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fhm jili 2 (BPT) - Tech gifts are consistently some of the most popular presents to give and receive during the holidays. In fact, according to the annual Consumer Technology Holiday Purchase Patterns report , a record 233 million U.S. adults (89%) will buy tech products during the 2024 holiday season. But with so many devices out there, it can be hard to decide on the perfect option for the loved one on your list. A tablet like the new Fire HD 8 from Amazon offers the versatility of an all-in-one device, with access to streaming, gaming, video chatting, reading or writing all at your fingertips. Fire HD 8 also features a vibrant 8-inch HD display and lightweight, portable design, for high-quality entertainment on the go. Plus, Fire HD 8 comes with three new AI features that can help you get the most out of your tablet experience. Check them out below and learn how they can help you with daily tasks this holiday season and beyond. 1. Meet your personal writing assistant Do you struggle with writing a heartfelt message or finessing a tricky email? Fear not! Writing Assist is here to help. Writing Assist works as part of your Fire tablet's device keyboard and compatible apps, including email, Word documents and social media. In just a few taps, you can transform your writing from good to great. Try Writing Assist's pre-set styles to turn a simple email into a professionally written note. Or, you can ask Writing Assist for grammar suggestions to make your writing more concise, or elaborate on your ideas. You can even "emojify" your writing to add more fun and personality. 2. Learn more in less time Say goodbye to scrolling through pages of information. The new Webpage Summaries feature allows you to learn pertinent information as quickly as possible. Available on the Silk browser on Fire tablets, Webpage Summaries provides quick insights on web articles. In a matter of seconds, this feature will distill the key points in an article or on a webpage into a clear, concise summary of what you need to know. 3. Get creative with your device wallpaper With Wallpaper Creator, you can easily add a touch of creative flair and customization to your tablet's home screen. You can choose from one of the curated prompts to get started on creating a unique background. Or, if you're ready to let your imagination run wild, type a description of what you'd like to see. For example, you can ask for an image of a tiger swimming underwater or a watercolor-style image of a desert landscape in space. Wallpaper Creator will then turn your vision into a reality, delivering a high-resolution image that you can use as your tablet's wallpaper. Celebrate an AI-powered holiday season Writing Assist, Webpage Summaries, and Wallpaper Creator are now available on Amazon's new Fire HD 8 and other compatible Fire tablet devices, including the latest Fire HD 10 and Fire Max 11 tablets. To learn more, or to order a new Fire tablet this gift-giving season, visit Amazon.com .

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(BPT) - Tech gifts are consistently some of the most popular presents to give and receive during the holidays. In fact, according to the annual , a record 233 million U.S. adults (89%) will buy tech products during the 2024 holiday season. But with so many devices out there, it can be hard to decide on the perfect option for the loved one on your list. A tablet like the new Fire HD 8 from Amazon offers the versatility of an all-in-one device, with access to streaming, gaming, video chatting, reading or writing all at your fingertips. also features a vibrant 8-inch HD display and lightweight, portable design, for high-quality entertainment on the go. Plus, comes with three new AI features that can help you get the most out of your tablet experience. Check them out below and learn how they can help you with daily tasks this holiday season and beyond. Do you struggle with writing a heartfelt message or finessing a tricky email? Fear not! Writing Assist is here to help. Writing Assist works as part of your Fire tablet's device keyboard and compatible apps, including email, Word documents and social media. In just a few taps, you can transform your writing from good to great. Try Writing Assist's pre-set styles to turn a simple email into a professionally written note. Or, you can ask Writing Assist for grammar suggestions to make your writing more concise, or elaborate on your ideas. You can even "emojify" your writing to add more fun and personality. Say goodbye to scrolling through pages of information. The new Webpage Summaries feature allows you to learn pertinent information as quickly as possible. Available on the Silk browser on Fire tablets, Webpage Summaries provides quick insights on web articles. In a matter of seconds, this feature will distill the key points in an article or on a webpage into a clear, concise summary of what you need to know. With Wallpaper Creator, you can easily add a touch of creative flair and customization to your tablet's home screen. You can choose from one of the curated prompts to get started on creating a unique background. Or, if you're ready to let your imagination run wild, type a description of what you'd like to see. For example, you can ask for an image of a tiger swimming underwater or a watercolor-style image of a desert landscape in space. Wallpaper Creator will then turn your vision into a reality, delivering a high-resolution image that you can use as your tablet's wallpaper. Writing Assist, Webpage Summaries, and Wallpaper Creator are now available on Amazon's new and other compatible Fire tablet devices, including the latest and tablets. To learn more, or to order a new Fire tablet this gift-giving season, visit .Mark Z. Barabak column | She's won twice in Trump country. What can this Democrat teach her party?

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Townsville Don't miss out on the headlines from Townsville. Followed categories will be added to My News. The month of May began with headlines focused on then Townsville Mayor Troy Thompson and ended with him as he continued to cling to his job despite widespread disdain for the alleged lies about his background during local-government elections. Despite the stain on Townsville’s reputation, a tenacious Thompson’s tenuous grasp on power held by the end of the month, even after then Premiere Steven Miles and the 10 sitting councillors called on him to do the right thing and resign following a calamitous media interview. While the Thompson train wreck provided an unwelcome political sideshow, a number of other pressing issues also made headlines. May 2 Townsville DV Toll at Crisis Point Police on the front-line of Townsville’s domestic violence crisis are facing unprecedented challenges , responding to as many as 50 call-outs a day and they anticipate these numbers will only surge. The Townsville Domestic, Family Violence and Vulnerable Persons Unit say police respond to between 35-50 DV-related call outs every day and anticipate those numbers to rise. Senior Sergeant Adam Golding, Sergeant Elise Feltham and Townsville District Officer Acting Chief Superintendent Tom Armitt, launch Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Month. Picture: Shae Beplate. Third time unlucky ... again Mayor Troy Thompson attempted three motions to gain up to three political advisers, which were denied each time because not enough councillors supported the decision. Councillors also identified their preferred option to act as a chief executive officer known as ‘Candidate Z’ after almost two hours in confidential business. May 3 Thugs steal car from wheelchair-bound mum A woman left wheelchair-bound after being struck by a stolen car has been dealt another devastating blow after her modified vehicle was recently stolen by shameless thieves who openly mocked her . Light in the darkness A young Townsville advocate has opened up about her own experiences with sexual assault as she uses her platform to boost awareness and support for survivors to create discussion on how Australians can create safer spaces. Evie Clayton is an advocate for sexual assault and domestic and family violence survivors. Picture: Shae Beplate. May 4 Bonza demise plane awful North-West Queensland community leaders have been left gutted by the collapse of Bonza airline, with residents now forced to fork out up to 10 times more for flights to see family, friends and for specialist medical appointments. May 8 Green light for mine A $300m phosphate mine in the North West has received a green light, with 445 jobs created as part of the project. The state government has granted mining leases to the Paradise South phosphate mine, about 130km northwest of Mount Isa near the Lady Loretta zinc mine, with plans in place for company North West Phosphate to use local services as part of the project. The Burdekin Rum team at ARDO Rooftop: Kelly Shimota, Tim Lamb, Raelene Bates, Warren Tink, Adrian Hogan, Jason Chan, Olivia McCormick, Prue Yeung, Vicki Johnson and Anthony and Sophie Duggan. Picture: Doug Simpson Media NQ distillery in spirited win A North Queensland distillery is continuing to collect accolades for its range of rums. Burdekin Rum’s Premium Aged Rum has won Best of Category for its bottled and blended pot Still Rum and Best of Class f or its bottled and blended Cane Spirit at the American Distilling Institute International Spirits Competition 2024. May 11 Danger to our kids Social media has been labelled a public health risk with children and young people exposed to damaging images and content they don’t have the developmental maturity to cope with. Acting Chief Health Officer Associate Professor Catherine McDougall told the Townsville Bulletin’s Future Townsville event that social media access for children was causing distress for young people, with it leading to a rise in hospital admissions. Insulted MPs in fight for Bruce North Queensland MPs are “insulted and infuriated” after the Labor government promised $467m for Bruce Highway works in marginal electorates, with one saying a “big picture plan” is needed. LNP MPs Phillip Thompson and Andrew Willcox have come out swinging after the pre-budget announcement, which will fund works in the Far North and South East. May 14 Department of Environment, Science and Innovation Wildlife Officers remove a saltwater crocodile, also known as an estuarine crocodile, measuring at least four metres in length at Port Hinchinbrook in Cardwell. Picture: Cameron Bates Rogue croc caught at Port Hinchinbrook A monster saltwater crocodile believed to be responsible for an attack on a human and death of at least one pet dog has been captured in spectacular fashion at a North Queensland marina. The saltie, also known as an estuarine crocodile, measuring at least four metres in length was caught in a large metal trap placed by the Department of Environment, Science and Innovation at Port Hinchinbrook in Cardwell Waterfront, housing top budget list An upgraded waterfront with the Great Barrier Reef education precinct, a fair chunk of Bruce Highway funding, housing investment and workforce shortage assistance are leading the ticket of North Queensland budget priorities as the nation is poised to hear what projects will get the green light or further funding. Townsville Enterprise has released its priorities for the budget , which includes $100m worth of investment into the GBR education precinct, which would include a new aquarium. May 15 Townsville Bulletin front page, May 15, 2024. Picture: Supplied We deserve better North Queensland’s leaders have come out swinging after last night’s Federal Budget ‘snubbed’ the region, including t he absence of any mone y to rebuild Townsville’s Reef HQ aquarium. Crime far from kid’s play A young Mackay family who moved to Townsville to seek medical treatment for their darling baby girl has received a harrowing introduction to the scourge of local youth crime. Ashleigh Connell, a married mum with 21⁄2-year-old twins Noah and Gracie, said she was prepping breakfast when she noticed “an internal door to the garage was open”. “As I walked outside and notice the side gate open I peered around the corner and my heart fell to the floor,” she said. “My driveway was empty and my new car was gone.” May 16 Robert Malayta, 18, drowned in the Ross River trying to flee police. Teen’s haunting last words as he vanished “Big bro, help” were the last words spoken by a First Nations teenager before he perished in a treacherous river while fleeing from police after reluctantly going for a joy-ride in a stolen car, a pre-inquest into his death has heard . The body of Robert “Robbie” Malayta, 18, was discovered a day later on February 25, 2022, in the Ross River at the Riverway Precinct in Kirwan, Townsville. May 21 Member for Hill Shane Knuth, Member for Hinchinbrook Nick Dametto, Federal Member for Kennedy Bob Katter and KAP Mundingurra candidate Michael Pugh at the Townsville Entertainment Centre. Picture: Evan Morgan MP demands answers as crime cripples As serious youth crime continues to plague Townsville, Hinchinbrook MP Nick Dametto has demanded the Miles Government to provide an urgent update on the progress of its intensive on-country program. Dametto’s call for action comes in the wake of a Townsville boy facing nearly 50 charges related to a series of alleged vehicle, property, and violence offences committed during a three-week rampage. He says it’s already been two months since expressions of interest for the program wrapped up but the public are still waiting for answers. May 23 State’s hotspot of crime Townsville has become the epicentre in the Queensland Police Service’s battle against youth crime, with Taskforce Guardian working overtime to clean up the city’s streets. Since its inception 12 months ago, Taskforce Guardian has launched 13 deployments across the city, surpassing all other police districts across the state . Their efforts within Townsville’s district have resulted in 286 arrests, 871 charges and 129 diversions away from the court system into anti-crime programs. Embattled Townsville mayor Troy Thompson seated next to Councillor Brodie Phillips. Picture: Evan Morgan Mayor not in the SAS Townsville’s mayor has produced his military service number to “put an end” to speculation , however the full contents of his record reveal he did not spend five years in the army or the SAS as he told voters. May 27 Dogs of war Soldiers from across the globe have descended on North Queensland for this year’s Brolga Run Exercise. Troops from Japan, PNG and the US are mucking in together with the locals in pursuit of perfection, but no bond is stronger than the one between our sappers and their canine companions . Australian Army soldier Sapper Flynn Skerke-Irwin and Explosive Detection Dog Ethan from 3rd Combat Engineer Regiment during Exercise Brolga Run 2024 in Townsville Field Training Area, Queensland. May 30 Twist in murder case A Townsville massage parlour owner allegedly killed his wife’s lover in a frenzied stabbing attack when he found out about their affair. Lar Sue, 31, has been charged with murder after allegedly stabbing his wife’s lover above a Thai restaurant on Monday. Sue allegedly confronted his wife and the other man in a Kirwan unit and stabbed him multiple times. May 31 Townsville Bulletin front page, May 31, 2024. Picture: Supplied What a crock Townsville’s embattled mayor is facing fresh allegations of deception, conceding he misled voters about his education, business nous and military career and blaming “100 plus” concussions for his poor memory. Troy Thompson has also apologised to veterans for embellishing his military service in an explosive national television interview in which he disputed lying about his career, saying he “firmly believed” he had given the right information. More Coverage Powders, bars, and banjoes: Our biggest February headlines Cyclones, crime and controversy: Our biggest January headlines Originally published as Townsville Bulletin newspaper headlines for month of May, 2024 Join the conversation Add your comment to this story To join the conversation, please log in. Don't have an account? Register Join the conversation, you are commenting as Logout More related stories News Get job ready: Business offers 17 free training opportunities Staying true to a promise to his grandmother, a Townsville businessman is offering free training to 17 school leavers, unemployed, or under-employed people. Find out more. Read more Townsville ‘We’re always here, always ready’: Christmas Day on the job Essential workers across Townsville spent Christmas Day at work, but they still had plenty of festive spirit. Read about their Christmas. Read more“India has left behind the British economy. India has had excellent economic policies and reforms. India and the United Kingdom have the opportunity to learn a lot from each other in areas such as technology and agriculture. India has made tremendous progress in the last 10 years and its leadership role is very important.” It is proof of how India is dominating the world in its own ways, and today, even former British Prime Minister Liz Truss has to accept with this statement that while Western countries are in serious crisis, India has left behind the British economy with excellent economic policies and reforms. For this, she gives full credit to the current Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi and his cabinet. And says that the historic third term of Prime Minister Narendra Modi is definitely a big achievement, especially in such a global environment where the current governments are finding it difficult to remain in power. This symbolises the economic reforms taking place in India and shows that people believe the country is moving in the right direction. Along with this, she considers India’s support meaningful and necessary for her country in many ways, so today Elizabeth Truss is saying that this is an equal partnership. The opportunities in the fields of technology, defence and agriculture are huge for both sides. This needs to be understood today. She has expressed hope that both countries will agree on a free trade agreement. At the same time, India’s role in the Quad alliance established by the US, Britain, Japan and India to counter the growing influence of China is very important and commendable. Certainly, “India is now the country with the largest population in the world and is an old democracy. India will play a big leadership role in the future. This is very exciting. India is part of the Quad, which is especially important in view of the growing threat from China.” She sees India as a country playing a big role on the global stage today. If we look at it, what former British Prime Minister Liz Truss is saying seems to be completely true, even if the opposition of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in India does not accept this in the struggle for power and the desire to get it and tries to corner the Modi Government by raising many questions on the economic front, but today it is certain and it is coming to the fore again and again that the whole world is accepting the economic strength of India. Whereas this is the same India of 10 years ago, on the economic front, all the global leaders of the world used to sweat while praising it, but now everyone is unanimously accepting that the leap that India has made in the economic sector in the last decade is the fastest compared to any country in the world. In fact, these are today’s latest figures of India which will fill every Indian with pride. With GDP growth currently at 7 per cent and over 151,000 startups, India is reshaping its economy. China’s rapid rise over the past decades has made it a major player on the world stage, while India’s recent growth has attracted global attention, establishing it as a formidable competitor. Today, not just former Prime Minister Liz Truss, but John Chambers, chairman of the US-India Strategic Partnership Forum, is saying that “by the end of this century, India will not only overtake China, but will be 100 percent larger in terms of GDP.” Their optimism was rooted not in lofty predictions but in the solid progress India has made over the past decade, driven by transformational policies and reforms that have reshaped its economic landscape. This set the tone for discussions on the country’s extraordinary rise and its future prospects on the global stage. “For the first five years, I would argue, this administration did an amazing job of setting the stage for the decade,” says John Chambers. According to the World Bank’s India Development Update, the country’s GDP is projected to grow at a robust rate of 7 per cent in FY2024-25, underlining its status as the fastest-growing major economy in the world. This growth momentum is set to remain consistent, with GDP growing from 7.0 per cent in FY2022-23 to 8.2 per cent in FY2023-24. These numbers not only reflect the resilience of India’s economy but are also the fruits of a well-planned strategy. It is a fact that “over the past five years, while Indian markets have consistently delivered a compound annual growth rate of around 15 per cent, FY23-24 was an exceptional year, with benchmark indices rising 28 per cent while volatility remained low at just 10 per cent. Apart from market performance, the roots of India’s growth can be traced to strategic initiatives such as Digital India. It must be said that this initiative, launched in 2015, was aimed at transforming India into a digitally empowered society and its results have been remarkable. One of the most important results of Digital India is the transformation brought about by the Unified Payments Interface (UPI), which has reshaped the way Indians transact. UPI’s growth from 92 crore transactions in FY 2015 to 13,116 crore transactions in FY 2017-18 is expected to be the biggest growth of digital payments in India. The launch of UPI reflects the widespread adoption of toll-free payments. This success has redefined convenience and established India as a global leader in digital finance. Beyond UPI, the CoWIN platform emerged as a critical tool during the COVID-19 pandemic, serving as the digital backbone for India’s vaccination drive. It enabled the administration of over 220 crore doses without a single day of interruption, reflecting the country’s ability to leverage technology for public health. CoWIN not only represents India’s effective response to the global crisis, but also demonstrates how digital infrastructure can support large-scale health initiatives. Together, these achievements demonstrate that Digital India has laid the foundation for a digitally inclusive economy poised for long-term growth. The impact of this digital revolution goes beyond payments and identity verification. Over 35.6 crore Ayushman cards have been issued under the Ayushman Bharat scheme, providing millions of people access to healthcare. In addition, over nine crore FASTags have been issued, which is almost equal to the number of vehicles to be manufactured worldwide in 2023, facilitating smooth travel on the country’s highways. Such achievements highlight the comprehensive nature of India’s digital transformation, which touches every aspect of life and promotes sustainable economic growth. Based on India’s positive economic outlook, SEBI Whole Time Member Anant Narayan ji is absolutely right when he says that the rapid growth of startups in India has established itself as a key factor in the country’s economic growth. According to him, “Only 10 to 12 years ago, there were very few startups in India. In fact, in the last time period, from 2015 to 2022, investments in startups increased 15 times.” This surge in investment has fueled a dynamic entrepreneurial ecosystem. India is now home to the third-largest startup ecosystem in the world, with over 151,000 recognised startups. The Startup India initiative launched in 2016 has played a key role in fuelling this growth, creating over 15.5 lakh direct jobs. This is a testament to how innovation, supported by the right policies, can drive economic growth while solving pressing challenges. At the same time, India’s increasingly strong performance in the economic sector across the world shows that the Modi government has done a lot of profound work during its tenure. Every sector is being given holistic attention. Now, take the field of AI; as soon as it started being discussed in the world, India immediately recognised it as an opportunity for itself and started working on it. With the Modi Government launching initiatives like “AI for India 2.0” in 2023 and hosting the Global IndiaAI Summit in 2024, it is clear that India is establishing itself as a leader in AI on the global stage. India’s focus on AI is not just about technological advancement, but about creating a skilled workforce for the jobs of tomorrow, ensuring sustained economic growth. However, India’s economic story is not just about growth at the top. For example, one can look at digital inclusion driven by schemes like the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY), which has brought millions of previously unbanked individuals into the formal financial system. Since its launch a decade ago, PMJDY has opened over 53 crore bank accounts, helping people access financial services and participate in the economy. Such grassroots development is critical to ensure that India’s growth is inclusive, bringing the benefits of prosperity to every corner of the country. One of the pillars of India’s economic growth is providing housing to its citizens. Under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Urban (PMAY-U), over 1.18 crore houses have been sanctioned, of which over 87.25 lakh have been constructed and delivered. This ambitious housing initiative is transforming lives by providing safe, all-weather homes to millions of families, including middle-class people seeking affordable housing solutions. The concrete results of this scheme are another indication of how India is laying the foundation for long-term growth while ensuring that no one is left behind, promoting sustainability, and improving the quality of life for many. Given all this, the claim that India will overtake China as an economic power by the end of the century may seem ambitious to some, but the country’s progress over the last decade lends weight to their words. With the adoption of digital technology, the rise of startups, strong stock market performance, a strong focus on AI and a commitment to inclusive growth, India is on a path that could redefine global economic dynamics in the years to come. Now let us hope that what former British Prime Minister Liz Truss is saying today is not just the truth of the present, the results of the effective work of the Modi government of India will be seen for a long time in the future. India will once again regain the glorious horizons of its past in the economic sector. The reality of the moment is that the government’s focus on boosting manufacturing and improving youth employability, combined with India’s young and ambitious population, presents a unique opportunity for economic growth. As the country moves towards becoming a USD 5 trillion economy by FY27-28, the expansion of manufacturing and emerging industries and the transition to clean energy options are likely to create high-quality, formal and green jobs. This will help many Indian states that aspire to grow rapidly, as they are already investing in these sectors to take advantage of India’s demographic dividend. Subsequently, the improvement in the labour market is likely to be reflected in future surveys.

The insurance industry is highly regulated and the penalties for mis-selling can cause much pain. SINGAPORE – Whatever they are called, insurance agents, financial advisers, brokers and even banks all play the role of a middleman. And, save for banks which also offer a lot of other products, they have one common purpose here – to sell insurance policies of one kind or another. These middlemen can be very helpful to consumers who can get bogged down by the many terms and conditions of policies they are interested in, be it a whole life participating plan, a yearly renewable travel policy, or a short-term endowment plan. They can also alert busy consumers to new financial products out in the market. So when consumers find responsible middlemen, there is a tendency to stick with them. But make no mistake, the existence of the middlemen is built on the need to sell. This is where things can go wrong, as I experienced in early September. A third-party telemarketer made a cold call to promote an insurer’s Integrated Shield Plan (IP). This is is private health insurance coverage in addition to the national health insurance scheme MediShield Life. Our conversation flatlined upon my questioning – claims were made, incorrectly, that the Government has been urging people to get IPs in recent years. One could argue, at the very least, that the telemarketer was ignorant, or that she was simply trying to get me to make an appointment with a financial consultant who would explain the product. Most likely, she was just out to sell, sell, sell at all costs. To be clear, MediShield Life is sufficient to cover most public hospital bills. In mid-July, Health Minister Ong Ye Kung said the national scheme is designed to cover nine in 10 subsidised public hospital bills, with very little or no out-of-pocket payment by the patient. What soon came in mid-October was the announcement that MediShield Life claim limits and premiums will rise from April 2025, as a result of rising healthcare costs. In September, almost all insurers jacked up the premiums of IPs and riders. Based on the timeline of events, the telemarketer was likely tasked to sell IPs before their premiums increased, which would make it harder for consultants to push the products. Of course, consumers have to carry out their own due diligence so they would not be misled. But any middleman who provides incorrect or misleading information – whether intentionally or not – is eroding consumers’ trust in the local insurance industry. A report released on Nov 14 found that consumers’ trust in life insurers in Singapore moved up a notch to 70 points in 2024 from a score of 68 in 2023. Consumers’ trust in agents and financial advisers remains unchanged at 73 points, while the confidence levels of small and large businesses in general insurers and their intermediaries dipped. The report noted that the scores in all categories are still strong. The study, commissioned by the insurance culture and conduct steering committee, identifies areas where consumers’ and businesses’ trust in the Singapore insurance industry can be improved. These scores show that the industry’s efforts over the years to get the house in order have yielded some positive results. As a veteran adviser recalls, the standards have “improved tremendously from more than 30 years ago”. Indeed, market players say intermediaries are now more educated, knowledgeable and savvy about finances and products. They are also using technology to access and assess data, alleviating some of the pain of processing information overload. Nonetheless, the veteran adviser noted that practitioners’ common gripe has remained – they feel stifled because of the regulator’s proactive stance on consumer protection and fair dealing. The insurance industry is highly regulated and the penalties for mis-selling can cause much pain. For instance, the Monetary Authority of Singapore can issue public reprimands, composition penalties, prohibition orders or even refer the case for criminal prosecution. There is also the balanced scorecard framework that requires financial sales representatives to be assessed every quarter and this can affect their remuneration. Besides the many rules in place, intermediaries have to undergo training and obtain numerous certifications before they are qualified to go out and give advice. Then there is the issue of more complicated products that also weighs on intermediaries. So, yes, it can be challenging to raise the standards of the industry in such a regulated and competitive environment. But the way to go about doing this is not to do more, but to simplify. Perhaps it will help to move towards clearer and simpler language in training as much as possible. After all, what is easy to understand in training will be more easily relayed to others. More importantly, the Financial Industry Disputes Resolution Centre (Fidrec) statistics show that in the past three years, more than half the claims processed are to do with banks, finance companies and credit bureaus. In FY 2023, such claims were 67 per cent. Claims to do with licensed financial advisers and insurance brokers are typically among the lowest. It goes without saying that more attention needs to be paid to those who sell insurance products through banks, given that most disputes handled by Fidrec are from this channel. As industry veterans agree, in the end, it is hard to completely eradicate mis-selling because “there will always be black sheep”. But if the progress over the decades mean anything, industry players will just have to keep on trying even if it is an uphill task. 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 nowLucknow, Nov 24 (PTI) Electoral politics is hard as the momentum shifts ever so quickly, more so in a politically sensitive state like Uttar Pradesh, where the results of the byelections in nine assembly seats have repositioned the ruling BJP in the pole position after a blip in the June 2024 Lok Sabha polls. Having put in the hard yards with multiple rallies across all nine by-poll seats and assigning himself the responsibility of a difficult seat like Katehari in Ambedkarnagar that BJP won after three decades, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's stock has skyrocketed to the days when the BJP won a consecutive term in UP in 2022. Also Read | Parliament Winter Session 2024: Government Open To Discuss All Issues, Says Union Minister Kiren Rijiju. Adityanath literally set the narrative for the bypolls in August itself with slogans like 'batenge toh katenge (divided we perish)' that were cleverly tailored to reinforce the Hindu unity pitch and resonated right through the mini polls. "For a long time, Samajwadi Party's politics revolved around its 'MY' factor that was meant to denote a particular community and caste. The BJP has changed that with a new 'MY' approach. This 'MY' factor means Modi-Yogi and these two leaders are changing the political discourse with their development narrative, and this by-poll again showed the effectiveness of Yogi ji," UP BJP spokesman Manish Shukla told PTI. Also Read | Volkswagen Stands by German Factory Closure Plan. The party won six seats out of nine while ally RLD got one. Adityanath's 'batoge toh katoge' slogan made a huge impression was evident in the BJP's win in the Muslim-majority Kundarki seat in Moradabad. Here, the party had not won in three decades but this time voters consolidated behind BJP's Ramveer Singh, the lone Hindu among 11 Muslims in the fray. “The SP took Muslims for granted and we went about telling the voters about SP leaders' claim that virtually anyone on their party's symbol would win. "Eventually they realised that despite being unfairly demonised by our opponents, only BJP could get them out of the vote bank trap and of course our leadership helped,” Ramveer said. The importance of Kundarki win was such that it even found a mention in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's speech at the BJP office in Delhi after the BJP-led-NDA's spectacular win in Maharashtra on Saturday evening. “What it means is that while BJP vote bank consolidated, the SP's trusted Muslim vote bank that had voted for the party in big numbers both in 2022 UP polls as well as in 2024 Lok Sabha polls disintegrated. Brand Yogi has found a boost while Akhilesh Yadav has some work to do,” a senior BJP leader told PTI. Even in its family bastion of Karhal seat in Mainpuri, which SP chief Akhilesh Yadav had himself won by an impressive margin of around 67000 votes in 2002 UP polls, the SP's vote bank dipped as party candidate and Akhilesh's nephew Tej Pratap Yadav won against Anujesh Yadav, also a distant relative of Akhilesh, by about 14000 votes. The SP had alleged massive irregularities in voting and on its complaint the EC had suspended seven police officials in UP. In Sishamau, Kanpur, the only other seat the SP won in the bypolls, the margin was even lesser – about 8000 odd – making it evident the main opposition party had lost the momentum gained after 2024 Lok Sabha poll results. Back then the SP had won 37 seats against BJP's 33 in UP but the momentum, it appears, has quickly swung back in BJP's favour. Meerapur assembly seat in Muzaffarnagar in west UP was another seat that had a sizeable Muslim presence. RLD had won the seat in 2022 UP polls when it was in alliance with SP, and has succeeded in retaining it after joining hands with the BJP. "The RLD has a dedicated vote bank comprising all sections of society and people's belief in our leader Jayant Chaudhary showed again with a landslide win," RLD leader Rohit Agarwal told PTI. The Congress, which announced support for SP, didn't contest the polls and though senior leaders on both sides said “all is well” with the alliance, at the local level discordant notes were heard. These concerns primarily revolved around a lack of ground-level coordination; defeating the very purpose of coordination committees that were set up on October 25 to ensure that. “There is nothing wrong with the alliance. The Congress helped us. The reason for the reverses was mainly due to rampant and blatant misuse of official machinery and the people would make BJP realise this in 2027 UP polls when SP comes to power,” Samajwadi Party's national secretary Arvind Singh ‘Gope' told PTI. The BSP, led by four-time former UP chief minister Mayawati, suffered maximum embarrassment as its candidate badly lost the polls, opening the party again to the charge of being a ‘vote katva (vote cutter)'. On Sunday Mayawati after alleging irregularities declared that her party won't contest any more bypolls – an announcement that meant little in the face of yet another political loss and party leadership's inability to arrest the slide. “The BJP contested the polls as one unit unlike the opposition that was besieged with internal conflicts," Shukla said. “What can one say about BSP? We all know that it has been the ‘B' team of BJP and this election too proved that as it contested the election not to win but to dent the chances of the INDIA bloc,” Congress secretary Shahnawaz Alam said. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)