DENVER , Dec. 16, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- TTEC Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: TTEC ), a leading global CX (customer experience) technology and services innovator for AI-enhanced CX with solutions from TTEC Engage and TTEC Digital , today announced that TTEC Digital has been recognized as the Cisco Reimagine Customer Experiences Partner of the Year – Americas. "In collaboration with Cisco, TTEC Digital is helping industry leaders in banking, healthcare, insurance, government services, and more improve their customer experiences with a strong mix of CX strategy and technology. We are honored to be recognized by Cisco for our shared success and look forward to continued partnership," said John Wolf , global Cisco lead at TTEC Digital. In FY24, TTEC Digital achieved significant milestones with Cisco including a 44% year-over-year growth in bookings. Cisco also recognized TTEC Digital for providing targeted training and certifications, expanding into the Cisco commercial space with a focus on Webex Enterprise Contact Center solutions, and developing new services such as WxCC Jet and InteractionSync for Cisco Webex Contact Center. Announced at WebexOne , the Cisco Reimagine Customer Experiences Partner of the Year award recognizes the partner who has had the most success selling and implementing Webex Contact Center solutions to help clients deliver best-in-class customer experiences. TTEC Digital has partnered with Cisco for more than 20 years and was the first partner to take Cisco Contact Center to the cloud. As a five-time Cisco partner of the year winner, TTEC Digital has a strong track record of continuously delivering innovation, leadership and best practices to clients in conjunction with Cisco. To learn more, visit https://ttecdigital.com/partners/cisco . About TTEC TTEC (pronounced T-TEC) Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: TTEC) is a leading global CX (customer experience) technology and services innovator for AI-enabled digital CX solutions. Serving iconic and disruptive brands, TTEC's outcome-based solutions span the entire enterprise, touch every virtual interaction channel, and improve each step of the customer journey. Leveraging next-gen digital technology, the Company's TTEC Digital business designs, builds, and operates omnichannel contact center technology, CRM, AI and analytics solutions. The Company's TTEC Engage business delivers AI-enhanced customer engagement, customer acquisition and growth, tech support, back office, and fraud prevention services. Founded in 1982, the Company's singular obsession with CX excellence has earned it leading client, customer, and employee satisfaction scores across the globe. The Company's employees operate on six continents and bring technology and humanity together to deliver happy customers and differentiated business results. To learn more visit us at https://www.ttec.com . Media Contact: Meredith Matthews meredith.matthews@ttec.com +1 281-770-2566 View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ttec-digital-wins-cisco-reimagine-customer-experiences-partner-of-the-year--americas-302332643.html SOURCE TTEC Holdings, Inc.
East Carolina cornerback Shavon Revel Jr., a potential first-round pick, declared for the 2025 NFL Draft on Friday. Revel, who sustained a torn left ACL in practice in September, had one season of eligibility remaining. "After an incredible journey at East Carolina, I am officially declaring for the 2025 NFL Draft," the senior posted on social media. "... Pirates nation, thank you for your unwavering energy and support every game. Representing ECU is an honor, and I look forward to continuing to do so on Sundays!" Revel recorded two interceptions in three games this season, returning one 50 yards for a touchdown on Sept. 14 against Appalachian State. Over three seasons with the Pirates, Revel had three interceptions, 15 passes defensed and 70 tackles in 24 games. He was a second-team All-American Athletic Conference selection last season. ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. ranked Revel as the No. 2 cornerback and No. 23 overall prospect in the 2025 draft class. --Field Level MediaMwalola wa Mwalola, a longtime fisherman in the Indian Ocean on the Kenyan coast, vividly remembers the events of the deadly tsunami of 20 years ago. Mwalola said the fisherfolk's experience and knowledge of the ocean saved his life after they sensed danger and decided to keep off the ocean on the fateful day. “My place of work was hit, but I was not affected because I heeded the warning," he said. "We avoided losses because we warned our colleagues of the impending danger and asked everyone to keep off the ocean that day.” On December 26, 2004, a powerful earthquake off the coast of the Indonesian island of Sumatra generated a devastating tsunami that was observed worldwide and caused tremendous devastation and deaths throughout the Indian Ocean region, including in East Africa. Out of the 228,000 people killed, more than 300 were from the East African countries of Somalia, Tanzania and Kenya, according to the U.N. Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. The disaster raised awareness about the threat tsunamis pose to coastal communities around the world and the need for improved tsunami detection, forecasting, warning and preparedness. Observers say more remains to be done in the East African countries that were affected. Shamim Wasii Nyanda, an environmental activist at the Tanzania Ocean Climate Innovation Hub in Dar es Salaam, said, "There’s an increase of vulnerability due to climate change but also ... limited adaptation funding. Most of the coastal cities lack sufficient financial resources to implement these climate adaptation measures, particularly in urban, under-resourced communities. They do not have that kind of technology or resources for them to be able to work on these problems that we are experiencing," especially tsunamis. Nyanda said increasing urbanization is compounding the risk. “Coastal cities like Dar es Salaam itself have continued to expand, with informal settlements encroaching on vulnerable areas where facilities like disasterproof housing and infrastructure are not available." People then build housing in areas where they shouldn't, "so, when these disasters come, like the tsunami, they are not prepared. They do not have the technology. They do not have the infrastructure ... and what happens? They are just swept away.” As countries observe the 20th anniversary of the 2004 tsunami, experts say preparedness, prevention and mitigation measures are key in preventing such disasters in the future.Fort Lauderdale-Based MARA Holdings Set to Acquire 114-Megawatt Texas Wind Farm for Sustainable Bitcoin Mining
OpenAI Resumes Sora Sign-Ups After Pause Due To Demand At LaunchPerthera Finds Survival Differences in Lung vs. Liver Metastasis in New StudyWASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack recently announced that USDA is making domestic fertilizer production investments in nine states to increase competition, lower fertilizer costs for American farmers and lower food costs for U.S. consumers. “When we invest in domestic supply chains, we drive down input costs and increase options for farmers,” Secretary Vilsack said. “Through today’s investments to make more fertilizer, USDA is bringing jobs back to the United States, lowering costs for families, and supporting farmer income.” USDA is awarding more than $116 million through the Fertilizer Production Expansion Program (FPEP) to help eight facilities expand innovative fertilizer production in California, Colorado, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Oklahoma and Wisconsin. FPEP is funded by the Commodity Credit Corporation and provides funding to independent business owners to help them modernize equipment, adopt new technologies, build production plants and more. Through the Fertilizer Production Expansion Program, USDA has invested $517 million in 76 fertilizer production facilities to expand access to domestic fertilizer options for American farmers in 34 states and Puerto Rico. These investments will increase U.S. fertilizer production by 11.8 million tons annually and create more than 1,300 jobs in rural communities. Examples of projects being announced today are listed below. - In California, Biofiltro USA Inc. will use a $2.3 million grant to construct a new facility in Kingsburg to process manure from dairy cows by using vermifilitering techniques. The project will yield more than 33,000 cubic yards of composted fertilizer alternative annually and benefit farmers within the region. - In Georgia, Reve Solutions Inc. will use a $1.3 million grant to expand a biosolid fertilizer composter and will help increase capacity through additional equipment and working capital for two production locations. Through this expansion, Reve Solutions is expected to generate over 30,000 tons of fertilizer nutrient and create five new jobs - In Kansas, the Farmers Cooperative Association will use a $2.3 million grant to expand an existing dry fertilizer facility with additional storage and processing capacity. The project will improve the efficiency of order processing but also expand services to include dust suppression to reduce run-off. Through this investment, the facility will increase its dry fertilizer production to 24,500 tons per year. President Biden and USDA created FPEP to combat issues facing American farmers due to rising fertilizer prices, which more than doubled between 2021 and 2022 due to a variety of factors such as war in Ukraine and a lack of competition in the fertilizer industry. The Administration committed up to $900 million through the Commodity Credit Corporation for FPEP. Funding supports long-term investments that will strengthen supply chains, create new economic opportunities for American businesses and support climate-smart innovation. Investments in this program also have advanced the President’s Investing in America agenda to grow the nation’s economy from the middle out and bottom up and to promote fair and competitive markets for American farmers and ranchers. USDA Rural Development provides loans and grants to help expand economic opportunities, create jobs and improve the quality of life for millions of Americans in rural areas. This assistance supports infrastructure improvements; business development; housing; community facilities such as schools, public safety and health care; and high-speed internet access in rural, tribal and high-poverty areas. Visit the Rural Data Gateway to learn how and where these investments are impacting rural America. To subscribe to USDA Rural Development updates, visit the GovDelivery Subscriber Page. USDA touches the lives of all Americans each day in so many positive ways. Under the Biden-Harris Administration, USDA is transforming America’s food system with a greater focus on more resilient local and regional food production, fairer markets for all producers, ensuring access to safe, healthy and nutritious food in all communities, building new markets and streams of income for farmers and producers using climate-smart food and forestry practices, making historic investments in infrastructure and clean energy capabilities in rural America, and committing to equity across the Department by removing systemic barriers and building a workforce more representative of America. To learn more, visit www.usda.gov .
By KEVIN FREKING WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate won’t hold votes on four of President Joe Biden’s appellate court nominees as part of a deal with Republicans to allow for speedier consideration of other judicial nominations and bring Biden within striking distance of the 234 total judicial confirmations that occurred during President-elect Donald Trump’s first term. Currently, the number of judges confirmed under Biden totals 221. Republicans forced numerous procedural votes this week and late-night sessions as Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., attempted to move ahead in getting more of Biden’s nominees confirmed before Congress adjourns and Republicans take control of the chamber in January. A Senate Democratic leadership aide said Thursday a time agreement had been reached to allow for consideration of seven district court judges the week following Thanksgiving. Plus, another six district judges would be placed on the Senate executive calendar, making it possible for them to be considered on the Senate floor in December. Excluded from that list were four circuit judge nominations awaiting a floor vote: Adeel Abdullah Mangi of New Jersey, nominated for the Third Circuit Court of Appeals; Karla M. Campbell of Tennessee, nominated for the Sixth Circuit; Julia M. Lipez of Maine, First Circuit; and Ryan Young Park of North Carolina, Fourth Circuit. Mangi would have been the first Muslim American to serve as a federal appellate court judge if he had been confirmed. Mangi received law degrees from Oxford and Harvard. He works in a prestigious law firm and has secured significant legal victories. But his limited volunteer work with two outside groups has imperiled his nomination. He faced opposition from some Democrats as well. The confirmation battles over circuit court judges are generally much harder fights given their role in hearing appeals from district courts and often having the last word on legal matters. Schumer’s office said the four circuit nominees lacked the support to be confirmed, and that they received more than triple the amount of other judges moving forward as part of the agreement. Related Articles National Politics | Republicans rally around Hegseth, Trump’s Pentagon pick, as Gaetz withdraws for attorney general National Politics | Trump has promised again to release the last JFK files. But experts say don’t expect big revelations National Politics | Several of Trump’s Cabinet picks — and Trump himself — have been accused of sexual misconduct National Politics | Airline CEOs and Transportation Secretary Buttigieg fight over regulations even after election National Politics | Biden has become notably quiet after the 2024 election and Democrats’ loss Liberal groups in recent weeks have been pressuring Senate Democrats to do what it takes to get all of Biden’s judicial nominees confirmed before Trump takes office again. And some expressed disappointment with the deal. “Reports that there is a deal that would leave behind critical circuit court nominees are unacceptable. All of these nominees must be confirmed expeditiously before the end of the 118th Congress,” said Lena Zwarensteyn, an advisor at The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights. “When senators return from the holiday break, Leader Schumer and senators must do whatever it takes — for as long as it takes — to confirm every single pending judicial nominee, including all circuit court nominees, to provide an important guardrail for our democracy. No matter what, this must get done,” Zwarensteyn said. Schumer has dedicated much of the Senate schedule to getting Biden’s judicial nominees confirmed. He called it a basic responsibility of the Senate. “We’ll take that responsibility very seriously between now and the end of the year,” Schumer said on the Senate floor.
December 16, 2024 This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlightedthe following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: fact-checked peer-reviewed publication trusted source proofread by Colton Poore, Princeton University While electric vehicles have become a cornerstone of the global energy transition, new research led by Princeton University has demonstrated that refining the critical minerals needed for electric vehicle batteries could create pollution hotspots near manufacturing hubs. Focusing on China and India, the researchers found that national sulfur dioxide (SO 2 ) emissions could increase by up to 20% over current levels if the countries were to fully domesticize their supply chains for electric vehicles. The overwhelming majority of those SO 2 emissions would come from refining and manufacturing nickel and cobalt—important minerals for today's electric vehicle batteries. "Many discussions about electric vehicles focus on minimizing emissions from the transport and power sectors," said corresponding author Wei Peng, an assistant professor of public and international affairs and the Andlinger Center for Energy and the Environment. "But we show here that the impacts of electric vehicles don't end with vehicle tail-pipe emissions or electricity. It's also about your entire supply chain." Publishing their findings in Environmental Science & Technology , the researchers argued that countries must think strategically about building clean supply chains as they develop decarbonization plans. In the case of battery manufacturing, the team underscored the importance of developing and enforcing strict air pollution standards to avoid unintended consequences of the transition to electric vehicles. They also suggested the development of alternative battery chemistries to avoid the process-based SO 2 emissions of manufacturing today's batteries. "If you dig deep enough into any clean energy technology , you will find there are challenges or tradeoffs," said first author Anjali Sharma, who completed the work as a postdoctoral researcher in Peng's group and is now an assistant professor in the Centre for Climate Studies and Ashank Desai Centre for Policy Studies at the Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay. "The existence of these tradeoffs doesn't mean that we stop the energy transition, but it does mean that we need to act proactively to mitigate these tradeoffs as much as possible." A tale of two countries Both China and India have good reasons to avoid SO 2 emissions: The compound is a precursor to fine particulate matter , contributing to a host of cardiovascular and respiratory problems. The two countries already suffer from high levels of air pollution. In 2019 alone, around 1.4 million premature deaths in China and around 1.7 million premature deaths in India were attributable to fine particulate matter exposure. However, the two countries are at different stages of development of electric vehicles. Peng said that in China, a domestic supply chain for electric vehicles is the status quo, but that India is still in the early stages of supply chain development. The comparison helped the researchers identify near-term priorities as they continue or begin to build a domestic supply chain for electric vehicles. "China needs to be thinking about how to clean up a supply chain that already exists, while India has the opportunity to build a better supply chain from the ground up," said Peng, who is also a core faculty member at the Center for Policy Research on Energy and the Environment. "Both situations come with their own challenges and opportunities." In India, the lowest-hanging fruit would be a focus first on cleaning up pollution from the power sector. This would require enforcing stringent SO 2 pollution control measures for thermal power plants, using mature technologies like flue-gas desulfurization. For China, which already has stringent emissions controls for the power sector, the focus must shift to mitigating SO 2 emissions from the battery manufacturing process, which the researchers said is less familiar. However, the researchers underscored that ignoring emissions from battery manufacturing would be a critical misstep. In scenarios where China and India fully onshored their supply chains, prioritizing a cleaner grid did little to nothing to lower SO 2 emissions. Instead, only scenarios focused on cleaning up battery manufacturing processes avoided SO 2 pollution hotspots. "People generally assume the transition to a greener technology is always going to be a win-win—there will be climate and air quality benefits," said Sharma. "But without considering manufacturing, you might lower carbon and nitrogen oxide emissions but end up increasing the air pollution burden for communities near manufacturing centers." Discover the latest in science, tech, and space with over 100,000 subscribers who rely on Phys.org for daily insights. Sign up for our free newsletter and get updates on breakthroughs, innovations, and research that matter— daily or weekly . Human-centered approaches to decarbonization While the analysis focused on China and India, the researchers argued that if left unaddressed, pollution from battery manufacturing will become an increasingly global challenge as electric vehicle adoption rates rise. Even if countries like China and India were to outsource battery manufacturing, Sharma said that without strategies to mitigate SO 2 emissions, they would simply be offloading the problem to another country. "It's important to look at electric vehicles from a global supply chain perspective," Sharma said. "Even if India were to decide against building a domestic supply chain and instead chose to import them from somewhere else, the pollution wouldn't go away. It would just be outsourced to another country." In addition to their policy recommendation for proactive air pollution standards, which would likely happen at the national or subnational level, the researchers also examined how changing the battery chemistry in electric vehicles could avoid unwanted SO 2 emissions on a more global scale. While most electric vehicle batteries today rely on cobalt and nickel, the rise of alternative chemistries that use iron and phosphate (so-called lithium iron phosphate batteries) could circumvent some of the concerns associated with mining and refining cobalt and nickel. By avoiding the two minerals, scenarios with high penetration of lithium phosphate batteries resulted in far fewer SO 2 emissions from manufacturing. In all events, Peng said the findings serve as a reminder to keep people at the top of mind when designing decarbonization plans, as even the most promising technologies could come with unwanted and unintended consequences. "We know about many of the important technologies for cutting carbon emissions," said Peng. "But the other part is how people will be affected by those technologies. My approach is to think about the best ways for technologies and people to intersect, because those strategies will have the best outcomes for the greatest number of people." More information: Anjali Sharma et al, Multisectoral Emission Impacts of Electric Vehicle Transition in China and India, Environmental Science & Technology (2024). DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.4c02694 Journal information: Environmental Science & Technology Provided by Princeton University
A new kind of space technology is being developed in New Hampshire to help protect satellites and other spacecraft. Scientists from the University of New Hampshire and Rogue Space Systems in Laconia have teamed up to develop a model that will track radiation levels in space. The goal of the partnership is to build a new model that will predict weather in space, monitoring what are known as electron flux levels. "We want to be able to better predict when they arrive and what type of influence they will have on radiation belts specifically for protecting satellites in that area," said Reka Winslow, UNH Space Tech Hub director. >> Download the free WMUR app to get updates on the go: Apple | Google Play