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No lobbying in Thaksin probe: NACCBlack Friday is normally the perfect time to grab yourself a new graphics card. There are, after all, Black Friday graphics card deals out there for practically every GPU of the current generation. And some of them are mighty tempting, especially if you've been using the same one for a good few years. For example, Nvidia's GeForce GTX 10-series spawned the amazing GTX 1080 Ti and while it's still pretty potent today, it lacks all the fancy ray tracing hardware and DLSS technology in the latest RTX models. However, we're not far off seeing a new generation of GPUs from AMD, Intel, and Nvidia. The first and last are expected to showcase RDNA 4 and Blackwell at CES in January, and it's rumored that Intel will try to get the jump on them with a Battlemage launch in December. So, knowing that, should you hold fire on whizzing out your wallet or are there still GPUs in the Black Friday sales that are worth considering? Well, on that allow me to assist. Quick Links AMD Radeon RX 6650 XT - $210 at Amazon AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX - $820 at Newegg Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 - $285 at Amazon Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 - $470 at Newegg RX 6650 XT Sapphire RX 6650 XT | 8 GB GDDR6 | 2,048 shaders | 2,635 MHz boost | $299.99 $209.99 at Amazon (save $90) With the RX 6600 XT stock starting to dwindle, the faster RX 6650 XT is taking its place as one of the best budget GPUs around. It's an 8 GB GPU with the same core specs as the RX 6600 XT but has a slightly higher clock speed boost. We like the newer RX 7600 more, but it also costs a little more. RX 6650 XT price check: Best Buy $219.99 | Newegg $219.99 Yes, this is an RDNA 2 graphics card, first launched back in 2022. So why on Earth should you consider buying something that old when AMD is apparently going to announce its RDNA 4 lineup in around two months ? Two reasons: (1) GPU vendors tend to announce and then release their higher-end models first, with the more budget-friendly offerings coming much later; (2) the RX 6650 XT is a pokey little GPU for very little money. Make no mistake, this Radeon is very much a budget 1080p graphics card but if you've been chugging along with something like a Radeon RX 480 or a GeForce GTX 1060 , it'll blow them out of the water. Not that you should ever have your gaming PC in water, of course. Think of it as a slightly slower RX 7600 but a good $40 cheaper, then you'll be right as rain. The newer RDNA 3 card does have better ray tracing performance but you're not going to be using that with a budget GPU, nor are you going to miss out on the dual-issue FP32 shaders. AMD is unlikely to announce a really cheap RDNA 4 GPU at CES so if you are looking for a very cost-effective upgrade for your gaming PC, the RX 6650 XT is the ideal choice. RX 7900 XTX ASRock RX 7900 XTX | 24 GB GDDR6 | 6,144 shaders | 2.62 GHz boost | $869.99 $819.99 at Newegg (save $50 with promo code BFDDY2A648) Just like with the RTX 4080, it used to be hard to find AMD's RX 7900 XTX heavily discounted down below its MSRP price. But good deals can now be found and we'll happily take a substantial discount on this high-end GPU. The Radeon RX 7900 XTX is stupidly fast and there are plenty of good cooling designs for this card, including this one. RX 7900 XTX price check: Walmart $819.99 | Best Buy $829.99 | Amazon $859.99 You're probably thinking I've totally lost the plot suggesting that you should buy AMD's current top dog in its gaming GPU portfolio, but hear me out. The next generation of Radeon graphics cards is generally expected to include no 'halo models' like the RX 7900 XTX , with Team Red focusing heavily on the mid-range sector to improve its bottom line. That means there's a very good chance that you won't see a 24 GB RDNA 4 card any time soon, if ever. All that sweet, sweet VRAM means you're not going to hit any kind of memory issues in your games for a very long time and while the 7900 XTX doesn't have the ray tracing grunt of an equivalent GeForce RTX, it's still pretty good. Admittedly, that amount of VRAM is somewhat wasted in games but if you like to do a spot of AI shenanigans or memory-hungry content creation, then it's a much cheaper bet than Nvidia's 24 GB offerings. It's more expensive than an RTX 4070 Ti Super but it notably outperforms it, when you leave ray tracing disabled. And at $820, it significantly undercuts the RTX 4080 Super . In short, it's a hell of a lot of GPU for the money. Of course, it's still a lot of money and I dare say there's a chance that there will be an RDNA 4 card that's just as fast in certain games (or have better ray tracing chops). But I have to admit that I have a bit of a soft spot for AMD's behemoth. Buy one while you can still get a monstrous Radeon. RTX 4060 Gigabyte RTX 4060 | 8 GB GDDR6 | 3,072 shaders | 2,565 MHz boost | $319.99 $284.97 at Amazon (save $35.02) If you must have Ada Lovelace, Nvidia's latest gaming architecture, the cheapest way in is this RTX 4060. Faster than the RTX 3060 but the price suggests it should have been better. You do get the full DLSS 3.5 suite, though, and it's pretty decent at encoding video for streaming. Nevertheless, we prefer AMD's RX 7600 or last-gen RX 6700. RTX 4060 price check: Newegg $289.99 | Walmart $299.99 | Best Buy $294.99 With Nvidia expected to announce its next generation of GeForce graphic cards at CES in January , you're probably best off waiting to see what the new lineup of Blackwell-powered models are like. But if you don't want to wait or you're of the opinion that the RTX 50-series is going to be very expensive, then there are only two out of the current RTX 40-series that I think are worth buying in the Black Friday sales. I'm not suggesting the rest are rubbish—far from it—it's just that, as with AMD, we're not going to see a budget Blackwell until we're well into 2025. The cheapest of all the current Ada Lovelace offerings is, of course, the little RTX 4060 . Mind you, this triple-fan monster from Gigabyte is hardly what you call little. Still, you should have any problems with keeping it cool, that's for sure. One could argue that there's no such thing as a bad GPU, just a bad GPU price. And in the case of the RTX 4060, it's very much the latter. It's a perfectly decent entry-level graphics card, packing all the features of its larger brethren, bar VRAM. 👉 We're curating the best Black Friday PC gaming deals right here 👈 There's much argument to be found on the interwebs about how 8 GB of VRAM just isn't enough these days, and such claims are typically backed up with performance figures of cards tanking out their frame rate because they're bouncing off a VRAM limit. That's actually a fault of the game, not the card, as it's perfectly possible to have a memory management system in games properly track how much VRAM is available and not try to exceed it. Anyway, for me, the RTX 4060's best feature is DLSS. The combined AI-powered upscaling, frame generation, and ray tracing denoiser is a remarkable collection of technology and in the right game, it can turn a sluggish grind into a whirling flurry of frame rates with nary a visual glitch to be found. Pitch an RTX 4060 against a GTX 1060 and the fight will be over before the game has even loaded. RTX 4070 MSI Ventus RTX 4070 12G OC | 12 GB GDDR6X | 5,888 shaders | 2,505 MHz boost | $576.99 $469.99 at Newegg (save $107 after rebate) The RTX 4070 is a popular card and can be difficult to find at a discount, but it's important to remember that this price is way cheaper than it was at launch. You're getting nearly RTX 3080 performance but with all those nice RTX 40 features. This model uses the traditional 8-pin PCIe power connector, rather than the new 12VHPWR one, which makes it far easier to install as an upgrade. RTX 4070 price check: Best Buy $499.99 | Walmart $499.99 | Amazon $534.99 Yes, that's right—the RTX 4070 . Not the Super, nor the Ti Super. And you can forget about the 4080s and 4090s, too. This is the one that's worth your pennies. And my reason is simple: It's a surprisingly capable GPU and not just 'for the money'. I have two in my office and I'm frequently impressed by how well they cope with today's biggest games. We're taking RTX 3080 levels of pixel pushing, but with a much lower power consumption and you get the full DLSS package to boot. And at $470, a good $120 lower than its ridiculous launch price, it's a great deal too. Sure, the RTX 4070 Super is a better GPU but it's over $100 more expensive. I can't see Nvidia releasing a Blackwell card at this price that will give the 4070 a good thrashing. I've already argued my case for 8 GB of VRAM not being as much of a problem as some folks make it out to be but if you don't believe me, or you want a new graphics card that will last for many years, then the 12 GB here should ease those doubts. Intel? It can't have passed you by that I've not recommended any Intel graphics cards. Well, it's not because they're overpriced, as you can pick up an Arc A770 (the best of the Alchemist bunch) for just $230 at Newegg . The problem with all the Arc GPUs is that their performance is inconsistent and unpredictable. They'll work fine in some games and then awful in others. That's partly down to drivers but it's mostly because the architecture isn't as finely honed or as suitable for gaming as AMD and Nvidia's. Fortunately, it's expected that Intel will showcase Battlemage, the next generation of Arc graphic cards, in December and while they won't be as cheap as the current gen, they're surely going to be better performing. We'll let you know what they're like as soon as find out.Scanlan: Time for legislators to protect women
Hottoerak Revolutionizes At-Home Skincare with Advanced Light Therapy Technology 12-20-2024 09:14 PM CET | Business, Economy, Finances, Banking & Insurance Press release from: Getnews / PR Agency: Kjprnews Hottoerak, a pioneering brand in light therapy solutions, today announced the launch of its comprehensive collection of advanced light therapy masks, bringing professional-grade skincare technology into the comfort of homes. This innovative line features scientifically-backed wavelength combinations designed to address various skin concerns, from aging to acne treatment. Image: https://hottoerak.shop/cdn/shop/files/13.jpg?v=1716973176&width=1100 The cornerstone of Hottoerak's new collection is its flagship Red Light Therapy Mask [ https://hottoerak.shop/products/hottoerak-red-light-therapy-mask-black ], which harnesses the power of dual-wavelength technology (660nm and 850nm) to stimulate collagen production and promote deep cellular repair. 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On Monday, the Buffs will face Michigan State in the opening round of the Maui Invitational, one of the most highly-regarded of college basketball’s early-season tournaments. It will be a powerhouse field as the tournament returns to Maui after being relocated to Honolulu in 2023 following the Maui wildfire. CU head coach Tad Boyle has described the tournament as a mid-term exam, with three games in three days against teams bigger and more skilled than the ones the Buffs took care of during their 4-0 start. The Buffs are looking at the tournament as an opportunity to show they plan to be much better than the team picked 15th in the 16-team Big 12 preseason coaches’ poll. “(Michigan State) has a good team. I’m not taking that away,” CU forward Assane Diop said. “But it’s not about them. What I feel like is this game can maybe change how people see us as a program. We’re 4-0 right now and just trying to go get a ‘Dub.’” The Buffs essentially had two days of activities, and practice, scheduled after traveling to Maui on Friday. It is the first time CU has played in the Maui Invitational since 2009, but the Buffs have enjoyed plenty of tropical business trips during Boyle’s tenure, now in its 15th season. Boyle’s CU clubs have twice played in the Diamond Head Classic in Honolulu, in 2014 and 2018. More recently, the Buffs played three games at the Paradise Jam in the US Virgin Islands in November 2021. “I want our guys to enjoy the experience. Part of college basketball is enjoying experiences like this,” Boyle said. “Whether you’re going to a warm place or you’re going to New York City or you’re going to wherever. So I want them to enjoy the experience. “But I also want them to compartmentalize and understand when is the time for business and when is the time to relax and enjoy themselves, which I want them to do to a certain degree. We’ve got to do a good job as a coaching staff of being crystal clear on when those times are. Then it’s up to them to concentrate on the task at hand.” A rugged field awaits the Buffs with four of the top 10 teams in the latest Associated Press Top 25 on display. In the second game on Tuesday, CU will play either Memphis, coached by former NBA great Penny Hardaway, or second-ranked, two-time defending national champion UConn. In the opposite bracket, No. 10 North Carolina opens on Monday against Dayton, while No. 4 Auburn and No. 5 Iowa State square off in a first round matchup worthy of a title game, or even a Final Four showdown. For the Buffs, the actual results might be secondary to making certain they bring the requisite energy and intensity to the floor against the sort of foes they will see on a regular basis once Big 12 play begins. “Concentration is a skill that not all of our players have,” Boyle said. “The ones that don’t have it, we’ve got to sharpen it. It starts in practice and the film room, and understanding what your job is and going out and doing it.” TIPOFF : Monday, 3 p.m. MT, Lahaina Civic Center, Lahaina, Hawaii. TV/RADIO : ESPN2/KOA AM 850 and 94.1 FM. RECORDS : Colorado 4-0; Michigan State 4-1. COACHES : Colorado — Tad Boyle, 15th season (302-183, 358-249 overall). Michigan State — Tom Izzo, 30th season (711-296 at Michigan State and overall). KEY PLAYERS : Colorado — F Andrej Jakimovski, 6-8, Gr. (14.3 ppg, 5.3 rpg, .364 3%); C Elijah Malone, 6-10, Gr. (14.0 ppg, 5.8 rpg, .655 FG%); G Javon Ruffin, 6-5, R-Jr. (11.5 ppg, 3.0 apg, 2.5 rpg); F Trevor Baskin, 6-9, Gr. (10.0 ppg, 7.0 rpg, .571 FG%); G Julian Hammond III, 6-2, Sr. (9.5 ppg, 3.5 apg, 2.5 rpg); F Sebastian Rancik, 6-9, Fr. (7.3 ppg, 2.3 rpg, 6-for-9 3-pointers); G RJ Smith, 6-3, R-So. (7.0 ppg, 2.0 apg, 6-for-11 3-pointers). Michigan State — G Jaden Akins, 6-4, Sr. (14.6 ppg, 6.2 rpg, 2.6 apg, .468 FG%); F Frankie Fidler, 6-7, Sr. (11.8 ppg, 3.8 rpg); F Jaxon Kohler, 6-9, Jr. (10.2 ppg, 8.0 rpg, .500 FG%); G Jase Richardson, 6-3, Fr. (8.4 pgg, 2.6 rpg, .6325 FG%); F Coen Carr, 6-6, So. (7.6 ppg, 3.6 rpg, .593 FG%); G Jeremy Fears Jr., 6-2, R-Fr. (6.2 ppg, 6.2 apg). NOTES : Colorado played at the Maui Invitational once previously in 2009, going 1-2 with losses against Gonzaga and Arizona before winning the finale against Chaminade. ... CU has gone 1-2 in each of its last four trips to Hawaii, including appearances at the Diamond Head Classic in Honolulu (2014, 2018), the ’09 appearance at the Maui invite, and a 2008 appearance at the Rainbow Classic in Honolulu. ... The Buffs are 8-10 all-time in Hawaii. Three of those losses were against the University of Hawaii in true road games. ... CU and the Spartans haven’t met since Michigan State posted a 79-64 win in the first round of the 2003 NCAA Tournament in Tampa, Fla. ... The programs have met just four times overall, with the Spartans holding a 3-1 lead. Like Monday’s contest, three of those four games were played on neutral floors — the 2003 NCAA Tournament, the 1988 Far West Classic in Oregon, and the 1957 Big Seven Christmas tournament in Kansas City, which was the first meeting between the teams and CU’s only win in the series. ... Michigan State is coming off an eight-point home win last week against Samford, holding off Samford’s upset bid after trailing by 13 points early. ... The Spartans are shooting just .221 from 3-point range.
A recent research by Positive Technologies, a leader in result-driven cybersecurity, has revealed that over half of cyber attacks in Nigeria target government sector and financial companies. This was contained in the firm’s analysis on the current cyber threats on the African continent for 2023–2024. According to the experts, these attacks are often carried out by organised hacker groups aiming for financial gain and espionage, as well as by hacktivists. In Africa, government and financial institutions make up 29 cent and 22 cent of all successful attacks on organisations, respectively. The analysis of messages on the dark web forums confirmed that these sectors attract cybercriminals the most: they account for 19 per cent and 13 percent of all the darknet listings. READ ALSO: Experts call for improved cyber security awareness in Nigeria Anastasia Bezborodko, an analyst from the International Analytics Group at Positive Technologies, noted: “The share of attacks against the government sector among all attacks on organisations in Africa is twice as much as was found in our previous research. “Most often, government institutions are targeted by APT groups (46 percent) aiming to collect data and perform cyberespionage, as well as by hacktivists (18 percent ). ” Cybercriminals primarily target government institutions in Nigeria (27 percent ), Algeria (17 percent ), Ethiopia (12 percent ), and South Africa (12 percent), according to dark web data. “Attacks on the financial sector also increased, rising from 18 percent to 22 percent of all successful attacks. “On the dark web, posts related to Africa’s government sector typically mention free distribution of information (66 percent), while those related to financial institutions focus on selling data and access (64 percent).” According to Positive Technologies, more than half of the databases related to African countries are distributed for free on the dark web, while access to corporate networks can be bought for an average of $2,970. One in 10 successful cyberattacks on organisations in the region targeted the industrial sector. The main goal of these attacks was to disrupt production processes and steal confidential information. Another 10 percent of attacks targeted telecommunications: cybercriminals are drawn to vast amounts of personal data and customer payment information. In attacks on organisations, criminals most often targeted computers, servers, and network equipment (65 cent). This points to weak infrastructure protection, such as vulnerabilities. The report covered the period from Q1 2023 to Q3 2024. network perimeters and poorly configured services that are accessible externally. Attacks targeting web resources surged from 15 per cent to 27 percent with DDoS attacks accounting for half. Malware was the most common method used in cyberattacks, accounting for 43 percent of attacks on organisations and 53 percent of attacks on individuals. In almost one-third of successful attacks on companies, cybercriminals used ransomware, and in one out of every four attacks, they deployed spyware. In 18 percent of attacks on organisations, hackers exploited vulnerabilities. The most common result of cyberattacks on organisations (61 percent ) and individuals (53 percent) was hackers accessing confidential information. Another common issue was disruption of core business operations, which occurred in 18 percent of successful attacks. According to open-source data, a significant share of cyberattacks happened in South Africa (22 percent ) and Egypt (13 percent). Meanwhile, analysis of posts on the dark web forums revealed that these messages primarily targeted South Africa (25 percent ), Nigeria (18 percent), and Algeria (13 percent ). Most often, dark web listings feature databases (61 percent), and more than half of these databases (64 percent) are given away for free. Criminals also sell data for accessing the networks of major African companies (38 percent of all analysed dark web messages). Most of these posts (74 per cent) are about selling access, with an average price of $2,970. In recent years, digital technologies have been implemented across various sectors in Africa, opening up new opportunities for cybercriminals. To increase the region’s cybersecurity and thwart future cybercrimes, experts at Positive Technologies recommend adopting protective measures, such as developing and timely updating cybersecurity strategies and identifying critical information infrastructure, the disruption of which could cause non-tolerable events at industry and national levels. To ensure cyber resilience, experts recommend that organisations conduct risk analysis, put together a list of events that could cause irreparable damage, regularly update systems and applications, and continuously check the effectiveness and relevance of security mechanisms and tools in place. Organisations should also host educational events to teach employees basic security rules and allocate budgets for training cybersecurity specialists. To improve cybersecurity, experts recommend forging strong partnerships between the government and private sectors. Strengthening international collaboration, sharing knowledge, and exchanging experiences on current cyberthreats and protective measures are also crucial. Positive Technologies is an industry leader in result-driven cybersecurity and a major global provider of information security solutions. Our mission is to safeguard businesses and entire industries against cyberattacks and non-tolerable damage. Over 4,000 organisations worldwide use technologies and services developed by our company. Positive Technologies is the first and only cybersecurity company in Russia publicly available on the Moscow Exchange (MOEX: POSI), with 205,000 shareholders and counting.Hottoerak Revolutionizes At-Home Skincare with Advanced Light Therapy Technology
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Snapdeal's Loss Narrows To Rs 160 Crore In FY24David 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 who let bodies decay plead guilty to 191 counts of 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.Roy Keane issues scathing assessment of 'average' Manchester United team after Ruben Amorim's first gamePakistani police arrest thousands of Imran Khan supporters ahead of rally in the capital
This week sees a five-hour debate in Parliament that could lead to one of the most consequential laws this century when MPs hold a free vote on a Private Members’ bill to allow medically assisted suicide in Britain. The reform has previously been backed by Sir Keir Starmer, enjoys popular support and is often claimed to be progressive. It has been promoted by the admirable Dame Esther Rantzen, suffering terminal cancer, with her usual campaigning zeal. There are strong arguments on both sides of this moral minefield that merit respectful examination. Yet there should be no delusions over the impact of unleashing state-sanctioned killing in our healthcare system. I would have preferred to write on almost any other issue this week, returning to work after the anguish of my own daughter’s death. But I have investigated assisted dying in Europe and North America , as well as campaigned on patient safety and for the rights of citizens with learning disabilities, inspired by her. So it felt wrong to duck such a seismic proposed change to society. However the legislation is framed, however limited the intention, this reform would tip Britain over a slippery slope. Already some campaigners argue that the bill’s proposal to allow terminally ill adults with six months or fewer to obtain medical help to end their lives is too limited. Read Next The assisted dying bill answers few questions - but raises bigger, scarier ones Experts expect challenges under human rights laws from patients whose terminal conditions leave them unable to take their own lives, rightly arguing this is discriminatory. There will be emotive cases of parents pleading that suffering children cannot access similar “treatment”. We have seen elsewhere how the number of assisted deaths keeps rising after legalisation. And how rules can get widened over time – to include children, couples wishing to die together, old folks with dementia and young people suffering mental illness – despite initial promises to the contrary. As one prominent ethicist said in the Netherlands, which pioneered reform in 2002, their desire to help patients suffering the most agonising of deaths led them to launch “something that we have now discovered has more consequences than we ever imagined”. Legalised euthanasia frees a genie from the bottle, while fundamentally altering the nature of doctoring with its oath of first do no harm. It sends a message that killing is an acceptable form of treatment. Yet we know doctors find it difficult to predict the timing of death with terminal illnesses – and that they, along with judges, are fallible humans who can make mistakes, be swayed by pressure or fail to detect coercion amid daily clinical stresses. Some will become zealots for the cause – such as a former maternity specialist in Canada that I interviewed earlier this year who has assisted more than 400 deaths since they introduced euthanasia eight years ago. Canada exposes the danger – and political irresponsibility – of inserting such procedures into a struggling health system such as our own with its long waiting times, poor treatment outcomes and inadequate care support. I have spoken to patients pushed by doctors to accept medically assisted death when life-saving treatment was available – and to an analyst who warned British MPs euthanasia is used to cut healthcare costs. Almost two-thirds of their assisted deaths involve cancer – yet they have shorter waiting times and better outcomes for this disease than Britain. The Health and Social Care Secretary, Wes Streeting, bravely opposes this bill on the grounds that it might harm existing services, while pointing out how the state of end-of-life care means the NHS cannot always deliver “a real choice on assisted dying”. I have seen the incredible support offered in times of distress and pain by palliative care medics. Yet one in four patients fail to get such help – and as the palliative care doctor Rachel Clarke argues, it is “unconscionable” to offer citizens a choice to die if we fail to offer them also the care that can make life worth living. Studies show places that permit assisted death increase provision of palliative care significantly less than other states. If Westminster really wants to demonstrate it is progressive, how much better to boost this brilliant branch of medicine pioneered in Britain – along with the shamefully underfunded hospice movement – to ensure decent end-of-life care for everyone. And perhaps our politicians might finally like to fix the overwhelmed social care system instead of continually sweeping it aside? Then there is the issue of trust – and whether we can really have faith in politicians and regulators to protect sick, elderly or disabled people who might face pressure to end their lives after so many disturbing scandals revealing abuse of the weakest in society. Bert Keizer, a Dutch practitioner of assisted dying, has said that British experts were right to be sceptical when Holland pioneered reform since their predictions came true. “Those who embark on euthanasia venture down a slippery slope along which you irrevocably slide down to the random killing of defenceless sick people” he wrote in a medical journal. Bear in mind we live in a nation where several of the worst negligence scandals involved mass killing of elderly patients and the care system has been allowed to rot. A land that still locks up autistic people and citizens with learning disabilities in psychiatric hellholes with the connivance of doctors. Meanwhile, there are confirmed cases abroad of people euthanised as a consequence of their autism or learning disabilities. And significant evidence – even from places such as Oregon praised for stringent protections – suggesting people choosing to die often feel a burden on families. As an atheist and a liberal, my concerns over euthanasia are practical rather than ethical. But having seen the stark realities of assisted death abroad and reported on health scandals at home, I have deep fears over the consequences of introducing it here with our inept legislators, creaking public services and societal contempt for groups that might find themselves in the crosshairs. Fix the NHS, fund palliative medicine properly, sort out social care – and then we can debate this issue with less fear.2024 in focus: How political landscape of India changed this year after assembly polls in eight states
The Mahakumbh is boosting local trade with a surge in demand for Mahakumbh-themed products like diaries, calendars, jute bags, and stationery. New Delhi: Hindu devotees in India and across the world are eagerly waiting for the once-in-twelve-year Mahakumbh beginning January 13, 2025, in the ancient city of Prayagraj. Over 40 crore people are expected to attend the Mahakumbh which is held once every 12 years. the Uttar Pradesh government is making extensive preparations to ensure that Mahakumbh 2025 in Prayagraj is a grand, safe, and spiritually enriching event. The Mahakumbh is boosting local trade with a surge in demand for Mahakumbh-themed products like diaries, calendars, jute bags, and stationery. As per a statement from the Ministry of Culture, sales of such items have increased by up to 25 per cent due to meticulous branding. This 45-day festival, from January 13 to February 26 will showcase India's rich cultural heritage and spiritual traditions. The host Uttar Pradesh has set up a temporary city-like setup. Mahakumbh Nagar is being transformed into a temporary city with thousands of tents and shelters, including super deluxe accommodations like the IRCTC's 'Mahakumbh Gram' luxury tent city which will offer deluxe tents and villas with modern amenities. Renovation works of 92 roads and beautification of 17 major roads are nearing completion, as per the government statement. Construction of 30 pontoon bridges is underway; 28 are already operational. A total of 800 multi-language signages (Hindi, English, and other languages) are being installed to guide visitors. Over 400 have been completed, with the rest to be ready by December 31. Special provisions have been made for international visitors with multilingual signages and cultural programs showcasing India's diversity. Through these comprehensive efforts, Mahakumbh 2025 aims to be not just a religious gathering but a global celebration of spirituality, culture, safety, sustainability, and modernity. Over 2,69,000 checkered plates have been laid for pathways. Mobile toilets and robust waste management systems will ensure hygiene. Technology is being used to assist pilgrims. Among others, an AI-powered chatbot, equipped with multi-lingual capability, has been placed to assist pilgrims and visitors. This is an innovative experiment of its kind, with technology at its core. The AI chatbot will answer questions related to Kumbh in various languages. The AI chatbot is integrated with the 'Bhasini App' to give answers in various languages. The Kumbh Mela organiser has also set up a call centre to guide visitors. AI-enabled cameras are also being installed for security and amenities for visitors. The main bathing festival, known as the "Shahi Snan" (royal baths), will take place on January 14 (Makar Sankranti), January 29 (Mauni Amavasya), and February 3 (Basant Panchami) when the attendees' number is likely to be highest. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath took stock of the preparations recently. He toured the under-construction tent city. He emphasised the importance of making arrangements for food and other things on time considering the cold weather. The Chief Minister also highlighted that separate wards for men and women are being set up and that shift duties for personnel should be strictly followed. Additionally, he instructed that ambulance response times be minimised during emergencies. Stay informed on all the latest news , real-time breaking news updates, and follow all the important headlines in india news and world News on Zee News.Panthers rookie tight end Ja'Tavion Sanders released from hospital after suffering neck injury
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Father and son team Callum and Tim Harrison have made thousands by reselling old clothes on eBay and Depop. And 26-year-old Callum says he got into it after becoming 'bored' during the pandemic. But over the last four years he has slowly grown his business and has now enlisted the help of his dad, retired software salesman Tim, aged 60. Callum sources and buys clothing such as Carhartt jackets from wholesalers like Fleek - a vintage wholesale marketplace - for £35 and sells them on for £100. Callum only turned over a few thousand in his first two years as reseller but shot up to £35,000 in 2022 to 2023. Last year he turned over £22,000 as he was working less while travelling and in the last three months he has made £16,000 on Depop alone. Callum said: "It's definitely brought us closer together. I think my parents were a bit apprehensive at first but then they saw a football shirt selling for £80. My record week of sales was 3,000 one week. Anything I get I reinvest." Callum has always been passionate about business and started looking into reselling in late 2020 while in his final year at University of Newcastle studying business and marketing. He said: "I knew a friend who works at a vintage wholesaler. I've always sold on Depop since I was 16." To start with Callum used reselling as a side hustle for some extra cash but gradually started to see it take off - getting £1,000 in sales in one week by Christmas 2022. He decided to ask his dad to help out after using his well earned money to travel for a year. He left in March 2023 to travel around Hong Kong, Malaysia, Cambodia, Vietnam and Thailand before living in Australia for a year. Callum also spent five weeks in New Zealand and flew back to the UK via Japan in July 2024. Tim helped out mailing the orders and listing some of the items on social media while Callum was away and now still helps out. Callum said: "Last month it went crazy so I took him back on for sending out orders." Callum currently has around 4,000 to 5,000 items of clothing in stock which he keeps in his parents' garage, nan's garage and in a storage container. He finds his stock from wholesalers and sites such as Fleek - and buys brands such as Carhartt, North Face, Ralph Lauren and Patagonia to sell on. Callum said: "Carhartt jackets sell for £100. Wholesalers are a bit more savvy now but they try sell for around £40 to £50. I get them at £35. The cheaper work wear sells for £40 to £50. Ralph Lauren and North Face sells well on eBay. "I'll buy 300 shirts for £800 - £3 per month - but one might be worth £100." Callum also says the right football shirts can go for £80 - and he buys them for £10. He says it would need to be a memorable year - such as the Manchester United 1998 to 1999 season when they won the treble of the Premier League, FA Cup and UEFA Champions League. He said: "It's always trial and error." Callum sells mainly on Depop but also uses eBay, Vinted, and Tilt. He said: "Depop is trendier. Vinted is for household names - M&S would do really well. "eBay goes for anything. Tilt is good for getting rid of stock - I sell cheap bundles on there." Callum has found buying on Fleek has helped his sales shot up - and has earned £16,500 in the last three months alone from his Depop sales. He advises anyone starting out in reselling to look at what people are wearing to get an idea of what to buy and sell on. He said: "Go out there and see what people are wearing. Keep an eye on the market and see what is trending. Keep buying - a lot of the time I run at a loss. I have constantly got stock." Callum has now taken his reselling business full time - but does still pick up occasional agency work on the side. He loves the flexibility of working for himself but says he is often up late in the evenings working. Callum said: "I constantly have a flow of amazing clothes. I got a new Carhartt hoodie the other day. I constantly have amazing things to wear." Follow Callum on Instagram @preoccupiedvintage and on YouTube @calthereselle Get daily headlines and breaking news emailed to you - it’s FREE
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Adriatic Metals PLC ( OTCMKTS:ADMLF – Get Free Report ) was the recipient of a significant increase in short interest during the month of December. As of December 15th, there was short interest totalling 2,306,200 shares, an increase of 19.2% from the November 30th total of 1,934,800 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 39,100 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 59.0 days. Adriatic Metals Price Performance ADMLF stock opened at $2.43 on Friday. The company’s fifty day moving average price is $2.69 and its 200-day moving average price is $2.44. Adriatic Metals has a one year low of $1.71 and a one year high of $3.37. Adriatic Metals Company Profile ( Get Free Report ) Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Adriatic Metals Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Adriatic Metals and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .Frontier Conference announces weekly basketball honorees