump’s selection of the ex-Hawaii congresswoman could be a problem for the senators tasked with confirming her, on several different levels. For one, the position is unique among cabinet agencies in that there are strict requirements for who can serve in the director’s role. The text of the 2004 law which established the ODNI in the wake of the 9/11 terror attacks on New York and Washington and the intelligence community’s failures leading up to the US invasion of Iraq, specifically states that any person who serves in the DNI job “shall have extensive national security expertise.” The first person to serve as DNI, John Negroponte, was a widely respected foreign service veteran who had served as US ambassador to Iraq, Mexico, Honduras and the Philippines, as the country’s ambassador to the United Nations, and as a deputy national security adviser during the Reagan administration. The next three people to hold the office were flag-rank military officers with significant intelligence experience. Pfeiffer, a US intelligence veteran of three decades’ standing who once ran the White House Situation Room and served as chief of staff to then-CIA director General Michael Hayden, told that Gabbard’s experience in the House and her military service, while admirable, do not match the standards envisioned by the authors of the 2004 law which established the office. “That’s national security experience ... but she was a freaking military cop ... operating at a largely tactical level, not that strategic, long-term national security perspective that one would expect,” he said. Gabbard may have left the Syrian conflict behind, but Moustafa still works with its victims every day. And he believes the connection between her views on Syria and Ukraine is clear. “What happened in Syria is what allowed the Russians to feel that they could do the very same in Ukraine,” he said. “And what she is doing with Ukraine shows that it goes beyond her maybe misunderstanding one conflict. She is, hook, line and sinker, a Russian puppet.”Southampton’s Jack Stephens sees red for hair-pull as five-star Chelsea hammer dismal Saints
Congressional bicameral team pushes for insurance, pharmaceutical reformTraders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange, in New York City. NEW YORK - Wall Street stocks surged to fresh records Dec 4, extending a post-election rally on optimism about more interest rate cuts and for an artificial intelligence boom after strong Salesforce results. All three major indices scored records, led by the Dow Jones Industrial Average, which finished above 45,000 for the first time. “The market at this point is looking for excuses to go up, and there’s not really anything that might work against that narrative,” said Mr Steve Sosnick of Interactive Brokers. “Over the last couple of days, it’s managed to ignore all sorts of inconvenient things,” Mr Sosnick said of the market’s shrugging response to political upheaval in France and South Korea. The Dow Jones Industrial Average finished up 0.7 per cent at 45,014.04. The broad-based S&P 500 gained 0.6 per cent to 6,086.49, its fourth straight record, while the tech-rich Nasdaq Composite Index jumped 1.3 per cent to 19,735.12, its third straight record. Wednesday’s gains came after payroll firm ADP said US private-sector hiring in November came in at a lower-than-expected 146,000 jobs, while a survey from the Institute for Supply Management showed weaker sentiment than expected in the services sector. But the lacklustre data boosts expectations that the Federal Reserve will cut interest rates later in December. At a New York conference, Federal Reserve chairman Jerome Powell refrained from tipping his hand, but he “didn’t say anything that would scare the market,” said Briefing.com analyst Patrick O’Hare. Mr O’Hare noted that the Dec 4 gains were led by large tech names such as Nvidia and Microsoft, which are major AI players. The boost followed strong results from Salesforce, which was the biggest gainer in the Dow with an 11 per cent jump. AFP Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you. Read 3 articles and stand to win rewards Spin the wheel now
(The Center Square) – Legislators in Washington, D.C., have taken a number of steps over the past few days to push for insurance and pharmaceutical reforms to be passed before the end of the year. On Wednesday, a bicameral group of Republican and Democrat lawmakers held a press conference discussing the need for pharmacy benefit manager reform to protect small pharmacies across the country and “save lives.” “Whether you are a Republican, Democrat, or an independent, we all want the same thing. We want accessible, affordable, quality health care,” said Rep. Buddy Carter, R-Ga. “We’re not here today to just discuss one bill or to discuss just one patient’s story. We're here because there's broad, bipartisan pharmacy benefit manager, or PBM, reform that is needed to save lives.” Pharmacy benefit managers are the middlemen responsible for managing the drug prices covered by health insurance plans. According to the Harvard Political Review , the problem with pharmacy benefit managers is that they “have vertically integrated with pharmacy chains and health insurers through massive conglomerates.” That then allows them to abuse their power to cut out small pharmacies and increase prices. Carter also signed a letter that was released last week calling on the Department of Justice to dig into the role pharmacy benefit managers played in the opioid epidemic. Reps. Raja Krishnamoorthi, D-Ill., Deborah Ross, D-N.C., and Cliff Benz, R-Ore., all joined him in signing that letter. “The opioid crisis has devastated communities in North Carolina and across the country, and PBMs may have fueled it by prioritizing profits over people,” Ross said on social media . “That’s why I joined a letter calling on the DOJ to investigate their role and hold these bad actors accountable.” The letter looked at recent reports on the largest pharmacy benefit managers, CVS Caremark, Express Scripts, and OptumRx which state that they “colluded and conspired to steer patients towards OxyContin in exchange for $400 million.” OxyContin is a trade name for the narcotic oxycodone hydrochloride, a painkiller available by prescription only. This and the general “lack of transparency” is just one of the many complaints that legislators aired on Wednesday. “My colleagues who are joining me today, Democrats and Republicans ... all recognize that PBMs are decreasing the accessibility, the affordability, and therefore the quality of health care in America,” Carter said. “We have an opportunity, right now, to advance bipartisan legislation that increases reporting requirements, which would heighten transparency and shine a light on the opaque practices of these PBMs.” Carter was also joined by Sen. James Lankford, R-Okla., who is leading the effort to get legislation passed in the U.S. Senate. “This year, we're losing about one pharmacy a day in America,” Lankford said. “We want leadership to be able to take this up and to bring it up in the end-of-year package ... Stop holding up legislation that is bipartisan, bicameral, and solving a problem that Americans need solved.”Big AI bets, demand reboot: Indian IT sector `bytes’ into 2025 with cautious optimism
For those of us paying attention in the customer service space, there are new developments in artificial intelligence integrations every week. These developments promise to do everything your regular customer service team can and should be doing, improving your customer satisfaction scores, reducing your overall costs, and, perhaps, tucking you into bed at night with a sweet bedtime story. KEN EASTHOUSE As with all things in the tech space, however, bigger promises come with larger costs. And while large organizations may be able to experiment with new technologies, start-ups should be more hesitant to throw money at unproven technologies. That’s not to say all AI systems should be off the table. Organizations looking to bolster their customer service departments should be investing in AI systems. But new technologies and systems are constantly being developed, and navigating the industry at the onset can be costly to an organization. Before you commit to a new AI project for your customer service team, here are a few helpful steps to consider: First, understand your organization’s goals for the customer service team. AI systems should directly impact reportable targets for your team. Are you focused on deflections so you can reduce headcount, or are you focused on customer satisfaction improvement? There are dozens of different KPIs (Key Performance Indicators) your team can use to measure your team’s overall success. Which ones are you looking to bolster with your AI systems? Be candid in your discussions with your team about your goals and defining what a successful AI system will look like for your overall performance. Just remember: the more KPIs you expect an AI system to help, the more complex it will need to be by necessity. The temptation here will always be to focus on deflections, and with good reason. It’s basic math: the more emails and chats you can deflect before they reach your customer service team, the fewer agents you have to make available to otherwise answer those inquiries. These chatbots can — and should — be able to handle the low-hanging fruit within your inquiries, allowing your agents to focus on more difficult tasks. Improving customer satisfaction is a more nebulous proposition. Certainly by deflecting contacts with automated systems you can create an overall better customer experience, but that’s not always the full equation. For example, customer service departments that have ongoing relationships with their customers can benefit from AI systems that can create customer summaries based on call history. This lets your reps have a quick, paragraph summary of your customer’s history when they call, instead of requiring them to read through dozens of call notes, thus improving accuracy and customer satisfaction. Second, know that most AI systems are only as good as the information you can input into them. An AI system will not be able to magically answer your customer’s questions if you do not have good data to feed it. This is part of the “generative AI” buzzword that gets all of the attention: if you don’t have a robust FAQ or Help page to help train your AI system, your AI system will make more mistakes when answering customer inquiries, leading to greater dissatisfaction overall. Take time to build those before you invest in AI, and then the AI system integration will run much smoother. Some systems can go back and read your historical contacts and learn from those. Of course, that usually costs some additional bandwidth for whatever AI system you choose, so expect that discussion. Historical information isn’t always a good thing, however. How often do you have updates to your product? It can become tricky if, for example, your product didn’t have a highly-demanded feature a few months ago, and suddenly, it does. That’s a lot of AI training to overcome for a significant product update, and can lead to confusion for your customers, your customer service team, and the system. Along with that AI training is the understanding that training your AI system is not a “set it and forget it” process. As your company grows and develops new products and features, you will need to dedicate resources to consistently improve and update the AI training. Failure to do so can cause added customer confusion, particularly when they want to know about those new features. Finally, know your customer base. While many tech-savvy Millennials and Gen-Z professionals are happy to embrace new AI technologies, not every customer base is as open to adopting new technologies. Work with your marketing and customer experience teams and understand the demographics they are targeting to better understand your customers and their tolerance for new technology. It’s a brave new world in the customer service field; one where new promises are being made and new innovations are constantly under development. CS managers and directors shouldn’t shy away from this new world, but neither should they fully embrace it without a solid roadmap.Politics chat: Stepping down from the cabinet could potentially benefit Matt Gaetz
Farmers call for 'Punjab Bandh' today, emergency services to remain openStatewide requirements to help prevent copper wire theft will become law on Jan. 1 despite a lawsuit by the scrap metal workers claiming the legislation will effectively shut down their industry. The new law requires anyone recycling scrap metal copper for profit to obtain a state-issued license. Licensed electricians and other trade and contracting groups are exempt. Last month, the Upper Midwest Chapter of the Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries Inc. filed a civil suit against the Minnesota Department of Commerce alleging the law would negatively impact the scrap metal industry. Attorney General Keith Ellison’s office has filed a motion for dismissal on behalf of the State of Minnesota and Department of Commerce, which is set for a hearing in February. On Dec. 18, a Ramsey County judge denied a temporary restraining order requesting to pause the law from being enacted. Ramsey County Chief Judge Sara Grewing said the harm cities face if the law was blocked “far outweighed” the consequences to the industry. The new law partially stems from both St. Paul and Minneapolis experiencing a rash of costly copper wire thefts from municipal lampposts. In April, government officials testified that the law would help prevent copper wire thefts by making it difficult for people to profit from the sale of stolen copper wires. The group that brought the lawsuit to stop the new legislation said the goal is to work to craft laws that will “put criminals behind bars while not crippling recycling.” “We agree with the goal of last year’s bill — make it harder for criminals to sell stolen copper wire from lampposts or other electrical infrastructure. However, we think that can be done without sending thousands of tons of recyclable material to the landfill,” Jack Perry, an attorney representing the lawsuit brought by the Recycled Materials Association, formerly called the Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries, said in a statement Saturday. City officials in Minneapolis and St. Paul are praising the new legislation. St. Paul officials said that in 2023, the city spent more than $1.2 million to address copper wire theft. Minneapolis officials said that over the past two years, the city spent $545,000 replacing stolen copper wire. The lawsuit points out that copper wire and metal can be found in all scrap metal including sterling silver, car brakes and radiators, electronics, circuit boards, coins, gardening tools, home decor, windows, gutters and costume jewelry. Because of this, legitimate businesses will be breaking the law if they continue their practices after the law goes into effect. Perry said the new law and its requirements will be a major impediment to anyone recycling products containing copper “either as a component or as an alloy. Copper is found in everything from brass and bronze to aluminum alloys and much more. We have already reached out to the authors of last year’s bill and asked for their help making changes to narrow the law’s focus.” “We are seeking injunctive relief, giving legislators time to work through changes and implement workable solutions,” Perry said. Related Articles Politics | Confrontation between two men and a convenience store employee leads to gunfire injuries, an arrest Politics | Mary Stanik: In these days of bitter politics, how should auld acquaintance come to mind? Politics | At South St. Paul’s Sunlight Restaurant, four veterans in their 90s still meet to reminisce Politics | Popular on TikTok, ‘magical’ homeware business Cheerware navigates Twin Cities, impending platform ban Politics | St. Paul’s homicides in 2024: Who was killed, where they happened and which remain unsolved
More Bird Flu Found in Raw Milk: What You Need to Know to Stay Safe
NFL roundup: A late-game rally derailed by a missed extra point and Cowboys stun Commanders 34-26Congressional bicameral team pushes for insurance, pharmaceutical reform
New Delhi: The BJP on Sunday took a swipe at the opposition over the violence in Sambhal, alleging that the “ghamandia alliance” has been trying to stoke unrest since the Lok Sabha poll results but it will not succeed. BJP spokesperson Nalin Kohli said no one can claim that it is his constitutional right to break the law or throw stones to stop a court order from being implemented. Police will take action against those breaking the law, he said, adding those who do not agree with any court order should take legal recourse. “Nobody has any right to break the law. If a court has passed an order, it will be implemented. Judicial process is available for those who want the order amended,” he said. Another BJP spokesperson Ajay Alok alleged that it is a deliberate attempt to cause instability. He blamed what he called the “ghamandia alliance” (an alliance full of arrogance), a term BJP leaders have often used for the INDIA bloc, for the violence. Three people were killed and scores of others, including around 20 security personnel, were injured as protesters opposing a court-ordered survey of a Mughal-era mosque clashed with police on Sunday in Sambhal, Uttar Pradesh. Tension has been brewing in Sambhal since Tuesday when the Jama Masjid was surveyed on the orders of a local court following a petition that claimed that a Harihar temple stood at the site. District officials said the survey could not be completed on Tuesday and was planned for Sunday morning to avoid interference with prayers that are usually held in the afternoon.Kobe Sanders tied a season high with 27 points as Nevada claimed fifth place in the Charleston Classic with a 90-78 victory over Oklahoma State Sunday afternoon in South Carolina. Sanders helped the Wolfpack (6-1) earn a second win following one-possession games against Vanderbilt and VCU. After hitting the decisive 3-pointer with five seconds left in Friday's 64-61 win over VCU, Sanders made 7 of 10 shots, hit three 3s and sank 10 of 13 free throws Sunday. Nick Davidson added 223 points as Nevada led by as many as 19 and shot 58.9 percent. Brandon Love contributed 11 on 5-of-5 shooting as the Wolfpack scored 46 points in the paint and scored at least 85 for the fourth time this season. Marchelus Avery led the Cowboys (4-2) with 15 points and Arturo Dean added 13. Robert Jennings and Abou Ousmane added 11 apiece but leading scorer Bryce Thompson was held to seven points on 1-of-9 shooting as Oklahoma State shot 42 percent and 73.2 percent (30-of-41) at the line. After Avery's 3 forged a 12-12 tie with 13:41 remaining, Nevada gradually gained separation. The Wolfpack took a 24-15 lead on Chuck Bailey's jumper in the paint with 8:28 left but the Cowboys inched back, getting within 33-31 on a dunk by Avery with 4:11 left. Another Bailey jumper staked Nevada to a 40-33 lead by halftime. Nevada began pulling away early in the second half as it scored eight in a row for a 52-40 lead on a basket by Love with 16:44 left. A 3 by Sanders opened a 62-43 lead with 14:06 remaining before Oklahoma State charged back. After Nevada made eight straight shots, the Cowboys countered with 11 straight points and trailed 62-54 with 11:19 left on a 3-pointer by Avery. Thompson made his first basket by sinking a jumper with 10:37 left to get Oklahoma State within 64-56 left, and Keller's triple cut the margin to 70-64 nearly three minutes later. The Cowboys were within 78-72 on a basket by Avery with 3:56 remaining, but he fouled out about a minute later and the Wolfpack outscored Oklahoma State 12-6 the rest of the way as Sanders sank five free throws. --Field Level MediaAP Sports SummaryBrief at 6:18 p.m. EST