Latest news with #CER
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
European rabbis cancel Sarajevo event after minister's boycott call
The Conference of European Rabbis (CER) has cancelled its upcoming meeting in Sarajevo after a minister called for a boycott of the event, the organization's president said on Wednesday. Calls by Adnan Delić, the labour minister of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (FBiH), led the hotel hosting the event to cancel the booking, CER President and Chief Rabbi Pinchas Goldschmidt said. The FBiH is one of the two political entities in Bosnia and Herzegovina, alongside the Republika Srpska. In a post on Facebook, Delić denounced Israel's role in the war in the Gaza Strip and demanded that Sarajevo not become a "venue for supporting genocide." "We have been made unwelcome, and this last-minute, ministerial boycott of Jewish European citizens, dedicated to purely to promoting Jewish life in Europe and furthering dialogue and democracy across the continent, is disgraceful," Goldschmidt wrote in a statement. He thanked the German city of Munich for agreeing at the last minute to host the meeting, planned for June 16-18. During the Bosnian war from 1992-95, 11,000 citizens lost their lives in Sarajevo, when the city was besieged by Serbian troops. The war killed almost 100,000 people and displaced 2 million. Today, Bosnia and Herzegovina is home to large populations of Muslim Bosniaks, Orthodox Serbs and Catholic Croats. Delić wrote that the CER had misused Sarajevo as a place "to send a message legitimizing the occupation and systematic destruction of the Palestinian people." Goldschmidt rejected this, emphasizing that CER events promote dialogue and calling the cancellation "Sarajevo's loss." The CER has around 1,000 members and 800 active rabbis in its ranks. According to its own statements, it advocates for the religious rights of Jews in Europe and is committed to religious freedom and interfaith dialogue with other faiths.
Forbes
03-06-2025
- Business
- Forbes
How Retailers Are Using AI And Emotion To Build Loyalty In 2025
Artificial Intelligence Customer loyalty isn't something retailers can take for granted in today's crowded marketplace. It's something they have to earn and re-earn through ongoing, meaningful engagement. And changing consumer behavior is only adding to the complexity. Shoppers today no longer think solely in terms of 'online' or 'in-store.' According to VML's Future Shopper 2024 report, 61% of shoppers globally want seamless communications across sales channels, with their journey documented and data following them the whole time – up five percent from just one year prior. They expect what is often called a 'phygital' experience: a seamless journey that spans digital and physical channels, where retailers can adjust to customer preferences, life events, and life stages in real time. To meet these rising expectations, retailers are reimagining loyalty as not a points system or occasional reward, but an ongoing relationship. A recent report from Braze, the 2025 Global Customer Engagement Review (CER), explores the ways leading brands are stepping up to meet the moment by rethinking how they engage and retain their audiences. According to the report, leading retailers break away from a one-size-fits-all approach by blending together AI-powered personalization, emotional resonance, and experimentation. These retailers are treating loyalty not as a fixed outcome, but as a continuous conversation – one that is shaped at every touch point, treating it both as an art and a science. AI is powering the next generation of retail engagement It's no secret that AI is now a key driving force behind the next generation of retail experiences. Retailers already use it to analyze sentiment, predict behavior, and personalize at scale, with leading brands being 39% more likely to use AI to adjust messages based on real-time interactions. As AI becomes more embedded in workflows, it's not just about automating tasks, but also unlocking new levels of impact. Braze Chief Product Officer, Kevin Wang, shared 'the real magic of AI is in helping marketers operate with greater efficiency and creativity. It allows teams to deliver personalized experiences in the moment faster and more seamlessly than ever before, while driving meaningful business results.' But with great power comes greater responsibility. As AI and data driven strategies advance, so does the need for transparent, consent driven data practices. According to a recent Prosper Insights & Analytics survey, 58.5% of consumers are either extremely or very concerned about AI using their data, signaling a growing public unease that can't be brushed aside. In response, retailers are increasingly cautious about how customer data is used and shared. Prosper - How Concerned are You About Privacy Being Violated From AI Using Your Data More notably, Braze's 2025 Retail CER shows that internal data sharing now outweighs legal or regulatory worries among surveyed marketing executives, suggesting that today's retailers are motivated not just by compliance, but by a deeper commitment to doing right by their customers. The future of AI-powered retail engagement depends not only on smarter technology, but also on how thoughtfully it's applied, in addition to how well it sustains consumer trust. As marketers unlock new levels of capability, the next challenge is ensuring those interactions feel authentic, and emotionally resonant. Leaning on technology to drive emotional connection Beyond efficiency and seamless journeys, retailers that are doing this well today are leaning into technology to listen to their customers' digital body language, delivering messages that resonate in the moment and create emotional connections, not just transactions. Braze data found that brands that are emotionally connecting with their customers are the ones who are more likely to exceed their revenue goals. Moreover, top leaders show a strong willingness to course-correct when messaging misses the mark. According to Prosper Insights & Analytics, 73.3% of shoppers prefer to speak with a live person while making online purchases. This highlights that technology should enhance, not replace, the human element of engagement. Prosper - Prefer To Communicate With Live Person or AI Chat Program for Online Shopping Technology allows brands to reach customers one-on-one, but without great content, those connections fall flat. If the endgame is enduring relationships with customers, a focus on customer retention and the relative cost of customer acquisition makes perfect sense. But what does that mean in practice? It means using customer data more efficiently, leaning on technology to enhance, not replace human connection, and embracing a culture of experimentation to continuously improve. In fact, Braze data shows that 93% of retailers rely on technology to add emotional resonance to their messaging, whether through personalized channel preferences, milestone triggered messages, or community based campaigns. A strong example of this can be seen when looking at e.l.f. Cosmetics, a brand under e.l.f. Beauty. The company partnered with Braze and Stitch to revamp its digital engagement strategy and loyalty program. By expanding into channels like SMS and push notifications, the company saw a 125% increase in monthly mobile app usage (over six months) and stronger customer connections. This demonstrates how creative, cross-channel messaging can drive both emotional resonance and measurable results. Culture of experimentation separates leaders from the less agile Leading retailers share a common trait: they work collaboratively and prioritize frequent experimentation. There is no doubt that the most successful teams are agile, cross-functional, and committed to refining engagement strategies to uncover valuable customer insights. These efforts go beyond marketing alone. 'The most forward-thinking retailers treat experimentation as a team sport. When marketing, data, and engineering come together around a shared goal, that's when real innovation and customer understanding happens,' shared Wang. Top brands are bringing in analytics, engineering, and other teams to build a more robust and dynamic understanding of their customers. Still, there's room for growth. While many retailers have embraced experimentation, too few are breaking down internal barriers. This lack of shared ownership creates gaps that could be closed through stronger communication and alignment. Ultimately, retailers that foster a culture of testing and collaboration are far better positioned to meet changing customer expectations and lead with greater agility. Winning Loyalty is an Ongoing Conversation Loyalty isn't a one-and-done achievement; it's a continuous dialogue between brands and their customers. To win loyalty, retailers must listen closely and evolve with each interaction. AI and emotional resonance give retailers the tools to do this at scale, but it's the commitment to transparency, experimentation and human connection that sets leaders apart. The retailers who will thrive in 2025 and beyond will be those who lean into their customers' digital body language, and treat engagement as a relationship to be nurtured, not a transaction to be optimized.
Globe and Mail
28-05-2025
- Business
- Globe and Mail
Genflow Biosciences and CER Sign Master Service Agreement to Strengthen Long-Term R&D Collaboration
LONDON, UK / ACCESS Newswire / May 28, 2025 / Genflow Biosciences Plc (LSE:GENF)(OTCQB:GENFF) ("Genflow" or "the Company"), the only publicly listed longevity company in Europe, is pleased to announce the signing of a Master Service Agreement (MSA) with CER Groupe (CER), a long-standing partner of the Company. CER is a private Belgian research center offering integrated bioproduction and pre-clinical services within a regulated ISO and GxP-compliant environment. The MSA formalizes the working relationship between Genflow and CER, providing a robust R&D framework to accelerate Genflow's pre-IND gene therapy programs. Under the terms of the MSA, Genflow and CER will: Develop, produce and characterize Genflow's gene therapy candidates; Implement a collaborative project management system to drive efficient execution and timely deliverables supporting Genflow's goals with standardized templates for Task Orders and technical services; and Combine scientific expertise derisks, innovate and ensure relevant scientific outcomes. Said Dr. Eric Leire, CEO of Genflow: " Our partnership with CER has been instrumental in supporting our R&D efforts to date. Formalizing this collaboration through the MSA will enable greater operational alignment and strategic agility as we continue to accelerate our pipeline." Contacts Corporate Brokers Capital Plus Partners Ltd Jon Critchley, +44 0203 821 6168 About Genflow Biosciences Founded in 2020, Genflow Biosciences Plc. (LSE:GENF)(OTCQB:GENFF), a biotechnology company headquartered in the UK with R&D facilities in Belgium, is pioneering gene therapies to decelerate the aging process, with the goal of promoting longer and healthier lives while mitigating the financial, emotional, and social impacts of a fast-growing aging global population. Genflow's lead compound, GF-1002, works through the delivery of a centenarian variant of the SIRT6 gene which has yielded promising preclinical results. Genflow's 12-month proof-of-concept clinical trial evaluating their SIRT6-centenarian gene therapy in aged dogs began in March 2025. Other programs planned for 2025, include a clinical trial that will explore the potential benefits of GF-1002 in treating MASH (Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatohepatitis), the most prevalent chronic liver disease for which there is no effective treatments. Please visit and follow the Company on LinkedIn and X. About CER Groupe CER Groupe is a GLP-certified private Belgian research center supporting European life sciences innovation for more than 45years. CER's 200 colleagues gather cutting-edge expertise ensuring high quality integrated bioproduction and non-clinical services. CER supports companies in progressing their development from idea generation up to IND-enabling studies. CER Groupe favors collaborative and agile approaches accelerating companies' access to clinical stage development. Visit to learn what CER's partners say and follow CER Groupe on LinkedIn to stay up-to-date on CER's latest developments. This information is provided by Reach, the non-regulatory press release distribution service of RNS, part of the London Stock Exchange. Terms and conditions relating to the use and distribution of this information may apply. For further information, please contact rns@ or visit View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire
New European
27-05-2025
- Business
- New European
Is the UK doomed?
That ice-filled bucket comes in the form of a report by Anton Spisak for the Centre for European Reform (CER) called rather chillingly 'A perfect storm' . Frankly the 'reset' was nice but as Spisak explains in gory, relentless, detail, without much, much more of the same the UK is fucked. Last week I wrote about the joy of the Brexit reset with the EU – that it was good for the soul to know that adults are in charge, bringing with them sensible policies will result in better trade, slightly more growth and a smidgen of hope that we are heading in the right direction. Now, like some economic ice bucket challenge, a deluge of reality has brought me back to reality and reminded me what a complete mess Brexit has made of our lives. I am sure the CER wouldn't quite put it that way, but the facts are obvious for anyone with the ability to read. This report confirms the analysis produced by the Office for Budget Responsibility after the referendum – lower trade equals lower productivity equals lower wealth. As expected, the UK's trade performance post-Brexit has been a disaster, a catastrophe that is hitting growth, productivity and the nation's wealth. Without a radical and rapid improvement, we will continue on a long, drawn-out period of relative economic decline, as our neighbours and rivals eat our lunch. Suggested Reading The UK-EU reset deal is not a Brexit surrender Jonty Bloom As this report makes clear, 'the UK is currently experiencing the most severe trade stagnation in a generation – and one that has undermined post-pandemic recovery and continues to weigh heavily on the country's growth prospects.' To see why that is the case you need to look at the UK's trade performance over the last 50 years. Between 1980 and the financial crisis of 2008 the UK's trade volume increased at 5% a year; after the credit crunch we managed over 2% a year. To be fair, this was the same disappointing performance suffered by many other countries. But if the UK's trade performance was mirroring global trends, that ended in 2020 and with Brexit. Since then, UK trade volumes have 'suffered a particularly severe setback and, in contrast to many other countries, have not yet fully recovered.' What could possibly have happened in 2020 to shatter the UK's trade performance? Covid hid the truth for a while but now the trend is obvious for all to see. 'At the end of 2024, trade intensity remained 3.5 per cent below pre-pandemic levels, even as it rose by 1 per cent across the G7 and 3 per cent across the EU-27'. What little growth there has been has been driven by inflation, not increased volume of trade: 'In real terms, UK trade volumes have grown just 1 per cent on their 2019 levels, compared to an 8 per cent growth in both the G7 and EU-27'. Brexit has destroyed the UK's trade performance, not just with the EU but with the rest of the world too. By the beginning of this year, UK goods exports were 20 per cent below their 2019 levels. If they had kept pace with other countries' trend rate, they would be 30% higher than they are now. It is a puzzle why trade to countries outside the EU have also fallen, but the answer may well be that 'significant new frictions in trade with the EU are affecting supply chains across the board. As intermediate inputs sourced from European markets became costlier, the relative price of UK exports rose, and competitiveness declined across the board.' It was, it seems, that being part of the EU kept us productive and competitive. Who knew? Brexit has made all our exports less attractive and our industry less competitive. The UK is losing its share of global exports at a faster rate than Germany, which has been blighted by numerous serious structural problems. Uit seems Brexit was an even bigger blow than we thought. The report says: 'Compared to the G7 average, UK real GDP is nearly 5 percentage points lower than pre-pandemic, with exports lagging 11 percentage points behind. Against the EU-27 average, the overall GDP gap was narrower – around 2 percentage points………The UK stands out as a real outlier when it comes to post-pandemic trade.' Remember, Brexit was supposed to make us richer not poorer, but it has cost us a fortune and it is costing us more every year. Because worse trade hits both the productivity of the UK and its economic growth rate. Improvements in productivity are often driven by more intense, international competition, which forces companies to invest and innovate. Less trade means less competition and therefore less reason to innovate, invest and improve productivity. The great leap forward in British productivity over the last 50 years followed on from membership of the EU and its Single Market, but we left both and with them went the productivity improvements. As for growth, the report says: 'Exports have historically contributed positively to UK real GDP growth. Since 2020, however, exports have become a drag on UK GDP growth, on average subtracting nearly 0.5% per annum'. Not all of this down to Brexit, but as Spisak writes: 'This challenge… has been uniquely exacerbated by Brexit, which has increased the relative costs of exporting overseas for British manufacturers. The result is a subdued export performance on a scale that is unprecedented in recent history.' That 'unprecedented' hit to our export performance comes at the worst possible time, with rising protectionism, and instability. Trump has just put 10% tariffs on our exports to the USA, and that is considered a victory for the UK. What would defeat have looked like? So, what can we do? First off, the Labour government has to have a laser-like concentration on trade if it really wants to get growth going. This is not a statistical blip, this is a structural failure. We have therefore to end our long-running decline in competitiveness and realise that without improved trade, growth will not improve. And we must concede that the UK-EU 'reset' was nowhere near enough to kick-start growth. According to Spisak, it is 'unlikely to make a noticeable difference to the current growth trajectory.' I am sorry the 'reset' was nice, comforting and a step in the right direction but it was also nothing like enough. We have entered a sustained period of economic decline without the competition and openness necessary to force British industry to become efficient. Brexit has made us all poorer, we have lost touch with our competitors, they are racing ahead of us, and we are falling further and further behind. Why do you think the government is borrowing so much, why wage growth is so weak, why tax revenues are not enough to maintain the state? Sorry to rain on the parade, but these are the facts, and unless we face them, we are doomed to live through decades of further relative economic decline. Yet there are no signs we are ready to face one particular fact: that the obvious answer is to rejoin the Single Market ASAP.
Associated Press
15-05-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
ConnectM Completes Acquisition of Cambridge Energy Resources, Strengthening Foothold in India
MARLBOROUGH, Mass., May 15, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ConnectM Technology Solutions, Inc. (OTC: CNTM) ('ConnectM' or the 'Company'), a high-growth technology company on the leading edge of the energy economy, today announced it has secured regulatory approval and completed the acquisition of Cambridge Energy Resources Ltd. (CER), an India-based Energy-Management-as-a-Service (EMaaS) provider. The acquisition provides ConnectM with a strategic beachhead in India's booming distributed energy and telecommunications sectors, solidifying the Company's expansion into one of the world's fastest-growing clean energy and digital infrastructure markets. ConnectM beat out four other bidders in a competitive process to acquire CER in 2021 for INR 120 million ($1.4M) which has fair value assessment at INR 240 million ($2.8M). Since winning the bid in 2021, it took an additional three years to obtain the necessary regulatory approvals. CER's offerings span rooftop solar installations and energy management solutions for telecommunications infrastructure, supporting India's 5G network deployment through clean energy initiatives. With this acquisition, ConnectM gains an established operating presence in India and the ability to immediately participate in two sectors central to India's sustainability and digital growth. The Company will leverage CER's local expertise to deploy its proprietary Home and Building Electrification (HBE) platform and Energy Intelligence Network (EIN) across new projects in the region. ConnectM's full-stack, digital-first approach—proven in its U.S. operations—combined with CER's on-ground capabilities is expected to drive growth in both distributed energy and telecom energy management solutions. 'This is a pivotal step in our international Home and Building Electrification (HBE) expansion,' said Bhaskar Panigrahi, Chairman and CEO of ConnectM. 'By adding Cambridge Energy Resources to the ConnectM family, we secure a foothold in one of the world's largest and highest-growth energy and telecommunications markets. We are now positioned to accelerate the deployment of our integrated electrification platform across India, furthering our mission to drive sustainable energy transformation on a global scale.' The transaction carries significant strategic value for ConnectM and its stockholders. Our India business is growing organically at more than 100% per year. With this CER acquisition, we expect our business from India to grow to 15% of our global revenue in next twelve months ($10M annualized) from 5% it is currently now. CER not only provides an operational base in India but also broadens ConnectM's service offerings into two high-growth domains that align with India's ambitious development goals. India has set a target of reaching 500 GW of non-fossil fuel power capacity by 2030, supported by an estimated $384.5 billion in power sector investments, alongside a nationwide 5G rollout. These initiatives are driving robust demand for distributed renewable energy solutions and energy-efficient telecom infrastructure—areas where ConnectM, through CER, is now well positioned to deliver innovative solutions. This acquisition follows ConnectM's March 26, 2025, announcement of its first HBE project in India and is a key part of the Company's broader strategic expansion into India and international markets. ConnectM plans to continue pursuing opportunities that strengthen its presence in high-growth regions as it scales its HBE platform globally. About ConnectM Technology Solutions, Inc.: ConnectM is a constellation of companies powering the next generation of electrified equipment, mobility, and distributed energy—thus enabling a faster, smarter transition to a modern energy economy. The Company provides residential and light commercial service providers and original equipment manufacturers with a proprietary Energy Intelligence Network platform to accelerate the transition to all-electric heating, cooling, and transportation. Leveraging technology, data, artificial intelligence, and behavioral economics, ConnectM aims to lower energy costs and reduce carbon emissions globally. For more information, please visit: About Cambridge Energy Resources Ltd.: Cambridge Energy Resources Ltd. (CER) is a privately held Energy-Management-as-a-Service provider based in India. Headquartered in New Delhi, CER delivers integrated clean energy solutions for enterprises and telecom operators, including the development and management of distributed solar projects and the deployment of energy-efficient power systems for 5G telecommunications infrastructure. By offering these services on an outcome-based model, CER helps clients reduce energy costs and carbon footprint while enhancing power reliability across their operations. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the 'Exchange Act'). We have based these forward-looking statements on our current expectations and projections about future events. All statements, other than statements of present or historical fact included in this press release, regarding our future financial performance and our strategy, expansion plans, future operations, future operating results, estimated revenues, losses, projected costs, prospects, plans and objectives of management are forward-looking statements. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as 'may,' 'should,' 'could,' 'would,' 'expect,' 'plan,' 'anticipate,' 'intend,' 'believe,' 'estimate,' 'continue,' 'project' or the negative of such terms or other similar expressions. These forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and assumptions about us that may cause our actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Except as otherwise required by applicable law, we disclaim any duty to update any forward-looking statements, all of which are expressly qualified by the statements in this section, to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this press release. We caution you that the forward-looking statements contained herein are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, most of which are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond our control. In addition, we caution you that the forward-looking statements regarding the Company contained in this press release are subject to the risks and uncertainties described in the 'Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements' section of the Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 18, 2024. Such filing identifies and addresses other important risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events and results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made. Readers are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements, and ConnectM is under no obligation to update or revise these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. Contact: Investor Relations Dave Gentry, CEO RedChip Companies, Inc. 1-407-644-4256 [email protected]
