Record-breaking material for film capacitors with 90% efficiency identifiedLONDON (AP) — When had their say in 2024, their message was often: “You’re fired.” Some 70 countries that are home to half the world’s population held elections this year, and in many . From and to , and , voters tired of economic disruption and global instability rejected sitting governments — and sometimes turned to disruptive outsiders. The rocky democratic landscape just seemed to get bumpier as a dramatic year careened toward its end, with mass protests in and , an election and an attempt to impose Cas Mudde, a professor of international affairs at the University of Georgia who studies extremism and democracy, summed up 2024 in Prospect magazine as “a great year for the far right, a terrible year for incumbents and a troublesome year for democracy around the world.” Incumbents battered One message sent by voters in 2024: They’re fed up. University of Manchester political scientist Rob Ford has attributed the anti-incumbent mood to “electoral long COVID” -– lingering pandemic-related health, education, social and economic disruptions that have made millions of people unhappier and worse off. High inflation, fueled by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and mass displacement from that war and conflicts in the Middle East and Africa have added to the global unease. In South Africa, high helped drive a dramatic loss of support for the African National Congress, which had governed for three decades since the end of the . The party lost its political dominance in May’s election and was forced to go into coalition with opposition parties. Incumbents also were defeated in Senegal, Ghana and , where voters ousted the party that had been in power for 58 years since independence from Britain. Namibia’s extended its 34 years in power in December -– but only by a whisker. Uruguay’s leftist opposition candidate, , became the country’s new president in a November runoff that delivered another rebuke to incumbents. In India, the world’s largest democracy, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party lost its parliamentary majority in a shock election result in June after a decade of dominance. It was forced to govern in coalition as the opposition doubled its strength in Parliament. Japanese politics entered a new era of uncertainty after Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba’s governing Liberal Democratic Party, which has ruled almost without interruption since 1955, suffered a major loss in October amid voter anger at party financial scandals. It now leads a minority government. The saw the right-of-center Conservatives ousted after 14 years in office as the center-left Labour Party swept to power in a landslide. But the results also revealed growing fragmentation: Support for the two big parties that have dominated British politics for a century shrank as voters turned to smaller parties, including the hard-right party Reform U.K. led by Nigel Farage. Authoritarians advance Britain is not alone in seeing a rise for the right. Elections in June for the parliament of the saw conservative populists and the far right rock ruling parties in France and Germany, the EU’s biggest and most powerful members. The anti-immigration National Rally party won the first round of in June, but alliances and tactical voting by the center and left knocked it down to third place in the second round, producing a and a fragile government that collapsed in a Dec. 4 no-confidence vote. In Austria, the conservative governing People’s Party was beaten by the far-right, pro-Russia Freedom Party in September, though other parties allied to keep it out of a coalition government. Nepotism and political dynasties continued to exert influence -– and to be challenged. After in February, Pakistan elected Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, younger brother of three-time leader Nawaz Sharif. Indonesia, Southeast Asia’s largest democracy, elected , son-in-law of the late dictator . Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the world’s longest-serving female leader, won in a January election that . Months later, her 15-year rule came to a tumultuous end: After mass student-led protests in which hundreds were killed, Hasina was ousted in August and fled to India. In Sri Lanka, voters also rejected a discredited old guard. Voters elected the Marxist as president in September, two years after an island-wide public movement by an engaged middle class removed the long-ruling Rajapaksa clan. Interference allegations Covert meddling and online disinformation were growing concerns in 2024. Meta, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp, said that this year it took down 20 election-related “covert influence operations around the world, including in the Middle East, Asia, Europe and the U.S.” It said Russia was the top source of such meddling, followed by Iran and China. In Romania, far-right candidate Călin Georgescu came from nowhere to win the first round of the presidential election in November, aided in part by a flood of TikTok videos promoting his campaign. Amid allegations of Russian meddling, Romania’s runoff two days before it was due to take place after a trove of declassified intelligence alleged Russia organized a sprawling campaign across social media to promote Georgescu. No date has yet been set for a rerun. Moldova’s won a November runoff against her Moscow-friendly rival in an election seen as pivotal to the future of one of Europe’s poorest nations. Georgia has seen huge protests since an election in October was won by the pro-Moscow Georgian Dream party, which suspended negotiations on joining the European Union. The opposition and the pro-Western president, Salome Zourabichvili, have accused the governing party of rigging the vote with Russia’s help. Uncertainty reigns Possibly the year’s most seismic result, in November’s U.S. presidential election, has America’s allies and opponents bracing for what the unpredictable “America-first” leader will do with his second term. And instability already reigns on several continents as the year ends. Venezuela has been in political crisis since a July election marred by serious fraud allegations which both President Nicolás Maduro and the opposition claim to have won. Amid opposition protests and a harsh crackdown, opposition candidate Edmundo González went into exile in Spain. In Mozambique, the Frelimo party that has ruled for half a century was declared the winner of an October election that the opposition called rigged. across the country South Korea’s conservative President Yoon Suk Yeol — weakened after the liberal opposition retained control in an April election -– astonished the country by declaring martial law in a late-night announcement on Dec. 3. Parliament voted to overturn the decision six hours later, and within days voted to impeach Yoon. The crisis in the deeply divided country is far from over. Democracy’s bumpy ride looks likely to continue in 2025, with embattled incumbents facing challenge in countries including Germany, where Chancellor lost a confidence vote on Dec. 16, triggering an early election likely in February. Canada will also vote in 2025, with the governing Liberals and increasingly divided after almost a decade in power. Seema Shah, head of democracy assessment at the Stockholm-based International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance, said global surveys suggest support for the concept of democracy remains strong, but the numbers plummet “when you ask people how satisfied they are with their own democracy.” “People want democracy. They like the theory of it,” she said. “But when they see it actually play out, it’s not living up to their expectations.” ___ Sheikh Saaliq in New Delhi, Mari Yamaguchi in Tokyo and Gerald Imray in Cape Town, South Africa, contributed to this story. Jill Lawless, The Associated PressThe 17th annual Aurora Holiday Food Drive is moving into its final days, and organizers said this year’s drive is slightly behind the pace from last year. “We are asking the community to give what they can to help those who are less fortunate, and we are grateful for every penny donated, and every can purchased from one of the stores,” said Katie Arko, executive director of the Aurora Area Interfaith Food Pantry. The drive is designed to stock the shelves of the pantry, which serves 1,300 families in a given week. Hundreds of volunteers and staff hours have been poured into the campaign, Arko said, which takes place at three participating grocery stores: Prisco’s Family Market, 1108 Prairie St., Aurora; Cermak Fresh Market, 1250 N. Lake St., Aurora; and La Chiquita, 1525 Douglas Road, Montgomery. Arko added that smaller, local food drives organized by social clubs, neighborhoods, churches, school groups and others add to the donations during the overall Holiday Food Drive. Arko pointed to one volunteer, Dan Dolan, who is considered the godfather of the Holiday Food Drive. Dolan created the idea for the drive 17 years ago, and, along with his family, he “gives his heart, soul, time and energy into helping the pantry every year,” Arko said. “He spends time writing letters to raise money, goes to the grocery stores to pack bags, hands out flyers to customers at the stores, makes phone calls and utilizes his social media network to help with the cause,” she said. The drive began Nov. 1 and runs through Wednesday, Nov. 27. Depending on how each store does it, people can buy packaged bags of groceries of $5, $10, $15 and $20 as they go through the checkout line during normal shopping. They also can buy a $20 virtual bag online, a feature added two years ago. The pantry also takes monetary donations. The money is used to purchase food from the Geneva-based Northern Illinois Food Bank, and every $1 donated actually purchases $8 of food. Both the virtual bags and the monetary donations can be done at the Aurora Area Interfaith Food Pantry website, https://www.aurorafoodpantry.org/. Monetary donations also still are taken the old-fashioned way, with checks mailed to the pantry at 1110 Jericho Road, Aurora, IL, 60506. Checks should be made out to Aurora Food Pantry. The food drive also depends on volunteers who help in a number of ways, including passing out flyers promoting the drive at the participating grocery stores. Ways to volunteer are also at the pantry’s website. Individuals and families often volunteer, but so do many businesses, churches, Scouting and student groups and other organizations. From to 3 to 5 p.m. Sunday, one of those organizations, a fifth-grade Girl Scout troop from Freeman Elementary School, was scheduled to be at Prisco’s Family Market in Aurora, handing out flyers, bringing holiday cheer and encouraging people to buy a bag of groceries to donate to the pantry. “This is the third year in a row that this troop has volunteered to help the pantry,” Arko said. Sponsors of the Aurora Holiday Food Drive are Dolan and Murphy, Inc. real estate; Konen Insurance; Gerald Subaru of North Aurora; AuraLight Dispensary; Douglas Carpet One; Aurora Bank & Trust; Bob’s Discount Furniture; Oak St. Health; AC’s Pub; Ald. Patty Smith, 8th Ward; The Beacon-News; Aurora Fastprint; Prisco’s Family Market; Cermak Fresh Market; La Chiquita; and 95.9 The River. slord@tribpub.comsports goggles 。

World number one Luke Humphries retained his Players Championship Finals title with an 11-7 victory over teenager Luke Littler in Minehead. Littler, who won the Grand Slam of Darts last week, hit checkouts of 170, 164 and 136 as he threatened to overturn an early deficit, but Humphries held his nerve to win the last three legs. “I’m really, really proud of that one to be honest,” Humphries told Sky Sports. FOR THE SECOND TIME 🏆🏆 Luke Humphries retains his 2024 Ladbrokes Players Championship Finals title, beating Luke Littler 11-7 in the final. pic.twitter.com/QUhxvSbGeu — PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) November 24, 2024 “I didn’t feel myself this week playing-wise, I felt like I was a dart behind in a lot of the scenarios but there’s something that Luke does to you. He really drives me, makes me want to be a better player and I enjoy playing him. “He let me in really early in that first session to go 4-1 up, I never looked back and I’m proud that I didn’t take my foot off the gas. These big games are what I live for. “Luke is a special talent and he was right – I said to him I’ve got to get these (titles) early before he wins them all. “I’d love to be up here and hitting 105 averages like Luke is all the time but he’s a different calibre, he’s probably the best player in the world right now but there’s something about me that never gives up. “This is a great way to go into the worlds.” HUMPHRIES GOES BACK-TO-BACK! 🏆 Luke Humphries retains his Players Championship Finals title! Cool Hand puts on an absolute clinic to defeat Luke Littler 11-7 in an epic final! 📺 https://t.co/AmuG0PMn18 #PCF2024 | Final pic.twitter.com/nZDWPUVjWE — PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) November 24, 2024 Littler, who lost the world championship final to Humphries last year, said: “It was tough, missed a few doubles and if you don’t take chances early on, it’s a lot to come back. “I hit the 170 and the 164 but just didn’t have enough in the end. “It’s been a good past two weeks. I just can’t wait to go home, chill out, obviously practice at home for the worlds. That’s it now, leading up to the big one.”No. 3 USC welcomed its first sell-out crowd of the season Saturday, looking to build off the excitement of its first Pac-12 title in a decade and first Elite Eight appearance in three years. Instead, No. 6 Notre Dame came into USC’s house and poured cold water all over the Trojans’ early ambitions. In a game between top-10 teams, USC appeared overmatched by the Fighting Irish, falling behind early and losing contact in the fourth quarter, as Notre Dame won 74-61 and collected arguably the most impressive win of the young college basketball season. Advertisement The nation’s two best sophomores showed out, as Hannah Hidalgo led the Irish with 24 points and eight assists and JuJu Watkins had 24 points and five assists for the Trojans. However, it was Notre Dame’s defense that set the tone. The Irish flew all over the court, limiting USC to 10 first-quarter points and 35.8 percent shooting for the day. Hannah Hidalgo steal ➡️ Hannah Hidalgo bucket. 🔥 Doing it ALL for @NDWBB . 📺 NBC & Peacock pic.twitter.com/pD8FCc2Kve — On Her Turf (@OnHerTurf) November 23, 2024 Notre Dame forced 21 turnovers, scoring 22 points off those miscues, and was particularly effective in slowing down Kiki Iriafen . The preseason All-American was repeatedly bothered by Kate Koval at the rim and could often barely hold on to the ball into the post due to digs from the Irish guards. Meanwhile, Notre Dame got a stellar performance from its second star, as Olivia Miles controlled the tempo, had three steals and created multiple looks for her teammates on drives and kicks. Miles added 20 points, including four 3-pointers, as she showed off her jumper in front of the many WNBA personnel in attendance. A WALKING BUCKET @oliviamiles06 with a tied career-high of 4⃣ 3-pointers, her second straight game with 4 of them 📺 NBC pic.twitter.com/OuEqRDCVls — Notre Dame Women's Basketball (@ndwbb) November 23, 2024 This story will be updated. Required reading (Photo: Jayne Kamin-Oncea / Getty Images)

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Littler, who won the Grand Slam of Darts last week, hit checkouts of 170, 164 and 136 as he threatened to overturn an early deficit, but Humphries held his nerve to win the last three legs. “I’m really, really proud of that one to be honest,” Humphries told Sky Sports. FOR THE SECOND TIME 🏆🏆 Luke Humphries retains his 2024 Ladbrokes Players Championship Finals title, beating Luke Littler 11-7 in the final. pic.twitter.com/QUhxvSbGeu — PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) November 24, 2024 “I didn’t feel myself this week playing-wise, I felt like I was a dart behind in a lot of the scenarios but there’s something that Luke does to you. He really drives me, makes me want to be a better player and I enjoy playing him. “He let me in really early in that first session to go 4-1 up, I never looked back and I’m proud that I didn’t take my foot off the gas. These big games are what I live for. “Luke is a special talent and he was right – I said to him I’ve got to get these (titles) early before he wins them all. “I’d love to be up here and hitting 105 averages like Luke is all the time but he’s a different calibre, he’s probably the best player in the world right now but there’s something about me that never gives up. “This is a great way to go into the worlds.” HUMPHRIES GOES BACK-TO-BACK! 🏆 Luke Humphries retains his Players Championship Finals title! Cool Hand puts on an absolute clinic to defeat Luke Littler 11-7 in an epic final! 📺 https://t.co/AmuG0PMn18 #PCF2024 | Final pic.twitter.com/nZDWPUVjWE — PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) November 24, 2024 Littler, who lost the world championship final to Humphries last year, said: “It was tough, missed a few doubles and if you don’t take chances early on, it’s a lot to come back. “I hit the 170 and the 164 but just didn’t have enough in the end. “It’s been a good past two weeks. I just can’t wait to go home, chill out, obviously practice at home for the worlds. That’s it now, leading up to the big one.”

Urbana, Ill., Mulls Council Approval of Surveillance TechPALO ALTO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec 16, 2024-- In a letter to staff at the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, Harvey Fineberg, M.D., Ph.D., today announced his intention to step down as president of the foundation in late 2025 or early 2026, depending on when a successor is selected and prepared to take up the office. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: Harvey Fineberg, M.D., Ph.D., president of the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation (Photo: Business Wire) He “loves the work we do together,” he wrote, but after serving ten years as president, he explained “this is the right moment to recruit a new president who can lead the foundation for the next decade or longer.” “Harvey has been an outstanding president,” observed Kenneth Moore, chair of the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation Board of Trustees. “His unwavering commitment to excellence, coupled with a visionary mindset, enables him to synthesize complex ideas into a seamless tapestry of insight, transforming challenges into opportunities and inspiring those around him to elevate their own contributions. He will leave the foundation in a strong position for ever greater achievement in the years ahead.” “I have been fortunate to work with many talented, dedicated, and principled people at the Moore Foundation and elsewhere,” Fineberg noted. “I will be ever grateful to Gordon Moore for inviting me to take up this position, to the entire Moore family for their continuing spirit of generosity, and to all trustees, past and present, who so ably served and serve the foundation.” Next year, 2025, marks the 25 th anniversary of grantmaking by the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation. The board plans to initiate the search for Fineberg’s successor in the coming year. Under Fineberg’s leadership, the Moore Foundation’s Environmental Conservation Program extended its reach to market-based incentives alongside expanding place-based conservation programs in such critical regions as the Andes-Amazon, the Great Bear Sea in British Columbia, and the Arctic Ocean. The foundation supported many advances in sustainable fisheries, healthy ocean ecosystems, and marine conservation. The foundation enlarged its support for the conservation funding model called Project Finance for Permanence that brings together governments, communities, non-government organizations, and donors to provide comprehensive and enduring solutions, as in the Herencia Colombia (Heritage Colombia) initiative announced in 2022. The foundation accelerated application of natural capital approaches into development decisions and finance; served as a catalyst for global cooperation on nature-based solutions, and launched a major, new initiative on wildfire resilience. During Fineberg’s tenure, the Science Program inaugurated an experimental physics investigator program to provide core support for leading investigators in the field and established the Moore Inventor Fellows to enable brilliant, prospective inventors to pursue their dreams. The foundation extended explorations in quantum physics and systems biology, exploring such interdisciplinary topics as aquatic symbiosis and the evolutionary origins of motility in micro-organisms; invested in astronomical exploration, observatories, instrumentation, and astrophysics; supported development of novel, biological imaging devices and sophisticated instruments for precise, physical measurement; helped establish big-data, discovery capacity at leading universities; fostered and reinforced open science; adopted a new initiative in green chemistry; strengthened and expanded programs to engage youth in science and to support citizen science; and promoted science in policy through state-based fellowship programs to place scientists in state legislatures and executive offices. In preserving the special character of the Bay Area over the past decade, the Moore Foundation has made critical investments to protect undeveloped lands, natural ecosystems, and vital wildlife corridors. And the foundation is a generous supporter of Bay Area science and technology museums that provide exceptional educational opportunities for the public and spark excitement about science and technology in children of all ages. In unique cross-cutting investments, the foundation funded renovation and expansion of key environmental research stations in the South Pacific and in South America; and supported exceptional, science-based conservation opportunities in the Galápagos Islands and eastern Pacific Ocean. As a physician and public health leader, Fineberg helped ensure the legacy of the foundation’s historic contributions to nursing and the quality of health care, including through leadership programs based at the Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing at UC Davis and a highly consequential initiative on diagnostic excellence. “I am proud of the many achievements by our grantees and grateful for the partnerships with sister foundations and so many others who make that success possible,” Fineberg wrote in his letter. “I want especially to thank my foundation colleagues in the infrastructure, investment management, and program teams, and those in the president’s office, who make work at the Moore Foundation a daily joy and inspiration.” During the COVID pandemic, Fineberg’s fortuitous background in public health lent clarity to the foundation’s policies, and he simultaneously served as chair of the National Academies standing committee on emerging infectious diseases and 21 st century health threats. In that role, Fineberg led in the production of more than 10 rapid expert consultations to assist government decision-making in the early months of the pandemic. During his tenure at the foundation, Fineberg chaired National Academies consensus committees on reproducibility and replicability in science and on a definition of long COVID. Fineberg chaired the board of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (2013-2018) and served as a member (2009-2022). He serves as trustee of the CMB Foundation (China Medical Board), an offshoot of the Rockefeller Foundation, and will take up the role of board chair in 2025. He serves on the board of the Israel Institute for Advanced Study and on the editorial board of the New England Journal of Medicine. Fineberg also serves on numerous advisory boards for domestic and international organizations, including the Peterson Center on Healthcare, the Veolia Environment Foresight Committee, the Aspen Health Strategy Group, the U.S. Comptroller General’s advisory board, the Thich Nhat Hanh Center for Mindfulness in Public Health at Harvard, the Vanke School of Public Health at Tsinghua University in Beijing, the scientific advisory board of the Singapore National Research Foundation, the Mavri Program to accelerate biomedical innovation and train physician-scientists in Israel, the Stanford Digital Health Center, and the Center on Diagnostic Excellence at UCSF (University of California San Francisco). He is a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and, in addition to the National Academy of Medicine, a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and the American Philosophical Society. As an extension of his leadership at the Moore Foundation, Fineberg chairs the board of the Science Philanthropy Alliance, now including more than three dozen philanthropies that support science and are dedicated to helping philanthropists new to science to make fully informed choices. The Alliance has also been instrumental in promoting the role of philanthropy in the U.S. research enterprise, symbolized by this year’s enlargement of the National Academies’ research roundtable to include philanthropy alongside government, universities, and industry. Before joining the Moore Foundation, Fineberg served as president of the Institute of Medicine, where he engineered its conversion to the National Academy of Medicine. He helped found and served as president of the Society for Medical Decision Making. Fineberg previously served as provost of Harvard University and dean of the Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health. He served on the board of the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation and had taken up the role as chair before resigning to become president of the Moore Foundation. Gordon and Betty Moore established the foundation to create positive outcomes for future generations. In pursuit of that vision, we advance scientific discovery, environmental conservation, and the special character of the San Francisco Bay Area. View source version on : CONTACT: Caitlin Cobb 925-890-9766 KEYWORD: CALIFORNIA UNITED STATES NORTH AMERICA INDUSTRY KEYWORD: PHILANTHROPY ENVIRONMENT SUSTAINABILITY ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH FOUNDATION RESEARCH SCIENCE SOURCE: Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation Copyright Business Wire 2024. PUB: 12/16/2024 05:00 PM/DISC: 12/16/2024 04:58 PMSZA Co-Signs Ice Spice’s On The Radar Freestyle With Fire Emojis

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Filip Skobalj had 19 points in UIC's 96-83 win over La Salle on Friday. Skobalj shot 6 of 8 from the field, including 4 for 6 from 3-point range, and went 3 for 3 from the line for the Flames (4-2). Jordan Mason scored 18 points, going 5 of 8 from the floor, including 1 for 3 from 3-point range, and 7 for 8 from the line. Tyem Freeman had 13 points and went 4 of 5 from the field (3 for 4 from 3-point range). The Explorers (4-2) were led in scoring by Deuce Jones, who finished with 21 points, four assists and two steals. Daeshon Shepherd added 15 points, two steals and two blocks for La Salle. Andres Marrero also had 15 points. UIC led 48-39 at halftime, with Skobalj racking up 13 points. UIC pulled away with a 7-0 run in the second half to extend its lead to 22 points. Ahmad Henderson II led the way with a team-high 10 second-half points for UIC. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .Climate finance's 'new era' shows new political realities

UK business travel is set to reach a record of £68 billion by the end of this year and surpass pre-pandemic levels. The UK now ranks as the fourth-highest spender on business travel globally, with significant demand from key markets like the US, Germany, and France Does this mean that UK workers are travelling at the right amount or has business travel become excessive? To help answer this question, Peter Slater, CEO of CMAC Group , offers valuable insights into the factors driving this surge and how companies can strategically respond. Slater has considered how businesses can control rising travel costs while ensuring employees remain comfortable and productive during their trips. Perhaps one of the drivers is that despite advances in digital communication, 55 percent of business leaders consider face-to-face meetings more effective than virtual ones (with an additional 24.90 percent deeming them much more effective). Slater advises companies to respond strategically by rethinking their approach to business travel, ensuring it better supports employee wellbeing, balanced budgets and optimal productivity. While digital technology has advantages, limitations remain. Slater explains that while virtual meetings became a lifeline during the pandemic, they often fall short when it comes to building trust, negotiating complex deals and networking effectively. “There’s only so much a screen can convey when it comes to relationship building and closing big deals,” Slater tells Digital Journal. “Both business leaders and employees are keen to get back to face-to-face meetings, projects and events where they can collaborate, understand each other and achieve faster results.” Alternatively, many industries have found that key decisions, strategic collaborations and trust-building efforts benefit greatly from in-person interactions. As Slater notes, “Virtual communication tools will always play an important role, but the value of a handshake, shared experience, and in-person conversation is irreplaceable.” This can help with controlling costs. “A focused approach to travel planning can help businesses find that balance,” suggests Slater. “It’s about being intentional: selecting accommodations that not only meet budget requirements but also provide a comfortable, restful space for employees who have a busy schedule.” “Travel is often exhausting and while businesses need to be mindful of their travel spend right now, saving on costs doesn’t have to mean compromising on wellbeing,” Slater adds. “Finding providers that prioritise comfort, productivity and flexibility can make all the difference for employees.” With in-bound business travel also on the rise, UK businesses must adapt to cater to international visitors to make their trips as seamless as possible. “For international guests, it’s about understanding cultural preferences and creating a welcoming experience,” Slater explains. “Simple touches like familiar accommodations, clear communication around transport options, and local insights can go a long way in making their stay productive and enjoyable.” With the UK leading in business travel spending and overseas arrivals expected to grow, the focus is now on how companies can leverage this surge to their advantage. “Business travel doesn’t have to be reactive,” Slater concludes. “It can be a strategic tool that builds connections, drives growth, and supports wellbeing when managed thoughtfully. For companies that get this balance right, the potential rewards are huge.” Dr. Tim Sandle is Digital Journal's Editor-at-Large for science news.Tim specializes in science, technology, environmental, business, and health journalism. He is additionally a practising microbiologist; and an author. He is also interested in history, politics and current affairs.