AP Business SummaryBrief at 2:31 p.m. EST
Nadra DG sacked over ‘fake degree’ Nadra terminated his services while taking disciplinary action in line with IHC’s verdict ISLAMABAD: National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra) Director General (DG) Zulfiqar Ahmed has been dismissed from service over fake degree, reports Geo News citing well-placed sources. The development came days after the IHC dismissed his plea against the Higher Education Commission (HEC)’s decision to cancel his equivalent certificate. Taking disciplinary action in line with the IHC’s verdict and unsatisfactory response to the show cause notice served on Ahmed, Nadra terminated his serves, the sources added. In 2018, Nadra directed him, among others, to get his degree verified. He provided “verification of degrees in the sealed envelope” to HEC. This pretended as if the verification certificates had been issued by the universities concerned and handed to him in a sealed envelope for submission to HEC, according to The News report. The HEC could only bother to check that both institutions were recognised degree-awarding institutions as per the record of UNESCO and the USA’s Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). Regarding the verification of degrees, the HEC relied on the sealed envelopes handed to it by the applicant, Zulfiqar. It was not further checked by the university and provisional verification letters were issued. A subsequent letter from HEC issued in 2021 declared the verification certificates ‘authentic and genuine.’ However, the events unfolding later on suggested as if the verification certificates were made up by the applicant. And it was flagged by none other than his employer, Nadra . A letter in June this year alerted HEC that the documents were suspicious. His MBA degree became doubtful on the grounds that the person who signed it was not the president of George Mason University in 1990. Zulfiqar’s degree bore the signature of Edging R Marsey. In reality, George W Johnson was the university’s president at that time. This suggests the “provided degree may be tempered with, fabricated or fake,” reads Nadra letter to HEC. His BBA degree from Westwood College became doubtful on the grounds it didn’t exist in 1987 when Zulfiqar claimed to have earned it. The college was initially set up in 1953 as Denver Institute of Technology offering diploma and degree programmes. It was named the Westwood College in 1997. “The degree awarded to Zulfiqar in 1987 by Westwood College seems illogical and therefore is suspected to be fake,” Nadra wrote to HEC.The normally reliable centre-back passed the ball into his own net in the 26th minute after failing to spot goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel’s positioning. But a brilliant turn and finish on the hour mark from Daizen Maeda changed the game and ultimately earned the Scottish champions a 1-1 home draw. On the opener, Rodgers said: “Mistakes happen and it was just unfortunate. He’s played that pass a million times and it’s gone back and then we’ve been able to play forward. It was just one of those unfortunate moments in the game that happens. “But he’s a really, really tough character. He’s a great guy, he picked himself up. He was really strong and aggressive again in the game and got on with it and had a real bravery in the second half, because he was the one carrying the ball forward for us to start the attack.” Despite the gift, Brugge were worthy of their lead and Rodgers admitted his side were too passive in their pressing in the opening half. Some tactical tweaks – and the introduction of Paulo Bernardo – helped Celtic dominate after Maeda’s equaliser, although Brugge had a goal disallowed for a marginal offside. “I can only credit the players for the second half, because we had to fight,” Rodgers said. “And we’re still one of those teams that’s really pushing to try and make a mark at this level. So to make the comeback, score the goal, play with that courage, I was so pleased. “You want to win but I’ve been here enough times to have lost a game like that, but we didn’t. We showed a real strong mentality and we kept pushing right to the very end and the players did well. “I thought they showed great courage in the second half because we weren’t at our level in the first half. Sometimes a game like that can get away from you, but it didn’t. “We stayed with it, showed that determination, showed that mentality, never to quit, to keep going. And then we were much, much better, much freer in the second half. “So we’re on eight points, nine to play for. We’re still very much on course to get to where we want to get to and still three games to go.” Rodgers added: “It’s 20 games now and we’ve won 16 and drawn three and lost one, so it shows you the mentality is there, and especially at this level, you need to have that.”AP Sports SummaryBrief at 1:00 p.m. EST
Bombshell blow for Anthony Albanese just months out from a federal election as he faces being booted from the Lodge after just one term Labor support falls in NSW and Victoria Anthony Albanese is still preferred PM READ MORE: PM refuses to acknowledge glaringly obvious fact By DAVID SOUTHWELL FOR DAILY MAIL AUSTRALIA Published: 00:44, 30 December 2024 | Updated: 00:44, 30 December 2024 e-mail View comments Anthony Albanese 's bedrock of support is collapsing in NSW and Victoria just a few months before he seeks re-election at a federal election , new polling has revealed. Labor's primary vote has slumped from 33 to 29 per cent in Australia's two most populous states, putting crucial seats, and Labor's majority, in doubt, according to a survey by Resolve Strategic for Nine newspapers . By contrast the Coalition, led by Peter Dutton , has seen a dramatic boost in Victoria with its primary vote surging from 33 to 38 per cent, while support in NSW increased from 37 to 38 per cent. The news for Labor is also bad in Western Australia with its primary vote plunging from 37 to 30 per cent since the last election, with the Coalition rising from 35 to 37.. It could see a reversal in the four seats Labor snatched from the Coalition in 2022 - Pearce, Hasluck, Swan and Tangney - with a new electorate in Bullwinkel also being contested in the next federal poll. The Coalition's resurgence in Victoria could also be bad news for the Teals, as it targets the two Melbourne seats the Liberals lost to them at the last election. Monique Ryan holds Kooyong by a margin of just 2.2 per cent and Zoe Daniel holds Goldstein by 3.3 per cent, according to ABC election pendulum. Anthony Albanese faces an election next year with Labor's support falling to low levels in NSW and Victoria Overall the Resolve Political Monitor showed the Coalition ahead with 51 per cent of support in two-party terms compared to Labor on 49 per cent, assuming preferences matched the last election. However, the close result was within the margin of error indicating the federal election remains tightly contested, and may ened in a hung parliament. Mr Albanese maintained a slight edge over Mr Dutton as preferred prime minister in Victoria, where he leaders 36 to 34 per cent and in NSW where he is ahead 38 to 36. Resolve Director Jim Reed said the poll indicates Labor is in danger of losing power after only one term in government, for the first time federally in Australia since 1931. 'In 2022, we correctly anticipated that Labor would win with less than a third of the primary vote, that they would pick up seats in Western Australia, that the Greens would win seats in Brisbane, and that Liberal heartland would be taken by the Teals,' Mr Reed said. Peter Dutton (pictured right with wife Kirilly) is almost neck-and-neck with Mr Albanese as preferred prime minister 'This time around we'll be looking for things that go against the received wisdom, like the possibility of a first-term government being voted out, the Liberals winning seats in Victoria, the Greens losing seats and independents being denied a second term.' Read More PETER VAN ONSELEN: Why an early election is Anthony Albanese's least bad option While the Greens have kept their primary vote steady at 12 per cent nationally, they have slipped from 13 per cent to 11 per cent in Queensland, which could endanger the three seats they picked up from major parties at the last election. Overall Queensland remained relatively unchanged from previous quarterly analysis of polling. Labor saw a slight fall in its primary vote from 27 to 26 per cent with the Coalition's increasing from 40 to 41 per cent. Resolve Political Monitor's quarterly analysis of polling is based on responses from 4831 voters from October to December 2024. Labor has also been losing ground in Newspolls, conducted for The Australian. An analysis of Newspolls taken over the last quarter of 2024, shows 35 to 49-year-old voters, commonly mortgage holders who determine many swinging electorates, are shunning the Albanese government. When grilled about his declining popularity at a press conference on Sunday, the Prime Minister downplayed the issue. 'What I am worried about is helping fellow Australians,' he said. 'I have been underestimated my whole political life. 'I am focused on making a difference for cost of living, making a difference for plans that we have going forward. 'We have already announced a number of changes, including to address intergenerational equity issues by cancelling 20 per cent of HECS debts for people if we are reelected.' Anthony Albanese Western Australia Share or comment on this article: Bombshell blow for Anthony Albanese just months out from a federal election as he faces being booted from the Lodge after just one term e-mail Add commentChampioning Aviation Safety: Riadel Manzano Advocates for Better Support for Aircraft MechanicsKutay Tanir BBVA Argentina ( NYSE: BBAR ) is one of the largest banks in that South American nation. From this point, it could see a major capital appreciation in the stock as the Argentinian public finances experience an impressive recovery due to Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have no stock, option or similar derivative position in any of the companies mentioned, and no plans to initiate any such positions within the next 72 hours. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article. Seeking Alpha's Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.
Rachel Christian | (TNS) Bankrate.com Just because retirement planning involves some guesswork doesn’t mean it has to be a total mystery. Related Articles Business | Tech review: Earbuds and phones for those on your holiday list Business | The year in money: inflation eased, optimism ticked upward Business | Some in seafood industry see Trump as fishermen’s friend, but tariffs could make for pricier fish Business | Trump offers support for dockworkers union by saying ports shouldn’t install more automated systems Business | 6 ways to avoid a financial hangover Whether you’ve been saving since your first job or you’re getting a late start, you can leverage expert-recommended strategies to gauge your progress on the road to retirement. And if you’re not quite on track, don’t sweat it — the experts we spoke to offered actionable tips to help you close the gap. You might have a general idea of how much money you need to save for retirement . A few quick calculations can give you an estimate, but to truly appreciate where you stand, you’ll need to dive into the numbers. Here’s how to get started. A good rule of thumb to estimate your retirement savings goal is the Rule of 25 . Simply multiply your desired annual retirement income by 25. The result is roughly how much you’ll need to save before hitting retirement. For example, if you plan to spend $50,000 a year, you’ll need about $1.25 million to make it a reality. The Rule of 25 is based on the idea that withdrawing 4% annually from your retirement savings should last you about 30 years. While it’s not an exact science by any means — health care costs and lifestyle changes can skew the numbers, for example — the Rule of 25 can be a good starting point to figure out how much you need to save. Fidelity Investments, a behemoth in the retirement planning space, offers savings guidelines to help you determine if you’re on track . —By age 30: Save 1x your annual salary —By age 40: Save 3x your annual salary —By age 50: Save 6x your annual salary —By age 60: Save 8x your annual salary —By age 67: Save 10x your annual salary For example, if you earn $60,000 annually, you should aim for $600,000 in savings by age 67. But like the Rule of 25, Fidelity’s guidelines offer a 10,000-foot look at retirement goals, and they’re not customized to your situation. Maybe you earned a low salary in your 20s, but you’re working hard in your 30s to make up for it. Use these estimates as a benchmark — but don’t get discouraged if you’re lagging behind. Now it’s time to zoom in a little. To get a clearer snapshot of your progress, use an online retirement calculator. These tools factor in your age, current savings, income and lifestyle goals to estimate whether you’re on track. You’ll get a more refined estimate without crunching the numbers yourself. Bankrate’s retirement calculator even lets you input different rates of return on your investments and accounts for estimated annual salary increases. Having a general savings goal is nice, but to avoid falling short in retirement, you’ll need more than a ballpark figure. Experts recommend creating a retirement budget to get an up-close-and-personal look at how much you’ll really need once you leave the workforce. First, estimate how much you’ll spend per month in retirement. While some costs will increase, like health care, others will likely decrease, like dining out and commuting. “Estimating expenses can be challenging for some people, so as a starting point, I often use your net take-home pay,” says Jeff DeLarme, a certified financial planner and president of DeLarme Wealth Management. For example, if you receive a direct deposit of $2,500 every two weeks from work, use $5,000 as your estimated monthly spending in retirement. “Assuming this was enough to pay the bills while working, we can use $5,000 a month as a starting budget to plan for,” says DeLarme. Next, map out your sources of income in retirement. Social Security is the largest income stream for most retirees, but don’t neglect other inflows, such as: —Workplace retirement accounts, like 401(k)s —Personal retirement accounts, like a traditional or Roth IRA —Pensions —Annuities —Selling your home or business —Rental income —Inheritance “If there’s a gap between your expected expenses and income, you’ll have a good idea of how much you need to save,” says Mike Hunsberger, a certified financial planner and owner of Next Mission Financial Planning. From there, you can adjust your savings and investment strategy accordingly. For something as important (and complex) as retirement planning, it pays to speak with a professional. Financial advisers can analyze your savings, investments and retirement goals to create a personalized plan. Advisers use special planning software that account for more variables than an online calculator, giving you a much more precise, granular look at your financial life in retirement. Many financial advisers can also help you optimize your tax strategy, which can potentially save you thousands of dollars over time. Make sure the adviser you hire is a fiduciary , meaning they’re legally obligated to prioritize your interests over their own. A fiduciary won’t push investments to earn a commission or recommend products that aren’t aligned with your needs. A certified financial planner is one of the most well-recognized designations for fiduciaries. You can use Bankrate’s adviser matching tool to find a certified financial planner in your area in minutes. Maybe you did the math and realized you’re not quite where you need to be. Don’t panic if you’re behind schedule. Here are five strategies experts recommend to help you catch up on your retirement savings . Cutting expenses now frees up more cash to invest in your retirement accounts. Evaluate your budget and identify areas where you can cut costs, like dining out, streaming subscriptions or shopping. Don’t rule out bigger lifestyle changes either, especially if retirement is rapidly approaching. Housing is the biggest monthly expense for most people. Getting creative here can help amplify the amount you can sock away, says Joseph Boughan, a certified financial planner and managing member at Parkmount Financial Partners. It can also reduce your expenses in retirement, so you may not need to save as much as before. “Downsizing can be a great way to cut expenses,” says Boughan. “This can even free up cash if you don’t end up needing all that money for a new home.” Moving somewhere with lower property taxes or income taxes can also help bring your retirement plan back in line. And if you’re a renter, making tough short-term decisions, like taking on a roommate or moving to a lower cost-of-living area, can free up hundreds of dollars a month for your retirement. “Everyone’s plan is unique, so exploring all the options is important,” Boughan says. Joe Conroy, a certified financial planner and owner of Harford Retirement Planners, recommends taking a “retirement test drive” as you near your target date. “Start to live on what income you think you can afford in retirement and stash all the extra income into savings and investments,” says Conroy. “If you can make it through each month, you’re ready for retirement. If you run short, then adjust your plan accordingly.” Working a little longer can be a game-changer for your retirement nest egg. Not only does it give you more time to save, it also gives your investments room to grow. “Working longer or even just part time for a few years early in retirement is one of the best ways to reduce the amount of money you need to save,” says Hunsberger. Postponing retirement can also boost your Social Security benefits . “You can claim as early as 62, but your benefits will be reduced significantly,” says Hunsberger. Meanwhile, each year you delay claiming Social Security benefits beyond your full retirement age , your monthly check will increase by 8%, though this benefit maxes out at age 70. So waiting can really pay off. It may seem obvious, but if you’re behind on retirement savings, you’ll need to boost your contributions as much as possible. Here are a few ways to make saving for retirement easier: —Increase your contribution rate: Allocate a larger portion of your paycheck to a workplace retirement plan. Even bumping up your contributions by 1% or 2% can make a huge difference down the road. —Take advantage of your employer match: Don’t leave free money on the table. Many employers will chip in between 3 and 5% depending on your plan, so make sure you’re contributing enough to take advantage of the benefit. —Use “unexpected” money to catch up: If you get a raise or bonus at work, funnel part of it directly into your 401(k). And if you get a refund at tax time, siphon some of it off to beef up your IRA. If you’ve been investing in low-risk, low-return investments, you may not be keeping up with inflation, let alone growing your nest egg. Reallocating part of your portfolio to stocks or low-cost growth exchange-traded funds (ETFs) is one way to get your money working harder. Higher-risk investments like stocks carry more volatility but also offer higher potential returns. Work with a financial adviser or use a robo-adviser to strike the right balance between growth and your personal risk tolerance. Contribution limits for 401(k) plans and IRAs are higher for people over 50. For 2025, employees aged 50 and up who participate in most 401(k) plans or the federal government’s Thrift Savings Plan can save up to $31,000 annually, including a $7,500 catch-up contribution . But thanks to SECURE 2.0 , a sweeping retirement law, a new higher catch-up contribution limit of $11,250 applies for employees ages 60 to 63. So, if you’re in this age group, you can squirrel away a whopping $34,750 a year during the final stretch of your career. Of course, you’ll need a big salary (think six figures) in order to take full advantage of such massive contribution limits. But if you can afford it, these catch-up allowances can put your plan back on track, especially if you struggled to save much early in your career. There’s no GPS to gauge your progress on the road to retirement. If you’ve veered off course or aren’t sure where to start, begin by getting a quick estimate of how much you’ll need before mapping out a retirement budget. And if you’re behind, don’t panic — adjusting your spending, boosting your contributions and speaking with a financial adviser can help you catch up. ©2024 Bankrate.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.NFL fans slam Chris 'Mad Dog' Russo for his 'disgusting' Lamar Jackson criticism READ MORE: Tom Brady predicts Mahomes and Allen will meet again this year By JAKE FENNER Published: 15:17 EST, 21 November 2024 | Updated: 15:19 EST, 21 November 2024 e-mail 1 View comments Fans on social media slammed ESPN's Chris 'Mad Dog' Russo for disrespecting Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson on Wednesday morning's episode of 'First Take'. Russo was one of four people on the desk alongside hosts Stephen A. Smith and Molly Qerim and contributor Kimberly Martin. In one segment, the panel was discussing whether Jackson was better than Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen. It was pointed out by Martin that Russo had praised Jackson weeks ago, but this time, he appeared to take Allen's side. Russo closed his argument by saying, 'You can take those two MVPs and you can put them where the sun don't shine.' Despite Qerim and Martin pleading with him not to finish that sentence, Russo did so anyway - much to the amusement of Smith, who laughed along. Sports fans are outraged by a comment made by ESPN's Chris Russo on First Take Wednesday Russo said Ravens QB Lamar Jackson could stick his MVP awards 'where the sun don't shine' Read More Former Dallas Cowboys cheerleader Claire Wolford goes public with MLB star boyfriend Colton Cowser But fans of Jackson's weren't happy - going so far as to demand that Russo be fired for his comments. The account that posted the video to X, formerly Twitter, said, 'ABSOLUTELY DISGUSTING and yes Stephen A Smith is smiling and laughing along!!!' Another user attacked Russo as well as Smith for laughing, saying, 'This is highly disrespectful and unprofessional. ESPN and [Smith] allow this s**t to happen because it gets them clicks. Don't ever say [Smith] is on our side, he play both sides to appease to the audience and for his bosses. F*** both of these dudes tbh!!!' 'Haven't watched ESPN in over a decade and this is why,' wrote one fan of the rival Pittsburgh Steelers. Another user wrote, 'Yall still watch this s**t @espn take this s**t off TV nun of them know what they be talking about.' 'People keep putting that rambling moron on tv and I'll never understand why,' read another post. Russo, 68, has been in sports talk radio for years and has developed the occasional bad take across his resume. Among the many include his take that Shaquille O'Neal was not a top-five center in the history of the NBA - and that Moses Malone was deserving of being on the list over him. Fans blasted Russo, Stephen A Smith, and ESPN for having him on the show in the first place Russo also regularly drew the ire of fans and fellow ESPN panelists whenever he argues professional basketball by citing players who haven't touched a court in decades. One time, former ESPN NBA panelist and current Los Angeles Lakers coach JJ Redick called Russo, 'the absolute worst'. Last year, Russo famously declared that if the Arizona Diamondbacks came back to win the National League Championship Series over the Philadelphia Phillies, that he would retire from sports talk. When Arizona completed the comeback to reach their second World Series in franchise history, Russo went back on his promise. As for Jackson, he is currently second in the league in passing yards and passing touchdowns - behind Cincinnati quarterback Joe Burrow in both categories. Jackson also has the most rushing yards by a non-running back in the league. The Ravens (7-4) look to improve their record this week with a trip to Los Angeles to take on the Chargers on Monday Night Football. Baltimore Ravens Share or comment on this article: NFL fans slam Chris 'Mad Dog' Russo for his 'disgusting' Lamar Jackson criticism e-mail Add comment
Elon Musk has reignited his feud with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in full view of the public as regulators take another look into his brain-chip venture Neuralink. Why generative AI is in its 'Angry Birds' phase, according to DataStax CEO Chet Kapoor CC Share Subtitles Off English Why generative AI is in its 'Angry Birds' phase, according to DataStax CEO Chet Kapoor The billionaire, on Thursday night, posted a letter sent by his lawyer, Quinn Emmanuel's Alex Spiro, to outgoing SEC Chair Gary Gensler accusing the agency of attempting to intimidate Musk. Advertisement According to the letter, the SEC has reopened an investigation into Neuralink, Musk's startup that wants to implant brain chips into humans for a variety of functions—including restoring Neuralink's only publicly disclosed patient, 29-year-old quadriplegic Noland Arbaugh, who has been able to use a Neuralink implant to play hands-free chess and video games like Mario Kart. A second patient was revealed in August but without many details. Advertisement The details of the investigation were not revealed in the letter, although some lawmakers have asked the agency to probe whether Musk committed securities fraud by allegedly misleading investors about the safety of Neuralink's... William GavinThe move could usher in an end to a protracted political crisis in the European Union country following the annulment of a presidential election by a top court. Parliament approved the new administration in a 240-143 vote in Romania’s 466-seat legislature. The new coalition is made up of the leftist Social Democratic Party (PSD) the centre-right National Liberal Party (PNL), the small ethnic Hungarian UDMR party and national minorities. It caps a month-long period of turmoil in which far-right nationalists made significant gains in a parliamentary election on December 1 a week after a first-round presidential race saw the far-right outsider Calin Georgescu emerge as the front-runner. “It will not be an easy mandate for the future government,” Mr Ciolacu, whose PSD party topped the polls in the parliamentary election, said in a statement. “We are aware that we are in the midst of a deep political crisis,” he said. “It is also a crisis of trust, and this coalition aims to regain the trust of citizens, the trust of the people.” Romania’s 16 ministerial positions will be shared among the parties, which will hold a slim majority in the legislature. It is widely seen as a tactical partnership to shut out far-right nationalists whose voices found fertile ground amid high living costs and a sluggish economy. Mr Ciolacu, who came third in the first-round presidential ballot despite polls indicating he would win the most votes, has served as prime minister since June 2023. After parliament’s approval, President Klaus Iohannis swore in the new government and warned the new Cabinet that it is entering a “difficult new period” in which “for many Romanians, there are major concerns”. Romania was plunged into turmoil after Mr Georgescu’s surprise success in the presidential race, after allegations of electoral violations and Russian interference emerged. Days before the December 8 run-off, the Constitutional Court made the unprecedented move to annul the presidential race. “We go through complicated times, but I think we all learned from mistakes of the past,” Mr Ciolacu said. “I hope that together with my colleagues in the coalition, we’ll find the best solutions to get past the challenges we have in front of us.” Mr Ciolacu said that the new government would aim to quickly organise the rerun of the presidential election in which the new coalition has agreed to put forward an agreed common pro-European candidate. Cristian Andrei, a political consultant based in Bucharest, said that the new government made up of the same political parties will likely embrace “soft populist” rhetoric such as economic patriotism, anti-austerity, and a peace solution in neighbouring Ukraine to counter the rise of far-right populism. “This will be a way to answer the concerns of many Romanians who voted for populists... but will not solve the fundamental problem of trust,” he said. “The only decisive factor now will be who and how convincing the pro-European candidates will be against this popular revolt.” George Simion, the leader of the far-right Alliance for the Unity of Romanians, which came second in the parliamentary election, said that all politicians from his party on Monday would vote against the Ciolacu government. In 2021, the PSD and the PNL also formed an unlikely but increasingly strained coalition together with UDMR, which exited the Cabinet last year after a power-sharing dispute.
Jimmy Carter, the 39th US president, has died at 100
THE POWER OF ALLO'S ALL-FIBER NETWORK COMING TO BOULDER, COLORADO
None
Sobot hosted its annual customer conference in Singapore this December, drawing customers from diverse industries to exchange insights and success stories. At the event, Co-founder and CEO Yi Xu presented Sobot's 2025 service standards, pledging to exceed 'good' service and establish a new benchmark for 'excellent' service within the SaaS sector. Yi Xu emphasized the transformative power of AI in enhancing customer experience while maintaining that impeccable service remains a crucial competitive edge for businesses. Sobot's commitment to superior service is driven by the belief that exceptional service fosters customer loyalty, repeat business, and valuable word-of-mouth recommendations. Data from Gartner confirms 82% of customers are more likely to repurchase when they experience real value, with 77% willing to recommend a company after a positive encounter, providing essential brand advocacy for SaaS firms. Sobot actively involves customer feedback through its annual conference and other channels, reinforcing its dedication to ongoing service refinement. In a standout example shared at the conference, a luxury travel retailer praised Sobot for swiftly implementing a system function upgrade, outperforming the previous provider's response time significantly. CEO Xu reaffirmed Sobot's 'customer-first' philosophy and commitment to continuously evolving service standards. The new service standards include three pillars: product support with an integrated AI-powered platform, personalized human support, and comprehensive operational support through every partnership stage. Sobot's solid customer satisfaction and net promoter scores reflect the company's successful service strategies, yet Xu remains focused on achieving new heights of service excellence. Under Xu's leadership, Sobot continues to redefine industry standards, guided by direct customer feedback and an unwavering pursuit of excellence. (With inputs from agencies.)Why Santa Ana’s independent bookstore LibroMobile may close its doors in 2025Cameron Haffner helps Evansville end five-game skid with 57-40 victory over Missouri State
Fraud charges filed after college hoops team is forced to cancel Bahamas trip
5 ways to tell if you’re on track for retirement — and 5 things to do if you need to catch up, according to experts
In a message to the American people, the King expressed “great sadness” at the news of Mr Carter’s death, describing him as “a committed public servant” who “devoted his life to promoting peace and human rights”. He added: “His dedication and humility served as an inspiration to many, and I remember with great fondness his visit to the United Kingdom in 1977. “My thoughts and prayers are with President Carter’s family and the American people at this time.” Mr Carter, a former peanut farmer, served one term in the White House between 1977 and 1981 and spent his post-presidency years as a global humanitarian, winning the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002. Sir Keir Starmer said Mr Carter had “lived his values in the service of others to the very end” through “decades of selfless public service”. Praising a “lifelong dedication to peace” that saw him win the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002, Sir Keir added: “Motivated by his strong faith and values, President Carter redefined the post-presidency with a remarkable commitment to social justice and human rights at home and abroad.” Tributes to Mr Carter followed the announcement of his death by his family on Sunday, more than a year after he decided to enter hospice care. His son, Chip Carter, said: “My father was a hero, not only to me but to everyone who believes in peace, human rights, and unselfish love.” Very sorry to hear of President Carter’s passing. I pay tribute to his decades of selfless public service. My thoughts are with his family and friends at this time. — Keir Starmer (@Keir_Starmer) US President Joe Biden, one of the first elected politicians to endorse Mr Carter’s bid for the presidency in 1976, said the world had “lost an extraordinary leader, statesman and humanitarian”. He said: “Over six decades, we had the honour of calling Jimmy Carter a dear friend. But, what’s extraordinary about Jimmy Carter, though, is that millions of people throughout America and the world who never met him thought of him as a dear friend as well. “With his compassion and moral clarity, he worked to eradicate disease, forge peace, advance civil rights and human rights, promote free and fair elections, house the homeless, and always advocate for the least among us.” Vice President Kamala Harris said Mr Carter “reminded our nation and the world that there is strength in decency and compassion”. “His life and legacy continue to inspire me — and will inspire generations to come,” she said. “Our world is a better place because of President Carter.” Other UK politicians also paid tribute to Mr Carter. Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey said he was “an inspiration” who “led a truly remarkable life dedicated to public service with a genuine care for people”. Scottish First Minister John Swinney described the former president as “a good, decent, honest man who strove for peace in all that he did”, while Welsh First Minister said he was “a remarkable man” and “a humanitarian and scholar”. Former prime minister Sir Tony Blair said Mr Carter’s “life was a testament to public service”. He added: “I always had the greatest respect for him, his spirit and his dedication. He fundamentally cared and consistently toiled to help those in need.” Mr Carter is expected to receive a state funeral featuring public observances in Atlanta, Georgia, and Washington DC before being buried in his hometown of Plains, Georgia. A moderate democrat born in Plains in October 1924, Mr Carter’s political career took him from the Georgia state senate to the state governorship and, finally, the White House, where he took office as 39th president in the wake of the Watergate scandal and the Vietnam War. His presidency saw economic disruption amid volatile oil prices, along with social tensions at home and challenges abroad including the Iranian revolution that sparked a 444-day hostage crisis at the US embassy in Tehran. But he also brokered the Camp David Accords between Egypt and Israel, which led to a peace treaty between the two countries in 1979. After his defeat in the 1980 presidential election, he worked more than four decades leading The Carter Centre, which he and his late wife Rosalynn co-founded in 1982 to “wage peace, fight disease, and build hope”. Under his leadership, the Carter Center virtually eliminated Guinea Worm disease, which has gone from affecting 3.5 million people in Africa and Asia in 1986 to just 14 in 2023. Mrs Carter, who died last year aged 96, had played a more active role in her husband’s presidency than previous first ladies, with Mr Carter saying she had been “my equal partner in everything I ever accomplished”. Earlier this year, on his 100th birthday, Mr Carter received a private congratulatory message from the King, expressing admiration for his life of public service