Introduction:In the fast-paced world of marketing, Enfection is setting the bar high. Founded in 2017 by Saliya Withana and Lahiru Halkewela, this Sri Lankan tech-driven marketing company is all about blending AI with creativity to take businesses to the next level. Their mission is to bring science and technology to the field of marketing. With an impressive client list that includes MAS, Keells, CBL, and Rocell, Enfection’s impact stretches far beyond Sri Lanka, partnering with global ad networks like Dentsu Singapore, McCann Malaysia, and TBWA. They are all about helping businesses push the envelope through AI-based solutions and performance marketing. The secret to their success is their team that is obsessed with staying ahead of the curve. Whether it is AI marketing, AR, or 3D/CGI technology, Enfection has got it covered. One of their standout offerings is Momentro, a SaaS platform designed to give marketers, agencies, and content creators deep insights into audiences, brand positioning, and buyer intent. It is all about equipping brands with the tools to understand their customers better and create more targeted, effective strategies. On 11 November, they hosted the highly anticipated ‘Change the Convo 2024: Put AI to Work’ event at Courtyard by Marriott Colombo, where they brought together CMOs and marketing heads from Sri Lanka’s largest corporations. The aim was to show these marketing leaders how they can use AI to stay ahead of the competition, improve ROI, and foster long-term innovation. Boston Consulting Group Global AI Marketing Lead Sanjay Nair opened the event with a compelling message about the transformative power of generative AI (Gen AI). Drawing from their extensive experience, they stressed that deploying AI within organisations is not merely a technological endeavour – it is a people-centric journey. He emphasised that positioning Gen AI as a tool for efficiency often raises fears about job security among employees. “It’s crucial to highlight the personal and organisational benefits,” they said, “focusing on how it can make day-to-day tasks more fulfilling, rather than solely as a productivity booster.” His advice underscored the importance of change management, advocating for transparency and clarity in communicating the why behind adopting Gen AI. The ‘Change the Convo 2024’ event was such a dynamic hub of innovation, with standout keynote speakers and panel discussions that explored AI’s impact on the marketing world. Nair kicked things off by outlining a clear roadmap for businesses to adopt AI smoothly. Aeos Labs CEO and Founder Harshavardhan Reddy followed with a deep dive into how AI is transforming everything from design to automation and personalisation in marketing. Enfection CEO and Founder Saliya Withana then shared his vision on building AI-ready teams, focusing on predictive and generative AI tools. The panellists – Asia Pacific COO Jeremy Seow, Ren CEO Rukmal Weerawarana, and Daraz Regional Head of Legal Mahela Liyanage covered hot topics such as ‘AI in PR’, where experts discussed how to manage user sentiment, the evolution of AI in marketing, and the tricky intersection of AI and copyright. It was a day packed with insights, all designed to help marketers get ahead in the AI-powered future. One of the most exciting moments was the launch of the AI Marketing Blueprint, an actionable guide designed to help CMOs and marketing teams navigate their AI journey. It covers everything from data infrastructure to leadership and team building, making it a must-read for anyone serious about transforming their marketing with AI. The event went beyond technical jargon, making AI accessible and engaging through real-world applications. Digital twins and AI-powered humour demonstrated the practical side of AI, blending functionality with entertainment. Interactive elements like QR codes enabled seamless audience participation, fostering a dynamic exchange of ideas and questions. Thematic booths offered hands-on exposure to cutting-edge AI solutions, inspiring attendees with practical innovations ready for immediate application in their own industries.
NoneThrough his investigation, Bo Mou also uncovers the hidden talents and passions that Mei Mei cultivated in her solitude. From art to music, literature to sports, Mei Mei's creativity and skills bloomed in unexpected ways, providing her solace and joy in the face of adversity. Bo Mou marvels at the depth and richness of his sister's inner world, realizing that she had forged her own path and discovered her own sources of happiness.
IGA shows Aussies that shopping local isn’t a community service but a savvy move made by smart shoppers in its latest brand campaign with creative agency Special. The ‘You Can’t Beat Local’ campaign celebrates the home ground advantages shoppers can expect at IGA matched to the big two competitors through to a product range tailored to the specific needs and wants of each local area. The integrated brand campaign includes a 30-second hero film and three 15-second spots featuring some of the many IGA stores from around Australia, local legend owners, and the custom range and value pricing propositions found in every location. With the festive season fast approaching, a second iteration of the campaign was launched in quick succession, showing how shopping locally helps savvy shoppers swerve the Christmas chaos that occurs in shopping centres every December. “IGA is famous for being local, and always will be, but some Australians still think that shopping local comes at a cost,” Fiona Johnston, Metcash GM Shopper Brand and Loyalty, said. “We want to dispel that myth and flip what local means on its head and are excited to launch this new loud, proud and exciting campaign, showcasing how you can’t beat local for range, ease and value. IGA retailers stock the things their local shoppers need and want, from everyday essentials to hidden gems you can’t get anywhere else. “It’s easy to get into our stores and convenient to get good value through specials that are special to our locals and price matching on the products that count. Shopping locally shouldn’t just feel good – it can also make a real difference on your wallet, and it’s time to tell more Aussies about the game-changing power of local,” Johnston added. Lindsey Evans , partner and CEO at Special, said: “This campaign marks the beginning of Special’s partnership with a team of open, brave and kind marketers who share our independent values. We’re excited to continue redefining what it means to shop locally with IGA – at Christmas and all year long.” “Working closely with IGA and Special to bring to life the new, bold brand positioning has been an incredible experience,” Cassie Broad, Starcom Australia Business Director, said. “The Starcom Australia team have thoroughly enjoyed bringing to life the ‘You Can’t Beat Local’ concept within the media strategy, with targeted screens, OOH and social placements allowing us to hero the power of local,” Broad added. This is the first campaign Special has created for IGA since partnering with the brand in June 2024. The ‘You can’t beat local’ platform debuted recently with an integrated campaign running across TV, social, OOH, earned and owned assets. The complementary Christmas campaign including a 30-second TV spot, OOH, radio, social and owned media launched on 11 November 2024. Credits Client: Metcash, IGA Creative Agency: Special Group Media Agency: Starcom Australia
Aden Holloway explodes as No. 5 Alabama rolls over South Dakota State
As the audience listened in a mixture of disbelief and horror, the comedian painted a vivid and chilling picture of Lady Conch's modus operandi. She would approach her victims under the guise of a harmless collector, offering them the rarest and most exquisite shells from her collection. Once she had gained their trust, she would lead them to a secluded spot by the sea, where her true intentions would be revealed.
Colts defense picks up the pace as offense continues searching for answers to red zone woesEgyptian Stock Exchange Ends Week in Decline Amid Mixed Trading Activity
NoneFewer people who gave birth in 2022 received adequate prenatal care compared to the prior year, and more Massachusetts residents used fertility treatment, according to a new report from the Department of Public Health. DPH’s look-back into the 68,579 births of 2022 showed some encouraging trends, such as decreases in gestational diabetes and the teen birth rate, in addition to worrisome maternal health outcomes, like the percentage of babies with a low birthweight reaching a record high when assessed over the last decade. In response to years of worsening health outcomes, especially among pregnant people of color, Beacon Hill lawmakers this session passed a sweeping maternal health care bill that’s expected to improve access to care and tackle racial disparities. The volume of births decreased by 0.8% between 2021 and 2022, after having increased slightly between 2020 and 2021, DPH reported. The teen birth rate decreased “slightly” in 2022 but racial disparities persist. Compared to the white teen birth rate, the metric is 10 times higher for Hispanic teens and nearly five times higher for Black teens. The rate of births involving people with gestational diabetes declined for the first time in six years, but DPH said the figure is “nearly triple what it was in 2000.” Nearly one out of every 13 babies was born with a low birthweight, and DPH said the metric remains “unimproved after two decades.” Data from 2022 show that 5,369 babies had a “low birthweight” defined as less than 5.5 pounds, while 741 babies had a “very low birthweight” of less than 3.3 pounds. According to DPH, preterm births are continuing to rise, with one out of every 11 births happening early, which officials define as before 37 weeks of gestation. Article continues after... Cross|Word Flipart Typeshift SpellTower Really Bad Chess Between 2021 and 2022, the share of births to individuals who received adequate prenatal care declined from 78.5% to 76.7%, though the metric varied across insurance types. Data show that 82.9% of people with private insurance had adequate prenatal care, compared to 69.8% for those with public insurance. The report also shows 82% of white people who gave birth received adequate prenatal care in 2022, compared to 66.6% of Black individuals. DPH said 4,454 people used fertility treatment in 2022, compared to 3,991 in 2021. Among those receiving treatment, more turned to assisted reproductive technology like IVF, with the rate climbing from 72.9% in 2021 to 76% in 2022. Nearly three-quarters of Massachusetts residents who used assisted reproductive technology were white, according to the report.
The Conequeror by Kezia Age Wins Iron A' Design Award in 3D Printed Forms and Products Design CategoryTitle: The Focus on "Rights" on the West Street Observation PlatformNone
As the first snowflakes begin to fall in the Jing-Jin-Ji region, residents are reminded of the resilience and strength that has allowed them to weather countless winters before. The snow brings with it a sense of unity and solidarity, as neighbors come together to help each other during challenging times.Chief minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Monday handed over appointment letters to 1,311 newly recruited employees of the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited here. Congratulating them, Mann stated that they deserved these jobs. “It is a matter of immense pride and satisfaction that these youth have got jobs completely on the basis of merit. The entire recruitment process has been carried on in a fair and transparent manner,” he said after handing over the appointment. Power minister Harbhajan Singh as among those present. The CM said that the youth who were compelled by the system of previous governments to migrate abroad were now returning which was a positive trend of reverse migration in the state. “We have provided government jobs to more than 49,427 youths in less than three years, marking a record in the state’s history. Among those who secured these government jobs, some are youngsters returned from abroad,” he claimed. Mann stated that the people of the state had ousted the political parties which used to play musical chairs of power to loot them after every five years. “The opposition leaders slam me just because they are envious of the pro-people decision taken by the state government,” he added. He exhorted the newly recruited youth to become an integral part of the government and serve the people with missionary zeal.
Tuchel took over the managerial reins at Chelsea in January and quickly implemented his tactical philosophy, instilling a sense of discipline and organization in the squad. The results have been immediate and impactful, with the team delivering consistent performances and securing crucial wins against top rivals.One of the more surprising foreign policy ideas the Trump team has proposed on the eve of its ascension to power is military intervention in Mexico to go after drug cartels and possibly stop migrants headed to the United States. The idea seemed so wild and provocative — siccing U.S. troops on a peaceful neighbor — that Mexican officials figured it was nothing more than Trump bluster aimed at revving up his base. But now President-elect Donald Trump’s choice of Ronald D. Johnson to serve as ambassador to Mexico has them wondering if he is serious . Johnson is both a former U.S. military officer — a Green Beret — and a former CIA official. And in his previous post as U.S. ambassador to El Salvador, Johnson was an enthusiastic enforcer of Trump’s policies in support of its president, Nayib Bukele , an authoritarian widely accused of human rights abuses in a massive crackdown on gangs and in silencing dissent. Trump has already threatened Mexico with 25% tariffs on many of its exports to the U.S. — including tomatoes, avocados, tequila and car parts — if the government of President Claudia Sheinbaum does not “do more” to stop the entry of migrants and fentanyl into the U.S. over its southern border with Mexico. Many economists say such an action would not only blow up prices for U.S. consumers but also probably send the Mexican economy into a free fall , which in turn could spur more migration to the United States. “Mexico can expect enormous pressure,” Maureen Meyer, programs vice president at the Washington Office on Latin America, said in an interview. The focus will be almost exclusively on immigration and law enforcement, she predicted, while “issues of concern to the human rights community — reproductive rights, climate, democracy — will all take a step back.” She and others said that will probably be true across Latin America as a Trump government fortifies common cause with right-wing governments and parties in Argentina, Brazil and elsewhere, but will have the most impact in Mexico because of its 2,000-mile border with the United States and its close economic and cultural ties. Johnson, not to be confused with the Republican Wisconsin senator of the same name, has resided in Florida since stepping down as ambassador to El Salvador at the end of the first Trump administration. He is an Alabama native, married with four grown children and five grandchildren, and spent time in Iraq and Afghanistan as part of his CIA duties. He also worked on counter-insurgency operations during El Salvador’s civil war in the 1980s, when the U.S. supported the right-wing government against leftist guerrillas. “Ron will work closely with our great Secretary of State Nominee, [Florida Sen.] Marco Rubio, to promote our Nation’s security and prosperity through strong America First Foreign Policies,” Trump said on Truth Social in announcing the nomination this month. “Together, we will put an end to migrant crime, stop the illegal flow of Fentanyl and other dangerous drugs into our Country and MAKE AMERICA SAFE AGAIN!” Trump wrote. This week, Trump added a plan to designate Mexican drug cartels as terrorists, a step that might be used as authorization for deploying U.S. troops. In his campaign platform, Trump said he would order the Pentagon to use “special forces, cyber warfare, and other covert and overt actions to inflict maximum damage on cartel leadership, infrastructure, and operations.” But it remains unclear how many of these steps Trump could take unilaterally. Terrorist designations usually require action by other agencies, such as the State Department, and some members of Congress who advocate a tougher approach to Mexican drug trafficking are nevertheless reluctant to send U.S. troops into the fray without approval by the Mexican government. In Mexico, news of Johnson’s nomination was greeted warily, with many seeing a clear signal of the Trump administration’s intended, narrow focus. Johnson’s “resume is the message,” Jorge Castañeda, a former foreign minister in Mexico, said in an essay for the Nexos news website. “Johnson has no experience in economic, commercial or financial matters. He is not coming to Mexico for that.” Where Johnson does have ample experience is in counter-insurgency. Johnson probably “will demand a change in the security strategy in Mexico,” said Mexican commentator León Krauze. “Trump likes spectacle, and has long considered the possibility of delivering to his electorate images of unilateral incursions into Mexican territory to arrest major drug lords, Hollywood-style.” Many in Mexico are weary of U.S. intervention in security matters and blame the U.S. in part for backing former President Felipe Calderon’s military assault on drug cartels beginning in 2006, which sparked devastating levels of violence that persist to this day. Still others, just as exhausted by high murder and kidnapping rates, and having lost confidence in Mexican law enforcement often bought off by criminals, have started to lean toward welcoming U.S. troops. Security cooperation between the U.S. and Mexico diminished greatly during the presidency of Andrés Manuel López Obrador, who accused U.S. forces of “abusive meddling” in 2020 when the former Mexican defense secretary, Salvador Cienfuegos, was arrested at Los Angeles International Airport on suspicion of drug trafficking. López Obrador forced the Trump administration to return Cienfuegos to Mexico, where he was awarded a major military decoration. The damage strained U.S.-Mexico relations and hampered work in Mexico by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. Sheinbaum, who took office Oct. 1, is similarly likely to be reticent in cooperating with Trump. After his initial threats about military attack and tariffs, she telephoned him at his resort in Mar-a-Lago and then posted on X that Mexico would cooperate with the U.S. on relevant topics, but that the country would not bend to the will of the U.S. as it had in drug war that began in 2006. “We are going to collaborate .. but without subordinating ourselves,” she wrote. “We will always defend Mexico as a free, sovereign and independent country.” Eschewing the military-heavy approach of some of her predecessors could set Sheinbaum on a collision course with Trump and Johnson. Sheinbaum “is not a Bukele type,” said Rep. Jim McGovern, a Massachusetts Democrat who specializes in Latin America and has been highly critical of the Salvadoran leader. “She wants good relations with Mexico ... but is not looking to kiss Trump’s ring.” Another major question is how Johnson would treat human rights issues in Mexico. In El Salvador, where he was ambassador from 2019 to 2021, Johnson refrained from criticizing Bukele as the government rounded up tens of thousands of people in an effort to reduce gang crime. Some had gang affiliations, but many did not. According to human rights organizations, most were denied due process, innocents including children were detained, and hundreds were tortured in jail and died. Homicide rates declined substantially, although there is dispute over by how much . Johnson also failed to sound the alarm over Bukele’s attempts to stack the country’s Congress and the Supreme Court with loyalists in what critics have described as a power grab that eroded El Salvador’s hard-fought democracy. Bukele frequently spoke of his warm friendship with Johnson. The two were photographed yachting together in the Pacific off El Salvador’s coast. In June, long after Johnson had left his posting as ambassador, he joined Donald Trump Jr., Tucker Carlson and Rep. Matt Gaetz to attend Bukele’s inauguration to a questionably legal second term. It is highly unlikely Johnson will have a similar relationship with Sheinbaum, Mexico’s first female president, a climate scientist by training, and representative of a leftist political party. Wilkinson reported from Washington and Linthicum from Mexico City. A special correspondent in San Salvador also contributed.
FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) — Hailey Van Lith scored 17 points and Madison Connor made four 3-pointers and added 14 points on Sunday to help No. 11 TCU beat Brown 79-47. Van Lith added five assists, five rebounds and three steals and Taylor Bigby scored 11 points for the Horned Frogs. TCU (13-1) has won four games in a row since an 82-54 loss to No. 3 South Carolina on Dec. 8 at the Coast to Coast Challenge. Grace Arnolie hit three 3-pointers in the first five minutes and Olivia Young added another with 4:34 left in the first quarter to give Brown a 12-8 lead. The Horned Frogs responded with a 9-2 run to close the period, scored 12 of the first 14 second-quarter points to extend their lead to 13 points and took a 34-25 lead into the intermission. Bigby hit a 3 to open the scoring in the third quarter and TCU led by double figures the rest of the way. The Horned Frogs outrebounded Brown 54-28, including 20-6 on the offensive glass which led to TCU outscoring the Bears 27-5 in second-chance points. Isabell Mauricio led Brown with 17 points on 7-of-16 shooting Brown (6-7). The rest of the Bears players combined to made 10 of 41 (24.4%) from the field. Arnolie added 13 points. TCU made 11 3-pointers on 27 attempts (41%) and the Horned Frogs' 148 this season are the most in Division I. ___ Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here . AP women’s college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-womens-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/womens-college-basketball