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NoneGary Lineker has brutally told Micah Richards he will not be replacing him as the presenter of Match of the Day . It was announced earlier this month that Lineker would be stepping down at the end of the season after 25 years. Since the news emerged, a number of names have been linked with the role, including experienced presenters Mark Chapman , Gabby Logan , Alex Scott and Kelly Somers . Several ex-footballers have also been mooted as potential replacements, including current Match of the Day pundits Richards and Alan Shearer . Richards and Shearer also appear alongside Lineker on The Rest Is Football podcast and the trio have regularly discussed the future of the show. On a recent episode, Richards attempted to rule himself out of the running to replace Lineker and was hilariously shut down by the former England striker. "You know what, can I just get this out there, right," Richards began. "When people are saying Micah Richards is potentially going to take over a presenter, I think it's a massive disrespect to all the presenters out there. There's so many talented people. Just because I'm a pundit, I can give insight to a player, I feel I know the game, I watch tactics. "But to take over presenting one of the most iconic shows, not just in sport, but that BBC's ever had? There's so many others they can pick over me, I just can't believe they would even put my name in the hat." Lineker then jokingly replied: "Micah, you can totally relax. I can assure you they won't be asking you." Lineker has also refused to give his thoughts on who he feels should replace him, but he has shared some advice for his future successor. "Obviously, I don't know who it'll be, and I would never tell publicly my preference," he said. "I don't think that’d be the right thing to do – but whoever it is, I would say be yourself. I had to fill the ginormous shoes of certain Des Lynam. I would say just be yourself and enjoy it, it's a wonderful programme to be a part of. It was brilliant before I took over, and it will be brilliant after I leave." Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. Sky has slashed the price of its Sky Sports, Sky Stream, Sky TV and Netflix bundle in an unbeatable new deal that saves £240 and includes 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more.

Round-the-clock aerial surveillance, drug detection fuel beefed-up border plan

French Prime Minister Michel Barnier faces a critical vote of no confidence tomorrow (Dec. 4) after invoking Article 49.3 to pass a controversial 2025 austerity budget without parliamentary approval . The move, designed to address France's soaring deficit with $42 billion in spending cuts and $21 billion in tax hikes, has polarized the fractured National Assembly. Marine Le Pen 's National Rally and the leftist New Popular Front have united in opposition, calling for Barnier's ouster. In on interview on TV today, Barnier warned that if the motion succeeds, millions of French citizens could face economic instability, including rising interest rates and tax hikes, per the Guardian. A failure to secure support would result in Barnier's government being the shortest-lived in modern French history, he only took office in September, further destabilizing the eurozone. President Emmanuel Macron would then need to appoint a new prime minister to navigate the deeply divided parliament . France has often been a volatile market for foreign companies, but its size, manpower, favorable geographical position, and pole position in global tourism have made it a lucrative economy. The following publicly listed companies have exposure to the French economy. McDonald's MCD has been operating in France since 1972. Since then, it has grown into a network of 1,485 restaurants — the most in Europe — generating billions in revenue. However, the franchise got caught evading taxes after a trade union asked the company to raise wages and introduce profit-sharing bonuses. Eventually, the firm paid a $1.3 billion fine . Walt Disney Co. DIS opened its resort in Paris in 1992, growing it into one of the top attractions in Europe. Around 16.1 million tourists visited the park in 2023, generating $343 million in profits. The park is the largest single-site employer in the country, with 17,000 workers — making it prone to strikes that last occurred in 2023. Despite its popularity, the park has been a problematic part of Disney's portfolio and is often a drain on its resources. IBM IBM has a long-standing relationship with France as one of the IT pioneers that expanded overseas seeking foreign talent. Nowadays, IBM has over 7,000 employees in the country, working on technology services, cloud computing, AI and digital transformation solutions for businesses. Carmaker Stellantis NV STLA has a vital presence in the country, owing to its origins in the French PSA Group. It is the fourth largest automotive firm by sales, managing established brands like Citroen , Peugeot and DS Automobiles . Stellantis currently has five operating factories in different regions, producing at least 14 different models. For investors monitoring broad exposure to domestically incorporated French companies there is iShares MSCI France ETF EWQ . It holds 60 largest French companies, including market leaders such as LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton SE LVMUY , Schneider Electric , TotalEnergies SE TTE and Airbus SE EADSY . Read Next: • South Korea ETFs, Won Pare Losses As Yoon Makes U-Turn On Martial Law Declaration Photo: Shutterstock © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.( MENAFN - media OutReach Newswire) BANGKOK, THAILAND - Media OutReach Newswire – 18 December 2024 - At the ACES Awards 2024, the Philippines stepped into the spotlight with a remarkable ensemble of leaders and organizations honored for their transformative impact on sustainability, innovation, and community development. With 138 nominations among 682 entries spanning 17 countries, the Philippines is solidifying its position as a driving force in Asia, reflecting a dedication to inclusive growth, forward-thinking solutions, and global relevance. Recognising Leadership Excellence: 59 outstanding business leaders and enterprises were awarded for their exemplary leadership, on day 1 of the ACES Awards 2024, setting new benchmarks in innovation, governance, and corporate responsibility. This spirit of progress is exemplified in education, where Rex Wallen Tan of Southville International School and Colleges was recognized as one of Asia's Most Admirable Young Leaders. By pioneering the Virtual Online Learning & Teaching (VOLT) program, Tan ensured uninterrupted education for thousands of students, transforming national learning standards and sharpening the country's global competitiveness in English proficiency. Honouring Excellence in Sustainability: 34 visionary companies and businesses were celebrated on day 2 of the ACES Awards, for their remarkable commitment to championing sustainability, driving meaningful impact across Asia at the ACES Awards 2024. Technological advancement and environmental stewardship emerge as key themes. POWER 4 ALL, Inc., named the Innovative Tech Company of the Year, has revolutionized water and renewable energy access through Asia's first Direct Potable Water Re-Use Facility and the Philippines' first Modular Packaged Water Treatment Plant. Likewise, First Oceanic Property Management, Inc. (FOPM) secured its spot as one of Asia's Leading SMEs by blending property management with fintech and advanced digital solutions, enhancing efficiency and global reach. In the financial sector, Home Credit Philippines claimed the Industry Champions of the Year accolade by nurturing financial inclusion and sustainability. Asialink Finance Corporation's success as Asia's Best Performing Company demonstrates how bridging gaps in access to credit can empower underserved communities and propel economic resilience. Globe Telecom, Inc. added to the Philippines' laurels as both a Top Workplace in Asia and an Industry Champion of the Year, underscoring its commitment to employee well-being, digital inclusion, and climate responsibility. Foundever® Philippines Corporation, honored for both Asia's Most Inspiring Executives and Top Community Centric Companies, embodies the power of people-first leadership, inclusivity, and renewable energy initiatives. Together, these visionary leaders and enterprises illustrate the Philippines' unwavering drive to advance society through education, technology, financial empowerment, inclusive workplaces, and sustainable innovation. Their collective achievements at the ACES Awards 2024 are not only a testament to national excellence, but also a beacon guiding Asia toward a more equitable, prosperous, and sustainably vibrant future. MENAFN17122024003551001712ID1109005180 Legal Disclaimer: MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. 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Can Colombia’s talks with the Comuneros del Sur help achieve ‘total peace’? During his inauguration in August 2022, Gustavo Petro, a former guerrilla and Colombia’s first leftist president , told a crowd of 100,000 onlookers that, while the country has struggled with internal conflict for over half a century, peace was possible. “This is the government of life and peace,” he said at the time. “It shall be remembered as such.” Now, just over halfway through his four-year term, President Petro’s “Total Peace” strategy — which created legal pathways for the government to negotiate with Colombia’s armed groups — has stalled. Ceasefires have been broken, security conditions have fluctuated and, in some rural areas, kidnapping and extortion rates are on the rise . In fact, during the first year of the Total Peace policy, 189 social leaders were murdered and 94 massacres were documented, according to the Institute of Studies for Development and Peace (INDEPAZ). But government negotiators are pointing to a degree of success with one armed group, the Comuneros del Sur. They believe the negotiating tactics forged with the Comuneros could serve as an example of how to reinvigorate talks with other armed actors. Some experts, however, caution that the gains made with the Comuneros may be short-lived — and that the tactics that work with one group may not be applicable to all. Who are the Comuneros? Established in 1992, the Comuneros del Sur formed as a regional extension of Colombia’s largest Marxist rebel group, the National Liberation Army (ELN). The group operates in the southwestern department of Nariño, near the border with Ecuador, where they have maintained territorial control over as many as 10 municipalities. Approximately 200 fighters make up the Comuneros’ ranks, and they have historically funded their operations through extortion, drug trafficking and illegal mining. In May, the Comuneros announced their rupture from the ELN after the larger group said it would resume kidnapping for ransom, a source of its profits. That, in turn, caused peace talks between the ELN and the government to falter. “We have decided to split from the central command because we do not accept the policy of aggression and the current model of leadership,” the Comuneros stated at the time. The Comuneros emphasised their willingness to engage with the government, separate from ELN leadership. “We remain committed to the negotiation process between the Comuneros del Sur and the national government under the Total Peace policy of President Gustavo Petro,” they wrote in their statement. After an initial meeting in July, government delegates and the Comuneros established a working plan for negotiations, and in August, Colombia’s Security Council recognised the rebel group as independent, paving the way for negotiations. The peace talks with the Comuneros, which officially began on September 13, focus on three agreed-upon areas: the de-escalation of violence, territorial transformation and transitioning armed fighters to civilian life. Exploring a territorial approach Andrei Gómez-Suárez, a delegate for the Colombian government in the negotiations, credits the concept of territorial transformation — or “territorialising” — with allowing strides to be made. Colombia is a country with vast socioeconomic divides. A 2014 report by the OECD found regional inequalities in Colombia were five times higher than in the United States or Canada, and 42 times higher than in Australia. Much of the country’s population is concentrated in dense, urban centres, but nearly two-thirds of its provinces, including Nariño, are largely rural. With terrain that ranges from Andean mountains to thick rainforests and coastal mangroves, each province has unique demands and pressures. Gómez-Suárez explained that working specifically with the Comuneros gave the Colombian government the opportunity to tailor their negotiations to specific, place-based needs. “This is the first effort, after the commitment to Total Peace began, in which we have explored what territorialising peace entails,” Gómez-Suárez said while sipping Earl Grey tea in front of a huge bookcase inside his Edinburgh apartment. He has been travelling back and forth from the Scottish capital to the mountains of Nariño since July, juggling his role as a chief negotiator with his position as a visiting scholar at the University of Edinburgh. Gómez-Suárez considers the “territorialising” of the peace process “innovative” because it draws on the participation of many stakeholders. It brings local politicians, Indigenous leaders and regional armed fighters into dialogue with their national government. “If we don’t work together, transforming this territory will be impossible,” Gómez-Suárez said. This grassroots approach is something Petro’s government is betting on to achieve nationwide peace in Colombia. In July, Petro told the United Nations Security Council, “We don’t have a national conflict but have regional conflicts in the same geographical areas as they have been for many decades.” Signs of optimism For Gómez-Suárez, if Colombia’s conflict is regional, then the solution should be too. He draws a contrast between his approach to the Comuneros and the way the Colombian government previously negotiated peace with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), once the largest rebel group in the country. In 2016, under then-President Juan Manuel Santos, Colombia signed a historic peace deal with the FARC that promised rural reforms and development in exchange for the nationwide demobilisation of the group’s fighters. The negotiations that led up to the deal, however, were fraught — and some parts of the FARC splintered off into dissident groups rather than agree to the terms. Gómez-Suárez argued his region-specific approach could be more efficient. “With previous agreements, namely that with the FARC guerrillas, there was this idea that nothing is set until everything is agreed, which implied that the parties would only begin implementation after a final document was signed,” Gómez-Suárez said. “Our case is impressive because sometimes we have even implemented before agreements are formally reached.” He pointed out that the Comuneros proposed a unilateral ceasefire even before their first meeting with the government’s delegates, as a sign of good faith. Since then, the parties have signed two agreements and plan to begin the Comuneros’ transition to civilian life before the next presidential elections in 2026. The first agreement comprises four points, including a definitive bilateral ceasefire, the gradual destruction of the group’s weapons and a collaborative programme to remove land mines throughout Nariño. The second establishes safety guarantees for the Red Cross, a humanitarian nonprofit, to operate in the Comuneros’ territory. In addition, the deal calls for the creation of a team composed of Comuneros members who will be trained and tasked with searching for people who have gone missing during the conflict. In return, the government has pledged funding for constructing roads, aqueducts, schools and universities in the territory, to help address poverty and infrastructure shortcomings in Nariño. A permanent solution? But some conflict monitors caution against interpreting these short-term gains as signs of long-term success. Jeremy McDermott, co-director of the organised crime monitoring group InsightCrime, said the Comuneros may be willing to negotiate with the Petro government simply because their political views align. “The Comuneros del Sur do not want to change the political system. Therefore, the negotiations are infinitely more feasible,” McDermott told Al Jazeera. That does not necessarily indicate the Comuneros are willing to lay down their arms forever, McDermott added, underscoring the political nature of their fight. One of the looming questions is what happens when Petro leaves office in two years: Colombian presidents are currently limited to a single term. McDermott anticipates that, because Petro has failed to deliver on a number of key policy issues, Colombia could see the return of a right-wing government in 2026. That may spur the Comuneros to abandon peace negotiations and continue their fight. “The question is: Under what framework will the Comuneros del Sur negotiate? Is it truly demobilisation?” McDermott asked. He added that this kind of reversal had happened before. In 2018, for instance, Ivan Duque replaced Santos as Colombia’s president, and peace talks sputtered under his administration, despite the historic gains made in 2016. “So, the issue of whether these negotiations would continue and survive, and under what terms, are very much open for debate,” McDermott said. Fractured fighters Further complicating negotiations is the fragmented nature of the armed groups in Colombia. Since 2016, multiple FARC dissident factions, including the Central General Staff (EMC), have re-armed and control territory in the country. Other armed groups like the ELN and the Gaitanist Self-Defense Forces of Colombia (AGC) have filled the power vacuum left in some formerly FARC-controlled regions. The case of the Comuneros, too, prompts questions about the efficiency of negotiating with armed groups prone to internal fragmentation. After all, it only recently splintered off from a larger group itself. Sergio Guzmán, the director of the consulting firm Colombia Risk Analysis, views this fragmentation as a warning sign. “The government might think that dividing groups will make it easier to negotiate peace, but I think it makes it more complicated because it means more agreements and more points to overview and implement,” Guzmán told Al Jazeera. He added that, while the government has been able to “stop the confrontations between the illegal groups and the army”, they haven’t been able to stop the “clashes between the groups themselves”. Already, the government's negotiations with the Comuneros have raised tensions with the ELN. Following the Comuneros’ split from the ELN in May, the larger group denounced the government talks with the Comuneros. It said the new negotiations were established to pressure the ELN to continue its own talks with the government. On November 7, the government and ELN announced they would indeed resume peace talks in Venezuela. Interconnected negotiations Although the negotiations with the Comuneros focus on bringing peace to a relatively small portion of Colombia — 10 municipalities in Nariño — Gómez-Suárez hopes their early success may influence peace talks with other armed groups, too. Currently, nine negotiations are under way between the government and major armed groups like the ELN and the AGC. “I have heard that the talks with the Comuneros have had a positive impact on other [negotiations] that were stagnant and are now picking up speed again,” Gómez-Suárez said. “This has injected a dose of urgency, but it is something that [was] not calculated at the start of the peace dialogues.” For some analysts, the talks with the Comuneros are among the most promising in the current context of Colombia's armed conflict. Daniel Medina, a research associate at the Institute for Integrated Transitions, a Barcelona-based think tank, believes achieving peace with the Comuneros could be attainable during President Petro’s term. “It is not a secret that, in the context of an open and complex peace, the negotiation with the Comuneros del Sur could be the most advanced one in terms of signed agreements, and might be the only one to achieve a final deal in the next two years,” said Medina. He too believes the outcome of one peace talk could shape the outcome of the others, for better or worse. Failure to follow through on a given deal could be a setback for all the negotiations. “Both the nine negotiations and the 2016 peace agreement implementation are interdependent because the lack of implementation or stagnation of one could impact the others,” Medina told Al Jazeera. But to tackle the wider problem of Colombia’s armed conflict, Gómez-Suárez is doubling down on his smaller-scale “territorial” approach. “Peace does not wait for a final agreement,” he said. “We cannot allow the window of opportunity [for peace] to close because the government owes this to the communities. The government bets on territorial peace, and at this moment, the opportunity is there.”December 17, 2024 This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlightedthe following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: fact-checked peer-reviewed publication trusted source proofread by Dresden University of Technology Superbugs, bacteria that are immune to multiple antibiotics, pose a great challenge to modern medicine. Researchers from the B CUBE—Center for Molecular Bioengineering at TUD Dresden University of Technology and Institut Pasteur in Paris identified a weakness in the bacterial machinery that drives antibiotic resistance adaptation. Their findings, published in the journal Science Advances, could pave the way to boosting the effectiveness of existing antibiotics. Since the discovery of penicillin in 1928, antibiotics have changed medicine, allowing us to easily combat bacterial infections. However, with the invention of antibiotics, we have also entered a never-ending arms race with bacteria. They adapt rapidly to drugs, rendering many existing treatments ineffective. Such antibiotic-resistant bacteria, often dubbed "superbugs," pose a critical threat to patients with chronic illnesses and weakened immune systems. "Rather than developing new antibiotics , we wanted to understand exactly how bacteria adapt their resistances," says Prof. Michael Schlierf, research group leader at B CUBE, TU Dresden, the leader of the study. In doing so, the groups discovered why it takes longer for some bacteria to develop antibiotic resistance , while others adapt very quickly. Their findings open up new possibilities for the development of counter-strategies. A genetic toolbox in action "Our work focuses on the integron system, a genetic toolbox that bacteria use to adapt to their environment by exchanging genes, including those for antibiotic resistance," says Prof. Didier Mazel, research group leader at Institut Pasteur in Paris, whose group worked together with the Schlierf team. The integron system is like a toolbox. It allows bacteria to store and share resistance genes with their offspring and neighboring cells. It operates via a molecular "cut and paste" mechanism driven by special proteins, known as recombinases. The integron system has been researched a lot. Some bacteria gain new resistance very fast and for others, it takes considerably longer. It turned out that the variety of DNA sequences is at the heart of this difference. "The sequences inside the integron system are flanked by special DNA hairpins. They are called like this because this is exactly how they look like, like little U-shaped pins sticking out of the DNA. The recombinases are built to bind to these hairpins and form a complex that can then cut out one fragment and paste in another one," explains Prof. Mazel. The Schlierf group used a cutting-edge microscopy setup to study how strongly a recombinase protein binds the different DNA hairpin sequences. They found that the complexes with the strongest binding between the protein and the DNA are also the ones that are the most efficient at gaining resistance genes. Using the force Using an advanced microscopy technique known as optical tweezers , the Schlierf group measured the tiny forces it takes to pull the different protein-DNA complexes apart. "With the optical tweezers, we use light to, sort of, grab a single strand of DNA from both sides and pull it apart. Think of it as pulling on a cord to undo a knot," says Dr. Ekaterina Vorobevskaia, a scientist in the Schlierf lab who carried out the project. The group saw a clear correlation between the force it took to dismantle a protein-DNA complex and the efficiency of the cut-and-paste machinery. "If you have a complex that is strongly bound to the DNA, it can perform its job very well. Cut the DNA and paste a new resistance gene very fast. On the other hand, if you have a protein-DNA complex that is rather weak and keeps falling apart, it has to be reassembled again and again. This is why some bacteria gain antibiotic resistance faster than others," adds Dr. Vorobevskaia. Exploiting the weakness "The integron system has been studied by microbiologists for decades. What we bring to the table now is adding the biophysical data and explaining the behavior of this system with physics," says Prof. Schlierf. "Maybe this vulnerability to force is a more general phenomena for varying efficiencies in biology." The scientists believe that the weakness in the system can be used to develop supplemental treatments that will take advantage of, or create, the unstable DNA-protein complexes. It could accompany existing antibiotics and give them an additional time advantage over bacteria . More information: Ekaterina Vorobevskaia et al, The recombination efficiency of the bacterial integron depends on the mechanical stability of the synaptic complex, Science Advances (2024). DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adp8756 Journal information: Science Advances Provided by Dresden University of Technology

David Hilzenrath, Jodie Fleischer, Cox Media Group | (TNS) KFF Health News In March, newly installed Social Security chief Martin O’Malley criticized agency “injustices” that “shock our shared sense of equity and good conscience as Americans.” He promised to overhaul the Social Security Administration’s often heavy-handed efforts to claw back money that millions of recipients — including people who are living in poverty, are elderly, or have disabilities — were allegedly overpaid, as described by a KFF Health News and Cox Media Group investigation last year. “Innocent people can be badly hurt,” O’Malley said at the time. Nearly eight months since he appeared before Congress and announced a series of policy changes, and with two months left in his term, O’Malley’s effort to fix the system has made inroads but remains a work in progress. For instance, one change, moving away from withholding 100% of people’s monthly Social Security benefits to recover alleged overpayments, has been a major improvement, say advocates for beneficiaries. “It is a tremendous change,” said Kate Lang of Justice in Aging, who called it “life-changing for many people.” The number of people from whom the Social Security Administration was withholding full monthly benefits to recoup money declined sharply — from about 46,000 in January to about 7,000 in September, the agency said. Asked to clarify whether those numbers and others provided for this article covered all programs administered by the agency, the SSA press office did not respond. Another potentially significant change — relieving beneficiaries of having to prove that an overpayment was not their fault — has not been implemented. The agency said it is working on that. Meanwhile, the agency seems to be looking to Congress to take the lead on a change some observers see as crucial: limiting how far back the government can reach to recover an alleged overpayment. Barbara Hubbell of Watkins Glen, New York, called the absence of a statute of limitations “despicable.” Hubbell said her mother was held liable for $43,000 because of an SSA error going back 19 years. “In what universe is that even legal?” Hubbell said. Paying down the overpayment balance left her mother “essentially penniless,” she added. In response to questions for this article, Social Security spokesperson Mark Hinkle said legislation is “the best and fastest way” to set a time limit. Establishing a statute of limitations was not among the policy changes O’Malley announced in his March congressional testimony. In an interview at the time, he said he expected an announcement on it “within the next couple few months.” It could probably be done by regulation, without an act of Congress, he said. Speaking generally, Hinkle said the agency has “made substantial progress on overpayments,” reducing the hardship they cause, and “continues to work diligently” to update policies. The agency is underfunded, he added, is at a near 50-year low in staffing, and could do better with more employees. The SSA did not respond to requests for an interview with O’Malley. O’Malley announced the policy changes after KFF Health News and Cox Media Group jointly published and broadcast investigative reporting on the damage overpayments and clawbacks have done to millions of beneficiaries. When O’Malley, a former Democratic governor of Maryland, presented his plans to three congressional committees in March, lawmakers greeted him with rare bipartisan praise. But the past several months have shown how hard it can be to turn around a federal bureaucracy that is massive, complex, deeply dysfunctional, and, as it says, understaffed. Now O’Malley’s time may be running out. Lang of Justice in Aging, among the advocacy groups that have been meeting with O’Malley and other Social Security officials, said she appreciates how much the commissioner has achieved in a short time. But she added that O’Malley has “not been interested in hearing about our feelings that things have fallen short.” One long-standing policy O’Malley set out to change involves the burden of proof. When the Social Security Administration alleges someone has been overpaid and demands the money back, the burden is on the beneficiary to prove they were not at fault. Cecilia Malone, 24, a beneficiary in Lithonia, Georgia, said she and her parents spent hundreds of hours trying to get errors corrected. “Why is the burden on us to ‘prove’ we weren’t overpaid?” Malone said. It can be exceedingly difficult for beneficiaries to appeal a decision. The alleged overpayments, which can reach tens of thousands of dollars or more, often span years. And people struggling just to survive may have extra difficulty producing financial records from long ago. What’s more, in letters demanding repayment, the government does not typically spell out its case against the beneficiary — making it hard to mount a defense. Testifying before House and Senate committees in March, O’Malley promised to shift the burden of proof. “That should be on the agency,” he said. The agency expects to finalize “guidance” on the subject “in the coming months,” Hinkle said. The agency points to reduced wait times and other improvements in a phone system known to leave beneficiaries on hold. “In September, we answered calls to our national 800 number in an average of 11 minutes — a tremendous improvement from 42 minutes one year ago,” Hinkle said. Still, in response to a nonrepresentative survey by KFF Health News and Cox Media Group focused on overpayments, about half of respondents who said they contacted the agency by phone since April rated that experience as “poor,” and few rated it “good” or “excellent.” The survey was sent to about 600 people who had contacted KFF Health News to share their overpayment stories since September 2023. Almost 200 people answered the survey in September and October of this year. Most of those who said they contacted the agency by mail since April rated their experience as “poor.” Jennifer Campbell, 60, a beneficiary in Nelsonville, Ohio, said in late October that she was still waiting for someone at the agency to follow up as described during a phone call in May. “VERY POOR customer service!!!!!” Campbell wrote. “Nearly impossible to get a hold of someone,” wrote Kathryn Duff of Colorado Springs, Colorado, who has been helping a disabled family member. Letters from SSA have left Duff mystified. One was postmarked July 9, 2024, but dated more than two years earlier. Another, dated Aug. 18, 2024, said her family member was overpaid $31,635.80 in benefits from the Supplemental Security Income program, which provides money to people with little or no income or other resources who are disabled, blind, or at least 65. But Duff said her relative never received SSI benefits. What’s more, for the dates in question, payments listed in the letter to back up the agency’s math didn’t come close to $31,635.80; they totaled about a quarter of that amount. Regarding the 100% clawbacks, O’Malley in March said it’s “unconscionable that someone would find themselves facing homelessness or unable to pay bills, because Social Security withheld their entire payment for recovery of an overpayment.” He said that, starting March 25, if a beneficiary doesn’t respond to a new overpayment notice, the agency would default to withholding 10%. The agency warned of “a short transition period.” That change wasn’t automated until June 25, Hinkle said. The number of people newly placed in full withholding plummeted from 6,771 in February to 51 in September, according to data the agency provided. SSA said it would notify recipients they could request reduced withholding if it was already clawing back more than 10% of their monthly checks. Nonetheless, dozens of beneficiaries or their family members told KFF Health News and Cox Media Group they hadn’t heard they could request reduced withholding. Among those who did ask, roughly half said their requests were approved. According to the SSA, there has been almost a 20% decline in the number of people facing clawbacks of more than 10% but less than 100% of their monthly checks — from 141,316 as of March 8 to 114,950 as of Oct. 25, agency spokesperson Nicole Tiggemann said. Meanwhile, the number of people from whom the agency was withholding exactly 10% soared more than fortyfold — from just over 5,000 to well over 200,000. And the number of beneficiaries having any partial benefits withheld to recover an overpayment increased from almost 600,000 to almost 785,000, according to data Tiggemann provided. Lorraine Anne Davis, 72, of Houston, said she hasn’t received her monthly Social Security payment since June due to an alleged overpayment. Her Medicare premium was being deducted from her monthly benefit, so she’s been left to pay that out-of-pocket. Davis said she’s going to need a kidney transplant and had been trying to save money for when she’d be unable to work. Related Articles National News | California case is the first confirmed bird flu infection in a US child National News | Colorado funeral home owners accused of letting 190 bodies decay plead guilty to corpse abuse National News | Another E. coli recall: falafel bites from Florida, California and 16 other states National News | US budget airlines are struggling. Will pursuing premium passengers solve their problems? National News | Hyundai, Kia recall over 208,000 electric vehicles to fix problem that can cause loss of power A letter from the SSA dated April 8, 2024, two weeks after the new 10% withholding policy was slated to take effect, said it had overpaid her $13,538 and demanded she pay it back within 30 days. Apparently, the SSA hadn’t accounted for a pension Davis receives from overseas; Davis said she disclosed it when she filed for benefits. In a letter to her dated June 29, the agency said that, under its new policy, it would change the withholding to only 10% if she asked. Davis said she asked by phone repeatedly, and to no avail. “Nobody seems to know what’s going on” and “no one seems to be able to help you,” Davis said. “You’re just held captive.” In October, the agency said she’d receive a payment — in March 2025. Marley Presiado, a research assistant on the Public Opinion and Survey Research team at KFF, contributed to this report. ©2024 KFF Health News. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.SCHAUMBURG, Ill. , Dec. 17, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Creative Group, a full-service meeting, event, and incentive agency, is proud to highlight its insights and contributions to Skift Meetings' Megatrends 2025 report. The report reveals a dynamic landscape shaped by transformative forces, from artificial intelligence and sustainability to mental health and generational inclusivity. Creative Group's expertise underscores how strategic event design can address complex organizational goals while delivering exceptional attendee experiences. Trends Redefining the Events Landscape 1. Events Have Become More Strategic Melissa Van Dyke , Creative Group's Senior Vice President of Integrated Marketing, Design, and Innovation, highlights the shift in event strategy. "Today's events must go beyond flawless logistics to deeply align with business initiatives," Van Dyke states in the report. Events must begin with a deep understanding of their purpose. Creative Group advocates for aligning all aspects of event planning with business initiatives, ensuring every element—from agenda to attendee engagement—supports organizational goals. By starting with the "why," planners can craft experiences that not only meet attendee expectations but also drive organizational objectives forward. This more intentional design focus is the crucial middle between events that check a box and events that move the needle. 2. Addressing Generational Shifts With Millennials and Gen Z comprising an increasing share of the workforce, event strategies must reflect values like sustainability, inclusivity, and experiential depth—with more immersive and interactive experiences. Creative Group's methods integrate these elements seamlessly, ensuring events resonate with all age groups while fostering connections across diverse demographics. 3. Immersive and Interactive Engagement Understanding the purpose of an event also shapes how planners design interactions. Creative Group incorporates principles of behavioral economics—awareness, engagement, and nudges—to create meaningful moments before, during, and after the event, ensuring participants stay inspired by and connected to event messaging, brand and core business objectives. Meeting New Expectations in 2025 Sustainability as a Business Imperative As sustainability becomes non-negotiable for many attendees, Creative Group emphasizes adopting eco-friendly practices, such as waste reduction and locally sourced elements, to meet expectations while reflecting each brand's business values. Mental Health Integration Event designers are increasingly tasked with addressing attendee well-being, making it essential to create events that reduce stress and promote emotional connection. Creative Group's approach integrates wellness strategies that are empathy-based and customizable to meet the needs of the modern attendee. Looking Ahead Creative Group's contributions to the Megatrends 2025 report reinforce the idea that understanding the "why" behind every event is crucial in today's meetings landscape, especially critical given the additional scrutiny on event budgets in 2025. "Corporate events are no longer about simply gathering people for a single objective—they are about achieving complex business challenges, reinforcing organizational culture, boosting brand loyalty, and recognizing and retaining top talent," says Van Dyke . To explore how Creative Group and other industry leaders are addressing the trends shaping 2025, download the full Skift Meetings Megatrends 2025 report. About Creative Group Creative Group is a full-service meeting, event, and incentive agency that delivers business results by inspiring people to thrive. An industry leader, Creative Group has been honored with numerous Society for Incentive Travel Excellence (SITE) awards and the CMI 25 Award, which recognizes the top 25 most influential meeting and incentive management companies in the U.S. Creative Group was founded in 1970, and has served clients in financial services, life sciences, insurance, manufacturing, retail, technology, automotive, and hospitality. Employing 220+ people, the company is headquartered in Schaumburg, Illinois , and maintains offices in San Francisco , Appleton, Wisconsin , and Toronto, Canada . For more information about Creative Group, visit http://www.creativegroupinc.com . View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/creative-group-spotlights-event-industrys-2025-megatrends-in-skift-meetings-report-302334125.html SOURCE Creative Group, Inc. © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.NCAA, NFLPA urge Congress to rein in betting

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SMITHFIELD, R.I. (AP) — Malik Grant rushed for 204 yards and three touchdowns and Rhode Island beat Bryant 35-21 on Saturday to capture its first league title in 39 years. Rhode Island (10-2, 7-1 Coastal Athletic Association) secured the program's seventh title, with each of the previous six coming in the Yankee Conference. The Rams tied a program record for total wins in a season with 10, first set in 1984 and matched in 1985. Hunter Helms threw for 209 yards with one touchdown and one interception for Rhode Island. Grant also added his first touchdown reception of the season. Grant rushed for 47 yards on the first snap of the second half. He ran for 56 yards on the drive that ended with his 4-yard touchdown catch for a 20-14 lead. An interception by Braden Price on the ensuing Bryant possession set up another Grant rushing touchdown. Bryant scored in the fourth quarter to make it a one-score game, but a 15-play, 72-yard drive ended with a 3-yard touchdown run by Grant. Grant's 13 rushing touchdowns are tied for Rhode Island's single-season record set last season by Ja’Den McKenzie. Brennan Myer threw for 189 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions for Bryant (2-10, 0-8). Dylan Kedzior rushed for 80 yards and a touchdown, and Landon Ruggieri caught eight passes for 105 yards and a score. 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-footballNone

Data released by Statistics Canada in April, say B.C. lost more people than it gained in interprovincial migration in 2023 for the first time in more than a decade. DARRYL DYCK/The Canadian Press The Business Council of British Columbia has launched an awareness campaign to counter the province’s rising outward migration to Alberta. The business advocacy group says its “Stay with B.C.” campaign is placing advertisements on billboards and transit stops, as well as online, in cities such as Vancouver, Victoria, Kelowna and Prince George, urging residents to think twice before moving to Alberta for economic or other reasons. Council president Laura Jones says the campaign is inspired by the “Alberta is Calling” campaign launched in 2022, targeting skilled workers in other provinces with financial incentives and promises of better affordability at a comparable lifestyle. Data released by Statistics Canada in April, say B.C. lost more people than it gained in interprovincial migration in 2023 for the first time in more than a decade, with a net loss of 8,624 people to other Canadian jurisdictions. Alberta reported a gain of 55,000 – the biggest interprovincial increase recorded since tracking began in 1972 – and it was the most popular Canadian destination for those leaving B.C. Jones says that while the “Stay with B.C.” campaign “doesn’t have all the answers” on stemming the population flow, it has the potential to spur conversations among people who are considering a move. The advertisements are designed to look like an incoming cellphone call or an online dating profile from Alberta, with messages prompting readers to reconsider answering or “swiping right” – a term for accepting someone on a dating app. “We've all heard those Alberta’s Calling ads, and also Invest Alberta is being pretty assertive right now and they've opened an office in British Columbia,” Jones says. “So, we thought this would be a way to put the focus on a strong economy while having a little fun. “It’s a very serious topic,” she says. “We want young people to see a future in the province. But that doesn’t mean we can’t have a little bit of fun to get people’s attention on the importance of a strong economy.” In a written statement, Alberta Jobs, Economy and Trade Minister Matt Jones says the last round of the “Alberta is Calling” campaign ended on Sept. 23. Jones says federal statistics show 30,675 former British Columbians moving to Alberta in 2023-24, and the provincial government will continue to look at ways to address the skilled labour demand there. “With the Alberta Advantage, there are many career and lifestyle benefits to living in Alberta, including a thriving job market, some of the lowest taxes in Canada, high wages, affordable housing and diverse communities,” Jones says. Alberta’s third-quarter population report released this week says the province recorded Canada’s highest interprovincial migration gains for the ninth straight quarter, adding 3,170 more people from B.C. than it lost in the other direction. Only Ontario had a higher net-loss of residents with 4,369 for the three-month period. Premier David Eby had said B.C. is tackling the issue of affordability and economic opportunities for skilled labour “head on,” but also noted that the province did see an overall population increase of more than 178,000 in 2023 that was fuelled by international migration. Morgan Westcott, associate dean of marketing programs at the B.C. Institute of Technology, says it will be up to government and stakeholders to address affordability in the province, but there is more the province can do with branding to attract and keep talent from moving to Alberta. Westcott says B.C. has been very effective in marketing itself as a tourism destination, and the province’s natural beauty should be leveraged more, not only for getting visitors, but as a selling point for skilled labour. “I think sometimes what we’re missing in B.C. is this singularity of brand, and of voice, and of purpose in our campaigns,” she says. “Because if it’s an attractive place to visit for a weekend, it should be an attractive place to settle and to invest and to build your future. And sometimes I think we really miss an opportunity when we treat them as two separate things.” Westcott notes that the “Alberta is Calling” campaign places lifestyle as one of its three pillars for attracting skilled labour, alongside career opportunities and affordability, with all three factors forming the foundation of the Alberta brand. “I’m a Vancouver born-and-raised person, so I’m very biased, but it is fairly spectacular what we have available to us, and it is on a different level,” she says of B.C.’s access to nature and quality of life. “(Alberta) is leveraging some very similar things, and yet at the same time, I think we do have different cities that are vibrant in different ways,” she says. “I don’t know how you tackle the affordability piece – and I say that as a life-long Vancouverite – and maybe it’s not about that. Maybe it’s about that – something that’s this exceptional – does come at a cost.” Jones says the business council will be tracking future population numbers and economic indicators to see if its advertisements have moved the needle in keeping talent in B.C., and her team is already thinking about the next phase of the campaign. “We’ve got lots and lots of opportunity to create those high-paying jobs, and we just need to lean into making sure that all of our sectors can be thriving,” she says.Rhode Island beats Bryant 35-21 to claim its first Coastal Athletic Association title