Latest news with #DI
Daily Mirror
14-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Death in Paradise detective reprises role and fans will be thrilled
Death in Paradise fans will be thrilled to learn that one detective is returning to his role Death in Paradise enthusiasts are in for a treat as Ralf Little reprises his role as Detective Neville Parker in a repeat episode airing tonight. The episode, titled Steamy Confessions, initially aired in 2021 as the second instalment of season 10 and will be broadcast on BBC One at 9pm tonight. The episode's synopsis teases: "An archaeologist is poisoned during a dig, and with only two suspects and a quick confession, it looks like this is going to be an open-and-shut case. "However, it turns out the archaeologists were not alone - and the team realise they have little to no evidence. "Meanwhile, Neville and Florence realise they might get along better than they originally thought, although the DI's attempts to embrace island life do not find favour with the Commissioner," reports the Express. Neville's return is not the only exciting comeback, as fans will also be thrilled to see Florence Cassell (played by Josephine Jobert) back on screen. Tobi Bakare will also reprise his role as police officer JP Hooper, while Tahj Miles makes his debut as trainee police officer Marlon Pryce in this repeat episode. Since the episode's initial airing, Tobi, Tahj, Ralf, and Josephine have all left the show to pursue other projects. Tobi was the first to bid farewell to the fictional island of Saint Marie in 2021, at the conclusion of series 10. The actor disclosed that he realised his time on the show was coming to an end three years prior to his character's departure from Saint Marie. Speaking to RadioTimes, he recalled a pivotal moment during the shooting of the seventh season in a church. He recounted, "The preacher mentioned seven years in a message. As soon as he mentioned seven years, I don't know what happened. It just clicked. "It was like a moment of realisation. I had three more years left. It was three more years until it would be seven years, but it just hit me so hard. At this time, my wife was in the UK, and I told her that I know when it's going to be time for me to leave the show." Following Ralf and Josephine, who departed the series in season 13 after their characters left for a new life together, Tahj Miles also exited the show at the conclusion of the same series, with his character moving to Jamaica with his sister. Ralf's character's departure made way for the arrival of newcomer Mervin Wilson as the new leading detective, played by Don Gilet. Discussing his departure on BBC Breakfast, Ralf revealed: "You know, this last series was always going to be my last series. I spoke to the BBC and Red Planet, the production company, and we all agreed." Had it been solely up to him, Ralf felt he'd have remained on the show for two decades: "If it was just a heart decision, I would have wanted to do it for 20 more years. But just for the show and for my character, Neville, it just sort of felt like his story was finished and his journey deserved to be completed. "He deserved a happy ending, and it just felt right." Death in Paradise will be broadcast at 9pm tonight on BBC One.
Scotsman
08-07-2025
- Business
- Scotsman
UK-based software company welcomes two tech trailblazers to its team
The pair's expertise will help the company ensure businesses make trusted operational decisions with data | Shutterstock A UK-based software company is excited to announce the appointment of two technology trailblazers to their team today (8) - one of which is a current member of the UK House of Lords. Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Quantexa, a global AI, data and analytics software company pioneering Decision Intelligence (DI), will welcome Steven Guggenheimer, former corporate vice president at Microsoft and Franck Petitgas, former global heard of investment banking at Morgan Stanley - and a current member of the UK House of Lords - to their Advisory Board this year. The pair's expertise will help the company ensure enterprises make trusted operational decisions with data in context by using Quantexa's Decision Intelligence platform - which helps organisations uncover hidden risks and new opportunities by unifying siloed data and turning it into the most trusted, reusable resource. The appointment's come following a $175 million Series F funding round and a growing customer base that has some of the world's leading banks and government agencies. Quantexa's increased focus on expanding its global footprint and advancing its Decision Intelligence Platform helps enterprises achieve better business outcomes in highly regulated industries. Vishal Marria, CEO & Founder, Quantexa, said: 'We are adding to our powerhouse Advisory Board to match our category-defining ambitions. 'Steven and Franck bring extraordinary expertise across technology, finance, and policy. 'Their guidance will help us further accelerate our mission to become the global standard for trusted decision-making in the AI era.' Guggenheimer is a 30-year enterprise technology veteran and has held senior leadership roles at Microsoft, including Corporate VP of AI & ISV Engagement. He is recognised for building scaled platform strategies, partner ecosystems, and go-to-market engines in cloud and AI. His expertise will be instrumental as Quantexa expands its platform, deepens strategic partnerships, and accelerates commercial growth across key geographies. 'Quantexa is tackling one of the most important challenges in AI today - turning siloed data into trusted, contextual insights at scale to drive augmented and automated decisioning,' Guggenheimer, said. 'The team has the right vision, platform, and momentum to lead this category, and I'm thrilled to support their journey.' Petitgas brings global financial and macro strategy insights. With more than three decades at Morgan Stanley, including serving as Global Co-Head of Investment Banking, and subsequently as the adviser on business and investment to the former U. K. Prime Minister, he adds invaluable perspective at the intersection of global finance, regulation, and digital transformation. His experience will support Quantexa's growth with global clients and strategic partners. Franck Petitgas said: 'Quantexa has developed a world class data and AI driven decision-making platform that helps its clients deliver growth and efficiency. 'I look forward to helping the company scale its impact internationally with global clients and in the capital markets.' To learn more about Quantexa's Leadership, visit: *Appointment was subject to the standard ACOBA approval process. This article is produced by SWNS based on content distributed by GlobeNewswire.
Business Insider
04-07-2025
- Business
- Business Insider
The NCAA settlement is a big win for football players. For other athletes, the picture is murkier.
DI track and field athlete Sabrina Oostburg isn't celebrating the recent NCAA settlement, which allows colleges to pay athletes directly. The Belmont University student said she was standing next to a volleyball player and two football players when the news came out. One of the football players reacted positively and then turned to the volleyball player to get her take. "It's good for you because you're going to get paid, but some of your female athlete friends might get cut," Oostburg recalled the volleyball player saying. The recent settlement, which ended multiple antitrust cases against the NCAA, sets up a system in which football players will likely get the lion's share of the money. The settlement's back-pay portion, for example, allocates 75% to football, guided by how much revenue the sport brings in. Colleges that opt into the settlement can pay up to $20.5 million to their athletes for the year starting July 1 (with increases in subsequent years). "It's going to be focused on football, basketball," Craig Weiner, a partner and litigator at Blank Rome, told Business Insider. While schools are free to distribute the money to different teams as they wish, there is a clear incentive for them to want to remain competitive in football to generate revenue. That could mean some athletic programs — if we take that 75% figure as guidance — will need to cover $15 million in new expenses to pay football players. Where is the money going to come from? Oostburg said she's worried about cuts to her team and others that don't make money for the college. She fears they could lose roster spots, places where they practice and train, or even snacks. "I think you're going to see cuts potentially in the non-revenue sports," Weiner said. "As far as support, athletic facilities, athletic support. Money that is that is earmarked to help the non-revenue producing sports, because they're going to focus on the money makers." The settlement ruling could create Title IX issues The skew toward football and men's basketball in the $2.8 billion back-pay part of the settlement has already attracted a legal challenge. Dan Ain, an attorney at Reavis, Page, Jump, noted that current and former DI female athletes had filed an appeal. They argued that 90% of the back pay going to former football and men's basketball players was a violation of Title IX, which requires schools to give male and female athletes equitable opportunities. Ain also pointed out that Judge Claudia Wilken, who oversaw the case, said that athletes could sue if they felt there was any infringement on Title IX due to the nature of the revenue share model. "This is new territory for schools," Ain said. "Schools, for the first time, will be deciding how to allocate tens of millions of dollars in revenue share to individual athletes. The expectation right now is that the distribution is going to be grossly unequal between men and women, and that will open schools up to Title IX litigation." Athletes have to run their deals through a clearinghouse Oostburg said she also had concerns about a new clearinghouse that will oversee deals athletes strike on their own with brands, called NIL deals (short for "name, image, and likeness"). Athletes with deals of over $600 will have to report them to the clearinghouse, operated by Deloitte, which will determine the athlete's value. If the deal is higher than their assessed value, it can't go through. Athletes who don't report deals or violate them by taking something of a different value could have their eligibility taken away. For athletes like Oostburg in "non-revenue" sports, NIL deals — often driven in part by their social media footprint — are the biggest money-making opportunity. "That does concern me," Oostburg said. "If I get a deal over $600 and they decide, no, that doesn't make sense for someone like a track athlete like me to get a $1,000 deal."
Forbes
23-06-2025
- Business
- Forbes
What Retirees Need To Know About Social Security's Funding Deficit
Congress needs to act soon to prevent future benefit cuts to Social Security The 2025 Social Security Trustees Report estimates that Social Security retirement benefits might be cut by 23% in the year 2033. That estimate assumes Congress doesn't act to close Social Security's funding deficit, which in today's polarized political climate is appearing more likely. With 2033 just eight years away, you'll most likely still be alive then if you're reading this post. So, let's look at what pre-retirees and retirees need to know about this troubling situation and what they can do about it. What Is Social Security's Funded Status? The 2025 Social Security Trustees Report projects that the Old Age and Survivor Insurance (OASI) Trust Fund can pay 100% of retiree and survivor benefits until the year 2033. At that time, the Social Security Trust Fund is projected to be depleted under the trustees' best estimates. Unless Congress acts to close this funding deficit, revenues from FICA taxes paid by workers will be the only source available to pay retirees' and survivors' benefits. These revenues can only support 77% of the benefits needed for retirees and survivors, according to the best estimates in the report. This would result in projected benefit reductions of 23%. The Trustees Report also shows the results of the OASI and Disability Income (DI) funds combined, even though the law would need to be changed in order to combine these funds. If this were to happen, the combined funds would be depleted in 2034, and revenues from FICA taxes could pay just 81% of benefits for retirees, survivors, and disabled beneficiaries. This would result in a projected 19% benefit reduction. Would Social Security Become Bankrupt? It's important to know that Social Security would not be completely bankrupt if the OASI and DI Trust Funds were depleted, as some people might think. Workers would still be paying their FICA taxes, which would fund the benefits of retirees, survivors, and disabled beneficiaries. As a result, benefits wouldn't disappear entirely even if the trust funds were depleted. What Can Congress Do To Close The Funding Deficit? Benefits for retirees, survivors, and disabled beneficiaries are financed almost exclusively by FICA taxes, income tax on Social Security benefits, and interest on trust fund reserves. As a result, there are basically three ways for Congress to close Social Security's funding deficit: Social Security's deficit is about 3.8% of the total covered pay of workers, or about 1.3% of our country's GDP. As a result, Congress would need to increase taxes and/or reduce benefits with a combined value of these amounts. You'd think adjusting benefits and taxes by these small percentages would be achievable. At the moment, however, Democrats and Republicans are dug into their positions and haven't been able to find an agreeable-by-both-sides compromise. Predictably, Democrats want to close the funding deficit mostly with tax increases, while Republicans want mostly to cut benefits. What Do Pre-Retirees And Retirees Need To Do? If you're pessimistic that Democrats and Republicans will make the necessary compromises in the next eight years to close Social Security's funding deficit, then you'll want to start making plans for a reduction in your Social Security income. Fortunately, you have eight years to explore your options. For example, you could start looking for ways to reduce your living expenses, such as by downsizing or spending less money on cars. You could also consider working part time in the next few years and saving the money for that possible rainy day in 2033. If you're eligible for Social Security retirement benefits but haven't yet started them, you might be tempted to start them as soon as possible before they're reduced. Not so fast—delaying benefits might still be your best strategy for maximizing your expected lifetime Social Security benefits. You can analyze your best strategy should there be a benefits reduction with Open Social Security, a helpful, free, online Social Security optimizer program. The Report's Compelling Call To Action The summary of the Trustees Report contains a compelling call to action. 'The 2025 Trustees Reports indicate a need for substantial changes to address Social Security's and Medicare's financial challenges. The Trustees recommend that lawmakers address the projected trust fund shortfalls in a timely way in order to phase in necessary changes gradually and give workers and beneficiaries time to adjust their expectations and behavior. Implementing changes sooner rather than later would allow more generations to share in the needed revenue increases or reductions in scheduled benefits. With informed discussion, creative thinking, and timely legislative action, Social Security and Medicare can continue to protect future generations.' Well said! Pressure Your Congress Representatives We need to put pressure on Congress now to make the necessary compromises to fix Social Security's funding gap. As a result, my wife and I are writing and calling our Senators and House representative. You can also consider supporting organizations that advocate on the behalf of retirees, such as AARP, the Alliance for Retired Americans, and the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare. Congress, working Americans, and retirees should take the 2025 Social Security Trustees Report as a flashing red light for a call to action.
The Hill
18-06-2025
- Business
- The Hill
Social Security's go-broke date pushed up in new report
The combined trust funds for Social Security are projected to run out in 2034, a year earlier than previously predicted, a board of trustees of the program's accounts said in a new report released Wednesday. The report projected that the program's Old-Age and Survivors Insurance (OASI) would be able to cover '100 percent of total scheduled benefits until 2033,' while the Disability Insurance (DI) trust fund is estimated to be able to pay '100 percent of total scheduled benefits through at least 2099.' But when the projections are combined, the resulting fund is estimated to only be able to cover '100 percent of total scheduled benefits until 2034, one year earlier than reported last year.' Once the reserves are depleted, the report estimated the total fund income would be able to pay 81 percent of scheduled benefits. The report said the depletion dates for the funds had advanced by about three-quarters compared to the previous year's projections. The report cited last year's passage of the Social Security Fairness Act as a key factor behind the shift in the funds' projected depletion dates. The bipartisan bill, which former President Biden signed into law back in January, repealed two tax rules that proponents say have unfairly reduced benefits for many Americans who also receive government pensions. But many experts sounded the alarm over its expected price tag and raised questions of fairness around the legislation. The new report said on Wednesday that the repeal of the tax rules 'increased projected Social Security benefit levels for some workers, relative to projected benefit levels in last year's report,' while singling out the legislation's impact as 'the primary contributor to the change' in the combined trust fund depletion date this year. Two other factors the board pointed to were the trustees' extension of the 'assumed period of recovery from historically low levels of fertility by 10 years' and its lowering of 'the assumed long-term share of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) that accrues to workers in the form of labor compensation.'
