NoneFrom the plethora of top tracks that came out in the past 12 months, these are the ones you need to hear. Some rocked, some rolled, some got down and bluesy, some went up country, and we've embedded a handy Spotify list at the bottom. This crunch-rocker from finds the Robinsons saluting the Youngs as only superfans can. “If the record is a love letter to rock‘n’roll,” says Rich Robinson, “then Rats And Clowns is a love letter to .” “I think the old-school fans will be happy, for once,” Billy Corgan snarked of ’ thirteenth album, , and lead-off single is most evocative of the 90s-era Pumpkins’ way with a hook. Savage and wistful in equal measure. When the guitarist split from in 2022, the script had him melting into obscurity. Mars didn’t read it, and while his ex-bandmates unleashed the , 72-year-old Mars arguably sounds spikier and bitier on this feral thrasher. Priest frontman Rob Halford’s disdain for social media drips from this standout from , its pulverising gallop offset by the Metal God’s most Darkness-sounding lyrics (‘The clamour and the clatter of incensed keys, can bring a nation to its knees’). With the real world ravaged by war, famine and AI, it’s no wonder Sheryl Crow keeps hitting the snooze button (‘ ’, she gripes). For the rest of us, this garage-band fuzz-rocker did the job of six espresso shots. It began as a workaday jam with bandmate Craig Ross, but grew into a stately synth-rock epic, complete with squiggly talkbox solo, and a -style video featuring Len getting felt up by a harem of bedouin maidens. We were all ears when Purple kicked off , with their new guitarist Simon McBride building from an urgent chime to a funky vamp before dropping a solo that sounds like it’s sampled from . Sixteen years since , few seriously expected Robert Smith to drag over the line in 2024. Miraculously, the Cure leader not only signed it off, but also caught a little of the old magic in this bleak courtship dance of skeletal piano and industrial drums. The title track from arguably the Canadian rock maverick’s strongest album in years, is a punchy, expansive encapsulation of his heavy, dreamy and good-humoured sides. A hyperactive yet laser-focused, super-hooky swirl of big feelings and empowerment for ‘power nerds’ everywhere. It’s hardly insightful music journalism to point out that the best tune so far from Tommy Henriksen’s project sounds exactly like AC/DC. From the cludding beat and riff-raff to the throat-flaying shriek, these boys have everything except the school blazer – but that’s a good thing. Imagine Judas Priest, King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard and Ghost in one riffy package, styled by Terry Gilliam after a particularly industrial-strength cheese dream... That probably makes these Aussies sound unhinged, so you’ll have to trust us when we say this (the title track from their latest album) is brilliant. The Aussie rock’n’rollers marry the chunky boogies of AC/DC with the nastiness of on this highlight from 2024’s So oomphy and ripping it’ll put tattoos on your skin and a moustache (like frontman Cal Kramer’s) on your face after just one listen. If motorbikes made music, it would sound like this. When the Swedish rockers nailed this monster-banger, they knew everything was going to be fine with their next album, . You can see why. Part nuclear-grade disco boogie, part biting hard rock riff-fest – with a Beastie Boys detour in the bridge – you wouldn’t want to be the band following it up on a festival line-up. One debut album, so many bangers, but we’re including Automatic here for it’s ultra-hooky, air guitar-friendly properties. Feeling a little lethargic? Need a firm but loving kick up the arse? Crank this guy up, dance, and get shit done. They only formed in lockdown, but these Brits rock with the swaggering panache of a much more long-in-the-tooth bunch. If you like and The Black Crowes – and miss the retro revivalism of The Temperance Movement – you need this. Given that syncing all four diaries for BCC is seemingly harder than solving a Rubik’s Cube, the music had better be worth it – and this squelch-funk cousin to Led Zep’s struck up the campaign in style. Jason Isbell will be lucky to get his sideman back: this year’s album revealed a singer-songwriter who deserves his own spotlight, and Vaden’s take on (The Whigs curio, not the Bee Gees standard) sums up the album’s golden crunch. A visceral blues strut and V-sign wafted at the early doubters, toasts the Portsmouth band’s first half-decade and manifests their world domination. ‘Don’t you push me down,’ co-holler Lindsey Bonnick and Chloe Josephine, ‘you’d better believe I’m sticking around’. It turns out Herefordshire’s blues cowboy is very good at goodbyes, using the admittedly hackneyed set-up of a toxic relationship to deploy his nastiest fuzz pedals and most stinging slide licks. Stick around for the enjoyably wonky guitar solo. Over summer, the Lovell sisters trailed next year’s with a song they billed as “a rumination on the duality of the human experience”. In practice, is more hips than head, driven by levee-breaking beats and a capella vocals that you feel in your bones. If The Streets’ Mike Skinner – an old friend from the Black Country – fronted an apocalyptic blues band, the result might sound like Big Special’s breakthrough tune, where seismic beats and howls of the damned collide with Brummie gallows humour. Greta Valenti, Robin Davey and co. have gone down various musical rabbit holes over the years. On this single from the brilliant album they’re just here for a good time – a really good time, complete with pounding keyboards, Time Warp-esque energy levels and a melody you can’t help but sing along to. The former Purson mastermind’s latest solo album was made entirely in her own studio. Based on this exhilarating, ambitious highlight, we’d say it gave her the space to make the psychedelic tour de force she’s long had in her. Sumptuous, clever yet catchy stuff. Our favourite track from the rising Brighton stars’ excellent , this is retro fodder of the highest order, with a groove as thick as an anaconda – wrapped in vintage paisley scarves. It’s not difficult to picture them opening for Rival Sons, which they did earlier this year. The Canadian five-piece kick off their EP with this “good old-fashioned dumb rock song” – a 70s glam-stomping delight with Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young in its lungs and cowboy boots on its feet. If you don’t like it, you’re probably reading the wrong magazine. After 14 years and about 500 studio albums (okay, fine, 26; maths was never our strong point) the Melbourne psych rockers knocked out one of their juiciest singles yet, in the form of this stompy, fuzzy marriage of 70s glam, gang vocals and Frank Zappa-esque missives about adrenaline rushes, recreational gravedigging, Evel Knievel and more. Hot off the Midlands rockers’ new album , Merry-Go-Round capitalises on their influences (The Sweet, T.Rex, Suzi Quatro...) but stands on its own mega-riffed, platform-booted feet – taking a dreamlike detour into Prog Land with a flute solo and some tasty keyboard wizardry. Nice. The Brooklyn brother duo keep on delivering (and improving, even) with this glowing humdinger of an ear worm. Warm, funky and immaculately harmonised, like a Day-Glo dreamscape lined with palm trees and roller-discos. Dangerously addictive. Still daft as a brush when you hold out a dictaphone, but rapidly growing a social conscience on record, the Lancaster band’s seventh album peaked with this glistening power ballad, urging the countless men at the end of their rope to reach out, not check out. The best track on these Peterborough rockers’ new album is also one of their best overall – a stirring embodiment of the big, bittersweet melodies and classy rock tones they do so well, lyrically drawing from dark personal times for singer/guitarist David James Smith (much of which comes from his decision to quit drinking). Once a lost soul – and still prone to wobbles – Hart’s redemptive relationship with her road manager inspired this orchestral ballad. Sung by anyone else it might sound trite, but Hart has earned the sentiment, and it’s quite a thing to hear her life-ravaged roar among the strings. Listening to this in light of the band’s drummer Brit Turner’s death this year (not to mention, more recently, of their longtime British publicist Michelle Kerr) gives this gorgeous acoustic-based ballad an extra level of poignancy. A tender evocation of the hope and heartache endemic in life on this mortal coil. Nudged from his comfort zone by producer , the South Carolina guitarist sounds markedly different on his third album . Heartsick ballad bridges the old and the new, offering the albums’s only long-form virtuoso solo. This Canadian rock’n’soul collective give the Tedeschi Trucks Band a run for their money on , not least thanks to Meghan Parnell’s gorgeously rich, honeyed vocals that sound imbued with the nuances and yearning that make Susan Tedeschi such a force. Since parting ways with reggae-rockers Lionize, frontman Nate Bergman has come into his own as a singer and songwriter of real class. On he hits the sort of notes and storytelling beats that say ‘Sam Cooke’ and ‘Bruce Springsteen’, often in the same breath. One to watch. The British rockers’ debut gets off to a raring start with this raw-throated yet fiercely melodic headbanger, a whirlwind of 90s grunge, early and vibes. Exhilarating, breakneck stuff with a brooding heart. The Macclesfield duo evoke the raw power and T-bone steak riffage of their debut, wrapped in one of 2024’s most incendiary cries of despair. The voice of a troubled heart, reflecting a generation left behind with more fire and eloquence than almost any of their peers manage. These Aussie punk/pub rock big-hitters are at their smartest, funniest and fiercest on , taking aim at singer Amy Taylor’s more brain-dead critics. Plus that bass line is one of the fattest, grooviest things we’ve heard all year. From an album full of absurdly catchy, punk-sized singles, l has that marriage of sugar and human yearning present in all the best powerpop songs. Slightly longer than the average Bad Nerves choon (but still compact), it burrows its way into your heart and stays there. In a parallel universe, we’re all 21 again, losing our inhibitions at the world’s coolest house party, and is the soundtrack. Built on a woozy yet pounding one-note guitar hook, it’ll make you feel drunk in a sexy way just by listening to it. Fresh from their justifiably lauded latest album is the thrusting, insistent sound of these alt.rock heroes refusing to compromise standards or rest on their laurels. So much more than anyone had a right to expect, 26 years on from their last studio release. One of these British progressive stalwarts’ most commanding singles yet, (taken from the excellent ) balances straight-up rocking with deft electronics, complex beats and Bruce Soord’s fragile yet warm, penetrative tenor. Everyone knows That David Gilmour can do the spacey, reverb-soaked guitar stuff in his sleep, but it’s good to hear him get a little down ’n’ dirty on this solo album highlight, which opens with a squeal of feedback and references a ‘night of hard drinking and ecstacy’. Back in 2017 these progressive mavericks from Leeds wowed us with their self-titled debut. Now they’re back with a harder-hitting energy, psychedelic ambiance and flashes of noodly dexterity on this standout banger from their new album Onism. Big and clever. By turns wistful, dreamlike and beautifully strange, tender vignette was the first thing we heard from Bowness’s boundary-blasting new record – at London’s Hope & Anchor, ahead of its release this year. Quietly heartbreaking, spine-tingling stuff. Hackett has a vivid take on the 1950s London of his youth, and this standout from leads us through an evocative soundscape where sirens wail, babies cry, radios crackle and shady figures emerge through pea-soup fog. It’s like a time machine with added shredding. After the sudden death of their frontman David Longdon in 2021, these Brit progressives’ future was thrown into question. Now that future looks bright; they honour the pastoral sensibilities of their past and begin a new chapter on this epic ode to founder Greg Spawton’s childhood home town, and the heartbreaking truths of mortality. Few singers manage to sound sweet and chilling in the way that Iamthemorning’s Marjana Semkina does. Teamed up with Caligula’s Horse vocalist Jim Grey, the dark folk/prog songstress creates a cutglass, Tori Amos-infused spiral of pastoral warmth and haunted dreams on this highlight from her latest solo album. Classic Rock is the online home of the world's best rock'n'roll magazine. We bring you breaking news, exclusive interviews and behind-the-scenes features, as well as unrivalled access to the biggest names in rock music; from Led Zeppelin to Deep Purple, Guns N’ Roses to the Rolling Stones, AC/DC to the Sex Pistols, and everything in between. Our expert writers bring you the very best on established and emerging bands plus everything you need to know about the mightiest new music releases.

Michelle Klein , Chief Customer and Marketing Officer of IAG, prides herself and her team on “doing the basics brilliantly” while providing an innovative experience for customers. Speaking to Nine CMO Liana Dubois on the latest episode of the Talking Media podcast , Klein said: “The experience and expectations a customer is looking for in your brand or business to deliver are usually quite straightforward.” She noted that customers want clear information and the ability to trust that a brand or company will deliver on its promises and provide excellent service. Klein explained that the relationship with customers is an “ongoing exchange and interaction” and built a picture of customer expectations as an escalator. “Just as you think you’ve defined the ultimate experience for a customer in your category, something changes in technology or the world that then makes that expectation go one step up on the escalator. “Now you can book a taxi on your phone, you can see the world’s greatest hotel network in Airbnb on one single app and easily live in somebody’s house without having to ever meet them. Even though we’re in insurance, those expectations of the experience apply. “We’ve got to start by fundamentally looking at what we do, what we say we’re going to deliver and do it really, really well.” Dubois acknowledged customer service “is a 24/7 job” and every touch point and engagement contributes to the consumer’s experience of a brand. Klein agreed and noted that consumers now have greater access to businesses through innovative tech and social media channels where customers can share feedback and frustrations. She said: “It’s trying to think about the life of the customer that’s 24/7 and also digitalised, so adapting your business model delivery towards that is so important. Dubois pointed out that, unlike her category of media and content, “insurance is low interest until it’s high emotion.” Klein agreed and emphasised the importance of the human touch for customer experience in the insurance category. She noted that insurance can be a “set and forget”, “transactional and rational” purchase until it is needed, which pivots the customer experience to a human and highly emotive one. “I’ve been talking about this quite a lot lately, the conversation around AI and AI-enabling and simplifying and making things more efficient and effective. In those moments, that’s really where you want to speak to a human being. You don’t want to talk to a chatbot.” Dubois asked Klein about finding the balance and boundary between leveraging data effectively and efficiently to create personalised experiences while being mindful of privacy legislation, particularly as an insurance company. “If people understand why you’re collecting their information and how it’s going to make it better for them, ultimately it’s easier for them to want to give it over to you,” Klein said. She noted filling out forms and saving the information so that it is pre-filled for next time, as an example. She also cited being upfront and transparent about why this information is being collected, and positioning some of the marketing consent as a benefit, like being informed of special offers or new products. “I think it’s really important to create the usefulness around data collection and the privacy standards that you are living up to. It’s also about making sure that people understand that a personalised experience is the expectations escalator. “When you use Netflix, Apple Music, Amazon, it’s highly personalised to you, and therefore, if you can look at your business and say, well, how might we explain why personalisation in our business is more impactful for the customer experience, you create that net positive, and that exchange becomes more valuable.” Dubois and Klein also discussed transparently and authentically showing up for consumers, referencing NRMA Insurance’s broadcast partnership with Nine of the Olympic and Paralympic Games. – Top image: Michelle Klein

None( MENAFN - Caribbean News Global) KINGSTON, St Vincent – The long-term agreement, signed by the president of Cricket West Indies, Dr Kishore Shallow, and the co-founder, chairman and CEO of the CAGE Companies, Robert B. Washington, which strategic alliance was unanimously endorsed by the CARICOM Prime Ministerial Sub Committee on Cricket (“PMSC”); several other prime ministers were present during the PMSC meeting in Guyana and offered their endorsement of the proposed CWI/CAGE agreement. Commenting on the unprecedented deal, president Shallow expressed: “This agreement is the culmination of extensive dialogue and strategic planning to secure the future of West Indies Cricket. We have been deliberate in our approach, engaging stakeholders at various levels, including discussions with the CARICOM Prime Ministerial Subcommittee on Cricket, to ensure the broadest consultation on such a pivotal agreement.” He further added:“The resources generated through this collaboration will not only empower the development of our men's and women's teams, but also strengthen the cricketing ecosystem across the region. The strategic alliance reflects our shared commitment to rebuilding West Indies Cricket as a global powerhouse and a unifying force for the Caribbean. Community.” Caribbean CAGE is the premier route operator of video lottery and video gaming terminals and licensed sports betting in the Caribbean and recently launched sports betting operations in Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Guyana, Saint Lucia and Puerto Rico. Co-founder and majority shareholder of the CAGE Companies, Robert L. Johnson, stated: “CAGE is elated to be a part of an arrangement that goes way beyond the development of a game. This agreement will go a long way to positively altering the lives of the people of the region, creating greater socio-economic opportunities for all citizens through the game of cricket, which has long been recognized as the region's metaphor for development. Cricket has brought great glory and recognition to the people of the region, but by so doing it has also created a platform for positive development that this pact fortifies. But more importantly, the CARICOM countries in which we operate will also benefit financially from legalized gaming revenue that will increase their ability to support additional educational, sporting, and cultural activities for their citizens.” The Caribbean CAGE chief executive officer, Bob Washington, who has worked in the region for the past 40 years with various Caribbean governments, sporting organizations, and private sector commercial entities in the region, also expressed“his satisfaction with the agreement” and spoke of the“confidence he had in the groundbreaking deal.” CEO Washington also stated that“West Indies Cricket, through this tripartite agreement and understanding, would go a long way to once again ruling the cricketing world.” CEO Bob Washington concluded: “The novel deal and technological first in Sports Betting and iGaming for the region, will aid and assist the region in eliminating the large unlicensed operator markets who take bets and pay prizes in the Caribbean Community without being properly licensed or paying taxes or gaming license fees to the governments of the Caribbean Community.” The Sports Betting, Virtual Sports and iGaming games and operations contemplated under this agreement commence from 01 April 2025 and based on forecasted revenues could be the single largest commercial agreement signed by Cricket West Indies. The post Cricket West Indies and Caribbean Cage signs landmark agreement projected to generate 100M for cricket development in the Caribbean appeared first on Caribbean News Global . MENAFN22122024000232011072ID1109021861 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.

Chinese Defense Minister Rebuffs Austin's Request For Military Talks Over Taiwan Support

Apple is working on a new smart doorbell camera that will use Face ID technology to unlock doors, This is according to a report by Bloomberg, the device could be released by the end of 2025 and will bring Apple’s biometric security system to the front door, offering seamless access to users. The upcoming smart doorbell camera will function similarly to Face ID on Apple’s iPhones. Related Stories DR Congo files criminal case against Apple over alleged Illegal mineral exploitation Apple to introduce satellite communications to smartwatch by 2025 The device will automatically unlock the door when it detects the face of a resident, providing a secure and hands-free entry system. The camera will include Apple’s Secure Enclave chip, which will securely store and process Face ID data separately from the rest of the device’s hardware, ensuring user privacy and security. The new camera is expected to work with existing third-party HomeKit smart locks, allowing for easy integration into current smart home setups. Apple may also partner with a smart lock company to offer a complete system from the outset, providing users with a fully integrated security solution. This smart doorbell camera is part of Apple’s larger strategy to expand its footprint in the smart home market. The report also mentions that Apple is working on additional smart home devices, including a new security camera expected in 2026, and smart displays. These displays may include an iPad-like device that can magnetically attach to wall mounts or speaker bases, as well as a more advanced display mounted on a robotic arm. Apple is reportedly developing a new Wi-Fi/Bluetooth chip called “Proxima,” which is expected to feature in upcoming devices like the HomePod Mini and Apple TV in 2025. This chip is expected to enhance connectivity and performance, supporting Apple’s broader vision for the smart home ecosystem. With these developments, Apple is positioning itself as a key player in the smart home market, offering secure, integrated solutions that enhance user convenience and privacy. Nairametrics reported that Apple is set to introduce satellite connectivity and blood pressure monitoring in its Apple Watch lineup by 2025. Satellite connectivity: The 2025 Apple Watch Ultra will feature satellite communication, allowing users to send messages without cellular or internet connections, especially in areas with no network coverage. This expands Apple’s emergency communication capabilities. Blood pressure monitoring: Apple is also working on a blood pressure monitoring feature, enabling users to track their cardiovascular health in real-time, a significant advancement in wearable health technology.When speaking at the New York Times ’ DealBook Summit on Wednesday, Alex Cooper of Call Her Daddy said that while she “didn’t want to technically get into politics,” she recognized “there was a larger conversation that was directly impacting my audience.” Cooper confirmed that both President-elect Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris ‘ teams reached out before the election. “We had a Zoom call with Trump’s team,” said the host. “I wasn’t on it. I was like, ‘Let me know how it goes.'” The podcaster explained that the possibility of venturing into politics sparked her interest as she’s a “very competitive person.” “I’m like, how do we keep ramping this up?” she continued. “Joe Rogan has a conversation. He knows his audience. I know my audience, and it’s a bunch of women looking for someone to advocate for them every single day.” Ultimately, Cooper interviewed the Democratic presidential nominee in an episode that aired in October. During their conversation, Harris and Cooper discussed women’s rights, the overturning of Roe v. Wade , and abortion bans. And while Cooper acknowledged the pushback from some of her audience when discussing abortion, the host doubled down on her decision during the summit. “I understand people are like, ‘Oh God, you’re gonna focus the whole time on abortion.’ Yeah, I am. Because it’s not about abortion, it’s about women’s rights to their body.” She added, “I thought, ‘Why not have on someone that could potentially have a huge impact on our country?'” Cooper’s remarks on Wednesday echoed her thoughts prior to her discussion with Harris. In the intro before the Call Her Daddy episode, Cooper said that she “went back and forth” on whether or not to address politics or have politicians on her podcast, but concluded she felt “the conversation I know I’m qualified to have is the one surrounding women’s bodies and how we are treated and valued in this country.” She also made it clear that it wasn’t a “one-sided conversation,” and that if Trump was willing “to have a meaningful, in-depth conversation about women’s rights in this country,” he would be “welcome on Call Her Daddy anytime.”

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