CAMBRIDGE, Mass. , Dec. 13, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Akamai Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ: AKAM), the cybersecurity and cloud computing company that powers business online, today announced it has completed its acquisition of select assets from Edgio, including certain customer contracts from Edgio's businesses in content delivery and security, and non-exclusive license rights to patents in Edgio's portfolio. On Nov. 26, 2024 , the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware approved Akamai's bid to acquire the aforementioned assets following Edgio's 363 bankruptcy auction on Nov. 13, 2024 , as part of its filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy relief. The transaction does not include the acquisition of Edgio personnel, technology, or assets related to the Edgio network. Akamai can now offer several hundred net new Akamai customers a clear path and the necessary support to smoothly migrate to a best-in-class and reliable provider of the services they need prior to Edgio ceasing operations of its content delivery network. The Company also plans to offer the new customers the opportunity to take advantage of Akamai's full range of security and cloud solutions, which run on the world's most distributed platform. About Akamai Akamai is the cybersecurity and cloud computing company that powers and protects business online. Our market-leading security solutions, superior threat intelligence, and global operations team provide defense-in-depth to safeguard enterprise data and applications everywhere. Akamai's full-stack cloud computing solutions deliver performance and affordability on the world's most distributed platform. Global enterprises trust Akamai to provide the industry-leading reliability, scale, and expertise they need to grow their business with confidence. Learn more at akamai.com and akamai.com/blog , or follow Akamai Technologies on X and LinkedIn . Contacts Akamai Public Relations AkamaiPR@akamai.com Akamai Investor Relations IR-InvestorRelations@akamai.com Akamai Statement Under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act This press release contains statements that are not statements of historical fact and constitute forward-looking statements for purposes of the safe harbor provisions under The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including, but not limited to, statements about the potential benefits of the transaction to Akamai and its customers and management's expectations regarding new customer additions and customer migration in connection with the transaction. Each of the forward-looking statements is subject to change as a result of various important factors, many of which are beyond the company's control, including, but not limited to: Akamai being unable to achieve the anticipated benefits of the transaction; the risk that customer migration may be more difficult, time-consuming or costly than expected; the retention of key personnel during the transition period; potential adverse reactions or changes to business relationships resulting from the announcement or completion of the proposed transaction; effects of competition, including pricing pressure and changing business models; impact of macroeconomic trends, including economic uncertainty, turmoil in the financial services industry, the effects of inflation, rising and fluctuating interest rates, foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations, securities market volatility and monetary supply fluctuations; continuing supply chain and logistics costs, constraints, changes or disruptions; defects or disruptions in Akamai's products or IT systems, including cyber-attacks, data breaches or malware; changes to economic, political and regulatory conditions in the United States or internationally; and other factors that are discussed in the company's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, subsequent quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and other documents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. All information provided in this press release is as of the date of this press release, and Akamai does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, except as required under applicable law. View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/akamai-completes-acquisition-of-select-assets-of-edgio-302331398.html SOURCE Akamai Technologies, Inc.king game888 。

Kosovo’s Prime Minister Albin Kurti said an explosion late Friday night that damaged a key water canal was a “terrorist act” and accused groups aligned with Serbia of having been behind it — an accusation Serbia called baseless. Kosovo’s interior minister, Xhelal Svecla, announced the arrest of eight people linked to the explosion and said police seized a large cache of weapons and military equipment during the operation. He said the searches were carried out at 10 locations in northern Kosovo. The searches “to the confiscation of arms, explosives, hundreds of uniforms, and other military gear, which will serve as evidence in criminal proceedings,” he said during a press conference on Saturday evening. The blast in the Zubin Potok municipality of northern Kosovo damaged a canal that carries drinking water to several regions as well as cooling water for the country’s thermal power plants. The incident raised concerns about potential disruptions to essential services, including water and electricity. Local media showed photographs of water leaking from the reinforced canal. “The attack was carried out by professionals, and we believe it comes from groups orchestrated by and directed by Serbia,” Kurti said in the Kosovan capital of Pristina at an emergency press conference after midnight. Kurti said Serbian operatives have the “capacity to carry out such attacks using large quantities of explosives,” without offering specific evidence. Serbian Foreign Minister Marko Djuric fired back against “premature accusations” in a lengthy post on X, saying the blast may have been “a deliberate diversion” orchestrated by Kosovo’s government. He offered financial and technical support to help repair the canal, which is vital to Serb-populated municipalities of Kosovo. Aleksandr Vucic, Serbia’s president, said in Belgrade on Saturday that his country had nothing to do with the incident “and Pristina knows that.” Kosovo’s National Security Council convened an emergency meeting to approve additional security measures for critical infrastructure. Jeff Hovenier, U.S. ambassador to the Balkan nation, and other diplomatic missions, including France and the EU, also condemned what they called an attack. The U.S. is closely monitoring the situation and supports a full investigation, Hovenier said. The incident follows a series of grenade attacks in northern Kosovo targeting police stations and government buildings. Serbian List, the political party in Kosovo that represents the minority Serb population and is backed by Belgrade, also condemned the explosion, calling it a threat to the water supply of Serb residents in northern Kosovo. ©2024 Bloomberg L.P. Visit bloomberg.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

No. 24 UCLA, Arizona have first reunion since Pac-12 daysNone

FLAGSTAR FINANCIAL, INC. APPOINTS BRIAN CALLANAN TO BOARD OF DIRECTORSHow Insights From Alan Turing Help Us Understand SupercomputingTicker: NYC ad agency titans Omnicom and Interpublic to form $30B powerhouse; Morocco produces Africa’s first mpox tests

Middle East latest: Syrians celebrate Assad's fall as US seeks a peaceful political transition

What clicked for JMM in Jharkhand?FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) — MiLaysia Fulwiley’s 14 points led seven players in double figures as fourth-ranked South Carolina overwhelmed Purdue 99-51 in the Women’s Fort Myers Tip-Off on Saturday. Ashlyn Watkins and Tessa Johnson added 13 points, Chloe Kitts and Bree Hall had 12, Joyce Edwards 11 and Maddy McDaniel 10 for the Gamecocks (7-1).

Battery plant moving forward at former sand facility

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Jaden Green and Geoffrey Jamiel scored on long plays in the fourth quarter and unseeded Lehigh rallied to defeat No. 9 Richmond 20-16 on Saturday in a first-round game of the FCS playoffs. Lehigh advances to a second-round game at eighth-seeded Idaho on Dec. 7. The Mountain Hawks trailed 16-7 early in the fourth quarter after Richmond's Sean Clarke scored on a 7-yard pass from Camden Coleman. Green dashed 65 yards for a touchdown on the next play from scrimmage and Lehigh trailed 16-14 with 10 1/2 minutes remaining. The Mountain Hawks (9-3) forced a three-and-out, then Jamiel and Hayden Johnson connected on a 56-yard pass play for the go-ahead touchdown. The Spiders were stopped short of midfield on their final drive but nearly came up with a huge play when Lehigh's Quanye Veney muffed the punt at his own 14-yard line. Ignatious Williams recovered the loose ball for Lehigh to preserve the win. Johnson completed 14 of 18 passes for 199 yards. Jamiel caught 10 for 137 yards. Coleman was 24-of-37 passing for 199 yards. Zach Palmer-Smith had 107 yards rushing for Richmond (10-3). Richmond had 249 yards of total offense in the first half but managed only three short field goals by Sean O'Haire. The scoring drives were 76, 70 and 64 yards and Richmond controlled the ball for nearly 21 minutes in the first half. Lehigh took a 7-6 lead on Johnson's 7-yard TD pass to Logan Galletta, but the Spiders answered with O'Haire's third field goal for a 9-7 halftime lead. This is 13-time Patriot League champion Lehigh's first playoff appearance since 2017. Lehigh and Richmond will have a rematch in the 2025 season opener at Lehigh. It will be Richmond's debut as a member of the Patriot League. Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here . AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football

This victory is a stamp on the BJP's governance model, PM Modi said. Top Quotes from PM's Speech "Development, good governance, and social justice have won in Maharashtra. Lies and deceit have suffered a crushing defeat. Divisive forces and dynastic politics have lost in Maharashtra today," Prime Minister Modi said. "Today, several bypoll results have been declared too and we have also increased our Lok Sabha tally after winning one more seat. We have done well in every state and it shows that people want development I want to thank the people, especially the mothers and the farmers for the win. I want to thank the people of Jharkhand too and we will work for its development, PM Modi said. "In the last 50 years, no party or pre-poll alliance has secured such a big win as Maharashtra's. This is the third consecutive time, that a BJP-led alliance has won in a state. This is indeed a historic win," he said. "This is the third consecutive time that the BJP has emerged as the largest party in Maharashtra, which is undoubtedly a historic feat. This victory is a stamp on the BJP's governance model," the Prime Minister said in his speech. "The voter sees that those who promise big things in one state, how are they faring in the other states. Maharashtra voters saw how in Karnataka, and Himachal, Congress cheated people. You will get to see this in Punjab as well, Prime Minister said. "Now only one constitution will be applicable in the entire country... that constitution is the constitution of Baba Saheb Ambedkar, the constitution of India," the Prime Minister said. "After Haryana, the biggest message of this election is unity. 'Ek hain toh safe hain' has become the 'maha-mantra' of the country," the Prime Minister said after the BJP secured a second win in Assembly elections after the Lok Sabha polls. "This Maharashtra election has exposed the true faces of the INDIA bloc and Aghadi groups before the entire nation. We all know that Balasaheb Thackeray made significant contributions to this country. However, the Congress, driven by a lust for power, managed to take a faction of his party along, but no Congress leader can ever praise Balasaheb's principles," he said. "I challenged the Aghadi leaders to get Congress to praise Balasaheb's principles and policies, but they've failed to do so to date," he added. "I also tell the Congress people and their allies to listen carefully... now no power in the world can bring back Article 370," Prime Minister said.Activists say Mexican authorities have broken up 2 migrant caravans heading to the USTrump wants to turn the clock on daylight saving time

Edinburgh eventually got their ­Challenge Cup campaign back on track with a convincing bonus-point win against Bayonne. Having seen his team get a losing ­bonus point out of their opening Pool 3 game at Gloucester last Friday, Sean Everitt, the home coach, had identified this match as a must-win. And although Edinburgh found it hard to unpick the Bayonne defence in the opening half, they cut loose in the second 40. Edinburgh had a lot of early pressure in which man of the match Darcy ­Graham figured prominently, and at first Bayonne soaked it up in relative comfort and looked dangerous on the break. Eventually, though, the visitors failed to deal properly with the winger. A turnover just inside the home half set up theHowever, some state workers failed to return to their jobs and a United Nations official said the country’s public sector had come “to a complete and abrupt halt”. Meanwhile, streams of refugees crossed back into Syria from neighbouring countries, hoping for a more peaceful future and looking for relatives who disappeared during Mr Assad’s brutal rule. There were already signs of the difficulties ahead for the rebel alliance now in control of much of the country. The alliance is led by a former senior al-Qaida militant, who severed ties with the extremist group years ago and has promised representative government and religious tolerance. The rebel command said they would not tell women how to dress. “It is strictly forbidden to interfere with women’s dress or impose any request related to their clothing or appearance, including requests for modesty,” the command said in a statement on social media. Nearly two days after rebels entered the capital, some key government services had shut down after state workers ignored calls to go back to their jobs, the UN official said, causing issues at airports and borders and slowing the flow of humanitarian aid. Rebel leader Ahmad al-Sharaa, who was known by his nom de guerre Abu Mohammed al-Golani, also met with Prime Minister Mohammad Ghazi Jalali for the first time. Mr Jalali stayed in Syria when Mr Assad fled and has sought to project normalcy since. “We are working so that the transitional period is quick and smooth,” he told Sky News Arabia TV on Monday, saying the security situation had already improved from the day before. At the court of Justice in Damascus, which was stormed by the rebels to free detainees, Judge Khitam Haddad, an aide to the justice minister in the outgoing government, said that judges were ready to resume work quickly. “We want to give everyone their rights,” Mr Haddad said outside the courthouse. “We want to build a new Syria and to keep the work, but with new methods.” But a UN official said some government services had been paralysed as worried state employees stayed at home. The public sector “has just come to a complete and abrupt halt,” said Adam Abdelmoula, UN resident and humanitarian co-ordinator for Syria, noting, for example, that an aid flight carrying urgently needed medical supplies had been put on hold after aviation employees abandoned their jobs. “This is a country that has had one government for 53 years and then suddenly all of those who have been demonised by the public media are now in charge in the nation’s capital,” Mr Abdelmoula told The Associated Press. “I think it will take a couple of days and a lot of assurance on the part of the armed groups for these people to return to work again.” In a video shared on a rebel messaging channel, Mr al-Sharaa said: “You will see there are skills” among the rebels. The Kremlin said Russia has granted political asylum to Mr Assad, a decision made by President Vladimir Putin. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov declined to comment on Mr Assad’s specific whereabouts and said Mr Putin did not plan to meet with him. Damascus was quiet Monday, with life slowly returning to normal, though most shops and public institutions were closed. In public squares, some people were still celebrating. Civilian traffic resumed, but there was no public transport. Long lines formed in front of bakeries and other food stores. There was little sign of any security presence though in some areas, small groups of armed men were stationed in the streets.AP Sports SummaryBrief at 5:33 p.m. EST

TEHRAN – Iran’s post-revolution military strategy has focused on two key pillars: strengthening its indigenous defense capabilities and supporting like-minded actors challenging Western imperialism. The development of missile and drone technology, fueled by sanctions restricting arms imports, reflects the former. The latter is evident in Tehran's backing of the "Axis of Resistance," a network sometimes referred to as "forward defense" by Western analysts. Jacob Nagel and Mark Dubowitz, writing for the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD), a Washington think tank with a pro-Israel policy and alleged involvement in assisting the U.S. with anti-Iran sanctions, have published an article outlining methods to “defeat” Iran. The article has a clear bias toward Israel and fails to address facts on the ground. The core idea of the piece is based on advice to Israel to shift its supposed policy of “survival” to an offensive one. The article frames Israel’s genocidal actions in West Asia as “self-defense” and urges even more violence from the regime. Israel’s war on Gaza and Lebanon has claimed tens of thousands of lives. Yet, the article echoes Israeli claims that the Resistance Axis is responsible for the devastating situation in the region. The reality is this: since Israel's creation in 1948, a pattern of land grabs, oppression, and killings has persisted. The current situation was not shaped in a vacuum. Nagel and Dubowitz celebrate Israel's supposed victories against Hezbollah, Hamas, and other Resistance groups, yet these groups remain active. Hezbollah has maintained its military capabilities despite the assassination of late leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah and other top Lebanese commanders. The group continued to target deep inside occupied Palestine until the last moments before a ceasefire came into effect on Wednesday, and its military arsenal remains largely intact. In the Gaza front, Israel has no “day after” plan, and occupying the territory and building settlements is not a viable option for Tel Aviv due to several reasons including global pressure. Also appointing the Palestinian Authority as a governing body for Gaza is not practical. The Palestinian Authority lacks popular support and is unlikely to be able to govern Gaza without Hamas's involvement. The article backs the idea of attacking Iranian nuclear sites as the newly elected president of the U.S. strongly supports Israel. Despite the questionable capability of Israel to destroy Iranian sites, any attack on these facilities will completely wipe out the possibility of diplomacy in this field. Possible attacks coupled with more economic pressure on Iran will only hasten the process of militarization of the country’s nuclear program. As seen over the years, more economic pressure on Iran will only raise the levels of uranium enrichment in the country keeping it away from the negotiating table. Also, U.S. direct involvement in any anti-Iran strike will make Washington’s military bases and personnel in the region a legitimate target. Regional countries as seen in the Iranian retaliation against Israel are trying their best to skirt the Tehran-Tel Aviv confrontation. Iran has chosen the path of diplomacy with its Arab neighbors mainly Saudi Arabia through China’s mediation. It seems that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, in its modernization drive, has incorporated an assessment of the risks associated with potential conflict with Iran and its allies, including the targeting of Saudi oil infrastructure. This approach towards de-escalation appears to be emulated by other Persian Gulf states. China, meanwhile, appears to be pursuing not only economic objectives in the region but also aims to provide an alternative to U.S. influence in West Asia. Furthermore, any major crisis will disrupt oil exports from the region, a factor which more than any other global actor affects China. The authors then propose targeting Iranian nuclear scientists and military officials, a tactic employed by the U.S. and Israel in the past decades with very limited success. Despite such assassinations, Iran quickly replaced personnel, and its nuclear program and broader confrontation with the West continued unabated. One of the major remedies that the authors offer Israel in the face of Iran is support for anti-Tehran groups including terrorists, separatists, and foreign-based opposition groups. Nagel and Dubowitz urge Western nations to support “Iranian people” in facing the state. However, since the Islamic Revolution in Iran, the U.S. and its allies have been supporting these groups but to no avail. In recent years several protests have taken place in Iran with direct and indirect support of the collective West. However, none have resulted in the West’s desired “regime change”. That’s because the groups Western countries are continuously backing have no credibility among Iranian citizens due to direct allegiance to global powers. The “maximum pressure” policy on Tehran by the states who want to stand with the “people of Iran” has also failed to push citizens to confront the government. All the prescriptions in the article have been tested and repeatedly failed in recent decades.EPA grant could fund multi-million dollar 'recreation and resiliency' hub in Butte

MADRID , Dec. 14, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Under the theme “ Collective Action for One Future ,” the ninth edition of the Imperial Springs International Forum co-organised by Club de Madrid and held in Madrid , for the first time outside China , has addressed the profound transformations shaping the international system. The Forum has reaffirmed its commitment to multilateral dialogue, engaging a wider range of stakeholders towards a more inclusive and collaborative global order, and called for joint action to reduce prevailing antagonism and prevent the escalation of strategic tensions, including nuclear threats, trade wars, and unresolved regional conflicts. Over 130 leaders, including former Heads of State and Government (Members of Club de Madrid ), scholars, dignitaries, and representatives from more than 40 countries, as well as Chinese and Spanish authorities, have agreed on measures to revitalise multilateralism, strengthen international cooperation and rebuild trust among nations. Hu Chunhua, Vice-Chairman of the National Committee of the 14 th CPPCC, delivered a message from President Xi Jinping, highlighting “ since its establishment, the Forum has adhered to advocating multilateralism, conducted in-depth discussions on global governance issues, and actively shared China’s propositions .” Diego Martínez Belío, Spain’s Secretary of State for Foreign and Global Affairs, added: “ The responsibility to generate inclusive economic growth transcends borders, and Spain defends and will continue to advocate for a constructive role between our country and China .” Discussions have focused on global challenges, including inflation, protectionism, and fragile supply chains. Leaders have called for reforming the WTO, stabilising international trade, and bolstering multilateral financial institutions like the G20 and development banks to promote financial stability and reduce debt in low- and middle-income countries. The Forum has underscored the need for equitable international tax systems, debt restructuring for vulnerable countries, and inclusive financial frameworks. It has called for global governance frameworks for artificial intelligence and green technologies, ensuring fair access and preventing monopolisation. Participants have prioritised implementing the Pact for the Future, adopted at the United Nations Summit on the Future in 2024. This Pact addresses sustainable development, security, climate action, and digital cooperation, emphasising accountability and resource mobilisation. Danilo Türk, President of Club de Madrid , concluded: “ This edition has illustrated that, even in a fragmented world, dialogue and cooperation remain our most effective tools for addressing shared challenges. The collective action we take today will shape the global governance of tomorrow.” SOURCE Club de Madrid

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (AP) — It doesn't happen all that often, but when it does, it can seem like a dream come true for sports gamblers: being able to bet on a game after it has already ended. And it has happened again in Atlantic City, where a sportsbook has been fined for taking $25,000 worth of bets on college basketball and hockey games and boxing matches after they were over. In action made public last week, the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement fined William Hill Sportsbook $20,000 for bets it wrongly took in 2022 and 2023. The company voided most of the bets after discovering the errors. But others had already been paid out to customers. William Hill operates retail sportsbooks in Atlantic City at the Caesars, Harrah's and Tropicana casinos. The casinos' parent company, Caesars Entertainment, did not respond to messages seeking comment Friday and Monday. According to documents from the enforcement division, on Feb. 23 and 24, 2022, it took 42 bets via in-person kiosks on 12 college basketball games after the results were already known. William Hill paid just over $5,000 to customers on six bets before it became aware of the error. The remainder of the bets were voided and the customers' initial wagers were returned to them. William Hill blamed the error on a sportsbook content supplier, London-based OpenBet, which did not immediately respond to a request for comment Monday. Similar errors allowed illegal bets on two boxing matches. On June 11, 2022, William Hill took bets on a Chris Kongo-Sebastian Formella boxing match that it had advertised as starting at noon. However, the match began at 11:15 a.m. and concluded at 11:55 a.m. On April 15, 2023, William Hill took bets on a Denzel Bentley-Kieran Smith fight after it, too, had already ended. The company listed the fight as a noon start, but it began at 11:55 a.m. and ended just 45 seconds later with a knockout. The division also fined Amelco, a London-based sports betting technology company, $10,000 for violations including allowing sportsbook PlayUp to take a bet in March 2022 on Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg becoming the next U.S. president. Although recent court decisions allowed political betting in last month's election, it was not allowed at the time the bet was made. PlayUp utilized Amelco and Sportradar as its sportsbook providers. In documents filed with the enforcement division, Amelco said Sportradar listed the U.S. presidential election under a category of bets that Amelco marked as “true,” automatically listing it on its menu of betting markets. Amelco told the division its own trading team failed to recognize the U.S. election as an event that was not authorized to be bet upon. Sportradar said it does not label any of the betting markets in its data feed as authorized or unauthorized, adding it is the responsibility of each sports betting company to make sure they only offer bets that comply with local laws. Sportradar also noted that the division did not assess a fine against it, adding that Amelco was “solely liable” for the violation. PlayUp also accepted two bets worth nearly $700 on a Seton Hall University basketball game on Jan. 18, 2023, in violation of a state law prohibiting bets on New Jersey college teams. PlayUp and Amelco did not respond to requests for comment Monday. The $1 bet on Buttigieg was voided. It's not the first time this has happened. In November 2021, the division fined the Malta-based sports betting technology company Kambi Group and Chicago-based Rush Street Interactive $1,000 apiece for taking bets on a British soccer game that was already over . And in September, it fined bet365 $33,000 for taking bets on already-completed basketball, golf and mixed martial arts events. Follow Wayne Parry on X at https://x.com/WayneParryAC .( MENAFN - AFP) Apps infused with AI are being marketed to schools across the world and governments are rushing to embrace the technology, despite experts raising serious doubts. The sector known as Ed Tech exploded during the COVID pandemic as schools closed to stop the spread of infection and millions of children were forced to learn in front of screens at home. As demand dried up after schools reopened, Ed Tech startups tried to win back investment by adding AI to their products and marketing. Tech titans like Microsoft, Meta and OpenAI have also spied an opportunity, promoting their AI products to schools or partnering with startups. While many education ministries have announced plans to deploy AI apps, there are plenty of dissenting voices. The UN's education body UNESCO last year eviscerated the record of online learning during Covid, saying the rapid rollout of tech solutions was a "tragedy" that had increased inequality and worsened learning outcomes. UNESCO's Manos Antoninis told AFP that AI might have some utility in education but right now it "seems to be creating more problems than it is solving". He cited concerns that companies were using data for commercial purposes, deployed biased algorithms and overall were less concerned with educational outcomes than with their bottom line. "I think the unfortunate thing is that education has been used as a bit of a Trojan horse to access future consumers," he said. - 'Ease the pressure' - During the pandemic boom in 2021, venture capitalists pumped more than $17 billion into Ed Tech. But that has slumped to $3 billion this year, about the same as last year, according to analysts PitchBook. But from North Carolina to South Korea it is a different story, where education officials have been encouraging teachers to use generative AI. Britain has already rolled out a homework app called Sparx Maths that uses algorithms to tailor children's learning. It recently announced a further multimillion-dollar outlay on AI programmes to "ease the pressure" on hard-working teachers by helping with lesson plans, marking and assessment. The European Union supports several learning apps, and several EU countries have experimented with them. China is a huge booster of AI in the classroom and has a national strategy for digitising education -- its centrepiece being a national education platform of tools and online courses. Yet the on-the-ground reality is often messy. India boasted one of the liveliest startup scenes in the sector during the pandemic, including a firm called BYJU's which was once the world's most valuable Ed Tech startup. Yet when schools in New Delhi were forced to close because of smog last month, there were no flashy apps to help. "It is not feasible for them to take online classes," 29-year-old teacher Vandana Pandey told AFP, saying many of her pupils had no smartphones or connectivity at home. BYJU's has faced allegations of financial misconduct and only narrowly avoided bankruptcy in a recent court hearing. In richer countries, the arrival of AI has received a tepid reception. Only six percent of US secondary school teachers polled by Pew Research Center in May thought using AI in education would do more good than harm. France announced it would roll out an AI-powered homework app called MIA in secondary schools earlier this year, but quietly dropped the project as a political crisis rumbled on. Many British parents are also not keen on Sparx Maths. "Don't know a single child that likes it," said one user on the popular Mumsnet forum. Another said the app "ruins any enjoyment of the subject" while a flood of other parents said their children "hated" the app. - 'More like isolation' - Aside from grievances over individual apps, educators doubt whether many of these firms are aiming at the right target. Almost all Ed Tech products promise to "personalise" education, often deploying AI to monitor a child's work and tailor workplans to suit their needs. Officials from Britain to Beijing have lauded this goal. But Antoninis said the rhetoric around personalisation "risks making us forget that a lot of learning is actually social, and children learn from interaction with each other". Leon Furze, a former teacher who now works as a consultant focusing on generative AI in education, was also wary about personalisation. "AI is touted as a solution to personalised learning, but it's a very specific kind of 'personal' which I think seems more like isolation," he told AFP. Both Antoninis and Furze warned that technology was no panacea, rather it was a tool that could help in some limited situations. The hard work, as ever, would be done by humans. "Tech solutions aren't going to solve the bigger socio-economic, cultural, and political challenges being faced by teachers and students," said Furze. MENAFN13122024000143011026ID1108991983 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.The future of business is here, and it’s powered by artificial intelligence. BRISBANE, Australia , Dec. 14, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Click Start Digital, a leader in e-commerce business solutions, has launched its new AI-Integrated Training Platform, designed to help entrepreneurs start and scale their online businesses with ease. This upgrade enhances its renowned training programs by integrating AI tools for market research, automation, and growth strategies. With over 13 years of expertise, Click Start Digital is revolutionizing the way entrepreneurs approach business, delivering smarter, faster results using cutting-edge technology. How to Launch Your E-Commerce Business Using AI Click Start Digital combines innovative AI tools with proven expertise to make launching an online store simple and effective. For those wondering how to start a business, the platform offers a transformative approach. From idea generation to scaling, entrepreneurs gain the knowledge, tools, and strategies they need to thrive in today’s competitive marketplace. What Sets Click Start Digital Apart? “Artificial intelligence is transforming how we do business, and we’re thrilled to bring this innovation to aspiring entrepreneurs,” says Samantha Hurst , founder of Click Start Digital. “With our training and tools, anyone can start an e-commerce business, simplify operations, and achieve results faster than ever.” Why AI is a Game-Changer for E-Commerce AI tools are reshaping business operations with benefits such as predictive analytics for high-demand products and automation for personalized customer experiences. With Click Start Digital, entrepreneurs can: Click Start Digital ensures that starting an e-commerce business is not just possible but sustainable with the power of AI. About Click Start Digital For over a decade, Click Start Digital has helped entrepreneurs launch and grow successful e-commerce businesses. Combining bespoke websites, AI-powered tools, and expert support, it has become a trusted partner for thousands turning their business dreams into reality. To learn more, visit Click Start Digital . View original content: https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/how-to-start-an-e-commerce-business-using-ai-302331732.html SOURCE Click Start Digital