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An Italian renewable energy giant and Japan’s largest oil and gas company are plugging into Australia’s clean energy resources under the banner of a new company. Potentia Energy will be launched at the Sydney Opera House on Monday as an Australian renewable energy firm co-owned by Rome-headquartered Enel Green Power and INPEX. With rights in place for a development pipeline of over seven gigawatts across the country, Potentia is most focused on developing and acquiring assets in NSW, Queensland and Western Australia, chief executive Werther Esposito told AAP. The company is not deterred by the risk of political change, with opinion polls favouring the coalition ahead of the 2025 federal election. “The energy transition will go ahead in any case. There could be an acceleration or slowing down in the process,” Mr Esposito said. “Renewables represent, from a technical and economic perspective, the solution for climate change,” he said. “I don’t think any government could deny that today wind and solar are cheaper than other technologies, and are faster in reaching the phase of deployment and construction and then supply of renewable energy.” NSW had suffered some planning delays that had hit investment but there had been a “strong improvement” in the past 12 to 18 months, he said. The company also has a stake in Queensland, particularly in the north’s Copperstring area, where the recently elected LNP government has pledged to stick by a massive transmission project begun under Labor. Enel won the bidding in 2024 to develop renewable energy to power a vanadium mining and processing project, which is one of a number of giant resources projects intended to be connected to the $9 billion Copperstring transmission line from Townsville to Mt Isa. WA offered a “huge opportunity” for the deployment of wind farms and battery energy storage systems, Mr Esposito said. With a decades-long footprint in Australia’s north and west, INPEX is Japan’s largest fossil fuel exploration and production company. Under pressure to reduce its global contribution to climate change, INPEX is already developing the production of liquid hydrogen and ammonia. “They elected Australia as the market to start diversification of the energy mix and huge investment in renewables,” Mr Esposito said. “Of course in this regard, Australia is the place to be,” he said. Enel and INPEX joined forces in a share purchase agreement in 2023, with the renewables business operating plants comprising 310 megawatts of solar capacity across South Australia and Victoria and a 75MW wind farm in Western Australia. A 93MW solar farm is under commissioning in Victoria and financial close was recently announced for a hybrid 98MW solar and 20MW battery project in NSW. But with international firms lining up to exploit clean energy resources, Australians living alongside projects are demanding a share of future profits through community funds, power bill rebates and other benefits. “The energy transition should be just. To be just it means that you need to support the communities and involve the communities in a proper way,” Mr Esposito said. He said Enel was proud of its legacy in providing support to areas facing a changing landscape and the impact of new infrastructure, including community funds, a focus on local hiring and providing training to support new jobs. “It’s an approach that is, for us, absolutely a pillar of our strategy,” he said. “We are still facing some regulatory ambiguity in what a social licence means, and we are trying to be a leader in the industry in helping and supporting all the key stakeholders in determining and defining what it is.”President-elect Trump says he should be the one to make the decision on whether TikTok can continue operating in the United States due to the unique national security and First Amendment issues raised by this case, he said in an amicus brief Friday. Trump’s argument comes in an amicus brief "supporting neither party," filed Friday, weeks before the Supreme Court is expected to hear oral arguments on Jan. 10, 2025 on the law that requires a divestment of TikTok from foreign adversary control. TikTok is owned by ByteDance, a company based in Beijing and connected to the Chinese Communist Party. "Today, President Donald J. Trump has filed an amicus brief in the U.S. Supreme Court asking the Court to extend the deadline that would cause TikTok’s imminent shutdown, and allow President Trump the opportunity to resolve the issue in a way that saves TikTok and preserves American national security once he resumes office as President of the United States on January 20, 2025," Trump spokesman and incoming White House Communications Director Steven Cheung told Fox News Digital. "President Donald J. Trump ("President Trump") is the 45th and soon to be the 47th President of the United States of America," the brief states. "On January 20, 2025, President Trump will assume responsibility for the United States’ national security, foreign policy, and other vital executive functions." Trump argues that "this case presents an unprecedented, novel, and difficult tension between free-speech rights on one side, and foreign policy and national-security concerns on the other." "As the incoming Chief Executive, President Trump has a particularly powerful interest in and responsibility for those national-security and foreign-policy questions, and he is the right constitutional actor to resolve the dispute through political means. President Trump also has a unique interest in the First Amendment issues raised in this case," the brief states. "Through his historic victory on November 5, 2024, President Trump received a powerful electoral mandate from American voters to protect the free-speech rights of all Americans—including the 170 million Americans who use TikTok." "President Trump is uniquely situated to vindicate these interests, because ‘the President and the Vice President of the United States are the only elected officials who represent all the voters in the Nation,’" the brief continues. Trump argues that due to his "overarching responsibility for the United States’ national security and foreign policy— President Trump opposes banning TikTok in the United States at this juncture, and seeks the ability to resolve the issues at hand through political means once he takes office." "On September 4, 2024, President Trump posted on Truth Social, ‘FOR ALL THOSE THAT WANT TO SAVE TIK TOK IN AMERICA, VOTE TRUMP!’" the brief states. Trump argues that he "alone possesses the consummate dealmaking expertise, the electoral mandate, and the political will to negotiate a resolution to save the platform while addressing the national security concerns expressed by the Government—concerns which President Trump himself has acknowledged." "Indeed, President Trump’s first Term was highlighted by a series of policy triumphs achieved through historic deals, and he has a great prospect of success in this latest national security and foreign policy endeavor," the brief states. Trump notes that the 270-day deadline imposed by the new TikTok law "expires on January 19, 2025—one day before President Trump will assume office as the 47th President of the United States." That legislation, which was signed into law in the spring, requires a sale of TikTok from ByteDance by Jan. 19. If ByteDance does not divest by the deadline, Google and Apple are no longer able to feature TikTok in their app stores in the U.S. "This unfortunate timing interferes with President Trump’s ability to manage the United States’ foreign policy and to pursue a resolution to both protect national security and save a social-media platform that provides a popular vehicle for 170 million Americans to exercise their core First Amendment rights," the brief states. "The Act imposes the timing constraint, moreover, without specifying any compelling government interest in that particular deadline." Trump points to the law, which "contemplates a 90-day extension to the deadline under certain specified circumstances." Supreme Court Justices said they will hold a special session on Jan. 10 to hear oral arguments in the case -- an expedited timeline that will allow them to consider the case just nine days before the Jan. 19 ban is slated to take effect. The law allows the president to extend the deadline by up to 90 days if ByteDance is in the process of divesting. "President Trump, therefore, has a compelling interest as the incoming embodiment of the Executive Branch in seeing the statutory deadline stayed to allow his incoming Administration the opportunity to seek a negotiated resolution of these questions," the brief states. "If successful, such a resolution would obviate the need for this Court to decide the historically challenging First Amendment question presented here on the current, highly expedited basis." TikTok and ByteDance filed an emergency application to the high court earlier this month asking justices to temporarily block the law from being enforced while it appealed a decision from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. Lawyers for TikTok have argued that the law passed earlier this year is a First Amendment violation, noting in their Supreme Court request that "Congress's unprecedented attempt to single out applicants and bar them from operating one of the most significant speech platforms in this nation" and "presents grave constitutional problems that this court likely will not allow to stand." TikTok, last year, created its "Project Texas" initiative, which is dedicated to addressing concerns about U.S. national security. TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew says "Project Texas" creates a stand-alone version of the TikTok platform for the U.S. isolated on servers in Oracle’s U.S. cloud environment. It was developed by CFIUS and cost the company approximately $1.5 billion to implement. Chew has argued that TikTok is not beholden to any one country, though executives in the past have admitted that Chinese officials had access to Americans' data even when U.S.-based TikTok officials did not. TikTok claims that the new initiative keeps U.S. user data safe, and told Fox News Digital that data is managed "by Americans, in America." Trump has signaled support for TikTok. Earlier this month, he met with Chew at Mar-a-Lago, telling reporters during a press conference ahead of the meeting that his incoming administration will "take a look at TikTok" and the looming U.S. ban. "I have a warm spot in my heart for TikTok," Trump told reporters.

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( MENAFN - Jordan Times) By In 2024, Jordan's Economy witnessed several developments that highlighted a delicate balance between relative stability in certain indicators and the persistent structural challenges hindering sustainable economic growth. Despite the government's efforts to improve economic performance, local and regional conditions, coupled with global pressures, continued to constrain growth and development prospects. Economic growth in Jordan recorded a rate of 2.4per cent, according to estimates from the World Bank. Although this rate fell short of ambitious expectations, it reflects relative stability in a turbulent economic environment. The performance was supported by improvements in specific sectors, such as manufacturing and services. However, the slow pace of both local and foreign investment hindered a significant leap in overall economic performance. In the first half of the year, real growth reached 2.2 per cent, indicating a relative slowdown compared to the same period last year. Tourism played a crucial role in supporting the economy, with tourism revenue in June growing by 2.1per cent compared to 2023, reaching 455.8 million Jordanian dinars ($642.9 million). However, the first half of the year witnessed a 4.9per cent decrease in tourism revenue, dropping to 2.3 billion Jordanian dinars ($3.3 billion), due to a 7.9 per cent drop in tourist numbers. This decline highlights the need for greater efforts to diversify tourist markets and enhance the travel experience. Inflation remained relatively stable, with an annual rate of 1.54 per cent from January to November 2024. This stability was driven by the steady prices of key essential goods, despite the volatility in global energy prices. In November, inflation was recorded at 1.3 per cent, reflecting a balance between price pressures and government efforts to mitigate the impact of price fluctuations on the local market. Regarding public finances, the budget deficit continued to put pressure on economic performance, reaching -5.2 per cent of GDP from January to September. Public debt stood at 43.75 billion Jordanian dinars by the end of September, presenting a significant challenge for the government as it strives to balance expenditure funding while reducing debt levels. However, foreign reserves remained stable at $20.144 billion in November, reflecting the central bank's effective management of monetary challenges. The unemployment rate remained high at 21.5 per cent in the third quarter of 2024. This indicator reflects the ongoing structural challenges in creating job opportunities for youth and graduates, despite government initiatives aimed at encouraging employment. In the business environment, the banking sector performed positively, with bank deposits rising by 4.5 per cent year-on-year to reach 44.3 billion Jordanian Dinars. Foreign direct investment (FDI), however, remained below expectations, highlighting the need to enhance the investment environment by simplifying procedures and attracting more investors. In the first half of 2024, Jordan experienced a 4 per cent increase in FDI, reaching 413 million Jordanian dinars compared to 396 million in the same period of 2023. Despite this modest rise, foreign investment continues to pose a challenge. The data shows that Jordan's International Investment Position, which reflects the kingdom's net assets and liabilities, recorded a slight increase in external obligations, rising by 30 million dinars to reach 38.107 billion dinars by the end of the first half of 2024, compared to 38.077 billion dinars at the close of 2023. This suggests a marginal rise in Jordan's financial commitments abroad. It also indicates that Jordan continues to rely heavily on external obligations, with a significant gap remaining in efforts to reduce debt or improve its international financial standing. This could potentially impact the government's ability to sustain economic growth and attract more foreign investment. In the energy sector, the kingdom continued to expand its renewable energy projects to enhance independence and reduce reliance on fossil fuels. This direction will not only help reduce energy costs but also strengthen national efforts towards environmental sustainability. However, the import bill remains a burden on the current account, which recorded a deficit of -6.8per cent of GDP during the first half of the year. Despite some partial achievements, 2024 remains a year of challenges for Jordan's economy. Key challenges include reducing unemployment rates, improving living standards, and increasing growth rates by attracting more investments. As 2025 approaches, Jordan appears to have a significant opportunity to accelerate economic reforms and achieve a better balance between growth and social development. MENAFN28122024000028011005ID1109038313 Legal Disclaimer: MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.None

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Breckie Hill addresses Barry Keoghan cheating rumors after actor quits Instagram amid Sabrina Carpenter split Have YOU got a story? Email tips@dailymail.com By TERRY ZELLER and SONIA HORON FOR DAILYMAIL.COM Published: 05:49 AEDT, 9 December 2024 | Updated: 06:11 AEDT, 9 December 2024 e-mail View comments OnlyFans star Breckie Hill has finally broken her silence amid swirling rumors that Barry Keoghan cheated on Sabrina Carpenter with her before their recent split. The 21-year-old social media sensation took to TikTok on Saturday to clear the air for her 4 million followers, denying any involvement in the drama that’s been circulating online . According to Breckie, the rumors that she and the Saltburn actor had a romantic dinner while Sabrina was wrapping up her tour in Los Angeles were completely false. 'To put it simply for you all, no, I did not get with Barry,' Breckie said, in a video titled Addressing Everything. 'I have never even encountered this man in my life. The only time I’ve seen him is on my TV screen from watching Saltburn.' Breckie admitted she had reposted a viral clip accusing her of 'homewrecking' the couple, but only because she thought the claim was 'so ridiculous.' 'I’m sorry, but if I really was the one getting with Barry, why in the world would I be reposting that?' she added. OnlyFans star Breckie Hill has finally broken her silence amid swirling rumors that Barry Keoghan cheated on Sabrina Carpenter with her before their recent split The 21-year-old social media sensation took to TikTok on Saturday to clear the air for her 4 million followers, denying any involvement in the drama that’s been circulating online; (Barry and Sabrina in May) The TikTok star explained that some fans had even read too much into another clip of her rating drinks at a restuarant during a girls' night out. In the video, when she described a margarita as 'too salty,' some thought it was a subtle Saltburn reference. Read More Barry Keoghan deactivates his Instagram following split from Sabrina Carpenter amid cheating rumours 'Coming from someone who has been cheated on in several relationships, I would never want to homewreck any relationship or put any girl through that pain. Ever. Ever,' Breckie emphasized. She then called the cheating rumors 'crazy,' explaining that she had reposted the videos while 'lying in a hospital bed' after recently breaking her spine. 'Now that that has all been said, I just wanted to say I’ve never gone through a worse time in my life,' Breckie continued. 'I’ve just been constantly told the worst possible things you can imagine.' Breckie concluded by urging people to stop spreading rumors and let the truth prevail. Her post comes hours after Barry broke his silence to hit back at the 'lies, hatred, disgusting commentary' about him, and explain why he recently deactivated his Instagram account. 'I can only sit and take so much. My name has been dragged across the internet in ways I usually don't respond too,' the Saltburn star wrote in a lengthy statement. According to Breckie, the rumors that she and the Saltburn actor had a romantic dinner while Sabrina was wrapping up her tour in Los Angeles were completely false 'To put it simply for you all, no, I did not get with Barry,' Breckie said, in a video titled Addressing Everything. 'I have never even encountered this man in my life. The only time I’ve seen him is on my TV screen from watching Saltburn' She then called the cheating rumors 'crazy,' explaining that she had reposted the videos while 'lying in a hospital bed' after recently breaking her spine The actor went on: 'I have to respond now because it's gettin to a place where there are too many lines being crossed.' 'I deactivated my account because I can no longer let this stuff distract from my family and my work. The messages I have received no person should ever have to read them. Absolute lies, hatred, disgusting commentary about my appearance, character, how I am as a parent and every other inhumane thing you can imagine.' Barry stated that people have been, 'dragging my character and everything I worked extremely hard for and stand for. Talking about how I was a heroine baby and how I grew up and dragging my dear mother into it also. Knocking on my grannies door.' Barry later revealed that he's prioritizing fatherhood, expressing a strong desire for his 2-year-old son, Brando, from his previous relationship with Alyson Sandro Kierans, to have someone he can admire and look up to as he grows. 'Sitting outside my baby boys house intimidating them. Thats crossing a line. Each and every day I work harder to push myself on every level to be the healthiest and strongest person for that boy.' 'I want to provide opportunities for him to learn, fail and grow. I want him to be able to look up to his daddy, to have full trust in me and know I will have his back no matter what.' He wrapped up adding, 'I need you to remeber he has to read ALL of this about his father when he is older. Please be respectful to all. Thank u x.' His post comes after it was reported he and Sabrina split after a year of dating. Her post comes hours after Barry broke his silence to hit back at the 'lies, hatred, disgusting commentary' about him, and explain why he recently deactivated his Instagram account A source told People that the couple have decided to go their separate ways in a bid to focus on their respective careers. Shortly after the news broke, a blind item on gossip site Deuxmoi claimed that a breakup between a rising pop star and her 'foreign actor boyfriend' occurred because he'd cheated on her with a 'semi-famous TikTok influencer'. While the item did not name Barry or Sabrina, fans were quick to claim that the piece was about them. The item read: 'It appears that this A-list singer who's having her breakout year and her foreign actor boyfriend are done for good. 'On the closing night of her biggest tour to date in LA, he was busy getting very cozy at San Vicente Bungalows with a blonde, semi-famous, LA based influencer (who's particularly big on TikTok). 'I snooped around a bit out of curiosity and apparently he and his popstar girlfriend called it quits very suddenly less than a week before her final shows in LA after she found out he had been chatting with said influencer behind her back for months in a not-innocent-at-all way...' The item also claimed that the influencer 'had even gone to find [Barry] while he was filming in the UK, eager to keep him company while his girlfriend was touring in the US'. They added: 'He had messed up before and she had forgiven him but nothing as serious and infidelity is where she draws the line.' A source told People that the couple have decided to go their separate ways in a bid to focus on their respective careers Barry split from his ex-girlfriend Alyson Sandro in 2023 after three years together, and it was rumoured at the time that he cheated on her with Sabrina MailOnline has contacted representatives for Sabrina Carpenter and Barry Keoghan for comment. Barry split from his ex-girlfriend Alyson Sandro in 2023 after three years together, and it was rumoured at the time that he cheated on her with Sabrina. Sabrina and Barry were first linked back in early December of 2023. The couple had met just a few months earlier, in September. The Espresso singer attended a screening of Barry's polarizing thriller Saltburn earlier in the month, which may have prepared her for their official meeting at the Givenchy runway show at Paris Fashion Week. Sabrina and Barry's relationship heated up to the point that he even starred with her in the music video for her single Please Please Please. The lovebirds played a Bonnie and Clyde–like duo in the video. Sabrina appeared as a woman who was released from jail just as the heartthrob was being jailed. But she got more than she bargained for after bailing him out, as she got caught up in a bloody showdown with a mob boss and an armed bank robbery that Barry's character led. At the time, Sabrina claimed that she chose Barry to star with her in the video because she thought he was one of the most talented actors of his generation, rather than just because he was her boyfriend . Following reports of the split, fans of the couple couldn't contain their feelings, and they vented a mix of grief and relief at the breakup on social media (Sabrina is pictured last month) Although the couple made few public statements about their romance, the film star appeared to be a devoted boyfriend in public after attending Sabrina's performance at the Coachella Music Festival in April of this year. But there were hints of trouble between Sabrina and Barry when a source claimed to People in August that the couple's relationship was 'on and off.' Barry previously had long-term relationships with Shona Guerin (from 2017 to 2020) and Alyson Kierans (from 2021 to 2023). He and Kierans welcomed a son named Brando in 2022. Sabrina previously had a high-profile romance with the Disney Channel actor Joshua Bassett from 2020 to 2021, and she was linked to singer Shawn Mendes early last year. Barry Keoghan Sabrina Carpenter TikTok Saltburn Share or comment on this article: Breckie Hill addresses Barry Keoghan cheating rumors after actor quits Instagram amid Sabrina Carpenter split e-mail Add commentNews that President-elect Donald Trump’s team wants to hack away at the forbidding tangle of U.S. bank regulation is welcome in the abstract. In practice, though, much will depend on the details. The goal should be simplifying financial oversight more broadly — not just defanging a tough watchdog. No doubt, the current system is unwieldy. At the federal level — excluding an array of separate state regulators — three entities oversee banks, two supervise markets, one aims to protect consumers and another defends against financial crimes. Many large institutions must submit to all of them. Senior managers of an average bank today spend some 42 percent of their time on compliance-related tasks. Worse, such fragmentation at times allows risks to fall through the cracks. Much of this system was designed decades ago for a simpler world. One glaring example is the separation of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. One was established 90 years ago to protect investors in securities such as stocks and bonds; the other was created 50 years ago to oversee commodities markets and related futures and options contracts. Today, when many financial companies trade in both markets, the two supervisors often overlap and don’t always properly communicate. In 2011, after the chaotic bankruptcy of derivatives broker MF Global Holdings Ltd., a congressional postmortem detailed how the commissions failed to coordinate their approach to the company’s deteriorating finances and disagreed about where to safeguard its customers’ money. Such bifurcation is anomalous by global standards, and policymakers have been talking about combining the two for decades. In a familiar tale, however, politics has taken precedence over common sense: The House Committee on Agriculture has been loath to cede its oversight of the CFTC, which attracts hefty campaign donations from financial companies. (The SEC is under the House Financial Services Committee.) If Trump wants a relatively clear-cut reform, this would be a good place to start. Merging the two commissions would help streamline the rules, reduce compliance costs and ease cooperation with regulators overseas. It would be an ambitious change but not a radical one: Both a former CFTC commissioner and a current SEC commissioner have endorsed the idea. Reforming banking oversight would be less straightforward. It’s true that the U.S. has too many regulators — including the Federal Reserve, the Treasury Department’s Office of the Comptroller of the Currency and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. — in addition to state banking authorities. But this morass defies easy fixes; simply folding the FDIC into the Treasury Department, as the Trump team is considering, will likely create more problems than it solves. A better approach would be to create a single prudential authority charged with protecting the financial system. The new body could be overseen by a board that includes representatives from the Fed, the Treasury and the FDIC, while doing away with the OCC entirely. Ideally it would also oversee nonbank companies, such as asset managers, that play a significant role in the system. Such a regulator could focus more on essential risks than on box-checking exercises or turf wars. It would be less susceptible to influence by the companies it oversees and could (in theory) allow for streamlined compliance. It would also make clear where the buck stops when things go wrong. Such far-reaching reforms would require political skill and sustained effort, which were not hallmarks of Trump’s previous term. The ambition is laudable all the same. In regulation as in life, simplicity is a virtue. — Bloomberg NewsA user opens SK Telecom's conversational AI agent adot.ai service via a smartphone. Courtesy of SK Telecom SK Telecom topped the industry-wide National Customer Satisfaction Index (NCSI) rankings for the 27th year, according to the Korea Productivity Center (KPC) on Friday. Securing over 80 points this year, the company has topped the mobile carrier category for 27 years since the KPC started the list in 1998. “SK Telecom has continuously done its best to satisfy the needs of our customers," SK Telecom said in a press release. “We believe the list has reflected our long(-term) efforts.” In a bid to maximize its customers' experience with artificial intelligence (AI), SK Telecom updated its conversational AI service, adot.ai, in August. The update includes upgrading its large language model (LLM) to offer a more natural conversation experience with users, strengthening its calendar scheduling service and revamping the app’s user interface. Thanks to the upgrade, customers can now use the world’s cutting-edge LLM agents such as Perplexity, ChatGPT, Claude and A.X. The adot.ai agent also allows them to use customized services in music and media recommendations as well as stock investment. In September, SK Telecom also released the iOS version of the ZEM app, a self-monitoring app for customers aged under 14. Via the app, users can plan how much they will use their smartphone and what apps they will use during the day. Up to five guardians, who install the ZEM-For Parents app, can monitor the amount of time their kids spend on their smartphones and which apps they use. SK Telecom is the only mobile carrier that provides such services both on iOS and Android platforms. Last year, it also introduced a service plan exclusively designed for customers aged under 34 to offer up to 50 percent more 5G data in its package along with various coffee and movie ticket vouchers. According to the mobile carrier, seven out of 10 customers under 24 are using the plan. Hy Central Laboratory in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province / Courtesy of hy Dairy producer hy also topped the NCSI rankings for the 27th year in the milk/fermented milk category, the KPC said. It has held the top position on the list since the KPC began announcing rankings in 1998. The company stated in a press release that its relentless efforts to strengthen its probiotic technology are the reason behind its dominant position on the list. “Hy has continuously worked on its probiotics technology to compete in the global market,” hy Central Laboratory head Lee Jae-hwan said. “Hy has been the No. 1 brand in fermented milk. We will continue our efforts to introduce better products in the future.” Hy was the nation's first food company to establish a research center focused on dairy production technologies in 1976. Approximately 90 percent of the company's workforce hold master's or doctoral degrees. In a bid to strengthen its competitiveness, it also formed the Future Insight Advisory Committee, a joint study group with outside scholars to comprehensively analyze the dairy producer’s various probiotics. Renowned scholars, including Kim Yeon-soo, former Seoul National University Hospital head, and Gloria Kim, a cognitive science professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, are part of the group’s advisory members. Samsung Card's promotional image for its new credit card lineup / Courtesy of Samsung Card Samsung Card also secured the top position in the industry-wide NCSI rankings in the credit card category for the 11th consecutive year, according to the KPC. The company’s strong performance reflects its unwavering commitment to safeguarding customers from the possibility of fraud. The credit card issuer also provides a comprehensive expenditure monitoring service to customers via its recently renovated in-app user interface. Collecting related data from its sister firms, Samsung Life, Samsung Fire & Marine Insurance and Samsung Securities, it allows customers to get a wide range of financial analytic services in consumption, insurance, investment and pensions. In 2021, Samsung Card introduced the Samsung iD Card, a custom-made credit card designed by each cardholder. Each card is made with reusable plastic and low-carbon paper, a measure to fulfill its commitment to conserving environmental resources. To assist hearing-impaired customers, Samsung Card has provided an instant messaging service and a video-calling service. For disabled and older adult customers, its employees visit their houses during the credit card application review process. Samsung Securities employees consult a customer in asset management. Courtesy of Samsung Securities Samsung Securities claimed the top spot in the NCSI in the overall Securities and consignment trading category, according to the KPC. The brokerage said in a statement that it offered differentiated asset management services for customers thanks to its diverse investment experts at home and abroad. “Samsung Securities specializes in asset management for corporate customers,” a Samsung Securities official said. “We also provide networking events for CEOs and chief financial officers of renowned businesses here.” It also offers custom-made digitalized asset management services for the mid and lower-income brackets as well as those in younger generations who just landed a job. Studying and analyzing each customer’s income and consumption flow, the firm’s one-stop digitalized consulting agent offers an ideal financial product for each customer. The brokerage also regularly collects each customer’s feedback to optimize the firm’s service structure, the official added. NCSI logo Surveying over 300 companies, colleges and state-run institutions in over 80 industry sectors, the KPC has collected and studied related data to release the NCSI rankings with customer evaluations of products and services since 1998. This year’s overall customer satisfaction index averaged 78 points in 2024, down 0.2 points from the previous year. “The NCSI has experienced a decline in two consecutive years,” the KPC said in a press release. “The prolonged downturn followed by low consumption adversely influenced the figure." To remove this article -

Araghchi, while meeting with Yermekbayev on Saturday afternoon referred to the increasing importance of the SCO for advancing multilateralism and ensuring the security and political interests of member countries. The SCO, due to membership of significant and influential countries in regional and beyond, including two permanent members of the United Nations Security Council with large economies and several important regional players, can play an impactful and growing role in enhancing multilateralism and strengthening cooperation among member countries in various security, political, and economic fields, the top Iranian diplomat underscored. The SCO’s secretary general, for his part, expressed pleasure over Iran's full membership in the bloc since 2023. Yermekbayev described Iran's capacities for further strengthening the position and role of the SCO as very important and welcomed the initiatives proposed by Iran to expand activities within the grouping’s economic, banking, and commercial spheres. Iran, China, India, Russia, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Belarus are the 10 main members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. Mongolia and Afghanistan are observer members, while Turkey, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, the UAE, Cambodia, Sri Lanka, Nepal, the Maldives, and Myanmar are dialogue partners of the organization. 4399(The Center Square) – State and national officials lauded former President Jimmy Carter for his public service after learning of his death Sunday afternoon at the age of 100. President Joe Biden said an official state funeral would be held for Carter in Washington. "He was a man of great character and courage, hope and optimism," Biden said. "We will always cherish seeing him and Rosalynn together. The love shared between Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter is the definition of partnership and their humble leadership is the definition of patriotism." President-elect Donald Trump urged everyone to keep the Carter family in their thoughts and prayers. "The challenges Jimmy faced as President came at a pivotal time for our country and he did everything in his power to improve the lives of all Americans," Trump said in a statement released from his campaign. "For that, we all owe him a debt of gratitude." Former president Bill Clinton gave Carter and his wife Rosalynn the Medal of Freedom in 1999. "From his commitment to civil rights as a state senator and governor of Georgia; to his efforts as President to protect our natural resources in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, make energy conservation a national priority, return the Panama Canal to Panama, and secure peace between Egypt and Israel at Camp David; to his post-presidential efforts at the Carter Center supporting honest elections, advancing peace combating disease, and promoting democracy; to his and Rosalynn's devotion and hard work at Habitat for Humanity--he worked tirelessly for a fairer, better world," Clinton and his wife Hillary said in a statement. Former president George W. Bush hailed Carter as a man of deeply held convictions. "President Carter dignified the office," Bush said on social media. "And his efforts to leave behind a better world didn't end with the presidency. His work with Habitat for Humanity and the Carter Center set an example of service that will inspire Americans for generations." Carter served as Georgia's governor from 1971-1975 before becoming president. Under his leadership, the European and Japanese state trade offices were launched, as well as the Georgia Film Commission," Gov. Brian Kemp said. "He and former First Lady Rosalynn Carter's support of the civil rights movement in the place of its birth is also remembered with deep appreciation." Lt. Gov. Burt Jones said Carter exemplified what it meant to be a public servant. "I had the honor of meeting him and his wife, and I will never forget that day," Jones said. "They were kind, wonderful, accepting and exactly what they portrayed every day, two people devoted to lifting up those in their community who needed help the most. President Carter's legacy will live on in the numerous nonprofits, charities and organizations Rosalynn, his family and him started."Kamloops Search and Rescue called to assist in search for missing man south of city (Kamloops)