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pg jili178 The CPI(M) on Monday backed politburo member A Vijayaraghavan’s controversial remarks on Muslim fundamentalists’ support behind the victories of Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra in the Wayanad Lok Sabha constituency. The party defended his remarks, stating that they were aimed at exposing the “unholy alliance” between Congress and “communal” outfits like the SDPI, the political arm of the banned Popular Front of India (PFI) and the Welfare Party of India, the branch of Jamaat-e-Islami. CPI(M) state secretary MV Govindan told reporters, “Both majority and minority communal forces have strengthened their attacks on our party over the years. But we are not ready to make any compromises with them. SDPI and Jamaat-e-Islami are among the tiny communal forces within the Muslim community.” “Congress is an ally of those communal forces. We saw both in the Lok Sabha elections and the Palakkad assembly bypoll that the two parties worked just as an ally of the Congress and UDF. It will have far-reaching consequences,” he said. He emphasised that a majority of the people in that community stand for secularism. The consequences of allying with such “extremist” outfits will be disastrous for the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), a long-standing ally of the Congress, as well, he said, adding that Vijayaraghavan’s position was correct and that the party stood with it. While the SDPI and Welfare Party are not part of the UDF in Kerala, in recent elections, they have pitched support for the Congress-led alliance. LDF convenor TP Ramakrishnan too supported the politburo member. “He has only criticised the move of the Congress and the IUML to seek support from extremist outfits like SDPI and Jamaat-e-Islami. Didn’t the SDPI hold a victory celebration after the win of the UDF candidate in the Palakkad bypoll? There is nothing ‘communal’ about Vijayaraghavan’s remarks. His words are only aimed at protecting the society from communal forces,” he said. The LDF support for Vijayaraghavan came days after the Congress and IUML slammed his remarks, calling them “cruel” and “unbecoming” of a senior Left leader. Vijayaraghavan was quoted saying at the party’s district conference in Wayanad last week, “Two people had recent back-to-back victories here (Wayanad). With whose support did Rahul Gandhi win? Without the support of the Muslim fundamentalist elements, would Rahul Gandhi have entered Parliament? He is the leader of opposition there. Then Priyanka Gandhi came. Who were at the front and back of her roadshows? Weren’t there members of minority extremist elements there? Didn’t they support her?” Meanwhile,leader of opposition in the Kerala assembly VD Satheesan on Monday accused the CPI(M) of moving towards a position that aligns with the Sangh Parivar’s agenda of creating communal divisions in the state. He further said that CPI(M) leaders made made their stance clear that, after the parliamentary elections, the Left party’s agenda has changed, and “it has emerged with a majority communal appeasement that even shames the Sangh Parivar”. “CPI(M) is moving towards a position that aligns with the Sangh Parivar agenda of creating communal divisions in the state. To say that Priyanka Gandhi’s victory in Wayanad was due to the support of extremists is an insult to the people of Wayanad,” the LoP said. He said the people voted for Rahul and Priyanka without any caste or religious differences.”Attempting to create communalism in the name of that victory shows that the distance between CPI(M) and the Sangh Parivar is not very far,” he said. With PTI inputs

By MICHELLE L. PRICE WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — An online spat between factions of Donald Trump’s supporters over immigration and the tech industry has thrown internal divisions in his political movement into public display, previewing the fissures and contradictory views his coalition could bring to the White House. The rift laid bare the tensions between the newest flank of Trump’s movement — wealthy members of the tech world including billionaire Elon Musk and fellow entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy and their call for more highly skilled workers in their industry — and people in Trump’s Make America Great Again base who championed his hardline immigration policies. The debate touched off this week when Laura Loomer , a right-wing provocateur with a history of racist and conspiratorial comments, criticized Trump’s selection of Sriram Krishnan as an adviser on artificial intelligence policy in his coming administration. Krishnan favors the ability to bring more skilled immigrants into the U.S. Loomer declared the stance to be “not America First policy” and said the tech executives who have aligned themselves with Trump were doing so to enrich themselves. Much of the debate played out on the social media network X, which Musk owns. Loomer’s comments sparked a back-and-forth with venture capitalist and former PayPal executive David Sacks , whom Trump has tapped to be the “White House A.I. & Crypto Czar.” Musk and Ramaswamy, whom Trump has tasked with finding ways to cut the federal government , weighed in, defending the tech industry’s need to bring in foreign workers. It bloomed into a larger debate with more figures from the hard-right weighing in about the need to hire U.S. workers, whether values in American culture can produce the best engineers, free speech on the internet, the newfound influence tech figures have in Trump’s world and what his political movement stands for. Trump has not yet weighed in on the rift, and his presidential transition team did not respond to a message seeking comment. Musk, the world’s richest man who has grown remarkably close to the president-elect , was a central figure in the debate, not only for his stature in Trump’s movement but his stance on the tech industry’s hiring of foreign workers. Technology companies say H-1B visas for skilled workers, used by software engineers and others in the tech industry, are critical for hard-to-fill positions. But critics have said they undercut U.S. citizens who could take those jobs. Some on the right have called for the program to be eliminated, not expanded. Born in South Africa, Musk was once on an a H-1B visa himself and defended the industry’s need to bring in foreign workers. “There is a permanent shortage of excellent engineering talent,” he said in a post. “It is the fundamental limiting factor in Silicon Valley.” Related Articles National Politics | Should the U.S. increase immigration levels for highly skilled workers? National Politics | Trump threat to immigrant health care tempered by economic hopes National Politics | In states that ban abortion, social safety net programs often fail families National Politics | Court rules Georgia lawmakers can subpoena Fani Willis for information related to her Trump case National Politics | New 2025 laws hit hot topics from AI in movies to rapid-fire guns Trump’s own positions over the years have reflected the divide in his movement. His tough immigration policies, including his pledge for a mass deportation, were central to his winning presidential campaign. He has focused on immigrants who come into the U.S. illegally but he has also sought curbs on legal immigration , including family-based visas. As a presidential candidate in 2016, Trump called the H-1B visa program “very bad” and “unfair” for U.S. workers. After he became president, Trump in 2017 issued a “Buy American and Hire American” executive order , which directed Cabinet members to suggest changes to ensure H-1B visas were awarded to the highest-paid or most-skilled applicants to protect American workers. Trump’s businesses, however, have hired foreign workers, including waiters and cooks at his Mar-a-Lago club , and his social media company behind his Truth Social app has used the the H-1B program for highly skilled workers. During his 2024 campaign for president, as he made immigration his signature issue, Trump said immigrants in the country illegally are “poisoning the blood of our country” and promised to carry out the largest deportation operation in U.S. history. But in a sharp departure from his usual alarmist message around immigration generally, Trump told a podcast this year that he wants to give automatic green cards to foreign students who graduate from U.S. colleges. “I think you should get automatically, as part of your diploma, a green card to be able to stay in this country,” he told the “All-In” podcast with people from the venture capital and technology world. Those comments came on the cusp of Trump’s budding alliance with tech industry figures, but he did not make the idea a regular part of his campaign message or detail any plans to pursue such changes.PHOENIX--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec 23, 2024-- University of Phoenix is proud to support the Arizona Diamondbacks’ Winter Classic event each year with employee volunteers and as the presenting partner. The 27th annual D-backs Winter Classic, presented by University of Phoenix, took place from 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. on Tuesday, December 10. Event coordinators estimate 100 University of Phoenix, Phoenix-based employees volunteered alongside D-backs players, coaches and staff for the celebration. University volunteers handed out backpacks filled with gifts for the children including new shoes, a sweatshirt, and books. More than 600 children attended the event. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241223934202/en/ Arizona school children gather around the Arizona Diamondbacks® mascot at the 27th annual Arizona Diamondbacks Winter Classic celebration presented by University of Phoenix. The event took place on December 10, 2024, at Chase Field and provides local children with a day of celebration. (Photo: Business Wire) “University of Phoenix is honored to continue our support of the Diamondbacks Winter Classic,” stated Provost and Chief Academic Officer John Woods, Ph.D. “This cherished event enables our two organizations to create unforgettable experiences for hundreds of school children across the valley. It’s heartwarming to witness our employees generously dedicating their time to support local children, highlighting our shared commitment to giving back.” The annual event provides Arizona schoolchildren from low-income, at-risk schools with a day of celebration, fun, and giving, with gifts provided by the University and Arizona Diamondbacks Foundation. The event began more than two decades ago when Hall of Fame pitcher Randy Johnson sought a way to give back to the community by providing children in need with new shoes. Since that time, the event has grown, and now features a friendly game of baseball, music and crafts for the children. This year’s activities included a baseball station featuring Baxter the D-backs mascot, photos with Santa, a shoe station, a University of Phoenix Reading Corner and a STEM activity Station. “The Winter Classic is a Diamondbacks tradition that we look forward to each December, and it would not be possible without the support of our friends at University of Phoenix,” said Derrick Hall, President, CEO & General Partner, Arizona Diamondbacks. “We are grateful for their partnership and their employees, who generously volunteer to help us bring a little bit of holiday magic and a whole lot of joy to hundreds of kids across the Valley every year.” University of Phoenix Academic Counseling Manager Amy Kelley has worked at the University for 20 years and was thrilled to volunteer at this year’s event. “It was truly an amazing experience,” Kelley states. “I was able to hand out hoodies to all the kids as they walked in and also served as a University of Phoenix team leader for one of the groups of students. The smiles and laughs that this event brought to the kids were so rewarding.” The University of Phoenix has been a proud sponsor of the Winter Classic since 2012. About University of Phoenix University of Phoenix innovates to help working adults enhance their careers and develop skills in a rapidly changing world. Flexible schedules, relevant courses, interactive learning, skills-mapped curriculum for our bachelor’s and master’s degree programs and a Career Services for Life® commitment help students more effectively pursue career and personal aspirations while balancing their busy lives. For more information, visit phoenix.edu . About the Arizona Diamondbacks The Arizona Diamondbacks provide industry-leading entertainment in a clean, safe and family-friendly environment and make a positive impact on its fans and civic partners. The Diamondbacks on-field successes include their 2023 run to the National League Pennant and the franchise’s second trip to the World Series as well as their 2001 World Series title, seven trips to the postseason and vast array of player awards. The Arizona Diamondbacks Foundation, through its "D-backs Give Back" mantra, has made charitable contributions totaling more than $93 million to the Arizona community since 1997 to support three main areas of need – homelessness, indigent healthcare and children's programs of all types – as well as strategic programs to address the needs of our community’s veterans and first responders. The Valley’s premier entertainment, concert and event venue, Chase Field in downtown Phoenix is the home of the Diamondbacks and the first Major League Baseball stadium to feature a pool. The team was established in 1995 and played their inaugural season in 1998. For more information, please visit dbacks.com and losdbacks.com or follow the team on social media @Dbacks and @LosDbacks. View source version on businesswire.com : https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241223934202/en/ CONTACT: MEDIA CONTACT: Michele Mitchum University of Phoenix michele.mitchum@phoenix.edu KEYWORD: ARIZONA UNITED STATES NORTH AMERICA INDUSTRY KEYWORD: EDUCATION PHILANTHROPY BASEBALL SPORTS OTHER PHILANTHROPY CONTINUING UNIVERSITY SOURCE: University of Phoenix Copyright Business Wire 2024. PUB: 12/23/2024 02:28 PM/DISC: 12/23/2024 02:28 PM http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241223934202/en

SUNDAY, Dec. 8, 2024 (HealthDay News) -- Shingles can strike anyone who had chickenpox when they were young, and the intense pain that can accompany this body rash has sidelined many a senior. Here, one expert explains how and why shingles can surface, and what you can do to treat it, or better yet, avoid it. Shingles can happen at any age, but it most typically affects people over 50 who have stress and compromised immunity. “Shingles is caused by the varicella-zoster virus. It’s the same virus that causes chickenpox,” said Dr. Eugene Fellin , a family medicine physician at Penn State Health Medical Group – Fleetwood. “For most of us who grew up before the 1990s, when children began being immunized against chickenpox, we’ve been exposed to the virus and are at risk for shingles.” How can shingles surface? After lying dormant in the nervous system for years, the virus can reemerge as shingles, which causes painful rashes that typically surface on the face or around the side of the torso, Fellin explained. “It’s like a poison ivy rash that won’t go away,” he added in a Penn State news release. “It can occur in patches, but along that same nerve root. A lot of times, people feel some tingling or a burning sensation prior to the rash actually breaking out,” Fellin noted. “When we’re looking for the rash, it will be in a string on the torso because the nerves wrap around the torso. You get a line around you, from the back to the front.” “The other issue we worry about is if it breaks out on the face and involves the eye because this can lead to blindness,” Fellin said. “Shingles around the eye is considered dangerous, and an instant referral to an ophthalmologist is always recommended.” More from this section What can you take to treat shingles? Antivirals such as Valacyclovir can be prescribed, but they’re time-sensitive and need to be taken within 36 hours of the start of the rash because they work by slowing the spread of the virus, Fellin said. While symptoms subside after three to five weeks, pain can sometimes return in the form of postherpetic neuralgia , he said. This long-term nerve pain occurs where the shingles rash appeared and can last for months or even years. Older adults are more likely to develop postherpetic neuralgia and have longer lasting and more severe pain, Fellin said. Luckily, there is something you can do to avoid shingles altogether: get vaccinated. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends the Shingrix vaccine, given in two doses, with the second dose given two to six months after the first. People who get shingles can still receive the vaccine, which can lower the chances of another outbreak, Fellin noted. Most family doctors and pharmacies stock the vaccine, which is covered by Medicare, he added. “Most insurance programs are covering it because it has been out long enough and shows a real benefit,” Fellin said in a Penn State news release. “There’s a lot of misinformation about vaccines circulating out there. My message is this: Don’t be afraid of this or any vaccine.” SOURCE: Penn State Health, news release, Dec. 5, 2024Investors can focus on these stock market themes in 2025Syria’s ousted president, Assad, family arrive in Russia, granted asylum

Amsterdam, 23 December 2024 (Regulated Information) --- AMG Critical Materials N.V. (“AMG”, EURONEXT AMSTERDAM: “AMG”) is pleased to announce the signing of a letter of intent to repurchase a 40% ownership interest in Graphit Kropfmühl GmbH (" GK ") currently owned by Alterna Capital Partners (" Alterna "). The purchase price can be paid in cash at the end of a three-year period, or in the form of AMG shares at any point within the three years at AMG's discretion. To the extent that AMG elects to pay any portion of the purchase price in the form of AMG shares, these shares would be subject to a holding period of 6-18 months depending on when AMG elects to transfer or issue the shares to Alterna. Alterna has committed to vote any such shares in line with the recommendations of AMG's Management and Supervisory Boards. At the end of the holding period, Alterna has given AMG the right of first refusal to purchase such shares. This press release contains inside information within the meaning of Article 7(1) of the EU Market Abuse Regulation. This press release contains regulated information as defined in the Dutch Financial Markets Supervision Act (Wet op het financieel toezicht). About AMG AMG's mission is to provide critical materials and related process technologies to advance a less carbon-intensive world. To this end, AMG is focused on the production and development of energy storage materials such as lithium, vanadium, and tantalum. In addition, AMG's products include highly engineered systems to reduce CO 2 in aerospace engines, as well as critical materials addressing CO 2 reduction in a variety of other end use markets. AMG’s Lithium segment spans the lithium value chain, reducing the CO 2 footprint of both suppliers and customers. AMG’s Vanadium segment is the world’s market leader in recycling vanadium from oil refining residues, spanning the Company’s vanadium, titanium, and chrome businesses. AMG’s Technologies segment is the established world market leader in advanced metallurgy and provides equipment engineering to the aerospace engine sector globally. It serves as the engineering home for the Company’s fast-growing LIVA batteries, and spans AMG’s mineral processing operations in graphite, antimony, and silicon metal. With approximately 3,600 employees, AMG operates globally with production facilities in Germany, the United Kingdom, France, the United States, China, Mexico, Brazil, India, and Sri Lanka, and has sales and customer service offices in Japan ( www.amg-nv.com ). For further information, please contact: AMG Critical Materials N.V. +1 610 975 4979 Michele Fischer mfischer@amg-nv.com Disclaimer Certain statements in this press release are not historical facts and are “forward looking.” Forward looking statements include statements concerning AMG’s plans, expectations, projections, objectives, targets, goals, strategies, future events, future revenues or performance, capital expenditures, financing needs, plans and intentions relating to acquisitions, AMG’s competitive strengths and weaknesses, plans or goals relating to forecasted production, reserves, financial position and future operations and development, AMG’s business strategy and the trends AMG anticipates in the industries and the political and legal environment in which it operates and other information that is not historical information. When used in this press release, the words “expects,” “believes,” “anticipates,” “plans,” “may,” “will,” “should,” and similar expressions, and the negatives thereof, are intended to identify forward looking statements. By their very nature, forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties, both general and specific, and risks exist that the predictions, forecasts, projections and other forward-looking statements will not be achieved. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release. AMG expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statement contained herein to reflect any change in AMG's expectations with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions, or circumstances on which any forward-looking statement is based. Attachment GK Stake AnnouncementFully Fitted Conservatory Prices Launch New Online Resource To Provide Comprehensive Transparency for UK Conservatory Pricing 12-11-2024 10:38 PM CET | Industry, Real Estate & Construction Press release from: ABNewswire Fullyfittedconservatoryprices.co.uk [ https://fullyfittedconservatoryprices.co.uk/ ] launches an innovative digital platform designed to demystify the complex landscape of conservatory costs for UK homeowners, providing unprecedented insight into home improvement pricing."We're not just launching a website; we're creating an evolving ecosystem of conservatory pricing information," explained Anna Patricia. "Our roadmap focuses on providing increasingly sophisticated, user-friendly tools that empower homeowners with actionable insights." Industry Impact and Market Research The platform's launch comes at a critical time for the UK home improvement sector. Recent market research indicates a growing consumer demand for transparent pricing in home extension projects. With housing costs rising and homeowners seeking innovative ways to add value to their properties, the need for comprehensive, accessible information has never been more apparent. Fully Fitted Conservatory Prices [ https://fullyfittedconservatoryprices.co.uk/]' platform addresses this gap by providing detailed insights into the nuanced world of conservatory installations, bridging the information divide between consumers and home improvement professionals. Consumer Education Initiative Beyond pricing transparency, the platform is positioning itself as a comprehensive educational resource. Recognizing that conservatory costs involve more than just financial considerations, the website will feature in-depth guides covering: * Technical aspects of conservatory design * Energy efficiency * Planning permissions * Long-term value addition This approach aims to transform how consumers approach home improvement projects, encouraging more informed decision-making and helping homeowners understand the full scope of their potential conservatory investments. The platform aims to incorporate advanced technologies and crowd-sourced data to provide the most accurate and up-to-date installation costs and conservatory investment information available in the UK market. The new website addresses a critical information gap in the home improvement market, offering consumers a detailed, objective resource for understanding the true installation costs associated with conservatory installations across different regions and styles. "Our goal is to empower homeowners with transparent, data-driven information," said Anna Patricia, (Site Manager). "By providing clear, objective insights, we're helping consumers make informed decisions about home improvements." Key Features of the Pricing Resource: Comprehensive Cost Breakdown The platform provides an in-depth analysis of conservatory pricing, including: * Detailed cost ranges for different conservatory styles * Regional pricing variations * Factors influencing installation costs * Comparative pricing with alternative home extension methods Research Methodology The platform's pricing information is based on: * Comprehensive market research * Analysis of residential projects * Insights from customer experiences * Detailed examination of material and installation costs Consumer Benefits: * Transparent pricing information * Objective cost comparisons * Regional pricing insights * Comprehensive style and material options * Unbiased home improvement guidance What's Next for the Platform Building on its initial launch, Fully Fitted Conservatory Prices [ https://fullyfittedconservatoryprices.co.uk/ ] is committed to continuous improvement and expansion of its digital resource: Planned Developments: * Interactive cost calculator with real-time pricing updates * Comprehensive regional pricing heat maps * Expanded material and style comparison databases * Machine learning-powered price prediction algorithms * Mobile application development for on-the-go pricing insights About the Platform Fully Fitted Conservatory Prices [ https://fullyfittedconservatoryprices.co.uk/ ] leverages its extensive industry experience to provide consumers with a much-needed resource for understanding conservatory investments. Media Contact Company Name: Fully Fitted Conservatory Prices Contact Person: Anna Patricia Email:Send Email [ https://www.abnewswire.com/email_contact_us.php?pr=fully-fitted-conservatory-prices-launch-new-online-resource-to-provide-comprehensive-transparency-for-uk-conservatory-pricing ] Country: United Kingdom Website: https://fullyfittedconservatoryprices.co.uk/ This release was published on openPR.

A devastating report from the United Nations highlights the brutal actions of the Wharf Jeremie gang, responsible for the deaths of at least 207 individuals in Haiti's Cite Soleil earlier this month. Originally estimated at 187, the death toll has been revised upward to include at least 134 men and 73 women, primarily elderly residents accused of witchcraft. Leading the attacks was gang leader Monel "Mikano" Felix, who, after his child fell ill, blamed locals for using Voudou to cause the sickness. Many of the victims were abducted from Voudou temples and ceremonies. These gruesome acts have further destabilized the Caribbean nation, already entrenched in severe gang violence and humanitarian crises. In control of a crucial area near Haiti's ports for 15 years, the Wharf Jeremie gang tried to obliterate evidence of their crimes by seizing mobile phones, incinerating bodies, and disposing of them at sea. With over 5,300 killed since January and more than 12,000 lives lost since 2022, Haiti's security and socio-political landscape remain perilous. (With inputs from agencies.)Naira appreciates against dollar after Christmas holidays

Clarke Reed, who helped Gerald Ford win the 1976 Republican nomination, has died at 96In 2024, artificial intelligence (AI) evolved from theory to practice in the retail industry, changing the way businesses interact with customers, manage operations and develop products. From inventory management to virtual shopping experiences, AI has become essential for retailers looking to stay ahead. Here are ten key ways it reshaped the industry this year. 1. Chatbots Take Over Customer Service Retail giants like Amazon and Walmart expanded their use of AI assistants to improve customer service. Amazon’s “Rufus” offered tailored product recommendations. While effective overall, these tools faced occasional errors, underscoring the need for ongoing refinement. 2. Generative AI Drives Shopping Trends Generative AI tools like ChatGPT played a significant role in holiday shopping, helping consumers find products and deals more efficiently. Retailers reported significant traffic growth from AI-powered searches, marking a shift from traditional search engines. This approach streamlined the shopping process and highlighted AI’s role in driving online retail engagement. 3. Agents Automate Shopping AI agents in 2024 began handling complex retail operations autonomously, from managing supply chains to personalizing customer interactions. These agents acted as decision-makers, analyzing vast datasets in real time to adjust inventory levels, optimize delivery routes or recommend products. Companies like Skyfire Systems launched payment networks specifically for AI agents, enabling them to execute transactions without human involvement, further streamlining processes. 4. AI Optimizes Inventory Management Predictive AI models enhanced inventory management efficiency in the retail sector. Retailers implemented tools like Gated Recurrent Units to analyze historical sales data, seasonal patterns and market trends, enabling more accurate demand forecasting. This approach reduced instances of stockouts and overstock, leading to better inventory control, minimized waste and improved profitability. 5. Smarter Analytics Improve Store Layouts Retailers used AI-powered analytics to understand how customers interacted with their stores. Technologies like YOLOV8 tracked shopper movements, identifying high-traffic areas and pinpointing where customers spent the most time. This data enabled retailers to make strategic decisions, such as relocating popular items to easily accessible locations and streamlining aisle layouts to improve flow. 6. Black Friday Benefits from AI AI tools were integral to the success of Black Friday, with U.S. online sales reaching a record $10.8 billion . Generative AI chatbots guided shoppers to deals and sped up checkout processes, helping retailers achieve higher conversion rates. 7. AI Streamlines Product Development AI reduced the time and cost of developing new products by analyzing market trends and customer feedback. This allowed companies to roll out products more quickly and tailor them to specific consumer needs. Retailers using AI in product development gained a competitive edge by being able to respond faster to market demands. 8. Addressing Security Concerns As AI became integral to personalization, retailers faced growing scrutiny over customer data use and security. Balancing the benefits of AI-driven insights with ethical data practices and compliance was a priority for many companies. 9. Visual Search Gains Traction AI-powered visual search tools , like those offered by Pinterest and Google Lens, changed how consumers discovered products. By uploading images, shoppers could find visually similar items online. Retailers integrated these tools to improve product discovery and better align with consumer shopping trends. 10. AI Advances Sustainability Efforts Retailers increasingly use AI to enhance sustainability in their operations. Algorithms optimized supply chains, reduced waste and monitored environmental impact, helping businesses meet both regulatory requirements and consumer expectations. AI’s role in sustainability also offered cost-saving benefits alongside ecological ones. In 2024, AI’s role in retail shifted from experimental to essential. While its implementation presented challenges around accuracy, privacy and ethics, efficiency, engagement and innovation, its benefits were undeniable. As the industry looks ahead to 2025, AI will likely continue to evolve, further transforming how retailers operate and connect with customers.

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The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy The family of a California man who died in a horrific crash while his Tesla was in "Autopilot" mode is suing the electric carmaker over claims by the company and CEO Elon Musk that its self-driving technology had been perfected and was ready for the road. Genesis Giovanni Mendoza Martinez, 31, was crushed to death behind the wheel of the Model S he bought under the — apparently mistaken — belief it could drive itself, according to a lawsuit filed by Mendoza's parents, Eduardo and Maria, and his brother Caleb, who was also severely injured in the February 18, 2023 wreck. Tesla, for its part, argues that its cars have "a reasonably safe design as measured by the appropriate test under the applicable state law," and that the accident "may have been caused in whole or in part" by Giovanni Mendoza's "own negligent acts and/or omissions." "[N]o additional warnings would have, or could have prevented the alleged incident, the injuries, losses and damages alleged," the company responded in a court filing rebutting the family's claims. The US government has blasted Tesla for overstating claims about its cars' self-driving abilities, with Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg among the harshest critics. Attorney Brett Schreiber, who is representing the Mendoza family, told The Independent, "This is yet another example of Tesla using our public roadways to perform research and development of its autonomous driving technology. The injuries suffered by the first responders and the death of Mr. Mendoza were entirely preventable. What's worse is that Tesla knows that many of its earlier model vehicles continue to drive our roadways today with this same... Justin Rohrlich