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Tech savvy users have most digital concerns
LONDON, England, Dec. 15 [Category: BizMedia] -- Taylor and Francis Group, a publishing company, posted the following news release:
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Tech savvy users have most digital concerns
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Breaking research 15th December 2025
Millennials with advanced digital skills report heightened concerns over privacy, misinformation, and work-life balance in the digital age
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Photo by Vlad Deep on Unsplash
Digital concerns around privacy, online misinformation, and work-life boundaries are highest among highly educated, Western European millennials, finds a new study from researchers
... Show Full Article
LONDON, England, Dec. 15 [Category: BizMedia] -- Taylor and Francis Group, a publishing company, posted the following news release:
* * *
Tech savvy users have most digital concerns
*
Breaking research 15th December 2025
Millennials with advanced digital skills report heightened concerns over privacy, misinformation, and work-life balance in the digital age
Open Access Logo
Photo by Vlad Deep on Unsplash
Digital concerns around privacy, online misinformation, and work-life boundaries are highest among highly educated, Western European millennials, finds a new study from researchersat UCL and the University of British Columbia.
The research, published in Information, Communication & Society, also found individuals with higher levels of digital literacy are the most affected by these concerns.
For the study, the researchers used from the European Social Survey (ESS) - a project that collects nationally representative data on public attitudes, beliefs and behaviour, from thousands of people across Europe every two years.
They analysed responses from nearly 50,000 people in 30 countries* between 2020 and 2022.
For the ESS, participants were asked how much they thought digital tech infringes on privacy, helps spread misinformation, and causes work-life interruptions. Combining responses to the questions into a single index, the researchers generated a digital concern scale, ranging from 0 to 1, where a higher score indicates greater concern.
To establish their digital literacy and digital exposure, the respondents were asked how often they use the internet and to rate their familiarity with preference settings on a computer, advanced search on the internet, and using PDFs. At the country level, digital exposure was captured through the percentage of the population using the internet in each country.
The researchers looked at the levels of concern across different countries, as well as how the concern varies across social groups. They also looked at patterns by people's digital literacy and their exposure to digital tech.
Findings
They found millennials (those aged 25-44 in 2022) reported greater concerns, compared to younger (15-24) and older adults (75+). They found no significant differences in the level of digital concerns between men and women, nor between income groups or between urban and rural residents.
Across the board, people were more concerned about the potential harms of digital technologies than not. Bulgaria was the only country in the study that did not exceed the mid-point (0.5) on the digital concern scale (0-1). Of all the countries studied, digital concern was lowest in Bulgaria (with a score of 0.47) and highest in the Netherlands (0.74), followed by the UK (0.73).
Compared with native-born citizens, migrants reported lower levels of digital concern, and those who were in work had a lower level of digital concerns than those out of work. People with middle/high school education and those with a university degree reported greater levels of worry compared to their peers with no education or only primary school education.
The researchers found that those with greater tech know-how are more concerned about the negative impacts of digitalisation, but this association is only observed among people who use digital technology on most days or on a daily basis.
The findings suggest that individuals may perceive the potential harms of digitalisation as something that is beyond their control. So, the more they know about and are exposed to the issues, the more powerless and concerned they may feel.
Lead author Dr Yang Hu (UCL Social Research Institute) said: "Our findings call into question the assumption that greater exposure to the digital world reduces our concern about its potential harm.
"Rather than becoming desensitised, greater use of digital technology seems to heighten our concerns about it, particularly among people who have a high level of digital literacy.
"Anxieties about digitalisation have become a defining feature of today's world. As our use and understanding of technology grows, concern about its potential harm can impact individuals' mental health and quality of life, as well as wider societal well-being.
"As businesses, governments, and societies embrace new technologies, tech has become ubiquitous and digital literacy is essential for most people. The rapid development of AI is undoubtedly accelerating this process, so digital concern is not an issue that can be ignored."
Co-author Dr Yue Qian (University of British Columbia, Canada) said: "Our results reveal dual paradoxes: those who are supposedly most vulnerable to digital harms - young people, older adults, and those with a low level of digital literacy - appear least concerned about the harms, while those with advanced digital skills report the most concern.
"While mainstream efforts at improving digital literacy have focused on bolstering practical skills, authorities should not ignore people's concerns about what rapid digitalisation means for the subjective well-being of individuals and societies."
Notes to Editors
*29 European countries and Israel.
For more information or to speak to the researchers involved, please contact Sophie Hunter, UCL Media Relations E: sophie.hunter@ucl.ac.uk, T: +44 7502505610
The paper will be published in on Monday 15th December, 00:01 UK time and are under a strict embargo until this time.
Hu, Y., Qian, Y., (2025). Who is concerned about digitalization? The role of digital literacy and exposure across 30 countries. Information, Communication & Society
About UCL (University College London)
UCL is a diverse global community of world-class academics, students, industry links, external partners, and alumni. Our powerful collective of individuals and institutions work together to explore new possibilities.
Since 1826, we have championed independent thought by attracting and nurturing the world's best minds. Our community of more than 50,000 students from 150 countries and over 16,000 staff pursues academic excellence, breaks boundaries and makes a positive impact on real world problems.
We are consistently ranked among the top 10 universities in the world and are one of only a handful of institutions rated as having the strongest academic reputation and the broadest research impact.
We have a progressive and integrated approach to our teaching and research - championing innovation, creativity and cross-disciplinary working. We teach our students how to think, not what to think, and see them as partners, collaborators and contributors.
For almost 200 years, we are proud to have opened higher education to students from a wide range of backgrounds and to change the way we create and share knowledge.
We were the first in England to welcome women to university education and that courageous attitude and disruptive spirit is still alive today. We are UCL.
www.ucl.ac.uk | Read news at www.ucl.ac.uk/news/ | Follow UCL News on Bluesky and LinkedIn
About Taylor & Francis Group
Taylor & Francis supports diverse communities of experts, researchers and knowledge makers around the world to accelerate and maximize the impact of their work. We are a leader in our field, publish across all disciplines and have one of the largest Humanities and Social Sciences portfolios. Our expertise, built on an academic publishing heritage of over 200 years, advances trusted knowledge that fosters human progress.
Our 2,400+ people, based in a global network of offices in more than 15 countries, use their skills and the latest technology to curate, validate and share impactful advanced, emergent and applied knowledge. Under the Taylor & Francis, Routledge and F1000 imprints, we publish over 2,500 journals, 8,400 new books each year and partner with more than 700 scholarly societies.
Taylor & Francis is proud to be a Global Certified Accessible(tm) publisher and to have achieved CarbonNeutral(r) certification for our operations and print publications in accordance with The CarbonNeutral Protocol.
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Original text here: https://newsroom.taylorandfrancisgroup.com/tech-savvy-users-have-most-digital-concerns/
University of Texas senior defensive back Michael Taaffe wins the 2025 Allstate Wuerffel Trophy for leadership in community service
NORTHBROOK, Illinois, Dec. 13 [Category: BizInsurance] -- Allstate, a property and casualty insurance company, issued the following news release:
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University of Texas senior defensive back Michael Taaffe wins the 2025 Allstate Wuerffel Trophy for leadership in community service
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NORTHBROOK, Ill., Dec.12, 2025 - University of Texas senior defensive back Michael Taaffe is the recipient of the 2025 Allstate Wuerffel Trophy, college football's most prestigious community service award. He was also named captain of the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team during The Home Depot College Football Awards
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NORTHBROOK, Illinois, Dec. 13 [Category: BizInsurance] -- Allstate, a property and casualty insurance company, issued the following news release:
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University of Texas senior defensive back Michael Taaffe wins the 2025 Allstate Wuerffel Trophy for leadership in community service
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NORTHBROOK, Ill., Dec.12, 2025 - University of Texas senior defensive back Michael Taaffe is the recipient of the 2025 Allstate Wuerffel Trophy, college football's most prestigious community service award. He was also named captain of the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team during The Home Depot College Football Awardson ESPN on Friday, Dec.12th.
In memory of his close friend Jake Ehlinger, Taaffe leads substance abuse prevention efforts through Texas Against Fentanyl, expanding education and resources statewide. His commitment to helping others doesn't stop there. In partnership with P. Terry's Burger Stand, Taaffe raised more than $100,000 for the Texas Flood Relief Foundation, honoring lives lost at Camp Mystic and supporting families in need. From visiting the Dell Children's Hospital to distributing food with Welcome Table ATX and joining community cleanups with The Trail Conservancy, Taaffe regularly gives back in Austin.
The Allstate AFCA Good Works Team names 22 student-athletes and one head coach for exemplary community service from colleges and universities across the country. Taaffe joins an elite group of past recipients and hundreds of Good Works Team members since 1992. Finalists were chosen by a national committee and fan voting on ESPN.com/Allstate.
Michael Taaffe, 2025 Allstate Wuerffel Trophy recipient and Allstate AFCA Good Works Team captain:
"For me, it's all about serving my community with purpose and making a meaningful difference beyond football. I'm honored to receive this award and for everyone who supports giving back. The Wuerffel Foundation, Allstate, and AFCA, thank you for shining a light on service."
Danny Wuerffel, former NFL quarterback, Heisman Trophy winner, College Football Hall of Famer and namesake of the Allstate Wuerffel Trophy:
"Michael represents everything this award stands for. His courage and commitment to help others reflect his remarkable servant leadership. As he joins the fraternity of twenty previous recipients of this award, we congratulate him on this prestigious honor."
Troy Hawkes, executive vice president, Allstate Agent Distribution:
"Allstate champions athletes who lead with purpose and create positive change. Through the Allstate Wuerffel Trophy and Good Works Team, we celebrate student-athletes who go beyond the game to strengthen communities. There's no better example of that this year than Michael's work improving communities across the Lone Star State."
Fans can use #WuerffelTrophy and #GoodWorksTeam on social media to congratulate Taaffe and help others learn more about his recognition.
Past recipients of the Allstate Wuerffel Trophy include: Rudy Niswanger - LSU - 2005; Joel Penton - Ohio State - 2006; Paul Smith - Tulsa - 2007; Tim Tebow - Florida - 2008; Tim Hiller - Western Michigan - 2009; Sam Acho - Texas - 2010; Barrett Jones - Alabama - 2011; Matt Barkley - USC - 2012; Gabe Ikard - Oklahoma - 2013; Deterrian Shackelford - Ole Miss - 2014; Ty Darlington - Oklahoma - 2015; Trevor Knight - Texas A&M - 2016; Courtney Love - Kentucky - 2017; Drue Tranquill - Notre Dame - 2018; Jon Wassink - Western Michigan - 2019; Teton Saltes - New Mexico - 2020; Isaiah Sanders - Stanford - 2021; Dillan Gibbons - Florida State - 2022; Ladd McConkey - Georgia - 2023; and Nick Dawkins - Penn State - 2024.
About the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team
The Allstate AFCA Good Works Team was established in 1992 by the College Football Association, recognizing the extra efforts made by college football players and student support staff off the field. AFCA became the governing body of the award in 1997 and continues to honor college football players who go the extra mile for those in need. Allstate worked to present the award starting with the 2008 season.
About the AFCA
The American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) was founded in 1922 and currently has more than 11,000 members around the world ranging from the high school level to the professional ranks. According to its constitution, the AFCA was formed, in part, to "maintain the highest possible standards in football and in the coaching profession" and to "provide a forum for the discussion and study of all matters pertaining to football."
For more information about the AFCA, visit www.AFCA.com. If you are interested in more in-depth articles and videos, please become an AFCA member. You can find out more information about membership and specific member benefits on the AFCA Membership Overview page. If you are ready to join, please fill out the AFCA Membership Request Form.
About the Wuerffel Foundation
The Wuerffel Foundation is dedicated to supporting Danny Wuerffel's mission to inspire greater service and unity in the world, built on the three values of excellence, service and humility. As a recognized humanitarian, Danny mentors community leaders and connects them with philanthropic resources. The foundation annually presents the prestigious Allstate Wuerffel Trophy, college football's premier award for community service, and hosts the Desire Cup and PickleBowl events.
About the Allstate Wuerffel Trophy
The Allstate Wuerffel Trophy, a member of the National College Football Awards Association, is college football's premier award for community service. The trophy is presented annually by the Wuerffel Foundation to the FBS player who best combines exemplary community service with leadership and performance on and off the field. Named after Heisman Trophy winner and College Football Hall of Famer, Danny Wuerffel, the award honors his commitment to inspiring greater service and unity in the world. Established in 2005, the Wuerffel Trophy is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year. Wuerffel led the University of Florida to four SEC Championships and the 1996 National Championship. As a humanitarian, he continues to inspire leaders to positively impact their communities. Danny currently serves as President of the Wuerffel Foundation and Executive Director of Desire Street Ministries. An avid pickleball player, he was drafted as a professional within the National Pickleball League and hosts celebrity pro-am "PickleBowl" tournaments.
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Original text here: https://www.allstatenewsroom.com/news/2025-allstate-wuerffel-trophy-recipient/
Related Companies and Sterling Equities Announce Opening of The Housing Lottery for Willets Point Commons
NEW YORK, Dec. 13 -- The Related Companies L.P. issued the following news release:
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Related Companies and Sterling Equities Announce Opening of The Housing Lottery for Willets Point Commons
The 880 Affordable Homes are Located across Buildings 1 and 2 as Part of The First Phase of New York's Largest New All-Affordable Housing Development in Decades Homes range from Studios to Three-Bedrooms, Available to Households Earning Between 30 and 120 Percent of the Area Median Income (AMI)
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QUEENS, NY (December 12, 2025) - Today, Queens Development Group (QDG) - a joint venture between Related
... Show Full Article
NEW YORK, Dec. 13 -- The Related Companies L.P. issued the following news release:
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Related Companies and Sterling Equities Announce Opening of The Housing Lottery for Willets Point Commons
The 880 Affordable Homes are Located across Buildings 1 and 2 as Part of The First Phase of New York's Largest New All-Affordable Housing Development in Decades Homes range from Studios to Three-Bedrooms, Available to Households Earning Between 30 and 120 Percent of the Area Median Income (AMI)
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QUEENS, NY (December 12, 2025) - Today, Queens Development Group (QDG) - a joint venture between RelatedCompanies and Sterling Equities - in partnership with the New York City Department of Housing Preservation & Development (HPD) and the New York City Housing Development Corporation (HDC), announced the launch of the affordable housing lottery for 880 homes at Willets Point Commons located in the heart of Queens.
"What is happening at Willets Point right now is nothing short of extraordinary. In less than four years, we turned a vacant stretch of land into homes for hundreds of families and laid the foundation for a whole new neighborhood in Queens," said New York City Mayor Eric Adams. "But this dynamic change is not just happening at Willets Point. From delivering five ambitious neighborhood plans to passing the first citywide rezoning initiative in 60 years, our administration has helped turn New York into a 'City of Yes.' We have shattered affordable housing records year after year and reinforced our position as the most pro-housing administration in city history."
"At a time when everyone is talking about affordability and the need for more affordable housing in New York, Willets Point is proof of what can happen when the public and private sector come together - we are delivering on the largest all affordable housing development in 40 years," said Bruce A. Beal, Jr., President of Related Companies, and Gregory Katz, Partner at Sterling Equities, on behalf of QDG. "Thank you to Mayor Adams, HPD, HDC, EDC, the entire administration, NYCFC, and our financing partners for making this longstanding vision a reality. We look forward to working with the new Administration to get the balance of this affordable housing done for New York and keep building a city where everyone can thrive."
"For decades, Willets Point was known as the 'Iron Triangle,' an industrial area of Queens with auto-repair shops, warehouses, and underdeveloped lots. Limited infrastructure kept the neighborhood from growing. That is now changing. Willets Point is becoming a center of economic and community development and the site of the city's largest 100 percent affordable housing project in 40 years. We mark another milestone in this historic effort with the neighborhood's first housing lottery, Willets Point Commons, which will bring 880 affordable homes where families can finally put down roots," said Acting HPD Commissioner Ahmed Tigani. "Once complete, the all-new Willets Point will include a new public school, public open space, a brand-new hotel, and Etihad Park, the nation's first fully electric, soccer-specific stadium. This is the kind of meaningful, long-term investment approach this Administration has made sure to deliver for New Yorkers across this city."
"We are excited to join our partners in celebrating the launch of the Willets Point Commons lottery, which will deliver 880 affordable homes to New Yorkers in need," said NYC HDC President Eric Enderlin. "These new homes - paired with a range of amenities, resident programming, and new community and retail space - will help Willets Point grow into a vibrant, inclusive neighborhood for New Yorkers across a wide range of incomes. I encourage all interested applicants to apply."
"This is a historic moment for the Willets Point as some fortunate New Yorkers will soon have the opportunity to live in the newest neighborhood in Queens while having access to new public open space among other incredible amenities," said New York City Economic Development Corporation President & CEO Andrew Kimball. "Years of hard work remediating and preparing the site to deliver the largest 100 percent affordable housing project in 40 years are bearing fruit and we look forward to continuing our partnership with Queens Development Group on the next phases of development of this transformative project."
"The opening of the lottery for Willets Point Commons is a major step forward in the longstanding effort to create a new, vibrant, and affordable community in North Queens," said Queens Borough President Donovan Richards Jr. "The dream of living in a high-quality yet affordable home will soon become a reality for 880 well-deserving families. I encourage all those who would benefit from living in an up-and-coming, affordable, and easily accessible neighborhood to apply for an apartment at Willets Point Commons today."
"The opening of the affordable housing lottery at Willets Point Commons marks a once-in-a-generation moment for Queens," said New York City Councilmember Francisco Moya. "This project delivers the kind of deep affordability our families deserve, made possible only through the unwavering commitment of our incredible partners at the Queens Development Group. The homes built here will anchor generations - giving families stability, opportunity, and a legacy of truly accessible housing that will shape this community for decades to come. I could not be more proud of the complete redevelopment of Willets Point and seeing it come to fruition- with housing first- is perfect capstone on my time at the City Council."
"Willets Point has been part of Queens' story for generations, and today we move one step closer to transforming the former 'valley of ashes' into a dynamic new neighborhood centered around affordable housing and anchored in opportunity," said New York City Councilmember-Elect Shanel Thomas-Henry. "With the opening of the housing lottery for 880 affordable homes, families now have a real path to stability. I encourage all eligible residents to apply and look forward to working with this historic partnership to ensure Willets Point's future meets the needs of the residents of our community and all of Queens."
The 880 homes will be in the first two buildings of the Willets Point development and will open with a portion of the public green space. Housing available through the lottery ranges from studios to three-bedrooms and is available to households earning between 30 and 120 percent of the area median income (AMI). 20 percent of apartments are set aside for Queens Community Board 7 residents, 10 percent for veterans and / or NYC municipal employees, five percent for mobility access needs and two percent for visual/hearing access needs. To apply for an apartment, visit: https://housingconnect.nyc.gov/PublicWeb/details/7378.
Willets Point Commons features thoughtfully designed homes and a full suite of amenities and programming for residents to enjoy. The common spaces include two landscaped inner courtyards, tenant lounge space, outdoor terraces and BBQs, community garden, fitness center, children's playroom, co-working space, ground floor retail shops, and other community facilities. Additionally, the buildings will be all-electric, achieve LEED Gold certification, and comply with Local Law 97 through high-performance glazing, high-efficiency HVAC systems, an electric hot water plant, an insulated envelope, energy star appliances, and low-emission mobility options for residents, such as bike storage and electric vehicle charging. Both buildings will be managed by Related Management Company.
Willets Point Commons offers the unique opportunity to set roots in one of the city's most rapidly growing neighborhoods. With direct transit access via the 7 train, LIRR, and Q19, Q90, and Q66 bus routes, commutes to Manhattan are under 30 minutes while LaGuardia Airport is located a five-minute drive away.
The next phase of the neighborhood transformation will be the groundbreaking of the third building comprising of 220 additional affordable homes for low-income seniors. Once complete, Willets Point will include a new public school, more than 150,000 square feet of public open space, a brand-new hotel, and Etihad Park - the future home of the New York City Football Club (NYCFC), the city's first professional soccer-specific stadium and Major League Soccer's (MLS) first fully-electric stadium across the nation.
TRANSFORMING WILLETS POINT WITH UNPRECEDENTED INVESTMENT
The Willets Point transformation has been decades in the making. Formerly an underutilized, industrial area, Willets Point will become a vibrant neighborhood anchored by much-needed affordable housing. Through a historic public-private partnership between QDG, NYCEDC, the City of New York, and NYCFC, Willets Point is projected to generate $6.1 billion in economic impact over the next 30 years, creating 1,550 permanent jobs and 14,200 construction jobs. QDG is participating in HireNYC, a city program that connects local residents to jobs.
New York City has made a significant investment to support the development of the Willets Point neighborhood. This includes the remediation of formerly contaminated soil, and infrastructure investments, such as new streets, signage, sidewalks, curbs, trees, lights, draining, stormwater management, water mains, hydrants, sewers, and utilities. Additionally, because Willets Point is in a flood-prone area, the city is taking a holistic approach that centers on resiliency by raising the new streets and buildings out of the 100-year floodplain to protect it from future storms. QDG will champion this environmental investment by seeking LEED Gold U.S. Green Building Council certification or Enterprise Green Communities for each residential building.
For more information, please visit: https://www.livewilletspoint.com/.
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Queens Development Group
About Related Companies
Related Companies is a global real estate and lifestyle company defined by innovation and the most prominent privately-owned real estate firm in the United States. Formed over 50 years ago, Related is one of the largest private owners and preservationists of affordable housing in the U.S. and a fully integrated, highly diversified industry leader with experience in virtually every aspect of development, acquisition, management, finance, marketing, and sales. Headquartered in New York City, Related has offices and major developments in Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Texas, Washington, D.C., and London and boasts a team of approximately 4,000 professionals. With over $70 billion in assets owned or under development including the 28-acre Hudson Yards neighborhood on Manhattan's West Side, Deutsche Bank Center at Columbus Circle and The 78 in Chicago. Related was named to Fast Company Magazine's list of the 50 Most Innovative Companies in the World. For more information about Related, please visit www.related.com.
For Renderings of Willets Point Commons, please visit here.
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About Sterling Equities
Sterling Equities is an investment firm with holdings in real estate, media and sports. Founded in 1973, Sterling is guided by the values of partnership and civic responsibility. Sterling's vertically integrated national real estate business encompasses direct ownership of a diverse portfolio including multifamily, industrial, self-storage, retail and office property, in addition to development, investment, lending, asset/property management, and construction management activities. Sterling's media and sports investments include SportsNet New York, a regional sports network and its minority ownership position in the New York Mets Baseball Club. For additional information about Sterling Equities, please visit the company's website at www.sterlingequities.com.
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Original text here: https://www.related.com/press-releases/2025-12-12/related-companies-and-sterling-equities-announce-opening-housing-lottery?_gl=1*1hodrhp*_up*MQ..*_ga*Mzg1NDI1NTgzLjE3NjU2MTY1NTc.*_ga_R55ZFS711N*czE3NjU2MTY1NTckbzEkZzAkdDE3NjU2MTY1NTckajYwJGwwJGgw
[Category: BizReal Estate]
Mars Completes Acquisition of Kellanova
MCLEAN, Virginia, Dec. 13 -- Mars Inc., a manufacturer of snacks, food and pet care products and services issued the following news release:
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Mars Completes Acquisition of Kellanova
Transaction unites two iconic businesses with portfolios of beloved brands
Mars Snacking poised to shape the future of snacking and serve more consumers globally
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Mars, Incorporated, a family-owned, global leader in pet care, snacking and food, is pleased to announce the successful completion of its acquisition of Kellanova, whose portfolio includes Pringles(R), Cheez-It(R), Pop-Tarts(R), Rice Krispies Treats(R),
... Show Full Article
MCLEAN, Virginia, Dec. 13 -- Mars Inc., a manufacturer of snacks, food and pet care products and services issued the following news release:
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Mars Completes Acquisition of Kellanova
Transaction unites two iconic businesses with portfolios of beloved brands
Mars Snacking poised to shape the future of snacking and serve more consumers globally
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Mars, Incorporated, a family-owned, global leader in pet care, snacking and food, is pleased to announce the successful completion of its acquisition of Kellanova, whose portfolio includes Pringles(R), Cheez-It(R), Pop-Tarts(R), Rice Krispies Treats(R),RXBAR(R) and Kellogg's international cereal brands. The combination brings together two iconic businesses with beloved brands, storied legacies and outstanding capabilities - now united to shape the future of snacking.
"Today marks a transformative moment and I'm excited to welcome Kellanova to Mars," said Andrew Clarke, Global President of Mars Snacking. "United by more than a century of pioneering new categories and building iconic brands, Mars and Kellanova are joining forces to shape the future of snacking. With more than 50,000 Mars Snacking Associates and partners around the world, we're now positioned to bring consumers more of the brands they love and new innovations -- while continuing to advance our sustainability commitments and invest for the long term."
The new Mars Snacking will operate in attractive snacking categories, adding Kellanova's billion-dollar brands - Pringles(R), Cheez-It(R) and Kellogg's(R) - to the Mars business. The existing Mars portfolio includes billion-dollar snacking and confectionery brands like SNICKERS(R), M&M'S(R), TWIX(R), DOVE(R), SKITTLES(R) and EXTRA(R), as well as KIND(R) and Nature's Bakery(R). The addition of Kellanova also expands the portfolio of Accelerator, a division of Mars Snacking, with complementary brands like RXBAR(R), Nutri-Grain(R) bars and Special K(R) bars.
Mars, Incorporated announced on August 14, 2024, that it had entered into a definitive agreement under which Mars agreed to acquire Kellanova. The transaction received Kellanova shareowner approval on November 1, 2024. The acquisition received all required regulatory approvals as of December 8, 2025.
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About Mars, Incorporated
Mars, Incorporated is driven by the belief that the world we want tomorrow starts with how we do business today. As a $65bn+ family-owned business, our diverse and expanding portfolio of leading pet care products, veterinary services, and quality snacking and food products delight millions of people and support pets all around the world. With the strategic acquisition of Kellanova, we have further enhanced our capabilities and expanded our reach in the global market. We produce some of the world's best-loved brands including ROYAL CANIN(R), PEDIGREE(R), WHISKAS(R), CESAR(R), DOVE(R), EXTRA(R), M&M'S(R), SNICKERS(R), BEN'S ORIGINAL(TM), and now, iconic brands from Kellanova including Pringles(R), Cheez-It(R) and Pop-Tarts(R). Our international networks of pet hospitals, including BANFIELD(TM), BLUEPEARL(TM), VCA(TM), and ANICURA(TM), span preventive, general, specialty, and emergency veterinary care, and our global veterinary diagnostics business ANTECH(R) offers breakthrough capabilities in pet diagnostics. The Mars Five Principles -- Quality, Responsibility, Mutuality, Efficiency and Freedom -- inspire our more than 170,000 Associates to act every day to help create a better world for people, pets and the planet.
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Original text here: https://www.mars.com/news-and-stories/press-releases-statements/mars-completes-acquisition-of-kellanova
[Category: BizFood/Beverage]
Gartner Survey Finds 60% of Customer Service Agents Fail to Promote Self-Service
STAMFORD, Connecticut, Dec. 13 (TNSrep) -- Gartner, an information technology research and advisory company, issued the following news release:
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Gartner Survey Finds 60% of Customer Service Agents Fail to Promote Self-Service
Agents Play a Pivotal Role in Supporting Self-Service Investments
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Sixty percent of customer service agents fail to promote self-service options, according to a survey by Gartner, Inc.
A Gartner survey of 5,801 customers conducted in January and February 2025 revealed that despite the potential benefits of self-service, when agents do mention self-service in customer
... Show Full Article
STAMFORD, Connecticut, Dec. 13 (TNSrep) -- Gartner, an information technology research and advisory company, issued the following news release:
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Gartner Survey Finds 60% of Customer Service Agents Fail to Promote Self-Service
Agents Play a Pivotal Role in Supporting Self-Service Investments
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Sixty percent of customer service agents fail to promote self-service options, according to a survey by Gartner, Inc.
A Gartner survey of 5,801 customers conducted in January and February 2025 revealed that despite the potential benefits of self-service, when agents do mention self-service in customerinteractions, 25% make neutral comments, and 12% make explicitly negative remarks.
"Promoting self-service is not just about reducing costs; it's about empowering customers to use the easiest and most efficient solution," said Keith McIntosh, Senior Principal, Research, in the Gartner Customer Service & Support practice. "Agents play a crucial role in this process, and their ability to positively endorse self-service options can really matter."
Customers who receive self-service promotion from an agent are far more likely to say they will adopt self-service when they encounter future service issues with the company. Agent promotion is associated with a doubling of the number of customers who are likely to adopt self-service next time, highlighting the need for organizations to focus on training agents to effectively communicate the benefits of self-service options to customers.
Navigating Generative AI Adoption in Customer Service
As leaders continue to invest heavily in GenAI to automate self-service, great phone experiences can actually disincentivize the use of GenAI among customers. While 55% of service leaders are exploring customer-facing GenAI chatbots by 2025, only 35% of customers who last interacted via phone are willing to adopt a GenAI digital assistant.
This reluctance stems from the success and comfort customers experience when resolving issues directly through phone interactions. The phone remains the dominant service channel, suggesting that customers may be hesitant to shift to a GenAI digital assistant when their current method is effective.
"Service leaders should focus on integrating GenAI solutions that complement existing phone interactions rather than replacing them. By positioning GenAI as an enhancement to the phone experience, organizations can reassure customers that the digital assistant is designed to streamline their journey, offering both self-service solutions and seamless transitions to human agents when needed," said McIntosh. "Meeting customers where they are, while offering innovative solutions, is key to driving adoption and satisfaction."
Gartner clients can read more in "2025 Customer Insights: 4 Data Findings to Inform Your CX Strategy" (https://www.gartner.com/document-reader/document/6506571?ref=follow-dashboard) and in the eBook, "4 Customer Insights to Improve the Service Experience." (https://www.gartner.com/en/customer-service-support/trends/customer-behavior-insights?utm_medium=press-release&utm_campaign=RM_GB_2025_GCSSL_NPP_PR1_CXBEHAVIORINSIGHTS&utm_term=ebook)
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About Gartner for Customer Service & Support Leaders
The customer service and support function is vital to maintaining customer loyalty and influencing brand perceptions. Gartner for Customer Service & Support Leaders provides indispensable insights, advice and tools needed to achieve service and support leaders' mission-critical priorities, specifically improving the customer experience while managing costs; designing an optimal service channel strategy; measuring and reducing customer effort; and how to hire, develop and retain high-potential frontline talent.
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Original text here: https://www.gartner.com/en/newsroom/press-releases/2025-06-02-gartner-survey-finds-60-percent-of-customer-service-agents-fail-to-promote-self-service
[Category: BizConsulting]
Flying Into the End Zone: Delta Adds College Football Playoff Game Flights
ATLANTA, Georgia, Dec. 13 -- Delta Air Lines issued the following news:
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Flying into the end zone: Delta adds college football playoff game flights
Delta is adding additional flights for the College Football Playoff quarterfinals and building off the airline's well-positioned existing network to ensure fans can be there to cheer on their team.
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College football fans, get ready to pack your bags and your team spirit; Delta has your ticket to cheer on your favorite team in the biggest games of the season.
"Bowl season is all about tradition, rivalries and unforgettable moments as teams
... Show Full Article
ATLANTA, Georgia, Dec. 13 -- Delta Air Lines issued the following news:
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Flying into the end zone: Delta adds college football playoff game flights
Delta is adding additional flights for the College Football Playoff quarterfinals and building off the airline's well-positioned existing network to ensure fans can be there to cheer on their team.
*
College football fans, get ready to pack your bags and your team spirit; Delta has your ticket to cheer on your favorite team in the biggest games of the season.
"Bowl season is all about tradition, rivalries and unforgettable moments as teamsbattle it out for a place in the championship," said Amy Martin, Vice President - Network Planning. "By adding additional flights and building off Delta's well-positioned existing network, we are making sure college football fans can be there to cheer on their team when and where it matters the most."
Here's where Delta is adding extra lift for the College Football Playoff quarterfinals:
Wednesday, Dec. 31
Dallas
* Buckeye fans, Delta has you covered with flights from Columbus (CMH) to Dallas (DFW) on Dec. 30 and Jan. 1.
Thursday, Jan. 1
Miami
* Delta is adding flights between Atlanta (ATL) to Miami (MIA), offering 12 daily segments on Dec. 31 and Jan. 2 to give customers additional flight options down to Miami.
Los Angeles
* Hoosier Nation: Delta is adding an extra Indianapolis (IND) to Los Angeles (LAX) flights on Dec. 30, Dec. 31 and Jan. 2.
New Orleans
* Dawgs fans, Delta is turning up the volume: Atlanta (ATL) to New Orleans (MSY) gets additional flights Dec. 31 and Jan. 2.
Pro tip: These flights will go fast, so book early and make sure you're in the stands when history happens.
Our full added schedule can be viewed below:
CMH-DFW Adds
Flight Number ... Date ... Departure Airport ... Departure Time ... Arrival Airport ... Arrival Time ... Aircraft
DL 8801 ... 30-Dec-25 ... CMH ... 10:30 ... DFW ... 12:30 ... Boeing 737-900
DL 8801 ... 1-Jan-26 ... DFW ... 13:35 ... CMH ... 17:15 ... Boeing 737-900
ATL-MIA Adds
Flight Number ... Date ... Departure Airport ... Departure Time ... Arrival Airport ... Arrival Time ... Aircraft
DL 8801 ... 31-Dec-25 ... ATL ... 12:00 ... MIA ... 13:53 ... Boeing 737-900
DL 8811 ... 2-Jan-26 ... MIA ... 15:05 ... ATL ... 17:10 ... Boeing 757D
IND-LAX Adds
Flight Number ... Date ... Departure Airport ... Departure Time ... Arrival Airport ... Arrival Time ... Aircraft
DL 8804 ... 30-Dec-25 ... IND ... 10:30 ... LAX ... 12:13 ... Boeing 737-900
DL 8804 ... 31-Dec-25 ... IND ... 10:30 ... LAX ... 12:13 ... Boeing 737-900
DL 8801 ... 2-Jan-26 ... LAX ... 12:00 ... IND ... 18:58 ... Boeing 737-900
DL 8804 ... 2-Jan-26 ... LAX ... 13:00 ... IND ... 19:58 ... Boeing 737-900
ATL-MSY Adds
Flight Number ... Date ... Departure Airport ... Departure Time ... Arrival Airport ... Arrival Time ... Aircraft
DL 8800 ... 31-Dec-25 ... ATL ... 11:49 ... MSY ... 12:30 ... Boeing 737-900
DL 8902 ... 31-Dec-25 ... ATL ... 12:25 ... MSY ... 13:06 ... Boeing 737-900
DL 8810 ... 2-Jan-26 ... MSY ... 9:19 ... ATL ... 11:44 ... Boeing 757D
DL 8812 ... 2-Jan-26 ... MSY ... 14:35 ... ATL ... 17:04 ... Boeing 757D
Hoping to watch the games, but have a flight scheduled during the action? Delta has got you covered there, too. With much of the airline's fleet equipped with live satellite TV, customers can enjoy the games from the comfort of their seat on flights while over the Continental U.S. Customers traveling on aircraft equipped with Delta Sync Wi-Fi can also use the streaming-quality connectivity to access their own subscription services and seamlessly stream the games. Delta has reached another major industry milestone with the installation of fast, free Delta Sync Wi-Fi presented by T-Mobile on its 1,000th aircraft, representing approximately 75% of the total fleet.
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Original text here: https://news.delta.com/flying-end-zone-delta-adds-college-football-playoff-game-flights
[Category: BizTravel]
Decoding Long COVID: Investigators Reveal Why the Body Keeps Fighting the War
BOSTON, Massachusetts, Dec. 13 (TNSjou) -- Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center issued the following news:
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Decoding Long COVID: Investigators Reveal Why the Body Keeps Fighting the War
New BIDMC Study Reveals Persistent Immune Activation and Paths to Treatment
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A new study from investigators at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) sheds light on why some people never fully recover from COVID-19.
In a study analyzing blood samples from more than 140 participants, scientists led by Dan H. Barouch, MD, PhD and colleagues tracked the immunologic and inflammatory responses over
... Show Full Article
BOSTON, Massachusetts, Dec. 13 (TNSjou) -- Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center issued the following news:
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Decoding Long COVID: Investigators Reveal Why the Body Keeps Fighting the War
New BIDMC Study Reveals Persistent Immune Activation and Paths to Treatment
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A new study from investigators at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) sheds light on why some people never fully recover from COVID-19.
In a study analyzing blood samples from more than 140 participants, scientists led by Dan H. Barouch, MD, PhD and colleagues tracked the immunologic and inflammatory responses overtime in patients who developed long COVID as compared with patients who fully recovered from COVID-19. The team found key differences in patients who developed long COVID and evidence of persistent chronic inflammation long after acute COVID-19. The team's findings, published in Nature Immunology, open the door to new treatment strategies for people with long COVID.
"There is currently no specific treatment for long COVID, which affects millions of people in the United States, and most clinical trials to date for this condition have focused on testing antiviral agents to clear potential residual virus," said Barouch, director of the Center for Virology and Vaccine Research at BIDMC. "In contrast, our findings show that long COVID in humans is characterized by persistent activation of chronic inflammatory pathways, which defines new potential therapeutic targets."
Long COVID affects an estimated 15 million Americans, according to recent data from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. People with long COVID may struggle with a wide array of symptoms including fatigue, brain fog, shortness of breath, exercise intolerance, and cognitive decline for months or even years. Doctors and scientists don't fully understand why some people develop long COVID while others don't.
Barouch and colleagues took a comprehensive approach, integrating data on immune responses, viral markers, gene expression (transcriptomics), and plasma proteins (proteomics) to develop a detailed profile of the immune system during long COVID. This "multi-omic" technique allowed the investigators to compare immune and inflammatory responses in patients living with long COVID to that of people never infected with SARS-CoV-2, those acutely infected, and individuals who fully recovered.
The team studied two cohorts of patients, one group from 2020-2021, and a second group from 2023-2024. Blood samples were analyzed three-to-six months after initial COVID-19 infection, and again more than six months after initial infection.
Analysis revealed clear differences in specific signaling pathways -- series of chemical reactions that regulate all the body's functions and activities -- that appear to be the hallmarks of long COVID. Patients with long COVID demonstrated signs of chronic inflammation, immune system depletion, and disruptions in cellular metabolism not seen in patients who had fully recovered from COVID-19.
Those whose immune systems showed the greatest inflammation at the start of infection were also more likely to face lingering symptoms later, a sign that the body's early fight against the virus may, in some cases, set the stage for long COVID.
"Integrating multi-omic data gave us a unified view of long COVID's immune landscape, enabling us to identify key pathways that can be therapeutically targeted," said first author, Malika Aid, PhD. "This bridge between data and clinical action is essential for advancing patient care."
Barouch and colleagues further identified specific immune and inflammatory proteins and molecular signatures that could serve as potential targets for therapies aimed at calming chronic inflammation and restoring healthy immune function. The team has initiated a phase 2a clinical trial of a drug that has been approved for atopic dermatitis -- the JAK1 inhibitor abrocitinib (NCT06597396) -- to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of targeting one of the top pathways identified in this study.
Co-authors included Malika Aid, Valentin Boero-Teyssier, Katherine McMahan, Nazim Belabbaci, Erica Borducchi, Ai-Ris Y. Collier of the Center for Virology and Vaccine Research at BIDMC; Rammy Dong, Michael Doyle and Janet Mullington of the Division of Sleep Medicine at BIDMC.
This work was supported by the Massachusetts Consortium for Pathogen Readiness; the Gates Foundation (INV-027406, INV-041469), and the National Institutes of Health (grant CA260476 to D.H.B.). Next-generation sequencing services were provided by the Emory NPRC Genomics Core (grants NIH P51 OD011132, S10 OD026799). Proteomics data were generated by the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center Proteomics Core.
The authors report no conflict of interest.
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About Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center is a leading academic medical center, where extraordinary care is supported by high-quality education and research. BIDMC is a teaching affiliate of Harvard Medical School, and consistently ranks as a national leader among independent hospitals in National Institutes of Health funding. BIDMC is the official hospital of the Boston Red Sox.
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center is a part of Beth Israel Lahey Health, a health care system that brings together academic medical centers and teaching hospitals, community and specialty hospitals, more than 4,700 physicians and 39,000 employees in a shared mission to expand access to great care and advance the science and practice of medicine through groundbreaking research and education.
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Original text here: https://www.bidmc.org/about-bidmc/news/2025/12/decoding-long-covid-investigators-reveal-why-the-body-keeps-fighting-the-war
[Category: BizHospital]
