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Carbon capture continues to expand globally despite mounting opposition
Carbon capture continues to expand globally despite mounting opposition Global energy and research consulting firm Wood Mackenzie reports that carbon capture, utilization and storage, or CCUS, is expected to expand significantly, with global capacity projected to grow from roughly 91 million metric tons per year today to about 3 billion metric tons annually by 2060, […]
iPhone Ultra Reportedly in Mass Production, No Delay Envisaged
Apple's foldable iPhone is on track to ship in September despite rumors of a delayed launch, reports Chinese financial outlet Cailian Press. The outlet says it spoke with several people within Apple's supply chain, who indicated that the device's design was locked in some time ago and that the foldable is now in mass production.
Washington Commanders Training Camp Primer: Tight Ends
Despite outside skepticism, could the tight end room prove to be a strength for the Washington Commanders?
Hungary moves to overhaul university models banned from Horizon Europe
Hungary’s new government is aiming to overhaul the governance model of the institutions and universities that lost access to Horizon Europe and Erasmus+ funds “in a short timeframe,” according to Péter Horváth, the new state secretary for science policy and innovation. “As of today, the two non-university foundation-controlled institutions under my remit have been transformed,” he told Science|Business. “We hope the universities will follow and that this will be enough to satisfy the EU’s demands.”Under the previous government, led by Viktor Orbán and his Fidesz party, many academic and scientific institutions were restructured and made into special public trust foundations, with members strongly linked to the government given lifelong mandates and significant decision-making powers with little oversight. The European Commission deemed that this undermined academic freedom and transparency in the country, leading to a ban on 34 institutions in 2022, including 21 universities, which saw academics in Hungary lose access to Horizon Europe grants. The new Hungarian government, elected in May and led by Péter Magyar and his Tisza Party, has promised to dismantle this governance model and restore the institutions to EU programmes. As a result, the European Commission has promised to return access to the Erasmus+ education mobility programme, but so far no concrete agreement has been made on the Horizon Europe programme for research and innovation. Hungary has already made legislative changes in June to allow the institutions to be reformed and set a timeline for the implementation.The non-university foundations, which are mainly cultural centres such as the Foundation for Hungarian Culture or the Makovecz Campus Foundation, will all be dissolved by August 31 this year, a date tied to EU-set milestones that Hungary must meet to unlock frozen funds, with control transferred to relevant ministries. Meanwhile, the universities will have until 31 August 2027. For each university foundation, the government will set the dissolution date and the body to take over operations. There is no final decision on a permanent new model for the universities, according to Hungarian MEP Eszter Lakos, who is shadow rapporteur for the Horizon Europe specific programme, a separate piece of legislation detailing implementation rules for the EU’s next research programme, due to start in 2028. “The aim of the transition year is to settle this with [the universities], not to impose a model, and not to put them under state control,” she told Science|Business. “The goal is to give academic independence back to universities.”There are three models that are most likely to be implemented. One would be a return to a traditional, state-run model. Another could be a newer, more self-standing public institution. A third option would be a reformed version of the foundation models that meet EU standards. According to Lakos, the dismantling of the system put in place by the Orbán government is well underway and if all goes according to plan, Hungary could regain access to EU research money by the start of the next academic year in 2027. “I believe that the Hungarian government is doing the necessary changes so the universities could return as beneficiaries to Horizon from the next school year,” she said. In the meantime, “the universities, institutes and cultural assets carry on under proper public stewardship rather than a handful of unaccountable trustees,” said Lakos. The laws passed in June impose new safeguards: board terms are capped at four years and renewable only once, appointments are made through open competitions and sitting politicians cannot join joining these boards.It remains unclear whether a domestic science funding programme set up as a back-up scheme by the former government following the EU funding ban, called HU-rizon, could be continued. “This programme should never have had to have been established in the first place, but it has proven to be quite popular,” he said. “I am considering continuing this programme with a refined focus on helping international collaborations.”Re-organising the research network One of the first priorities for Horváth and his cabinet is to resolve questions over the future of the Hungarian Research Network, Hun-Ren. The network of academic institutes was taken away from the Hungarian Academy of Sciences in 2019 and turned into a quasi-private organisation, with similarities in its governance to the public trust foundations.Horváth and his team have consulted over 5,000 representatives from the network and the conclusion is broad unhappiness with the directors of all the institutes involved. “We have presented the results to the president and the chief executive of the network and this is currently being discussed,” Horváth said. The plan is to re-integrate the network back into the Academy of Sciences but in an improved way, “learning from mistakes of the past,” he added. The government also wants to reintegrate four humanities and social science research centres into the network that the previous government had transferred to Eötvös Loránd University. The transfer brought sharp criticism from the academic community, with a group of Hungarian research heads, including European Research Council grant recipients, sending an open letter to Orbán warning that the transfer would “cause historically significant harm to the entirety of Hungarian scientific life.” The transfer was “one of the biggest shames in Hungarian research in the past 20 years,” Horváth said. “We want to immediately re-integrate them back into the research network and to regain the trust of these institutions, because the way they were treated was really unfair.”Another pressing issue is the Élvonal Excellence Research and Talent Development Foundation, led by Nobel laureate Ferenc Krausz. The foundation signed a financing agreement with the former government earlier this year for a budget of over €730 million over the next five years. The goal is to create a world-class centre to attract top talent from abroad and to develop local researchers. But there was little transparency about this foundation, and news of its huge budget, which is nearly as much as Hungary’s entire research budget, caused a stir in the media following the recent elections. Another issue is that, as with the foundation boards of the institutes banned from Horizon Europe, there was little-to-no oversight of decisions led by Krausz. “It was an excellent idea but an unacceptable execution,” Horváth said of the foundation. “The fact that this is out of the Hungarian funding scheme, mostly concentrating on one person who decides on the budget is unacceptable for us.”The government plans to merge the centre with the National Research, Development and Innovation Office, the country’s R&D funding agency, with a reduced budget. Horváth is hopeful that Krausz will still be involved. The new government’s R&D goalsA phrase that crops up regularly during the discussion with Horváth is “democratic process.” The new state secretary is determined to involve Hungary’s research community in shaping future policies. This marks a departure from the previous government’s approach, and several people in Hungary’s research community have commented on the openness of the new government. In terms of concrete goals, Horváth and his team already have plans. He wants to create a new science fund in Hungary, based on the best practices of other European countries. The fund would not be tied to annual government budgets and would provide long-term, stable financing. “If we were to succeed in creating this fund, then I think it would be one of the biggest achievements for me in this period of government,” Horváth said. On the innovation side, he is looking into how best to bring in the private sector. “We want to make sure that we are working with the private sector to support innovation,” Horváth said. One of his big aims is to introduce entrepreneurship teaching into high schools. Hungary already has a reputable national academy offering research and innovation training in the field of natural sciences, and Horváth wants to expand this to all disciplines and across the whole country. “One of the main ways to elevate our innovative businesses is to teach our children to be innovative,” he said. “This will probably need ten years to pay off, but this is what we should do. Our aim is to make Hungary strong in our region, and this is what is needed.” Related articlesHungary’s Horizon Europe performance in numbersCommission unlocks Erasmus+ cash for Hungary, Horizon could be next‘Academic Huxit.’ Hungarian researchers speak out on impact of EU ban A more difficult task will be funding. The new government is aiming to increase research spending to 2% of the GDP by 2030, and then increase it to 3% in line with EU objectives. Currently, spending sits around 1.3%. But according to Horváth, the current budget, inherited from the previous government, is “heavily in the negative,” so any plans to increase research spending will have to start next year. Achieving 2% by 2030 already needs a big push, almost doubling the research budget. “This is something we’d definitely like to reach, and something I can see us achieving,” he said. “From the 2030s, I’d like to see an innovative generation growing up that can help us reach the 3% target.” Positivity in the new governmentDespite the many challenges facing Horváth and his team, the mood is positive. “It feels a bit like a start-up right now. Everyone is working 24/7, day and night, trying to do as much as they can. There is a lot of energy,” he said. It is a big change for the state secretary who, like many in his cabinet, is coming from a background in research or business, and not in politics. “Six weeks ago, I was sitting with my microscope and my research PhDs, so it’s been a big change for me,” said the computer scientist, who was previously the director of the Institute of Biochemistry at the Hun-Ren Biological Research Centre in Hungary and worked at the Institute for AI for Health at Helmholtz Munich. But he is relishing the task to transform the country’s R&D landscape. “We feel enormous support from the Hungarian people, but also from Europe,” he said. “We’ve received a lot of letters of support from around Europe. There is big trust there, and huge responsibility on our side. We want to get everything back on track, and there’s a lot to do.”
Despite the hoopla, US men’s soccer still stagnant
SEATTLE — For all the growth in American soccer over the past quarter-century, the U.S. men’s national team remains stagnant. Christian Pulisic, Tyler Adams and Weston McKennie fared no better at the World Cup in 2022 and 2026 than Tim Howard, Michael Bradley and Jozy Altidore did in 2010 and 2014. “We want to be […]
Trump weighed in on Cabinet squabble over ride for July Fourth flyover
The president encouraged acting attorney general Todd Blanche to fly on one of NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman’s jets despite the FAA’s prior objection to the planes.
Mitch McConnell, Joe Biden and the growing epidemic of politicians hiding health problems
Politicians are increasingly hiding their health problems, despite a national reckoning over the problem during the presidency of Joe Biden.
Mac Jones addresses potential 49ers QB battle in 2026
Mac Jones is content with his role on the San Francisco 49ers despite how well he played in 2025.
Stars who missed Taylor Swift, Travis Kelce's wedding speak out
Despite Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce's extensive wedding guest list, a number of celebrities were not among the hundreds gathered inside Madison Square Garden to see the superstars say "I
Dave & Buster’s Entertainment, Inc. (PLAY)’s Traffic Is Coming Back, But Is It Enough?
Dave & Buster’s Entertainment, Inc. (NASDAQ:PLAY) is among the best get rich quick stocks to buy right now. On June 29, Citizens started coverage on Dave & Buster’s Entertainment, Inc. (NASDAQ:PLAY) with a Market Perform rating and without a price target. Despite its discounted valuation, the company appears fairly valued due to the limited visibility on […]
D-backs enjoy Walker Buehler’s Off-Day
Record: 45-45. Pace: 81-81. Change on 2025: +1. The Diamondbacks jumped on Padres starter Walker Buehler early. They scored six runs in the first three innings, and despite this being a Brandon Pfaadt start, were just able to hold on for victory. The win put Arizona back in sole possession of second place in the […]
World Cup: Despite U.S. loss, Phoenix businesses expect booming crowds to continue
Even with the U.S. team out of the tournament, local Phoenix bars are gearing up for two more weeks of high energy and big crowds from diverse fan bases.
HP OmniBook X Flip 14 review: Flexible performance with AMD Zen 5
The new OmniBook X Flip 14 is even more impressive than the OmniBook Ultra Flip 14 with more CPU performance, more ports, and a revised keyboard and look. However, most SKUs are limited to just a 60 Hz touchscreen despite the ~$1500 asking price.
Cote: Balogun back for U.S. is Trump, politics invading this World Cup
Folarin Balogun playing for U.S. vs. Belgium despite red card is blatant indication FIFA, Trump and politics have invaded the pitch in this World Cup.
Despite Eliminating 15% of Its Workforce, Xbox Wants a Billion Players Per Day
"I know we can achieve this goal"
At $5,000, Could This Project 1999 Porsche Boxster Boxster Get You To Roll Up Your Sleeves?
Is that cheap enough to roll the dice despite the issues and high miles? Or would it be more prudent to give this Porsche a pass?
Prison health care lacks oversight, despite dedicated DE review board
A report analyzing the work of a state board tasked with monitoring the quality of health care in state prisons concluded the board isn't working.
Analyst Names Jaguars’ ‘Most Promising Building Block’
Despite Trevor Lawrence's MVP-caliber rise, a surprising two-way star emerges as Jacksonville’s ultimate cornerstone. Discover why this versatile playmaker holds the key to the franchise's long-term dominance.
Despite stiff political headwinds, tribe in Colorado brings utility scale solar project online
President Trump has made substantial efforts to curb renewable energy development. The Ute Mountain Ute tribe in Colorado managed to bring a big solar project online anyway.
Bauers’ homer powers Brewers to 3-2 victory over Diamondbacks
Brewers manage series victory despite imperfect game
Orlando Magic's Most Confusing Move in Free Agency
Orlando’s decision to re-sign Jonathan Isaac despite plummeting production and injury history sparks criticism, as analysts question prioritizing loyalty over finding a reliable veteran presence.
Tencent Music (TME) Stock May Be 36% Undervalued On Cash Flow Strength
Tencent Music Entertainment Group stock has had a tough run over the last year, yet both the Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) intrinsic value estimate and the earnings-based valuation checks currently point to the shares trading at a discount to that underlying assessment. Over the past 12 months, Tencent Music Entertainment Group is down 54.5%, which means recent shareholders are sitting on sizeable paper losses despite the stock screening as undervalued. The key support for any upside case is...
Trump, in July 4 speech, says he ‘wasn’t treated that well’ despite American right to equal justice
President Trump on Saturday said in his Fourth of July speech on the National Mall that he “wasn’t treated that well” in a reference to his legal battles and felony conviction as …
MLB All-Star rosters announced, with Dodgers, Braves and Phillies tied for most players named
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. will start at first base despite having, so far, the worst season of his career.
Caitlin Clark Targeted In WNBA, Sophie Cunningham Says
Cunningham calls out the WNBA and refs, claiming Clark takes nonstop cheap shots with little protection despite a growing list of flagrant fouls.
Conservatives rage over re-funding of Planned Parenthood
Despite the restoration of Medicaid funding for health care services -- but not abortions -- dozens of closed clinics are not likely to reopen.
Celebrations for America’s 250th begin amid heat and political division
Despite sweltering heat, heavy security and brewing protests, thousands were expected to descend on the nation’s capital for the historic anniversary.
Newsom faces criticism for state's stance on trans athletes in girls' sports after SCOTUS ruling
Gavin Newsom's office says California will keep allowing trans athletes in girls sports despite the Supreme Court's 6-3 ruling upholding bans.
25 lessons and wishes to celebrate America’s 250th
The 250th celebration of America’s birth is upon us. There is undoubtedly much to salute. Despite plenty of strife and discontent at home, America remains a beacon to much of the world. The wisdom of our founders has largely withstood the test of time. That said, we are living through a tumultuous period, certainly not […]
Miss Manners: My friend can’t stop talking politics at our parties
A host is frustrated with a friend who constantly brings up politics at parties despite being asked to keep the mood light, and wonders whether they must continue inviting him since he lives nearby.
World Cup serves up Wimbledon dilemma: football or tennis?
Wimbledon organisers were clear: there would be no broadcasting of World Cup matches on the tennis site's screens.Wimbledon organisers appear unlikely to consider similar action, despite some pressure.
Trump pokes fun at himself, roasts Obama in children's podcast
The 24-page book “Presidents Play!” features illustrations showing how presidents, despite their hectic schedule, unwind on the White House grounds
Patriots rookie shows off health progress amid contract uncertainty
Patriots rookie edge rusher Gabe Jacas is looking strong in the weight room, despite lingering health questions.
1 in 5 adults make health decisions based on what they see on social media despite widespread mistrust
Every few scrolls, another health expert appears on the screen. While some are genuinely qualified, others simply sound convincing enough to pass as one. With AI-generated content flooding feeds, avoiding ...
Nintendo President Says The Pokémon Company Will 'Take Measures' to Respond to Widespread Card Scalping Issues
Nintendo's president has been asked to address the current state of Pokémon card shortages and scalping, which many fans feel is worse than ever, despite 10 billion cards being printed last year.
Dave Portnoy reveals he is losing millions in brutal Bitcoin crash
Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy admits he doesn't have plans to sell Bitcoin despite its volatile nature and his struggle to predict the cryptocurrency's next move.
Cincinnati nightclub announces closure despite success; safety risks became 'too great'
Sharks Nightclub is closing its doors, not because business was struggling, but because its former manager says the safety risks had become too great.
Timeline Emerges For LeBron James' Free Agency Decision
Even at the age of 41, LeBron James still has basketball fans around the world anxious to find out where he's heading next. Despite taking a step back at times during the 2025-26 season, James flexed his muscles during the postseason. He powered the Los Angeles Lakers to the second round, averaging ...
IDP Rookie Profile: Jacob Rodriguez in Redraft Leagues
Jacob Rodriguez enters a crowded Dolphins linebacker room, limiting his redraft value despite an impressive college résumé.
Obsidian Entertainment is NOT in ‘Deep in Negotiation’ with Microsoft, per new Report *Updated
Update: Everyone’s favourite video game journalist, Bloomberg’s Jason Schrier has shared a brief post on social media that refutes the report detailed below: Despite a report this morning, I can confirm that Obsidian is not in negotiations to avoid shutting down. Plenty of details are still up in the air surrounding the layoffs (picture will […]
US economy added jobs at a slower pace than expected in June
The Labor Department released the June 2026 jobs report, which showed the U.S. economy added jobs at a steady pace last month despite uncertainty over inflation.
Is Titans' Cam Ward poised to take a step forward in 2026?
CBS Sports ranks Tennessee Titans quarterback Cam Ward as a promising prospect despite his uneven rookie season performance.
Elevance pays CMS $342M to assuage concerns of noncompliance and overbilling
The Medicare Advantage insurer said the payout is equal to what a CMS audit stated was the total amount the company was overpaid for patient care services. Despite receiving the cash, the agency has yet to officially withdraw its enforcement action, as the two parties are still negotiating.
Bucs' Mayfield Disrespected in New QB Tier Rankings
Despite delivering Pro Bowl performances and stabilizing Tampa Bay post-Brady, Baker Mayfield remains overlooked, landing in a baffling "volatile" tier behind less proven signal-callers and aging stars.
Jadarian Price Will Own the Seahawks' Backfield Sooner Than Later
Despite any early info to the contrary, the Seattle Seahawks didn't spend a first-round pick on running back Jadarian Price just to make him an afterthought in their offensive attack.
Arkansas business conditions index rises in June
The broad Creighton University Mid-America Business Conditions Index ticked higher in June despite a rising number of manufacturing job losses, higher prices, and negative impacts from Trump Administration tariff policies....
Severe starting pitching injuries cap the Cubs' midpoint grade
The Cubs are rolling despite massive starting rotation problems.
CEO says his fund is investing in Netflix, sees ‘risky business’ in chips
Infrastructure Capital Management CEO Jay Hatfield says Netflix is showing good growth despite being ‘double hammered’ on ‘The Claman Countdown.’
How cryptocurrencies are changing global politics
Despite once dismissing them, Donald Trump made over $1 billion from cryptocurrency sales last year. But the digital currencies, and their lobbyists, are having an effect on policy and politicians around the world.
Draw down of Pineview Reservoir creates recreation, business concerns
Pineview Reservoir will be significantly drawn down towards the end of this summer as Ogden city prepares to replace part of an aging water pipeline, despite concerns from small businesses.
Lindsey Graham expects housing package to become law despite Trump's election bill demands
"We need the housing bill." U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham says President Trump shouldn't let Tim Scott's bipartisan housing bill become collateral damage in the fight over the SAVE America Act.
Dallas Cowboys 2026 NFL Season Preview
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones has repeatedly said he would write an “embarrassing” check to win another Super Bowl. Since 2013, the Cowboys have not participated in the first wave of free agency. Despite Jones’ vow to “bust the budget” in the 2026 offseason, the Cowboys again stood pat for most of free agency.
Public-Health Officials Cross Their Fingers During World Cup
Despite a challenging nationwide climate for disease prevention and control, officials in Texas are stepping up their efforts at the 2026 World Cup.
Communism isn't taking over the US, despite what GOP says
The idea that some overhyped radical left is about to take over the nation is laughably false.
Women with PMOS should have yearly NHS checks, says health watchdog
Despite affecting millions of women in the UK, PMOS is still under-diagnosed and inconsistently managed, say experts.
“Supergirl” is a decent standalone movie — so why is everyone acting like it’s awful?
Despite what the reviews and backlash may lead you to believe, the second film in the DC Universe is an enjoyable adventure.
Iowa Business Council projects positive six-month economic outlook
The Iowa Business Council has released its second-quarter Economic Outlook Survey for 2026, showing member expectations for sales, capital spending and employment remain positive for the next six months despite a slight overall decline from the previous quarter. The survey’s overall economic outlook index sits at 64.81 points for the second quarter, a decrease of […]
Oklahoma Health Care Authority board approves balanced budget despite funding gaps
Budget cuts and modifications are leaving the state Medicaid agency with "razor-thin margins" as it enters the 2027 fiscal year.
Concern Mounts About Rumored ‘State Of Decay 3’ Cancellation At Xbox
Xbox fans are now worried about reports that State of Decay 3 may be cancelled, despite recent previews, ahead of big layoffs.
What Seattle World Cup matches mean for Chinatown International District
Local organizers ensured they made no promises to business owners, despite some estimates Seattle would see 700,000 visitors.
Florida Council of 100 Releases Q2 Florida CEO Index, Showing Business Confidence Remains Strong Despite National Uncertainty | The Florida Council of 100
Florida Council of 100 Releases Q2 Florida CEO Index, Showing Business Confidence Remains Strong Despite National Uncertainty
"We're talking about at least half a decade of horror": former Exodus lead explains why he wasn't keen on doing a Baldur's Gate 4 despite Hasbro offering the chance
After Larian opted against a Baldur's Gate 4, Hasbro asked Archetype Entertainment head James Ohlen if he fancied a crack at it and he wasn't keen.
DR Congo health workers battle Ebola despite scant protection
In Ituri, DR Congo's Ebola epicenter, overwhelmed clinics and a lack of protective gear leave health workers exposed as the outbreak spreads beyond control.
UK living standards fall despite fastest growth in G7
Rolling coverage of the latest economic and financial news, as GDP quarterly national accounts show how UK economy fared in January to March 2026
Oracle E-Business Suite Flaw CVE-2026-46817 Actively Exploited in the Wild
Oracle E-Business Suite vulnerability CVE-2026-46817 (CVSS 9.8) is being actively exploited in the wild despite Oracle’s recent patch release.
Xbox has been promising 'State of Decay 3' for years — and now it faces cancellation, despite its trailers and alpha. What are we even doing here?
Increasingly it looks like Xbox's layoffs are going to be catastrophic.
Harry Kane likely to sign new Bayern Munich contract despite Barcelona enquiry
Barcelona made an enquiry to Kane's representatives and have been informed that the 32-year-old is happy in Munich.
Resident Evil Veronica Finally Gives Claire Redfield Her Due – the Horror Series’ Most Ignored Character Deserves the Spotlight
Despite being in plenty of spin-offs and crossovers, Claire Redfield is in barely any of the mainline Resident Evil games. After a long time away, RE Veronica is finally set to give Claire her due.
Title IX in the Age of House, NIL and Cash-Strapped Universities
Title IX just had its 54th anniversary, but despite gains for some women in the NIL era, gender equity doesn't feel any closer in college sports.
Is parking a problem in downtown Marion? Business owners say no
Business owners and city leaders in Marion say there is plenty of parking downtown despite a common misconception.
Tilak Varma enters unwanted record books after slowest-ever...
Tilak Varma's resilient half-century was a lone bright spot for India in their narrow one-run loss to Ireland, despite becoming one of the slowest Indian fifties in T20Is. Walking in during a top-order collapse, Varma battled tough conditions to reach his milestone. Ultimately, Ireland secured a historic series win, ending India's impressive streak.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Gets Disappointing Display News Before Release
Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra won't have a privacy screen despite it being a key Galaxy S26 Ultra feature. Here's what that means for the phone's price ahead of launch.
Photos: St. Louisans brought the love to PrideFest despite heat, ‘hateful’ political climate
As a weeklong heat wave settles on St. Louis, the city’s LGBTQ community was undeterred Sunday as thousands gathered to celebrate the 46th annual PrideFest downtown.
I Put Apple CarPlay In My Wife's 2006 Toyota 4Runner And I'm Never Looking Back
Despite its 300,000 miles we're not getting rid of the 4Runner anytime soon, so it was worth making a small investment to bring its infotainment into the 2020s.
Xbox Pre-Order Sales For GTA 6 Break Records Despite PS5 Blitz
Microsoft says Xbox pre-order sales have broken records
Raducanu 'plans to play' at Wimbledon despite injury setback
Emma Raducanu says she "plans to play" at Wimbledon despite a leg injury which has put her participation in serious doubt.
Despite Mayor Brandon Johnson campaign promise, 911 mental health response team flounders
Throughout his 2023 mayoral campaign, Brandon Johnson championed a progressive vision of sending teams of mental health clinicians instead of police officers to help people suffering from psychiatric emergencies. But since he took office…
Costs of Iran war will linger despite conflict's end, experts say
The effects of the war and other factors driving inflation are likely to stick around for months, experts say, presenting an ongoing challenge to American households.
Winner and Loser of the Week in Florida politics
FDACS moves fast on the mealybug threat, while Ye's Tampa concerts proceed despite pushback.
US Oilfield Business Activity Strengthens, Though Oil Price Uncertainty Remains
The Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas’ second-quarter energy survey reports improved business conditions, despite a mixed outlook on oil prices and input costs.
The sky is not falling. Americans are getting healthier.
Despite declining obesity and heart disease rates, increasing cancer survival rates, and a record high life expectancy, politicians from both parties are pushing costly and ineffective policies to …
The AI bubble has further to run despite the looming crash
As tech firms make huge profits and investors fear losing out, both are doing their best to hold off the day of reckoning
Pro-Israel influencers criticize Vance, but evangelicals remain open to him
Despite attacks from some conservatives, a heavily pro-Israel crowd still has warm words for Vance, with many saying they could pick him as the party’s nominee.
No debut, but loud cheers: Belfast crowd shows love for Vaibhav Sooryavanshi
Teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's India debut is still pending, but the focus shifted to Ireland's historic 34-run victory in the first T20I. Despite the loss, Shreyas Iyer vowed a strong comeback. Ireland's debutants impressed, with Jai Moondra and Matt Hollard making immediate impacts, while Abhishek Sharma's quickfire fifty wasn't enough for India.
Science Can Fully Explain Consciousness? By 326 Theories…
It’s supposed to be a given that machines or brain organoids might be conscious despite not knowing what that is or how it works — but preborn children can’t be…
PlayStation Will Continue To Push Live Service Games Despite Evident Challenges, While Teasing A PlayStation 6 Handheld
Hideaki Nishino doubles down on live services like MARVEL Tōkon: Fighting Souls while teasing a PlayStation 6 handheld.
Scientists find evidence of vast hidden magma systems inside Mars
Researchers from the University of Oxford have uncovered evidence that Mars once hosted enormous, Earth-like magmatic systems deep beneath its surface—despite the planet lacking the plate tectonics long ...
Clinicians are making more money despite stagnant reimbursement. Guess how?
Compensation for healthcare providers rose some 4.3% in 2025. The sobering news is that the gain owes more to heavier daily workloads than to bigger per-patient billings.
M5 Ultra Mac Studio Could Launch in 2026 With Up to 768GB of RAM
Despite price increases across the Mac line, Apple is still planning to release a new Mac Studio as soon as this year, reports Bloomberg. Apple plans to introduce a new M5 Ultra chip as the final option in the M5 family before it transitions to the M6, M7, M7 Pro, and M7 Max. The M5 Ultra will come in a new version of the Mac Studio, which hasn't been updated since March 2025.
Federal court blocks Trump’s executive order limiting mail ballots
The ruling comes a month after another judge allowed Trump’s order to stand. The latest ruling sidelines major provisions of the order despite the earlier ruling.
Samsung’s new budget phone costs $50 more despite downgrades
The Galaxy A27 has a new chip, but worse waterproofing and lower resolution cameras than its predecessor.
David P. O'Brien
About five years ago, David P. O'Brien had a comfortable position at Marsh & McLennan Cos., where he held the top post at the financial giant's Louisville, Ky., office. Despite the lofty rank, Mr. O'Brien found himself longing to be at a smaller company that had to work a little harder to land business. That desire led him away from Kentucky five years ago and to Cleveland, where he serves as executive vice president at business insurance agency Oswald Cos. "I left Marsh before it was en vogue," he said, referring to layoffs and defections at Marsh over the course of this year that followed accusations of bid rigging at the big firm. Above all, Mr. O'Brien, 38, wanted to work at a company that relied on its inventiveness, rather than its name, for business. He said he has found that at Oswald. "It causes you to be more creative, to be more resourceful," Mr. O'Brien said. For instance, an Oswald client seeking to do business internationally might be directed to the network of offices abroad run by competitors such as Marsh and Aon Risk Services Inc. "We're going to use whatever access into the market that makes the most sense for our clients," he said. Of course, using such a strategy can be dangerous for Oswald if its client decides to further a business relationship with one of the firms Oswald recommended. "That's the obvious question and why it's nontraditional," he said. "I think if we're good, and if we're bringing value to the client, then there's no risk. I'm not threatened by it." Imaginative business solutions of that type made his career move to Oswald from Marsh worthwhile. "It's very much a challenge," he said. "It helps you keep your edge. I'm all for the competition." John Jacunski, currently vice president and corporate controller at York, Pa., paper company PH Gladfelter Co., met Mr. O'Brien four years ago when Mr. Jacunski was at WCI Steel Inc. in Warren. So impressed was he with Mr. O'Brien's work for WCI that Mr. Jacunski has retained the Oswald executive at PH Gladfelter. "He's a young guy for the position he has, but he's done a great job for us," Mr. Jacunski said. Among his roles at Oswald, Mr. O'Brien leads the firm's client retention efforts and also serves as director of its property and casualty group. "You don't have the same human resources," he said of the job jump to Oswald. "You don't have, obviously, the safety net a big company has." But sometimes, it can be difficult to ascertain individual contributions when working at a big company. "I wanted to be able to see the end results of my work and my efforts," Mr. O'Brien said.
How anti-LGBTQ policies can affect business
Despite federal backlash against corporate DEI policies, companies that invest in inclusivity know that it makes economic sense.
How should European scientists respond to the US AI kill switch?
Earlier in June, Europe’s worst fears of technological dependence were confirmed when the White House ordered the AI firm Anthropic to stop non-US citizens using its leading models. This kill-switch moment crystalised anxieties in Brussels that the continent, lagging the US on the creation of leading-edge AI models, is now a technological of vassal of Washington. The shock has specific implications for European scientists and universities. Some governments are now worried that with AI being integrated into labs, Donald Trump now has his finger hovering over an off switch for European science. “Having restrictions on this tool, it can have an impact on our own research,” said France’s research minister, Philippe Baptiste, at the VivaTech conference in Paris on June 18.Baptiste, himself a former academic, said that colleagues in mathematics had recently warned him they were now cut off from leading-edge US models, risking their work. “This model is not available anymore now because of the US restriction, and for the first time this had an impact on mathematics,” a field where large language models (LLMs) are making a significant contribution, said Baptiste. So, should European scientists avoid relying on US models in the future? Or would this be a self-harming overreaction? And how is AI being used in science, anyway? What happened?On June 12, it emerged that Washington, citing cybersecurity concerns, had ordered Anthropic to stop non-US citizens using two models: Claude Mythos 5, and Claude Fable 5, a version of Mythos but with guardrails to prevent abuse. Anthropic said Washington’s concerns were overblown. But forced to follow the order, yet with no way to check who was using the models, the company suddenly shut down access for everyone, US citizens included. There’s still no agreement on how to restore broad access. But last week, Bloomberg reported that select US companies, and the US government, still had access to Mythos despite the ban, but the EU’s cybersecurity agency Enisa had been shut out. Class division of researchersIn the longer term, access outside the US should be restored, said Marcel Salathé, co-director of the AI centre at the Federal Polytechnic School of Lausanne (EPFL), because a permanent restriction would be financially ruinous to US AI firms. “Even Trump will eventually budge to economic pressure,” he said.However, US AI firms might end up operating rather like banks, doing due diligence on users of their leading-edge AI models, he went on.European scientists are unlikely to fall foul of such checks, he said. But having a Chinese postgraduate in their lab, or doing a type of research the US disapproved of, could potentially result in access being denied. “It will create a sort of class division of researchers,” he said. More than frontier modelsHowever, successfully deploying AI in science is about far more than just having access to leading LLMs such as Mythos.Instead, many science-specific tools, most famously Alphafold, which predicts protein folding structures, require “far less” computing power to train than frontier models, well within the capabilities of European supercomputers, according to a recent analysis by the Arq Foundation, a Brussel-based AI think tank. Instead, tools such as Alphafold are possible because certain fields, like protein folding, weather prediction or astronomy, have large, clean, standardised datasets that can be used to train predictive models. Rather than compute, “data is the central constraint for AI for science,” the report says. For example, a less powerful physics model trained on CERN’s data “will be more valuable than the best model without certain data,” said Bengüsu Özcan, author of the report. European advantage?Europe could therefore steal a march by using its scientific data and infrastructure to create models US digital giants cannot. “They might actually match or go even beyond what these big [US] companies are doing,” said Özcan.Indeed, some European start-ups hope to create automated testing labs to create the kind of standardised data that could speed up the discovery of new materials. Materials scientists say there’s currently too little data to train models. AI scientistsHowever, even if the bottleneck for AI in science is often data, rather than compute, being at the mercy of the US for LLM access could still become a problem for European scientists. A new class of “AI scientists” based on leading LLMs is also emerging, Özcan’s report says.Unlike domain-specific tools like Alphafold, these try to automate day-to-day scientific work, by providing an overarching tool that coordinates specific models to synthesise existing literature, generate hypotheses or run analysis of data. The problem for Europe, however, is that these tools are sometimes based on US leading models. Google Deepmind’s AI Co-Scientist, for example, is built on Google’s Gemini LLM. Systematic failureThese scientific automation tools are still in their early stages, and still exhibit “systematic failures on scientific tasks,” Özcan’s report says. One of the problems is that the messy, day-to-day process of scientific discovery is largely not documented, meaning LLMs don’t have a good source of data to learn how scientists actually work. Meanwhile, some tasks, such as literature synthesis, don’t typically require access to leading edge models.However, the performance of AI scientific assistants could improve as companies such as Google pour resources into developing them. Rely on US“Unfortunately, for scientific assistants, there is not much we can do right now except rely on US frontier AI,” said Antoine Bosselut, a natural language processing expert based at EPFL. Chinese-built open models, which can run on local computers, lessening the risk of a shutdown, are touted as one alternative to US dependence. There’s also Mistral, once seen as Europe’s main AI hope, but the Paris-based company has seen its recent models fall behind in performance. But the Chinese alternatives are generally not as capable as US frontier AI models, said Bosselut, unless paired with fiddly, custom tools that allows them to act as independent agents. “Most scientists do not have the time,” he said. Don’t jump ship yetAlthough the kill switch moment is seen a warning shot for European scientists, it doesn’t mean labs should abandon US AI tools immediately. “I do not think the right response is simply to abandon US-based models and systems under the banner of sovereignty or independence,” said Mattias Björnmalm, secretary general of the Cesaer university association. “That would be an overreaction.”Related articlesEuropean sovereignty in AI requires ‘ugly trade-offs,’ say experts Robotic lab start-up makes case for €500M EU-funded materials testing facilityAI in science: is it useful? Instead, European researchers need to ask themselves whether they’re becoming dependent on technology that could be turned off in Washington, said Özcan. “They might not see this today, but they should really start asking this question,” she said. European researchers need a plan B, said Salathé. “I would recommend to every researcher, very proactively explore alternatives.”Own toolsIn addition, Björnmalm and others want European research institutions to develop their own scientific AI tools.Instead of signing AI deals with US digital giants, European universities should be using this money to create their own models, which may end up being superior for research, said Sabine Leonelli, an expert on the use of AI in science at the Technical University of Munich. “Universities in Europe seem to be happy to sign commercial contracts with US companies on the assumption [their AI tools] are better,” she said. But US frontier LLMs are typically opaque, and have been developed without independent scientific input, she said. “This is not good enough for science.”Last year, Swiss researchers released Apertus, an LLM designed to be completely transparent, from its development methods to its training data. The idea is that this makes scientific tools built on top of the model far more reproducible than with closed, commercial alternatives.“Europe needs more of this: serious capacity-building that gives researchers, universities and companies credible options,” said Björnmalm.
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