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Netanyahu testifies his health is 'top decile' in libel suit over cancer reports
The Prime Minister Testified in Court After He Sued an Anti-government Activist and Two Journalists Over Reports on His Health. In April, a Medical Report Revealed Netanyahu Had Been Diagnosed With Prostate Cancer and Underwent Radiation Therapy Without Informing the Public in Real Time
When Businesspeople Run Government, the Government Doesn't Become a Business
Central planning from Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, President Donald Trump, and others reflects a fundamental misunderstanding of what makes private markets work.
Senators vote to block their pay during future government shutdowns
The Senate on Thursday moved to bar senators from being paid during government shutdowns.
Senators vote to withhold their own pay during future government shutdowns
The bipartisan support for the measure comes at a time when federal closures have become longer and more frequent, frustrating lawmakers who say there should be punishment when Congress fails at its most basic legislative duty.
Senators agree to go without pay during shutdowns after historic closures left workers unpaid
Senators unanimously voted to withhold their own pay during future government shutdowns after federal workers went unpaid in two historic closures.
A White House committee gathered sharp minds to save college football -- instead, they wrote a blog post
From Bird Rights to coach salary caps, the White House committee on 'Saving College Sports' basically wrote government-sponsored college football fan fiction
US business inventories post biggest gain in nearly four years in March
business inventories increased by the most in nearly four years in March, boosted by stocks at wholesalers, government data showed on Thursday.9%, the largest gain since June 2022, after climbing 0.
Free the Economy podcast: Pension politics with Jarrett Skorup
In this week’s episode we cover more legal headaches for the Trump tariffs, keeping kids safe in an AI world, and California’s latest government boondoggle. Our guest this week is Jarrett Skorup, vice president for marketing and communications at the Mackinac Center for Public Policy in Midland, Michigan. We talk about his latest study, “Unions […]
Wes Streeting resigns as health secretary - his letter in full
Health Secretary Wes Streeting has announced his resignation from government.
UK health minister Wes Streeting resigns
British health minister Wes Streeting resigned from government on Thursday, saying he had lost confidence in Prime Minister Keir Starmer's leadership.
KFF Poll Finds That Most Adults Lack Confidence in Key Health Agencies to Act Independently — The Monitor
KFF’s latest Health Tracking Poll finds that confidence in the independence of key government health agencies overseeing food and drug safety and public health is low among the public and across partisans. Most of the public also share a distrust of agriculture, food, and pharmaceutical companies to act in the public’s best interest, compared with doctors and health care providers who are much more trusted among the public.
Moscow bans almost everyone from posting about drone strikes
The ban extends even to government agencies and emergency services, with only the defense ministry and mayor's office allowed to make posts.
Freeing Political Prisoners Should Be A Priority At Trump-Xi Summit
Attention from the President and Congress should signal the U.S. government's intent to free political prisoners during the Trump-Xi summit.
Labor accused of ‘robbing Peter to pay Paul’ for axing $760m research program to fund other science measures
Researchers say budget decision to cut commercialisation program to fund the CSIRO and other science initiatives undermines the government’s own priorities
It’s Way Past Due That Rand Paul Quit His COVID-19 Crusade
At a Congressional hearing, the senator from Kentucky made a fool of himself as he tried to prove that the pandemic was a government cover-up.
Canadian-based company ceases operations; dozens of people laid off in Pennsylvania
The company said its financial position has worsened significantly since 2021, and that it had faced additional pressure since 2024 due to the imposition of tariffs by the U.S. government, post-pandemic reductions in consumer demand, increased competition from offshore competitors, and ongoing cash constraints.
Senate takes major first step to prevent future shutdowns with painful accountability play
Senate advances Kennedy's resolution to withhold lawmaker pay during shutdowns, adding consequences as government closures become more frequent.
Governments May Shape What AI Chatbots Say by Shaping the Data They Learn From
Six studies show how state-coordinated media in AI training data influence model responses about politics—especially in a country’s own language
Tariff Refunds Begin to Reach Businesses as Trump Lashes Out at Court
The government must return about $160 billion, plus interest, collected from duties deemed illegal and potentially more if it loses a related tariff case.
What’s in the King’s Speech?
‘Traditionally a moment for governmental clarity’, today’s opening of Parliament took place ‘amidst profound political uncertainty’
Opinion | Unfortunately, We Have to Take Spencer Pratt Seriously as a Politician
Reality stars and influencers in government are here to stay.
Amid elevated disaster risks Tahoe cannot afford tourism business-driven governance
Local and state governments in 2026 are under more pressure than ever to provide services. These new realities and an uncertain summer came into sharp relief recently in Nevada. During the state’s joint interim standing Government Affairs meeting, lawmakers received an alarming update from Nevada’s head of Emergency Management and Homeland Security about strained disaster […]
Watch: Pomp and ceremony as King delivers speech in Parliament
King Charles III has unveiled the government's agenda in a speech to Parliament.
Something new brewing at 515
Scott Hedderich and his son, Wil, are hanging up their government affairs hats and picking up a mug as they embark on a new career making beer. The Hedderiches have purchased 515 Brewing in Clive and they are spiffying up the place for what Scott said he hopes will be a grand opening in early…
Science is under attack and Minnesota politicians are asleep at the wheel
U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar recently rolled out some preliminary plans for Minnesota in her campaign for governor with a focus on fraud. Notably absent from her list of priorities: science. Leaders in Washington have gutted our crown jewel — the U.S. research enterprise. Many will argue that state government isn’t responsible for fixing the crisis […]
Axios interview: Reimagining government + business + AI
Chris Lehane laid out OpenAI's political playbook.
UK bond market on edge amid political turmoil
Political instability, fears of drawn-out Labour leadership campaign, and possibility of Reform government all blamed for jump in UK borrowing costs
UK bond market on edge amid political turmoil
Political instability, fears of drawn-out Labour leadership campaign, and possibility of Reform government all blamed for jump in UK borrowing costs
All sides of politics backed ambitious gambling reforms. The government’s response is half-hearted at best
Australia’s gambling epidemic will likely continue because the government has only half-heartedly agreed to do more to protect Australians.
“The Outsider” comedically addresses politics and government
The Island Players are ending the 2025-26 community theater season on a high note with the satirical political comedy, “The Outsider.”
Schumer backs GOP's plan to bring the pain during future shutdowns: 'I'm going to vote for it'
Chuck Schumer says he will vote for a Republican-backed Senate resolution to withhold senators' paychecks during any future government shutdown.
Camp Lejeune to host small business outreach event in Jacksonville
Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune is hosting a small business outreach event later this month aimed at helping companies learn how to compete for government contra
Google launches new Android security feature to help uncover spyware attacks
Intrusion Logging is a new part of Android’s Advanced Protection Mode, which aims to help protect human rights activists, journalists, and dissidents from government spyware attack and law enforcement forensic devices.
Political spending groups want to influence Fresno elections. Whom do they support?
“There is a lot more interest in our political outcomes than maybe we would expect there to be,” said a local government expert.
Hantavirus is not Covid-19, but ‘calm-mongering’ risks triggering post-Covid anxiety
Since the first sign of an outbreak, the reminders have come from government officials, health agencies and plenty of experts: There’s no reason to worry. Don’t panic. It’s under control.
Government Seizes Farmer’s Land to Build Airport for Corporate Jets and Business Hangars
“I’m just a farmer in their way,” says Georgia producer Jeff Melin. “Force me to sell, take my land, and fly in the billionaires and big companies.”
In war with Iran, China sees a familiar pattern of U.S. mistakes
President Trump arrives in Beijing this week for talks with a Chinese government that is confident as ever in its ascendance on the world stage.
A warning from the UK for America’s political class
Americans are only a little less satisfied with our system of government than the people of South Africa, which is really saying something, given that South Africans as a whole are about half as sa…
Britain Politics
Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government Steve Reed arrives for a cabinet meeting in Downing Street, London, Tuesday, May 12, 2026 as Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer
Alcohol is wreaking havoc on U.S. public health. American society looks the other way
The Deadliest Drug, a new investigative series, shows that the alcohol epidemic is a generational failure of the medical and public health systems, of industry, and of government.
Laws on veterans, 9/11 families and election certification face threat in proxy voting case
Several veterans’ benefits programs, payments for 9/11 families, a ban on TikTok on government devices, and changes Congress made to how presidential elections are certified in light of the January 6 Capitol attack are all in jeopardy with a case challenging how the Democratic-led US House relied on proxy votes to pass a massive, Covid-era funding bill.
Political expert slams Bernie Sanders proposed ‘data center moratorium’ bill under guise of AI safety
Government Accountability Institute executive director Seamus Bruner analyzes Sen. Bernie Sanders’, I-Vt., artificial intelligence criticisms on ‘The Bottom Line.’
Trump nominates David Cummins to head the TSA after a rocky period for the agency
Cummins worked as a senior vice president at Serco, a government contractor.
AST SpaceMobile Provides Business Update and First Quarter 2026 Results
MIDLAND, Texas, May 11, 2026--AST SpaceMobile, Inc. ("AST SpaceMobile") (NASDAQ: ASTS), the company building the first and only space-based cellular broadband network accessible directly by everyday smartphones, and designed for both commercial and government applications, is providing its business update and results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2026.
Government Contracts Insights
For all its controversy, complications, successes, and failures, the Small Business Administration’s 8(a) Business Development...
UF Health Shands receives top care, safety rating from U.S. government
Latest national recognition for Florida’s premier academic health center
The community-less, hyper-online citizen is a threat to democracy
Robert Putnam, a political scientist and sociologist, first came to widespread public attention with his turn-of-the-century tome, “Bowling Alone: The Collapse and Revival of American Community.” There has been frequent debate regarding whether Putnam, who taught for several decades at Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government, is a conservative or liberal. Occasionally mistaken for unquestioned right-winger […]
Philippine Congress poised to impeach Vice President Sara Duterte
Impeachment complaint seeks Duterte's removal from office and perpetual disqualification from any government post.
UK's Starmer launches political fightback, putting Europe ties at heart of reset
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer will begin a political fightback on Monday in a speech that says rebuilding relations with the rest of Europe will be his government's defining mission, as he moves to quell growing calls to quit.
“We Are the Ones We’ve Been Waiting For”: Bhatti’s Vision for a Different Politics
Virginia congressional candidate Salaam Bhatti discusses campaign finance reform, redistricting, and his policy vision rooted in community and structural change. In this interview, Bhatti outlines his approach to welfare reform, donor influence, and the role of local engagement in shaping a more responsive and representative government.
Trump’s role as LIV Golf host renews scrutiny over conflicts of interest
Experts are raising conflict-of-interest and ethical concerns after President Donald Trump hosted a LIV Golf event at his Virginia property this weekend, renewing scrutiny over whether the Trump family is financially benefiting from his time in office while supporting a golf league backed by a government accused of human rights abuses.
Trump tariff refunds are actually happening – and businesses should pay attention
Business owners may have to wade through paperwork, but the US government is now processing refunds
Chicago Teachers Union wants $8.5 million dues hike to fund politics
“Has your brand become toxic?” This was a pointed question from WGN Political Editor Tahman Bradley, posed to Chicago Teachers Union President Stacy Davis Gates in a recent interview. Her immediate response: “I don’t understand the question.” When pressed, Gates added, “The Chicago Teachers Union is not a political party, it is a labor union.” But internal union documents show CTU leadership is trying to skim $8.5 million more from teacher paychecks explicitly for politics, while trying to silence union members critical of Gates’ leadership. Under the proposed dues hike, Chicago teachers would see up to $800 more per year flow from their paychecks to union coffers. The union already takes in more than $40 million a year, mostly from dues. And it spends less than 18 cents of every dollar on teacher representation. The No. 1 reason for the proposed dues hike? Politics. “We must win a majority of the first 21 person fully elected school board in November,” reads the first point in CTU’s member FAQ document.1 This directly contradicts CTU’s promise to members about how leadership uses dues money. The official CTU handbook tells members that the union does not use dues money for politics, so if they are interested in funding political activity, they should consider voluntary donations to CTU’s political action committee. “Our dues are not used for political purposes,” according to the handbook. “So our PAC relies on extra contributions from our members to support progressive candidates and to impact elected officials at the city, county and state levels.” This kind of double-speak is one reason members are concerned about another constitutional change slipped into the dues hike vote, which will take place on May 20-21: an attempt to stop members from holding the union accountable. A proposed amendment to the union constitution tries to place limits on when members may bring a lawsuit against the union for violating members’ rights.2 This provision is clearly a response to members’ lawsuit against union leadership regarding Gates’ years-long refusal to publish audited financial statements. The judge in that case has repeatedly denied the union’s attempts to dismiss it. Teachers opposed to these changes have been circulating this flier, urging members to vote no. What will CTU members get in return for millions of dollars in additional dues? If the 2024 school board elections are any indication—not much. CTU leadership’s record on school board races may not inspire confidence among members. A Chicago Policy Center analysis of a dozen affiliated PACs found CTU spent nearly $2.9 million on school board races in 2024. Of that spending, more than $2.1 million (75%) went to losing candidates. And while CTU-backed candidates lost six of the nine competitive seats overall, they fared worse in their biggest-spending races, losing five of six contests in which the union and its affiliates put up more than $250,000 for their candidate. The Chicago school board elections take place Nov. 3.3 Is another $8.5 million enough to clean up a toxic reputation? Not likely. Update on federal tax credit scholarship: Last week, Democratic New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said she plans to opt into the federal tax credit scholarship program. If Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker follows suit, Illinois could unlock $1 billion in donor money statewide for both public- and private-school students. If Illinois does not opt in, that money will flow to other states. The Last Ward reported in February on how Illinois Democrats could unlock at least $100 million in new resources for Chicago public-school students by opting in. Update on the investigation into how Chicagoans learned about a meeting to hike their property taxes: The Last Ward reported in January on an absurd, taxpayer-funded investigation into how local media learned of a planned Chicago school board meeting to hike the district’s property tax levy. That investigation is now complete. Lawyers interviewed two dozen witnesses, and found nothing. Update on Illinois’ muni debt crisis: My colleague Joe Tabor last week published a must-read piece in Crain’s Chicago Business about how Illinois recently rejected south suburban Harvey’s request to be designated a “distressed city.” The saga shows why the state must implement a better structure to assist insolvent local governments, including allowing for the option to pursue debt relief via Chapter 9 bankruptcy. The Last Ward reported in October on how Harvey is tipping the first domino in Illinois’ municipal debt crisis. Mincing Rascals: I joined the Mincing Rascals podcast to discuss the SAFE-T Act, the millionaires tax, and more. My “green light” recommendation: Force Majeure (2014). 1 Notably, the No. 2 reason cited is “resources to fund a state-wide millionaires tax campaign in order to fully fund the state’s school funding formula.” The constitutional amendment necessary to implement a progressive income tax in Illinois recently died in the Illinois House, meaning this question would not appear on the ballot until 2028 at the earliest. 2 There is seemingly no single-subject rule for CTU constitutional amendments. So members only get one vote on the full package. One cannot vote “yes” on the dues hike and “no” on the restriction of members’ rights, for example. 3 Illinois law grants far too much power over local government to unelected officials like Gates. State lawmakers should fix that.
Health advocates warn government’s claims of baby formula safety contradict data
Independent scientists who reviewed the results said most samples were contaminated with Pfas or phthalates
Chicago health department leaves millions of federal COVID dollars on the table
Mayor Brandon Johnson’s health commissioner voluntarily returned tens of millions in COVID-19 grants to the federal government months before expiration.
Mass Layoffs in Iran as Businesses Buckle Under Wartime Pressures
Iran was already struggling economically before 2026 brought widespread instability. A government-imposed internet shutdown has crippled an entire sector.
Syria sees first government reshuffle since al-Assad’s ouster: State media
Interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa's reshuffle comes amid protests over poor government performance.
FBI investigating recent deaths and disappearances of multiple US scientists
The scientists supposedly all had access to sensitive government research, and the nature of their work has led to speculation that their cases might all be connected.
Just Show Us the Spaceships Already
Until the U.S. government has data or samples of alien material that can be shared, the story of extraterrestrial visitors is just a story.
Colorado needs a sane, viable opposition party
If you are upset with the increasing regulatory burden in Colorado, the exodus of too many large employers, accelerating property taxes, the condition of the roads, and all of the funding for transit schemes with low demand, of course, you can lay the blame on Democrats who control all levers of state government. The same […]
DeSantis reveals which dictatorship should be 'put out to pasture' next
Gov. Ron DeSantis said Cuba's communist government should be "put out to pasture once and for all" as he signed law restricting Cuban-linked businesses in Florida.
Alaska Legislature asks federal government for more flexibility on rural health funding
Legislators say restrictions on how and when Rural Health Transformation Program funding can be used present problems for Alaska.
After Frederiksen Falls Short in Denmark, Right-Leaning Politician Is Asked to Form Government
King Frederik X has appointed a right-leaning politician to try to form the next government.
Colorado governor signs $47 billion budget in which ‘nobody won’
Gov. Jared Polis on Friday officially signed a $46.87 billion spending plan for the Colorado state government in the next fiscal year. His signature is the culmination of months of work by legislators, who resorted to cuts, transfers and other mechanisms to balance the 2026-27 budget amid a deficit of more than $1 billion. That […]
Ray Curtis wants to take voters, and politicians, back to school
Ray Curtis, a retired government teacher and a longshot candidate for the Republican nomination for Congress, wants to see a return to the principles enshrined in the Constitution
In California governor race, single-payer healthcare is a litmus test. There’s still no way to pay for it
Single-payer healthcare is a central talking point in the chaotic race for California governor. In a crowded field, top-polling Democrats are declaring their support for a government-run health system but providing few details about how they’d accomplish it.
Funding crisis in Argentina sparks new wave of protests
Two years after the country’s research funding collapsed, scientists are demonstrating against the government’s failure to restore previously cut scholarships and increase salaries as required by a 2025 law.
As federal government pulls back, Colorado charts independent course with vaccines
As state leaders change laws to make vaccines more accessible, a coalition of doctors, public health advocates and everyday Coloradans is trying to start a public conversation about their importance.
Military spouses want government to waive up to $1 million business loan fees
"...one of the biggest barriers to entrepreneurship is access to funding."
Sorry, Spirit Airlines—Government Has No Business Owning Businesses
The White House is setting an awful precedent by muddying the line between the government and the private sector.
Public health officials warn of rise in measles, as Va. hantavirus patient under monitor
As summer travel season is a factor in disease spread, state and federal government leaders offer guidance and resources.
Judge rules Trump administration’s cancellation of humanities grants was unconstitutional
The Trump administration’s cancellation of more than $100 million in humanities grants to scholars, writers, research groups and other organizations was unconstitutional, and the Department of Government Efficiency had no authority to end the funding, a federal judge in New York ruled on Thursday.
Ask Inside Wisconsin Politics: Polarization, ideology, money
What questions do Wisconsinites have about government, elections and candidates?
Gov. DeSantis signs legislation more tightly regulating data centers
The Governor said the new law gives local governments control over land use rules to protect from data centers.
Accel Entertainment, Inc. Announces Election of Bruce Wardinski to Board of Directors
Accel Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE: ACEL), a leading locals-focused gaming operator partnering with small businesses, local communities, and state governments t...
The National Academy of Sciences Elects Two Berkeley Lab Researchers
Two Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) scientists have been elected to the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) in recognition of their distinguished and continuing achievements in original research. They are part of a cohort of 120 new members and 25 international members. The National Academy of Sciences is a private, nonprofit institution that was established under a congressional charter signed by President Abraham Lincoln in 1863. It recognizes achievement in science by election to membership, and — alongside the National Academy of Engineering and the National Academy of Medicine — provides science, engineering, and health policy advice to the federal government and other organizations. The 2026 electees bring the total number of active members to 2,705 with 557 international members. Gary Karpen is a biologist senior faculty scientist in Berkeley Lab’s Biological Systems and Engineering Division and a Professor of Cell and Developmental Physiology in the Department of Molecular and Cell Biology at UC Berkeley. Karpen studies how the structure, organization, and maintenance of genetic material impact inheritance and cell function. His lab focuses on chromatin — a packaged form of DNA strands wrapped around proteins that comprises our chromosomes — with a particular emphasis on centromeres, rarely expressed sequences called heterochromatin, DNA repair, and regulatory RNAs. His research reveals insights into fundamental aspects of nuclear organization and genome regulation that are shared across the tree of life, broadening our understanding of cancer and other diseases, birth defects, and aging. Kam-Biu Luk is a Professor Emeritus of physics at UC Berkeley and a retired senior faculty scientist in Berkeley Lab’s Physics Division. He is an experimental particle physicist whose research has focused on neutrinos: nearly massless, electrically neutral elementary particles that can pass through matter virtually undetected. Neutrinos are created during radioactive decay processes, including the fusion process occurring in stars and the fission process that powers nuclear reactors. Luk initiated and co-led the Daya Bay Reactor Neutrino Experiment, a project based in China with more than 200 international collaborators. In 2012, the Daya Bay experiment discovered a new form of a phenomenon called “neutrino oscillation” in which neutrinos change from one type to another. For this discovery, Luk and his collaborator Yifan Wang received the 2014 American Physical Society Division of Particles and Fields W.K.H. Panofsky Prize for outstanding work in experimental particle physics, and he was also the co-recipient of the 2016 Breakthrough Prize. Luk is currently participating in the Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment (DUNE) hosted by Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory, which will investigate any potential difference in behavior between neutrinos and antineutrinos that may shed light on the evolution of the universe, especially why antimatter is absent in the present universe. ### Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) is committed to groundbreaking research focused on discovery science and solutions for abundant and reliable energy supplies. The lab’s expertise spans materials, chemistry, physics, biology, earth and environmental science, mathematics, and computing. Researchers from around the world rely on the lab’s world-class scientific facilities for their own pioneering research. Founded in 1931 on the belief that the biggest problems are best addressed by teams, Berkeley Lab and its scientists have been recognized with 17 Nobel Prizes. Berkeley Lab is a multiprogram national laboratory managed by the University of California for the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Science. DOE’s Office of Science is the single largest supporter of basic research in the physical sciences in the United States, and is working to address some of the most pressing challenges of our time. For more information, please visit energy.gov/science.
Science Notes: Food as Medicine | Rockefeller Institute of Government
Food-as-medicine programs integrate nutritious food into healthcare, reducing food insecurity and improving diets while showing promising health and cost benefits.
Science diplomacy lessons from a North Korean volcano
Mount Paektu, a mythic, active volcano on the border between North Korea and China, is almost the epitome of a scientific challenge that crosses political lines. In 946 CE, it erupted in one of the five biggest volcanic events of the past 10,000 years, kicking up huge quantities of ash and sending destructive mud flows down river channels for hundreds of kilometres. Should this happen again, the entire region, including easternmost Russia, South Korea and even Japan could be hit. “It’s definitely got the potential to be big,” said James Hammond, a professor of geophysics at Birkbeck, University of London. An eruption on the scale of 946 would have “huge regional impact.” For the past 15 years, Hammond has helped lead a groundbreaking collaboration with North Korean scientists to study the volcano, navigating scientific sanctions, tough export controls on scientific equipment and a long, pandemic-enforced exodus from the country. Although he seems more at home on far-flung research expeditions – before speaking to Science|Business, Hammond was camping out on a Greenland ice sheet – he has also advised the European Commission on its changing science diplomacy strategy. His long experience with North Korea has made Hammond sceptical of blanket bans on science collaboration, no matter the country.This is a live question in Europe, where in the wake of Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, institutional ties with Russian universities were almost entirely severed, although some scientists fear this could undermine our understanding of climate change’s impact on the Arctic. Here, Hammond tells the story of the Mount Paektu mission and the policy lessons he takes from it. Ominous rumblingsThe genesis of Hammond’s collaboration came in 2002, when Mount Paektu began to rumble ominously. Earthquake activity picked up and the volcano began to emit unusual gases. North Korean scientists took notice. “People felt we need to know more about this volcano,” said Hammond. In 2011, North Korean vulcanologists put out a request for international expertise to help them learn more. At the time, Hammond and his collaborator, Clive Oppenheimer, were working on a vulcanology project in another sanctioned country, Eritrea, and so decided to answer the call. Within a month, they had flown into Pyongyang. “It was pretty incredible,” recalls Hammond (left). “We were made to feel like honoured guests, and invited to official celebrations.” The scientific opportunity was huge. Paektu is unusually positioned, a thousand kilometres from where tectonic plates rub against each other in the Pacific. “It was an incredibly interesting volcano, but not much research had been done, at least not in the international community,” he said. “There was so much we felt we could do. And we had these partners that were super keen to engage.”The mission received an unusual visitor in the form of volcano-obsessed filmmaker Werner Herzog, who accompanied Hammond and Oppenheimer while directing his 2016 film Into the Inferno about volcanos across the world. Four days into the trip, the German director delivered a long speech about reunification to his North Korean hosts, recalls Hammond. “He got to the heart of the Koreans and how they felt, and how they thought, in a way that I'm not sure I ever will,” he said. UN sanctionsHowever, Hammond realised he’d been “naïve” about how difficult it would be to collaborate with North Korea, which was sanctioned far more heavily than Eritrea. “We didn’t fully appreciate the all-encompassing nature of restrictions,” he said. In 2016, as tensions escalated over Pyongyang’s nuclear tests, a United Nations resolution banned all joint scientific work with North Korea. However, the UN sanctions did allow countries to request carve outs, and the UK successfully requested an exemption for Hammond’s work. Related articlesEU pushes for joint science diplomacy, but care needed to avoid gridlock, experts sayRussia severs its last ties with German scienceAnchor Greenlanders in Arctic climate research, experts tell EU ahead of policy updateExport controls have also delayed Hammond’s work. In one case, it took 18 months to get approval from the UK government to take seismometers, which measure earthquakes, to North Korea. “It was frustrating,” he said. “But they didn’t just say no.” However, one instrument, called an induction coil, used to measure how the earth conducts electricity, was blocked entirely because it can in theory be used to detect submarines. Karaoke bondingSince the collaboration started in 2011, Hammond has visited the country around 15 times, although the pandemic closed off North Korea for more than five years. A trip last November was Hammond’s first since the outbreak. Despite this lengthy interlude, Hammond has deep bonds in the country. The North Korean scientists Hammond works with are somewhat isolated, as they struggle to access the latest research papers and travel to international conferences. That said, they are “excellent geophysicists” and are “very well trained in the field,” he said. Over karaoke and chats about their families, “we’ve made friendships, for sure,” he said. The authorities have to sign-off things like the placement of seismometers, for example, but Hammond said these requests have been approved. “Everything that we've asked for within a scientific context has been delivered.”Scientific backchannels? These kind of personal links between scientists across political lines are one purported benefit of science diplomacy. During the Cold War, some historians argue, scientific contact between the US and Soviet Union laid a groundwork of trust for other cooperation, such as on arms control. Hammond agrees that backchannel contacts to North Korean geophysicists are hardly likely to defuse a military crisis on the Korean peninsula, but the simple fact of the scientific collaboration makes contacts between diplomats that little bit easier. “It creates opportunities to understand each other a little bit better,” he said. “When maybe you have those more difficult discussions as diplomats, it's coming from a slightly better place.” Cutting tiesDrawing lessons from the Mount Paektu mission for today’s links with Russian science isn’t simple. The analogy is far from exact, Hammond said, “because one is essentially a Cold War, versus a pretty hot war in the case of Russia.” But Hammond’s broader argument is that the challenges we face, such as climate change, pandemics, biodiversity loss, pollution and so on, have globalised in an unprecedented way, making blanket shutdowns in collaboration with any country unwise.He’s somewhat critical of the UN scientific sanctions imposed on North Korea in 2016, even though they did allow for exceptions. “I think a blanket halt to some of these things, when we face big global challenges [. . .] that’s quite a risky thing to do,” he said.Institutional endorsement?European academics are still by and large free to work individually with Russian counterparts. However, official, institutional partnerships have largely ended. Shortly following the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Russian university rectors wrote a public letter endorsing the war, meaning European universities fear official collaboration could also be seen as a kind of endorsement. Hammond acknowledges there is a risk of legitimising regimes, and state-controlled universities, through scientific cooperation. “That’s the trade off you have to make,” he said. Strategic projectsWith Russia, instead of giving a green light to restart all Arctic science, a middle ground might be firing up a few carefully selected “strategic” projects, said Hammond. After all, European countries are still collaborating with Russia on the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor, an experimental nuclear fusion plant in the south of France. However, even if Europe did try to revive Arctic science with Russia, there’s no guarantee Russian scientists would play ball. A series of high-profile arrests of physicists in Russia accused of sharing their findings with the outside world has made collaboration fraught. Even before the invasion of 2022, “the Russian regime made it increasingly difficult, and this sort of discouraged people,” Dag Rune Olsen, rector of the Arctic University of Norway, told Science|Business last year.
War, energy and politics hamper Eastern Europe's efforts to keep deficits in check
The Romanian government's political implosion this week in a no-confidence vote has cast a shadow over a region grappling with rising debt, defence spending and energy costs that are unsettling investors and ratings agencies alike.
Opinion - Bill Bishop: ‘Grievance politics’ thrives on chaos and confusion. That’s our system now
Columnist Chris Clayton noticed something odd in the Trump Administration’s budget for the Department of Agriculture. Since the USDA is the federal government’s primary contact with rural America, Clayton expected to see the word “rural” in the document. And it was there – 12 times in 92 pages. But there were other words that seemed...
World Patient Safety Day 2025 Webinar on Goal 4: Prevent health care-associated infections
Webinar Series on the World Patient Safety Day GoalsSafe care for every newborn and every childPatient safety for newborns and children remains a critical global health priority. Children are particularly vulnerable to preventable harm due to developmental factors, dependency on caregivers, complex medication dosing requirements, diagnostic uncertainty, and increased susceptibility to health care-associated infections.Ensuring safe care for every newborn and every child is therefore essential to improving health outcomes and strengthening quality of care across health systems.The World Patient Safety Day 2025 campaign, under the theme:“Safe care for every newborn and every child: Patient safety from the start!”emphasizes the importance of embedding patient safety principles early in life and across the continuum of maternal, newborn and child health services.The campaign identifies five priority goals, calling for coordinated action by governments, health professionals, professional associations, civil society, and families globally.Webinar 4: “Prevent health care-associated infections”Thursday 7 May 2026, 14.00–15.30 CESTJoin this five-part webinar series on the Patient Safety Goals for safe care for every newborn and every child, featuring global experts and practitioners discussing real-world implementation, challenges, and solutions to reduce avoidable harm.The webinar will address the following topics:• Why infection prevention and control is essential for safe newborn and childcare• How Goal 4 can be implemented in practice at the point of care• What health care workers, leaders, managers, and policymakers can do to Prevent healthcare-associated infections.Registration linkDownload the flyer
People On The Move: Samantha Barnes
Comprehensive Cancer Centers has named Samantha Barnes as director of public relations and government affairs.
Long-stalled plan to honor SF sports legends finally gets approval
"It takes us a long time to do this kind of stuff," an SF government official said.
Jason Furman to Lead Center for Business and Government
The new director of Harvard Kennedy School’s Mossavar-Rahmani Center bridges economic research and policy.
Direct Contracting for Health Services: Considerations for Policymakers | Rockefeller Institute of Government
Direct contracting lets large employers cut healthcare costs by working directly with providers, but policymakers should monitor whether this new(ish) approach to health insurance delivers reliable, equitable, and quality outcomes for the insured.
From Debt Burden to Health Investment: How Debt Swaps Can Finance Women's and Children's Health
As debt pressures rise and development assistance declines, countries are exploring new ways to protect investments in women’s, children’s and adolescents’ health. In the final session of the GLN Domestic Resource Mobilisation Webinar Series, experts, governments and civil society leaders examined how debt swaps can help convert sovereign debt into targeted health financing. Discussions highlighted the importance of accountability, country ownership and sustained political will.
Baltic health ministers convene in Vilnius for 20th Baltic Policy Dialogue
Milestone anniversary edition focuses on long-term care investment as ageing populations place growing pressure on health and social systems across the region Vilnius, 6 May 2026 — Health ministers from Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania are meeting in Vilnius today (5-6 May 2026) for the 20th edition of the Baltic Policy Dialogue (BPD), a milestone that marks two decades of structured, evidence-based health policy cooperation across the three Baltic States. Jointly organised by the governments of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, the European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies and the WHO Regional Office for Europe, the BPD has since 2004 served as a unique sub-regional platform where senior health decision-makers can candidly exchange experiences, examine comparative evidence, and explore policy options. Founded in the wake of the Baltic EU accession, the BPD series was born from a shared ambition: to open a wider window into health systems across Europe and to build lasting cooperation among countries with common aspirations and shared challenges.
Singapore Defers Considering Political Pay Review on Iran War
Singapore will postpone considering an independent panel’s recommendations on the salaries of political office holders until the economic impact of the Iran war becomes clearer, a government minister said.
Universities Can Bridge the Gap Between Climate Science and City Hall
Op-ed: Community-engaged partnerships between universities, governments and residents can turn academic knowledge into practical urban climate policy.
Wisconsin lab tapped to research psychedelic drug as mental health treatment
A Wisconsin-based medical research lab is one of just three organizations nationwide the federal government has tapped to move forward on research into psychedelic medications.
Announcing the global launch of Web of Science Research Intelligence: An AI-powered research intelligence platform for funding, strategy, and impact
Web of Science Research Intelligence unites trusted data and AI to help research offices, library teams, and researchers secure funding and demonstrate impact.
Opinion | If Michigan wants a government that works, it must get money out of politics
Whether you’re focused on clean water, affordable energy or economic security, the same pattern keeps showing up: Too often, the biggest checks carry the most weight.
U.K. 30-Year Gilt Yields Hit 28-Year High Amid Political Concerns
Borrowing costs on U.K. 30-year government bonds surged ahead of local elections on Thursday due to concerns about a potential political crisis in the U.K.
A Science Policy Framework for the Climate Determinants of Health
In 2023, the World Health Organization (WHO) called climate change “the single biggest health threat facing humanity.” With warming at approximately 1.14°C above preindustrial levels and set to increase, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) predicts with very high confidence that climate-related illness will also rise (IPCC, 2022). Under high-emissions scenarios, this science-policy body […]
A Science Policy Framework for the Climate Determinants of Health
In 2023, the World Health Organization (WHO) called climate change “the single biggest health threat facing humanity.” With warming at approximately 1.14°C above preindustrial levels and set to increase, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) predicts with very high confidence that climate-related illness will also rise (IPCC, 2022). Under high-emissions scenarios, this science-policy body […]
Romanian Government Collapses, Sowing Doubts Over Fiscal Reforms
Romania’s minority government collapsed after losing a no-confidence vote, throwing the country into renewed political turmoil and potentially stalling reforms needed to narrow the widest budget shortfall in the European Union.
GUEST OPINION: What if politics practiced the spirit of aloha?
In today’s political climate, public discourse often feels more like combat than conversation. Citizens are divided, leaders trade insults instead of ideas, and the tone of our national, state and local dialogue grows increasingly harsh. It seems to me that many Americans are unconcerned with the vitriolic and polarizing behavior of our government leaders and […]
With Sanford out, who are top contenders to succeed Mace in SC’s 1st district
The winner of the November election will succeed U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace, who is running for governor of South Carolina.
Trump Administration Demands Names of 2020 Election Workers in Georgia
The Justice Department again appears to be using the investigative power of the federal government to rehash debunked claims that Democrats stole the 2020 election.
Trump Administration Demands Names of 2020 Election Workers in Georgia
The Justice Department again appears to be using the investigative power of the federal government to rehash debunked claims that Democrats stole the 2020 election.