SCROLL NEWS / DISCOVERY
Search headlines
Find the stories shaping the conversation.
Results for " ref " 6,663 found 🔀 AI-powered Shuffle
MAGA's attack on science is even worse than it looks
In my post on America’s 250-year anniversary, I argued that respect for the individual was the “secret sauce” in the U.S.’ long-lasting preeminence among nations. But it was certainly not the only factor. There were plenty of institutional innovations that helped the U.S. stay on top — economically, militarily, and in terms of the attractiveness of its society. One of these was American science. Today we take things like the modern research university, government grants for science, public-to-private research spinoffs, etc. for granted, but a lot of that infrastructure wasn’t there before World War 2. It was either invented or scaled up massively by the U.S. government in the postwar period, led by far-sighted scientist-bureaucrats like Vannevar Bush (pictured above). If you want to read about this history, a good place to start would be Jonathan Gruber and Simon Johnson’s excellent book Jump-Starting America. Those scientific institutions didn’t exist in a vacuum, however. They were backed by the U.S. government’s abiding faith in the power of science — and, even more fundamentally, by deep popular trust in the scientific enterprise. Science gave us radar and the atom bomb in wartime, and in peacetime it gave us plastics, vaccines, cheap food, and a thousand other things that made our lives easier. Science was also the driver behind American industry — chemicals, aerospace, telecommunications, computers, electronics, and so on. We owed science our jobs, our livelihoods, our comfortable living standards, and our greatness and power as a nation. It’s little wonder that both political parties, even as they fought viciously over other issues, were steadfast in their support of science. For a long time, the only people who distrusted science were a hippie fringe on the left who disliked modernity (or thought they did, anyway), who also disliked American industry and American power, and who subscribed to an early version of degrowth environmentalism. America’s scientific enterprise is still strong, especially compared to the systems in Europe, Japan, Korea, and other developed countries. It has lost a lot of ground to China in a relative sense, but a lot of that is because of China’s incredible growth; as China has poured untold amounts of money and talent into its research labs, spending and output have overtaken the U.S. by some measures. There are a few ways in which China’s rise creates problems for American science — for example, top scientists can choose to work in China instead of in the U.S. — and of course there’s the concern that China’s technological strength will help its military to reign supreme. But overall, China’s rise in science should be good for American science, since American scientists can use Chinese discoveries for free and build on them. The much bigger problem is that the scientific enterprise America built during and after World War 2 is now being threatened with absolute decline. The biggest problem, of course, is that much of the country — the Republican half — has basically lost faith in the scientific enterprise. To what degree this loss of faith is justified is an open question, and deserves to be discussed openly. But the larger point — that the system that powered American dominance is under threat — is true either way. Most Americans still trust science, but MAGA Republicans don’t There’s a myth, popular in right-wing circles, that scientists have lost the trust of regular Americans — either due to the increasingly left-wing composition of academic departments, or to misbehavior during Covid, or to DEI-related research taking over science, etc. This also fits with a wider narrative that Americans are losing trust in all of our institutions. But it just isn’t true. Poll after poll shows that on the whole, Americans still trust scientists and want to spend more on science. For example, here’s a Pew poll from late 2025 showing that although about a fifth of Republicans did lose confidence in science in 2020, two thirds still have at least “a fair amount” of confidence: That same poll found that scientists are among America’s most trusted groups — even better trusted than the military! In fact, Americans trust scientists more than people in most other countries do. Other polls show that although Republican trust in science has dropped somewhat, Republican support for spending more on science remains very strong: A Pew poll in 2023 found the exact same thing: So when MAGA types tell you about scientists losing their credibility, or a drop in trust in science, they’re only talking about themselves. Whatever left-wing politicization of science happened during the Biden administration — and there was definitely some of that — it was not enough to make most Republicans lose faith in the scientific enterprise, or favor research cuts in order to purge unwanted ideology from the system. That doesn’t mean I think progressives should continue down the path of politicizing scientific research. They should not, and Biden made real missteps in this area. Objectivity clearly matters for public trust of science in the long term. But as of right now, there’s no crisis of trust in science, except among the smallish minority of people who are running around screaming that there’s a crisis of trust in science. But despite science’s overwhelming popularity and public trust, Trump and his administration are launching an unprecedented and devastating attack on American science — cutting funding, and forcing science projects to undergo ideological review by government commissars. Trump’s comprehensive attack on science
Trump refuses to sign US housing bill over voting act standoff
NC State Health Plan approves new premium hikes, picks preferred network hospitals
It’s the latest round of changes for the plan.
Why people prefer 'creative' punishments
Punishments tailored to the offense itself are viewed as more humane, more appropriate, and more likely to prevent repeat bad behavior than traditional penalties, according to a new study.
FCC Approves Reflect Orbital's Space Mirror Satellite That Astronomers Hate
The FCC says the most controversial aspect of Reflect Orbital's Earendil-1 satellite, its giant mirror, falls outside its authority since the regulator mainly focuses on radio spectrum.
World’s first right-hander could be this 550 million-year-old worm
The new findings suggest preference towards the right in animals may date back much, much further than once though.
Police probe donations to Britain’s far-right Reform party
Reform UK's finances draw police scrutiny as Farage fights to reclaim his seat in a by-election.
Melco Resorts & Entertainment Limited Stock 12‑Month Price Target Raised to $8.44, Implies 60% Upside
Explore more price target data and ratings for Melco Resorts & Entertainment Limited on the Forecasts tab, and track all previous and future analyst recommendations for Melco Resorts & Entertainment Limited in the dedicated News Flow.Select reference data provided by FactSet. Copyright © 2026 FactS…
Ann Widdecombe: strictly, politics and performance
Former Conservative minister turned Reform UK spokeswoman Ann Widdecombe has died aged 78.
Shared vulnerability to state violence could unite reform efforts
Howard Henderson analyzes state violence across racial divides and the impact of recent escalations contributing to recognizing disparities.
National Guard shooting suspect in 'dire,' 'self-inflicted' health condition after refusing to eat: filing
Rahmanullah Lakanwal's condition is called "dire" after the D.C. shooting suspect refused food and water, forcing emergency hospitalization.
Elon Musk’s plans refer to an idea conceived in the 1960s. What is the Kardashev scale?
A Soviet astronomer in the 1960s proposed a scale to classify hypothetical alien civilizations. Here’s why the framework is still coming up today.
The MAGA Party Is Over
Small crowds, algae in the reflecting pool, a White House under construction. What is Trumpism without spectacle?
Germany's lower house of parliament passes healthcare reform
Germany's lower house of parliament on Friday approved a bill to overhaul the creaking health insurance system that has drawn fierce opposition from drugs companies which fear tougher pricing measures will harm profitability and reduce investment.
'No place for violence in politics': Byron Donalds reflects on Charlie Kirk
'We want to be able to go home, see our families, see our loved ones.'
State Health Plan premiums could rise again, and some might pay more to keep their doctors
The State Health Plan is scheduled to vote Friday on a preferred provider program and whether to raise premiums on many of its 750,000 members.
Germany: Bundestag passes controversial healthcare reform
The cost-cutting package passed Germany's lower house, with protests against it expected to take place. Elsewhere, Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul will meet his Slovenian counterpart in Berlin. Follow DW for more.
Spatial transcriptome for cell segmentation
Nature Computational Science - A diffusion-based multimodal framework called DISSECT leverages transcriptomic gradients to refine segmentation boundaries, enabling high-precision single-cell...
Advocates push for ranked choice voting, open primaries in local elections
Ranked choice voting is a voting practice that allows voters to rank candidates in order of preference.
Advocates push for ranked choice voting, open primaries in local elections
Ranked choice voting is a voting practice that allows voters to rank candidates in order of preference.
FCC Approves Reflect Orbital's Space Mirror Satellite That Astronomers Hate
The FCC says the most controversial aspect of Reflect Orbital's Earendil-1 satellite, the giant mirror, falls out of its authority since the regulator mainly focuses on radio spectrum.
World Cup 2026: EU lawmakers call for formal investigation into Folarin Balogun 'scandal'
Plus: Englands Anthony Gordon says he took Mexico boss Javier Aguirres foul-mouthed rant as a compliment; Arsenal expected to test Newcastles resolve with a first official bid for Bruno Guimaraes; Lamine Yamal says he hopes to see Julian Alvarez complete a transfer to Barcelona
After Five Years of Business-Backed Advocacy, Governor Kehoe Signs Clean Slate Reforms Into Law
Today, Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe signed SB 1421 into law, which included a bipartisan "Clean Slate" measure that establishes an automated process to identify and expunge eligible low-level drug offenses for thousands of Missourians. Working in partnership with the Responsible Business Initiative for Justice, business leaders and employers were among the most vocal supporters of the reform, calling it both a practical workforce solution that removes unnecessary barriers between qualified workers a
Most NC voters expect political violence. Some prefer candidates who embrace it, poll finds
Most North Carolinians expect political violence during the 2026 election cycle. And about one in every four or five voters say they’d be more likely to support candidates who refuse to condemn violence against the other side.
Here's the worst thing about the best World Cup
The video assistant referee (VAR), with its incessant replays and gutting goal reversals, is the worst thing about the best World Cup.
CNBC names Ohio the top state in America for business for the first time
Ohio has been named America’s Top State for Business in 2026, a first-time No. 1 finish that state leaders say reflects years of investment aimed at attracting
William & Mary’s VIMS & Batten School unveil new, unified brand identity
The refreshed brand strengthens institutional connections and reflects the university’s brand hierarchy while preserving the legacy of the Virginia Institute of Marine Science.
Who Is The France vs. Morocco Referee? Meet Facundo Tello
Who is the referee for the 2026 World Cup quarterfinal match between France and Morocco?
Former Olympian pleads not guilty in Reflecting Pool damage case
Trump, without providing evidence, has alleged the damage was caused by vandals
Anthropic’s new Claude feature is quietly selling you on AI
Claude’s new Reflect dashboard doesn’t just visualize how you use AI. It also subtly reinforces how much of your daily work now depends on Anthropic’s chatbot.
Say hello to Claude Wrapped
It allows you to see an analysis of your usage data over the past month, three months, six months, or year.
How to Bring More Data Science to YouTube and Creator Media
I am constantly writing about the challenge facing agencies and brands when in comes to YouTube. Is it TV? Social video? Search? Commerce? Do you fund it from all of those respective budgets, and measure it using all their respective metrics? Sean Odlum, Chief Product Officer at Tinuiti, says it may not make sense to try and “bucket'“ YouTube. “You kinda gotta treat it as its own thing,” he said. “Years ago, we had debates [along the lines of] ‘what is this?’ Ultimately we decided, it’s YouTube. It is hard to categorize because it is so protean.” Which ultimately means that almost every part of a media department or marketing group will likely touch YouTube in some fashion. And that it probably needs its own sets of metrics and measurement tools. At Tinuiti, that need has led the agency to develop the YouTube Intelligence Suite, which aims to help brands optimize YouTube campaigns while using all the traditional marketing tools they are used to, such as MMMs. “I wouldn’t say there is a YouTube playbook,” Odlum said. “[For media planners] there is this vast bubbling ocean, so where do you start?’ A lot of brands and agencies struggle.” “You don’t want to just brute-force it—spray dollars everywhere and eventually learn. You want to start intelligently and then learn iteratively.” The problem, Odlum and his team have found, is that “brands have largely defaulted into demand generation campaigns because they’re easier to measure.” However, “you can really build your own content ecosystem around these trusted experts.” Check out the full interview here: Thanks for reading Next in Media! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work. Subscribe
EA SPORTS™ College Football 27 Launches Worldwide, Bringing New Era of College Football to Life
Do it For U with 138 Ways to Play in Dynasty Mode, Experience NIL and Build Your Legacy In Road to Glory Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: EA) today launched EA SPORTS™ College Football 27 worldwide on PlayStation®5, Xbox Series X|S and, for the first time ever, PC and mobile. Following the record-breaking return of the franchise, College Football 27 raises the bar once again, delivering the most authentic college football experience yet. College Football 27 captures real world elements that impact gameday like never before. College Football 27 is the definitive modern college football experience. Every major change happening in the sport — from NIL and coaching movement to recruiting, player development and game day — is now reflected in the game at unprecedented scale. Built around the current college football landscape, College Football 27 introduces the biggest changes to Dynasty Mode since the game's introduction, including all-new dynamic weather, expanded Road to Glory positions
Transparency and collaboration were at the forefront of the second annual PA One Health Consortium meeting
The multiday June event saw more than 30 expert speakers and 200 attendees committed to human, animal, plant and ecosystem health in the commonwealth.
Referees’ reputations are being impugned by politicians. FIFA needs to defend them
Officials just want to do their jobs quietly but when they are targeted by politicians with agendas, they need protecting
MLS’ Newest Billionaire Owner Thinks Investors Can Do Better Than Buying A Sports Team
Months after spending hundreds of millions of his own cash to buy Sporting Kansas City, wealth advisor Peter Mallouk says he still prefers stocks as an investment.
Big Business is Leasing Record Office Space in Mamdani’s New York
Some of the biggest names in banking, law and artificial intelligence are expanding their footprints in Manhattan and Brooklyn office towers.
Greek firefighters battle fire at business site, at least two injured
Greek firefighters on Thursday were battling a fire which broke out at a business premises some 15 km (9 miles) northwest of Athens, seriously wounding at least two people, the fire brigade said.
Bluebird Banter 2026 MLB Draft Preview Part 2
Yesterday, I went over the details of the draft and the Jays’ potential strategy. Today, a quick review of the farm, the shape of the draft class, and some names. The Farm Baseball America refreshed their farm system rankings the day before yesterday, in anticipation of the draft. They currently have the Jays 18th. Fangraphs […]
C&H offloads sugar at industrial terminal due to strike, sparking health concerns
Concerns are growing over how raw sugar destined for the C&H Sugar refinery is being stored at a private terminal during an ongoing labor dispute, prompting calls for investigation by local officials and criticism from union leaders.
Bringing the data to every sideline
MIT PhD student Henry Wang studies how data and technology can improve the way sports are played, analyzed, and refereed. Working in the MIT Sports Lab in collaboration with FIFA, he develops systems with the goals of helping referees make faster, more accurate decisions and expanding access to performance analytics across the globe.
SPAG workshop to focus on small business refinancing Wednesday
The West Texas Small Business Summit is scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 1, at the Lubbock Memorial Civic Center.
Iowa's first measles case of 2026 reflects a changing reality for doctors, health officials
Iowa's first measles case of 2026 is highlighting how rising cases across the U.S. have Iowa doctors preparing for a disease once thought to be on its way to extinction.
Pasadena Fire Department targets firefighter health following impacts of the Eaton Fire
Everything Coming in the 2026 Apple TV 4K
The Apple TV 4K hasn't been updated since 2022, and it's due for a refresh. An update is planned for 2026, but Apple is likely going to wait to launch it after Siri AI launches in iOS 27. Design Apple TV design updates don't happen often, and that's not changing. The next Apple TV is going to have the same squircle shape as the current model, and it'll continue to be made from a black plastic material.
Chris Parnell reflects on being fired twice from “Saturday Night Live”: ‘It was a big shock’
The comedian was brought back in 2002, just months after Lorne Michaels dismissed Parnell due to budget cuts.
Pasadena Fire Department targets firefighter health following impacts of the Eaton Fire
Gas leak in front of Durham Bulls Athletic Park, nearby businesses evacuated
According to the Durham Fire Department, firefighters are investigating a "large" natural gas leak in front of the main entrance to the Durham Bulls Athletic Park. The Bulls are on the road in Jacksonville, Florida, for a road series against the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp.
Reflecting on the World Cup's complex colonial politics
The Haitian team's heroic efforts were followed by news that the U.S. Supreme Court has greenlighted the end of Temporary Protected Status.
Mike Rowe says history shows why Americans keep rejecting socialism
Mike Rowe says Americans who aren't proud of the U.S. may need a history refresher or a visit to other countries on America's 250th anniversary.
Reform’s Fleet Street ‘spoilers’: how party deploys tactic to get ahead of stories
Richard Tice’s NCA leak claims in the Telegraph would not be the first time Reform has used a more sympathetic outlet
Clacton byelection likely to be two-man race between Reform leader and Binface
Nigel Farage’s resignation as MP means comedian might have to consider representing constituency if he wins
We remember little to nothing of early childhood — and a recent mouse study may help explain why
Early in life, neural networks in the brain's memory center are highly connected, and they are only later refined into precise systems, a mouse study finds.
Delta’s Basic Business Offers Cheaper Luxury Ticket With Fewer Perks
The airline’s strategy reflects a push toward a la carte pricing even for premium tickets.
Western N.Y. GOP lawmakers point to bail reform amid rise in violence
Lawmakers and candidates are speaking out after a Fourth of July weekend in which 11 people were shot in six separate shootings in Buffalo.
Fathom Entertainment Names Jason Brenek New Chief Executive Officer
Fathom Entertainment, the leading specialty distributor of content to theatrical partners worldwide, announced the appointment of Jason Brenek as its new Chi...
PSA: macOS 28 will drop support for encrypted Mac OS Extended volumes
Apple has announced that starting with macOS 28, users will need to decrypt or reformat certain storage volumes to keep using them.
How social media can get people hooked on science
Does using a casual tone and making pop culture references make people more interested in science content? New UGA research suggests it might.
VisualDx Partners with Sun River Health to Expand Access to Clinical Decision Support for Underserved Patients
ROCHESTER, N.Y., July 08, 2026--VisualDx, a leading clinical decision support system used by healthcare professionals worldwide, today announced a new partnership with Sun River Health, a federally qualified health center (FQHC) serving patients across 50 locations in New York State. Through this partnership, Sun River Health's nearly 500 providers will use VisualDx to strengthen in-house decision-making capabilities, enable more appropriate dermatology referrals, and improve health equity for t
Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced hasn't set sail yet, but it's already doing better than Shadows on Steam
Ubisoft's big refresh of 2013's Assassin's Creed Black Flag is already looking to perform better than Shadows on PC, but there are caveats.
What to know about Nigel Farage's dramatic resignation and political gambit
LONDON (AP) — Nigel Farage says the political establishment is out to stop him. But the Reform UK leader’s attempt to prove it has not gone to plan.
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.”
Labour calls on Farage to ‘come clean’ over £5m gift and work with crime agency over money laundering concerns
Lib Dems tell Reform UK leader ‘the game is up’ as political rivals vow to boycott ‘stunt’ Clacton byelection
New weight loss pill beats oral Ozempic in major trial
A new once-daily weight-loss pill called orforglipron delivered better weight loss and blood sugar improvements than the leading oral semaglutide in a major clinical trial. The tablet could offer a more convenient alternative to injectable drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy because it doesn't require refrigeration or special timing with meals. It's also cheaper to manufacture, which could expand access globally.
‘We deserve more:’ Costco customers refuse plans for Linwood business center
Kansas City residents and those who frequent the Costco on Linwood Boulevard attended a public meeting to hear the companies plans to to convert its warehouse into a Costco Business Center.
California moves forward with reforms to mental health diversion program
Reflecting Pool being drained – again – as Trump administration tries once more to fix landmark
Crews began draining the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool on Sunday, according to Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, for the second time in three months.
Nigel Farage's political rivals rule out standing in Clacton by-election
The Reform UK leader says he wants an "establishment versus the people by-election" but Labour calls it a "circus".
Grant program helps Clermont County building, business owners give their facades a makeover
Business, building and nonprofit owners in Clermont County now have a chance to revitalize their storefronts. The program will offer up to $20,000 per project, with a total of $100,000 available.
Orbit Fab hires new CEO and raises funding to support satellite refueling business
With a new chief executive and funding round, satellite refueling company Orbit Fab hopes to make the transition from technology development to operations.
Why cardiology leaders should be careful about the quality metrics they focus on
"Data should simply be a measure of a broader organizational objective," one expert explained. "When the data becomes the goal, that's where organizations can get into trouble."
Argentina 3-2 Egypt: Hossam Hassan says officiating 'unfair' and World Cup 'directed towards' reigning champions
Egypt head coach Hossam Hassan criticised refereeing during dramatic 3-2 loss to Argentina in World Cup last 16; Enzo Fernandez scored late header to win game after Egypt had two penalty claims waved away; Hassan said refereeing was unfair; Sky Sports News has approached FIFA for comment
Firefighters on scene of large fire at scrap metal recycling business near New Carlisle
Firefighters are on the scene of a large fire at a scrap metal recycling business near New Carlisle.This is a live look at OmniSource on Smilax Road.Dispatchers
Explaining The Comcast and NBCUniversal Divorce
(Welcome to the “Most Important Story of the Week”, my bi-weekly strategy column analyzing the most important (but often not buzziest) news story of the last two weeks. I’m the Entertainment Strategy Guy, a former streaming executive who now analyzes business strategy in the entertainment industry. Please subscribe.) I hope everyone had a happy Fourth of July in America, celebrating the country’s 250th birthday. Frankly, I am bummed the 250th wasn’t a bigger celebration, but that’s a different topic for a different Substack. While it was generally a quiet week on the entertainment/streaming/media business fronts, we still had some interesting news stories. Actually, that kinda undersells one of the stories, a huge, huge, huge divestment that could upend the entertainment landscape... So let’s get right to it. In today’s column, I’ll cover Comcast spinning off the rest of NBCUniversal, an entertainment company investing in an LLM company and an LLM-owner investing in a movie studio, the latest round of threats of digital tariffs, and more. Let’s dive in. Subscribe Most Important Story of the Week - Most: Comcast/NBCU Breakup!!!! If I had to describe my reaction to Comcast spinning out NBCUniversal, it feels like a relationship ending, either breaking up or divorcing. Comcast’s decision to spin off the rest of NBCUniversal, after spinning off some of its cable assets into Versant last year, really does feel like a family breaking up under “irreconcilable differences”. Of my stereotypes of the entertainment moguls, my go-to for Comcast CEO Brian Roberts—heir to the Comcast fortune, but a man who’s been at the helm for 24 years now, and president for twelve years before that—is that he likes building empires. He cut his teeth acquiring cable rivals in the 1990s and tried to buy Disney repeatedly, then settled for NBCUniversal after a long court battle. (Contrast this with Rupert Murdoch, a man who also loved to buy, but would also sell when the price is right. Murdoch made Fox out of nothing, but then sold 20th Century Fox to Disney, arguably at the top of the market. So I understood why he sold.) But I don’t understand Roberts’ motivation to sell now. I have some explanations but no single, super-satisfying explanation. Strategically, it would just make more sense to have kept NBCUniversal in-house, especially for a one-time empire builder like Comcast. Yet one powerful force—arguably the decider in modern capitalism—likely overwhelmed all other considerations. At first, I thought I’d arrange my thoughts as a “Five Why” analysis, digging through each layer of the puzzle. But instead, I found myself asking, “But…why?” (And I only ended up with four sections.) So let’s look at Comcast from that angle. Then, at the end, I’ll give my biggest strategic recommendation for every company in Hollywood. It’s obvious, but sometimes, the obvious strategy is the most ignored. But…Why? The Stock Market, Conglomerations, and Sum of the Parts Analysis We’re just getting started with this issue, but the rest is for paid subscribers of the Entertainment Strategy Guy, so if you’d like to find out… Why Comcast could never get a “tech company” valuation The not-so-secret motivation for Comcast What Versant has to do with all of this The key strategic advice I think every entertainment exec should follow (though it’s really obvious) Some big AI investment news… Whether we’ll see digital tariffs… And more… ...please subscribe! We can only keep doing this great work with your support.
Build EBR launches facade improvement program for Plank Road businesses
Build EBR is introducing a new grant initiative designed to help small businesses and commercial property owners enhance the appearance of properties along the Plank Road corridor. Funded through the JPMorgan Chase AdvancingCities Grant, the Front Door Refresh Facade Improvement Program is the final implementation initiative tied to the Reimagine Plank Road Master Plan and […]
Gillette Chamber of Commerce reflects on 70 years of business growth, community support
GILLETTE, Wyo. — The Gillette Chamber of Commerce is celebrating 70 years of helping local businesses connect, grow and succeed in the community. The Chamber was started in 1956 by a group of local business owners. Today, the organization works as a link between businesses and local, county and state leaders. CEO Gail Loafing said […]
Waffle House lawsuit: Employees seek refunds over alleged illegal tobacco health insurance surcharge
If you work at Waffle House and use tobacco products, you may have been paying an extra fee on your health insurance that a new federal lawsuit says was illegal. A Georgia woman wants that money back for herself and thousands of others.
Wisconsin Supreme Court refuses to release voter records sought by conservative activist
The case has been wending its way through the courts for years and stems from attempts by conservatives to overturn President Joe Biden’s victory in Wisconsin over President Donald Trump in 2020.
Democrat Gina Hinojosa wants to send $1,500 to every Texas household
The so-called “Corruption Tax Refund” checks are the latest effort by the Austin Democrat to brand Gov. Greg Abbott as beholden to big donors.
iPhone 18 Pro Could Be Noticeably Thicker Than iPhone 17 Pro
The iPhone 18 Pro's aluminum frame and camera housing are both set to grow thicker than the iPhone 17 Pro's, according to new posts from the leaker known as "Fixed Focus Digital". In a post on Weibo today, the leaker said that aluminum alloy mid-frames are "going to be used in straight-edge phones for a long time to come," referring to Apple's continued use of the material introduced with the iPhone 17 Pro rather than a return to titanium.
Companies Brace for Fresh Political Uncertainty at U.S. Agencies
A Supreme Court ruling that presidents can fire independent regulators without cause has added volatility for industries that prefer stable enforcement.
Companies Brace for Fresh Political Uncertainty at U.S. Agencies
A Supreme Court ruling that presidents can fire independent regulators without cause has added volatility for industries that prefer stable enforcement.
From The Sports Desk: Belgium demolishes the U.S. 4-1, and then trolls it afterward
“Overturn this,” Belgium posted on social media, a reference to FIFA suspending a one-game suspension for Folarin Balogun, the American striker, and allowing him to play in the match.
VIDEOS: Multiple counties respond to fire at towing business in Ohio
PHOTOS: Multiple agencies responded to a large fire in Wood County on Pemberville Road, according to officials. Flames could be seen from the Ohio Turnpike near the Pemberville Road exit as firefighters responded to the call.
George Cottrell: the crypto criminal behind Farage controversy
Reform UK leader did not declare security, staff and accommodation support from convicted fraudster
Reality Shows Are Tapping Into the Microseries Boom
Industry players like NBCUniversal and Fox and microseries platforms like FlareFlow and aTwist are investing in reality shows as their next frontier.
New Faculty Research Lecturer Thuc-Quyen Nguyen reflects on science, mentorship and resilience
Nguyen, a distinguished professor of chemistry and biochemistry, will deliver her lecture during the 2026-2027 academic year
Make the Business Case for Your Sustainability Initiative
Sustainability proposals often stall not because they lack merit, but because they are framed in a language that does not match how senior leaders allocate capital. While CSOs tend to emphasize impact, materiality, and disclosure, CFOs and CEOs need to understand cash flow, risk, and return. External reporting frameworks are useful for accountability, but they are poorly suited to internal investment decisions, which require project-level comparisons rather than aggregated enterprise metrics. Sustainability investments should therefore be evaluated like any other investment: by showing how they reduce current costs, avoid future costs, generate new revenue, or protect existing revenue. Strong cases begin with a clear business story that links the proposed action to a specific business impact and cash-flow outcome, then quantify what can credibly be quantified while treating harder-to-measure benefits as either upside or an explicit strategic bet.
Oracle Named a Visionary in 2026 Gartner® Magic Quadrant™ for Analytics and Business Intelligence Platforms
Oracle Named a Visionary in 2026 Gartner Magic Quadrant for Analytics and Business Intelligence Platforms. In our view, this reflects the progress we are making as analytics and AI become more connected.
Insurance commissioner candidate touts experience
Sen. Ben Allen aims to reform home-insurance market.
Trump demands Republicans use budgetary gambit to pass voting reforms
Donald Trump's latest demand: that congressional Republicans combine voting reforms with defense spending and bring both to his desk before recess.
‘Serious consequences’: Farage attacks Sky News after question about George Cottrell
Reform UK leader confronts journalist after question about gifts from friend and convicted fraudster
Rahm Emanuel to tell Israel its alliance with the U.S. cannot ‘survive as it has been’
In a Tel Aviv speech Wednesday, the presidential prospect plans to warn that Israel faces a “dead end” without change, a move reflecting Democratic pressure.
Lawmakers end multi-million-dollar hospital tax “loophole”
By Michelle Crouch Co-published with The Charlotte Ledger A little-noticed provision in the state budget that was approved last week aims to shut down a tax strategy used by at least one hospital system to exceed the state’s sales tax refund cap. The change would require nonprofit and public hospital systems to file a single […]
Labour asks Electoral Commission to investigate claims Farage broke electoral law by not disclosing gifts
Parliamentary authorities are already looking into a £5m donation to the Reform Uk leader from the crypto billionaire Christopher Harborne
NM health department reports bat with rabies in Sandoval County
The New Mexico Department of Health reported the state's ninth case of rabies in 2026: a bat in Sandoval County.
Suffolk BME Business Awards 'reflect the county as it is'
Nominations are now open ahead of the Suffolk BME Business Awards night in November.
Ukrainian drones flew all the way to Siberia to hit key oil refinery
The strike on Omsk, about 1,700 miles away, is Ukraine's longest-range attack on Russia since the war began.
German business leaders warn Merz more is needed to prevent ‘lost decade’
Bosses welcome government’s reform package but say country is still at a competitive disadvantage