Raspberry Pi has published an official guide for building a cyberdeck, leaning into a viral trend of homemade portable computers built from repurposed cases, purses, and other oddball hardware. The guide uses a Raspberry Pi 5, keyboard, battery, and Pelican-style case. The Verge reports: Raspberry Pi's head of social, Ashley Whittaker, acknowledged the cyberdeck trend today, saying "we haven't been able to get away from cyberdecks this year." Raspberry Pi has also increased its prices multiple times this year due to rising costs for RAM and other components, which could be another reason to support this growing market of active and would-be hobbyists. The 16GB version of the Raspberry Pi 5 included in the company's official cyberdeck guide got a $100 price hike in April, nearly as much as the board's original $120 price.
AROS, the open source Amiga OS-compatible operating system, now has images available for the Raspberry Pi 3 (although some people state it also works on the Pi 4), in both 32bit and 64bit versions. According to the AROS team, they are quite stable, but not yet complete, so do know what you’re getting into. Dan Wood posted a YouTube video about these new images, providing much more insight into how well they work if you want more insight into how well they work.
The images are, of course, the basic AROS operating system, so expect a rather barebones experience. If you’re used to some of the AROS distributions for x86, which come loaded with software and customisations, these images will feel quite bare to you. It’s going to take some time to port over all of these applications and customisations to the ARM version of AROS, but if and once that happens, I expect more complete images to appear as well.
Great news for AROS and the Amiga community in general.
Scott Bessent says treasury is launching ‘economic onslaught against Iran’s financial connections’ as Tehran vows to retaliate against cooperating countries
Donald Trump has threatened to increase tariffs on Canadian cars, trucks, auto parts and steel to 50% today, after trade negotiations between Washington and Ottowa broke down last week.
On Truth Social, the president blasted Canada, and said the new duties will go into effect on 1 January 2027.
Lindsay Clancy trial testimony ended abruptly Monday in Plymouth Superior Court when a witness began speaking about religion and the defense unsuccessfully called for a mistrial.
In recent public appearances, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has said obesity dropped 3% “in the last year” and suggested the Trump administration deserves at least some of the credit. One poll shows obesity falling by about that much — but the decline happened over several years and began well before President Donald Trump’s current term.
And there’s little evidence it’s because of Kennedy’s focus on chronic disease prevention or his push to get Americans to eat better, experts told us.
According to Gallup polling, the rate of obesity among U.S. adults peaked in 2022 and has fallen every year since. The decline started during the Biden administration and has continued under Trump.
Experts also told us that, if obesity is declining, there’s little evidence it’s due to changes in diet or lifestyle. Some said it may be related to a factor Kennedy isn’t highlighting — the rise of new GLP-1 weight loss drugs.
Kennedy — who has made eating “real foods” a core part of his Make America Healthy Again movement and sometimes disparaged GLP-1 drugs in recent years — has trumpeted the purported decline in obesity several times in recent months.
“This year, obesity rates dropped in this country, for the first time in 40 years, by about 3%,” Kennedy said during an Aug. 24 event on childhood nutrition. “Consumption of real foods went up by 7 to 10% this year. And there are many, many other indicia [that] show that what we’re doing is actually working.”
He referenced the same stat while speaking at a community health center in California on Aug. 13.
“Obesity has now dropped, for the first time, 3% in the last year,” he said. “People are starting to eat good foods and that’s part of it. But a big part of it is dealing with primary care and getting rid of — getting away from the perverse incentives of just ordering test after test after test and pharmaceutical interventions.”
Kennedy made similar claims about the obesity rate at least twice in June. He told a produce industry conference that obesity rates were “down almost 2%” this year and called it a “huge win,” according to trade publication The Packer. And during a panel in Michigan hosted by a conservative think tank, he said, “Since President Trump came into office, obesity rates in this country have dropped by 2.5%. That’s the first drop in 50 years.”
We asked the Department of Health and Human Services where Kennedy got those numbers and haven’t received a response. But he’s likely referring to the data from Gallup, which was the only publicly available source we could find reporting a roughly 3 percentage point decrease in obesity.
The data, however, don’t support Kennedy’s claims that the obesity rate fell by that much in a single year. Gallup’s numbers show a total decline of 3.5 percentage points between 2022 and the first half of 2026. About two-thirds of that came between 2022 and 2024, when Joe Biden was in office.
Kennedy speaks at an event on food policy earlier this month. Photo: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
More broadly, experts told us there’s still some uncertainty about whether obesity is in fact falling and, if it is, whether that trend will continue. The U.S. obesity rate has dipped or plateaued before, according to government data, only to keep rising in subsequent years.
As for why obesity may be declining, several experts told us they’re not aware of any evidence that Americans have made major changes to their diets, as Kennedy suggested. Some pointed to increasing use of GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic as a more plausible explanation, though that remains a topic of debate.
“There is no evidence I am aware of that suggests Americans have made major improvements in their engagement in lifestyle interventions or dietary practices,” Elizabeth Selvin, a professor of epidemiology and medicine at Johns Hopkins University, told us in an email. “As the world is aware, there has, however, been a revolution in the effectiveness and availability of pharmacological interventions (namely, GLP1 medications) that are highly effective for weight management.”
Apparent Drop in Obesity Began Before Trump
Gallup’s National Health and Well-Being Index, which surveys about 5,000 Americans every quarter, is one of a few different sources for tracking obesity rates over time. Since Gallup started asking about weight in 2008, obesity among U.S. adults has mostly trended upward, hitting a peak of 39.9% in 2022 before falling every year since. As of earlier this year, the adult obesity rate stood at 36.4%, according to Gallup.
Gallup’s approach has the advantage of a large sample size and turning results around quickly, making it a more up-to-date measure than government surveys. But it also has some limitations, including using self-reported height and weight to calculate body mass index. Because people sometimes underreport their weight or overstate their height, that can lead to underestimating the prevalence of obesity.
Dan Witters, the index’s research director, told us Gallup’s obesity-rate estimates tend to be a few points lower than government estimates based on more objective measurements, but generally follow the same trends.
The CDC’s National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey is generally seen as more authoritative, as its estimates of population-level obesity are based on actual measurements of height and weight, not self-reported data. But it’s slower to release data.
The most recent NHANES data put the adult obesity rate at 40.3% for 2021-2023. That was down from 41.9% in 2017-2020, but the change was within the margin of error and not considered statistically meaningful.
Separately, some analyses of patient records or insurance claims have found evidence of modest declines in obesity. An analysis released this spring by Epic Research, a subsidiary of the electronic health records company, found that the share of U.S. adults categorized as obese dropped from 42.3% in the second quarter of 2021 to 40.7% by the first quarter of 2026. The rate of GLP-1 prescriptions grew substantially during the same timeframe.
Solveig Cunningham, a professor of global health at Emory University, said the Gallup data may be picking up on a real trend, but it will take more data to confirm that. She also cautioned that even if the obesity rate has declined, that’s no guarantee it will continue to fall.
“I think there may be a small decline,” she said, but we’ll “need to see how it develops in the future. There have been small declines before. Like in 2008, in 2012, there were similar declines, and then things picked up again.”
Little Evidence of Healthier Diets
Kennedy, in his speeches on Aug. 13 and 24, suggested that people eating more “good foods” or “real foods” was partly responsible for the drop in obesity.
We asked HHS about the basis for that claim and did not get a response. Several experts we contacted said they’ve seen little if any evidence that Americans have made major changes to their diets.
“I don’t know where he’s getting his data,” said William McCarthy, an adjunct professor of health policy and management at the University of California, Los Angeles who has studied strategies to encourage healthier eating. “Maybe he has access to data that I don’t. But based on what I’ve seen, I would not agree” that American diets have gotten much healthier in recent years.
Cunningham said the best source of data on Americans’ dietary habits is the CDC’s NHANES, the same survey that tracks obesity trends. But the most recent NHANES data is for the 2021-2023 period.
“At that stage, we weren’t seeing major changes in diet,” she said. “So I think it would be amazing if there were, but we don’t have any evidence that such changes in diet are occurring.”
Gallup’s National Health and Well-Being Index, in addition to tracking obesity trends, also asks respondents several questions about diet, exercise and overall activity levels. Witters, the research director, said those metrics generally worsened during the pandemic and, for the most part, haven’t bounced back.
While there was a “modest improvement” in the share of people reporting they had eaten at least five servings of fruits and vegetables on four of the last seven days — from 42% in 2023 to 45.2% in 2026 — it’s still lower than in 2019, and other questions about diet and exercise showed no statistically significant changes.
“We don’t see evidence in our data that people, that Americans, are suddenly living healthier lives,” Witters said.
In his Aug. 24 speech, Kennedy claimed that “real food” consumption “went up by 7 to 10% this year.” He’s cited a version of this figure before to make the case that Americans are choosing “real” foods over highly processed ones. This comes from an analysis by the bank BNP Paribas, which reportedly found that, between June 2025 and June 2026, sales of unprocessed or minimally processed foods in certain categories grew 7% faster than sales of ultraprocessed foods in the same categories.
But experts told us those findings, on their own, don’t prove that Americans are eating significantly better.
The study, as described in an article in the industry publication Food Business News, compared products in only a handful of categories — yogurt, nut butters, frozen meals/vegetables, fruit snacks/candy and cereal/granola. (We asked BNP Paribas for a copy of the original study but haven’t heard back.) For example, in the yogurt category, sales of minimally processed products (like plain yogurt) were up 15%, while sales of ultraprocessed yogurt products (like sugary, flavored varieties) were up only 2%.
Cunningham noted that most foods in those categories “would largely be considered processed by nutritionists,” and that the report doesn’t show ultraprocessed food sales declining — only growing slower than less processed foods.
McCarthy added that the report says nothing about whether Americans are consuming, say, more fresh fruits and vegetables. And without more detail, he said, it’s hard to know whether shifting from, say, one kind of peanut butter to another has a meaningful impact on health.
“Generally, it takes a multi-year campaign to get Americans to consume less saturated fat, or fewer trans fats or lower sodium,” he said in an email. “I remain skeptical that Secretary Kennedy’s food-related initiatives have already had a measurable impact on the overall healthfulness of the U.S. population’s daily food choices.”
Marion Nestle, a food policy expert and professor emerita at New York University, wrote on her blog Food Politics that the sales data “could indicate a trend toward healthier diets, depending on what else people are eating.”
Nestle told us in an email that a decline in obesity would suggest that people are eating fewer calories. But because several things that could affect dietary trends are happening at once, it’s hard to tease out the cause. Along with Kennedy’s “eat real food” push and recent overhaul of federal nutrition guidelines, GLP-1 use is increasing and food prices are rising.
“Most evidence for causality points to GLP-1 drugs,” she said, noting that the drugs reduce food intake and can also prompt people to make other dietary changes. “Inflation is also making people think twice about buying expensive junk food. Dietary advice helps, but rarely is enough to change eating behavior.”
Potential Role of ‘Pharmaceutical Interventions’
Kennedy also said “a big part of” declining obesity rates has to do with “getting away from the perverse incentives of just ordering test after test after test and pharmaceutical interventions.” We asked HHS what specifically Kennedy meant by this and have not received a response.
McCarthy said Kennedy may have been referring to the administration’s efforts to get medical schools to offer more nutrition education and otherwise move primary care toward a greater focus on food and chronic disease prevention. While McCarthy said those changes are welcome and could eventually make a difference, it will be some time before they’re fully implemented and having a measurable effect on health outcomes.
“I applaud Secretary Kennedy’s initiative,” he said. “But it’s going to take a while before we have educated physicians who know how to have an impact on the food choices that the patients are making.”
It’s also worth noting that one possible explanation for the apparent decline in obesity is, in fact, a “pharmaceutical intervention” — GLP-1 medications — though the drugs’ effect on the population-level obesity rate is still a matter of debate.
According to Gallup’s survey data, the share of adults reporting they take the medications for weight loss has shot up from 3% in 2024, when Gallup started asking about it, to 11% this year.
In an analysis published last year, Gallup found that the age groups that saw the biggest drops in obesity between 2022 and 2025 — adults age 40-49 and 50-64 — were also the groups with both the highest rates of GLP-1 use and the biggest increases in GLP-1 use from 2024 to 2025.
While that “doesn’t prove anything,” Witters said, it suggests a potential link. “What we found was really a pretty close correlation.”
Cunningham, the Emory professor, said “there’s still a lot of debate” about why obesity might be falling.
“There’s a lot of interest in the possibility of weight-loss drugs of all sorts to decrease weight at the population level,” she said. “That’s still very much in the early stages. So I don’t think we can make any kind of definitive finding about that.”
GLP-1s are clearly effective at reducing weight at the individual level, she said, but the population-level effect is less clear for a few reasons.
For one, some people drop off the medications due to side effects or cost, and people with lower incomes, who tend to be at higher risk for obesity, may not be able to afford them. Some people taking GLP-1s may already be below the cutoff for clinically defined obesity; others may start with high enough BMIs that losing 10% to 20% of their body weight doesn’t bring them below the threshold for obesity, even if it improves their overall health.
Cunningham said another theory about population-level obesity is that a certain share of the adult population is susceptible to obesity in the current environment, and the obesity rate is leveling off as we reach a kind of “saturation point.”
But, she cautioned, we don’t have definitive answers at this point. “Obesity is complex.”
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Lara Korte, a Stars and Stripes reporter who was dismissed last week, told CBS News on Monday that the paper's editorial independence remains paramount.
Blaze near Crawley destroyed 140 vehicles, damaged nearby businesses and led to power cuts on Saturday night
A man has been arrested on suspicion of arson after a fire tore through a car park used by people flying from Gatwick airport, destroying about 140 vehicles.
The blaze eruptedat Caldyne business park near Crawley, about eight miles from the airport just after 9pm on Saturday. Images showed vehicles on fire and enormous plumes of smoke rising close to overhead power lines.
An anonymous reader quotes a report from Ars Technica: Taiwan has indicted nine people -- reportedly including an Nvidia senior manager and two Supermicro employees based in the country -- who allegedly helped forge documents to cover up illegal exports of high-end AI servers to China in violation of US export controls. On Monday, Reuters reported that prosecutors in Keelung did not release any names but confirmed that the suspects were "charged with breach of trust and document forgery." One suspect linked to a related case remains at large, accused of the "siphoning of funds from a distributor company involved" in helping China get access to restricted Nvidia chips.
Since 2022, the US has required a license to export semiconductors to China, with the intent of protecting national security by staying ahead of China in the AI race. But after the US arrested Supermicro co-founder Wally Liaw in March for allegedly funneling $2.5 billion in restricted AI servers to China since 2024, Taiwan launched a separate probe to learn more about the scheme. Taiwan's investigation found that co-conspirators attempted to falsify documents to make it appear that 130 B300 servers were installed and in use at a Taiwan facility. But 74 of those servers "were ultimately exported and delivered to Chinese customers," Reuters reported, while the rest, 56, were intended to go to China but were blocked once Taiwanese customs officials "detected irregularities." According to Taiwan officials, Nvidia's manager and Supermicro employees "colluded with one another at various levels for enormous profit, illegally exporting high-end servers, increasing corporate compliance costs, and severely damaging our nation's international image."
Supermicro said in a statement to PCMag: "Supermicro is committed to protecting our advanced technologies and intellectual property. We are working closely with Taiwanese authorities on recent events, which underscore the importance of continued collaboration across industry and government to strengthen safeguards, enhance supply chain visibility, and facilitate the enforcement of export control laws."
Everything Sprouts recalls products after CDC says agency is aware of dozens of food-poisoning cases nationally
US healthcare officials recently said a food-poisoning outbreak tied to alfalfa sprouts and involving multiple germs had sickened people in at least 15 states.
Officials announced the outbreak after documenting more than three dozen cases in Minnesota and Wisconsin. On Friday, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said the agency was aware of at least 55 cases nationally, including four people who had been hospitalized.
Washington launches campaign to isolate Tehran but it is unclear whether it will apply measures to China
The US has threatened to impose severe sanctions against any country or entity maintaining economic ties with Iran, hoping to achieve with economic measures what military means have so far failed to do.
It is unclear, however, how far the Trump administration is prepared to go in confronting China, Iran’s biggest trading partner, which has signalled its resistance to US economic pressure to cut off links with an ally.
Man, 68, was left searching for help in 116F weather after his car became stuck in mud along remote park road
A French tourist recently died in Death Valley national park after a car mishap left him stranded in 116F (47C) weather.
The visitor, identified as 68-year-old Pierre Michel Formosa, was traveling with another French man along the park’s remote West Side Road when their vehicle became stuck in mud near Queen of Sheba Mine Road.
Move is latest deterioration in trade relations between neighbors with historically strong economic ties
Donald Trump announced a new 50% tariff on automobiles and crucial raw materials from Canada, the latest deterioration in trade relations between the two neighbors with historically strong economic ties.
The US president said that the increased tariffs would start on 1 January 2027 on all cars, trucks, automobile parts and steel. He also derided the nation’s tariffs on American farmers, writing on social media that Canada has been “ripping off” the US “for years”.
SANTA CLARA, Calif., Aug. 24, 2026 — NVIDIA today announced that SpaceXAI will deploy NVIDIA Vera CPUs to accelerate its next generation of agentic AI applications, bringing the first CPU built for AI agents to one of the world’s most ambitious AI deployments.
Credit: Robert Way/Shutterstock
Agentic AI applications increasingly rely on CPUs to orchestrate tools, execute code, process data and run simulations between model calls. SpaceXAI will use Vera to accelerate these application workloads, helping AI agents act faster while keeping GPUs fed and fully utilized.
SpaceXAI plans to expand its AI infrastructure behind Grok on NVIDIA Vera Rubin, while extending an optimized Vera Rubin NVL72 into space with its first-generation Starmind satellite.
“Agentic AI requires a new kind of computing system — one built not only to generate answers, but to take action,” said Ian Buck, vice president of hyperscale and high-performance computing at NVIDIA. “Vera gives AI agents the CPU performance to act in real time — executing code, processing data and coordinating complex tasks. SpaceXAI is taking this architecture from massive AI factories to the next frontier of computing in orbit.”
“Vera gives us the CPU performance and memory bandwidth to run enormous amounts of orchestration, code and data processing while keeping GPUs doing what they do best,” said Mike Nicolls, president of SpaceXAI. “That means higher-performance AI agents and more useful work from every watt of compute.”
NVIDIA Vera — The CPU for Agents
NVIDIA Vera is the first CPU built for AI agents, designed to accelerate the CPU-intensive work that surrounds model inference — from tool use and code execution to data processing, orchestration and simulation.
Vera features 88 NVIDIA-designed Olympus cores, NVIDIA Spatial Multithreading technology and high-bandwidth LPDDR5X memory, delivering up to 1.2TB/s of bandwidth. Vera enables up to 1.8x faster task completion compared with x86 CPUs across workloads including agentic AI, reinforcement learning and data processing.
SpaceXAI Scales AI Infrastructure With NVIDIA Vera Rubin
At massive scale, AI infrastructure must support demanding training, reasoning and inference workloads while maximizing performance, power efficiency and utilization. NVIDIA Vera Rubin is codesigned across compute, networking and software to optimize the AI factory as a whole.
The platform brings together NVIDIA accelerated computing, NVIDIA NVLink interconnect technology, NVIDIA Spectrum-X Ethernet networking, NVIDIA BlueField data processing and NVIDIA software in an integrated architecture designed to deliver high performance and energy efficiency at scale while driving down cost per token.
As SpaceXAI expands toward gigawatts of computing capacity, Vera Rubin provides a common architecture to efficiently scale its next generation of AI factories — a foundation SpaceXAI plans to take beyond terrestrial data centers and into orbital computing.
NVIDIA Accelerated Computing, From Earth to Orbit
SpaceXAI’s work with NVIDIA is moving beyond AI factories on Earth.
SpaceXAI is developing AI computing infrastructure for orbit, where power, thermal management, bandwidth, reliability and physical integration impose dramatically different constraints from conventional data centers.
SpaceXAI’s planned first-generation Starmind AI satellite will be based on the optimized NVIDIA Vera Rubin NVL72 rack-scale system, extending the same accelerated computing architecture powering next-generation AI factories on Earth into space.
NVIDIA and SpaceXAI are working to adapt that foundation to the requirements of orbital computing while preserving a common NVIDIA architecture and software ecosystem.
This delivers one computing foundation across a wide range of environments: Vera CPUs accelerating increasingly sophisticated AI agents, Vera Rubin powering the AI infrastructure behind Grok and gigawatt-scale AI factories on Earth, and NVIDIA accelerated computing extending into orbital AI infrastructure.
Mark Carney said on Monday that while American negotiators saw the French language in Canada as an “irritant … in Quebec, these are rights,” days after receiving widespread praise from political leaders for rejecting a US trade proposal that many perceived as weakening the country’s Francophone culture.
The prime minister’s remarks came hours after the US president, Donald Trump, showed little interest in retreating from the spat, posting on social media that Canada had been “ripping off the United States of America for years” and threatening a swath of new, economically devastating tariffs on cars and trucks.
London and Kyiv in deal to help stop protesters and hostile states targeting military bases and critical infrastructure
AI models trained on Ukrainian battlefield data will be used to stop protesters and foreign states targeting UK defence sites, railways and energy plants under a deal struck between London and Kyiv.
Private companies will also be given access to the vast trove of data from Ukraine’s Avengers AI lab to help build new systems, the first agreement of its kind in the UK.
Video posted on social media shows three people climbing out of sewer system at 4am, months after similar reports
New York City’s police department (NYPD) says it is investigating a recent video of three people emerging from a manhole in the latest such episode to cause mystery.
Posted to TikTok on Friday, the video showed three people – one after the other – climbing out of a manhole at 4.19am on 18 August wearing headlamps and black overalls near Madison Square Garden.
Exclusive: internal correspondence reveals USCIS anti-fraud officers shifted on to two ‘high-priority’ initiatives
All US immigration officers working for a key anti-fraud unit have been reassigned by Donald Trump’s administration to focus on screening South African refugees and alleged “unlawful” voters.
Fraud Detection and National Security Directorate (FDNS) immigration officers have been shifted full-time on to two “high-priority” initiatives, according to internal correspondence seen by the Guardian, leaving US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) unable to provide officers to train asylum officers in “the near future”.
SANTA CLARA, Calif., Aug. 24, 2026 — SiFive today, at an event coinciding with Hot Chips, introduced the SiFive BigSky SF-2U870 datacenter development platform. In collaboration with hyperscaler customers and leading ecosystem partners, SiFive has delivered the world’s first enterprise-grade, rackable 2U RISC-V server. The platform will be demonstrated running a variety of server workloads at the event, and is built specifically for customers to accelerate RISC-V datacenter software porting, workload optimization, and system validation. This enables customers, partners and SiFive to accelerate the deployment of production-grade RISC-V solutions for the datacenter.
Lead customers are currently running workloads on deployed BigSky systems, including hyperscaler, software, and major SoC hardware leaders.
“SiFive is closely collaborating with industry leaders to accelerate deployment of RISC-V in the datacenter. With BigSky, we have delivered a powerful turnkey server platform designed to accelerate development of customer datacenter workloads and software on the RISC-V open standard,” said Patrick Little, Chairman and CEO, SiFive. “Ultimately, we are focused on enabling customers to meaningfully optimize the TCO of their custom SoC solutions with SiFive IP. RISC-V in the datacenter isn’t a distant aspiration any more, it is happening right now, and SiFive is leading the way.”
“SiFive’s new development servers mark a major turning point in the industry. The amount of datacenter software they already have up and running clearly demonstrates just how far industry support for RISC-V has come in a remarkably short period of time,” said Patrick Kennedy, President, Axautik Group/ServeTheHome.
Accelerating the Open Ecosystem with Broad Industry Support
Fully compliant with the RVA23 standard, the BigSky SF-2U870 platform eliminates the need for complex custom porting, enabling seamless, out-of-the-box deployment of enterprise software environments.
The platform features out-of-the-box support for standard enterprise-grade Linux releases, such as Canonical Ubuntu 26.04 LTS and Red Hat RHEL10.
SiFive is working with NVIDIA to port CUDA to SiFive based RISC-V hardware and integrate NVLink Fusion into future SiFive platforms. Demonstrating this progress, SiFive now has CUDA running on the P870-D-powered BigSky datacenter development platform. By serving as the head node for modern LLM workloads on NVIDIA GPUs, this platform delivers a capability never before seen on RISC-V hardware.
To support this milestone for the RISC-V architecture, industry leaders Canonical and Red Hat offered the following statements:
“At Canonical, we are committed to driving open-source innovation from developer environments to the datacenter core,” said Gordan Markuš, Director of Silicon Alliances at Canonical. “Out-of-the-box RVA23 support for Ubuntu 26.04 LTS on SiFive’s BigSky datacenter development platform provides the enterprise software foundation required to accelerate AI and cloud-native workloads on RISC-V. We are proud to collaborate with SiFive, and this seamless integration ensures our mutual customers can confidently port enterprise workloads and accelerate their transition to RISC-V in the datacenter today.”
“Getting RHEL 10 running on SiFive’s BigSky platform isn’t just a validation exercise, it’s proof that we’re moving from the ‘theoretical’ phase into production-grade reality. For our enterprise customers, the real win here isn’t just performance metrics; it’s the architectural flexibility RISC-V offers without sacrificing the stability and software ecosystem they rely on,” said Brian “Redbeard” Harrington, Strategist, CTO Organization, Red Hat. “Through the RISE project, we’ve been working to ensure that when we say RISC-V is ready for the datacenter, we mean it. We’re excited to be partnering with SiFive to demonstrate that open standards can absolutely deliver the rigorous performance and reliability the modern datacenter demands.”
Key Platform Specifications
The SiFive BigSky SF-2U870 is designed explicitly for advanced software porting, workload tuning, and validation testing to foster ecosystem enablement. Hardware specifications include:
The platforms are available today and currently being produced in limited quantities to drive strategic development opportunities, with demand outpacing supply. Interested parties should contact SiFive sales for more information.
About SiFive
As the pioneers who founded RISC-V, SiFive is transforming the future of computing by bringing the power and flexibility of RISC-V to the world. SiFive’s market-leading IP provides the blueprint for high-performance, customizable, and energy-efficient processor cores across the entire computing spectrum, from the intelligent edge to the most advanced AI data centers. SiFive achieved record growth in 2025 and its IP is featured in more than 500 designs, with over 10 billion cores shipped to date, SiFive is the trusted IP partner for the world’s most innovative technology companies.
China has delayed its ambitious Chang'e 7 lunar mission until at least 2027 after scrubbing an August 24 launch. Poor weather conditions were likely a factor, with China's Manned Space Agency (CMSA) saying the decision reflects the need for "absolute safety." Scientific American reports: China and the U.S. are in a race to send humans back to the moon, a feat that that U.S. accomplished in the 1960s and that has never been achieved by any other country. Chang'e 7 is to play to a crucial part in China's ambitions: the probe is designed to search for frozen water in the Shackleton Crater, a pit that spans some 21 kilometers (13 miles) and sits beside the lunar south pole.
No spacecraft has ever landed in that region, which scientists consider to be among the likeliest places to find water on the moon. Locating water that can be used by humans is vital to establishing any long-term lunar presence. NASA and China are eyeing the region to establish a crewed base -- and because this real estate is so precious, it matters who gets their first. Ars Technica notes in its reporting that the delayed launch was "most likely" due to Typhoon Narra, "which has 45 mph winds (equivalent to a moderate Tropical Storm) and continues to meander around in the waterway separating Hainan Island, where the spaceport is located, and mainland China."
As for why the next launch window won't open until next February or March? "It likely is a combination of factors, including sunlight conditions in polar landing zones as well as the mission plan that requires a 90-day lunar orbit reconnaissance before landing," reports Ars. There's also a possibility, albeit an unlikely one, that "some technical issue was discovered at the last minute with either the complex Chang'e 7 payload, or the rocket."
Plan part of a wider policy to remove foreign nationals from social homes and prioritise young British-born couples
Social housing tenants will be evicted if they fail to keep their gardens well maintained under a Reform UK government, the party has announced.
Lee Anderson, the party’s chair, said that if Reform came to power it would insist that those in social rented homes would be required to keep their properties decorated and gardens looked after.
Spokesperson for Duke of Sussex says he remains an ‘active and avid supporter’ of African Parks’ mission
The Duke of Sussex has stepped down from the board of a major African wildlife charity that had been at the centre of a human rights controversy.
Prince Harry’s spokesperson confirmed he was no longer a trustee of African Parks, which admitted last year that human rights abuses were committed by its rangers in the Republic of the Congo.
There’s a fleeting window in Aspen when summer lingers, but autumn is already whispering through the high country days are still warm enough for hiking, biking and afternoons on the water, while cooler nights and the first hints of gold…
‘Human-caused’, wind-driven fire in Reno leaves thousands of homes and businesses without power, officials say
Authorities have urged about 90,000 residents of Reno, Nevada, and the adjacent North Valley to evacuate or prepare to do soas a fast-moving, wind-driven wildfire bears down on the city.
The Hawk fire began on Saturday to the north-west of the city, and quickly grew, showing “extreme fire behavior” as it threatened foothill neighborhoods in Nevada’s second-largest city. It stood at a little more than 15,000 acres burned on Monday morning, and was 0% contained.
Diamond Rapids, Crescent Island and Wildcat Lake demonstrate how Intel is scaling Agentic AI from the rack to the edge.
Aug. 24, 2026 — Intel is showcasing three architectures for Agentic AI and Enterprise-scale workloads, combining the Diamond Rapids processor for high-performance orchestration, the Crescent Island GPU for efficient inference and the Wildcat Lake SoC for intelligent client and edge computing.
Credit: Intel
“Agentic AI is fundamentally changing how we design and deliver computing – from the transistor and package up through the full system architecture,” said Pushkar Ranade, Intel chief technology officer. “The future is about tightly integrating general-purpose compute with purpose-built acceleration, advanced packaging and open chiplet technologies to build systems that can adapt to the workload and scale within real-world power, cost and deployment constraints.”
The processors are underpinned by Intel Foundry technologies including the Intel 18A process family, Foveros Direct 3D packaging, and early adoption of the UCIe industry standard for open chiplet interconnects. Together, these capabilities provide a differentiated, scalable foundation for next-generation AI infrastructure.
The Compute Foundation
At Hot Chips 2026, Intel will discuss three complementary architectures highlighting the next gen Xeon codenamed Diamond Rapids, the next gen datacenter GPU optimized for AI inference known as Crescent Island, and Wildcat Lake – launched as Intel Core Series 3 processors.
Up to 256 new cores with 1.28 GB LLC
16 memory channels with 12800 MT/s
128 lanes of PCIe Gen6 and CXL 3.0
Crescent Island Reframes the Economics of Real-Time AI Inference
The architecture is designed to deliver more tokens and generate greater business value. Crescent Island is a low-power, easy-to-deploy GPU, with strong compute and high memory capacity, enabling larger models, longer context windows and more concurrent AI agents within existing air-cooled data center footprints. By improving inference economics at scale, it helps enterprises accelerate AI, increase infrastructure utilization, and achieve better returns on AI investments. Powered by Intel’s proven Xe architecture, Crescent Island’s design is optimized for next-generation Agentic AI workloads to deliver sustained inference performance, maximize token throughput and reduce cooling demands.
32 Xe cores and 256 XMX engines based on Xe3P
Up to 480GB LPDDR5X memory
350-watt air-cooled PCIe card
Extending Agentic AI from the Cloud to Intelligent Edge Devices
Intel Core Series 3 processors, codenamed Wildcat Lake, bring right-sized AI capabilities to price-sensitive laptops and intelligent edge platforms. Built on the Intel 18A process, Wildcat Lake combines new CPU cores for high x86 single thread performance with integrated Xe3 graphics featuring XMX acceleration and an NPU delivering up to 17 TOPS for Hybrid AI. Wildcat Lake also marks the first use of UCIe in an Intel processor, enabling cost-effective multi-chip package designs for mainstream AI platforms.
2 performance cores and 4 efficiency cores
Support for up to LPDDR5X-7467
WiFi 7 and Bluetooth 6.0
Why It Matters
The future of agentic AI is inherently heterogeneous, spanning cloud, enterprise and edge environments where balancing performance and economics is critical.
Diamond Rapids provides a scalable compute foundation, Crescent Island addresses inference cost, and Wildcat Lake brings AI into mainstream client and edge systems. Anchored by Intel Foundry technologies and open industry standards, Intel is positioning its portfolio of offerings for deploying Agentic AI at scale.
About Intel
Intel (Nasdaq: INTC) is an industry leader, creating world-changing technology that enables global progress and enriches lives. Inspired by Moore’s Law, we continuously work to advance the design and manufacturing of semiconductors to help address our customers’ greatest challenges. By embedding intelligence in the cloud, network, edge and every kind of computing device, we unleash the potential of data to transform business and society for the better.
Huge hailstones prompt organisers to act 15km from end
Riders seen heading into hotel on route to take cover
A torrential hailstorm in the French Pyrenees forced the abandonment of the third stage of the Vuelta a España on Monday.
With 15 kilometres (9.32 miles) remaining of the 174km route from Gruissan to Font-Romeu, the skies darkened as the peloton neared the top of the Col de Mont-Louis and huge hailstones began bouncing off the tarmac and pelting the riders.
BOISE, Idaho, Aug. 24, 2026 — Micron Technology Inc. today opened a 60,000-square-foot Micron Training Center (MTC) in Boise, a strategic investment to strengthen the skilled talent pipeline, support advanced semiconductor manufacturing and expand education and apprenticeship pathways in Idaho.
Located near Micron’s Boise campus, this unique, collaborative training facility accelerates new-hire readiness through an intensive onboarding boot camp and hands-on training in fab operations and manufacturing systems. The center also serves as a site for community college students and career seekers pursuing semiconductor pathways through the College of Western Idaho (CWI).
The MTC supports Micron’s broader commitment to invest more than $250 billion in U.S. semiconductor manufacturing, building the workforce needed to support high-volume production of advanced memory technologies. Those efforts are expected to create more than 90,000 American jobs.
“Our community invests in our people, and the Micron Training Center is proof of that promise. This center is built to skill up the next generation of Idahoans, whether they’re just starting out or making a career pivot,” said Boise Mayor Lauren McLean. “With strong partners standing beside us, we’re filling today’s jobs and preparing our workforce for the future. That’s what it means to build a city where everyone has the opportunity to grow right here at home.”
Strategic Collaboration and Unique Approach for Workforce Development
The MTC houses up to 20 semiconductor process tools that replicate a fab environment — the same equipment trainees will use on Micron’s fab floor. Industry partners including Applied Materials, Lam Research, SCREEN, Kokusai Electric, Tokyo Electron and others have supported the installation of equipment that will also be used for hands-on vendor training, helping both their teams and Micron’s ramp up faster on the tools that drive production.
The center also expands Micron’s long-standing partnership with CWI to bring semiconductor training directly into the education pipeline. Starting this fall, CWI will deliver its Advanced Mechatronics Engineering Technology (AMET) and Semiconductor Manufacturing Technology (SMT) programs at the MTC, alongside its Nampa campus offerings. The MTC will serve as the new location for the technical instruction component of Micron’s Registered Apprenticeship Program, while continuing to host CWI coursework for the broader student community.
To support this partnership, Micron and the U.S. Department of Commerce have provided $3 million to CWI for educator pay, equipment and classroom space.
“CWI and Micron have built a training environment where students learn on the same equipment they’ll operate in a world-class fab,” said Gordon Jones, president of the College of Western Idaho. “This is what a decade of partnership looks like — a shared facility, tools, and commitment to building careers that matter for Idaho.”
“A strong semiconductor industry depends on a strong talent pipeline,” said April Arnzen, executive vice president and chief people officer, Micron Technology. “The Micron Training Center is a strategic investment in workforce development, helping build the skilled talent needed to support advanced manufacturing and sustain U.S. leadership in semiconductor innovation. By combining state-of-the-art facilities with degree programs, certifications, apprenticeships and clear career pathways, we are creating opportunities for Idahoans while strengthening the workforce that will power Micron’s growth and the future of the industry.”
“America’s ability to lead the world in semiconductor manufacturing depends on building a highly skilled workforce ready to support the factories and technologies of the future,” said Bill Frauenhofer, executive director of semiconductor investment & innovation at the U.S. Department of Commerce. “Micron’s new Boise training center is an example of what is possible when federal investment, private-sector leadership, and education partners work together to meet that challenge. As Micron executes on its more than $250 billion commitment to U.S. manufacturing and R&D, the CHIPS Program Office is proud to support Micron’s new training center and help build the talent pipeline needed to create meaningful pathways into essential careers, strengthen our domestic talent pipeline, and ensure this country remains at the forefront of innovation and advanced manufacturing.”
“Micron’s training center and their investment in apprenticeships and career pathways are helping keep Idaho’s workforce and economy at the forefront. This exciting announcement builds on the investments we’ve made to strengthen Idaho’s workforce, including Idaho LAUNCH. Together, we’re helping Idahoans gain the skills and training they need to succeed in high-demand careers. We challenged Idaho employers to step up and partner with us, and Micron has answered that call,” Governor Brad Little said.
At today’s event, Micron celebrated Cohort 6 of its registered apprenticeship program — its largest Boise cohort to date and is building toward triple-digit enrollment by the end of fiscal year 2027. Developed with CWI and the Idaho Manufacturing Alliance, the earn-and-learn model directly supports Gov. Brad Little’s goal to double Idaho’s registered apprentices statewide by 2029.
Micron Technology, Inc. is a global leader in semiconductor memory and storage, powering AI and compute-intensive applications from cloud to edge. With a relentless focus on our customers, technology and product leadership, and manufacturing and operational excellence, Micron’s comprehensive portfolio of high-performance DRAM, NAND and NOR solutions delivers the speed, efficiency and scale today’s workloads demand, accelerating intelligence to enrich life for all. To learn more about Micron Technology, Inc. (Nasdaq: MU), visit micron.com.
New York City, New York — A coalition representing small supermarkets and bodegas sued Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s administration Monday, arguing that his planned network of city-owned grocery stores would create unfair competition for immigrant- and minority-owned businesses.
The Multicultural Business Coalition filed two lawsuits in state court seeking to halt the program. One claims the subsidized stores would violate equal-protection rights by allowing city-backed competitors to sell food roughly 30% below prevailing prices. The other argues the administration failed to adequately study the economic and land-use effects on existing grocers.
Mamdani’s plan allocates about $70 million for five stores, one in each borough. The city would own or subsidize the locations and cover major overhead expenses while private operators handle daily operations.
Grocers argue they cannot compete with stores receiving taxpayer support while operating on thin margins. Mamdani says the initiative is designed to address grocery prices that have risen about 30% in recent years and notes that five stores would represent a small fraction of New York’s more than 1,000 grocery stores.
The administration also points to existing city-subsidized markets in Manhattan and Brooklyn as evidence that public support can coexist with private neighborhood retailers.
The lawsuits could delay the program before its first location opens next year.
Cost of living has hit campaign group while multinationals are threatening to squeeze out independent breweries
For centuries, the wooden real ale pump has been the hallmark of a good British boozer. But now problems are brewing for the proper pint, as the Campaign for Real Ale has seen its membership sink to an eight-year low and its accounts show it is firmly in the red, making an £800,000 loss last year.
Real ale is a traditional draught cask beer, a “living” product that is produced and stored in its cask. It differs from a cold, fizzy lager, in which the yeast is killed and carbon dioxide is added. Real ale contains live yeast so it continues fermenting until it is served.
Aug. 24, 2026 — NVIDIA today announced that NVIDIA Groq 3 LPX, the interactive AI inference accelerator, is now in full production. An extension of the NVIDIA Vera Rubin platform, Groq 3 LPX delivers a major boost in AI inference by enabling ultrafast token generation for highly responsive agentic systems.
Groq 3 LPX extends the Vera Rubin Platform, delivering ultrafast token generation
Agentic systems can generate massive volumes of tokens across hundreds or thousands of inference steps, making faster token generation critical for agents to reason, act and complete complex tasks in real time.
Vera Rubin NVL72 systems provide the most versatile training and inference platform for every AI factory. NVIDIA Groq 3 LPX extends the inference performance of Vera Rubin NVL72 by dramatically increasing the rate of token generation, providing premium user experiences for context-heavy workloads so agents can act at extreme speeds.
NVIDIA Groq 3 LPX is pushing the frontier of AI inference. It delivered a record 3,400 output tokens per second in Artificial Analysis benchmarking running Gemma 4 31B, an open source agentic model, with a 100,000-token context critical for agentic systems — the fastest performance ever recorded for the model.
Groq 3 LPX enables agentic tasks such as coding in minutes versus hours, providing 4x faster responsiveness for agents and latency-sensitive workloads than the nearest alternative platform.
“Inference is the growth engine of AI. NVIDIA Grace Blackwell and NVL72 revolutionized large language model inference with an unprecedented leap in performance and efficiency,” said Jensen Huang, founder and CEO of NVIDIA. “Vera Rubin extends that vision with workload-optimized AI factory configurations designed for the era of agentic AI, advancing the performance frontier with LPX for ultrafast token generation. This transforms how intelligence is produced, delivering another giant leap in AI throughput, efficiency and responsiveness, just as demand for AI computation is accelerating worldwide.”
Groq 3 LPX — The Interactive AI Inference Accelerator
Agentic AI creates two distinct computing challenges: efficiently processing enormous amounts of context and generating tokens with extremely low latency.
NVIDIA Groq 3 LPX is purpose-built to extend Vera Rubin’s interactivity — the rate at which tokens are generated for an individual user, determining how quickly an agent can complete each step of its work.
Faster generation gives agents more time to inspect files, write and test code, call tools, verify results and iterate while maintaining a responsive user experience.
AI Cloud Momentum for Groq 3 LPX
AI clouds are becoming the engines of the AI economy, giving enterprises and developers access to advanced infrastructure for training, reasoning and inference at scale. For providers serving latency-sensitive, high-volume inference workloads, NVIDIA Groq 3 LPX provides a path to deploy differentiated compute in proven rack-scale systems.
Nebius, a leading AI cloud, plans to bring NVIDIA Groq 3 LPX to Nebius Token Factory, its production inference platform, giving developers access to extreme token generation speed for highly responsive agentic AI applications.
“Generation is the phase of inference that determines how responsive an AI system actually is, and that’s exactly what NVIDIA Groq 3 LPX is built to accelerate,” said Danila Shtan, chief technology officer of Nebius. “As the first AI cloud bringing it to production via Nebius Token Factory, we’re making sure every step of an agent’s loop feels instant — through the same API developers are already using, with no migration to a new stack.”
Following Nebius, purpose-built AI inference cloud Groq plans to be among the platform’s earliest adopters.
Extreme Codesign for AI Factories
Through extreme codesign across seven chips and five purpose-built racks, NVIDIA Vera Rubin is the most extensive AI factory platform.
NVIDIA Vera Rubin NVL72 and Groq 3 LPX tackle the various workload requirements of customer AI factories, including frontier model makers and open model service providers.
These rack platforms feature NVIDIA BlueField-4 DPUs and work in combination with NVIDIA Vera CPU racks, NVIDIA Vera BlueField-4 STX storage and NVIDIA Spectrum-6 SPX Ethernet to optimize multi-agent systems for the highest throughput per watt and the lowest-latency inference.
About NVIDIA
NVIDIA (NASDAQ: NVDA) is the world leader in AI and accelerated computing.
The FDA has cleared the first Alzheimer's blood test for symptomatic patients as young as 40. The test measures amyloid and tau biomarkers from a single blood draw and identified positive biomarkers with 97.6% accuracy in a validation study. New Atlas reports: PrecivityAD2 is a single blood test that quickly assesses the proteins amyloid and tau, using mass spectrometry to measure plasma AB42/40 and p-tau217/np-tau217. The results are then scored, qualifying as negative, likely positive, or positive for AD. "Just over a year ago, there were no FDA-cleared blood tests for Alzheimer's, and now we have three," Isobel Coleman, chief executive officer of the Alzheimer's Drug Discovery Foundation (ADDF), said in a statement. "This is a proof point that sustained, early investment in translational science plays a catalytic role in moving promising ideas from the lab to patients."
In a recent clinical validation study, 1,142 symptomatic adults were tested using PrecivityAD2. The process accurately identified 97.6% of positive biomarkers. What's more, the results remained consistent even in patients with comorbidities like chronic kidney disease and diabetes, which can distort plasma amyloid samples. It's worth noting that the test isn't intended for general health screenings, but for patients who already show some cognitive decline. "As PrecivityAD2 and tools like it move further into clinical practice, they will enable earlier detection, sharpen clinical trials, and build the foundation for precision medicine and combination therapies," Coleman added.
Mette Frederiksen, who received message on returning from Ukraine, advises women to embrace self-acceptance
Sick of getting unsolicited beauty tips on social media, the Danish prime minister, Mette Frederiksen, rebuffed a male cosmetic surgeon’s offer to “fix” her and advised women in similar situations to embrace self-acceptance.
Frederiksen, a Social Democrat and Denmark’s second female prime minister, posted on Instagram that she had just returned from a trip to Ukraine, where she was subjected to air raid sirens, when she found a message proposing some help with her appearance.
LOUISVILLE, Colo., Aug. 24, 2026 — Infleqtion, a global leader in quantum computing and quantum sensing powered by neutral-atom technology, has helped Japan reach a major quantum milestone, supporting a research team led by Professor Kenji Ohmori at the Institute for Molecular Science (IMS), part of the National Institutes of Natural Sciences, in launching the country’s first operational neutral-atom full-stack quantum computer. Infleqtion was also the only foreign quantum partner selected by the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST) for its Quantum Moonshot program.
Infleqtion contributed its quantum processing unit to the program, in collaboration with the Ohmori group at IMS, as one of the principal investigators of the Moonshot project led by Professor Ohmori, supporting the transition from research and development to an operational full-stack quantum computing platform. The system, referred to as “Shunkai”, is initially expected to operate with approximately 50 qubits, with plans to scale to around 500 qubits as development progresses.
“This milestone marks a pivotal moment for Japan’s quantum ambitions as well as Infleqtion’s role in advancing production-ready quantum platforms at scale,” said Pranav Gokhale, Chief Technology Officer at Infleqtion. “Bringing a full-stack quantum system into production operation is a meaningful step toward fault-tolerant quantum computing that also serves as strong validation of neutral-atom architecture. Our quantum processing unit delivers the programmability, scalability and fidelity control that next-generation systems demand.”
As part of the next phase of the Ohmori Moonshot project that has just started in April 2026, the IMS team will focus on improving system integration, stability, and scalability, with the goal of realizing a high-performance neutral-atom fault-tolerant quantum computer with up to 10,000 physical qubits and quantum error detection and correction capabilities. The system is also expected to be made available to external users to support the development of applications and advance quantum error correction research across academia and industry.
Learn more about Japan’s Quantum Moonshot program and its work advancing scalable quantum computing here.
Infleqtion, Inc. (NYSE: INFQ) is a global leader in quantum technology, delivering neutral-atom solutions for quantum computing, networking, sensing, and security. With a product portfolio spanning quantum computers, quantum optical clocks, RF receivers, and inertial sensors, Infleqtion’s full-stack approach combines high-performance hardware with the company’s proprietary Superstaq quantum computing software platform. Infleqtion’s systems are already in use by the U.S. Department of Defense, NASA, the U.K. government, and in multiple collaborations with NVIDIA. Infleqtion, in collaboration with NVIDIA, published the world’s first demonstration of a materials science application using logical qubits. With operations in the U.S., Europe, and Asia, Infleqtion meets the demands of government and commercial customers across the space, defense, energy, finance and telecommunications sectors.
Restore Britain leader paid up to £1,476 an hour by platform, which critics say is financially incentivising inflammatory content
Rupert Lowe, the leader of Restore Britain, is on course to earn as much from the social media platform X as he does from his salary as an MP, after surging income from posts that include demands for mass deportations.
Lowe has earned £932 an hour for his posts on X, formerly Twitter, since the start of the year, according to his own declarations in the register of MPs’ financial interests, which detail how many hours he has spent on X for each payment he received from the platform.
Researchers say residents of Slough, just outside London, are likely very literally feeling the heat from a massive cluster of data centers in their town.
The ruling said the newspaper did not have sufficient cause to terminate Karen Attiah, who at the time was the last Black full-time member of the Post's opinion desk.
46-year-old charged with possessing criminal tools
York fined and sentenced to two days in jail
49ers CEO also owns stake in Leeds United
The San Francisco 49ers owner Jed York has pleaded no contest to two criminal charges after being arrested at an Ohio trailer park over the weekend.
KRON4 News in San Francisco reported that York was initially arrested on suspicion of engaging in prostitution but that count was amended to a charge of disorderly conduct. He was also charged with possessing criminal tools.
Nine men and three women aged between 19 and 61 arrested as part of investigation into events leading to deadly collision
Twelve people have been arrested on suspicion of offences including being involved with organised crime as part of the investigation into events leading to a crash on the A66 that killed two police officers and five others.
Cleveland police confirmed that nine men and three women were detained by officers investigating the events that led up to PC Matthew Blades and PC Tom Clough dying when a Volkswagen Passat travelling the wrong way on the A66 near Middlesbrough collided with their marked armed response vehicle. All five men who were in the second car, aged between 17 and 23, were pronounced dead at the scene.
Coalition of the Willing condemns Russian strikes on Ukraine, pledges to work on ‘constraining Russia’s war chest’
Here’s the full quote from Kremlin’s Peskov, via AFP:
“Britain is methodically and regularly throwing oil on the fire and methodically and regularly plotting schemes to prevent even the slightest progress in the peace process.”
Two humanoid robots competing at the World Humanoid Robot Games in Beijing on Saturday ran the 100-meter dash faster than Usain Bolt's 9.58-second world-record time. "[T]he Tiangong Ultra humanoid robot completed the 100-meter dash in 9.39 seconds during a preliminary heat," reports Engadget. "Developed by Beijing Humanoid Robot Innovation Center, the record-holding robot overtook Honor's Lightning robot, which completed the sprint in 9.47 seconds. From the report: Despite the impressive finish times, don't expect these humanoid robots to be used for any commercial purposes yet. After their sprints, they slammed directly into pads and some even required human assistance to be stretchered off the course. However, it's still a major improvement from last year's inaugural World Humanoid Robot Games, where the Tiangong Ultra won the 100-meter dash in 21.5 seconds. Beijing has also hosted a humanoid robot half-marathon, where Honor's Lightning won in 50 minutes and 26 seconds, which also beat the pace of another human world record.
"The World Humanoid Robot Games in Beijing kicked off August 22 and will run until the 26, hosting thousands of robot participants competing in more than just track and field events, including soccer, table tennis and boxing," adds Engadget.
Arbitrator determined the Post improperly fired Karen Attiah, a union-protected employee, over social media posts
An independent arbitrator has ordered the Washington Post to rehire the high-profile opinion columnist Karen Attiah, abruptly fired by the news organization last September over comments she made on social media about Charlie Kirk, the then recently slain conservative activist.
On Monday, an arbitrator ruled that the Post had violated her rights as a union-protected employee and ordered the newspaper to reinstate her and compensate her for lost wages.
After higher prices for winter kick in, energy debt unpaid for more than 30 days likely to rise, says Energy UK
Households in Great Britain could owe their energy suppliers as much as £7bn by the end of the year after higher gas and electricity prices forecast for the winter kick in, an industry group is warning.
Domestic energy debt and arrears climbed by about £500m over the past year to a record £6bn at the end of June as the Middle East conflict continued to stoke rising gas market prices.
Aug. 24, 2026 — The EuroHPC Joint Undertaking (EuroHPC JU) has launched six new calls to advance strategic quantum technologies and the infrastructure needed to accelerate the development and deployment of next-generation quantum systems in Europe.
Trapped-Ion Platform Technologies
This call, HORIZON-JU-EUROHPC-2026-TIPT-09, aims to advance Europe’s leadership in trapped-ion quantum computing by developing a full-stack quantum computer with over 1,000 individually addressable physical qubits, fully integrated with classical high-performance computing systems and accessible via cloud platforms.
Projects are expected to develop a full-stack trapped-ion quantum computer with integrated cryogenic systems, advanced error correction, and standardised interfaces. The call will support the development of practical applications, establish European standards for quantum computing, and integrate with classical computing infrastructures.
The total budget for this call is EUR 20 million, with projects expected to run for 3.5 years. The call opened on 13 August 2026, while the application deadline is set for 17 November 2026, 17:00 CET.
The call opened on Aug. 13, 2026, with a submission deadline of Nov. 17, 2026, 5:00 pm CET.
Relevant details and information concerning this call will be available on the dedicated call page.
Superconducting Platform Technologies
Through this call, HORIZON-JU-EUROHPC-2026-SPT-10, the EuroHPC JU aims to advance Europe’s superconducting quantum computing capabilities by developing a QPU with at least 1,000individually addressable physical qubits based on chiplet technology facilitating long coherence times, fast read-outs, and error correction capabilities.
The system should be cloud accessible for researchers and industry users, with a focus on demonstrating practical applications for businesses.
The selected proposal will need to build a full-stack quantum computing system including hardware, cooling infrastructure, control electronics, and comprehensive software. The action will also support the creation of European supply chains for quantum technology components.
The total budget for this call is EUR 20 million, with projects expected to run for 3.5 years. The call is open from Aug. 13, 2026. The application deadline is Nov. 17, 2026.
Through this call, HORIZON-JU-EUROHPC-2026-NAPT-11, the EuroHPC JU aims to advance neutral-atom quantum technologies by delivering scalable, industry-ready quantum processors for simulation and computing.
This call should facilitate the development of fully programmable platforms with 10,000 neutral atoms for simulation and 1,000 physical qubits for computing, with a tangible scaling trajectory up to 10.000 physical qubits. Key objectives include achieving substantially long coherence times , operation fidelities above 99%, and demonstrating quantum advantage through real-world applications in sectors such as energy and health.
The call should facilitate the development of scalable quantum processors with individually addressable neutral atoms able to eventually support gate-based quantum computing. Projects should also implement robust quantum error mitigation and error correction techniques, and enhance the EU’s supply chain for key components of neutral-atom based computational processors.
The total indicative budget available for this call is EUR 20 Million, funded under the Horizon Europe program. The expected duration of the project is 3.5 years. The call opened on Aug. 13, 2026 and the deadline for application is set on Nov. 17, 2026, 5:00 pm CET.
Relevant details and information concerning this call are available on the dedicated call page.
Next-Generation QKD Systems
The call HORIZON-JU-EUROHPC-2026-NQKD-12 aims to strengthen Europe’s strategic autonomy in quantum-secure communications by advancing core Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) technologies.
QKD enables ultra-secure communication by using quantum mechanics to detect eavesdropping attempts, ensuring unconditional security for data transmission.
This action will focus on developing next-generation QKD systems with measurable improvements in key rates over metropolitan distances (> 1 Mbps) and operational coverage of networks on a regional scale (> 300 km), but also implementing advanced cryptographic protocols beyond QKD, including hybrid quantum-classical cryptographic frameworks by combining QKD and post-quantum cryptography (PQC).
The action will facilitate the experimental validation of advanced QKD protocols, the integration of QKD into classical and optical network structures and the demonstration of hybrid QKD-PQC frameworks.. Projects should demonstrate these technologies in real-world applications beyond the EuroQCI infrastructure, such as protecting energy grids, securing cloud storage, and safeguarding industrial control systems.
Engagement with industry and national network providers is crucial to ensure compatibility with telecom grade requirements.
The budget foreseen for this call is of EUR 24 Million, spanning from the Horizon Europe program. The project will last 3.5 years.
The call opened on Aug. 13, 2026, with a submission deadline of Nov. 17, 2026 at 5:00 pm CET (Brussels time).
Relevant details and information concerning this call will be available on the dedicated call page.
Quantum-Testing Infrastructure for Quantum Technologies
With the newly launched call, HORIZON-JU-EUROHPC-2026-QTI-13, the EuroHPC JU will establish a pan-European open-access testing infrastructure for quantum technologies, creating a comprehensive framework for systematic validation and certification of quantum components and systems.
The action aims to deploy distributed quantum testing facilities across Europe, but also to develop certification services aligned with emerging standards to best support SMEs and startups in validating their quantum technologies. This will strengthen Europe’s competitiveness by ensuring robust quality assurance mechanisms with standardized protocols.
The call should facilitate the expansion of interconnected testing facilities in multiple EU Member States covering various quantum technologies (processors, sensors, photonics and control sensors), developing interoperable testing methodologies and certification procedures, and creating a comprehensive digital platform for remote test execution and data management.
With a total budget of EUR 20 Million, the call is funded by the Horizon Europe program. The call, which opened on Aug. 13, 2026, has a deadline for submission set on Nov. 17, 2026, 5:00 pm CET.
Relevant details and information concerning this call are available on the dedicated call page.
Quantum Experimental Pilot Lines for Quantum Technologies
Through this action, HORIZON-JU-EUROHPC-2026-QEXP-14, the EuroHPC JU seeks to bridge the gap between academic quantum research and established pilot lines under the CHIPS JU..
Qu-Pilot will function as a testbed for developing and validating quantum technologies, focusing on technological innovation, manufacturing reproducibility, and scalability.
The call aims to establish experimental pilot production infrastructure that can advance quantum hardware technologies from TRL 4-6, with particular emphasis on quantum processors, sensors, and cryo-compatible packaging.
Projects should demonstrate scalable quantum fabrication processes including the development of standardized workflows ensuring reproducibility, quality assurance and certification pathways.
The total indicative budget available for this call is EUR 15 Million, funded under the Horizon Europe program. The expected duration of the action is 3.5 years.
The call opened on Aug. 13, 2026, with a submission deadline of Nov. 17, 2026, 5:00 pm CET.
The EuroHPC JU is a legal and funding entity that brings together the European Union and participating countries to coordinate efforts and pool resources with the objective of making Europe a world leader in supercomputing.
To equip Europe with a cutting-edge supercomputing infrastructure, the EuroHPC JU has already procured 12 supercomputers, distributed across Europe including JUPITER and Alice Recoque, Europe’s first exascale systems.
European scientists and users from the public sector and industry can benefit from EuroHPC supercomputers via the EuroHPC Access Calls no matter where in Europe they are located, to advance science and support the development of a wide range of applications with industrial, scientific and societal relevance for Europe.
Currently, the EuroHPC JU is also overseeing the implementation of 19 AI factories (AIF) across Europe, complemented by 13 AI Factory Antennas, to offer free, customised support to SMEs and startups.
Additionally, the EuroHPC JU is deploying a European Quantum Computing infrastructure, integrating diverse European quantum computing technologies with existing supercomputers. In June 2026, the EuroHPC JU launched the quantum pilot access mode to provide quick access to its EuroHPC JU quantum infrastructure for testing and development purposes.
The EuroHPC JU also funds research and innovation projects to develop a full European supercomputing supply chain, from processors and software to applications to be run on these supercomputers and know-how to develop strong European HPC expertise.
With the recent adoption of Council Regulation (EU) 2026/150, the EuroHPC JU’s mandate has been expanded with new action pillars dedicated to the deployment of AI Gigafactories across Europe and the advancement of quantum technologies. The AI Gigafactories call was launched in July 2026.
Minnesota posts win was ‘Like taking money from a baby’
A toddler interrupted a Major League Soccer match between Minnesota United and San Jose Earthquakes on Saturday by invading the pitch – a bizarre scene punctuated by an on-air analyst saying, “There’s a baby on the field.”
With a minute and a half to play in the game that Minnesota won 5-1 at PayPal Park in San Jose, California, the small child took to the field – and the referee blew his whistle to stop play.
Ah, Japan’s TRON project – every few years someone discovers it anew and it bubbles back up the surface, and deservedly so, as it’s an incredibly interesting operating system project that, like so many others, deserved a better fate.
There’s a version of computing history where the desktop OS that won wasn’t Windows. Not because the alternative was Unix-based or because Apple pulled off something different, but because an operating system designed at the University of Tokyo in 1984 was ambitious enough to try to replace the file system with a hypermedia document model, run on a custom Japanese CPU architecture, and encode 1.5 million characters, only to have a US trade report single it out as an unfair trade barrier in 1989.
https://www.xda-developers.com/premium/?ref=ad_removalThat project was TRON (The Real-time Operating system Nucleus), a real, government-backed Japanese computing initiative whose desktop variant, BTRON, was named in a US trade barrier report and effectively killed before it could reach schools nationwide. Meanwhile, its embedded counterpart, ITRON, quietly became one of the most deployed operating systems in history.
TRON’s history has since attracted some genuinely wild conspiracy theories, including one claiming that Japan Airlines Flight 123 was deliberately crashed in order to target the TRON developers on board, despite there being no evidence that any TRON developers were even on the flight. But the strangest part of the story isn’t even a conspiracy theory: BTRON’s hypermedia desktop was decades ahead of what the market could support, and SoftBank founder Masayoshi Son may have helped sink it from the inside.
The most interesting part of TRON for me was the different ways it treated files and documents compared to other operating systems. Instead of focusing on applications and files as the core interaction points for users, it focused on the document. While most operating systems associate specific files with specific applications, TRON associated individual components of documents with individual handlers. If you want to edit a Word document today, you open Word and do all your editing work inside Word, whether you’re editing blocks of text or an image, or you open entirely different applications when Word’s capabilities for a certain component in a document are too limited. In TRON, you’d open a document, and only once you wanted to edit specific components did it “open” an “application” to perform the editing, without actually leaving the document in question.
Want to edit an image inside your document? In most operating systems, you’d have to open a separate image editor, load the relevant image file into it, make your edits, save the image file, and then paste said edited image file back into your document. There’s a considerable amount of overhead here that shouldn’t really exist; a computer is more than smart enough to open up just the editing controls from a different application if need be. In our current paradigm, applications often “solve” this by adding ever more features and controls and tools to cover every possible object or component you might have to deal with, but that just makes applications more complex, more bloated, and more difficult to use.
TRON’s approach has been tried in a variety of times and places, but it never caught on. My personal pet theory is that the application-first model is far better at wealth extraction and concentration than TRON’s model, and as such, that’s what we ended up with. If a user’s document and all of its constituent parts are tied to and wrapped up into a single application from a single vendor, it’s much easier to control said user and extract wealth from them than when that user can just pick and choose whatever handler they want to use for whatever object they happen to run into in a document, without having to open tons of different applications and move, copy, and paste stuff all the time.
In fact, this is also why consistency in user interface design is now all but dead; application developers and vendors use their own weird, non-standard, custom user interfaces for branding purposes. Sticking to a platform’s standards and conventions makes it harder to stand out and put your “brand” in people’s faces. But I digress.
Regardless, I’m not sure if all the stories about the US trying to bury TRON have any real value to them, as even the article itself notes (undoing its own clickbaity headline) that the project already seemed to be in dire straights even before it got a buried mention in some trade document. On top of that, ITRON, the embedded TRON variant, survived and thrives to this very day, powering untold numbers of devices. It seems to have done quite well for itself, supposed US government intervention or no.
Three years ago, the August 2023 Lahaina wildfire killed 101 people, making it the deadliest U.S. wildfire in more than a century. On Sept. 19, one symbol of the town's continued recovery will arrive at the beach where Maui's most…
This cookie is made using waste plant materials and plastic and could feed humans everywhere from submarines to spaceships. (SIU Carbondale Communications via SWNS)
Scientists have warned deadly H5 bird flu could cause “carnage” for Australia’s seal and sea lion populations after detection of the virus in long-nosed fur seals in South Australia.
An anonymous reader quotes a report from Gizmodo: Dr. Dre, the pioneering rapper and seven-time Grammy-winning producer behind hit songs like Tupac's "California Love" and Eminem's "The Real Slim Shady," is very much pro using artificial intelligence tools to make music. In an interview with the New York Times, Dr. Dre and Interscope Records co-founder Jimmy Iovine spoke about artificial intelligence's recent foray into music production, with the producer characterizing those who oppose AI song generation tools as "afraid of learning new things." "I don't see it as a threat. I think the only people that see it as a threat are the people who have trouble creating," Dr. Dre said. "I had a discussion with a few people a few days ago. They were against AI, and I'm like, 'OK, you sound like the person that would have been against the drum machine when it came out.' Or synthesizers, right?"
[...] Iovine, the music executive and Dr. Dre's partner in Beats by Dre, for his part, says he doesn't "see the downside at all." "There will be some crappy music. There's crappy music now," Iovine told the NYT. "In the studio, when gifted people have AI, they're going to make better records." Dr. Dre said he uses AI in producing "as a tool to see what it would do with what I just did." The award-winning producer also said he is definitely not alone among his peers in his stance on AI either: many producers use AI but fear to admit it. Iovine calls them "closet AI producers," and says Timbaland, the four-time Grammy-winning singer-producer behind a long list of hits like "Promiscuous" with Nelly Furtado, is also one.
Downing Street repeats calls for social media platforms to review content and policies as companies urged to uphold legal duties
Lee Anderson, the Reform UK MP for Ashfield, is first up to speak. He says young people in his constituency – and in many areas across the country – have “absolutely no chance” of securing council housing or social housing. He says that Reform’s government would “put British people first” in a housing system he characterises as being unfair.
Reform UK will use a press conference that is due to begin at 11am to announce its pledge to prioritise British-born workers under 35 when allocating social housing. We will bring you the key lines from the conference, fronted by deputy leader, Richard Tice, and the party’s chairman, Lee Anderson, here. You can watch it live:
GOP Sen. Ted Cruz outlined the road ahead for Republicans as Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton faces off against state Rep. James Talarico in the closely watched contest.
EU police agency says shift could point to involvement of new criminal networks focused on specific artefacts
Robberies at European museums are becoming increasingly violent, with thieves sometimes brandishing guns, assaulting staff and using sledgehammers, axes and even explosives to smash their way into buildings and display cases, according to a report by Europol.
The EU police agency said that while museum thefts were generally seen as a non-violent form of organised property crime, member states had detected a recent shift “towards violent and forceful methods” that could point to the involvement of new criminal networks focused on specific cultural artefacts.
Authorities believe Benjamin Charles Parker, 36, died by suicide after he was found in vehicle in Washington state
A man suspected of killing five people in rural Oregon was found dead in a suspected suicide, local law enforcement officials said on Sunday.
The five homicide victims were found on Saturday at a home in a rural community near Forest Grove, Oregon, about 30 miles (48km) outside Portland, when authorities responded to a report of a vehicle fire.
Gunmen attacked worshippers in Dekara village on Friday taking women, children and older people
An armed group has posted a video showing what residents said were about 600 women, children and older people abducted in an attack on a mosque in Nigeria’s north-central Niger State last week.
The video, posted on Facebook and WhatsApp, showed large groups of people seated in a forested area surrounded by armed men. Several children could be heard crying in the background.
Five-day trial at high court in Glasgow heard Dott subjected a girl and a boy to multiple incidents of abuse
The former world snooker champion Graeme Dott has been found guilty of sexually abusing two primary school age children. The 49-year-old subjected a girl and a boy to multiple incidents of abuse, with the girl targeted between 1993-96 and the boy between 2006-10.
A five-day trial at the high court in Glasgow heard Dott exposed himself in front of both children, touched them inappropriately, and kissed them. On Monday, he was found guilty of two counts of lewd, indecent and libidinous behaviour towards them. In both cases the abuse happened in the Glasgow area.
The newspaper often uses the word to describe elections with progressive contenders, implying a previous whole destroyed by the left
“El-Sayed and Stevens Project Party Unity After Divisive Race,” announced the New York Times on 5 August, the day the progressive Abdul El-Sayed beat out his centrist Democratic rival, Haley Stevens, in the Michigan senatorial primary. “Divisive” is now the Times’s favorite attack word, deployed repeatedly to disparage and try to undermine the astonishing recent advances by progressive candidates.
Four days after that first story, the Times againlanded “divisive” under “Obama and El-Sayed Discuss Unity After Ugly Michigan Primary.” El-Sayed, it asserted, had “narrowly prevailed in a divisive primary after campaigning on a progressive and anti-establishment platform”.
Campaigners accuse ministers of trying to grab headlines with announcement before a working system is ready
Survivors of violent crime and families of victims have criticised the UK government for announcing “world first” plans to introduce restriction zones for serious offenders freed from prison within a few weeks without spelling out how they would work.
Key campaigners who have championed the idea of the zones, designed to “lock” offenders into specific areas, accused the government of seeking to grab headlines rather than providing the detail that would reassure survivors and families.
Subscribers to Netflix, Disney+ and Amazon Prime Video in western Europe have faced higher price increases than in any other market in recent years, according to research.
Over the past four years the world’s largest subscription video streaming services have dramatically changed their business models introducing lower-priced, basic advertising tiers to attract new subscribers, while also increasingly monetising users willing to pay more for a premium experience.
Gary mayor says 12 days is ‘too long’ for residents to go without power after storm downed trees on to power lines
The mayor of Gary, Indiana, has said it is “unacceptable” that thousands of residents in the city are still without power nearly two weeks after an 11 August storm known as a derecho brought 90 mph, straight-line winds, downing trees on to power lines.
“We’re at day 12, and 12 days is too long for families to be without power,” Eddie Melton, Gary’s mayor, said in a video address on Sunday, adding that he is continuing to pressure the Northern Indiana Public Service Company (Nipsco) to restore the city’s power before the end of Tuesday.
ARMONK, N.Y., Aug. 24, 2026 — At the annual Hot Chips conference, IBM today is announcing the first dual-architecture mainframe processor, which is being designed to enable enterprises to run operating systems and applications on both the IBM and Arm compute platforms in future IBM Z and LinuxONE systems. This marks the first processor milestone to emerge from the IBM and Arm collaboration established in April 2026, and represents a significant advance in enterprise computing. The new processor is being developed to allow organizations to run Arm-native Linux environments simultaneously with z/OS and Linux on IBM Z, while benefiting from IBM’s established security, reliability, and scale.
Credit: Shutterstock
With more than 22 million developers worldwide, the Arm software ecosystem supports a broad and growing range of applications from cloud to edge, including the cloud-native and AI software increasingly shaping modern infrastructure. This new processor will bring that ecosystem to the IBM platforms known globally for transaction processing and data-intensive operations. Arm workloads will benefit from IBM’s enterprise-grade capabilities, including enhanced reliability, hardware-level fault detection and recovery, advanced encryption, secure key management, and AI acceleration.
Built on a 2 nanometer technology node, the processor’s design will contain 11 high-performance cores operating at more than 5.7 GHz, AI inference accelerators for in-transaction fraud detection, a dedicated on-chip data processing unit for I/O acceleration, and a large cache architecture for demanding enterprise workloads. The chip is architected to not contain separate Arm and IBM cores: each processor core can natively execute Arm and IBM Z, or Arm and LinuxONE, instructions concurrently while prioritizing the platform’s established performance, security, encryption, and availability characteristics. IBM Z and LinuxONE platforms are capable of scaling to hundreds of cores and tens of terabytes of memory.
“As organizations modernize their application portfolios and integrate AI into core business operations, they need infrastructure that expands their options,” said Christian Jacobi, Chief Technology Officer and IBM Fellow, IBM Systems Development. “This processor represents a significant architectural advancement for IBM Z and LinuxONE. By bringing Arm natively to our platform, we’re combining access to one of the industry’s fastest-growing software ecosystems with the qualities that have made IBM systems the foundation for how businesses run today.”
“As AI scales, more of the computing landscape is converging on Arm,” said Mohamed Awad, Executive Vice President, Cloud AI, Arm. “IBM Z and LinuxONE power some of the world’s most demanding workloads in highly regulated industries. Bringing Arm compute and its software ecosystem to these platforms will extend that momentum into mission-critical enterprise infrastructure to give organizations greater choice in how they deploy AI.”
This milestone represents a major step forward in IBM and Arm’s shared vision of expanding application choice and access to the latest in software innovation for enterprise computing without compromising the capabilities these environments demand.
IBM is a leading provider of global hybrid cloud and AI, and consulting expertise. We help clients in more than 175 countries capitalize on insights from their data, streamline business processes, reduce costs and gain the competitive edge in their industries. Thousands of governments and corporate entities in critical infrastructure areas such as financial services, telecommunications and healthcare rely on IBM’s hybrid cloud platform and Red Hat OpenShift to affect their digital transformations quickly, efficiently and securely. IBM’s breakthrough innovations in AI, quantum computing, industry-specific cloud solutions and consulting deliver open and flexible options to our clients. All of this is backed by IBM’s long-standing commitment to trust, transparency, responsibility, inclusivity and service. Visit www.ibm.com for more information.
PARIS, Aug. 24, 2026 — Pasqal, a global leader in neutral-atom quantum computing, and Eleven Ventures, a Kingdom of Saudi Arabia based investment platform and venture capital firm, today announced an agreement to establish a commercial joint venture to deploy, commercialize and scale Pasqal’s quantum computing systems across the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the region, with plans to deploy multiple quantum systems in the coming years. The venture is designed to advance the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 ambitions in artificial intelligence and advanced computing, and to position the Kingdom as a regional hub for quantum technology.
The joint venture intends to deploy and operate Pasqal’s neutral-atom systems in the Kingdom and bring Pasqal to market for customers across the Kingdom and the wider region. It is also expected to build local talent and expertise, so that quantum capability is developed within the Kingdom rather than accessed from abroad. The appointment of HRH Prince Abdulaziz Bin Turki Bin Talal, the founder of Eleven Ventures, as Chairman of the Board of Pasqal Arabia will provide strategic leadership across the Kingdom and the region.
The announcement comes as the Kingdom and France deepen their strategic partnership in advanced technologies, coinciding with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s State Visit to France on August 24th. As part of the visit, the Kingdom’s officials visited Pasqal’s headquarters and quantum computer production site, underscoring the growing strategic importance of quantum computing cooperation between the two countries.
Pasqal believes that quantum computing and AI are converging into the infrastructure of the next decade of computing. Additionally, Pasqal believes that the joint venture will give customers in the Kingdom and the region direct, commercial access to that infrastructure at scale, meeting fast-growing regional demand for sovereign, high-performance computers.
“The Kingdom has moved faster than most markets to turn advanced computing into national capability. We believe this joint venture puts Pasqal’s quantum systems inside the Kingdom, built to scale with the region’s ambition – not adjacent to it,” said Dr. Wasiq Bokhari, Chief Executive Officer of Pasqal.
“We believe that quantum today is where AI stood a few years ago, on the edge of changing everything. The difference is that this time, the Kingdom and the region are not watching from a distance, we are moving first, and in Pasqal we found a partner that will not wait either. Together we plan to deploy real systems, raise a generation of quantum talent, and make the Kingdom the home of this technology for the entire region,” said HRH Prince Abdulaziz Bin Turki Bin Talal, Chairman of the Board of Pasqal Arabia.
About Pasqal
Pasqal is a global leader in delivering practical quantum computing at scale utilizing neutral atom technology and dedicated software for industry, science, and governments. Since its founding in 2019, Pasqal has leveraged Nobel Prize winning research to build high-performance quantum systems and cloud-ready software designed to address complex challenges in optimization, simulation, and artificial intelligence.
NGO criticises ‘human cost’ of UK-funded crackdown on attempts to set off from French beaches in small boats
People trying to cross the Channel to the UK have reported an increase in French police use of violence on beaches to prevent them from getting into dinghies, according to a French NGO.
Utopia 56, which works on beaches from where migrants attempt Channel crossings, says so far this year 2,720 people have reported being victims of French police violence, compared with 1,954 over the same period last year, when crossings overall were much higher.
Sean Grayson, who was diagnosed with stage three colon cancer in 2023, was serving a 20-year sentence for second-degree murder
The former Illinois sheriff’s deputy convicted of fatally shooting Sonya Massey in her home after she reported a possible prowler to 911, has died, his attorney said Sunday.
Sean Grayson died on Sunday, lawyer Daniel Fultz – who represented the ex-Sangamon county deputy at his trial – told NBC News and CBS News.
Key speech to be delivered this week at Jackson Hole said to focus on productivity and demographics in the US. Plus, how do you vaccinate 1,000 little penguins in the wild?
Good morning. The new US Federal Reserve chair, Kevin Warsh, faces a critical test this week amid anxiety in government bond markets over inflation and Donald Trump’s tax and spending plans. As the world’s most powerful central bank prepares for its annual Jackson Hole conference, analysts said bond traders would be looking for signals from Warsh over its commitment to fighting inflation.
However, Warsh has signalled reluctance to use his speech on Friday for the “more traditional setup” of dropping hints over how the US central bank may respond to inflationary pressures when its officials next meet to set interest rates in September and December. Instead, he has said his Jackson Hole speech could be “focused on bigger questions”, including concerns over productivity and demographics.
Why is this a crucial moment for the Fed? The gathering of the world’s most powerful central bankers in the Grand Teton national park is a blue riband event in the financial calendar. However, the meeting comes as selling pressure intensifies in the $30tn US government debt market despite efforts by the Treasury secretary, Scott Bessent, to assuage investor worries after he committed to at least double Washington’s purchases of US Treasury bonds.
What did Joshua Aviles say about his father’s arrest? “I’ve been deployed for over nine months, out at sea in the Middle East aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln, fighting for a country that has given me everything. I just got a call that my dad was taken by ICE. We have done everything through immigration to get his green card approved, and we are just waiting. This is heartbreaking for me. I don’t know how I can mentally continue working 12+ hour days knowing that my dad is somewhere, possibly being treated like a criminal.”
How did the DHS respond? The DHS said Luis Manuel Aviles Roa entered the US illegally and would remain in immigration and customs enforcement detention pending removal proceedings. “Having a family member in the military is not a free pass to violate our nation’s laws,” the DHS said.
Republican Councilwoman Kilpatrick has decided to retire, and her seat is up for grabs
For 16 years, Councilwoman Janet Kilpatrick has represented Hockessin, Yorklyn, North Star, Pike Creek and part of Newark which makes up New Castle County “District 3.”
Councilwoman Kilpatrick is not seeking reelection, one of two decades-long tenures ending this year. Democrats Kira Alejandro and Kyle Grantham are competing for her seat in the Sept. 15 primary; the winner faces Republican Melissa Brayman, Director of Administration and Finance at the Delaware State Chamber of Commerce, with no primary of her own. Both Alejandro and Grantham sat down for interviews about who they are and what they’d do if elected.
Kira Alejandro: A musician and community advocate
Growing up…
Alejandro, 30, grew up in Hockessin-off Brackenville Road-and still lives in the district, in Yorklyn. She plays piano and baritone ukulele, plays some guitar and bass, and grew up playing flute. She said she also grew up going to Ashland Nature Center, which she called “a focal point” in her life and where her love of the natural world began. Her favorite spot there is a boardwalk over a marsh, where she said watching frog eggs and cattails appear every year still feels peaceful. “I feel really lucky to live so close to it,” she said.
A formative influence…
She credits both parents with shaping how she sees public life: her father, “a very staunch environmental advocate” and believer in public education from his own years in New York’s public schools, and her mother, who volunteered on the spot to keep a Girl Scout camp on Sharpless Road running rather than let it close, and ran it for years afterward.
Making it personal…
Alejandro said she has personally helped save nearly 30 acres of land in Yorklyn from development, and pledged never to take donations from developers, land-use attorneys, corporations or corporate PACs. “I think you can’t be neutral if you’re funded by special interests,” she said.
On electric bills and data centers…
“The problem that we’re seeing with the delivery fees is partly because Delmarva is allowed to do non-mandatory construction of infrastructure,” Alejandro said, pointing to a pending Delaware Public Service Commission case in which Delmarva is seeking a $68 million rate increase.
“Adding poles, adding substations, building things for anticipated use… that is the only way that Delmarva can potentially profit, because they’re not supposed to be profiting off of the sale or delivery fees.” She said “part of the reason that the energy bills are continuing to increase is because data centers are getting built on our grid,” adding, “whether or not we have any data centers in Delaware, if data centers are being built on this larger grid, our energy bills are going to go up.”
“I believe the number one thing we can do at a county level to get a handle on these increasing rates is call for a data center moratorium,” she said. “We’ve seen precedent for this. Maryland has five different counties now that have enacted a moratorium. They have a county that has outright banned data centers.”
What’s been the hardest part of running?
“Running a campaign is grueling. I’m very fortunate to have a lot of people who are very invested in this campaign,” Alejandro said. “I would say overall I think the most challenging thing has just been that no one knows what the county council is. So often I find people asking me, ‘Are you running against Mike Smith? Are you running against Frank Burns?'”
Why do you think you’re the right fit for the job?
“I’m the only candidate that has any kind of concrete experience standing up for our communities and actually achieving results,” Alejandro said. “That’s why I’m running. I want to keep putting our communities first as a council member.”
Kyle Grantham: A photojournalist turned public servant
Growing up…
Grantham, 38, grew up in Cecil County, Maryland, and moved to Delaware in 2013. He considered the Naval Academy in high school before choosing journalism, as he learned more about the Iraq War, working through Ohio, Indiana, Wyoming, and California before landing at The News Journal full-time in 2013.
A formative influence…
Grantham said the person who shaped his approach to public service most was Rob Carr, an Associated Press photographer he met at 19 covering a bowl game in Mobile, Alabama. Carr later got him assignments at the Senior British Open and an Ireland-Scotland rugby match, then brought him along to shoot Orioles and Ravens games for his first national byline. “No one gets anywhere in this industry by themselves,” Grantham said Carr told him, a lesson he’s carried into politics.
Making it personal…
He left journalism after being assaulted by a Trump supporter about two weeks before the 2016 election, then spent nearly a decade in the county executive’s office after Gov. Matt Meyer, then county executive, brought him on. Grantham lives in Newark with his wife and 2-year-old son, still coaches the county’s adult co-ed soccer league at Banning Park.
On electric bills and data centers…
Grantham explains, “I think we need to work with the state to get power bills under control. I’m not convinced we can unilaterally impose a moratorium on data center construction without backing from the state legislature.
The companies building these things have more money than God and armies of lawyers. If we go it alone against them, I don’t think we can win. If we work with the state to take a comprehensive approach to fighting them – whether it be zoning, tax reform, or hopefully an outright ban – we have a better shot of making Delaware look less attractive and keeping them out of the state altogether.
But simply hitting ‘pause’ for a year or two with a moratorium isn’t going to be enough. The energy and environmental impacts from these facilities are never going to be solved, and even if they somehow were, these facilities are being built to power AI technology designed to replace workers and produce a product 40% the quality for 10% the cost. I’m never going to support that.
At the same time, the County can be bringing new clean power projects online to introduce power locally at cost and start curving bills down.”
What’s been the hardest part of running?
“This is easily the hardest thing I’ve ever done in my life,” Grantham said. “I think the one thing I wasn’t necessarily prepared for was the guilt, having a two-year-old and needing to spend so much time out putting the hard groundwork in. When I’m out 20, 30 hours a week knocking doors, I just feel guilty that I’m not at home with him. And then on the flip side, when I’m at home and I am enjoying myself, then I feel guilty that I’m not working hard enough.”
Why do you think you’re the right fit for the job?
“What I want people to see in those endorsements is that these people are recognizing the fact that I understand what this job is about and what it’s not about, and the way that it can have an impact on lives in a real way, and that they see in me the experience and qualifications to do it well,” Grantham said.
Where the two candidates’ money and endorsements stand
Grantham raised roughly $25,900 through Aug. 16, per the State’s Campaign Filing Report System, and have some noteworthy endorsements from six NCC council members, including Councilwoman Kilpatrick and Councilman Hollins, plus Gov. Matt Meyer.
Alejandro raised nearly $44,700 over the same period, almost $18,850 more than Grantham, with some notable endorsements from one council member, two state officials and the Sierra Club.
Both candidates agree Delaware’s electric bills are a real burden, and that data centers are part of the story. They disagree on whether the fix is a moratorium or a zoning overhaul. On Sept. 15, District 3’s Democrats decide which approach, and which candidate, gets the chance to prove it right.
How to vote
Only registered Democrats can vote in the Sept. 15 primary. The deadline to register was Saturday, Aug. 22; early voting runs Sept. 2-13. Check your registration or district at the state’s voter portal, ivote.de.gov/VoterView.
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Correction (Aug. 24, 2026, 12:07 p.m.): This article has been updated to correct Melissa Brayman’s title. She is Director of Administration and Finance at the Delaware State Chamber of Commerce, not an office administrator.
Players will get what they expect from the new CoD title: boots-on-the-ground military action with a slight tactical edge. But what’s with all the distractions?
There’s a lot riding on this year’s Call of Duty, the inescapable first-person shootfest that’s been lobbing a grenade into the autumn release schedule since 2003. Previous instalment, Black Ops 7, performed poorly compared to previous titles, forcing Activision to post a semi-apology to fans. And that’s not the only challenge Modern Warfare 4 is facing: there’s a new indie shooter, Wardogs, promising a feel somewhere between classic CoD and Classic Battlefield. Then, lurking on the horizon, in mirror shades and an exotic sports car, is Grand Theft Auto 6, which is surely going to smash and grab all the attention (and money) from the market in mid-November.
The good news is that, judging by the early access beta test that ran over the penultimate August weekend, we’re definitely getting what we expect from a Modern Warfare title: quasi-authentic boots-on-the-ground military action with a slight tactical edge. The weapons and general gunplay are highly effective, from default assault rifle, the Han 86 – a classic CoD beginner’s gun with decent fire rate and handling – to the bullet-spraying Nightshade SMG and the absolutely lethal KG-7 Vulcan sniper rifle. They all feel good to hold and fire, and there’s enough balance to let you experiment with slightly more offbeat numbers like the burst-fire Hyeon AR and the possibly overpowered Mar-9 marksman rifle.
So that is the whole pipeline exercised end-to-end. GrandSlam authenticates the Apple Account and obtains the IDS delegate. authenticateDS and id-register turn the Linux process into a registered Apple messaging identity. The Friends sequence attaches that identity to the existing accepted relationship. A missing-key SubscribeAndFetch makes the sharing device deliver its current P-224 key over APNs/IDS, inside a sender-verified P-256 NGM envelope. A second SearchParty fetch returns the encrypted report, and the P-224 key opens it locally.
So yeah, in one sentence: authenticate to Apple’s private services, register the Linux machine as an IDS client, receive the existing Find My share key, and use it to fetch and decrypt a consented friend’s latest location.
I wonder if it would be possible to build a proper third-party client for Apple’s Find My network like this, or if it would be trivial for the company to block it. I’m fairly sure quite a few people would love to be able to keep using Find My when moving away from Apple’s operating systems.
The meeting came with Democrats expected to take control of the House in the November elections, which would put Jeffries in line to become the next House speaker.
Trump administration finalized rule to end Medicaid support for care including hormones and speech therapy
New Mexico will continue funding gender-affirming care for minors after a federal rule ending Medicaid support for such care goes into effect.
On 13 August, the Trump administration finalized a rule – set to go into effect on 13 October – that will end funding for gender-affirming care through Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (Chip).
The president’s border wall plan could damage or destroy ‘the oldest-known books in North America’
On an overcast summer morning, Carolyn Boyd, an archeologist at Texas State University, stood at the foot of a cave in west Texas, looking up toward a series of towering murals painted on a rock wall. Three massive human-like figures soared toward an overhang that had sheltered the painting from the elements since they were drawn here perhaps 4,000 years ago.
An artist herself, Boyd knows how hard it would have been to paint these long, crisp lines. Before starting, the bands of Indigenous hunter-gatherers who lived in this west Texas valley, where the Pecos River empties into the Rio Grande, would have spent weeks pulverizing gypsum, hematite, limonite and manganese to make paint. They would have gathered massive quantities of sotol stalks to fold its fibers into scaffolding. The painting itself would have required teamwork and precision, with people at the bottom guiding artists on the wall as they painted figures stretching up to 30ft tall.
Test of US rhetoric will rest on whether nations such as India, China and Russia view economic threats as credible
Tehran has vowed to retaliate against any country that cooperates with the US attempt to impose fresh sanctions against Iran in what the Treasury secretary, Scott Bessent, has billed as “the single greatest financial offensive ever marshalled against an adversary”.
In advance of the US announcement, the United Arab Emirates, Iran’s single biggest trading partner in the Middle East, announced it was ending all trade with Iran, a move Tehran believes was coordinated between Washington and the UAE.
Updated draft highway code follows several court rulings assigning blame for road accidents to careless pedestrians
Italy’s updated highway code will target pedestrians who stare at their mobile phones while crossing the road, as the country’s transport ministry strives to improve road safety by cracking down on perilous distractions.
The offence, contained in a draft version of the highway code which is expected to be approved by mid-October, carries fines of €75 or more.
Gluons are the quantum 'Gorilla Glue' involved in binding quarks together, ScienceAlert reminds us. But for nearly 50 years, physicists have hunted for "glueballs", exotic particles predicted by this theory of the strong interaction — the only type of particle in nature composed entirely of force mediators:
Now, a collaboration working at a collider in Beijing says it has the clearest evidence yet that a known particle called X(2370) is dominated by one of these elusive states... Physicists sifted through the wreckage of high-energy particle collisions to find strong evidence of this glueball, made predominantly of gluons — massless force carriers of the strong interaction between quarks... The new evidence for this exotic, unstable glueball's ephemeral existence comes from a recent preprint on arXiv, presented at the International Conference on High Energy Physics in Brazil... This collaboration uses the Beijing Electron Positron Collider II, a particle accelerator and collider that smashes electrons into their antimatter counterparts, called positrons, to probe perplexing particle physics.
The resultant glueball is an "unprecedented form of matter," says Jin Shan, a particle physicist at Nanjing University and one of the research team's leaders. "It not only enables the theory describing strong interactions to pass its most rigorous test, but also vastly expands the boundaries of our understanding of the physical world," he told Fan Chen at South China Morning Post... Previously, in a study published in the journal Physical Review Letters in 2024, the researchers analyzed 10 billion meson decay events. They measured the X(2370) particle's mass and spin parity — a property that dictates its interactions and almost-instantaneous decay — for the first time, finding complete agreement between their experimental values and predictions. Now, they've identified its additional decay modes and determined its flavor-singlet nature, "the most important characteristic of a glueball...."
The authors describe their work as the clearest experimental result to emerge from nearly 50 years of glueball searches, supporting the long-standing theoretical prediction that gluons can bind together into a new form of matter.
The discovery ""highlights advances in technology and analytical techniques that have recently revealed another decades-in-the-making physics mystery," the article points out.
"More experiments are needed to further confirm and constrain the prototypes of the highly esoteric glueball; in other words, more particle smashing."
A fast-moving Nevadawildfire exploded to more than 15,000 acres (6,000 hectares) on Sunday, pushing from the Sierra foothills toward the centre of Reno and forced nearly 90,000 residents to evacuate as flames threatened neighbourhoods and reached the edge of the University of Nevada campus
Republican candidates who challenged, denied or cast doubt on the 2020 presidential election are seeking governor or secretary of state offices in six competitive states this November, positions that could play significant roles in administering the 2028 presidential election.
The seven candidates are:
Arizona Gov.: Andy Biggs — Voted against accepting Arizona and Pennsylvania’s electoral votes and urged further review of Arizona’s results. He faces Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs.
Arizona Secretary of State: Alex Kolodin — Represented lawsuits challenging Arizona’s 2020 results and later represented fake electors. He faces Democratic Secretary of State Adrian Fontes.
Georgia Gov.: Rick Jackson — Previously called the 2020 result “totally ridiculous,” although his campaign now says he acknowledges Joe Biden won. He faces Democrat Keisha Lance Bottoms.
Michigan Gov.: John James — Has called the 2020 election “rigged” while previously acknowledging Biden was duly elected. He faces Democrat Jocelyn Benson.
Nevada Secretary of State: Jim Marchant — Has repeatedly promoted claims that the 2020 election was stolen and supported Nevada’s fake-elector effort. He faces Democratic incumbent Cisco Aguilar.
Pennsylvania Gov.: Stacy Garrity — Said at a 2022 Trump rally, “We know that he won,” but now says she recognizes Biden was elected. She faces Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro.
Wisconsin Gov.: Tom Tiffany — Voted against Arizona and Pennsylvania electoral votes and has alleged 2020 “improprieties,” though he now says Biden won. He faces Democrat David Crowley.
Governors and secretaries of state have important roles in election administration and certification, making these races relevant well beyond 2026.
Algorithms are responsible for fever pitch content surrounding trial, including misinformation, experts say
As the trial of Lindsay Clancy, the Massachusetts mother accused of killing her three children, starts to wind down, a now international discussion on social media about the case has hit a fever pitch as viewers examine details of the trial and question the state of maternal mental healthcare in the United States.
Amateur sleuths and armchair psychologists have been creating content throughout the several weeks of the trial, pointing out perceived discrepancies in evidence. They’ve pointed to Clancy’s last recorded heart rate and body temperature as “smoking guns”, suggested that Patrick Clancy, Lindsay’s ex-husband and father of the children, actually committed the crime, despite no legal evidence to back up the claim.
Watchdog data shared with Guardian shows contributions to Republican Attorneys General Association and others
Over a dozen US companies that signed a 2021 letter urging Congress to strengthen the Voting Rights Act continue to contribute to state political groups that are actively working to undermine the legislation, according to a campaign finance watchdog.
Researchers at the Center for Political Accountability (CPA), a nonpartisan organization that tracks financial disclosures, found that companies – including Airbnb, DoorDash, Target and Zillow – that signed the letter are contributing to groups known as 527 organizations that prop up key state races, according to data provided exclusively to the Guardian.
Luke Pollard says government will force platforms to remove content, after latest deadly crash involving a car driving in wrong direction
A minister has pressed social media companies to remove content from their platforms showcasing dangerous driving after a fatal collision that killed seven people in Middlesbrough.
The crash in the early hours of Saturday, in which PC Matthew Blades and PC Tom Clough died, occurred when a Volkswagen Passat, containing five individuals aged between 23 and 17, crashed head-on with a marked armed response vehicle while driving the wrong way on the A66.
The Kremlin has warned of an escalation in tensions between the UK and Russia as Andy Burnham arrived in Kyiv to present Ukraine with newly declassified blueprints to allow Ukraine to improve its production of long-range missiles.
The group of creditors pursuing a rescue bid for Thames Water have been accused of shuffling the deckchairs on the Titanic after proposing an overhaul of the stricken utility’s board.
In a bid to stave off temporary nationalisation by Andy Burnham, the lenders said they would appoint Liz Barber, the former chief executive of Yorkshire Water, and Clive Selley, the former chief executive of network operator Openreach, as directors if they are allowed to take formal control of the company.
A quintuple murder suspect was found dead inside a vehicle in Enumclaw, Washington, a day after the bodies of five people were discovered outside Portland, Oregon, authorities said.
West African country reports 46 suspected cases in outbreak declared in July, amid fears virus may be spreading undetected
More than half of the mpox cases reported in Guinea-Bissau have been among children, local authorities have said, almost two months since the country announced an epidemic.
A national outbreak was declared on 4 July, just over a week after a 27-year-old woman became the first confirmed case of mpox in the west African country. Since then, there have been seven confirmed cases and 46 suspected cases. Half of those patients have been children, with 16 under the age of four.
Sean Grayson shot Massey in July 2024 after she called 911 to report a prowler. He had been diagnosed with colon cancer, but his cause of death hasn't been released.
Plans for gloves that can deliver electric shocks underline the homeland security department’s sadistic practices
On 11 August, the Associated Press reported that the Homeland Security Agency will spend up to $20m to equip its agents with gloves that can deliver painful electric shocks to the skin of a person deemed uncooperative. The “conductive distraction and de-escalation devices”– branded Glove, for Generated Low Output Voltage Emitter – will be supplied by their manufacturer, Compliant Technologies, through a no-bid contract.
News of the acquisition inspired the editorial cartoonist Ann Telnaes to publish a cartoon of an ICE agent wearing the glove, underneath which are a branding iron, an iron maiden, a rack, and other compliance technologies. AKA, instruments of torture.
The Democratic and the Republican candidate each blame the other for the bungled recovery effort after storm struck region
Two years after North Carolina suffered the worst natural disaster in its history when Hurricane Helene struck the state’s western half, life in the hardest-hit areas appears back to normal. Downtowns are lively, blocked roads have been reopened and rivers are flowing below their banks.
But the telltale evidence of the disaster’s expensive impacts can still be seen – from “for rent” signs in storefronts whose businesses never came back to debris from the storm still lurking in some waterways. And in the race for North Carolina’s US Senate seat, it’s almost as if the hurricane never left.
Civil liberties groups decry plan to use gloves linked to death of Kentucky man allegedly shocked 27 times in county jail
Plans to supply Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers with special gloves that can deliver electric shocks have alarmed experts and drawn scrutiny amid some high-profile lawsuits over their use in local correctional facilities.
In one extreme case, a 43-year-old man died after allegedly being shocked 40 times by officers with a combination of the gloves and a Taser in a county jail in Kentucky, and the man’s widow is suing authorities.
Republicans who deny Joe Biden won the 2020 election are running for governor and secretary of state across the US
Election deniers are back on the ballot.
In most swing states, at least one major Republican candidate has questioned or outright denied the results of the 2020 US presidential election, which Donald Trump lost to Joe Biden.
Why Should Delaware Care? Delaware’s elections are approaching, and the winners could determine the balance of power in the legislature that forms policy for residents across the state. The race for Wilmington’s Third House District has been unusually turbulent after the incumbent Rep. Josue Ortega was recently charged with misdemeanor assault. Now a trespassing complaint tied to another candidate’s campaign sign has added to the turmoil.
With less than a month until Delaware’s primary election, two Democrats vying to represent Wilmington’s Hilltop neighborhood in the legislature are feuding after one called the police on the other for placing his campaign sign in her front yard.
The candidate, Branden Fletcher-Dominguez, said he did not know that his political opponent, LaDonna Graham, lived at the Hilltop townhouse when he placed the sign. Instead, the property owner had asked him for a yard sign there, he said.
Fletcher-Dominguez shared with Spotlight Delaware a text message thread showing the property owner, Sultan Taskin, asking him to drop the sign off.
The bottom of the thread shows a final message from Fletcher-Dominguez that appears to say, “I hope the tenant won’t move it.”
Graham says Fletcher-Dominguez knew she was living in the home when he placed the campaign sign there, because she had seen him campaigning in the neighborhood before.
“I’ve seen him canvas. I’ve sat on my porch. I’ve seen him canvas across the street,” Graham said.
The dispute is flaring just as the Democratic primary in the 3rd Representative District approaches, where Graham and Fletcher-Dominguez are among four candidates seeking the seat. The others are incumbent Rep. Josue Ortega and Wilmington City Councilwoman Yolanda McCoy.
And what began as an initial grievance over a campaign sign has since involved multiple police interactions and competing accounts from Graham, Fletcher-Dominguez and the property’s owner.
While some details are disputed, what is known is that on Aug. 1, Graham filed a police report against Fletcher-Dominguez, alleging trespassing after he placed his campaign sign at her residence the day before.
She followed up with officers a few days after the police report. It was then, she said, that police officers told her that a no-contact order would be put into place.
Graham again called the police a week later, she said, after Fletcher-Dominguez went back to her home to retrieve the sign from her porch. That same day, Fletcher-Dominguez said police stopped him while he was canvassing in the area and asked him whether a no-contact order existed that would prevent him from interacting with Graham.
He told them no such order existed. Police then ran his information and let him go, he said.
Staff at the New Castle County Court told Spotlight Delaware on Thursday that no records are on file showing a no-contact order in place between the two individuals.
Brandon Fletcher-Dominguez said he was simply trying to campaign for his House race when a rival candidate told police he had trespassed on her property. | SPOTLIGHT DELAWARE PHOTO BY JACOB OWENS
Days after he was initially approached by officers, Fletcher-Dominguez said police came to his house to ask whether he had been on Broom Street, where Graham lives.
“And I was like, ‘Yes, I’m everywhere. I knock doors everywhere. I’m a community organizer. I knock on doors. Like why is this continuing to be an issue?’” he recounted.
Wilmington Police officials confirmed that officers were called to Graham’s neighborhood on Aug. 1 in reference to a complaint regarding a male subject placing a campaign sign on a residential property without the occupant’s permission.
Police officers ultimately “determined that he had secured permission from the property owner to place the sign there,” David Karas, the chief administrative officer for WPD, told Spotlight Delaware on Wednesday.
Karas said officers determined no further police action was necessary at the time.
Fletcher-Dominguez disputes allegations
Fletcher-Dominguez said he was asked to place his campaign sign at the Broom Street townhouse by Taskin, a woman with whom Graham had a rental agreement.
He also noted that residents regularly ask him to drop off campaign signs to put up outside their residences. Fletcher-Dominguez said he assumed Taskin lived at the house after she asked him to place the sign.
LaDonna Graham is seeking office for the first time in the Wilmington-area House race. | PHOTO COURTESY OF GRAHAM CAMPAIGN
When asked about the text message thread from Taskin regarding her tenant, Fletcher-Dominguez said, “At the time I placed the sign, I had not been told directly by the tenant that they objected to it.”
Fletcher-Dominguez said he did not know Graham lived at the house until after the initial incident when he looked at a voter registration list and saw her listed address. It was then that he decided to retrieve his campaign sign from her porch.
“I respect people’s rights and my focus remains on the issues that matter to District 3 voters, not political drama like this,” Fletcher-Dominguez said.
For Graham, she says the situation has now caused her to fear campaigning by herself, alleging that supporters of Fletcher-Dominguez have asked her why she made allegations against him.
Graham says that she will be looking into pursuing additional charges.
Property dispute
The dispute has quickly become complicated, with the three parties – Graham, Fletcher-Dominguez, and Taskin offering conflicting accounts not only of what happened but of who had the authority to authorize the sign in the first place.
Taskin, the apparent property owner, told Spotlight Delaware that she currently owns the property and leased it to Graham. But she also noted tensions between her and Graham, as she claimed that Graham has failed to pay rent, to renew her lease, and has prevented her from accessing the home.
Taskin said that she did not know that Graham was running for office before she gave Fletcher-Dominguez permission to place the campaign sign at the residence.
Months before the campaign sign incident, Taskin and Graham had been engaged in a months-long disagreement over repairs and the lease to the home.
Taskin provided Spotlight Delaware with a copy of an April 2026 deed showing that she and Delaware Affordable Housing Group, a nonprofit under the umbrella of the Wilmington Housing Authority, are listed as co-owners of the property. Taskin took part in a WHA program that allowed her to enter the partnership with the WHA, giving her 80% ownership of the property.
New Castle County deeds records also lists Taskin’s development company as the current owner.
But officials with the Wilmington Housing Authority and Graham dispute Taskin’s account of the property’s ownership.
Ray Fitzgerald, executive director of the Wilmington Housing Authority, said Taskin is currently removed as an owner after failing to make necessary repairs to the property.
Graham also denies Taskin’s allegations, saying WHA officials told Taskin to stop contacting Graham and asserted that she has an exclusive lease with the WHA’s nonprofit alone. She provided Spotlight with images of a signed lease, initiated in July 1 that lists WHA’s nonprofit as her landlord.
The news also adds another layer to a race that has already drawn attention to Fletcher-Dominguez. In 2024, Fletcher-Dominguez withdrew from the race just days before the primary election. At the time, state investigators had said he didn’t have a permanent residence within the district.
Graham submitted a complaint to Delaware’s Department of Elections, but officials say that currently both candidates, Graham and Fletcher-Dominguez, will remain on the ballot.
Why Should Delaware Care? Government works best when its citizens are knowledgeable and engaged. Delaware’s government has scores of commissions, working groups, agencies and legislative committees. All must hold meetings that are open to the public. Below we highlight a few of those meetings that are happening this week.
Below are some of the most important or interesting public meetings happening around the state this week.
Board of Elections to break months-long meeting hiatus
State healthcare watchdogs to discuss SB 1
Are Delaware hospitals getting territorial over possible expansions?
Wilmington City Council talks decorum rules
Board of Elections to meet following Spotlight Delaware report
The Delaware Board of Elections, tasked with ensuring election fairness and security, will meet for the first time on Monday since November 2025, weeks after Spotlight Delaware first reported on the board’s months-long lapse in meetings.
Each of the board’s monthly meetings this year were canceled, until now, citing membership vacancies that a Department of Elections spokesperson said prevented the oversight board from convening. Those vacancies, the spokesperson said, were caused by three board member deaths between December 2025 and April 2026.
The board consists of 10 members — five Democrats and five Republicans — appointed by the governor, along with the state’s election commissioner.
While the months-long board vacancies have been filled, and the board is set to once again meet, neither Gov. Matt Meyer’s office nor the state’s Department of Elections provided information to Spotlight Delaware about the recruitment process or why it took upward of eight months to find new board members.
📍 The Board of Elections will meet at 4 p.m. Monday inside the Department of Elections Kent County Office, located at 100 Enterprise Place in Dover. For more information, including on virtual attendance, click here.
State employee healthcare group reviews SB 1
The State Employee Benefits Committee, which manages health insurance policies for state employees, is set to meet at 10 a.m. Monday to review Senate Bill 1 and the General Assembly’s 2026 legislative session.
Senate Bill 1 aims to lower healthcare spending in the state by investing in primary care and phasing in price caps for hospitals. The bill drew a fierce rebuke from the state’s hospital systems earlier this spring, but was ultimately amended after months of negotiations.
📍 The State Employee Benefits Committee will meet at 10 a.m. Monday inside the SEBC Conference Room at the Delaware Department of Human Resources, located at 841 Silver Lake Blvd. in Dover. For more information, including on virtual attendance, click here.
Hospitals to discuss expansion efforts
The Delaware Health Resources Board at its meeting Tuesday afternoon will discuss a letter from Bayhealth about ChristianaCare’s proposed expansions into Camden and Georgetown.
It is unclear what Bayhealth officials will convey in their letter, but the Health Resources Board is tasked with regulating hospital expansions in the state.
ChristianaCare’s proposed expansions into Camden and Georgetown encroach on southern parts of the state that historically have been served by Bayhealth healthcare facilities.
📍 The Delaware Health Resources Board will meet at 2 p.m. Tuesday at the Herman M. Holloway Sr. Health and Social Services Campus, located at 1901 N. DuPont Highway in New Castle. For more information, including on virtual attendance, click here.
Wilmington council to discuss ‘code of conduct‘
Wilmington City Council will meet Thursday night to discuss a potential “code of conduct” for within council chambers.
The ordinance, proposed by Councilman Chris Johnson, would set rules around “the decorum expected during Council sessions,” and it is meant to ensure the safety of both officials and attendees, according to a synopsis on the city council’s website.
The legislation comes as the council is separately engrossed in an ongoing legal battle over the proposed removal of Councilman James Spadola from office.
Filed in May, the lawsuit marks the latest in a political feud between Spadola and his colleagues — specifically Council President Ernest “Trippi” Congo — that stemmed from his decision last fall to change from being a Republican to a Democrat.
📍 The Wilmington City Council will meet at 6:30 p.m. Thursday inside Council Chambers at the Louis L. Redding City/County Building, located 800 N. French St. in Wilmington. For more information, including on virtual attendance, click here.
The US is scooping up treasury bonds in an effort to raise their price and push yields down – but it’s not working
The bond market is driving the Trump administration crazy. Last week, the treasury secretary, Scott Bessent, announced that the government would sharply ramp up its purchase of treasury bonds, in an effort to raise their price and thus push down their yield, which amounts to the interest rate the government pays on its debt.
It didn’t quite work as planned. Yields on treasurys fell after Bessent’s bond market intervention but soon bounced back. By Friday afternoon, the yield on the 10-year treasury was back near where it was before the secretary’s announcement. The yield on the 30-year bond was again trading around its highest level in 20 years or more.
Why Should Delaware Care? All records created by government officials belong to the public, and those that are not explicitly exempted from public release should be accessible to any individual. As such, Freedom of Information Act requests are a key tool for Delawareans to learn about how they government works. But, for many, the process that takes places after a request is submitted is little known.
For many people who file a Delaware Freedom of Information Act request, the state’s process for retrieving records can look like a black box.
After a request goes in, it is not always clear how the public’s records are retrieved, or why the process can sometimes take many months to complete.
Spotlight Delaware recently posed those questions to state officials following an open records request submitted to all 19 of the state’s school districts.
On July 1, Spotlight Delaware submitted the school district request for emails sent between superintendents and other staff members that contained words like “immigration,” “ICE,” and “immigration enforcement.”
While a response to a Freedom of Information Act request is required within 15 business days, nearly all of Delaware’s school districts replied before the deadline with identical statements.
Get Involved Submit your own FOIA request to Delaware government through this online portal. If you need to appeal the government’s response to a FOIA request, email the Delaware Department of Justice at opengovernment@delaware.gov.
Fifteen school districts’ responses all said they were receiving assistance from the Delaware Department of Technology and Information. They estimated that their districts would not be able to produce documents until Aug. 15, “due to the likely need for review by legal counsel, and the fact that the records are in the possession of DTI.”
DTI refers to the Delaware Department of Technology, which maintains the technological backbone of the state. Agencies throughout the state have different standards for records retention, and the types of records matter too.
Many Delawareans do not know what happens when they submit an information request, and it is not immediately clear what process requests go through before documents are given to the requestor.
Spotlight Delaware requested an interview with the Delaware Department of Technology and Information to understand what happens to a request after it is passed along to the agency.
The Department of Technology and Information would only agree to answer questions over email.
There are several records DTI can retrieve through its eRecords Request Form, such as emails and voicemails, Microsoft Teams Chats and Workspaces, phone logs, and more.
A DTI flowchart shows how an eRecords search is processed. | IMAGE COURTESY OF DTI
Once an organization receives an information request, such as emails containing keywords, the organization’s authorizing official — such as a superintendent of a school district, cabinet secretaries, or other officials depending on the agency — determines if assistance from DTI is needed and submits the request.
Only an authorizing official can bring the request from the organization to DTI, according to the eRecords request policy language.
After an agency submits its request, DTI conducts its own policy compliance review.
The State Chief Information Officer approves the request after it’s found to be compliant, and DTI works to secure the requested records.
The process “can involve multiple systems and multiple record custodians, depending on the scope of the request,” DTI’s Director of Government Affairs and Media Relations Christina Dirksen wrote in an email to Spotlight Delaware.
The time it takes for DTI to provide the requested data to the agency varies and depends on the “accuracy of the eRecords request form,” the amount of data involved, and the number of systems that need to be searched, Dirksen wrote.
While Dirksen said straightforward requests can usually be completed within 10 business days, larger or more complex requests may take longer.
Once the data is located, DTI “extracts and prepares it in a secure environment” and provides access to the agency, Dirksen wrote.
Nearly seven weeks after Spotlight Delaware originally submitted its information requests to all of Delaware’s 19 school districts, some school officials say they still are awaiting answers from DTI regarding cost estimates.
Those responses also come more than one week after the Aug. 15 deadline, which multiple school districts said was due to DTI’s timeline for retrieving the records.
Dr. Craig Towers in 2018. The local newspaper gave him an award for his work with pregnant women with opioid addiction Michael Patrick/USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
When Dr. Craig Towers moved to Knoxville, Tennessee, in 2010, the high-risk obstetrician encountered a crisis unlike anything he’d seen.
Towers, who had practiced for 25 years in California and Wisconsin, found himself caring for an unusual number of pregnant women addicted to painkillers — and delivering newborns who were suffering withdrawal symptoms. Those babies, born shaking and inconsolable and who required weeks of specialized care, were becoming tragic symbols of the region’s raging opioid epidemic. “We were inundated,” Towers later told the Knoxville News Sentinel.
In those initial years in Tennessee, Towers recognized a need — and a research opportunity.
Medical doctrine had long held that a pregnant patient with an opioid addiction could not be safely detoxed because withdrawal could harm the fetus, causing physical stress and even triggering miscarriage. Instead, doctors treated patients with methadone or buprenorphine, which are legal replacement opiates that control cravings and have a lower risk of overdose. Those drugs can still cause babies to be born in withdrawal, but doctors reasoned that it was better to treat the newborn for those symptoms than risk the baby’s death.
Towers, who was hired to work at the University of Tennessee Medical Center’s clinic for high-risk pregnancies and later joined the medical school faculty, questioned that approach. He began studying the outcomes of women, most of them his patients, who stopped taking those medications. He ultimately collected data on more than 300 of them.
Towers’ research found that detoxing was much less harmful to the fetus than feared, and it prompted changes to how doctors treat pregnant opioid users. Across Tennessee — in Johnson City, Jellico and Sevierville — and in Daytona Beach, Florida, clinics followed his lead. The News Sentinel honored him as a “Health Care Hero.” CNN’s chief medical correspondent, Dr. Sanjay Gupta, interviewed him about his work and described babies born without withdrawal symptoms as “miracles.” In 2019, the medical school granted a request for additional funding for Towers’ work, praising “his many research efforts and leadership that has resulted in national recognition.”
In the months before he published what would be a groundbreaking study, he described his findings at a university science forum, saying: “I think it’s going to revolutionize what we do.”
And then in 2020, soon after the study was published, Towers abruptly stepped back from his research.
The study immediately caught the attention of specialists in addiction treatment. Some of them wondered how the results could be true. The study, the largest of its kind, enlisted 230 participants, 121 of whom took a daily dose of a drug called naltrexone, which, unlike methadone or buprenorphine, is not an opioid; instead it discourages using by blocking the high. Naltrexone was effective in keeping most patients off of opiates, the study found.
But in many other major studies, naltrexone had shown lackluster results. Rates of relapse among nonpregnant patients averaged 72%, according to a systematic review of 13 studies.
Eight specialists in the fields of addiction and pregnancy started sharing concerns with one another about Towers’ study and then drafted a letter to the University of Tennessee. Two of them agreed to speak with ProPublica (the others asked not to be identified). One was Dr. Mishka Terplan, a practicing OB-GYN board-certified in addiction medicine who’d served on several committees to develop federal and professional guidelines for treating opioid use during pregnancy.
“Dr Towers’ work has been impactful, especially in TN,” Terplan wrote to the university in July 2020, “and I am concerned that each day the article(s) is out there, potential harm to a vulnerable population accumulates through both ethically suspect clinical care and consequently misguided public health.”
By that time, a university audit had uncovered major problems with Towers’ research.
The audit found that Towers failed to get university approval for the study, that he provided “inaccurate and/or unverifiable, contradictory source documentation” for a component of the study and that he did not provide research databases or data analysis as requested. Auditors also were unable to determine the extent to which he protected confidential patient health information.
For three years, the journal did nothing to publicly address those concerns. When the journal did act, in 2023, it published a 78-word correction stating that the study had been improperly listed as a “prospective,” a rigorous type of research that follows patients in real time.
ProPublica shared Towers’ study, the university’s audit and the journal’s correction with five experts on research ethics and substance abuse during pregnancy. All of them said that the documents raised major concerns about Towers’ conduct as a researcher and that the journal’s response didn’t do enough to address the issues the university unearthed.
The publisher of the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the journal where the study appeared, disputes that.
“We uphold the highest standards of rigor and ethics in our publishing to protect the quality and integrity of research,” Elsevier, the company that publishes AJOG, said in a statement.
Towers told ProPublica that the audit had reached erroneous conclusions, that the auditors did not give him the opportunity to fully defend his work and that the journal’s willingness to stand by the study is proof that his research is sound.
One of the experts ProPublica spoke to, Eugenie Reich, an attorney who has represented whistleblowers in several high-profile research fraud cases, said that the problems the university identified in Towers’ study were much deeper than the journal acknowledged.
“The misrepresentation is not minor,” Reich said. “It runs throughout the piece.”
In media coverage, Towers came across as gently protective of his patients. He often described the difficult circumstances that drove them into addiction. He said those women, who desperately wanted to do better for their babies, inspired him to investigate the feasibility of detox during pregnancy.
In 2018, Katie Carringer was working as an administrative assistant at a drug rehab facility and made an appointment with Towers at the encouragement of her boss. Carringer, who was about six weeks pregnant, had been addicted to heroin in the past but was not using drugs at the time. She told ProPublica she felt confident in her ability to remain drug-free and made the appointment with Towers because she wanted a doctor who specialized in high-risk pregnancies and could help her manage anxiety and depression.
Katie Carringer, a former patient of Dr. Craig Towers, says she felt pressured to take naltrexone.Jessica Tezak for ProPublica
At her second appointment, she expected a conversation about her mental health. She told ProPublica she was surprised when Towers recommended naltrexone. From her work at the clinic, she knew that the drug was meant for people battling cravings in the early stages of recovery.
“With me being clean so long, it didn’t even make sense,” Carringer said.
According to her medical records, she had not used drugs during either of her previous pregnancies, in 2007 and 2009. Two years before her appointment with Towers, in 2016, she completed an inpatient drug treatment program, and she was “actually drug free for most of the time” since then, according to her medical notes. Her records showed two short relapses.
After she found out she was pregnant this time, Carringer decided to stop taking the Paxil and Remeron that kept her anxiety in check, out of concern for any effects they might have on the fetus, her medical records show.
With Carringer’s permission, ProPublica asked Towers to review her medical file and answer questions about why he recommended naltrexone. Towers, who said Carringer was not included in the study, noted that her medical record stated she was interested in naltrexone.
Carringer denied to ProPublica that she expressed interest in the drug, adding that she ended up trying naltrexone because she felt it was what Towers wanted her to do. She said, and her records confirm, that it caused severe nausea and she stopped taking it after the first dose.
Terplan, one of the addiction specialists who signed the letter to the University of Tennessee, said Carringer’s experience points to the salience of a question the letter posed: Did Towers explain to his patients that curbing addiction with naltrexone was an experimental treatment in pregnant women?
That question was important to Terplan and the other specialists. According to their letter, they were concerned that “informed consent was not obtained or not properly obtained” from patients who showed up in the naltrexone research: “This uncertainty leads us to question whether ethical standards that promote and ensure respect for human subjects and protect their health and rights were followed,” the letter said.
In the letter, the specialists also noted that the study made no mention of patients refusing to participate in the study or dropping out later in pregnancy, both of which are common occurrences in a study involving drug use.
“You need to explain to people that there may be additional risk,” said Columbia University professor Dr. Robert Klitzman, an expert in bioethics. “That’s why informed consent is so important.”
Towers said that concerns about consent and explanation of risk are baseless. All study participants received a “notice of research” and chose to go forward, he said.
“I am not aware of any patient that felt pressured to participate,” he wrote. “I always presented the patients with the risks and benefits of each course of treatment so that they could make an informed decision.”
University of North Carolina researcher Hendrée Jones, one of the specialists who drafted and signed the letter, told ProPublica that she was surprised by another aspect of Towers’ study: that it included reports of only minor health problems among the mothers, including nausea and headache, during the course of their’ pregnancies.
Jones said it is unusual for there to be no serious medical events among that many pregnant patients, especially ones who’d struggled with opioid addiction.
“That made my hair on the back of my neck stand up,” Jones said.
Carringer puts her son Noah’s hair in a ponytail in their kitchen, and Noah’s handprints sit next to their front door. Carringer is now a support specialist for people fighting addiction.Jessica Tezak for ProPublica
Towers said critics like Terplan and Jones were not in a position to know what was happening in the clinic or with his research, and their criticisms are purely speculative. The study, he said, captured all outcomes of its participants.
“We looked at everything — every patient complaint, their vital signs, preterm labor, any medical conditions that developed,” he wrote in his response to ProPublica. “We looked for spontaneous abortion, stillbirth, fetal stress (seen in fetal heart rate monitoring or biophysical profiles) and need for cesarean delivery.”
In its audit, the university also had flagged problems with Towers’ data. The audit said Towers supplied a printout of his entire clinical practice database, but it did not designate which patients were involved in the research study.
Towers told ProPublica that he obtained broad consent for his research: “Every patient that was seen in the clinic received a notice regarding the research, consented to participation in that research and understood that their data would be prospectively collected but deidentified.”
Klitzman said researchers should be able to provide details about the actual patients in a study, not just everyone at a clinic.
“That to me is a red flag,” he said.
Researchers are required to run all proposed studies involving human participants through institutional review boards — panels of scientists and other compliance specialists who ensure patients’ rights and confidentiality are protected. Failing to get approval from the overseeing IRB for all aspects of human research would be a major violation.
In its audit, the university determined that Towers hadn’t sought IRB approval for the study.
Towers told ProPublica that the university was mistaken and that the journal itself had “concluded,” contrary to the audit, that he did have IRB approval.
A spokesperson from Elsevier did not respond to repeated questions about whether the journal had concluded that the IRB had approved the study.
In February 2020, about two weeks after the audit got underway, Towers retired from his faculty position. Months later, he retired from clinical practice as well. In his email to ProPublica, he said he stepped down for health and family reasons.
According to a determination letter from the chair of the IRB dated days after the audit’s completion, members of the board voted to suspend all of Towers’ open studies for safety reviews and file a report with the federal Office for Human Research Protections. (Towers voluntarily closed all research projects when he retired, he told ProPublica.) The audit’s findings, the letter said, constituted “serious noncompliance.”
Towers said he disputes that finding and said the board did not make an effort to get his side of the story. The head of the IRB spoke to him by phone in January 2020 and followed up with a few short conversations, he said.
“There should have been a meeting set up at the start where the four authors (myself and my 3 coauthors) met in person with the IRB committee or a subcommittee to explain our point of view and answer any questions. This never occurred,” he said.
A spokesperson for the University of Tennessee Health Science Center said she could not find anyone to answer questions from ProPublica “due to time and a change in leadership.”
Soon after Towers resigned from his faculty position, he reached out to the journal and sent IRB approval letters that he said confirmed the study had been approved.
“I am sorry you have to spend time with this controversy,” Towers wrote.
The audit, though, had found that the IRB approvals he cited did not apply to the study.
The University of Tennessee also contacted the journal. In an email thanking Terplan and the other specialists for the concerns they’d shared about Towers’ study, the university’s research director asked if they planned to contact the journal directly. The research director wrote that UT already had “requested the paper be retracted from the journal, but as yet no action has been taken by the journal.”
Less than 1 in 2,500 published studies are retracted, according to the journal Science. Retractions can devastate the reputations of researchers and damage the credibility of journals.
Universities can investigate research and request retractions, like the University of Tennessee did with Towers, but journal editors have the final say about whether to retract a paper or add a correction. Ivan Oransky, one of the experts who spoke with ProPublica for this story, said he has encountered other cases where journals failed to retract a study after a university made such a request.
“You have a situation where the fox is guarding the henhouse,” he said.
Oransky, co-founder of Retraction Watch, a site that tracks scientific misconduct, has advocated for making research misconduct reports more easily accessible to the public.
“These reports should be part of the scientific record,” he said. “They are the basis for understanding whether something is reliable or not, and what went wrong.”
During the years that the journal spent considering how to respond to the university’s request for a retraction, more doctors across the country began prescribing naltrexone. Researchers cited the work dozens of times in other studies.
Towers said he stands by naltrexone as a treatment option: “I believe it is crucial in medicine to revisit old assumptions and consider all options.” Detox remains a solution “in the interest of advancing medicine and helping patients in a region where drug abuse is a longstanding issue,” he said.
Towers in 2018, the year he saw Carringer as a patientMichael Patrick/USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Dr. Geogy Thomas, medical director of Dayspring Health in east Tennessee, said he was inspired by Towers’ research, which improved care for women in the area.
“Our community is indebted to Dr. Towers and his research on substance abuse in pregnancy,” Thomas wrote in an emailed statement. “He courageously challenged the status quo of the medical establishment of that time and ushered in a new way of caring for a high-risk group of patients that no one else was willing to care for.”
But another obstetrician, Dr. Cathleen Suto, who worked at a clinic with an approach inspired by Towers’ research, found detox wasn’t effective. Suto described her experiences treating opioid-addicted pregnant patients to the author of a book. Many of those patients couldn’t make it through the weaning process and often stopped coming to the clinic. (She did not respond to ProPublica’s requests for comment.)
“Detox would be a great answer,” Suto is quoted as saying in the book, “Prosecuting Poverty, Criminalizing Care.” “The problem is that my patients were not successful at doing it.”
When the journal finally acted on the university’s concerns in 2023, more than three years after the study came out, it did not retract the study. Instead, it published a brief correction.
“The authors wish to clarify that the study is listed as a prospective cohort study — which is not the case,” read the correction. “We did a retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data.”
Data for prospective studies is collected in real time, while retrospective studies look back at medical records. Much of Towers’ prior research relied on looking back at those records, and he touted the naltrexone study as an improvement because of its prospective design, which would track patients until they delivered. Prospective studies are considered to capture better information about patients, including those who dropped out of the study, and provide better control of data collection.
Towers views the journal’s actions as vindication. “AJOG would not keep a study in print if they did not believe it was IRB-approved after their review,” Towers said.
The specialists who wrote to the university, all of whom have published research, said misrepresenting methodology is a breach of scientific integrity.
“If it was not prospective but presented as such, it would have violated standards of reporting of scientific research,” they wrote in the letter.
In response to experts’ claims that the problems with the audit were more profound than the correction indicated, Elsevier said in a statement: “Based on the information available at the time, the Journal determined that a correction was appropriate to clarify the description of the study.”
Jones, one of the letter’s signatories, said the journal failed in its duty to hold its research to a higher standard.
“When you make a mistake, you own up to that mistake and you fix it,” she said. “And that paper is out there, and continues to be cited, and I see it.”
U.S. Central Command maintains a secret directory of journalists who have been blacklisted by the press office, according to an official with CENTCOM public affairs. The disclosure comes amid a failed war in Iran, a “cover-up” of U.S. casualties from that conflict, and repeated refusals by CENTCOM to address questions about civilian deaths in Iran, including the killing of a family recently disclosed by The Intercept.
The CENTCOM official who revealed the existence of the list threatened that this reporter could be added to it for calling the command too often.
“You’ll be put on a list of people to disregard,” Richard Allee, an executive assistant with CENTCOM public affairs told this reporter. When asked for clarification — “You have a list of people to disregard?” — he confirmed it with an emphatic: “Yes.” When asked which reporters or outlets were currently on the list, he replied: “I’m not privy to give you that information.”
Under self-styled War Secretary Pete Hegseth, the U.S. military has mounted the most aggressive assault on press freedom in memory, from an effort to outlaw “unauthorized” questions from reporters to imposing unconstitutional restrictions on journalists’ access to the Pentagon. Hegseth has compared reporters to “Pharisees,” who in the Bible call Jesus’s teachings into question, while the secretary’s minions regularly hurl insults at reporters. This is part of a broader war on press freedoms by the Trump administration, that includes demonizing journalists; filing so-called strategic lawsuits against public participation, or SLAPPs, to intimidate and silence criticism through expensive legal proceedings; and employing grand jury subpoenas and search warrants to intimidate reporters.
“Threatening journalists with placement on a blacklist in retaliation for reporting the government doesn’t like is as unconstitutional as it gets,” said Seth Stern, the director of advocacy for Freedom of the Press Foundation. “This should put to rest the Pentagon’s prior claims that it’s anti-press policies — like its infamous requirement that reporters sign pledges to only print authorized information — are somehow content neutral.”
Allee revealed the existence of the blacklist after this reporter was left on hold for more than two hours and complained about a long-standing lack of transparency by the command. In calls earlier that morning, Maj. Emma Thompson, CENTCOM’s media operations chief, repeatedly refused to answer questions about Iranian attacks on U.S. bases across the Middle East, disparate U.S. casualty counts, and medical evacuation flights: “Nothing for you,” “Don’t have anything for you,” “No comment.” Thompson then hung up on this reporter mid-question.
The Intercept called back multiple times until Allee picked up the phone. “They’re not going to answer your call if you just keep calling and calling,” he told this reporter.
Allee chastised this reporter to be more respectful. He said a “less accusatory attitude towards the personnel here would go a lot further than badgering them when you don’t get something you want, when you want it.”
Allee then revealed the existence of the blacklist. He declined to provide additional details about the list but said, “It’s not a list that we publicize.” He also hung up on this reporter.
The command’s press office responded in an email to additional questions about the journalists who have run afoul of the command. “CENTCOM does not have a ‘blacklist,’” the agency wrote.
A U.S. official who spoke on the condition of anonymity said that Hegseth’s office had a standing order not to engage with this reporter and would deny it if challenged.
“None of it has anything to do with security, all of it has everything to do with censorship and intimidation,” Stern told The Intercept. “CENTCOM needs to stop blacklisting journalists and tell the public who is on the blacklist and why they were placed there. Whoever was behind the blacklist should be blacklisted from government employment.”
“None of it has anything to do with security, all of it has everything to do with censorship and intimidation.”
Under Hegseth, the Pentagon has mounted an unrelenting assault on press freedom despite the fact that the secretary began his tenure by sharing secret information on airstrikes in Yemen, hours before the actual attacks occurred, on a Signal group chat that inadvertently included Jeffrey Goldberg, the editor-in-chief of The Atlantic.
As part of his war on the press, Hegseth evicted the New York Times, NPR, and other outlets from their long-held desks in the Pentagon and replaced them with sycophantic fellow-travelers like the One America News Network, the New York Post, and Breitbart.
In May 2025, Hegseth issued a memo barring credentialed reporters from most of the Pentagon without an escort. (Last month, a federal appeals court said that the Pentagon can continue doing so.) The Pentagon later introduced a policy requiring journalists to pledge not to even gather, at the risk of their credentials, unclassified information unless the government authorized its release. (This drove nearly the entire Pentagon press corps to surrender their badges.) After the Times sued and a federal judge struck the policy down in March 2026 as unconstitutional, Hegseth shuttered a decades-old Pentagon pressroom and began conducting polygraph tests to prevent leaks.
Trump also filed a $10 billion defamation lawsuit after the Wall Street Journal reported on a letter sent from him to convicted sex offender Jeffery Epstein; he also banned WSJ reporters from flying aboard Air Force One. This year, Trump also told journalists to give up a source “or go to jail,” threatened the press with “Charges for TREASON for the dissemination of false information,” and praised FCC chief Brendan Carr for threatening “the licenses of some of these Corrupt and Highly Unpatriotic ‘News’ Organizations.” (The Intercept is currently suing Trump for restricting First Amendment-protected information in a scheme to enrich himself.)
While Trump and Hegseth have waged a pitched campaign to dismantle the free press, they are merely building upon decades of efforts by the government to curtail accountability journalism.
Military commands have regularly led this reporter on with promises of information only to renege months later; ignored calls and emails; feigned failing phone lines to end calls; hung up, lost Freedom of Information Act requests; and once even burned documents in lieu of releasing them.
This reporter was blacklisted in 2018 by U.S. Africa Command after exposing the torture of prisoners at a remote military base in Cameroon for The Intercept. “Nick, we’re not going to respond to any of your questions” then-Lt. Cmdr. Anthony Falvo, the head of U.S. Africa Command’s Public Affairs Branch, told me by phone. Asked if he believed AFRICOM didn’t need to address questions from the press in general, or just this reporter in particular, Falvo replied: “No, just you. We don’t consider you a legitimate journalist, really.”
The anonymous U.S. official said that sentiment extends to this day across multiple commands, as well as Hegseth’s office.
This reporter has unanswered questions pending with CENTCOM that date back to at least 2013 and extend to this week. For example, in July 2015, a CENTCOM spokesperson responded to an inquiry with this statement: “We will provide you response as quickly as possible.” Eleven years later, this reporter is still waiting.
Two Phoenix police officers were fired and arrested after an unreported traffic stop in which they assaulted a man and woman and shocked them with a Taser, the city's police chief said.
Springfield, Ohio — Federal immigration agents have begun detaining Haitians in Springfield following the end of Temporary Protected Status for hundreds of thousands of Haitian immigrants, with local advocates reporting at least 29 arrests as of Friday.
The enforcement follows a June Supreme Court decision allowing the Trump administration to terminate TPS for Haitians. Their protections formally expired July 27, leaving many people who had previously been authorized to live and work in the United States vulnerable to deportation.
Springfield is home to roughly 15,000 Haitians with a range of immigration statuses, including U.S. citizenship, TPS and other legal categories. Local advocates say ICE agents have detained people at shopping centers, apartment complexes and other public locations. Pastor Gilbert Joubert Adrien was among those detained Thursday.
Community organizations say the arrests have created widespread fear. Some Haitians are avoiding stores and public spaces, while others have been ordered to report to ICE offices and wear ankle monitors.
Mayor Rob Rue said Springfield does not control federal immigration enforcement and that ICE has indicated operations will continue across Ohio.
The situation is complicated by conditions in Haiti, where the State Department maintains its highest-level “Do Not Travel” advisory because of violent crime, kidnappings, terrorism and limited healthcare. The United States began larger-scale deportation flights to Haiti last week following the termination of TPS.
This is yet another controversy for the WNBA, a league that up until a few years ago, most media observers ignored. The WNBA is full of incredibly talented players and has a rich history, but most sports fans treated all but ignored it for the majority of its 30-year existence. But when Caitlin Clark went pro, the league surged. Ratings, attendance, and interest exploded. But not all attention is good attention.
Dan Sullivan supports Dan Sullivan against Dan Sullivan in Alaska’s US Senateelection, says a former Alaskan mayor who recently backed the race’s Republican incumbent over a challenger sharing their name.
That development provided another of multiple absurd elements to Dan S Sullivan’s campaign for a third term in the US Senate, which – beside Mary Peltola, a former Alaska Democratic congresswoman – has drawn opposition from Dan J Sullivan.
Joan Connor and David Stearns survived the 2025 floods in Kerr County, Texas, by clinging to the pergola outside their house. Their home flooded again this year. Brenda Bazán for ProPublica and The Texas Tribune
When deadly flooding swept through the Texas Hill Country in July of last year, Joan Connor and her husband swam and waded out of their home, surviving only by clinging to a pergola in their front yard.
The Guadalupe River flood destroyed most of their possessions. It killed at least 119 people in Kerr County, where the couple live, about 100 miles west of Austin.
But Connor, now 82, and her husband, now 99, moved back into the refurbished house by Christmas, with donated furniture arranged by volunteer decorators.
They didn’t fear another flood. Connor told me earlier this year: “We don’t think a thing like that will happen again in our lifetime.”
I cover climate for The Texas Tribune. I spent months working with ProPublica’s Lexi Churchill and Pratheek Rebala to understand how Texas lawmakers missed dozens of opportunities over nearly 60 years to protect residents in flood-prone places.
Our reporting, published in May, uncovered pivotal moments when Texas legislators could have taken steps that experts said might have saved lives, such as preventing homes from being built in the most dangerous spots along rivers and moving youth camp buildings out of flood-prone areas. Instead, our reporting found, Texas is behind more than half of other U.S. states when it comes to passing more stringent elevation rules for buildings at risk of flooding.
Yet research shows more flood deaths have occurred here than in any other state. Texas also has more buildings in flood-prone places than any other state except Florida, according to our nationwide structure analysis. The majority of the people who died in the 2025 Central Texas flood were in one of those places identified as flood-prone by the federal government, our analysis showed.
I grew up in Texas and have covered floods in this state for more than a decade. Still, the swift violence of that 2025 disaster struck me. The river washed entire homes away. People fought for their lives by grabbing trees or scrambling onto rooftops, and many people didn’t make it. I’ve never before witnessed such intense grief.
Even after the loss, some homeowners like Connor knew they wanted to rebuild. People have deep, generational ties to this part of the state, where the normally peaceful river winds through limestone under majestic cypress trees. People didn’t want to leave jobs and relationships here, or lose money by selling their land at a loss.
I understand that desire to stay, but as a climate reporter I’ve also seen what can happen when development is allowed in flood-prone areas. What our reporting showed is that the government has cleared the way for residents to stay in many risky places, even after last year’s devastating floods.
Lawmakers did not change how they regulated where RV parks could be built, though more than 40 people died in two Kerr County RV campgrounds during last year’s flood. (Those parks had not reopened when this year’s flood rushed through again.) They also didn’t change building rules for homes. That means that, unless a local city or county government adopts more stringent standards, properties affected by a flood can be fixed without being brought up to code if the cost to repair them doesn’t amount to half or more of the structure’s value. Homes can be entirely rebuilt in many flood-prone places so long as they are elevated to the height a 100-year flood is expected to reach.
Lawmakers did push through legislation that requires youth camp cabins to be moved away from riverside, flood-prone spots, similar to a bill legislators failed to pass in 1989. The law only passed this time after gut-wrenching testimony and advocacy from parents of the 27 campers and counselors who died at Camp Mystic during last summer’s flooding.
For our May story, we asked the state’s top leaders about whether legislators should enact stricter statewide building rules. None responded. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s office said he has addressed flooding issues by funding mitigation projects to lessen the storms’ impact.
This July, unusually intense rainfall pounded the Kerr County area again. It flooded some of the same spots. One person died. The disaster struck as people in the area were still working to heal emotionally, physically and economically. I once again arrived to find the familiar sights and smells of peoples’ possessions piled up by the curb, their flooring and walls ripped out.
Laura Cane, 65, had just reopened her vacation rental house in Center Point three weeks before this year’s flood hit. She had been putting the finishing touches on her two long-term rental homes. The water this year caused even more damage than last. But she plans to fix it up again because she sees that as the best financial choice.
When I arrived in Connor’s neighborhood this July, 10 days after the flood, volunteers had just helped pull up damaged flooring in the home. She was desperately trying to save her new piano, which replaced the one she’d lost in last year’s flood. She didn’t think the water had reached the piano legs, which sat on wheels. She worried about sleeping in the house because of mold.
Connor and her husband say they still plan to repair the house. Federal, state and county rules will likely allow them to do that.
We don’t have any indications yet that the state rules will change. Legislators in interim hearings this year haven’t delved into these bigger development issues, instead focusing on things like the personal responsibility of the Camp Mystic owners.
Even though she’s exhausted from dealing with another flood, moving elsewhere felt like a step too far for Connor. She didn’t want to look for a new place, pack up and leave.
For a short time, she and her husband went to a nearby RV park — different from the two where they stayed last year while making home repairs, because both had flooded this time around.
She wants to stay even though a neighbor warned her that the house could face bad flooding again, and Connor believes her.
“We’ll just probably be very cautious if it starts raining in the middle of the night,” she said. “We’ll be hauling ass. I’m not going to live through another flood. I’m just going to get in my truck and head north.”
Said her husband, David Stearns: “Whatever happens, we’ll put up with it.”
Researchers and disability rights advocates warn that the dismantling of the Education Department and its erosions of civil rights oversight risk widening the disparities autistic children face.
Shein, which built a fast-fashion empire on what seemed like impossibly low prices, has been forced to lower its own valuation in a cut-price stock market float, after falling into the red earlier this year.
The online retailer will list on the Hong Kong stock exchange on 1 September at a valuation of close to $27bn (£19.8bn), significantly down from a near-$100bn private market peak four years ago.
Washington, D.C. — Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent is preparing to unveil what he calls the “toughest sanctions in history” against Iran on Monday, escalating the Trump administration’s economic campaign against Tehran and potentially putting new pressure on countries that continue buying Iranian oil.
Bessent said the administration intends to use the full weight of U.S. financial power to isolate Iran and target companies, banks and governments that facilitate its trade. China is expected to be a major focus because it remains Iran’s largest oil customer. Reuters reported that China imported an average of about 1.4 million barrels of Iranian crude per day in 2025, although shipments have recently declined.
The sanctions announcement comes amid worsening tensions over the Strait of Hormuz. Iranian officials have threatened retaliation against neighboring countries that cooperate with Washington’s economic campaign, while Tehran has also warned ships that violate its new transit rules could face fines, detention or cargo seizures.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has dismissed the looming sanctions as a “desperate” measure and argued that unilateral U.S. restrictions will not force Tehran to capitulate.
Markets are already reacting. Oil prices fell Monday as traders awaited details of the sanctions, while Iran’s rial fell to a record low against the U.S. dollar.
Bessent is scheduled to outline the administration’s measures during a Monday press conference.
Developers who met through Australia’s improv scene and publishers of comedic party games have united for this slithering challenge in which you play as one extended limb
Most stealth games cast you as a spy, an assassin or a master thief. My Arms Are Longer Now dispenses with most of the criminal person, to send in just one spectacularly badly behaved limb. It slithers across floors, winds around furniture, steals things and slaps anyone within reach – finally answering the question nobody asked: what if your own arm turned to crime?
As Toot Games co-founder Matthew Jackson puts it: “You are the bad thing that happens to the people.”
Nidia Webb, who is legally settled in UK, falls foul of ‘known issue’ with Home Office’s digitised immigration process
A woman who is legally settled in the UK was left stranded at a Spanish airport after the Home Office’s post-Brexit visa system mixed her up with her twin sister.
Nidia Webb fell foul of what she was told was a “known issue” with the eVisa, which was brought in as part of the government’s drive to digitise the UK’s immigration system but has faced problems that have caused concern for thousands of people.
The long legal battle over ownership of Linux "is closer than ever to ending," reports the Register, "after a panel of three judges ruled a claim against IBM and Red Hat isn't valid, and that time has expired for further action."
In 2021, an heir to SCO settled with IBM for $14.25 million — a sum that reflects the fact SCO had for years failed to produce strong evidence to back its claims. Another of SCO's legal successors, Xinuos, filed a new claim that IBM should be on the hook because Big Blue knew it did not own the code it contributed to Linux but instead had a non-exclusive license to use it. Xinuos argued that when IBM contributed Project Monterey code to Linux [25 years ago], it breached that license.
Xinuos eventually took that argument to the US District Court for the Southern District of New York — and failed to convince it that IBM and Red Hat had a case to answer. Xinuos appealed, and on August 10th the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit decided [PDF] not to revisit the District Court's decision, agreeing that the original legalese governing Project Monterey means it's too late to re-litigate the matter. The Appeals Court also agreed that Xinuos tried to frame the case as a licensing issue but failed, instead arguing that the issue was really about ownership.
That ain't all, folks, because Xinuos intends to file a petition to have the case re-heard by the full bench of the Court of Appeals. That hardly ever happens, unless the court finds significant errors or major legal issues that make a rehearing worthwhile. Law firm Kaplan says the Second Circuit has allowed reviews of less than 0.03 percent of the cases it has handled. So perhaps this matter is now close to a final resolution.
Back in 2000 Slashdot interviewed one of the presidents of SCO.
On top of beta3 it contains these two changes which kind of get lost in the complete changelog so listing them here:
Fix BMS Integration sometimes reporting Connection Error and not recovering or potentially getting stuck on another error
Add the “Control Loop Latency” metric to realtime data
Shows how much later than usual the control loop processed each IMU sample, in milliseconds. Ideally it stays near zero; spikes mean the processing of a sample was delayed, e.g. by other tasks running on the controller.
Note the value is relative to the best case observed, it shows the variation of the delay, not an absolute delay. It requires a firmware which timestamps IMU samples on arrival, on other firmwares the value will be close to zero.
This ties into a timing fix in the firmware which will be released in 7.01. Technically: The latency was part of dt (and was observable there in the plot), now the dt is clean of this latency and this metric was added to be able to track the latency jitter.
For Funwheel VBMS users, there is also a fix in the VBMS32 Micro package version 1.0.4 for the Cell Balance Error. Together with the above Refloat-side Connection Error fix the BMS integration has been working without a glitch for me so far.
It may take a few days for the new version to be merged into the package store.
Graduate job vacancies in the UK have sunk to their lowest level since they started being tracked a decade ago, according to a recruiting website.
Just 8,383 jobs for people leaving university were advertised in July, Adzuna reported on Monday, down 45% compared with the same point last year and the lowest since the company started gathering the data in 2016.
More than 1,000 little penguins have received their first dose of bird flu vaccine in Victoria, in what is believed to be the world’s largest vaccination program involving wild birds.
Catherine Basterfield, the chief executive of Phillip Island Nature Parks, said vaccinations began early last week and were ramping up.
Key West, Florida — The father of a U.S. Navy sailor serving aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln has been detained by immigration authorities while his son remains deployed overseas following more than nine months at sea.
U.S. Border Patrol arrested Luis Manuel Aviles Roa, a Nicaraguan immigrant who has lived in the United States for 19 years, during a vehicle stop Saturday. His family says he has a valid work permit, Social Security card and driver’s license and was awaiting approval of a green card application.
His son, Joshua Aviles, said he learned of the detention while serving aboard the aircraft carrier in the Middle East. “I’ve been deployed for over nine months,” he wrote, adding that his father’s detention has made it difficult to remain focused while working 12-hour shifts.
The Department of Homeland Security said Aviles Roa entered the country illegally and remains in Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody pending removal proceedings. DHS said having a relative serving in the military does not exempt someone from immigration law.
The Associated Press reported that Aviles Roa has no criminal record and was arrested while taking his vehicle to a mechanic. His family said Joshua joined the military partly because he believed his service might help his father obtain legal status.
The USS Abraham Lincoln recently completed more than 200 consecutive days at sea before leaving the Middle East.
Dutch sustainable smartphone revamped with new chip and more RAM without sacrificing modular design
Fairphone’s top Android for 2026 is a little faster with more memory while maintaining full compatibility with its previous phone, including its repairable and ethical chops.
The Fairphone 6+ continues the Dutch cooperative’s mission to make consumer electronics longer lasting and more sustainable, containing 51% either recycled or ethically sourced materials while being fully repairable at home with just the one screwdriver included in the box.
Joshua Aviles says he is on a nine-month Middle East deployment and learned his father has been arrested while he was waiting for green card approval
The father of a US sailor on board the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier deployed in the Middle East during the Iran war has been taken into federal immigration detention, the sailor said.
The border patrol arrested Luis Manuel Aviles Roa, originally from Nicaragua, after conducting a vehicle stop in Key West, Florida, a spokesperson for the US homeland security department said on Sunday.
Prime minister Christopher Luxon’s party to introduce bill seeking the ban, citing harm to a generation of children
New Zealand prime minister Christopher Luxon has said his party will introduce a bill in parliament that seeks to ban children under 16 from using social media, proposing fines of up to 10% of a platform’s global revenue for non-compliance.
The bill would require social media platforms to take reasonable steps to verify users’ ages, including by utilising existing account information, facial technology and digital identity documents.
Poll also finds sizeable majorities who believe it should be easier to install air con in homes
Given the choice, more people across six major European nations including the UK favour encouraging the adoption of air conditioning over keeping carbon emissions down, a survey has found.
After four extreme heatwaves that have caused thousands of excess deaths across the continent, the survey showed between 30% and 52% of people in six countries had feared for their household’s health in temperatures close to or above 40C (104F).
Investors will hope Kevin Warsh offers ‘comfort blanket’ at annual meeting of central banks amid bond market anxiety
The new US Federal Reserve chair, Kevin Warsh, faces a critical test this week amid anxiety in government bond markets over inflation and Donald Trump’s tax and spending plans.
As the world’s most powerful central bank prepares for its annual Jackson Hole conference, analysts said bond traders would be looking for signals from Warsh over its commitment to fighting inflation.
A Pew Research senior data scientist analyzed 500,000 English-language webpages from the past five years with an AI detection tool to estimate how many were likely written or edited by AI:
Of all the pages in this sample, 10% show significant signs of AI authorship... If we filter old webpages out of our samples and look at only the pages published after the release of ChatGPT, the trend is even more pronounced. In the July 2026 snapshot, signs of AI authorship can be found in over one-third of pages published after ChatGPT was released. This is in line with other studies that have shown that large shares of recently published pages on the internet were likely written or substantially edited by AI.
AI-authored text is not evenly spread across the web. When ChatGPT was first released, the kinds of linguistic patterns that can signal AI authorship appeared at similar rates across the main top-level web domains (.com, .org, .edu and .gov). But in samples from 2026, around one-in-ten pages with a .com domain show signs of AI authorship — about double the share on .org domains (4.6%), and 10 times the rate on .edu or .gov domains (both around 1%).
They even identified specific ways online text has changed, "comparing the internet of today to a snapshot from 2023."
Em dashes appear twice as often
Oxford commas increased 63%.
Words used more frequently by AI (like "delve," "interplay" or "testament") have more than doubled in usage.
"Negative parallelism" comparisons ("it's not just X, it's Y") have nearly tripled.
Gauff claims first title of season, her second in Cincinnati
One year ago, Coco Gauff departed the Cincinnati Open with her career at a crossroads. On serve, she had capitulated, offering up countless double faults in most matches, and she had lost confidence in her progress and game. She believed she had to make drastic changes to her team before it was too late.
It has taken an enormous amount of resilience, patience and toil, but this week Gauff began to feel the consequences of those efforts as she closed out one of the smoothest tournaments of her career with her best performance of the season, thoroughly outplaying the third seed Jessica Pegula to win 6-2, 6-4 and clinch the Cincinnati Open title for the second time.
3,346 backers pledged $1,198,844 on Kickstarter to build the (modular) handheld Linux computer, the Mecha Comet. It's slightly bigger and heavier than your smartphone, with a 4-inch AMOLED display and loaded up with things like microphones, speakers, a SIM tray, two USB ports and a mini HDMI port. There's three separate kill switches for wifi, microphone and camera — plus a "boot mode" switch for the SD card, and even three pins for instant access to its debug console.
It's now expected to ship in October or November (and is still available for preorder).
Snap-in extensions include a keyboard (with programmable colors for its backlit keys), a gamepad, and a special IO Breakout that exposes the 40 pogo pins for modules, sensors, and MCUs. They're all open hardware, and founder Shoaib Merchant says "I'm looking forward to more community designs over the upcoming months." He shows the screen in action in a video on Kickstarter, demonstrating native apps like Music, Notes, Settings, and Files — as well as a Terminal app running on its color screen.
A Linux correspondent at How-To Geek notes its ships "with a custom, hardware-optimized Linux distro out of the box," so "it's like having a dedicated Linux terminal in your pocket." And they argue the new device
"could be the future of Linux smartphones."
I should also mention that you don't necessarily have to use the battery; it can power on over USB PD without one. Overall, you're getting the same I/O you'd expect from a computer in a smartphone-like form factor, complete with modular input devices — and it's running Linux under the hood. For me, that's the most innovative gadget I've seen in the Linux hardware space in a long time...
It's powerful enough to run most Linux terminal apps, which opens up a lot of possibilities. You're also getting an NPU built right into the SoC, which opens up the possibility for on-device AI workflows — something not possible in budget smartphones. Now, I personally plan to use it for SSHing into my main computer and home lab and operating them remotely. That's also why I'll be putting the LTE modem in the M.2 slot rather than an SSD — mobile data means I can reach my machines even when there's no Wi-Fi around.
I also showed it to my partner, and she sees this as the ideal minimalist phone for digital detoxing. There's a built-in media player, a basic notes app, and you can even run Spotify from the terminal if you want.
Drivers zoomed along Pennsylvania and Independence avenues at speeds of 160 mph, looping around the National Mall as upward of 150,000 spectators were on hand. Kyle Kirkwood won the event.
It's "radically different from other quantum computers" reports Phys.org. The Helios system uses trapped ions — charged atoms suspended in free space using electromagnetic fields.
But it operates with 98 qubits — making it the largest trapped-ion quantum computer built so far.
Quantinuum, the company behind the device, is based in Cambridge, U.K., and Broomfield, Colorado. It demonstrated earlier machines operating on 32 qubits in 2023 and 56 qubits in 2025...
It relies on two major advances — one in hardware and one in software. First, the four-way X junction lets the system handle several tasks at once rather than one at a time, which is much faster. That was impossible in earlier QCCD [quantum charge-coupled device] machines, which could only move data back and forth in a single line or loop. Second, judicious use of the freedom offered by the two dimensions of the X junction relies on new classical control software called Helios runtime, which plans the smartest, fastest route for moving and processing the data. Together, these represent a substantial advance in the engineering of quantum computers.
An important consequence is that Helios can perform computations that cannot be performed even on the largest supercomputers using known methods within reasonable amounts of time and power consumption. This demonstrates the ability of this device and its successors to surpass the computational prowess of classical computers — although their algorithms and hardware are rapidly advancing, too. Having said that, Helios' computations have just been random benchmark tests, so the practical importance of this leap forward is still limited. To perform quantum computations of practical importance in science and commerce, even the most optimistic estimates suggest that quantum computers must be enormously bigger and better — of the order of a million qubits.
President Trump and first lady Melania Trump began the Freedom 250 Grand Prix IndyCar race through the streets of Washington, D.C, with a slow lap around the course.
Review will look at improving system for English and Welsh hospitality venues before next revaluation date in 2029
The government has promised that business rate valuations will be “made fairer” for pubs and hotels in England and Wales, as Andy Burnham faces growing calls to help the UK’s struggling hospitality sector.
An independent review for England and Wales will look at improving the system for hospitality venues, which were hit by higher business rate bills this year after the end of pandemic-era relief and when new revaluations took effect.
Resolution Foundation suggests economy may finally be emerging from shadow of 2008 financial crisis
Productivity in the UK – a vital measure of economic health – is growing more strongly than official figures suggest, according to analysis from the Resolution Foundation.
The thinktank suggests the chancellor, John Healey, may have inherited an economy finally starting to emerge from the long shadow of the 2008 global financial crisis.
PM will use independence day trip to announce sharing of classified information about Storm Shadow components
Britain will boost Ukraine’s capacity to make its own long-range missiles, Andy Burnham will announce on Monday, as he travels to Kyiv for the country’s independence day on his first foreign visit as prime minister.
Burnham will arrive in the Ukrainian capital on Monday morning at a crucial time in the war, with Kyiv braced for another wave of Russian missile attacks and the country’s president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, facing his most direct domestic challenge.
High-speed rail can be found around the world. Yet so far, the projects haven't tracked in the U.S., where both the public and private sectors have faced ballooning costs and delays.
When Hamas abducted her son Hersh, Rachel Goldberg-Polin became the face of the hostage crisis in Israel. Since his murder, she says she has learned that the constant pain of grief is a "badge of love."
Stewart Copeland, best known as the drummer with The Police, teamed up with naturalist Martyn Stewart for "Wild Concerto." Their album combines music with the sounds of animals.
Anderson Cooper spoke with Rachel Goldberg-Polin, an American Israeli mother whose son, Hersh, was kidnapped by Hamas on Oct. 7, 2023 and then executed.
The Police drummer gives Bill Whitaker a tour of his Los Angeles studio, where custom percussion, rare instruments, and nature-inspired sounds come together in his latest project, "Wild Concerto."
Lillian Smart of Ruston infected with fatal Naegleria fowleri, likely after swimming in Lake Claiborne, health officials say
An eight-year-old Louisiana girl has died after contracting a rare, typically fatal brain-eating amoeba after a swim in Lake Claiborne.
Lillian Smart, of Ruston, died on Saturday, one day after celebrating her birthday, her family announced in a public Facebook post on the “Love for Lillian” page.
Dump site in Conakry, which minister had just promised to move, collapsed after heavy rain in west African state
A landslide at a huge waste dump in Guinea’s capital has killed 30 people, the government said on Sunday, after heavy rains overnight prompted it to collapse, engulfing nearby tents and shacks.
The incident occurred less than a week after the government announced plans to close the site and relocate the waste because of the threat it posed, especially during the rainy season, which causes landslides and fatal flash floods each year in crowded, underdeveloped cities across parts of West Africa.
A class action filed this week accused Amazon's Twitch gaming service of using video streams to fuel its AI products without licensing or obtaining permission, reports Engadget:
Earlier this month, Twitch Support posted on X that it added an option to opt out of "having your channel content used to train generative AI content models across Amazon." Shortly after, Twitch hosted an episode of its recurring Patch Notes stream where Mike Minton, the company's chief product officer, said "if it was opt-in, nobody would opt in," when asked by a viewer why the Twitch settings for AI training aren't opt-in but instead enabled by default, requiring users to opt out if they don't want to participate.
Now, the latest class action lawsuit claims that Twitch and Amazon committed a breach of contract when the companies decided to use its streamers as "free training stock for separate commercial AI products."
He got the wrong end of the stick. Donald Trumpcouldn’t figure out how to hold the green flag until his wife, Melania Trump, and Command Sgt Maj Matt Williams set him right. Then the US president waved the flag fast and furious like an excited schoolboy. The race was under way – and his conquest of Washington DC was complete.
Since returning to Washington, Trump has deployed the national guard, wrecked the Lincoln Memorial reflecting pool, demolished the East Wing of the White House and run the John F Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts into the ground. His face adorns the Department of Justice, and he still has grand plans for a triumphal arch worthy of a Roman emperor.
Kyle Kirkwood gave the Freedom 250 an American winner, racing to his second victory of the IndyCar season on the streets of downtown Washington in a dominant performance Sunday.
In a race set up as part of the country’s 250th birthday celebration, President Donald Trump gave drivers the green flag at the start and DC Mayor Muriel Bowser served as grand marshal. Kirkwood crossed the finish line in front of the Capitol 3.09 seconds ahead of Christian Lundgaard, after leading for 128 of a possible 147 laps.
Washington, D.C. — Dr. Mehmet Oz, administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, publicly contradicted President Donald Trump on Sunday by stating that the combined measles, mumps and rubella vaccine is not lethal.
“No, the MMR vaccine is not a lethal vaccine,” Oz told Margaret Brennan on CBS News’ “Face the Nation.” Trump recently claimed the combined vaccine could potentially be “quite lethal” while promoting an executive order calling for measles, mumps and rubella vaccinations to be offered separately.
The combined MMR vaccine has been used in the United States since 1971 and is routinely recommended for children in two doses. There is no credible evidence that separating the vaccines makes them safer. Separate measles, mumps and rubella vaccines also are not currently available in the United States.
Oz nevertheless defended Trump’s broader order, saying the administration wants parents to have greater choice over which vaccines their children receive. The order also recommends limiting the routine childhood schedule to 11 core vaccinations, with additional shots based on individual risk and consultation with physicians.
Major medical organizations have criticized the changes, warning that reducing or delaying recommended vaccinations could increase preventable disease.
Oz’s statement provides a clear correction of Trump’s claim while leaving the administration’s broader effort to revise childhood vaccination policy intact.
UK-born married couples under 35 with children would get priority under proposals to be outlined by Farage’s party
British citizens who were born abroad would be made to wait longer for social housing under proposals to be announced by Reform UK on Monday.
Nigel Farage’s party will announce the policy at a press conference in London. Under the policy, people born in the UK and young married couples with children would be given priority for social housing.
This week OpenAI launched a version of ChatGPT exclusively designed for teenagers between the ages of 13 and 17, reports CTV, "saying this version came with stronger protections around content related to mentions of suicide, self-harm and romantic or sexual chats."
[Tech analyst Carmi Levy says] "What it's doing is it's using cues, it's sort of watching how you're using the tool, and it's trying to guess your age." Levy said if ChatGPT thinks a person has lied about their age when they first signed up, it will automatically put them into the Teens mode for protection. "It includes those sort of two things: prevent you from having experiences that are age inappropriate, and also add features that are aligned with academics, so that makes it easier to study, makes it less likely for you to cheat on an assignment, provide resources that that that allow you to learn more effectively," he said.
Levy reminded users that this is still an application and a web service, which means it's constantly collecting personal information about the users' activities on the device and using the data to estimate their age... In the event a user is talking about self-harm, this new version will block the conversation and suggest additional help or call emergency or mental health services, Levy explained. It would do the same with violent content, eating disorders, engaging in dangerous activities, as well as explicit, sexual or graphic content. "It's using AI again to sort of parse out that conversation: 'are we headed in a in a significant direction? If so, throw up that guardrail, stop it from happening, redirect.'"
However, the tech analyst said a number of people who have attempted to bypass the guiderails for research have succeeded in doing so "with a little bit of prompting.... I wouldn't call it 100% safe. That's kind of the catch-22 of the entire AI industry." This will lead parents to think that their children are safer and reduce the oversight on their online activities, which Levy described as a "perverse impact" that is "problematic."
"Parents should not assume that OpenAI has their kids' best interests at heart. They should also not assume that these technologies are perfect. They will miss certain things, and they will also engage in what we call false positives," he said. "An adult who's legitimately is in the platform might be tagged as a child because the AI simply got it wrong."
OpenAI's blog post says the new mode was designed for "preserving the ability to learn, create, and explore."
But CNN notes the move "comes as OpenAI faces a string of lawsuits alleging that inappropriate conversations with ChatGPT contributed to the harm or deaths of young people."
[New tools] include nudges for teen users to take a break if they've been active for 90 minutes within a three-hour window. OpenAI is also adding options for teens or parents to set "Quiet Hours" when ChatGPT is unavailable or "Study Hours" where ChatGPT's study mode for learning will be on by default. The company also said it has improved protections to prevent ChatGPT from expressing personal feelings toward a user. And it's adding reminders that caution teens to think twice if they try to upload a private or sensitive image to the chatbot...
Nearly a third of American teens use AI chatbots daily, a Pew Research Center study published in December found. ChatGPT was by far the most popular AI chatbot in the survey, with more than half of those teens reporting having used it.
Engadget shared this observation from Josh Golin, the executive director of Fairplay, a non-profit advocating for policies to make the internet safer for children. "Most parents, overwhelmingly, do not avail themselves of [parental oversight] tools, in part because they are deliberately made hard to find and use." Golin's group wanted to see testing of the tools first to see whether they led to better outcomes for teenagers. "The way this was just announced feels more like a response aimed at public relations than actual deep thinking about what kind of support [teens] need."
And Mashable got a similar quote from Robbie Torney, head of AI/digital assessments for Common Sense Media's Youth AI Safety Institute. OpenAI's teen experience makes important safety commitments, but "What we really need now is evidence that they work, and we need this evidence, including our testing and the testing of others, before anyone, including parents, puts real trust in ChatGPT for Teens."
Importantly, Torney said parents shouldn't assume their child is using ChatGPT for Teens. While OpenAI uses age estimation to place users in the age-appropriate version of ChatGPT, it can still mistake a user as older. Parents can be sure their child is using the teen version by linking their ChatGPT account to their child's and implementing OpenAI's parental control features. If a teen has previously lied about their age — and plenty do — they may continue to access the adult version of ChatGPT...
Torney said caregivers must enact parental controls to receive notifications from OpenAI should their teen discuss suicide, self-harm, or acts of violence in immediate or dangerous ways... An OpenAI spokesperson said every notification is reviewed by a trained human before it's sent. The company strives to review notifications in under one hour.
Emotional tributes paid to PCs Matthew Blades and Tom Clough whose vehicle was in a head-on collision with car travelling wrong way
Cleveland police have published photographs of PC Matthew Blades and PC Tom Clough who died when a car travelling the wrong way on the A66 crashed head-on into their police vehicle.
Two 17-year-old boys were among the seven people who were killed in the incident on Teesside.
In his first public comments since negotiations collapsed on Friday in Washington, the US president wrote on social media: “Canada wants the benefits of being a State, without being one!!!”
Dr. Mehmet Oz, the administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, said the MMR vaccine is "not a lethal vaccine," despite President Trump's claims in recent days.
The following is the transcript of the interview with Rep. Seth Moulton, Democrat of Massachusetts and Senate primary candidate, that aired on "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan" on Aug. 23, 2026.
"Iran shut down a British power plant for four days in an unprecedented cyber attack," reports the Telegraph.
More details from the BBC:
The government said that at no point was there a risk to the UK's energy system, but the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) has contacted power companies to advise them about the risk of cyber attacks... DESNZ said the incident had affected a small-scale generator and at no point had there been a risk to the wider energy system. The UK's power network has a number of smaller gas generators which provide short-term power when needed.
Thanks to Alain Williams (Slashdot reader #2,972) for sharing the news.
The following is the transcript of an interview with Neel Kashkari, President and CEO of the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis that aired on "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan" on Aug. 23, 2026.
The following is the transcript of the interview with Rep. Byron Donalds, Republican of Florida and candidate for Florida governor, that aired on "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan" on Aug. 23, 2026.
The following is the transcript of an interview with Dr. Mehmet Oz, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services administrator, that aired on "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan" on Aug. 23, 2026.
The following is the transcript of the interview with former FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb, who is on the boards of Pfizer and UnitedHealthCare, that aired on "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan" on Aug. 23, 2026.
Neel Kashkari, president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis, said the tariff fight with Canada could extend U.S. inflation, should the tense trade dynamic between the historically allied countries continue.
Human-caused Hawk fire covers more than 15,000 acres as blaze approaches University of Nevada campus in Reno
A fast-moving Nevadawildfire exploded to more than 15,000 acres (6,000 hectares) on Sunday, pushing from the Sierra foothills toward the center of Reno and urging nearly 90,000 residents to evacuate as flames threatened neighborhoods and reached the edge of the University of Nevada campus.
The Hawk fire’s “GO NOW” evacuation zone had expanded to the edge of the university campus as strong, gusty winds, low humidity and dry vegetation fueled the blaze, according to Truckee Meadows Fire and Rescue in Reno. Of those urged to evacuate, 42,000 were under strict orders. An additional 45,000 people were in the evacuation warning zone, and encouraged to leave now and be prepared to stay away for several days to clear the roads for first-responders.
Critics include Senator Chris van Hollen, ex-aide to Obama Tommy Vietor and ex-Republican congressman Adam Kinzinger
Democrats and other Donald Trump critics reacted incredulously to a New York Times report on Sunday that House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries met with Jared Kushner, the president’s influential son-in-law, to discuss possible areas of collaboration.
The reported meeting comes months ahead of the November midterm elections in which Democrats are favored to retake the US House, a development that would make Jeffries speaker. If they are in the majority, Democrats are expected to use their oversight power to aggressively investigate the Trump administration, including self-enrichment by the president and his family.
Slovakia acquired speed cameras to modernize its traffic control-- but there was a surprise. Tom's Hardware cites this story from the Risky Bulletin Newsletter:
Unfortunately, the country's national security service, the NBU, has discovered that the cameras have multiple security issues. Firstly, they have SMS-activated Russian backdoors. Secondly, live camera feeds can be accessed by anyone with the device IP, no password necessary...
[The cameras] are thought to be rebranded Russian CORDON PRO.M traffic cameras, produced by a St. Petersburg-based firm called Semicon... reportedly bought via a Cyprus-based shell company with fake certifications. Reports also suggest that pressure from the opposition political party in Slovakia led to the NBU investigations... Probably most seriously, in terms of national security, these cameras contain a hardcoded list of Russian phone numbers, which can be used to open a backdoor. An SMS from one of these numbers can open shell and network access... [T]he SecureBoot feature is ineffective, and the web management portal can be accessed, exposing live streams, by anyone with the camera IP.
Cameras that have been installed and set up have since been deactivated by the Slovak Ministry of the Interior. Meanwhile, for due diligence, an independent auditor will be called in to confirm the NBU's findings. It is thought that Croatia, and some other countries in Eastern Europe, may have undiscovered issues with traffic control cameras of similar origin.
The calamitous collapse of trade negotiations between Canada and the United States is a warning to nations worldwide that pursuing any kind of dialogue with the current US administration is doomed at the outset, according to observers who say this recent episode indicates seeking a fair deal is futile.
Andrea Lawlor, an associate professor of political science at McMaster University in Ontario, said: “No matter the closeness of the historical relationship, the American administration has signalled that it now prioritises its interests above those of some sort of global economic coordination or harmony.
Republican senator tries to assuage concerns but does not offer details of Graham’s national security experience
Tim Scott defended fellow US South Carolina Republican senator Darline Graham’s knowledge of national security issues ahead of their state’s runoff election on Tuesday.
Graham, who was appointed to fill the Senate seat held by her brother Lindsey Graham after his sudden death in July, is in a Republican primary runoff against South Carolina congressman Ralph Norman. During a debate between the two on Tuesday night, Graham struggled to answer a question about US national security interests in Taiwan and the South China Sea.
Relatives of woman fatally stabbed on public transit allege death was preventable and Charlotte knew of violent crime issue
The family of Iryna Zarutska is suing Charlotte and a security company one year after the Ukrainian refugee was fatally stabbed onboard a light rail train in the North Carolina city.
A lawsuit filed on Friday in Charlotte’s Mecklenburg county superior court alleges Zarutska’s death was preventable. It also claims the city and the company that provides security for the Charlotte Area Transit System failed to put adequate protections in place despite knowing about violent crime on and around the municipal light rail line.
(The Center Square) – The race for Texas’ U.S. Senate seat is considered a “toss-up” and the governor race moved to “leans right” for seats previously considered solid Republican, according to a new Cook Political Report analysis.
Devoted Trump aide flooded her now-disabled profile urging people to ‘never concede’ on 6 January 2021
The Donald Trump aide Natalie Harp flooded a since-disabled social media account with pro-Trump posts on the day that the president’s supporters attacked the US Capitol in early 2021, years before she went to work for him and developed an extraordinary close relationship with him, a new report has revealed.
CNN on Saturday reported that a deactivated account which Harp had on what is now known as X was packed with fiercely pro-Trump messages on the day of the January 6 Capitol attack in Washington DC, including posts repeating his lies that the 2020 election, which he lost to Joe Biden toward the end of his first presidency, had been stolen from by fraudsters.
"There is still no sign of economy-wide job destruction," says economist Erik Brynjolfsson. Working with researchers at the Stanford Digital Economy Lab, Brynjolfsson has determined an AI "job apocalypse" is unlikely, reports the Washington Post, "even though it will likely impact entry-level jobs."
And Brynjolfsson "predicts that demand for experienced workers such as senior coders will still be high even if AI takes on more routine knowledge and coding work in the future."
Earlier this month, Brynjolfsson and his colleagues at the Stanford Digital Economy Lab updated their widely publicized report, "Canaries in the Coal Mine? Six Facts about the Recent Employment Effects of Artificial Intelligence," to reflect that they do not see widespread, economy-wide job displacement associated with AI...
Brynjolfsson: What has moved on the upside is productivity. Nonfarm business productivity growth is running over 2 percent, the best sustained stretch since the late-1990s boom... The gains show up years after the investment, and they're starting to show up... By 2030, we will have enormously more capable AI, meaningfully faster productivity growth and an unemployment rate that looks unremarkable — somewhere in its historical range. That surprises people, but it's what the mechanism implies... [T]he technology is becoming much more powerful, and it's going to be even more powerful.
Secondly, there are huge implications for business and the economy, including some increases in living standards, but also, potentially, job disruption. And then, thirdly, we must act now to address this gap. We can't just sit back and wait for the tsunami to hit us. And one of the things we can do is put in place institutions, policies and research to make the technology more complementary — using AI to complement people so it creates more jobs. A common misconception among business managers is AI, in order to be effective, has to reduce jobs. That's just not true. You can use AI to increase employment and productivity at the same time. It's kind of a win-win...
Right now, tax policy is very skewed toward favoring capital versus labor — and, as a consequence, a lot of entrepreneurs and managers, they're basically being guided by the federal government to replace workers with machines. And I don't think that's necessarily what we'd like to have happen. From an economist's perspective, what you want to be doing is not mimicking and replacing things. You want to be extending and complementing — have humans do new things they never could have done before.
He acknowledges "real, persistent and widening" effects on entry-level jobs, with a labor market "closing the on-ramp for people starting their careers... If companies don't hire people at the base of the pyramid, then they're not going to have those people later when they need them."
One he points out that one company is instead using AI to speed up its training of young employees.
New York City, New York — House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries held a private meeting with Jared Kushner in recent weeks, prompting sharp criticism from progressives already frustrated with Democratic leadership’s approach to President Donald Trump.
The New York Times reported that Jeffries and Trump’s son-in-law and outside adviser discussed housing, immigration and affordability during a meeting arranged through a mutual friend. Kushner also suggested Jeffries meet with White House chief of staff Susie Wiles as Democrats position themselves for a possible House majority after November’s midterms.
Jeffries and Kushner have maintained contact since working together on the bipartisan First Step Act, a criminal justice reform law passed during Trump’s first term.
The meeting nevertheless triggered immediate backlash from progressive commentators. Former Obama administration official Tommy Vietor argued Jeffries should be seeking documents and subpoenas from Kushner rather than cooperation, while journalist Jeff Jarvis said Democrats need “fighters, not conciliators.”
The controversy comes while Jeffries and Trump publicly trade attacks. Trump recently posted an AI-generated image mocking Jeffries that the Democratic leader condemned as racist.
House Speaker Mike Johnson downplayed the meeting Sunday, saying conversations across party lines are routine in Washington.
Neither Jeffries nor Kushner has indicated that the private discussion produced any specific agreement or policy commitment.
A federal judge said the indefinite pause, which affected nationals of countries in every corner of the globe, ran afoul of antidiscrimination protections.
“I think the last thing we need right now, as our economy is getting back on its feet, is a trade war with Canada,” the former vice president told CNN.
"It began life just a year after SimCity 4's 2003 launch," writes the blog PCGamesN. "Now, over 20 years later, it's still going strong with the arrival of Network Addon Mod update 50."
The SimCity 4 Network Addon Mod, or simply 'NAM' among the community, has long been a de facto recommendation to anyone looking to pick up the classic city builder. It's a comprehensive overhaul to the game's transportation and infrastructure networks that combines key fixes with a vast set of additional build pieces such as overpasses, intersections, on-ramps, roundabouts, and so on.... [Y]ou'll be able to place down elements adjacent to one another that might previously have needed a one-tile gap between them. Streets can be dragged diagonally, slope tolerances have been improved, and you can build tunnels with the street network.
The new version also includes a fix for the 'Eternal Commuter Loop' bug, which might sound fairly innocuous if you're not deep in the weeds. In actuality, it's a 23-year-long frustration that has plagued modders ever since launch. Essentially, it's a problem with the regional pathfinding across city boundaries in certain layouts, causing your Sims to bounce from location to location in search of work without actually taking up a job in any of them. Your zone demand is ruined, traffic builds to unsustainable levels, and the economy falls to pieces before your very eyes. Until now, the only real solution was to simply avoid building layouts that gave your commuters the chance to loop between locations. Now, by blocking specific neighbor-to-neighbor routes while allowing the rest to run as normal, the problem has been resolved...
Equally impressively, the mandatory implementation of the DLL has reduced the size of the NAM codebase "by almost 90% and by more than ten million lines, making it easier to maintain and reducing the chance of bugs."
Thanks to long-time Slashdot reader Striek for sharing the news.
Washington, D.C. — Education Secretary Linda McMahon says the federal government is intensifying enforcement against schools that fail to properly address allegations of sexual misconduct by teachers and other adults in positions of authority.
Speaking Sunday on CNN’s “State of the Union,” McMahon criticized the practice of moving an accused educator to another school without placing the allegations in the employee’s record, saying the Education Department has been “cracking down” on the practice.
The department launched a nationwide K-12 initiative in July reminding federally funded schools that they must respond promptly to sexual harassment allegations and cannot help employees credibly accused of misconduct obtain new jobs elsewhere. The department says schools that violate federal law could ultimately lose federal funding.
The initiative followed reporting by ProPublica and KQED that found California had allowed dozens of teachers to retain their credentials even after school districts determined they committed sexual harassment or other misconduct. Some were later hired by other schools.
McMahon has also opened a federal investigation into the Los Angeles Unified School District over allegations that its employment practices allowed some accused teachers to be reassigned rather than terminated.
The department says its enforcement is based on existing obligations under Title IX and the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, including requirements intended to prevent the practice commonly known as “passing the trash.”
Many tools fail to help victims find hidden cameras, microphones and trackers, leaving them at risk of ongoing surveillance
Commercial detectors intended to help domestic abuse victims find hidden spying devices may actually give them a false sense of security, a study has found.
The consumer detection tools claim to identify hidden cameras, microphones or trackers through methods such as signal-strength readings, infrared lens detection and scanning for wifi or Bluetooth devices.
The Australian government has been accused of leaving waters near the mainland largely unprotected by establishing the bulk of highly protected marine parks in remote areas.
More than 270 leading marine scientists from 84 research institutes have written to the environment minister, Murray Watt, urging stronger protections for marine ecosystems, as a once-in-a-decade review of marine parks gets under way.
Academics and a former classification board director say Halloween: The Game’s ban due to ‘incentivised drug use’ highlights an incoherent set of standards
Halloween’s Michael Myers is one of film’s most feared boogeymen, responsible for some of the most brutal on-screen deaths in horror cinema. The US video game developer Illfonic looked to reproduce those terrors in its upcoming title Halloween: The Game, with gruesome killings a major focus of the gameplay: for instance, you can stomp another player’s head through a toilet seat, or fry their brain by throwing them through a television screen.
But Australians will not be able to play Halloween, because it has been refused classification by the Australian Classification Board, which means it is banned from sale within the country. And it’s not because of the violence or murders.
The #1 New York Times bestselling author of "Braiding Sweetgrass" writes about embracing gratitude and reciprocity in our dealings with nature, and the importance of recognizing and sharing the many gifts the world gives us.
(The Center Square) – When Congress returns from recess in September, senators will have to decide whether to advance an aircraft safety bill that could also provide a tax haven for private jet owners.
An anonymous reader shared this report from the blog It's FOSS:
Canonical has committed funding to a three-year PhD project focused on building a system that can automatically translate large C codebases into Rust. And they are not alone; UK Research and Innovation is matching their funding for the project, which is set to run through the University of Bristol's Programming Languages Research Group.
The PhD is aiming to build an all-encompassing platform that can take a C repository running into hundreds of thousands of lines and translate it into Rust that's "safe, behaviourally correct and maintainable Rust."
The work will be carried out by a student, Alex Wood, who will be supported by Professor Meng Wang leading the work, with Dr. Cristina David and Canonical's Jon Seager serving as co-supervisors.
Michael Jeffries is ruled mentally competent to stand trial after being hospitalized for months for dementia symptoms
The former CEO of Abercrombie & Fitch has been ruled mentally competent to stand trial as he faces sex-trafficking charges after being hospitalized for months for dementia and Alzheimer’s symptoms.
Michael Jeffries, who is 82 and free on bond for now, is scheduled to be tried in late October, alongside two co-defendants: his partner Matthew Smith and staffer James Jacobson. A pretrial hearing was slated for Thursday.
The botanist's bestselling books, "Braiding Sweetgrass" and "The Serviceberry," advocate for living and working in collaboration with the Earth, and sharing the gifts of nature - ideas, she says, some may see as subversive.
Transport secretary asks ‘publicly owned operators to lay on extra services where possible’
CrossCountry cancelled almost all of its train services in Great Britain on Sunday after a power cut in Birmingham hit its control centre.
Most services were cancelled until further notice, including routes from Glasgow to Edinburgh, Manchester to Birmingham, Cheltenham to Cardiff and Newcastle to Edinburgh.
(The Center Square) – Democrats continue to favor former Vice President Kamala Harris over 12 other candidates if the 2028 Democratic presidential primary were held today, according to The Center Square Voters' Voice Poll.
False claims that COVID-19 mRNA vaccines cause cancer could, ironically, lead to worse cancer outcomes by undermining a promising tool to prevent and treat it.
Fears of a datacenter buildout debt crisis are exaggerated. The risks are different than in the past and they are recoverable
Some experts are warning of a looming “debt bomb” crisis because big datacenter builders such as Meta, Oracle, xAI and CoreWeave are not only raising billions to construct these facilities but are also not recognizing these long-term debt obligations on their balance sheets.
Should we be concerned? No. I know because I’ve seen this movie before.
When backyard tomatoes ripen all at once, these 15 recipes put them to work in pasta, soup, salads, baked dinners, fresh boards, relishes, and smoked sides.The post 15 tomato recipes that turned a backyard overflow into the best problem to…
PM sends video message to newlyweds instead after bride Sarah Burwin asked him not to ‘ruin’ vibe at Heron House
Andy Burnham fulfilled a bride’s wishes by not turning up for her wedding after she asked him not to spoil her big day as she got married at the building housing No 10 North.
Sarah Burwin had pleaded on TikTok in July for Burnham not to work from the building in Manchester that day, which hosts the government’s northern headquarters and the city’s register office.
Abbas Araghchi says country is unbowed but president Masoud Pezeshkian admits its people face ‘many problems’
Iran’s foreign minister has dismissed the threat of a fresh round of US economic sanctions as a “desperate” ploy, even as its president acknowledged that the Iranian people are facing “many problems” amid Washington’s efforts to isolate and debilitate the country’s economy.
Last week, Donald Trump announced a new campaign to increase the pressure on the Iranian economy, calling it “the most crushing economic operation ever taken against any country”. The US Treasury secretary, Scott Bessent, is expected to announce further punitive economic measures on Iran – which he has described as “the toughest sanctions in history” – on Monday.
When the main dish is settled but the side still is not, these 13 summer sides fill the gap with crisp vegetables, chilled salads, rice, breads, and cookout staples for easy pairing.The post 13 summer sides that end the what-goes-with-it…
Robert Lang, a physicist who became a leading figure in the world of origami, lost a lifetime's work of folded paper art to the 2025 wildfires in Altadena, Calif. He then set out to recreate his designs – and the origami community joined in.
Woman remains missing more than five days after police found officer she was married to dead in their home
An arrest warrant has been issued for a mental health advocate who remained missing on Sunday, more than five days after police found the Massachusetts officer she had been married to dead in their home.
Karen Solomon, 58, was last spotted in a doorbell camera video, walking down a street in a T-shirt, shorts and flip-flops early Tuesday morning, just minutes after Worcester police officers responded to a call from the home where Kurt Solomon was found dead.
This year, ER visits for tick bites have increased dramatically, corresponding with a new threat: a rise in Alpha-gal syndrome (AGS), where one bite from a lone star tick can make you violently allergic to red meat. How can you best avoid tick bites?
Embassy in London says Andrey Kelin left last month after seven years in diplomatic post
Russia has withdrawn its ambassador to the UK, it has emerged, as the Kremlin continues to try to put pressure on Britain over its support for Ukraine.
Andrey Kelin left last month after seven years in the diplomatic post, according to the Russian embassy in London.
If all the vehicles on the planet had their tyres pumped up with CO2, would this lock up enough carbon to lower the amount in the air significantly? Would there be other issues, such as the carbon cost of trapping it all into the tyres? Chris Coldwell, Lancaster
Post your answers (and new questions) below or send them to nq@theguardian.com. A selection will be published next Sunday.
(The Center Square) – Approaching the 25-year anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, an entire generation of young Americans are alive who were born after Sept. 11, 2001, and they’ve only ever known the U.S. to be at war.
Incident marks apparent escalation by Tehran in its in retaliation against UK over allowing US to use British bases
Hackers linked to Iran have been blamed for a cyber-attack that caused a British power plant to be temporarily shut down.
The incident involved a small-scale energy generator, according to the UK government, which said that at no point was there a risk to the wider energy system.
Defense files motion to dismiss state case after federal guilty plea but prosecutors say they are prepared to litigate
After Luigi Mangione admitted in Manhattan federal court that he killed UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, most experts believe that the state murder case against is highly unlikely to proceed – though some still see a slim possibility that it may yet happen.
Mangione, who pleaded guilty on 14 August to two federal stalking counts, was scheduled for a New York state trial on 8 September for murder and weapons charges in the December 2024 killing. In the wake of Mangione’s surprise plea, legal experts said New York’s state-level double jeopardy law – which means someone cannot be tried twice for the same crime – could derail his local prosecution.
President sharply criticises proposal, saying ‘elections right now are a tsunami for the state that will split Ukraine’
Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said holding elections in Ukraine during wartime would risk splitting the country at a time when Russia is amassing ballistic missiles and considering whether to mobilise an extra 300,000 soldiers.
The Ukrainian president, responding for the first time to a demand made by the sacked former defence minister Mykhailo Fedorov, sharply criticised an idea that he said was impractical given Russia appeared to have no interest in a ceasefire.
Falling prices have made grid-scale storage batteries more attractive, reports Bloomberg. But after decades of stagnant investment, America's grids "are racing to make the upgrades needed to plug them in," with supplies straining for the necessary equipment.
Demand for batteries has skyrocketed as electricity use across the U.S. swells, driven by data centers' booming energy needs and increasing electrification. It's also getting harder to get them connected to power grids... As those upgrades get delayed, storage projects are piling up in interconnection queues from coast to coast. For example, Consolidated Edison Inc., a major utility in New York state, says over the last two years the volume of battery storage projects waiting to be connected has grown by 300%... "The whole process of interconnecting these new power plants got really log-jammed and bottlenecked," said Joseph Rand, an energy policy researcher at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory...
Nationwide, some 750 gigawatts of energy storage projects — roughly equivalent to the generating capacity of more than 700 nuclear reactors — are in line to get grid connections, according to the lab's research. Not all of these projects will get built. Many developers already abandoned the queue because of delays. Still, the waiting time is increasing; the median was five years in 2025, up from a year and a half in 2015. The flood of battery projects is expected to continue. Wood Mackenzie, an energy consultancy, projects the U.S. energy storage market will quadruple in the next six years...
[Shortages in key equipment] have driven up construction costs and time lines for grid upgrades, leaving utilities struggling to build fast enough. A drought of skilled workers is further slowing them down... In California, PG&E Corp., the state's largest utility, told regulators in January that a key driver of delays was long lead times for specialized equipment. Procuring certain breakers could take nearly four years, according to the utility, which reported a 300% increase in its interconnection workload compared to prior years. In Northern California, for example, holdups to circuit breaker upgrades to a substation in Solano County led to projected delays for two battery projects worth a combined 450 megawatts. Transmission line work in the Bay Area has put another 800 megawatts of energy storage at risk of delay, according to PG&E.
Last year New York's Con Ed started requiring developers to help pay for upgrades if their projects will push power demand and strain infrastructure. But that also drew criticism:
According to a survey conducted by the trade group New York Battery and Energy Storage Technology Consortium (NY-BEST), the new methodology raised costs by an average of $21 million per project, a 14-fold increase. At least 25 projects have been canceled as a result, according to the group. Battery advocates have appealed to state regulators to get Con Ed to abandon the new policy.
Thanks to Slashdot reader Bruce66423 for sharing the news.
Grassroots groups to urge PM to break with Starmer policy and impose full arms embargo on Israel
Grassroots Labour groups are gearing up for a conference showdown with Andy Burnham over Gaza, as the party’s members seek to force the prime minister to recognise Israel’s actions as a genocide and impose a full arms embargo.
Momentum, Labour & Palestine, the Campaign for Labour Party Democracy and Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC) plan to ramp up pressure on Burnham before his first Labour conference as prime minister next month.
Researchers say texts from 12th to 15th centuries ‘hint at a culture which has not even been imagined’
Unprecedented insights into the literary and intellectual life on the island of Guernsey during the middle ages have been revealed through the discovery of 17 medieval manuscript fragments.
Dating from between the 12th and 15th centuries, they offer evidence of wide-ranging reading tastes, with everything from an extract from a play and an Ovid poem to passages from the Bible and a travel text.
An 1857 decree to drain swamps and plant a monoculture, detritus from the trees and global heating combined to produce the conditions for the Gironde inferno
The ruinous fires that overran parts of France this summer have burned more land than ever recorded, forced more people from their homes than at any point since the second world war and caused what scientists suspect is the country’s first firestorm thundercloud. The smoke from France’s biggest inferno in nearly 80 years choked Limoges, a city 125 miles (200km) from the flames, with more toxic dust than Delhi residents inhaled on the city’s worst day of smog last year.
The blaze that tore through forests outside Bordeaux in late July took just a few weeks to reforge France’s relationship with fire, but the conditions behind it were centuries in the making.
Even products labeled ‘eco’, ‘green’ or ‘natural’ can contain dangerous compounds including Pfas
Common personal care products widely contain unlabeled toxic chemicals, results from a new peer-reviewed study suggest. The testing of more than 110 items ranging from shampoo to baby lotions found evidence of unlabeled toxic chemicals in about 85%.
Many contained multiple ingredients known to be carcinogens or health hazards, and even 26% of products labeled “eco”, “green” or “natural” contained at least one dangerous compound. The products averaged more than three times as many chemicals than were listed on labels.
Treasury secretary Scott Bessent’s attempt to calm bond markets is a sign of weakness not strength
“Look, there’s nothing magic about that $40tn number,” the US Treasury secretary, Scott Bessent, told CNBC insouciantly last week, as the country’s debt mountain surpassed another bleak record.
Yet Bessent’s decision to intervene in government bond markets in an effort to combat soaring yields belied his studied calm in TV interviews – and reignited fears the US may be on the road to a debt crisis.
When monsters square off, they are quick to showcase their asymmetrical superpowers.
Take Godzilla, for instance. Thanks to U.S. atomic testing in the Pacific, the dinosaur-like sea creature has explosive, radioactive breath that can destroy everything in its path. His archenemy Rodan, meanwhile, is a pterodactyl-like bird that can fly at supersonic speeds, a skill useful in avoiding atomic bad breath. Since the 1960s, the two giant monsters have duked it out across a series of Japanese films, causing much mayhem in the process.
Originally the product of Cold War fears of nuclear peril, these archetypal monsters can stand in for the principal geopolitical antagonists of today. Like their monster kin, China and the United States have very specific and complementary superpowers. China controls the majority of critical minerals in the world, with a special focus on rare earth elements. The United States has a technological edge when it comes to the most sophisticated semiconductors needed for artificial intelligence applications.
Put bluntly: China has the rocks, and America has the chips.
With these superpowers on display, the two countries have clashed in a series of trade negotiations, tense military standoffs, and high-level political meetings. They are engaged in a prolonged tug-of-war not to save the world — as in some comic-book universe — but in the service of their own national aggrandizement and transnational greed. While they dicker, the world slouches toward bedlam.
A Pause in Hostilities
When President Donald Trump met with Chinese leader Xi Jinping in Beijing in mid-May, the exchanges were unexpectedly cordial. The two countries had been engaged in an on-again, off-again war of tariffs since Trump had begun his second term, a conflict that threatened to spiral out of control. At the same time, the Chinese were deeply concerned about the impact of the U.S.–Israeli war against Iran on international stability, given spiking oil prices and their ripple effects on the global economy.
Yet, at this meeting in China, the two leaders converged on a common goal of “constructive strategic stability.” In order to forge this condominium of superpowers — a G2 — Trump was willing to delay arms deliveries to Taiwan. He also greenlighted the sale of sophisticated (though not the most advanced) Nvidia computer chips to China. In turn, China agreed to increase its purchases from the United States, including 200 Boeing aircraft and $17 billion of agricultural goods each year through 2028.
The hoopla surrounding the summit, generated by press offices on both sides, obscured the reality that the two countries completed few concrete bilateral deals. Trump did not secure long-term access to the critical minerals that China controls — specifically the rare earth elements that are essential to U.S. high-tech manufacturing and sophisticated military hardware — and the tech giants that accompanied Trump on the trip didn’t win any major concessions in the form of enhanced access to the Chinese market. Meanwhile, China failed to alter U.S. security policy in the Asia–Pacific region. The leaders of the new G2 might be expected to rethink or rework the global rules of the road, but this was not on the agenda in Beijing.
Still, the two superpowers stepped off the path of escalating confrontation. Perhaps more importantly, Trump has seemingly abandoned his earlier goal of decoupling the United States from the Chinese economy, which, along with ratcheting up containment of the “strategic competitor,” had become something of a bipartisan imperative.
For the time being at least, the world’s superpower monsters are not laying waste to the landscape around their feet. Given how much firepower they command, that’s no small achievement. The battle, however, continues to rage further afield in the mineral world.
Grabbing the Rocks
Rare earth elements, or REE, aren’t rare. But it can be quite difficult to extract any of these 17 unusual metals from their surrounding ores. The United States used to be the world’s leading extractor and processor of these resources, from a mine in California near the Nevada border. But that was back when REE were mostly used for such products as black-and-white televisions. The environmental damage caused by the extraction and processing — as well as the labor costs involved — impelled the United States, over time, to outsource operations to China.
By the time REE had become indispensable to the manufacture of very powerful magnets used in everything from wireless iPhone chargers to the F-35 fighter jet, China was controlling upward of 60 percent of the extraction and 90 percent of the processing. It has filed more patents for the latest processing techniques than any other country. It has also expanded beyond digging up its own territory and, through its Belt and Road Initiative — a globe-spanning collection of interconnected infrastructure projects — secured access to mines overseas.
In Tanzania, for instance, an Australian firm Peak Rare Earths discovered what may well be the largest untapped supply of REE in 2010. This is exactly what the United States and its allies had been looking for: ore that can be extracted and processed outside of China. Except that last year, the Chinese firm Shenghe Resources bought the Australian company — and the rights to the Tanzanian deposits — for a little more than $100 million. China is further cornering the market by importing ore from rare earth mines in Myanmar, exploiting new deposits in Brazil, and eying Malaysia and Indonesia for potential processing operations.
To guarantee access to the minerals that both the Pentagon and U.S. industry need, the Trump administration has ramped up the exploitation of U.S. REE deposits. Mountain Pass, the California mine previously shuttered after environmental lawsuits and Chinese outsourcing, restarted production in 2012, but it still couldn’t compete against China, which had flooded the market with REE to drive down prices. Last year, the Pentagon acquired a majority stake in MP Materials, the company that owns the mine, which now produces over 10 percent of the global supply of REE.
Trump has also pumped money into USA Rare Earths, which is developing the Round Top mine in Texas, which promises to rival the REE production of Mountain Pass. Even with an accelerated timeline, however, the new mine won’t start production before 2028. Meanwhile, the administration is playing the field: pouring money into a REE processing facility in Arizona, contracting with a similar operation in France, and hammering out supply contracts with a mining firm in Australia. This frenzied activity may lessen dependency on China but not eliminate it.
And it’s not just rare earth elements. China controls 95 percent of magnesium production, over 80 percent of tungsten, over 70 percent of graphite and silicon, and three-quarters of cobalt — minerals that are critical to pretty much all modern manufacturing. On the processing end, China is the leading refiner of 19 out of 20 of the most coveted minerals, with an average market share of 70 percent. And instead of being reliant on its control of raw materials and processed ores, China is also in command of the downstream production. For instance, it’s responsible for 94 percent of the manufacturing of the most powerful magnets that go into cars, computers, and medical equipment.
The new rush for “critical raw materials,” many of them essential for building out the infrastructure of a “clean energy” transition but also indispensable for the entire range of advanced military products to which the United States is addicted, has sharpened the competition between China and the United States throughout the mineral-rich Global South. Those countries generally see China as a willing provider of capital and finance. They view Trump — who has dismissed so much of the Global South as “shithole countries,” deported huge numbers of their citizens, and subjected nearly all of their governments to punishing tariffs — with considerable skepticism.
How long will it take for the United States to catch up and neutralize China’s mineral superpower? In the best-case scenario, America will only be able to meet half its need for rare earth elements by 2028, and it currently produces less than 1 percent of those powerful magnets. Until America catches up — or forges partnerships with other countries to meet its demand through initiatives such as the U.S.-led Pax Silica — China will be able to pinch off the supply of those key minerals more easily than Iran can close off the Strait of Hormuz.
Controlling the Chips
Silicon Valley has long been a byword for innovation: Apple’s iPhones, Google’s search engine, Facebook’s social media platform. But the heart of Silicon Valley was, at least originally, made out of silicon. Chips made the valley. In the 1980s, Japan produced semiconductors that were superior to anything American companies could get to market. Competition spurred Silicon Valley to leapfrog over Japan.
The chip-designer Nvidia began in the 1990s as a supplier of graphic processing units, or GPUs, for the video game industry. These Nvidia chips became, literally, the brain behind Microsoft’s Xbox. Later, they came to power Sony’s PlayStation 3, signaling that Silicon Valley had definitively surpassed its Japanese competitors.
Then Nvidia began developing the kind of hardware necessary for the next big tech revolution: artificial intelligence. The first major AI platform available to the public — ChatGPT — was built on the foundation of Nvidia’s next-generation GPUs. Suddenly, Nvidia was the most sought-after supplier and the most valuable company in the world, now worth more than $5 trillion.
It’s one thing to corner the market on the graphics necessary to play “Grand Theft Auto” or make the special effects of the 2021 “Godzilla vs. Kong” movie look terrifyingly real. It’s quite another to create the building blocks of the AI technology that is creeping into every corner of the economy, not to mention the military.
To maintain its economic and military edge, the United States has placed controls on the export of Nvidia’s most advanced semiconductors to China. It’s no surprise that, over the last six years, the People’s Liberation Army attempted hundreds of times to acquire those precious chips. To prevent China from producing their own, the Dutch also placed restrictions on the export of the machines used to print the chips.
There are two challenges to this strategy of restriction. The first is that, despite its name, Silicon Valley doesn’t actually manufacture the vast majority of these fancy computer chips. For more than 90 percent of advanced semiconductors, the world depends on Taiwan. It’s as if another monster has appeared on the scene with a superpower that can bring both Godzilla and Rodan to their knees.
The United States harbors a fear that the Chinese response to their chip dependency will be simply to invade Taiwan and take over its semiconductor industry. For its part, the Biden administration pushed through the CHIPS Act to re-shore computer chip manufacturing, which is turning Arizona into a real Silicon Valley. Intel and Taiwan’s TSMC are among the more than 75 firms building factories there, which will require considerable water (in a desert) and produce tons of “forever chemicals,” the synthetic compounds that do not break down naturally, polluting the environment and accumulating within people (amid a growing population).
Given Russia’s failure to seize Ukraine and the inability of the United States and Israel to achieve regime change in Iran, China is not likely to attempt a takeover of Taiwan any time soon. Instead, it has pursued a different approach, and this is the second problem with a restriction strategy. Prevented from acquiring Nvidia’s best chips, China is pouring money into making its own chip sector the best in the world.
Trump’s cuts in science funding and restrictions on work visas will handicap U.S. technological progress for years and possibly decades.
Those considerable state investments produced a Sputnik moment in January 2025 when the Chinese company DeepSeek released its ChatGPT competitor. The big breakthrough, however, was behind the scenes: China was able to use its own domestically produced chips to create comparable AI results at a cheaper cost.
Private sector expenditures on AI in the United States still exceed China’s investments by a considerable margin. But the Trump administration’s cuts in science funding and restrictions on work visas will handicap U.S. technological progress for years and possibly decades. China, meanwhile, will likely have machines ready to produce what its AI models need by 2030, the target date Beijing has set to close the advanced chip gap.
The Sequel
Both China and the United States have landed a number of punches in their monster battle. The Trump administration has maintained export controls on its most advanced chips and has created a blacklist of Chinese companies it accuses of working with the People’s Liberation Army, including the car company BYD and the tech firm Baidu. China has retaliated by putting two American and 14 European companies on its own blacklist for the “dual use” of rare earth elements for both civilian and military applications. These come on top of Chinese export restrictions imposed in 2025 on seven rare-earth metals and an announcement that five more elements will be added in November.
These tit-for-tat exchanges might suggest that the two sides are evenly matched. And that may have been the case a decade ago. Today, however, despite its iconic status and devastating powers, the American Godzilla looks pretty wobbly. Trump’s fixation on cutting government and his failure to staff the remaining positions with competent officials has meant that the effort to deny China the most sophisticated chips has been compromised. Simply put, the Commerce Department has failed to enforce the export restrictions on U.S. companies, and thousands of those powerful chips have likely made their way into Chinese hands.
Even without government incompetence, the United States would be hard-pressed to maintain its advantage. The bottom line: China will be able to make its own chips sooner than America can acquire its own rocks.
The real superpower that China possesses, in other words, is its government’s ability to marshal resources to make the technological leap forward and maintain a substantive defense of its own material advantages. Thanks to this superpower, as Evan Osnos points out in The New Yorker, “China produces at least 70 percent of the world’s drones, electric vehicles, lithium-ion batteries, and solar cells.” So confident is China in this superpower that it has recently rolled out a sodium-ion battery that needs none of the critical minerals of the lithium battery that powers electric vehicles. Beijing is thus negating its own mineral advantages. Instead, the Chinese government is relying on its industrial prowess to prepare for a world where rocks no longer rule.
The Biden administration tried to copy this superpower with the CHIPS Act and the additional targeted subsidies of the Inflation Reduction Act. Trump, too, has attempted to pursue a similar industrial policy with investments in critical minerals alongside scattershot tariffs and export controls. But he has also weakened the underlying superpower of government action through funding cuts and mass layoffs at critical government agencies. As a result, a lot of the shots that the Trump administration fires at China are actually blanks.
Trump’s fixation on cutting government and his failure to staff the remaining positions with competent officials has meant that the effort to deny China the most sophisticated chips has been compromised.
If this were a film, Godzilla would be teetering on the edge of a precipice, harried by a triumphant Rodan. In the final shot, Godzilla would live to fight another day, setting the scene for a sequel.
In real life, the United States is wasting billions of dollars on a war in Iran, the Trump administration is laser-focused on stuffing its own pockets from insider deals, and U.S. universities and companies are hemorrhaging funds and talent. At the same time, China is cornering the global market on renewable technology and consolidating its trade and investment relationship with the nearly 150 countries in the Belt and Road Initiative. The newer superpower seems to be making better use of its superpowers.
Another great movie trope is enemies quickly morphing into friends when faced with an existential threat. Godzilla and Rodan eventually team up to fight King Ghidorah, a hydra-like extraterrestrial beast with three heads. Is it too late for China and the United States, inveterate frenemies, to do the same in response to the very terrestrial threat of climate change?
It would certainly make for a Hollywood happy ending. But the Trump administration, insisting that carbon emissions are no problem, is attempting to reenergize the country’s fossil fuel sector. And despite its buildout of renewal energy infrastructure and its expanding exports of solar panels and wind turbines, China remains heavily dependent on fossil fuels, especially coal.
Let’s face it: Monsters are going to be monsters. If they’re not fighting each other directly, they’re laying waste to the environment and poisoning the communities that live atop precious resources. In the world of entertainment, Godzilla and Rodan learn how to use their superpowers for good when a planet-wide emergency pushes the monsters together to fight against an external threat.
The real world faces just such a red alert. Our monsters, however, just keep doing monstrous things.
Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen broke record for farthest distance traveled from Earth
The crew of the historic Artemis II lunar flyby mission have earned the US’s top space medal, officials have announced.
Cmdr Reid Wiseman, pilot Victor Glover, and mission specialists Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen are set to receive the Congressional Space Medal of Honor on 28 August, the US space agency Nasa said.
Michigan Senate nominee and others have re-energized one-time Democratic voters who abandoned the party under Biden
Two years ago, Zainab Bibi Ahmed thought she had turned her back on the Democrats for good. Now, she is volunteering for the party’s US Senate nominee in Michigan, Abdul El-Sayed.
Ahmed was one of 100,000 people to vote uncommitted in the February 2024 Democratic Michigan primary, in a bid to send a message to then US president Joe Biden about his support for Israel, as people watched what Amnesty International later called a “live-streamed genocide” in Gaza on their screens.
President’s speech, declassification of documents and heightened claims of noncitizen voting have experts concerned
A series of moves by Donald Trump’s administration to sow doubt in the integrity of US elections has intensified concern among voting experts – and sparked hope among election deniers – that it could declare a national emergency.
The White House and US federal agencies have released a string of documents this summer – including disputed analyses of alleged voting by noncitzens and historical intelligence memos – stoking expectations that the US president could move to exert greater control over November’s US midterm elections.
New quotas to protect UK firms and jobs appear to be having opposite effect in products such as galvanised steel
At Tata Steel’s factory in Llanwern, south Wales, production lines that should be running full-time are now falling quiet for parts of the day, with workers being put on to maintenance and cleaning work while machines sit idle.
There aren’t enough orders to keep them running all the time, the company says, because of a surge of cheap steel coming from Asian countries that is threatening the viability of several UK sites that make similar products, and risk hundreds of jobs.
Teófimo López became a three-division world champion on Saturday night, winning a 12-round majority decision over Rolando ‘Rolly’ Romero to claim the WBA welterweight title at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
López prevailed by scores of 115-113 and 116-112, while the third judge saw the fight even at 114-114. Romero, making the first defense of his title won against Ryan Garcia 15 months ago, disputed the result in the immediate aftermath.
Move would allow mayors to greenlight large developments and have more say on national housing funding
Andy Burnham will give mayors new powers to take control of local planning decisions and greenlight large-scale developments in proposals to be presented next week.
The move will allow mayors to “call in” the decisions and direct councils to take them forward or refuse them. They will also be able to grant upfront permission so developers can start building without having to apply.
Chris Lehane tells Guardian of need to implement new safety standards as critics say AI firms acting ‘recklessly’
A senior leader at OpenAI has said people should prepare to defend against “ongoing, persistent” cyber-attacks from AIs, as cutting-edge artificial intelligence models gain advanced capabilities to plan and launch offensives.
The leading AI company this week announced a pause in development of its most advanced internal models amid rising safety fears, and Chris Lehane, its chief global affairs officer, said: “We are hitting a different chapter, a different moment within AI, in terms of what the capabilities of this technology can do.”
Debian developers are voting on whether to ban AI-assisted contributions, reports the blog Linuxiac, with a ballot listing eight proposals and a "None of the above" option.
The first one is still the original proposal to ban LLM-assisted contributions by changing the Debian Social Contract. This would stop generative AI from being used for direct Debian work like packaging, software, documentation, translations, websites, and project communication. However, upstream projects made with AI help would not be affected. The proposal gives several reasons for the ban, such as unclear copyright and licensing, doubts about the reliability of AI-generated work, extra review work for maintainers, aggressive scraping of Free Software resources, and the high resource use of large AI systems...
The second option would clearly allow contributions that are partly or fully made by an LLM, as long as contributors check their technical quality, security, licensing, and usefulness, fully understand the changes, and disclose major AI help. It would also ban sending private or sensitive Debian information to untrusted external AI services. A similar fourth option recognizes worries about generative AI but says banning it would be hard to enforce and not helpful. This proposal would accept AI-assisted Debian work if it follows the Debian Free Software Guidelines, is properly reviewed and understood by the contributor, and is marked as AI-assisted when needed. The fifth proposal is even more open. It says Debian should not support or ban generative AI tools, but should apply the same standards for quality, correctness, maintainability, and legality to all contributions, no matter how they were made...
One unique proposal is called "Debian is created by humans." Instead of banning AI tools for contributors, it focuses on what actually gets included in Debian. With this approach, contributors could use generative AI for research, analysis, exploration, or critique, but could not submit AI-generated output directly as Debian packaging, patches, documentation, bug reports, project communications, or other Debian work. As the proposal says: humans create Debian. Another, much stricter proposal asks Debian contributors to avoid LLM use as much as possible. It would require all Debian communication, like bug reports, mailing-list messages, Salsa discussions, and Planet Debian posts, to be written only by humans. Any AI use in Debian work would have to be disclosed, and violations could be handled under the project's Code of Conduct.
The CEO/founder of AI-native compliance management platform company Strike Graph believes a Debian AI ban is "the wrong fix for the actual problem" at hand, reports The New Stack:
"Debian's ban isn't really about banning AI," [CEO Justin] Beals says. "It's an admission that nobody has built a reliable way to verify what an AI agent actually produced before it lands in a codebase this many systems depend on, including infrastructure running in orbit. That's a legitimate thing to be worried about...." He thinks that any policy statement that says AI isn't allowed simply won't hold up, as the tooling keeps getting harder to detect...
Looking across the complete set of tabled propositions, proposal A (no LLM contributions to Debian via social contract) needs a 3:1 majority to pass; the other seven proposals (B to H) need a simple majority.
Similar initiatives have been launched from Barcelona to Bogotá, but they have misinformation, political pressure and vested interests stacked against them
Ten years ago, Alastair Harper was an advocate for young people’s health sitting in a stuffy meeting room in London planning an air pollution campaign. “My phone started buzzing,” he said. “I took the call, and then told the room I needed to leave immediately.
“I had to get to UCLH [one of London’s major hospitals]. My own child was headed there in a blue-lit ambulance because she was struggling to breathe London’s toxic air.”
Britons report that EES digital entry and exit system has led to frustration, visa mix-ups and long queues
On top of fears about extreme heat and possible jet fuel shortages, Britons planning summer holidays in the EU this year had another thing to worry about – long queues and waiting times caused by the bloc’s new border checks.
The EU digital entry and exit system (EES), which requires non-EU citizens to register and be photographed and fingerprinted on arrival and departure from the Schengen zone, has been technically in full force since April after launching last autumn, but has been beset by teething problems.
Retraction Watch reports:
A trial date has been set in a $1 billion defamation case against Elsevier that alleges the company published what plaintiffs say was a manipulated study about an air purifying technology over objections from peer reviewers. The case has already cost Elsevier a $10,000 sanction from a judge.
Global Plasma Solutions (GPS), which makes air quality products, sued Elsevier in 2022 after the publisher declined to retract a 2021 paper in Building and Environment about GPS' needlepoint bipolar ionization technology, which it heavily marketed during the COVID-19 pandemic as an air purifier. The complaint claims Elsevier is responsible for the authors' alleged omission of data and misleading conclusions in the paper that fueled "massive" financial losses for the company, its lawyers claim. Elsevier knew the paper "failed peer review" under its "own standards," but moved forward with the article despite this knowledge, according to GPS, which now goes by GPS Air.
The complaint has survived a bid by Elsevier to dismiss the case, and a trial has been set for Dec. 7. In allowing the case to proceed, U.S. Magistrate Judge David Keesler said in a May 2024 opinion that GPS has "plausibly alleged actual malice" by Elsevier defined as "knowledge of falsity or reckless disregard for the truth." Chief Judge Martin Reidinger of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of North Carolina upheld Keesler's recommendation in July 2025...
Citing internal and discovery documents, GPS alleges an assessment of 19 journals revealed Elsevier has published more than 1,200 articles either without any peer review, or against the recommendations of the reviewers.
Thanks to long-time Slashdot reader sandbagger for sharing the article.
Washington, D.C. — The NAACP is condemning reported discussions inside the Navy about renaming a future aircraft carrier currently designated to honor Black World War II hero Doris Miller, with President Donald Trump reportedly considered as a replacement namesake.
CNN reported that Navy officials have discussed changing the name of CVN-81, which was designated the future USS Doris Miller in 2020. Two sources told CNN that Trump’s name has been considered, although no final decision has been announced. Naming an aircraft carrier after a sitting president would be unprecedented.
NAACP President Derrick Johnson called the possibility “a slap in the face” to military heroes and service members. Miller was serving aboard the USS West Virginia during the 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor when he helped wounded sailors and fired an anti-aircraft gun despite having no formal training. He became the first Black American awarded the Navy Cross.
The carrier would also be the first named for a Black American and the first honoring an enlisted sailor for actions performed while serving in the ranks.
CNN reported that Navy officials have considered honoring Miller with another warship and recommending him posthumously for the Medal of Honor.
Neither the Navy nor Pentagon has publicly confirmed that Trump will replace Miller as the carrier’s namesake, leaving the proposed change under discussion rather than finalized.
Friends close to Margarita Reutt are shocked she could allegedly plant bomb that killed Ukrainian defector Robert Shageev, while others recall a stubborn grit to see any plan through
It was just after dawn in Sevastopol when a powerful explosion tore through a quiet square in a residential district of the Russian-occupied Crimean port city.
Hidden inside a rubbish bin, a bomb containing the equivalent of about 500g of TNT detonated on 13 August as Robert Shageev, the deputy commander of a Russian Black Sea fleet submarine brigade, walked past in naval uniform. He was killed on the spot.
U.S. Army Secretary Dan Driscoll is considering stepping down from his post by the end of the year, two people familiar with the matter told CBS News Saturday.
BleepingComputer reports:
Microsoft says ongoing issues causing games to crash or fail to launch after installing the August 2026 Windows updates may be caused by peripherals with RGB lighting.
As Microsoft explained when it confirmed it's investigating on Wednesday, this known issue affects games like ARC Raiders, MARVEL Tokon: Fighting Souls, and The Finals on systems running Windows 11 24H2 and 25H2... "[Peripherals or internal device components with RGB lighting features] may install drivers or code components with file names similar to inpoutx64. In systems where these drivers are found, the issue is then triggered by launching certain games," it noted.
Thanks to Slashdot reader joshuark for sharing the article.
Weather service warns of flooding and mudslides, particularly in areas strongly affected by previous storm
Tropical Storm Moke is poised to slam into the south of Hawaii’s islands, with forecasters predicting heavy rains and strong winds on Saturday evening, just days after the region was hit by Hurricane Lala.
As with Hurricane Lala, the Big Island is expected to bear the brunt of Moke’s rain and heavy winds as it passes south of a direct hit late on Saturday and into Sunday.
The newspaper for the American military has long taken pride in its editorial independence. But under the Trump administration, restrictions have been imposed, and the Pentagon's chief spokesman has vowed to rid the paper of "woke distractions."
Player booed during team’s preseason loss to Bills
QB has battled injuries during time in Cleveland
Watson was suspended over sexual assault allegations
Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson has called the booing he heard from the team’s own fans during Saturday’s home loss to Buffalo “disrespectful” and “personal.”
Watson, who has a complicated relationship with Cleveland fans because of injuries, off-field issues – including an NFL suspension in 2022 – and a massive, $230m contract, was booed repeatedly during the second half of the 31-7 loss to the Bills.
A long-nosed fur seal has died from H5 bird flu in South Australia, marking the first confirmed case in a mammal on the Australian mainland.
The seal was found dead at Beachport on Wednesday on the state’s Limestone Coast.
It marks a fresh escalation in the spread of the virus days after the South Australian premier, Peter Malinauskas, announced three mass mortality events on offshore islands involving more than 1,000 greater crested terns.
The federal agriculture minister, Julie Collins, said the seal death was “not unexpected” as the virus begins to spread through the country.
Wrongly discarded lithium batteries, such as those in vapes, are causing more than 10 fires a week at U.K. recycling centers, according to figures shared with the Guardian:
The Environment Services Association (ESA), the trade body for waste management companies, said its members had reported 1,518 fires in the year to March 2026. At least 541 of these fires were directly attributed to lithium ion batteries, the survey found. There were a further 216 battery fires in bin lorries [garbage trucks]. The ESA said the reported number of battery-related fires underestimated the scale of the problem, because in most incidents it was impossible to determine the cause of the blaze. A spokesperson said: "We know 40% of fires at recycling centres are caused by batteries, but we think the actual number is more like 70%."
It estimates that annual cost of these fires has increased from £150m in 2021 to £1bn today...
The ESA is calling for a £5 deposit scheme on the sale of all vapes to ensure that vape users have an incentive to return used devices to retailers for safe disposal... [Patrick Brighty, the head of recycling policy at the ESA, said] "Vapes are among the biggest culprits because they're cheap, abundant and typically have a short use-life."
Thanks to long-time Slashdot reader AmiMoJo for sharing the news.
Exclusive: campaigners warn 600-year-old New Barn at Harmondsworth could be ‘shaken to pieces’ by vibrations
Six hundred years after it was built, England’s largest surviving medieval timber-framed barn could now be “shaken to pieces” by aircraft vibrations, campaigners warn.
The public has until 1 September to submit objections to the Heathrow airport expansion, which could threaten the survival of the New Barn at Harmondsworth, considered a remarkable example of medieval architecture.
French youngster beats No 7 seed 6-3, 6-4 in Cincinnati
Jessica Pegula battles past Swiatek to reach women’s final
In the middle of a tense, erratic start to a rain-delayed semi-final day in Cincinnati, Arthur Fils found himself locked in defence and miles behind the baseline on his serve at 3-3. He scurried from sideline to sideline, lunging toward the ball at full stretch, seemingly with no real chance of turning things around. As Flavio Cobolli swept to the net with the intention of finishing Fils off, however, the Italian soon learned that his opponent had another gear to reach. From far wide of the court, Fils pulverised a forehand passing shot winner beyond his astounded opponent, drawing a roar from the crowd.
That one point alone provided evidence of the athleticism, explosiveness and sheer audacity that have long marked Fils as such a rare, exciting talent, and it also set the tone for a monumental victory. From that moment onwards, Fils took control of the match and he marched into his first Masters 1000 final at the Cincinnati Open with a supreme performance, defeating Cobolli, the No 7 seed, 6-3, 6-4.
"AI went from being very terrible to seemingly genuinely quite good at a professional level in a very short space of time..." says the Verge's AI reporter.
But AI systems "are still truly, truly terrible at some areas of math... even the days of the week."
If you look at academic math papers, a lot of the time you won't see numbers... So they're still terrible, but they're now also very good at this other part. As to why, at some point you reach a critical mass of what these systems can do. We saw it with writing, we've seen it with programming. They're very good at forging connections between different areas, applying old methods in new ways, those kinds of things. It appears that the newer models they're training have apparently reached that level where it clicks, and now it can do math...
There are areas now where it seems to be producing work that is on par with good mathematicians, alongside other parts where yeah, it can't count. All caught up in that is whether it's going to rewrite employment structures or funding structures... One would hope [math researchers] would branch out into all of these new exciting areas or pose new questions. But AI won't do that, and that's the concern. And then that would leave the field quite sterile, and it will have all of these things that have been done, and maybe nothing left to pursue... [A] lot are scared that it's closing off the field. So by definition, those breakthroughs that lead to something surprising and new that you can say, "Oh, this works here," may not be happening anymore...
There were some bleak responses from graduate students I saw in essays posted online. Where's their place in this as future researchers? Do they have a place in this? Is it as glorified AI proof checkers? That will be quite an unsatisfying career, I imagine. Or maybe not, I don't know. We will see. I think anything used properly will be a net boon.
They also had an interesting response when asked if AI democratizes access to high-level mathematical proofs:
A lot of the mathematicians I spoke to were almost quite weary of this, actually. They love the idea, in theory, of democratizing access. They're also quite fed up with AI-generated or -assisted papers that are flooding every publication imaginable, as well as the pre-print servers that they use in these fields. Some of those I spoke to said things like, "Oh, I got three emails this week alone with people being like, 'Hey, is this legit?'" Because they thought they'd solved something with ChatGPT or with Claude, and they also don't have the mathematical skills to check whether they've actually solved something.
On the flip side, there are parts where they said, "Well, we've got a talented undergrad who's done something that a talented undergrad would probably have never managed, and here they are doing grad-level work and they've produced a paper that is legit." And in the bigger scheme of things, a few I spoke to said, "Well yeah, a lot of these are in the ivory tower. Having access to this kind of thing globally could really boost access to the kind of things here." On the flip side, the cost. These things cost a lot to run.
Georgetown, Texas — President Donald Trump’s plan to temporarily allow 300,000 metric tons of tariff-free beef imports is drawing unusually sharp criticism from ranchers and Republican lawmakers who say cheaper foreign supply could further squeeze struggling American cattle producers.
Trump says the 90-day policy will lower grocery costs while giving the depleted U.S. cattle herd time to recover. Ground beef averages about $6.89 per pound nationally, while cattle inventories have fallen to their lowest level in roughly 75 years.
Texas rancher Jim Richardson, who voted for Trump in 2024, told NOTUS he is “disappointed” by the decision after already doubling some prices to cover higher processing, fuel, labor and electricity costs. He said ranchers need “more stability, less erratic swings.”
Agricultural groups argue imports could depress cattle prices without addressing the drought, feed costs and herd shortages driving high beef prices. The Missouri Farm Bureau said the proposal would “further erode confidence in the market.”
The backlash is also political. Republican Senate candidate Ashley Hinson criticized the plan in Iowa, while North Dakota Republican state Rep. Dawson Holle said supporting Trump does not require remaining silent when a policy harms ranchers.
Economists cited by Reuters questioned whether imports equal to roughly 3% of annual U.S. beef consumption would meaningfully reduce retail prices.
Trump has defended the move as temporary relief for consumers while insisting his administration remains committed to rebuilding domestic cattle production.
An array of imports are subject to the new 50 percent tariffs. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has called them “a miscalculation” and vowed to match them “dollar for dollar.”
Duchess of Sussex was believed to have been under consideration for season three of Guy Ritchie’s crime caper
The Duchess of Sussex’s reported casting in Guy Ritchie’s The Gentlemen has been withdrawn, it was reported.
Tina Brown, the former editor-in-chief of Vanity Fair and the New Yorker, wrote on Saturday: “I learned this morning that the casting of Meghan Markle in season 3 of Guy Ritchie’s Netflix series The Gentlemen has been withdrawn. The backlash in the UK was so intense, it became untenable to go forward.”
Remember that rush rescue mission for NASA's $500M space telescope? It failed, reports CNN, and the LINK satellite won't be able to boost the telescope's orbit. NASA says its decades-old Swift telescope will now continue losing altitude, until it reaches Earth's atmosphere later this year and burns up.
CNN reports:
Just weeks after LINK lifted off on July 3, it started to spin out of control. [Satellite designer] Katalyst was able to regain control of the satellite, but the company acknowledged that the issue cost it time, which would delay LINK's rendezvous with Swift by about a month. However, that postponement — at least initially — did not seem to be a deterrent to the mission. Now, NASA and Katalyst have announced that LINK's mission will not capture and boost Swift to a higher orbit "due to ongoing attitude control issues," according to statements Wednesday.
"NASA should be willing to move quickly and take smart risks when the potential return is worth it, and that is exactly what we did with this mission," NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman said in a statement. "This is not the outcome we were working toward, but it does not change why this mission was worth attempting. The team moved with extraordinary speed to give Swift a chance to carry out more science while advancing capabilities America will need for satellite servicing in the future...."
The mission team is forging ahead with its plan for LINK to rendezvous with Swift — but as a demonstration rather than a rescue. "We are going to learn everything we can from LINK's rendezvous attempt and put those lessons to work on the missions that follow," Isaacman said... Swift wasn't designed to be serviced in space, which means that insights from the demonstration could be used for future missions... "We have already learned a tremendous amount," [said Ghonhee Lee, CEO of Katalyst Space Technologies], "and now our job is to turn those lessons into something durable — building a repeatable playbook to inform future rendezvous and proximity operations and satellite servicing."
Kassebaum Baker became the first woman elected to the US Senate without following a spouse into office
Nancy Kassebaum Baker, a Kansas governor’s daughter who became the first woman elected to the US Senate without following a spouse into office, has died. She was 94.
Kassebaum Baker died on Friday of natural causes, according to her son, Bill Kassebaum.
The Sussexes are returning to the UK with significantly reduced media deals in an industry where fame alone can no longer guarantee success
Having settled in California in the aftermath of their dramatic decoupling from the royal family in 2020, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex announced a partnership that appeared to set a clear destination for their new lives outside the House of Windsor.
With every global media stable clamouring for their signature, the couple revealed a deal with Netflix reportedly worth $100m. The ambitions were lofty and broad, including scripted and unscripted projects, shows for all ages and documentaries.
Slashdot reader fjo3 shared this article from Wired:
[Flock] has told the public for years that its technology "cannot recognize, identify, or track individuals." It has now built a system that does both, an artificial intelligence tool for police that can identify drivers and track vehicles by their patterns of movement alone, WIRED has learned... Because the system also reaches police case files, 911 dispatch logs, and commercial identity records, those plates can be turned into names, home addresses, and relatives. It can search for people in an area drawn on a map based on nothing more than a physical description...
The code describes 45 tools at the AI's disposal, giving it access to plate scans and camera metadata, arrest records, case files, dispatch logs, ballistics results, and commercial databases that contain Social Security numbers, dates of birth, phone numbers, email addresses, relatives and associates. Flock says it is testing the product with a small group of law enforcement partners and describes it as still in development, with capabilities that may not reflect what it eventually sells. It arrives as the company faces bipartisan political pressure, a growing record of officers caught misusing its platform, and a wave of vandalism that has left cameras sawed off and lenses painted over in cities across the country...
An officer no longer needs a plate, a name, or a crime to begin: They supply a place, a stretch of time, and a pattern of behavior, and the system is designed to hand back the people who fit... One prompt Flock preloaded into the system reads: "Find me witnesses based on vehicles most seen in [neighborhood] during [last 14 days] during [daily timeframe] *(will not include whitelisted vehicles)." An officer would fill in the blanks and submit it. The output is a list of plates, which other tools in the product then convert into names and home addresses. Another prompt instructs the system to list everyone arrested more than twice in two years for "any offense," exempting only narcotics arrests, and then says to map where those people live, retrieve the calls for service at their homes, and "do a workup on the top three individuals." The prompt begins with everyone in the area who has an arrest record and ends with dossiers on three of them, chosen by the software. A "workup," in Flock's terminology, is a one-command background check. It starts with a name and a date of birth and returns what the department's records and commercial data hold: vehicles, prior listings as a suspect, and, on a second screen, relatives, phone numbers, and online accounts.
Wired shares this reaction from a law professor at George Washington University.
"It is clear Flock has aspirations far beyond ALPRs to become a digital platform for policing,"
Long-time Slashdot reader AmiMoJo shared this report from the Guardian:
Children's lungs grew bigger and stronger after the most polluting vehicles were restricted from entering London, a study has found. Examinations of London schoolchildren before and after the introduction of the city's ultra-low emission zone found a restoration of lung capacity that had been stunted by exposure to pollution... "Traffic pollution in cities damages children's health and development," said Chris Griffiths, a professor of primary care at the University of Oxford and Queen Mary University of London, and the study's joint senior author. "We provide the strongest evidence yet on how these harms can be prevented. Ambitious clean-air zones should be considered a priority for cities globally with traffic-related air pollution."
Air pollution from traffic has stunted the development of children's lungs in London for decades. Previous research found that by the age of eight or nine, children from the most polluted areas had 5-10% less lung capacity than their peers elsewhere. That impairment, which scientists said was the result of exposure to nitrogen dioxide, put them at increased risk as adults of developing respiratory diseases, such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cardiovascular and metabolic disease, and premature death.
Toddler was found unresponsive in residential pool
Player has been practicing with team since June tragedy
Members of the Buffalo Bills have expressed their condolences to Ed Oliver after the death of the player’s two-year-old son.
“Obviously, very unfortunate what happened and as a teammate of him, as someone in this locker room, all we can do is love on him,” Bills quarterback Josh Allen said after Saturday’s win over the Cleveland Browns. “There’s nothing that you can say to make the situation any better except being there in whatever ways he needs.
Three other people wounded after 18-year-old man wielding sword assailed students in Fagersta school
A 17-year-old girl has been killed after a teenager brandishing a sword attacked students at a school in Sweden, police have confirmed.
Three other people were wounded in the incident during classes in the central town of Fagersta on Friday afternoon, including two boys aged 12 and 17 who sustained minor injuries.
Reuters reports "a major success in a new field of cancer treatment this week, as Moderna and Merck announced a personalized mRNA cancer vaccine "reduced the risk of recurrence and spread of melanoma in a late-stage trial". The vaccine was tested with Merck's widely used immunotherapy drug Keytruda:
Thousands of patients who have undergone surgery to remove high-risk melanoma tumors could benefit as soon as next year if regulators approve the vaccine, Moderna President Stephen Hoge said in an interview. This is the first positive late-stage trial result for an mRNA cancer vaccine, which trains a patient's immune system to fight tumors by targeting specific mutations in those cells, and the first such study to show that adding a treatment to Keytruda worked better than that therapy alone... Interim results of the ongoing study, released on Wednesday, found the treatment, Intismeran, met both its primary target of reducing cancer recurrence and its secondary goal of preventing tumors from spreading to other parts of the body, compared with Keytruda alone. When the vaccine is injected into a patient, the patient's cells produce copies of mutations for the immune system to recognize and destroy... Merck said the companies are already in talks with regulators about the treatment.
"Merck, Moderna and other companies are testing similar approaches against lung, breast and pancreatic cancers," the article points out. It adds that Karen Knudsen, CEO of the Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, "said the Moderna results could signal a new era for treating solid-tumor cancers."
More from CNN:
The trial result is "a monumental leap forward," validating mRNA technology as a cancer treatment, said Dr. Julie Gralow, chief medical officer of the American Society of Clinical Oncology...
Roche and BioNTech, whose mRNA technology was used in the Pfizer COVID vaccines, are testing a similar treatment called autogene cevumeran in mid-stage studies in colon and pancreatic cancer patients who have undergone surgery. Results of the colon cancer trial are expected in 2027, with pancreatic trial results to follow in 2031. "We should be hearing results from multiple studies over the next few years and there's every reason to hope now, with this news, that many of them will be positive," said Dr. Robert Vonderheide, director of Penn Medicine's Abramson Cancer Center and president-elect of the American Association for Cancer Research.
WILMINGTON, DE — Six New Castle County Council seats are up this year. Three havecontested Democratic primaries on Sept. 15. The table below shows which seats lead to a November matchup against a Republican, which are decided by the primary alone, and which one has no opponent from either party.
Residents can look up their district by address at the state’s officialdistrict lookup tool.
Councilman Brandon Toole, a Democrat, has no challenger from either party this year, so he keeps his seat without a primary or a general election.
District 2: No primary, Councilwoman Durham vs. Collins in November
Councilwoman Dee Durham, a Democrat, faces Republican newcomerJamie Collins in the general election.
District 3: Republican Councilwoman Kilpatrick’s open seat
Councilwoman Janet Kilpatrick is not seeking reelection after 16 years representing Hockessin, Yorklyn, North Star, Pike Creek and part of Newark. Democrats Kira Alejandro and Kyle Grantham are competing for her seat, with the winner facing Republican Melissa Brayman in November.
District 4: Councilman Hollins’ open seat, no fight in November
Councilman Penrose Hollins has represented District 4, which includes northeast Wilmington neighborhoods such as Penrose and Sellers Park, since 1990. He is not seeking reelection, retiring after 36 years of county service. While Hollins is stepping away from his own seat, he has notably crossed district lines to endorse Kyle Grantham in the neighboring District 3 race.
Three Democrats are running to replace Hollins in District 4: Jason Hoover, Curtis Linton and Helena Creamer. No Republican filed to run for the seat, so whoever wins the Sept. 15 primary wins the seat outright, with no November contest to follow.
District 5: Councilwoman George faces a primary challenge, also with no November fight
Councilwoman Valerie George, the Democratic incumbent, is seeking another term. She faces a primary challenge from Syam Kosigi. As in District 4, no Republican filed here, so the Sept. 15 primary alone will decide who represents the district for the next four years.
District 6: No primary, Councilman Carter vs. Gibbs in November
Councilman David B. Carter, a Democrat, faces Republican newcomerAlison T. Gibbs in the general election.
How to vote
Only registered Democrats can vote in the Sept. 15 primary. The deadline to register is Saturday, Aug. 22; early voting runs Sept. 2-13. Check your registration or district at the state’s voter portal,ivote.de.gov/VoterView.
At 15,500 miles per second, it’s the fastest planet or star ever observed by science, but its true value is how close it is to our galaxy’s supermassive black hole.
47% of recent graduates say AI has already impacted hiring in their field, according to an April survey from ZipRecruiter.
"But is AI really the problem, or is it more complicated?" asks NPR. "Here's what economists have to say."
According to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, the unemployment rate for recent graduates — which it defines as 22-to-27-year-olds with a new bachelor's degree or higher — was 5.7% as of June, more than the rate for all workers, which stands at 4.1%... Stanford University economist Erik Brynjolfsson says AI is impacting the labor market for entry-level roles. "AI is not the whole story, but it's part of the story and the evidence is building," he says. Using payroll data, Brynjolfsson and his co-authors found that since late 2022 — when large language models like ChatGPT started popping up — early-career workers ages 22 to 25 in AI-exposed roles, like software developers and marketing managers, have experienced a 16% relative employment decline. In comparison, employment rates for older workers in AI-exposed fields and for all workers in jobs that aren't easily automated — like home health aides, physical therapists and construction workers — remained stable or have grown over that same time period... [Though he also says often when companies pull back on hiring, they cut junior roles first.]
Harvard University economist David Deming isn't convinced that AI is to blame for the challenging early-career job market. "If you look very carefully at the timing, it looks like the decline in junior hiring actually started a bit like six months before ChatGPT was released. And so what that tells me is it's something else," Deming says. "I think it's more like remote work." A recent analysis from the New York Fed found that companies are less likely to hire recent college grads into roles that can be done remotely. As remote jobs increased following the COVID-19 pandemic, so did unemployment among younger college grads, the New York Fed found. The analysis also found that AI didn't explain the rise in unemployment among younger workers and that remote work was more of a driving force... Employers hiring for remote jobs may be less likely to choose an entry-level candidate because it's harder to train them from afar... [And with remote positions, there's many more senior candidates to choose from.]
And here's another thing to consider: University of Chicago economist Anders Humlum says if AI were replacing entry-level jobs, you'd expect to see companies that rely heavily on AI to hire fewer workers. But that's not what the data shows. Humlum points to a study done by the financial accounting firm Ramp and the workforce research company Revelio Labs. The study examined AI spending and employee head count across more than 21,000 U.S. firms, from early 2021 to early 2026. It found that at companies making the largest AI investments, entry-level head count grew by 12% over the two years following AI adoption.
PEN America condemns lawyers using passage from thriller to bolster claim ex-FBI director intended to harm Trump
A leading US free-expression group has hit out at federal prosecutors’ use of a novel written by former FBI director James Comey in their case accusing him of threatening to kill Donald Trump.
“Citing a novel to save an indictment that is constitutionally dubious is a desperate Hail Mary and should be rejected,” said a statement posted on Friday by Mara Gassmann, legal director of PEN America, using a term for a last-second heave in American football.
Watchdog launches inquiry into collision in which seven people died involving police car and another vehicle
Two police officers who died in a car crash near Middlesbrough in the early hours of Saturday have been named.
Police constables Matthew Blades and Tom Clough were among seven people killed after their marked police car collided with a Volkswagen Passat travelling the wrong way along the A66 in North Yorkshire.
Tory leader rules out coalition with Farage’s party and says ‘drama queens’ who left will not be welcomed back
Kemi Badenoch has called defectors who left for Reform “some of the most dishonest people” she has ever met, as she ruled out allowing “drama queens” to return to the party.
Speaking at the Edinburgh festival fringe, the Conservative party leader again ruled out any prospect of an election deal with Nigel Farage’s Reform UK, insisting there would be no coalition between the parties.
Firefox 154 "brings a number of usability improvements," writes PC World:
The free built-in VPN, introduced with Firefox 149, continues to offer a selection of virtual locations — temporarily extended to 28 countries until the end of August... The free VPN is currently available to Firefox users in the US, Canada, the UK, France, and Germany. In addition, the free VPN can now also be used in Firefox for Android (rolling out gradually) with iOS to follow soon.
Firefox 154 also begins adding the privacy-focused search engine Startpage to its address-bar search options for desktop users in Germany, France, Austria, Switzerland, and the Netherlands (the home markets for the Netherlands-based search engine). And Startpage is also coming soon to Android and iOS. "When so much of the web experience is decided by a handful of very large companies, a search option that's private by design and European by origin isn't a small thing," explains a Mozilla blog post, with Ajit Varma, Head of Firefox, saying this now gives millions of people in Europe one-click access to "real results, zero profiling, AI-free."
Queries aren't stored or linked to you, and there are no AI answers pushed above your search results. In fact, there's no AI at all. Based in the Netherlands, Startpage built its product around a simple idea: great search and personal privacy can go hand in hand... Firefox users were choosing Startpage long before today — to the tune of more than a billion searches a year, every one of them required some assembly: an extension, a manual setting, a workaround... Startpage ranks among the most-requested search engines in the Firefox community. When demand is this clear, our job is to remove the friction...
Most browsers have already decided how you're going to search. Firefox hasn't. Pick your search engine, control what happens to your queries, decide who sees data about you, even turn AI on or off. It should always be your call. Not everyone wants the same thing from search, and a browser shouldn't pretend they do.
"Firefox has always been the browser for people who want to make their own decisions about the web," said Startpage President Stewart Marlborough, "which makes it a natural home for private search."
Nvidia's GeForce NOW cloud-gaming platform is also now officially supported on Firefox, expanding access across even more devices," according to a Nvidia blog post:
Members can outfox big downloads and jump into high-performance PC gaming directly from the browser — no waiting on lengthy game installs or updates. The experience delivers GeForce RTX-powered performance at up to 1440p and 120 frames per second for GeForce NOW Ultimate members. Simply download the latest version of Firefox, head to play.geforcenow.com and start playing. The cloud handles the heavy lifting, so games are ready to play without taking up valuable storage space on the device. Firefox joins Chrome, Edge and Opera in supporting GeForce NOW on Windows browsers.
Mozilla's own blog post even includes an animation of the Firefox mascot playing games:
Gamers put real effort into making their rigs their own, and Firefox gets that. Users can choose themes, custom colors, and tab settings to customize their setup, instead of sitting there like just another window. We also know online gaming doesn't happen in just one window. It's social and sometimes spontaneous. With Firefox, you can have a Discord call running in Split View, a guide open in another tab, or Reddit pulled up between matches. Then go full screen when you're ready to play, no need to switch browsers to stream games.
"In the security report for Firefox 154, Mozilla lists 58 resolved security vulnerabilities, 54 of which were discovered and reported by external security researchers," notes PC World. ("Mozilla classifies 17 of these vulnerabilities as high risk.") With Firefox 155 (scheduled for September 1), Mozilla is switching to a fortnightly release cycle for major versions, like Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge.
Drugs that help control the libidos of people who have committed sexual offences could be rolled out for thousands of male prisoners in England and Wales from December 2028, an expert has said.
Prof Belinda Winder, who has evaluated the use of sex drive-suppressing medication in prisons, said about one in four sex offenders – equating to 3,750 current prisoners – would be considered for the treatment.
For some prisoners with problematic sexual arousal (PSA), “images of sex flood their minds” all of their waking hours, according to Prof Belinda Winder, a leading forensic psychologist who has evaluated the use of drugs to control libidos.
“I remember talking to one guy a few weeks after he started taking the medication. He said: ‘It’s amazing. I followed a film plot. I wasn’t just looking for when I could see bra straps, when I could see nipples, when someone’s going to bend over so I could see their bum.”
Prestige Brand Holdings has voluntarily recalled a batch of its Clear Eyes eye drops after FDA alert
Nearly 40,000 bottles of eye drops are being pulled from store shelves across the US over concerns about potential contamination, according to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Prestige Brand Holdings, based in Tarrytown, New York, has voluntarily recalled 39,060 bottles of Clear Eyes Maximum Itchy Eye Relief eye drops because of a “lack of assurance of sterility”, an FDA enforcement report states. The FDA classified the action as a Class II recall, defined on the agency’s website as a moderate-risk situation “in which use of or exposure to a violative product may cause temporary or medically reversible adverse health consequences or where the probability of serious adverse health consequences is remote”.
(The Center Square) - The vast majority of Americans want hospitals and healthcare providers to publicly disclose prices before patients receive care, according to a new poll.
(The Center Square) – A Republican bill to force spending cuts alongside any debt-limit increase has been introduced in six of the seven Congresses since 2013. As standalone legislation, it has never once reached a vote.
33,124 residents still in the dark as utility company says it is working to restore power in north-west of state
Thousands of residents of north-west Indiana on Saturday were headed for their 11th day without electric power after storms swept through the state, toppling trees and power lines, earlier in August.
The powerless conditions have led to food lines, closed businesses, dead phones, no schools, spoiled food, dirty clothes, dry gas pumps and a multitude of other deleterious effects on life without energy.
Washington, D.C. — A federal appeals court Friday overturned a $130,000 damages award against Project Veritas founder James O’Keefe and an undercover reporter stemming from a 2016 investigation targeting Democratic political consultants.
The D.C. Circuit ruled that the damages improperly punished O’Keefe and reporter Alison Maass for publishing the “Rigging the Election” video before the 2016 presidential election. The video alleged Democratic operatives discussed tactics intended to provoke confrontation at Donald Trump campaign events.
Democracy Partners, founded by Democratic consultant Robert Creamer, sued after Maass obtained an unpaid internship using a false identity and secretly recorded conversations. A federal jury sided with the organization in 2022 on fraudulent misrepresentation and wiretapping claims.
Judge Karen LeCraft Henderson wrote that imposing damages for publishing the resulting story violated the First Amendment. The panel also rejected the argument that Maass became a fiduciary of Democracy Partners simply because she obtained the internship deceptively.
The judges did not give undercover reporting unlimited protection. The panel agreed that some information Maass obtained was gathered through fraudulent means and therefore was not itself constitutionally protected. Judge Robert Wilkins partially dissented, arguing that liability for fraudulent misrepresentation should remain while damages were reduced to a nominal amount.
O’Keefe called the decision important for undercover journalism. Democracy Partners’ attorney told Politico the organization disagrees with the ruling and is evaluating its options.
fjo3 shares a report from SFGATE: The San Francisco Bay Area, epicenter of the artificial intelligence boom, is home to a massive amount of tech workers employed by some of the world's most valuable companies, from Apple to Nvidia. But for the first time, New York has eclipsed the Bay Area as the home of the largest "tech talent workforce," a report by real estate and investment firm CBRE shows. The firm has published the annual report for 13 years. Last year, the New York Metro Area's tech talent workforce reached 394,300, surpassing the Bay Area's 375,730, according to the report. Fueled by mass layoffs, the Bay Area's tech talent workforce dropped by 6% from 2022 to 2025. New York's tech talent workforce, on the other hand, grew by more than 8% during that period "The Bay Area is likely to remain ... the central location for the AI industry and for innovation. But as we've seen during past cycles, as it tends to grow, that spreads out to all the key markets," Colin Yasukochi, executive director of CBRE's Tech Insights Center, said during a news conference Tuesday.
Heavy metals, phthalates and other potentially harmful chemicals have been detected in a range of menstrual products – the latest category of concern in the personal care aisle.
Collapse of trade talks could lead to job losses, but biggest impact on traditional allies is expected to be political
The US has imposed 50% tariffs on some goods from Canada, and Mark Carney, the country’s prime minister, has vowed to match them “dollar for dollar” after the collapse of trade talks.
The tariffs came into force on roughly $20bn (£14.6bn) of goods – ranging from hockey sticks to tongue depressors – at 04.00GMT. Trade experts said the tariffs could result in some job losses, but the largest impact is expected to be political, driving a further wedge between the traditional allies.
Omaha police agreed to stop carrying electric shock gloves in the halls of state’s largest public school district
Omaha police recently agreed to stop carrying gloves that can deliver electric shocks to students in the halls of Nebraska’s largest public school district.
The decision affecting most Omaha middle and high schools came after the Associated Press first revealed Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)’s plan to give officers the “Gloves” – or “generated low output voltage emitters”. The devices have also been used in recent years by some jails.
Store-bought sweets are convenient, but these 13 homemade desserts bring fresh fruit, browned butter, caramel, warm cakes, creamy bars, and just-baked texture that makes the extra effort worth it.The post 13 desserts that made my aunt admit store-bought never compares…
Delaware's housing market saw more homes sold, higher prices, and a larger pool of active listings compared to the same month last year, according to the Delaware Association of Realtors.
Saturday steak night can go far beyond one big steak on a plate. These 11 recipes cover tomahawk and reverse sear steak, tacos, sliders, nachos, steak bites, and saucy skillet dinners for a proper weekend spread.The post 11 steak recipes…
The state capital was struck by a rare tornado on Thursday night, which damaged a manufacturing plant, Route 13 businesses and Little League fields but no serious injuries were reported.
The National Weather Service confirmed Friday that a likely EF-1 tornado touched down in Dover amid a strong thunderstorm cell.
The city was briefly under a state of emergency overnight on Thursday, but it was lifted Friday morning.
The tornado tore through the Dover Little League fields, causing significant damage there and then continued east, where it picked up tractor trailers at the Kraft Heinz plant and smashed them into the block walls of the manufacturing plant.
The storm’s intense winds toppled tree limbs in downtown Dover, but did not appear to cause widespread damage. On U.S. Route 13, the winds ripped the roof off the Superlodge motel, dropping it on vehicles below. The neighboring Days Inn motel and car wash were similarly damaged.
The roof of the home dugout at the Dover Little League was torn off and thrown across the field while chain link fences were mangled. | SPOTLIGHT DELAWARE PHOTO BY JACOB OWENS
Officials were surveying the damage at the Dover Little League fields on Friday afternoon. | SPOTLIGHT DELAWARE PHOTO BY JACOB OWENS
The scoreboard at the Dover Little League was destroyed by the tornado. | SPOTLIGHT DELAWARE PHOTO BY JACOB OWENS
The interior of the Kraft Heinz plant was visible Friday after the tornado lifted tractor trailers and smashed them into the cinder block walls. | SPOTLIGHT DELAWARE PHOTO BY JACOB OWENS
No one was reportedly injured at the Kraft Heinz plant, which was operating normally Friday. | SPOTLIGHT DELAWARE PHOTO BY JACOB OWENS
The Superlodge’s sign was still standing Friday but sustained damage from the tornado. | SPOTLIGHT DELAWARE PHOTO BY JACOB OWENS
The Superlodge roof was ripped off in the storm. | SPOTLIGHT DELAWARE PHOTO BY JACOB OWENS
The roof and fence of the Days Inn motel off U.S. Route 13 was shredded by the tornado. | SPOTLIGHT DELAWARE PHOTO BY JACOB OWENS
Pieces of the Days Inn rood were hanging from utility lines on Friday afternoon. | SPOTLIGHT DELAWARE PHOTO BY JACOB OWENS
The city of Dover condemned the Superlodge on Friday, evicting some residents who had been staying there. | SPOTLIGHT DELAWARE PHOTO BY JACOB OWENS
A cemented light pole along U.S. Route 13 was ripped from the ground in the storm. | SPOTLIGHT DELAWARE PHOTO BY JACOB OWENS
The sign at a neighboring car was was toppled by the tornado. | SPOTLIGHT DELAWARE PHOTO BY JACOB OWENS
Detroit, Michigan — Republican Senate nominee Mike Rogers’ allies have asked AIPAC not to run advertisements supporting his campaign, reflecting concerns that the prominent pro-Israel group could become a liability in his closely watched race against Democrat Abdul El-Sayed.
According to Axios, Rogers spoke last week with AIPAC chair Michael Tuchin. The following day, the organization shelved a completed television ad targeting El-Sayed, an outspoken critic of Israel who defeated AIPAC-backed Rep. Haley Stevens in the Democratic primary.
AIPAC and affiliated groups spent more than $30 million trying to defeat El-Sayed during that contest. Rogers’ advisers reportedly concluded that the spending helped El-Sayed portray himself as battling powerful outside interests and feared another visible AIPAC campaign could produce the same effect.
Rogers’ team has suggested alternatives, including directing pro-Israel donors toward outside groups supporting Rogers rather than advertising under AIPAC’s name. Talks between the campaign and organization have since cooled.
The tension is notable because Rogers remains strongly supportive of Israel. Michigan also has one of the nation’s largest Arab American populations, while polling cited by Axios found 55% of state voters oppose continued U.S. aid to Israel.
Rogers nevertheless told Axios he welcomes support from the pro-Israel community. The November contest is expected to be among the country’s most competitive Senate races.
Separate criminal convictions come as domestic violence charities warn of tech-facilitated abuse and coercion
Two men have been convicted this week in separate criminal cases that revealed they had posted explicit content on OnlyFans without the full consent of the women whose images were uploaded.
In the first case, Alexander Tang, 37, took and uploaded 47 intimate images and four videos of a woman to OnlyFans without her consent, and was paid money for the material he posted to the website.
Boy, seven, had complained of feeling tired so father left him with snacks and a soft drink and continued his climb
A man who abandoned his seven-year-old son on Mount Fuji in Japan after the boy complained of feeling tired while on a family hike has been reprimanded by local police.
A worker on Japan’s highest mountain discovered the child sitting alone on a bench near the sixth station of the Fujinomiya trail at an altitude of more than 2,000 metres (6,500 feet) on Thursday.
PM tells regional mayors during informal discussions he is keen for tournament to return to British Isles
Andy Burnham has said he wants to bring the men’s World Cup to the UK in 2042, returning the tournament to Britain for the first time in almost eight decades.
During informal discussions at No 10 North in Manchester on Friday, the prime minister told regional mayors he was keen for the tournament to be played in the British Isles.
"I think we have about four to five passengers that were burned by the laptop," a pilot can be heard saying in air traffic control audio obtained by CBS News.
Streamed auctions offer a cheap way to buy the precious gems, but experts warn that quality is not guaranteed
The first time Andrea Greenhill came across a livestream auction for lab-grown diamonds while scrolling on TikTok, she was stunned. While the diamond engagement ring her husband proposed with years ago had cost thousands of dollars, these loose lab-grown diamonds were selling in seconds at a fraction of the price.
“I have two rings that are both natural diamonds and cost a fortune,” she said. I saw the prices they were going for in the auctions, and I was like, “This is insanity.’”
A Democrat’s remarks have resulted in impassioned defenses of the Trump aide. The right has discovered misogyny
Jon Ossoff is quite the miracle worker. Perhaps the Democratic senator can’t turn water into wine, but he has managed to turn whining conservatives into impassioned feminists.
During a rally last Sunday, the Georgia senator delivered a takedown of Donald Trump, which included a reference to his aide Natalie Harp. “He doesn’t want to do the job,” Ossoff said of the president. “He wants to build his ballroom and travel with Natalie on their apparently defenseless flying palace gifted by the Emir of Qatar.”
Latest attack happened amid Islamophobic blowback against Arab and Muslim Americans running for office
Nashid Shakir describes how assailants used wire cutters to break into the Westwood Islamic Community Center in the early hours of 3 August.
“They cut the wire and broke the window to get in. They broke into the office, too. It was total disarray,” says Shakir, a board member, and member, at the community center since the 1960s.
Content creators are fighting proposal to boost traditional broadcasters in video platforms’ all-powerful algorithms
The millions who subscribe to the content creator Simon Squibb’s social media channels are usually delivered tips and hacks on how to turn their dream business idea into reality. But they were recently presented with something completely different.
In an Instagram post entitled “the government wants to control YOU”, Squibb issued an urgent call to arms. He asked his followers to fight against a proposal that he said could force content from the BBC and other traditional broadcasters into their social media feeds and recommendations whether they liked it or not.
A call revealing Todd Blanche’s plans to crack down on mifepristone lays bare the danger
The abortion pill is a miracle. Mifepristone, then called RU-486, was synthesized by a French lab in the 1980s; in combination with misoprostol, commonly used as ulcer medication, it cuts off the body’s supply of progesterone, halts the development of a pregnancy, and incites contractions, which empty the uterus. The drug allows pregnancies to be terminated with a shocking degree of reliability and ease. Gone are the concoctions of ergot and Spanish Fly dispensed by 19th century midwives, which only sometimes worked to induce a miscarriage; gone are the backroom procedures of the pre-Roe US, when drunk, lascivious, incompetent or cruel providers wielded bent coat hangers in dirty rooms. The abortion pill is safe, effective and cheaper than ever. And since Dobbs, it’s everywhere: even if you live in a state with an abortion ban, you can get the pills shipped to your house in the mail. Since Roe was overturned, there has not been a return to the terror of mass death that marked the pre-Roe era of septic abortion wards, where women routinely found themselves maimed, sickened or killed. There’s exactly one reason why: because illegal abortions were largely unsafe without the pill, and they are extremely safe with it.
So of course, the Trump administration and their allies on the American right are trying to get rid of it. And this month, they gained a powerful new ally when Todd Blanche, Donald Trump’s former personal lawyer and an anti-abortion zealot, was confirmed as attorney general.
New CDC data shows MMR vaccination among kindergarteners declining slightly as non-medical exemptions climb to 4.2%
A week after Donald Trump made a series of misleading claims about vaccines – including that some injections look “like the size of a soda bottle” – the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released the latest data on national kindergarten vaccination rates.
CDC communications downplayed the changes – a three-sentence announcement said, “overall vaccination rates among kindergarteners remained high” – but medical experts immediately saw cause for concern in the trends.
According to a post from chief product officer Hari Srinivasan, "over a million people" have clicked on LinkedIn's new "Seems like AI slop" button, which launched after one analysis found 41% of the platform's longform posts were fully AI-generated. The Verge reports: In Thursday's post, Srinivasan said that users are overall "now experiencing 40% less views on what we classify as AI slop from just a few weeks ago." LinkedIn is also adding a new message that will tell users who make a post if "Some members told us this post seems like AI." "We approached this assuming good intent; I know I'm increasingly conscious on how to not sound like AI & the goal is to provide helpful feedback," Srinivasan said.
Retired Army Lt. Col. Alex Vindman, a Florida Democratic U.S. Senate candidate, at a primary night watch party on Aug. 18, 2026, in Oakland Park, Fla.Photo: Joe Raedle/Getty Images
Alexander Vindman lost to Angie Nixon in the Florida Democratic senatorial primary on Tuesday, marking a long-overdue end to one of the worst liberal mass delusions of the Trump era: Russiagate.
Vindman’s loss offers a number of opportunities for schadenfreude, from the comeuppance for his wife’s sneering at Nixon’s clothes to the staggering spending advantage he had over his opponent, a Democratic Socialists of America member — but it’s the bell tolling for neocons cynically taking advantage of conspiracy theory-minded liberals that’s the most gratifying reason for the loss.
Over the past decade, these conservative Democrats and “Never Trump” Republicans relied on liberal fears of Russian election interference and shadowy Moscow kompromat over the president to leverage influence in the party.
Many Democrats and their allies in the media bought into the idea that only a nefarious, Kremlin-driven plot could have led to America electing Trump.
From the beginning, Russiagate was used by a shellshocked liberal establishment to explain away Trump’s victory in a way that didn’t implicate the Democrats. Rather than address what it was about Hillary Clinton’s political platform — and the preceding eight years of President Barack Obama — that opened the door to MAGA, many Democrats and their allies in the media fully bought into the idea that only a nefarious, Kremlin-driven plot could have led to America electing Trump.
This was an attractive proposal, and it found an enthusiastic, if niche, audience. Democratic voters responded well, notably to commentators at MSNBC like Rachel Maddow, who went all in on the conspiracy and pushed it far beyond what was plausible.
As MSNBC and, to a lesser extent, CNN, found ratings success with the largely fabricated scandal, the infection spread across legacy media. The New York Times published Louise Mensch, a serial fabulist whose Twitter feed was a laundry list of delusions, in the opinion section. The Washington Post reported an implausible story that Russians were targeting the Vermont energy grid.
Grifters of all stripes quickly adapted their cons to the new game. In one notorious example, a Twitter user named Eric Garland skyrocketed himself to online notoriety by spinning up a “game theory” Russiagate fantasy where a secret, Avengers-esque team of liberal politicians were using the scandal to beat Vladimir Putin at realpolitik (how, exactly, this was going to happen went unaddressed). The thread was praised as “great writing” by notable media figures; today, Garland is a gutter-level antisemite aligned with far-right gadfly Chuck Johnson whose conspiracy theories are utterly incomprehensible.
In one of the more amusing, and egregious, examples of the hysteria, pundit Jonathan Chait improbably claimed that Trump may have been an agent of the KGB going back to the early 1980s — a preposterous story that nevertheless netted him primetime appearances on cable news.
In Washington, Russiagate mania supplanted actual policy priorities for Democrats both before and after they retook the House in the 2018 midterms. As I wrote nearly nine years ago at Fairness and Accuracy In Reporting, establishment media allies like Maddow were so narrowly focused on Russiagate in the early Trump years that they often ignored or papered over instances of corruption and corporate power in lieu of fomenting the conspiracy theory.
Establishment media was so narrowly focused on Russiagate in the early Trump years that they often ignored or papered over instances of corruption and corporate power in lieu of fomenting the conspiracy theory.
Whether this effort was intentional or not is somewhat irrelevant; the net result was the stifling of the Bernie Sanders wing taking over the party and a reassertion of the neoliberal, corporate-friendly establishment’s control of the levers of power.
Unsurprisingly, many of the same figures are endorsing that approach again as progressives are winning primaries by focusing on affordability and ambitious policy proposals rather than simply “Trump bad.” In an essay for The Atlantic on Thursday, Chait argued Vindman’s loss didn’t detract from the correctness of resistance liberalism and its singular focus on Trump — and instructed Democrats not to try to offer voters any actionable policy: “Rather than promise to change everything about American politics, focus relentlessly on Trump’s unfitness.”
That’s a message that’s soothing to the elite liberal class Chait writes for, but it’s unlikely to find much purchase among voters, Democratic or otherwise. The public is burnt out on one-trick-pony versions of escaping the Trump era. And Trump’s second administration has exposed the rotten house of cards keeping the U.S. state afloat, making systemic change an imperative.
For Democrats, that has meant turning to candidates like Nixon, as well as Michigan’s Abdul El-Sayed and Maine’s Troy Jackson. It leaves the neocons who used Russiagate as a way to pivot and rebrand their way out of a party singularly devoted to Trump and into the welcoming arms of the Democratic establishment in a predicament. They’re realizing, with rising panic, that they’re not going to be able to dictate the party’s future as Democrats shift away from Israel and express their support for Palestine and a robust welfare state.
The public is burnt out on one-trick-pony versions of escaping the Trump era.
Some of the Russiagaters are already pivoting back to the right, like Michael Cohen, the former Trump lawyer who became the toast of liberal media after deciding to oppose the president in a self-serving effort when facing prison time. On Thursday, Cohen had his former client on the radio Thursday for a friendly chat.
Others, like The Bulwark’s Bill Kristol, are bullish on liberalism (although, as anyone who remembers the Iraq War knows, they still can’t be trusted an inch). Count Vindman, for now, in the latter camp; however, despite his disagreements with Nixon on Palestine and domestic politics, he endorsed her and promised to support her in November.
If this is truly the end of Russiagate’s stranglehold on U.S. politics — and we should all hope that’s the case — then its beneficiaries had a good run. Grifters and partisans were able to use the conspiracy theory to push their agendas and further their careers. Neocons secured a foothold in the liberal establishment which will be difficult, though not impossible, to excise. And the Democratic leadership was able to put off actually offering voters tangible policy that would improve their lives for a decade by focusing on delusional fantasies — a strategy that’s now coming back to bite them at the ballot box.
But for the rest of us, Russiagate was a black hole of political inertia at a time when the country needed strong moral leadership and new ideas. Let’s bury it for good by moving past the conspiracies toward more progressive policy prospects and to political change that does more than focus on Trump.
Trump transport chief’s YouTube show vowed to ‘celebrate America’s story’ – it’s debatable whether it celebrates anything besides the Duffys themselves
It would be fair to say that the Trump administration’s celebration of the United States’s 250th birthday has been unorthodox – involving, as it has, an Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) event at the White House, a poorly attended state fair, and a car race through Washington, before which the US president will take a lap of honor.
On Tuesday, however, Donald Trump officials dropped perhaps their weirdest 250th offering yet: a six-part travel show in which the US secretary of transportation take his entire family on a startlingly self-involved, creatively funded road trip around the country.
Thomas Bailey, 58, faces charge of unauthorized entry of an inhabited dwelling near Covington, Louisiana
A US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer was jailed on Friday on allegations of breaking into a woman’s apartment.
Thomas Bailey, 58, faces a charge of unauthorized entry of an inhabited dwelling after his arrest by the sheriff’s office of St Tammany parish, Louisiana, the agency said in a statement.
Beach patrols report hundreds of stings a day as warmer waters and drought create favorable conditions for jellyfish
An unusually high number of jellyfish are crowding Delaware’s beaches this summer amid climate change and other environmental factors – keeping some beachgoers out of the ocean and stinging lifeguards as well as bathers.
Beach safety patrols in the state have reported hundreds of daily stings as the jellyfish have increased with intensifying environmental factors, including warmer waters, hot and dry conditions, and water circulation favorable to the invertebrates.
English translation of Élisabeth, the New Wave director’s 1946 book about young lovers in prewar Paris, receives rave reviews as precursor to auteur’s cinematic work
In the dog days of the second world war, 24-year-old Maurice Schérer wrote a tale of young lovers in prewar small-town France. He described lazy August swims in the Marne River east of Paris. He wrote about age-gap affairs and semi-incestuous flirtations. Schérer gallantly used a nom de plume, Gilbert Cordier, to shield his Catholic family from scandal, but he needn’t have bothered as his concerns were unfounded. The finished novel, Élisabeth, barely made a ripple and quickly slipped out of print. Undeterred, Scherer adopted a second pseudonym – Éric Rohmer – and decided to try his luck as a film-maker instead.
Now – eight decades on from its first publication, 16 years on from its author’s death – Élisabeth belatedly returns from the cold. Republished in an English-language translation by Aaron Kerner, Rohmer’s book has been greeted with glowing reviews, hailed as a lost modernist classic and a crucial origin story for the award-winning director of Claire’s Knee, The Green Ray and My Night at Maud’s. “It would be a rewarding, exciting read even if the identity of its author were unfamiliar,” wrote Richard Brody in the New Yorker. The fact that it’s by Rohmer? That’s the icing on the cake.
Incident happened when Inter Miami met Philadelphia Union
Argentinian lashed out at Quinn Sullivan in 2-2 draw
Lionel Messi has been fined for slapping an opponent during a Major League Soccer game. The 39-year-old Inter Miami forward lashed out at Quinn Sullivan of Philadelphia Union during their match on Wednesday, catching the midfielder around the back of the head.
The Argentinian appeared to be angry Sullivan had elbowed him after he had played the ball, with the referee intervening before the situation could escalate. The match at Subaru Park finished 2-2.
Compact discs are back, with searches for players up 96% at John Lewis and popular models sold out online
With more than 800 million people subscribing to a music streaming service, wireless speakers have become a familiar sight in homes. But expect to get reacquainted with a different object to play music soon: the CD player, once consigned to obsolescence, is back.
John Lewis report that searches for CD players are up 96% since July, possibly owing to students heading to university and buying the systems for their rooms. The £79 Crosley Voyager, and the £129 Pure Classic C-D6 are both sold out online, with the Voyager scheduled to return in October. Portable CD players are also popular.
In letter to Macron and Burnham, more than 100 senior figures accuse Israel of ethnic cleansing and call for measures including trade ban
More than 100 French and British former diplomats have said Palestine is being erased in front of the world’s eyes and called for urgent action including trade and arms sales bans to press Israel to accept a Palestinian state.
An unprecedented joint letter dispenses with diplomatic language by accusing Israel of ethnic cleansing and warning that the world no longer sees Israel as a genuine democracy.
Uphold the decisions of the international court of justice and the international criminal court.
Suspend the EU-Israel association agreement and the UK-Israel trade and partnership agreement for breach of human rights provisions.
Suspend arms transfers to and from Israel and all bilateral military cooperation.
Insist on unrestricted aid access to Gaza, led by the UN Relief and Works Agency, other UN agencies and international NGOs, with consequences for non-compliance, and access too for journalists, diplomats and parliamentarians.
Ban all trade with settlements, including goods, investment, insurance and other financial services.
Warn potential bidders for the “red line” E1 settlement or other settlement financing/construction that their interests in and with the UK and France will suffer.
Make it an offence for British and French citizens to buy property on stolen Palestinian land and remove charitable status from “charities” funding settlements.
MLS wants to build on the momentum of the World Cup. America’s top domestic cup competition is an obvious place to start
The new commissioner of Major League Soccer, Larry Berg, isn’t keen on the idea of promotion and relegation, but he is a fan of jeopardy. When asked the obligatory pro/rel question in his introductory press conference, Berg responded, “I don’t think it’s appropriate for our league, but I think there are other ways to create jeopardy during the regular season, [and] again in the playoffs.”
He referred to this summer’s World Cup, which was co-hosted by the US, and the excitement it provided, adding, “Millions of people across North America experienced that passion firsthand. They fell in love with the drama, the atmosphere, the supporter culture and the emotion that makes soccer unlike anything else. In the World Cup, we all enjoyed knockout games after the group stage. I call those games of consequence or games of jeopardy.”
As the president tries to extract the US from his Iran war quagmire, leadership in Tehran is only too happy to crush his midterm dreams
In the aftermath of his devastating election defeat, the US president remained haunted by regrets over Iran.
Months before Jimmy Carter lost the 1980 presidential election to Ronald Reagan, eight US servicemen died in a botched high-risk rescue mission that failed to secure the freedom of dozens of US hostages seized in Tehran.
Trump aide Natalie Harp is estranged from her brother, Preston, who has used social media and recent interviews to criticize her and highlight his own left-wing politics.
Leaders claim scaremongering from business figures may cause key legislation to become ‘meaningless’
Trades unions are warning Andy Burnham that Labour’s policy on cutting zero-hours contracts risks failing to live up to the party’s manifesto.
Union leaders are seeking reassurances from the business secretary, Jonathan Reynolds, amid what the TUC has condemned as “scaremongering” from business groups.
In trial that opened on Tuesday, California and 28 other states accused the company of designing addictive sites and violating laws protecting children’s privacy
Meta’s business can be boiled down to four words that begin with the letter H: hook, hold, harvest, hide, according to a lawyer who is prosecuting the world’s largest social media company.
The owner of Facebook and Instagram “hooks” in users, “holds” them on its platforms for as long as possible, “harvests” their data and then “hides” the truth from the public, she argued.
A rapidly developing El Nino is already reaching record-setting levels for this time of year and is expected to intensify further over the coming months. "The El Nino has blossomed. It is off the charts. Usual measures of El Nino have blown past prior record levels in the period with good data, even though maximum effects are still several months in the future," writes renowned climate scientist James Hansen at Columbia University in New York in a newsletter sent today. Climate scientists disagree over whether it has already surpassed previous "super El Nino" events on every metric, but several say the signal is unprecedented in forecasts and could ultimately become the strongest modern event on record. New Scientist reports: There are different ways of measuring El Ninos, which occur when warm surface waters spread eastwards along the equator across the surface of the tropical Pacific Ocean. Hansen thinks the best measure is how much warmer than usual the upper 300 meters of the eastern tropical Pacific becomes. "Our preferred metric, the heat anomaly in the upper 300 meters of the Equatorial Pacific Ocean... already exceeds the 1997-98 super El Nino," he writes.
[...] What's clear is that this developing super El Nino will soon exceed previous events on all measures. "I have never seen an El Nino signal this intense in our forecasts," [Adam Scaife at the Met Office, the UK's national weather service] said in a statement released today. "If the forecast is accurate... then 2026 will far exceed our recent experience of El Nino and its worldwide climate influences."
While Hansen is comparing the developing super El Nino to other modern events for which we have direct temperature records, Hayley Fowler at Newcastle University in the UK thinks it could also exceed historical events suspected to be even larger. "The super El Nino evolving in the Pacific will likely be the biggest ever recorded, reaching or exceeding the levels of the 1877-1878 El Nino which caused widespread impacts, including famines and around 50 million deaths (3-4 percent of the global population at the time), mostly across Asia and South America," Fowler said in a statement.
Experts say fires caused by wrongly discarded lithium batteries, such as those in vapes, are putting lives at risk
Fires at recycling centres caused by wrongly discarded lithium batteries such as those found in vapes are occurring at the rate of more than 10 a week, according to new figures.
Experts say the sheer volume of battery fires now occurring at waste facilities has reached a crisis that is putting lives at risk, costing £1bn a year and frustrating fire chiefs.
Amid a jobs slump, award-winning writers, directors and producers taking on sometimes lucrative temp work teaching AI skills such as screenwriting and production
Hollywood creatives are taking gig work to train AI models to replicate their skills in a bid to offset tightening earnings in a trend one compared to being “handed a shovel and asked to dig the grave of my profession”.
Experienced and award-winning writers, directors and producers are being paid from $12 to $200 an hour to teach AI models the intricacies of their jobs, from writing a screenplay to devising a shooting schedule.
It’s clear here in Silicon Valley that AI is advancing faster than humans’ ability to control it. That means even sober prophecies seem optimistic
Here in Silicon Valley, the experts think that within the next couple of years we’ll see an extraordinary takeoff for artificial intelligence. “Welcome to the foothills of the singularity,” as a Stanford University friend greeted me. More prosaically, the imminent breakthrough is described as “recursive self-improvement” – the point at which AI itself trains each successive model of AI, resulting in an exponential development to something which, in many significant respects, is more intelligent than us humans.
As Robert Wright puts it in his book The God Test: “Never before has the near-term future … held such a wide array of not-implausible paths for humankind that would be so wildly transformative.” But will this be heaven or hell? Heaven, says Elon Musk, who predicts “an age of amazing abundance” – although he also sees a 10-20% chance of killer robots murdering us all. Hell is more likely according to Geoffrey Hinton, one of the intellectual founding fathers of AI. “My intuition is, we’re toast,” he told an interviewer in 2023. And talking to Sebastian Mallaby, author of The Infinity Machine, a book about the quest for superintelligence, Hinton estimates p(doom) – the probability of human extinction – at 50%, “because I haven’t got a clue how to estimate the real number”. “As soon as evolution [of AI] kicks in, we’re fucked,” he adds cheerfully. But whether it’s God or Godzilla, artificial superintelligence is just around the corner.
Social media platforms face public ire after fatal crash involving teenagers filming themselves driving on wrong side
Videos often begin with the camera panning across a glowing dashboard as a gloved hand starts the ignition. The camera turns to show figures with masked faces in the rear seat, who are also filming, and swivels back to show the windscreen. Beyond it, a dark cityscape.
The engine throbs, headlights puncture the night and the journey begins, first down a suburban road, then a motorway. The speedometer shows acceleration, the needle juddering as the car gathers velocity.
Washington, D.C. — Outgoing White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt will join the Trump-aligned MAGA Inc. super PAC after leaving the administration at the end of August, returning to an organization where she previously served as a spokesperson.
Leavitt confirmed the move Friday while speaking with reporters before traveling with President Donald Trump to a campaign rally in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. She did not disclose her new title but said reporters would continue seeing her frequently on the campaign trail.
MAGA Inc. has become one of the most financially powerful groups supporting Trump and Republican candidates heading into the 2026 midterms. The super PAC reportedly has more than $350 million available for political spending.
Leavitt announced last week that she would leave the White House to spend more time with her family after recently returning from maternity leave. Trump has said she will remain one of his top advisers and an influential voice within the Republican Party.
Before joining Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign and later becoming White House press secretary, Leavitt worked as a spokesperson for MAGA Inc., making the move a return to familiar territory rather than a complete career shift.
The White House has not yet announced Leavitt’s replacement. Trump said Friday that the administration has received numerous applications for the job, while several Republican media figures and political operatives have been discussed as possible successors.
An anonymous reader quotes a report from ZDNet: According to a Bloomberg report, attributed to China's Ministry of State Security, the country has ordered some government agencies to drop Windows 10 China Government Edition for Chinese-made Linux distributions. Why not Windows 11? Because China, like many other non-US governments, no longer trusts American companies with their software and services. This approach is all about digital sovereignty. In addition, even before the recent trend of governments outside America moving away from Windows, Beijing has started a long-running push to replace foreign technology in sensitive systems with domestic, open-source alternatives.
[...] The Chinese government did not specify which Linux versions would replace Windows 10. However, the stock prices of Chinese Linux suppliers, Kylin Software and Tongxin Software Technology (commonly known as UnionTech), immediately jumped. These companies' respective operating systems, Kylin OS (no relation to Ubuntu Kylin) and UnionTech OS (UOS), were already positioned as domestic desktop and server replacements for Windows in government, state-owned enterprise, and critical-infrastructure environments. [...] Huawei's HarmonyOS 2, which began as an Android variant but is now a proprietary mobile and Internet of Things (IoT) operating system, is also being developed into a PC platform. HarmonyOS 2 won't be deployed anytime soon. Kylin and UOS are the only mature desktops that are ready for institutional desktop deployments.
[...] ... this transition won't be easy. For agencies now moving off the government Windows build, the issue will be more demanding than simply swapping one desktop interface for another. Migration requires application testing, peripheral and driver validation, identity system integration, document-format compatibility, staff retraining and, in many cases, replacement or adaptation of Windows-dependent line-of-business software. The report provides no details on exactly how this transformation will occur. But the speed of the shift suggests that these issues are already being addressed in China's centralized managed desktop stack.
Washington, D.C. — Nearly 200 activists aligned with Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s Make America Healthy Again movement are urging President Donald Trump to reconsider plans encouraging coal-fired power for the rapidly expanding artificial intelligence industry.
In a letter sent Friday, the activists said they support maintaining U.S. leadership in AI but argued that growing electricity demand from data centers should not increase exposure to mercury, soot and other pollutants associated with coal generation. The group asked the administration to consider alternatives including solar and geothermal power.
The letter also calls for transparent reviews of where data centers are built, how they obtain electricity and whether projects comply with existing environmental reviews.
Signatories include Moms Across America founder Zen Honeycutt and Charles Eisenstein, both former members of Kennedy’s 2024 presidential campaign. Their opposition represents another disagreement between parts of the MAHA coalition and the administration over environmental policy.
Trump has promoted what he calls “big, beautiful coal” as one option for supplying electricity to energy-intensive data centers, arguing that expanding AI infrastructure is essential for competing with China.
The White House defended Trump’s broader energy record while activists said their concerns center on public-health effects in communities hosting power generation and data centers.
The Central African Republic is one of more than 30 countries the U.S. government has convinced to accept third-country deportees arrested as part of President Trump's large-scale crackdown on illegal immigration.
Rule would require states to provide federal government with information on voters in return for delivering ballots
The US Postal Service prepared to publish a final rule late on Friday to impose new requirements on states to provide the federal government with information on voters before the November midterm congressional elections, despite a pair of court orders that currently block the changes from taking effect.
The USPS acknowledged in the text of the final rule posted online Friday, which is scheduled to be published in the Federal Register next week, that two injunctions issued by federal courts in California and Massachusetts currently bar it from moving ahead with the changes to comply with a March executive order signed by Donald Trump.
US Senator Tim Sheehy, a Montana Republican and a cattle rancher, has come out against a plan announced Friday by Donald Trump to allow for an increase in imported ground beef.
”I’ve advised President Trump against this course of action for a year because American ranchers have been struggling against the packer monopoly for decades, and this will further harm them - most of whom are MAGA Republicans,” Sheehy wrote on X. “The President’s heart is in the right place on wanting lower prices for the American people, and beef prices have been impacted by the Mexican screwworm. But the reality is this action will make it more difficult for American ranchers to rebuild our herd and bring prices down for the American people. And most importantly, this will harm our ranching families who feed the nation.”
Trump announced a plan on Truth Social to allow 300,000 metric tonnes of beef to be imported without tariffs over the next 90 days, to be sold for hamburger at a 25 percent discount to current prices. Trump offered this agreement with an unnamed source as measure to lower prices while “as we work to rebuild this herd and help our ranchers.”
The US beef cattle herd is near historic lows, and beef prices have skyrocketed over the last year. The average price of ground beef in American cities is around $7.12 a pound, an increase of 9.4 percent year-over-year according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
This is a slap in the face to every war hero and every service member who has worn the uniform. It’s beyond comprehension for a president to want his own name on a Navy ship while our armed forces are living in deteriorating conditions aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln. For generations, millions of Black women and men have proudly served in the United States military, defending freedoms that too often were not even afforded to them, their families, or their communities. Donald Trump is making a mockery of that legacy by treating military service as another opportunity for personal branding. Our brave service members signed up to defend the nation, not the fragile ego of one man. America deserves better than this.
President at rally in South Carolina makes comments on key strategic waterway and jokes about bombing Iran
Donald Trump called the strait of Hormuz “an American territory” on Friday, as the US continues its military blockade of Iran’s shipping and ports while Trump’s administration struggles to end its war with the country.
“We don’t even know if we won, because I view the strait of Hormuz as an American territory right now,” Trump said, addressing a crowd in South Carolina. He was campaigning for senator Darline Graham, who is running to permanently fill her late brother Lindsey Graham’s Senate seat.
Kaja Kallas, the EU’s top diplomat, threatens harshest sanctions yet on Russia after strike on Kryvyi Rih, the home town of Volodymyr Zelenskyy
Russian drones have slammed into a busy shopping centre in central Ukraine, killing 16 people in an attack that Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned as “cynical and despicable”.
The EU’s foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, condemned Friday’s attack on Kryvyi Rih – the president’s home town – as “terror by design” and said she was “putting forward the most far-reaching Russia sanctions listings since the start of the war” when ministers meet in Ireland next month.
President Trump's legal team is threatening to sue left-leaning think tank Center for American Progress for defamation over a report it issued that found "no evidence that National Guard deployments have reduced violent crime."
In south Minneapolis, a second-floor bedroom remains much as it was. For the parents of 8-year-old Fletcher Merkel, it's something every American should see.
A report released by thinktank Cap argues the deployment of the national guard failed to have a measurable impact on crime, despite costing billions
The Center for American Progress (Cap) received a letter from Donald Trump’s lawyer threatening a $5bn lawsuit unless the liberal research organization retracts a report criticizing the effectiveness of the president’s National Guard rollout.
The report released 13 July argues that the National Guard deployment in Washington DC, Memphis and Los Angeles failed to have a measurable impact on crime in these cities despite an estimated cost of $1.7bn. The report looks at the falling rate of crime in cities without a National Guard intervention and concludes that they are not statistically different from the rate of decrease in those that had the intervention, noting that violent crime began falling well before Trump took office in 2025.
Recall comes after Chinese authorities said it would ban hidden car door handles commonly seen on Tesla models
Tesla and other carmakers are making a major recall of more than 4m vehicles in China over safety concerns mostly related to their door handles, according to Chinese authorities on Friday.
The US carmaker is recalling about 2.98m China-made and imported EVs including Model 3, Model Y, Model X and Model S over door-handle safety risks, according to China’s state administration for market regulation.
A passport can take travelers to some remarkably remote corners of the planet, but it cannot open every door. Around the world, islands, caves, military installations, Indigenous territories, religious sites and underground vaults remain closed to ordinary visitors.
The review included data from an anonymous survey conducted every other year that asks service members whether they've been the victim of unwanted sexual conduct or harassment.
‘Civilian-contracted aircraft’ crashes in western Alaska killing two pilots and six passengers, officials say
A charter aircraft that crashed at a remote radar site in western Alaska on Thursday, killing all eight people onboard, was making its second runway approach in heavy fog when it lost contact, authorities said Friday.
The Cessna’s two pilots could not see the gravel airstrip and were flying solely by instruments when the plane crashed about midday Thursday, Clint Johnson, the National Transportation Safety Board’s Alaska region chief, told a virtual news conference.
(The Center Square) - A Washington state marriage and family therapist will have another opportunity to challenge a 2018 Washington law that his attorneys contend censored his speech.
Ypsilanti Township, Michigan, has imposed a six-month moratorium on "major electric utility infrastructure" in its latest attempt to delay a proposed $1.2 billion University of Michigan-Los Alamos data center that would support nuclear-weapons research. Township leaders, who have already paused water service for data centers, say the project has moved forward without adequate consultation and want more time to study noise, grid impacts, and other effects on residents. 404 Media reports: Last year, the university announced it was partnering with LANL on the construction of a massive 220,000 square foot hyperscale data center in Ypsilanti Township and residents have been fighting it ever since. During a meeting of the Township Board on August 18, the council unanimously passed a resolution that will delay the construction of new electrical infrastructure for 180 days. Data centers need a lot of energy, and Michigan's power authority will have to build new substations in the Township to power the proposed facility. The moratorium asked the local power authorities to use the six month delay to study noise pollution and how the new infrastructure would affect existing customers.
The moratorium is narrowly focused on "the nature and scale of electrical infrastructure necessary to serve new high-energy-demand land uses [...] including infrastructure associated, but not limited to hyper-scale data centers, mid-sized data centers, artificial intelligence computing facilities, and high-performance computational centers, industrial facilities, and other intensive electrical users."
Earlier this month, the University of Michigan announced it had settled on a specific plot of land in Ypsilanti Township -- a 144-acre plot on Textile Road. In a press release about the decision, the University said the data center would have the "capacity to change the world" and insisted it would not be a "high value target risk" in a war, that it would not store any hazardous nuclear material, and was not a weapons production facility. LANL previously confirmed that the data center will be used for nuclear weapons research. Ypsilanti Township Supervisor Brenda Stumbo told WEMU news that the selection of the site was a "travesty of justice" because it ignores constituents' concerns about environmental impact.
During the August 18 moratorium vote, the Board projected a large stock photograph of an electric substation behind its members. The photo was meant to remind people of the size of the incoming infrastructure and the lack of communication from the university about it. "This picture's really important to think about because U of M has been so crystal clear that they've been communicating to us abundantly -- which is not true," Township clerk Debbie Swanson said during the meeting. "That speaks to the lack of respect."
While students return to campus on Sunday, August 23rd to move into the dorms, MSU took to the streets of downtown Bozeman to spread some school spirit with the 14th annual Cat Walk.
An outbreak of E. coli and salmonella that has sickened dozens of people across 15 states has been linked to an alfalfa grower in Minnesota, federal health officials said Friday.
Saja El-Khawas had been in critical condition after being pulled from sea in West Sussex
A six-year-old girl has died in hospital three days after being pulled from the sea off Shoreham in West Sussex, in an incident that also killed her mother, father and sister.
Saja El-Khawas died on Friday after the deaths of her sister Sara El-Khawas, 14, and her parents Hassan El-Khawas, 55, and Zeina Alayn, 37, on Tuesday.
The body of Alisa Goods, a New York grandmother who went missing while visiting Las Vegas, has been found after more than a week, her sister told CBS News' Alice Gainer.
The DoJ sued TikTok and its former parent company in August 2024 for allegedly failing to protect children’s privacy and collecting their information
TikTok and its Chinese former parent company ByteDance on Friday agreed to a $400m settlement to resolve the US Department of Justice’s allegations that the short-form video app violated children’s online privacy.
The justice department sued TikTok and ByteDance in 2024 for allegedly failing to protect children’s privacy and illegally collecting their information. The defendants were accused of violating a law requiring online services aimed at children to obtain parental consent to collect personal information from users under age 13.
Apple is cutting more than 200 jobs as it shifts resources toward a rebuilt, AI-powered Siri and other future products. Roughly 100 positions are being eliminated from the Vision Pro organization, including much of its gaming team and some immersive-video staff. Another 100 cuts are hitting the Siri and software teams. Bloomberg reports: In a statement, Apple acknowledged that it was realigning some teams "to evolve our business to deliver the best experiences for our users." "While we will create new roles as part of this change, it will also impact a limited number of existing roles," the company said. "We are grateful to these team members for their contributions, and we are committed to supporting them throughout their transition, including opportunities to apply for other roles at Apple."
The Siri reshuffling is tied to an upcoming AI-infused version of the assistant, which is built on a new technical architecture. That shift requires a change in the necessary expertise, prompting the company to eliminate a small number of existing roles, reallocate resources and create new positions supporting the updated Siri.
The changes to the Intelligent Systems Experience team reflect an effort to reorganize work on AI-powered capabilities. As more groups bring AI functions to apps, features and services, Apple is realigning teams to match priorities and accelerate development. The restructuring will eliminate some existing positions while creating new roles.
The dark lord – or someone dressed like him – said the technology would aid the empire in tracking ‘rebel scum’
A man dressed as Darth Vader appeared to poke fun at San Diego officials for using Flock Safety automated license plate readers at a city council meeting this week, a stunt that comes as the company faces growing backlash linked to spying concerns.
The man, whose real identity remains unknown, masqueraded on Thursday as the Star Wars villain at a San Diego public safety committee meeting.
UPTON, N.Y. and STONY BROOK, N.Y., Aug. 21, 2026 — Researchers at the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Brookhaven National Laboratory and the State University of New York at Stony Brook (Stony Brook University) have successfully transmitted light particles containing quantum information through open air between the two institutions. This is the first demonstration of its kind in the United States and a key milestone toward extending the nation’s longest quantum network — already connecting eight nodes across several institutions — beyond the limits of fiber-optic cables.
Brookhaven Lab Associate Laboratory Director for Discovery Technologies Gabriella Carini (left) and Brookhaven Lab scientist Justine Haupt (right) stand in Brookhaven’s Quantum Lighthouse — a state-of-the-art rooftop facility equipped with lenses, mirrors, and other optical instruments. Researchers use this technology to transmit and receive particles of light carrying quantum information. (David Rahner/Brookhaven National Laboratory)
“The future of quantum information science will depend not only on what individual quantum computers and devices can do but on our ability to connect them,” said DOE Under Secretary for Science Darío Gil. “As DOE advances its Genesis Mission, we are building toward an interconnected research ecosystem where advanced computing, artificial intelligence, and quantum technologies can work together to tackle some of our most complex scientific challenges. The capabilities demonstrated by Brookhaven Lab and Stony Brook University today are an important step toward making that vision possible.”
During a daytime demonstration on Friday, Aug. 21, researchers used a laser to generate quantum states of light, each containing just a few individual photons, in Stony Brook University’s state-of-the-art Quantum Watchtower. From the Watchtower, located on the roof of Stony Brook’s Health Sciences Center in Stony Brook, New York, the photons exited the core of an optical fiber only about 5 microns in diameter — less than one-tenth the width of a human hair — and traversed 13 miles (21 kilometers) to Brookhaven’s Quantum Lighthouse in Upton, New York.
In the Lighthouse, Gil cut a ribbon blocking the receiving aperture, allowing the photons to reach the detector. Researchers and distinguished guests gathered in the Quantum Lighthouse — built on top of the only Brookhaven Lab building with a clear line of sight to Stony Brook University — to watch as an ultrafast camera marked the photons’ arrival in an equally small optical fiber.
The daytime demonstration showcased the extraordinary precision of this free-space optical (FSO) link between the two institutions, with researchers transmitting photons between fiber-optic cables that are only a fraction of a millimeter in diameter and separated by several miles. But the team has already progressed to the next phase of experimentation using entangled photons — pairs of light particles that are intrinsically linked by the laws of quantum mechanics.
During nighttime tests, when there are lower levels of background light, the researchers successfully sent entangled photons from the Stony Brook physics laboratory to the Quantum Watchtower via fiber, then distributed them across the new FSO link, and successfully received and measured them at the Quantum Lighthouse. This is a key advance toward achieving sustained “wireless” exchange of quantum information between the two institutions — and eventually beyond.
The FSO link — which includes the Quantum Lighthouse and Quantum Watchtower, along with a third facility under development at Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut — adds a wireless component to the record-setting quantum network currently spanning 161 miles and several institutions across Long Island and the New York metropolitan area.
Using this network, pioneered by Stony Brook and Brookhaven Lab, researchers can transmit entangled photons through commercial fiber. Because the particles remain entangled even when separated by long distances, measuring one photon instantly reveals information about its counterpart. This property, often referred to as “spooky action at a distance,” is key for the future of ultra-secure communications, advanced quantum sensing, and networked quantum computing.
“In our long-distance fiber network, we routinely transmit entangled pairs of photons. However, such fiber networks are limited to the use of telecom wavelengths. In our new quantum wireless links, we are exploring the use of infrared wavelengths that are native to quantum processors and related technologies,” said Eden Figueroa, director of Stony Brook’s Quantum Institute, endowed presidential professor of physics in the Department of Physics and Astronomy in the College of Arts and Sciences, and a joint appointee at Brookhaven Lab. “This will provide a direct route to create entangled atomic systems across long distances.”
State University of New York at Stony Brook President Andrea Goldsmith said, “Extending our quantum communication network to include a wireless link is a major leap forward in our development of the Quantum Internet of Things. I’m thrilled that our brilliant Stony Brook researchers, together with our partners at Brookhaven National Laboratory, have demonstrated impressive progress in overcoming the significant challenges of sending quantum information wirelessly via entangled photons. By unlocking wireless quantum connectivity and incorporating it into the world’s only metropolitan-area network that supports quantum communication via entanglement, we are transforming secure data transmission while igniting Long Island as an innovation hub. We are profoundly grateful to our elected officials, Governor Hochul, Senator Schumer, Senator Gillibrand, and Rep. LaLota for their generous support and for securing investments in Long Island’s quantum research. Ultimately, this places New York State at the forefront of quantum information science and its application to secure communication for finance, healthcare, and cybersecurity.”
Building the FSO link
In some ways, the classical internet’s evolution from wired connections to a complex network of wired and wireless technologies provides a roadmap for reaching milestones toward a global quantum network. But the researchers also needed to draw on expertise from a seemingly unrelated field: astronomy.
At the Stony Brook University Quantum Watchtower atop of the Health Sciences Center, pictured from left are Eden Figueroa Barragan, Dimitrios Katramatos, and Ph.D. student Rishikesh Gokhale. (Stony Brook University/John Griffin)
Today’s classical wireless technologies, including cell phones and orbiting satellites, use radio frequencies to transmit information without a physical connection. But radio frequencies are far too noisy to preserve fragile quantum information. Instead, the researchers turned to optical light for sending quantum signals through open air.
“People think of telescopes as tools for looking up into space, but the same technologies that allow astronomers to precisely collect and control light are essential for these quantum experiments,” said Justine Haupt, Brookhaven Lab’s lead scientist on the cross-institutional FSO link project.
Haupt and her colleagues at Brookhaven are experts when it comes to telescopes, having built key components for several high-profile astronomy projects. But because there is more turbulent atmosphere between Brookhaven Lab and Stony Brook University than there is between Earth and the stars, the scientists needed to develop technology sophisticated enough to ensure the photons could travel between institutions without becoming distorted or losing their fragile quantum information. But that was only one piece of a much larger puzzle.
“Both Brookhaven and Stony Brook needed to build specialized rooftop facilities for the telescope systems that were optimized for quantum experiments,” Haupt said. “We needed to integrate the optics, controls, communications, quantum sources, and detectors so equipment 21 kilometers apart could operate as one experiment. Bringing all those pieces together — and then adding the quantum layer — is what makes this capability unique.”
“New York State is committed to investing in cutting-edge research and innovation in emerging fields that move our society forward,” New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said. “The partnership between the State University of New York at Stony Brook and Brookhaven National Laboratory serves as an excellent example of how collaboration can advance discovery and create transformative technologies.”
At 12:26 a.m. ET on Wednesday, Aug. 19, researchers at Brookhaven Lab’s Quantum Lighthouse detected entangled photons arriving from Stony Brook’s Quantum Watchtower. The graph’s uptick on the far right around 0:37, coinciding with the “Entanglement Source ON” text, marks the arrival of entangled photons. (Brookhaven National Laboratory)
Looking Ahead
Yale’s facility — the third leg of the FSO link — was recently completed, and the researchers will soon begin establishing the Stony Brook-Yale connection so they can also transmit entangled photons 30 miles (48 kilometers) across the Long Island Sound.
“While completing this longer leg, the team is simultaneously moving toward one of our ultimate goals: transmitting quantum information through Earth’s atmosphere to orbiting satellites,” said Brookhaven Lab Associate Laboratory Director for Discovery Technologies Gabriella Carini. “Incorporating satellites into the network could help bring secure quantum communications to rural or remote locations with minimal ground-based telecommunications infrastructure, transforming the quantum network from a regional one to a global one.”
Phase-Folded Photon Analysis — On Wednesday, Aug. 19, researchers at Brookhaven Lab’s Quantum Lighthouse detected entangled photons arriving from Stony Brook’s Quantum Watchtower. The diverging of the red and blue lines in the top plot, as well as the difference between the red and blue bars in the bottom graph, indicate an increase in detected photons (red, on-phase rate) compared to the background counts (blue, off-phase rate). This data confirmed that researchers in the Lighthouse saw the quantum signal. (Brookhaven National Laboratory)
Expanding beyond the limits of fiber also opens the door to new kinds of quantum experiments by enabling researchers to use photons with wavelengths, or “colors,” different from the telecommunications wavelengths optimized for commercial fibers. Many quantum technologies naturally operate at these other wavelengths, making free-space links a promising path toward linking quantum devices across long distances. Researchers ultimately envision using the FSO link to connect quantum computers at Brookhaven and Stony Brook — and beyond — enabling them to work together and tackle some of the nation’s most pressing scientific challenges.
“Brookhaven has long been at the forefront of quantum information science, and this achievement represents another important step in that journey,” said Brookhaven Lab Director John Hill. “This free-space link is a key milestone in its own right, but it is also part of a much larger roadmap leading to distributed quantum systems. We will continue advancing the network’s capabilities so that researchers can connect increasingly sophisticated quantum systems together to address a range of problems, from computation to communication to sensing, in ways that just aren’t possible today.”
U.S. Rep. Nick LaLota said, “Under Secretary Gil’s return to Brookhaven National Lab is another reminder that some of the world’s most important scientific work is happening right here in Suffolk County. Quantum research will play a major role in shaping the technologies we rely on every day, while strengthening our national security and ensuring America remains at the forefront of scientific innovation. At a time when Washington must spend taxpayer dollars wisely, I’m focused on prioritizing smart, targeted investments in projects and partnerships at Brookhaven and Stony Brook that support good-paying Long Island jobs, advance groundbreaking research, and keep America leading the world in innovation.”
Empire State Development Board Chairman Kevin Law said, “Long Island has long been home to some of the world’s most important scientific institutions, and today’s milestone demonstrates what is possible when those institutions work together. The partnership between Stony Brook University and Brookhaven National Laboratory is helping establish Long Island as a leader in quantum technology and positioning the region to attract talent, investment, and future economic growth for years to come.”
The work at Brookhaven Lab is primarily supported by the DOE Office of Science. At Stony Brook University, the work is supported by the National Science Foundation and New York’s Empire State Development.
Brookhaven National Laboratory is supported by the Office of Science of the U.S. Department of Energy. The 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, visit science.energy.gov.
This press release is being jointly issued by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Brookhaven National Laboratory and the State University of New York at Stony Brook.
Source: State University of New York at Stony Brook
(The Center Square) - Drivers will hit the streets this weekend for the IndyCar Freedom 250 Grand Prix in the heart of downtown Washington, D.C as part of more than $90 million in taxpayer funds spent over the past year…
Federal prosecutors have charged activist Samuel Tunick with obstruction after he gave Customs and Border Protection officers a duress passcode that wiped his GrapheneOS-powered Pixel during a border search. "His prosecution is one of the earliest known instances of the federal authorities charging a person with destroying evidence using a program designed to wipe a device clean after a specific code is entered," reports The New York Times. From the report: "Obstructing federal law enforcement is a serious matter that has serious repercussions," Theodore Hertzberg, the U.S. attorney for the Northern District of Georgia, said in a statement. "Individuals who destroy or attempt to destroy property, including data, to prevent lawful search and seizure should expect to face prosecution and punishment for their actions."
A spokeswoman for U.S. Customs and Border Protection said in a statement that the agency had the authority to search the electronic devices of anyone entering or leaving the United States, regardless of citizenship, to enforce laws addressing terrorism, child exploitation, drug- and human-smuggling, visa fraud and national security threats.
"The border search will only include an examination of information that is present on the device at the time it is presented for inspection," the spokeswoman said, adding that it searched the electronic devices of fewer than 0.01 percent of all arriving international travelers in the last fiscal year. "Just the knowledge that the government is peering into your private life in this way, trying to dig up dirt on you, even though it's unsuccessful, is creepy," Tunick said, in response to a question about how the charges have affected him.
His message: "The government doesn't own our communications, our relationships, as hard as they might try to. We have to defend our fundamental right to privacy; otherwise we can't say that we really live in a democracy."
An Israeli fact-finding mission declined to refer some other “exceptional” cases, including the killing of World Central Kitchen aid workers, to military prosecutors.
The trial of Lindsay Clancy, a former nurse accused of murdering her three children, is wrapping up its fifth week. On Friday morning, the defense rested, and the public attention to the case is at a fever-pitch — especially on social media. Clancy, 36, does not deny that she strangled her children, but has pleaded not guilty due to lack of criminal responsibility, also known as an insanity defense. She argues that she was in the throes of postpartum psychosis, a rare and devastating condition that can go unrecognized and untreated. Host Carter Sherman speaks with Jenna Amatulli, deputy head of news for Guardian US, about how the case has renewed attention on the fundamental shortcomings in the US's maternal healthcare system, and about why Clancy's story has captivated – and polarized – so many people
European regulators have imposed billions in penalties on US technology companies due to privacy, competition and digital market rules
The Dutch data protection authority has fined Uber €825m ($966m) for deactivating driver accounts through automated systems without adequately informing them, according to a 17 August decision.
The penalty would be the second-largest issued yet under Europe’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).
Max Lederer and Erik Slavin receive termination notices after publication reported on crew conditions on the USS Abraham Lincoln
The Pentagon has fired the publisher and the editor of Stars and Stripes, the US military news outlet that has clashed with the Trump administration and armed forces brass over its partly taxpayer-funded reporting.
Publisher Max Lederer and editor Erik Slavin received termination notices, CBS News reported on Friday. The cause cited was insubordination, and they have been given five days to appeal against their dismissals.
Caption: A major shift in school funding and School Board decision making come as Delaware attempts to raise third-grade reading proficiency from 40% to 53% by 2028.
Greater local flexibility will require boards to balance student needs, community priorities and evidence about what improves reading
Editor’s note: This is the final installment of a three-part Delaware LIVE series examining Delaware’s literacy challenge, the state’s 2028 goal and the changing responsibilities of local school boards.
By George D. Rotsch, Editor of Delaware LIVE
DOVER, Del. — Delaware’s new school funding model will give local school boards greater influence over how education resources are used, placing more responsibility for literacy decisions closer to students, parents and communities.
That shift comes as Delaware attempts to raise third-grade reading proficiency from 40% to 53% by 2028 and as school boards have more information available to understand where students are performing, whether they are making progress and where additional support may be needed.
For school boards, those two changes are connected. Assessment results provide a lagging measure of where students ended the year. Leading indicators collected throughout the year can show whether students are on track and whether the district’s strategy is working. Together, that information can help boards evaluate whether district spending is aligned with the needs of students and the outcomes the district is trying to achieve.
“The opportunity is to make a much clearer connection between what we know about student performance and where we invest our resources,” said Julia Keleher, executive director of First State Educate. “What are the results telling us? What does the district believe is driving them? What is the strategy for improving them? And does our budget put resources behind that strategy?”
From approving budgets to aligning investments with outcomes
School boards have always approved district budgets. Greater funding flexibility makes it even more important for boards to understand what need an investment is intended to address and what result it is expected to produce.
In literacy, for example, annual assessment results may show where proficiency remains low, while screening, student progress, attendance, intervention participation and other leading indicators can provide more current information about where students are struggling and whether existing strategies are working.
The superintendent and district team use that information to diagnose needs and recommend how resources should be used. The board’s role is to determine whether the proposed investments are aligned with the district’s student outcome goals, whether there is evidence supporting the strategy, and what information the board will receive to know whether the investment is producing the intended result.
Those decisions could include investments in classroom instruction, intervention for struggling students, professional learning, staffing, student supports or other strategies identified by the district.
“The budget should tell the same story as the district’s student outcome goals,” Keleher said. “If third-grade reading is a priority, the board should be able to see how resources are supporting the district’s strategy for improving it. Then, throughout the year, the board should be looking at the indicators the district has identified to understand whether that investment is helping move students toward the goal.”
Local flexibility creates different choices
Not every Delaware district faces the same literacy challenge.
One district may need to strengthen reading instruction across all elementary schools. Another may find that its greatest needs are concentrated in a small number of schools. Some districts may need to focus on students entering school without foundational skills, while others may need stronger intervention for children who have fallen behind.
The new funding model gives boards an opportunity to respond to those differences rather than applying the same solution everywhere.
But local flexibility also carries risk. Boards could spread resources across too many priorities, continue programs without sufficient evidence or focus on activities that are visible to the community but have little effect on reading.
The central question is not whether a district spends more. It is whether the board can connect its spending choices to a clearly identified student need and a measurable academic objective.
Parents can help define the problem
Greater local control also creates an opportunity for parents and community members to become more involved in setting education priorities.
Assessment data can show where students are struggling, but it may not explain why. Parents can help boards understand whether families receive clear information about reading performance, whether students can access additional support, and whether attendance, transportation, language, scheduling, or other barriers limit participation. That information can help a board evaluate whether the district’s proposed spending responds to the needs behind the data.
“Community engagement should help shape the decision, not simply react to it,” Keleher said. “Parents can help boards understand barriers and student needs that may not be visible in a spreadsheet. When resources are limited, that perspective matters in deciding where an investment is most needed and what problem it should solve. “Meaningful engagement would occur before the district commits to a strategy, not only after administrators have presented a finished proposal.
Complex decisions require the right expertise
Greater flexibility does not mean boards or districts are expected to have every type of expertise internally. Decisions about how to improve literacy and where to invest limited resources can involve student performance data, instructional research, implementation evidence, financial analysis, community input and governance considerations.
Districts can draw on the expertise needed to strengthen those decisions, whether from state education officials, educators and literacy specialists, researchers, financial experts, community organizations or others with relevant knowledge and experience. The question is not whether outside perspectives should influence the decision, but whether the district has assembled the information and expertise necessary to make a well-supported investment.
For boards, that expertise should strengthen, not replace, their governance role. The board still must understand what student need the investment addresses, why the proposed approach is expected to help, what it will cost, what results are expected and how progress will be monitored.
Measuring whether the decision worked
The new funding model also will require boards to think more carefully about results.
Annual state testing remains an important measure, but boards cannot wait until the end of the school year to determine whether students are progressing.
They will need regular, understandable information showing whether the district’s strategy is reaching the intended students and whether reading performance is moving in the right direction.
That does not require board members to manage daily instruction. It requires them to agree with district leadership in advance about what progress should look like, when it should be visible and how the administration will respond if improvement does not occur.
A literacy investment should begin with several broad questions:
What student need is the district trying to address?
Why is the proposed approach appropriate?
How did parents and educators help shape the decision?
What result should the board expect?
When will the board know whether the strategy is working?
What will change if progress falls short?
Those questions preserve the distinction between governance and management while creating meaningful accountability.
A test of local governance
Delaware’s new funding model is based partly on the idea that local leaders can make better decisions when resources and authority are placed closer to students.
Literacy will provide an early test of that premise.
Experts such as First State Educate can help boards understand data and strengthen their decision-making processes. Administrators can recommend strategies. Educators can explain classroom needs. Parents can identify barriers and community priorities. School boards must bring those perspectives together and make choices that reflect both local needs and the state’s larger academic expectations.
By 2028, the public will be able to judge the new funding model by more than the amount of money distributed or the percentage placed under local control. Its most important measure will be whether substantially more Delaware children can read at grade level.
New framework lays the groundwork for secure scientific AI.
Aug. 21, 2026 — Large language models (LLMs) are rapidly becoming capable of acting as “AI scientists,” helping manage many stages of the research process — from experiment design and data analysis to interpreting results and drafting publications. As these systems take on larger roles in scientific discovery, ensuring their reliability and security becomes increasingly important.
Conceptual multi-agent framework for vulnerability benchmark generation.
One challenge is that LLMs can be vulnerable to adversarial attacks — carefully crafted inputs designed to manipulate model behavior. In scientific settings, such attacks could lead to inaccurate findings, unsafe recommendations or reduced trust in AI-generated results.
Researchers have developed adversarial robustness benchmarks to measure how well AI systems withstand these attacks. Most existing benchmarks were designed for general-purpose AI applications, however, and often overlook the unique challenges of scientific research. As a result, scientists lack effective tools for evaluating vulnerabilities in AI systems used for research.
To address this gap, researchers at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Argonne National Laboratory have developed a two-part framework: a multi-agent mechanism for generating scientific security and a multilayered defense architecture designed to protect scientific AI systems from malicious threats. Their work was presented at the Trillion Parameter Consortium 2026 workshop in June 2026 by Saket Chaturvedi, a postdoctoral researcher at Argonne.
Multiple Agents, Specialized Roles
Most current approaches for generating adversarial benchmarks rely on a single-agent system. While efficient, such a system can create competing responsibilities, with one model acting simultaneously as domain expert, attacker and evaluator.
The solution proposed by the Argonne researchers involves a collaborative system of specialized agents, each with a distinct role:
Orchestration agent: Coordinates the process and works with scientific experts to identify realistic vulnerabilities.
Domain agent: Contributes scientifically grounded concepts and threat scenarios.
Adversary agent: Creates targeted attack prompt using domain-specific knowledge.
Refiner agent: Reviews prompts for scientific plausibility and works with the adversary agent to improve them.
Quality control agent: Removes redundancies and validates results across multiple LLMs.
“Using multiple specialized agents is important,” Chaturvedi said. “It reduces the limitations of single-agent systems by dividing benchmark creation into focused tasks that can be handled more effectively.”
A key feature of the framework is iterative refinement. If a generated prompt does not meet quality standards, it is returned to the appropriate agent with feedback for improvement. This process repeats until the prompt is accepted for inclusion in the benchmark.
A Multilayered Approach to Defense
Generating scientific security benchmarks is only part of the solution. In addition to evaluating LLM threats, researchers want to defend against threats. To this end, the Argonne team designed a multilayered defense architecture in which (1) a red teaming layer continuously tests the system with automated adversarial attacks, (2) an internal safety layer incorporates features such as safety-aligned LLMs to protect communication between agents, and (3) an external safety layer provides boundary controls and additional protections against outside threats.
“Together, these layers help address the different pathways an attacker might try to exploit,” said Joshua Bergerson, Infrastructure Security & Risk Analytics Team Leader at Argonne and coauthor of the study.
Building the Next Generation of Secure Scientific AI
The team is currently developing a prototype implementation of both the multi-agent benchmark generator and the three-layer defense system.
“The framework provides a foundation for secure scientific AI,” said Tanwi Mallick, a computer scientist at Argonne and coauthor of the study.
The work also opens the door to important future research questions. For example, can adversarial agents trained in one scientific domain be adapted to others? How can AI systems balance robust security measures with the need for rapid responses in an emergency? And what is the most effective way for human experts to provide feedback within automated workflows?
“By addressing these questions, we can move closer to realizing the potential of LLMs as safe, reliable and transformative partners in scientific discovery,” Mallick said.
Aug. 21, 2026 — On June 2, 2026, the Leibniz Supercomputing Centre (LRZ) in Garching, Germany, hosted the TPC26 Satellite Event, bringing the Trillion Parameter Consortium (TPC) annual conference closer to the European AI for science community. The event gave researchers, practitioners, industry representatives and research organizations from across Europe the opportunity to engage with the global TPC community without traveling to the conference in Baltimore.
Keynote by Prof. Dieter Kranzlmüller (LRZ)
The hybrid program featured recorded keynote presentations from Baltimore, including the U.S. Department of Energy, the National Science Foundation, Argonne National Laboratory and RIKEN, together with live contributions from Europe and beyond. Highlights included a keynote by Prof. Dieter Kranzlmüller from LRZ, which was streamed live to the main TPC26 conference, as well as presentations from TPC members at LRZ and online talks from C-DAC in India and NumPEX in France.
EuroTPC contributed to the live program with a presentation entitled EuroTPC: A Coordinated European Voice in TPC, delivered by Javier Aula-Blasco of the Barcelona Supercomputing Center. The talk introduced the EuroTPC initiative to the wider TPC community and highlighted Europe’s commitment to open, collaborative AI for science.
The event strengthened connections between European and international partners, encouraged new opportunities for collaboration and reinforced Europe’s role within the global AI for science ecosystem.
Tyson Foods, the largest meatpacking company in the US, announced last week that it is closing two of its facilities in Illinois and Utah and selling a beef facility in Washington state, and will lay off hundreds of workers as the supply of cattle hits a 75-year low.
The historic cattle shortage has been driven by a multi-year drought, rising costs and severe economic pressures, including consolidation among cattle ranchers. Beef prices have soared over the last year due to the shortage, though economists said the Tyson plant closures likely won’t hit consumer prices so hard.
Aug. 21, 2026 — University of California San Diego researchers will lead one of the Department of Energy’s (DOE) new Genesis Mission projects focused on accelerating fundamental physics and quantum computing by deploying intelligent AI agents.
Aobo Li, an assistant professor in the Department of Physics and the Halıcıoğlu Data Science Institute (HDSI) at the Halıcıoğlu School for Data Science and Computing, is the principal investigator (PI) on the project. A team of experts will build SIDERIUS, an AI scientist that can analyze data, design AI models, and deploy them onto specialized chips for applications in fundamental physics and quantum computing. Associate Professor of Physics Yi-Zhuang You is co-PI on the project.
“The next frontier of AI for science is learning how to translate scientific challenges into a form that AI can solve effectively,” said Li. “This DOE award allows us to bring together an interdisciplinary team in a way that wasn’t previously possible. Our vision is to translate challenges in physics and quantum computing into AI-ready tasks that can be tackled by SIDERIUS, our LLM agent system. Our long-term vision is to build a general AI framework that can be adapted to many other data-intensive scientific domains.”
In addition to this project, Li and several other UC San Diego researchers are co-PIs on four projects led by other institutions. These projects, listed below, will support the creation of AI tools that can meaningfully impact the way science is conducted and the rate at which discoveries are made.
Co-PIs Javier Duarte (associate professor of physics) and Daniel Diaz (computational data science and research specialist) will work with the University of Colorado Boulder to develop ultra-fast AI tools that can process enormous rates of data input during particle collisions at CERN’s Large Hadron Collider.
Co-PI Li will work with UNC Chapel Hill to deploy AI agents and surrogate models to automate and speed up optical simulations for LENGED, an experimental collaboration that will lead the effort to search for neutrinoless double beta decay, an extremely rare process that, if discovered, would explain why the universe has more matter than antimatter.
Co-PIs Liang Yang (professor of physics) and Li will work with the University of Hawaii to build a unified foundation model based on AI-ready datasets from five different neutrinoless double beta decay experiments – CUORE, EXO-200, Majorana Demonstrator, NEXT and SuperNEMO.
Co-PI Li will collaborate with Pacific Northwest National Laboratory to develop ultra-fast AI tools that identify and preserve neutrinoless double-beta decay signals while rejecting unwanted background noises from the LEGEND detector in real time.
The number of Genesis projects UC San Diego is a part of underscores the university’s deep bench of AI expertise.
“AI is impacting scientific discovery in fundamental ways,” said Rajesh K. Gupta, dean of the Halıcıoğlu School. “The Halıcıoğlu School is proud to assemble a team across Physics, Data Science and Supercomputing at UC San Diego in an institutional architecture that is uniquely matched to The Genesis Mission. SIDERIUS will drive research in physics through new AI tools and methodologies that are bound to significantly advance our understanding of nature and invent new applications.”
Caption: Kenneth J. Reuter Jr., a task force participant and longtime energy industry executive, contends the panel did not conduct the structured, technically intensive review necessary to support such a consequential decision.
Industry veteran says the state’s review lacked the technical depth needed as electricity costs rise and Delaware remains dependent on imported power
DOVER, Del – Delaware’s Nuclear Energy Feasibility Task Force cannot approve a reactor, select a location or commit public money to a nuclear project. Its influence, however, could be significant.
The General Assembly created the task force to help determine whether small modular nuclear reactors could become part of Delaware’s long-term energy supply. Its findings could influence whether lawmakers authorize additional studies, investigate potential sites, revise state permitting laws or decide nuclear power is too costly or uncertain to pursue.
That makes the quality of the task force’s work important.
Kenneth J. Reuter Jr., a task force participant and longtime energy industry executive, contends the panel did not conduct the structured, technically intensive review necessary to support such a consequential decision.
In an Aug. 14 assessment, Reuter said the task force did not hear directly from willing nuclear manufacturers, adequately investigate possible Delaware sites or divide its work among specialized teams.
His criticism does not establish that the task force’s conclusions are wrong. It does raise questions about whether state policymakers have enough information to make decisions that could affect Delaware’s electricity supply, consumer costs and economic competitiveness for decades.
Panel assigned to study nuclear potential
The General Assembly created the Delaware Nuclear Energy Feasibility Task Force in 2025 to examine whether small modular reactors, commonly known as SMRs, could be developed in the state.
SMRs are designed to generate less electricity than conventional nuclear reactors. Supporters say they could be manufactured in sections, installed incrementally and placed on properties that cannot accommodate a traditional nuclear plant.
However, the technology remains commercially developing in the United States. Questions continue about construction costs, licensing schedules, financing and the risks utilities and customers could be asked to assume.
The General Assembly directed the task force to study nuclear energy’s economic impact, regulatory requirements, environmental implications and potential contribution to electric reliability. Its reporting deadline was extended to July 31, 2026.
The task force’s report is advisory. It does not authorize construction, approve a location or require the state to pursue nuclear power. But lawmakers could rely on it when considering future energy legislation and determining whether additional nuclear planning is warranted.
Delaware imports much of its electricity
Delaware generates substantially less electricity than its residents and businesses consume.
Reuter estimates the state currently imports between 45% and 55% of its electricity through PJM, the regional power grid serving Delaware and parts of 12 other states and the District of Columbia.
Importing electricity is a normal part of participating in a regional grid. It does not, by itself, indicate that Delaware faces an immediate shortage. PJM is designed to move power across state lines and allow utilities to purchase electricity from generators throughout the region.
But Reuter argues that Delaware’s dependence creates greater risk as regional demand grows, older generating plants retire and new projects face lengthy development and grid-connection delays.
Data centers, advanced manufacturing and other large electricity users are also adding to projected demand.
Delaware does not need to generate every unit of electricity it consumes. However, the state has limited control over when and where new regional plants are constructed, leaving its customers exposed to supply and price pressures elsewhere in the PJM market.
Intermittent power cannot carry the full load
Reuter argues that Delaware’s energy strategy relies too heavily on intermittent sources such as wind and solar.
Those facilities can contribute electricity when weather conditions permit, reduce fuel consumption and help meet emissions goals. But they cannot continuously produce power without storage, backup generation or other complementary resources.
An energy plan that depends heavily on intermittent sources without sufficient dependable generation would leave Delaware vulnerable during periods when the sun is not shining, the wind is not blowing or regional demand is particularly high, Reuter said.
He argues that Delaware should make the development of additional 24-hour generation a priority, including natural gas plants, nuclear power or a combination of the two.
Natural gas plants can generally be developed more quickly than nuclear facilities and can respond to changing electricity demand. Nuclear plants require longer development and licensing schedules but can provide large amounts of continuous electricity without direct carbon emissions.
Both carry costs and risks. Natural gas exposes customers to fuel-price volatility and future regulatory requirements. Nuclear projects require substantial upfront investment and can experience construction delays and cost overruns.
A responsible state plan would examine those risks without treating intermittent renewable resources as the equivalent of dependable, around-the-clock generation.
Rising electric bills add urgency
The debate is not limited to whether Delaware will have enough power. It also involves what residents and businesses will pay for it.
Residential and industrial electric bills are rising, placing additional pressure on household budgets and increasing operating costs for Delaware employers.
Reuter argues that those costs will continue climbing unless policymakers revise Delaware’s energy strategy and make affordability and dependable generation top state priorities.
Electric bills reflect more than the cost of producing electricity. They can also include transmission expenses, regional capacity charges, utility infrastructure investments, environmental compliance costs and other fees.
However, a tightening regional supply-and-demand balance can increase several of those costs. Delaware’s dependence on imported electricity leaves customers exposed to regional prices that state officials cannot directly control.
For households, higher electric bills reduce the money available for food, housing, health care and other necessities. For manufacturers and other energy-intensive employers, rising power costs can discourage expansion, weaken competitiveness and influence decisions about where companies invest.
Reuter’s position is that Delaware should not evaluate energy projects primarily according to environmental targets or political preferences. Each alternative should be measured by its total cost, reliability, construction schedule and ability to serve customers during periods of peak demand.
Participant questions task force’s approach
Reuter’s primary complaint is that the task force operated more like a broad discussion group than a technically organized panel working toward an actionable plan.
He said only a small number of the approximately 25 members and regular participants had direct experience with electricity generation.
Reuter recommended dividing the work among specialized groups focused on nuclear manufacturers, potential sites, technology selection, safety, environmental effects, permitting, government coordination and public communications.
Under his proposed structure, each group would have been assigned a leader responsible for investigating its subject and regularly reporting findings to the full panel.
Reuter said that structure was not adopted.
He also said no nuclear equipment manufacturer was invited to explain its technology, manufacturing capacity, construction schedules, costs or existing order commitments to the full task force.
According to Reuter, Westinghouse and another manufacturer were willing to make presentations but were not invited. He also said an offer to arrange a task force tour of the Salem and Hope Creek nuclear facilities in New Jersey was not accepted.
Manufacturers have a financial interest in promoting their products, and their claims would require independent scrutiny. However, direct presentations would have allowed task force members to question the companies about technological readiness, construction experience, pricing and financial risks.
Potential sites require closer examination
A complete nuclear feasibility review would eventually need to examine actual Delaware properties.
Potential sites would have to be evaluated for available land, transmission connections, water access, security, emergency planning and nearby development. The willingness of property owners and surrounding communities would also be important.
Reuter said the task force did not conduct sufficiently detailed discussions with potential site owners or determine whether particular properties could accommodate an SMR or a larger conventional reactor.
That distinction matters because a technology that appears promising in a general presentation may not be practical at an available Delaware location.
Preliminary site analysis would not commit the state to a reactor or a particular property. It would help determine whether nuclear power is a realistic Delaware option rather than a theoretical one.
Incomplete report could close the door prematurely
If the task force’s report is incomplete or overly negative, Delaware could abandon nuclear energy before fully understanding its potential.
That could leave the state more dependent on imported power from a regional market facing rising demand and generating-plant retirements.
Delaware could also lose time needed to examine sites, coordinate with federal regulators and develop a specialized workforce. Nuclear projects require years of planning, licensing, financing and construction, meaning a decision to delay preliminary work could have long-term consequences.
Dependable and competitively priced electricity also affects economic development. Manufacturers, health care facilities, technology companies and data centers consider energy availability when deciding where to invest.
A state without a credible plan for meeting future electricity demand could find itself at a competitive disadvantage.
Overly optimistic report also carries risks
A flawed report could create the opposite danger.
If the task force overstates the affordability or commercial readiness of SMRs, lawmakers could advance an expensive project without fully understanding the risks.
Nuclear facilities require substantial upfront investment. Construction delays and cost overruns can fall on customers if utilities are permitted to recover those expenses through electric rates.
Before advancing a project, policymakers would need to determine who would finance it, who would absorb the cost of delays and whether customers could be charged before a reactor begins producing electricity.
A responsible nuclear policy would protect ratepayers while allowing promising technologies to receive serious consideration. Private investors, utilities and manufacturers would need to bear meaningful performance risk rather than shifting every financial uncertainty to customers.
State plan must balance cost and reliability
The task force’s report does not need to provide a final verdict on nuclear power. The developing commercial market for SMRs makes absolute conclusions difficult.
A useful report should distinguish among what is known, what remains uncertain and what Delaware must investigate next.
Possible next steps could include independent cost studies, discussions with manufacturers, preliminary site reviews, federal regulatory coordination and comparisons among nuclear power, natural gas, renewable energy, storage and transmission investments.
Each alternative should be evaluated using consistent standards, including:
Total cost to residential and business customers
Dependable generating capacity
Development and construction time
Performance during peak demand
Fuel and transmission requirements
Environmental effects
Financial risks associated with delays or cost overruns
Wind and solar power can remain part of that mix. But policymakers must distinguish between electricity produced when weather conditions allow and capacity that can be counted on around the clock.
The central question is not whether task force members support or oppose nuclear energy. It is whether their process produced enough evidence to justify the panel’s findings.
A report that dismisses nuclear prematurely could cause Delaware to lose a potentially valuable source of dependable, carbon-free electricity. A report that is too optimistic could expose customers to years of higher rates and construction risk.
Delaware may ultimately choose to pursue nuclear power, continue studying it or reject it. But with electric bills rising, demand growing and regional supplies tightening, Reuter argues that revising the state’s energy plan should be a top policy priority.
That decision should rest on rigorous technical and financial evidence — not an incomplete process, assumptions about future regional supplies or a predetermined preference for any particular energy source.
TO-GO BOX:
The task force: The General Assembly created the Nuclear Energy Feasibility Task Force to study whether small modular reactors could help meet Delaware’s future electricity needs.
The concern: Participant Kenneth J. Reuter Jr. says the review lacked sufficient industry input, technical structure and analysis of potential sites.
The energy challenge: Delaware imports an estimated 45% to 55% of its electricity, while regional demand and electric costs are increasing.
What is at stake: A flawed report could cause Delaware to reject a dependable energy source prematurely — or pursue an expensive project without adequately protecting ratepayers.
Why Should Delaware Care? Temporary Protected Status is a federal, humanitarian program aimed at protecting individuals from countries deemed unsafe. The Trump Administration has been ending such protections for individuals from several countries, most recently Syria and Haiti. With those protections now gone, Delaware’s Haitian community, which nears 5,000 people, has been left reeling.
For a Haitian mother of three living in Dover, the past two months have been full of fear and uncertainty.
She lost her work permit, her driver’s license and protection from deportation all with a single Supreme Court decision.
The woman, who spoke to Spotlight Delaware on the condition of anonymity, was living in Delaware under the U.S. government’s Temporary Protected Status (TPS) program, a federal immigration policy that allows those residing in countries deemed to be unsafe, to live and work in the U.S. temporarily.
“A bunch of us have already bought a home and bought a car and have several businesses,” the woman said. “I know it may sound dumb since we are going through all that, but if we weren’t comfortable in the country, we wouldn’t do all of that. I believe this is not fair because we’re here without hurting anyone.”
A country may fall under TPS protections for undergoing a civil war, extraordinary conflict or some kind of major environmental disaster. Protections can last for up to 18 months, and can be extended. Individuals in qualifying countries can apply to enter the U.S. and obtain a work permit.
Until last month, that list of countries included Haiti. But a Supreme Court decision issued in June allowed the Trump administration to remove both Haiti and Syria from its list of TPS designees. Currently, only citizens in four countries — El Salvador, Lebanon, Sudan and Ukraine – qualify for TPS.
That June Supreme Court ruling has called the future into question for the more than 350,000 Haitians living in the U.S. — including nearly 5,000 of those in Delaware.
A disruption of day-to-day life
Guy Danjoint, a pastor at the Haitian Evangelical International Ministries Church in Dover, spent his evenings last week driving across the Delaware-Maryland border to bring groceries to Haitian homes.
Many immigrants fear that being caught driving will lead to their deportation, Danjoint said.
This reality has changed the shopping habits of local Haitians, said one local Caribbean food store owner in Southern Delaware, who spoke to Spotlight Delaware on the condition of anonymity. Her storefront would attract an average of about 300 customers per week.
Now that number has dwindled to just a handful.
“They’re going hungry now,” she said.
Along with delivering groceries, Danjoint said he is advising former TPS holders against attempting to go back to work.
Pastor Guy Danjoint helped steward the Haitian Evangelical International Ministries (HEIM) church into a gathering place for hundreds of Haitian immigrants in Kent County. | SPOTLIGHT DELAWARE PHOTO BY JOSE IGNACIO CASTANEDA PEREZ
“You can’t,” he said. “If you do that, it’s going to be worse. Because what happens? If they catch you, you will never, never be able to get a green card here in this country.”
The Dover-area mother said her day-to-day life has been marked by both a financial and mental strain since losing federal protections.
She has been living in the country for seven years, and she has been in central Delaware for six. She settled in the state with her husband, and the couple has since had three children.
Despite her kids being U.S. citizens, the woman said she and her husband fear sending them to school.
She said she does not know what will come next, but that ultimately her family is likely to return to Haiti.
Spotlight Delaware previously reported about Haitian immigrants leaving the U.S. for Canada in the wake of the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown, but the Dover woman said she is not sure if that is an option.
She said she would rather move back to her home country than start from scratch again somewhere completely new.
For Haitians who were living in America under TPS, relocating to Canada also comes with its own struggles. Agreements between the U.S. and Canada prevent Haitian immigrants from immediately seeking refugee status after arriving there if they first passed through America.
Immigrants would need to remain in Canada illegally for 14 days without being detected before they could then apply for refugee status there.
Trying to keep the lights on
For the past eight years, Danjoint’s church has not only served as a place of worship but also as a home for Haitians.
He cooks spaghetti on Sundays for children and supports the church’s choir and youth group. But it is getting harder and harder to build that home for his community.
Last week, the church held a concert that normally would have brought in up to 100 attendees. Events typically become so full that people are standing around the chairs, leaning on doors and trying to squeeze inside the church.
But only around 20 people showed up that day.
“We got people from New York and Florida, some artists, and some from Silver Spring, Maryland,” Danjoint said. “They were here, but we didn’t have enough people.”
After years of working multiple jobs and trying to outsource the money to find a location for the church, Danjoint said it saddens him to see that laws can have this much impact on the livelihood of his place of worship.
But he remains optimistic because if he survived during the COVID pandemic, he said his community will do it again.
The grocery store owner, however, is less optimistic.
“It’s so sad,” she said. “Where am I going to find the money to pay my bills?”
How did we get here?
Humanitarian relief programs have long existed in the U.S. As different presidential administrations have come and gone, designations and eligibility criteria have changed.
Fritz Lamour is an accountant who has been here since the 1980s, like Danjoint. He has seen the push and pull of TPS designations for Haitians for several years now.
“When the government cuts the TPS, for one part I’m happy because it seems like they were ripping off these people,” he said. “It helps them work, but it is a rip off too.”
Instead, he would like to see a reform to the system. He knows TPS is only a temporary program, and he said he has heard of lawyers not letting their TPS clients know they can attempt to obtain a permanent immigration status instead of renewing TPS every two years.
“People on TPS, they buy houses, they pay taxes,” Lamour said. “Come on, you have to give them something too.”
Is returning to Haiti an option?
Lesly Marcelin, a Haitian pastor at Delaware Gospel Assembly Ministry, said self-deporting is not an option for some TPS holders.
“That’s why people willingly suffer. Some of them suffer here. They cannot go back because they don’t have no place to go,” he said. “Some houses the gangs take over, they place people out of their own home.”
The main issue, Danjoint and Lamour said, is arriving at Haiti’s airport safely.
Haiti also is under a “do not travel” advisory by the U.S. Department of State due to risk of “crime, terrorism, kidnapping, unrest, and limited health care.”
Tensions in Haiti are at a political high point currently because the country is set to hold elections for the first time since then-President Jovenel Moïse was assassinated by a group of mercenaries in 2021.
Since then, Haiti has had no president. Armed gangs have taken over the country’s capital along with some of its rural areas. This leaves civilians at risk of being kidnapped or killed or dealing with loss of access to resources like healthcare, according to The Haitian Times.
What comes next?
Emily Houde, supervising attorney at the Community Legal Aid Society’s immigration unit, is working on letting people know their rights if they get detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or determine what other legal protections exist now the TPS has largely been rolled back.
But it is not easy.
“We are sure that there are more people who probably qualify for our services that we just haven’t been able to reach or haven’t felt comfortable coming forward,” Houde said.
For now, Danjoint is working with other pastors to encourage local and state leaders to push Congress to continue the TPS program.
He also said he is working to open up a food pantry at his church and will continue to deliver groceries to his community.
“But we don’t want people to be too sad about what is happening,” Danjoint said. “We want them to enjoy and stuff like that, but the reality is the reality.”
There is a Senate bill currently on the floor to extend TPS protections for Haitians until 2029, though it is unlikely to move forward because it is currently only supported by Democrats. Delaware Sens. Chris Coons and Lisa Blunt Rochester are among the co-sponsors of the bill.
With Haiti’s TPS designation removed, uncertainty remains for the Delaware Haitians who were living under the program.
“We didn’t think it was gonna go like that, so we are not so sure of what to do,” the Dover-area mother said. “But we have to come up with a plan because it’s not getting any better.”
Illustration by Shoshana Gordon/ProPublica. Source images: records obtained by ProPublica, Don Ryan/AP.
Oregon’s spending on low-income housing has exploded in the past five years. The state has given developers an unprecedented $1.4 billion, and the cost of developing each apartment has nearly doubled, to $540,000. Dozens of projects are lined up for an additional $850 million in future state funding. Federal tax credits, which the state oversees, will bring even more money to bear.
Yet one thing has remained constant: The public isn’t allowed to see the details of how all these dollars are being spent.
Oregon is one of the only states in the country with a carve-out in its public records law that prevents disclosing the financial details of subsidized housing projects, thwarting researchers and journalists who have tried to examine their costs.
The issue is especially pressing in the Pacific Northwest, where leaders have tied the lack of affordable housing to the region’s dire homelessness crisis. Understanding and controlling the cost of construction could make it possible, with the same amount of money, to either build more rent-restricted apartments or to discount rents more steeply.
Margaret Van Vliet, a former director of Oregon’s state housing agency, told ProPublica that lawmakers should revisit the exemption. Despite all the state’s spending on housing, Oregon’s homeless population continues to grow.
“For all the public money, we seem to be digging a deeper hole,” Van Vliet said.
In other states, researchers and journalists have used developers’ financial records to investigate spiraling costs of subsidized housing.
Los Angeles Times reporters in 2020 revealed that the cost of some low-income housing units in California had grown to more than $1 million each, driven in part by government rules that pushed construction prices higher. The Times found that 12,000 more low-income families could have received homes between 2011 and 2015 had costs been as low as they were elsewhere.
Researchers from the University of California, Berkeley showed earlier this year that California was spending $300 million a year just in development fees on subsidized housing, enough to have financed another 1,250 apartments each year. In July, California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed legislation that aims to slash those fees.
A study published last year and co-authored by Jason Ward, an economist who directs the nonpartisan Rand Corp.’s Housing Center, compared the costs of constructing subsidized housing among California, Texas and Colorado, finding that California’s highest-in-the-nation prices were driven by requirements to pay “substantially above-market wages and unusually large architectural and engineering fees.”
If California had Colorado’s production costs, the study found, it could have built four times as many rent-subsidized apartments.
Those types of analyses are impossible to perform in Oregon.
“For all the public money” spent on housing, “we seem to be digging a deeper hole.”
Margaret Van Vliet, former director of Oregon’s state housing agency
Ward said Oregon’s secrecy is difficult to defend. He said cost information about subsidized housing is typically public. In his research, he said, he’s gotten such data from 17 states and been denied it only in New Jersey.
“When you’re just looking at how public funds are used, there should be an incredibly strong bias towards transparency,” he said. “And when you see costs going up and up and up and the outcomes aren’t good, there’s an almost unqualified public case that these things should be open to scrutiny by taxpayers, policymakers, the media, whomever.”
Oregon’s Legislature approved the exemption in 1997, when Oregon’s state housing agency had a staff and budget that were both one-fifth what they are today.
State housing officials warned about the consequences of revealing the finances behind low-income apartment projects.
“Not that we’re concerned that there’d be something in there,” Lynn Schoessler, then the deputy director of Oregon Housing and Community Services, told lawmakers in a public hearing.
But Schoessler said there could be problems if the public were allowed to see detailed financial information that developers submit to the state while applying for funding. Disclosing the records might “give somebody an indication whether this corporation was ripe for takeover or a buyout or whatever,” Schoessler said in a hearing. “So we’re concerned on the corporate level.”
Lawmakers almost unanimously agreed to exempt the records from disclosure.
Not all details about subsidized housing in Oregon were made secret.
The Portland area’s regional government, which manages a local low-income-housing bond, publishes the costs of projects the bond has funded, showing some units have reached $900,000 apiece. And fine-grained cost information may be obtained, on request, if the project is run by a public housing authority like Portland’s. But these account for just 20% of the subsidized housing units that Oregon is building. The bulk are sponsored by private developers and funded through the state housing finance agency, Oregon Housing and Community Services.
Although the state agency will divulge how much a developer said a project would cost when it applied for funding, it redacts the itemized expenses — things like the costs of construction materials, the contractor’s profits or the fees paid to lawyers, brokers, loan agents, developers and the state agency itself.
A spokesperson said the agency knows the cost per unit, per square foot and per bedroom for each development it has subsidized. But the state said that information, which would allow the public to see which projects were the most expensive, is not subject to disclosure.
Oregon has a sunshine committee that reviews public records exemptions and identifies ones that should be rolled back. Charlie Fisher, its co-chair, said the committee should examine the low-income housing carve-out.
“Verifying how public dollars are being spent, especially at this scale, is one of the fundamental reasons why people should have access to public records,” Fisher said. “Given the amount of money we’re talking about, the case is even stronger.”
The secrecy mandate in state law shrouds more than just the financial details of a project.
When we requested financial records for three apartment projects around Portland, the agency redacted a list of languages spoken by the tenants that a developer hoped to attract. In application material for that developer’s project, the agency also redacted the plan for translating tenant outreach brochures from English. And it blacked out an explanation of any financial risks the project might face, along with the developer’s plan for covering cost overruns.
It turns out that the developer, in this case, was Home Forward, the Portland housing authority. The local agency released a copy of its application material to ProPublica without redactions, revealing mundane details the state had tried to keep secret. Here’s a sample of what Home Forward identified as the project’s financial risks: “market volatility, site-specific challenges, and unforeseen design modifications. Economic factors such as inflation, material price fluctuations, and labor shortages could impact overall construction costs.”
A spokesperson for the state said the information about languages and financial risks was redacted because the public records exemption shields “market studies and analyses” as well as pro forma statements, which show a development’s anticipated cash flows.
Oregon Housing and Community ServicesHome ForwardOregon’s public records exemption for subsidized housing leads to the state redacting more than just projects’ financial details, including this plan to translate outreach materials for a subsidized housing project. In this case, an unredacted version of the same document was available from the local housing authority that was acting as the developer on the project.
Andrea Bell, the state housing agency’s director, said in an emailed statement that she is committed to transparency and expects her agency to be open, accessible and accountable to the public. But she said she takes seriously the agency’s responsibility to comply with the exemption in Oregon records law for housing financials.
Asked to comment on whether she supported the exemption and thought it was necessary, Bell said in a statement: “The cost of construction is a topic of growing interest. We will take your request under consideration as we assess ways to proactively share construction costs so that they are more readily available to the public.”
In the meantime, the agency charged ProPublica $130 for the cost of collecting and redacting the documents it provided us. It denied our request to waive the fees, saying that “the interest of the general public would be better served by preserving public resources.”
Transparency hasn’t slowed development in other West Coast states.
In California, where the financial details of housing projects are public records, the funding remains highly competitive, with more than half of shovel-ready applications being turned away because demand exceeds available funding. “We have not encountered any difficulty in developing affordable housing because those documents are public,” said a spokesperson for the California state treasurer’s office.
In Washington state, officials have repeatedly released financial information about the housing projects they’ve funded to developers, researchers, media and other members of the public. A housing official there said developers know the information is open to the public, and it hasn’t been an issue.
ProPublica asked the Washington counterpart of Oregon Housing and Community Services for financial documents for three projects around Seattle. They were released without redactions — and for free.
The company, originally an oil refinery, expanded into energy, finance, agriculture and technology. In 2025, it had estimated revenue of $125 billion, according to Forbes.
Americans for Prosperity says it “believes freedom and opportunity are the keys to unleashing prosperity for all.” The issues it focuses on are economic progress, healthcare, education, criminal justice, free speech and immigration.
Since 2017, Emily Seidel, the former director of special projects at Koch Companies Public Sector, has been the chief executive officer of AFP, which is registered with the IRS as a 501(c)(4) nonprofit organization. That means it can operate for the “promotion of social welfare” and its spending can’t be primarily on political activities. It does not have to disclose its donors.
AFP Foundation, a related public charity, is registered with the IRS as a 501(c)(3). Meanwhile, AFP Action, which was established in September 2018, is registered with the Federal Election Commission as a hybrid political committee.
Hybrid PACs can operate as a traditional political action committee, contributing money to candidates directly, and as a super PAC, which can collect unlimited donations for the purpose of funding independent expenditures. There must be separate bank accounts for each function.
The hybrid PAC has raised about $87.3 million as of June 30 in the 2026 cycle. Its two biggest donors are Koch Industries and Stand Together, another nonprofit connected to Charles Koch. Stand Together donated $26.5 million while Koch Industries contributed $30 million. Other large donors include brothers Rob and Jim Walton, who are part of the family that owns a large stake in Walmart.
In early August, AFP Action announced the launch of a $5.6 million ad campaign spanning seven U.S. Senate races in North Carolina, Michigan, Ohio, New Hampshire, Alaska, Montana and Iowa. It has already released ads in support of former Rep. Mike Rogers in Michigan, former Sen. John Sununu in New Hampshire, Kurt Alme in Montana, Rep. Ashley Hinson in Iowa and Sen. Jon Husted in Ohio.
According to its most recent FEC report filed in July, the group has put at least $18.2 million into independent expenditures — such as digital ads — mostly in support of their endorsed congressional candidates. But it also has spent seven-figure sums on expenditures opposing Democratic Senate candidates Roy Cooper in North Carolina and Sherrod Brown in Ohio.
In the 2024 presidential election, AFP Action spent roughly $138.5 million on independent expenditures that expressly advocated for or against congressional candidates, according to OpenSecrets. The PAC spent $92.8 million supporting Republicans and almost $35.7 million opposing Democrats. AFP Action notably endorsed former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley for the Republican presidential nomination over Donald Trump.
FactCheck.orgUndergraduate Fellow Christine Sung contributed to this article.
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Caption: Richards Layton’ & Fingers (& Lawyers recognized as the Best Lawyers in America offers one particularly visible example of that depth, and helps spotlight the strength of the Delaware legal community.
Firm’s results offer one measure of the depth of legal talent supporting Delaware’s national role in corporate law
WILMINGTON, Del. — Ninety-seven attorneys at Richards, Layton & Finger have been recognized in the 2027 editions of The Best Lawyers in America and Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America, an achievement that also underscores the strength of Delaware’s broader legal community.
The total includes 74 established attorneys named to The Best Lawyers in America and 23 earlier-career attorneys recognized as “Ones to Watch.” Twelve Richards Layton attorneys also were selected as Wilmington “Lawyer of the Year” recipients in particular practice areas.
Richards Layton said it had more attorneys included in the traditional Best Lawyers list than any other Delaware firm.
While the announcement highlights one firm, its larger significance is found in the legal market in which those attorneys practice. Delaware has developed a concentration of corporate lawyers, litigators, bankruptcy attorneys and other specialists whose work supports the state’s position as a national center for business law.
Richards Layton’s numbers offer one particularly visible example of that depth, and the helps spotlight the strength of our legal community includes lawyers at other Delaware firms, government agencies, corporations, nonprofit organizations and legal services organizations.
Breaking down the 97
The headline number combines two related but distinct forms of recognition.
The 74 attorneys named to The Best Lawyers in America are generally established practitioners with at least 10 years of experience and developed reputations in their fields.
The 23 attorneys named “Ones to Watch” are generally lawyers in private practice for five to nine years. The category recognizes attorneys earlier in their careers who are beginning to establish strong professional reputations.
The 12 “Lawyer of the Year” recipients represent the most selective portion of the announcement. The designation is awarded to one attorney in a particular practice area within a metropolitan market.
Richards Layton attorneys received those Wilmington honors in areas including corporate governance, banking and finance, bankruptcy litigation, intellectual property litigation, patent litigation, labor law, real estate, structured finance and commercial transactions.
The combination of established and emerging attorneys suggests that the firm has both current strength and a developing pipeline of future legal leaders.
“Best Lawyers in America offers a meaningful perspective on the caliber of our lawyers and the work they perform for clients,” Richards Layton President Paul Heath said. “Because this recognition is based on peer review, we are especially grateful for the respect and confidence of our colleagues, and we appreciate the time and consideration they devote to the selection process.”
Recognition reflects a professional community
The peer-review process gives the results a broader dimension.
Best Lawyers bases its selections largely on confidential evaluations submitted by attorneys practicing in the same geographic region and area of law. Candidates are nominated, reviewed by other lawyers and checked for eligibility and professional standing.
That means the recognition depends in part on Delaware attorneys evaluating the work and reputations of other Delaware attorneys. It reflects a professional community with considerable knowledge in corporate governance, commercial litigation, bankruptcy, intellectual property, financial services and other complex areas.
The awards are not a scientific measurement of legal ability. They do not directly compare courtroom outcomes, client satisfaction, legal fees or public access to legal services. Larger and better-known firms also have more attorneys eligible for recognition and greater visibility within the legal community.
The rankings are therefore best understood as a measure of professional reputation rather than a guarantee of results for every client.
Delaware’s advantage extends beyond one firm
Delaware’s legal reputation has been built over generations by its courts, lawmakers, law firms and individual attorneys.
Richards Layton, Delaware’s largest law firm and one of its oldest, is an important part of that history. But Delaware’s national position does not depend on any single institution.
Law firms throughout the state serve as Delaware counsel in national transactions and litigation. Attorneys advise corporate boards, represent shareholders, guide companies through bankruptcy, interpret business statutes and argue cases that can affect corporate practices across the country.
Government lawyers, members of the judiciary, corporate counsel and attorneys working in public-interest and legal-aid organizations contribute additional experience and perspective to the state’s legal system.
Together, that community gives Delaware a level of specialized legal knowledge that is unusual for a state of its size.
A foundation of Delaware’s corporate economy
Companies choose Delaware for several connected reasons: established corporate statutes, a substantial body of legal precedent, a respected judiciary and access to attorneys familiar with complicated business matters.
The Delaware Court of Chancery is widely regarded as the nation’s leading forum for disputes involving the internal affairs of corporations and other business entities. Its decisions can influence corporate boards, executives, investors and shareholders across the country.
Delaware reported more than 2.28 million active business entities in 2025. Another 334,461 entities were formed during that year, a more than 15% increase from 2024, according to the Delaware Division of Corporations.
Maintaining that position requires more than an efficient filing system. Delaware must be able to demonstrate that companies and investors will have access to predictable laws, experienced judges and lawyers capable of handling sophisticated transactions and disputes.
The Richards Layton results help illustrate the size and range of that professional capacity. The recognized attorneys practice in corporate law, bankruptcy, commercial litigation, mergers and acquisitions, intellectual property, structured finance, tax, trusts and estates, employment law, environmental law and commercial real estate.
Those specialties are also represented across Delaware’s larger legal market.
Why the public should care
Most Delaware residents will never hire a lawyer to manage a corporate merger, litigate a shareholder dispute or restructure a national company. The public benefits are largely indirect, but they are significant.
Delaware’s corporate franchise generates substantial tax and fee revenue for state government. That revenue supports public services and reduces the amount that would otherwise need to be collected from residents and locally operating businesses.
The legal sector also supports high-paying jobs in Wilmington and throughout the state. Those positions extend beyond attorneys to paralegals, legal assistants, technology specialists, accountants, court reporters and administrative employees. Visiting attorneys, clients and litigants also generate activity for hotels, restaurants and other businesses.
A respected legal community helps Delaware compete with other states seeking to attract corporate registrations. Companies are more likely to remain incorporated in Delaware when they believe the state offers reliable courts, understandable laws and a deep pool of legal talent.
The 97 Richards Layton recognitions is prominent example of something larger: Delaware has developed a legal community with expertise and influence far beyond what might be expected in a state of its size.
Richards Layton’s results are an institutional accomplishment for the firm. Viewed in context, they also help tell the story of a broader Delaware legal market whose judges, attorneys and legal professionals protect and sustain one of the state’s most important economic advantages.
See List:
The Richards Layton attorneys named in The Best Lawyers in America are listed below. An asterisk denotes a 2027 Wilmington, Delaware Lawyer of the Year honoree; the corresponding award practice area appears in bold.
Michael Allen – Corporate Governance Law; Corporate Law
Paul Altman – Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships); Corporate Law
The AI infrastructure conversation has shifted as AI inference becomes a larger part of workloads around the world. The cost of compute is no longer the only constraint. The real bottleneck is increasingly memory, as supply is tightening into 2027, if not longer, according to Counterpoint Research. HBM remains expensive and capacity-limited. Scaling out with more servers leaves operators with stranded DRAM, higher interconnect traffic and rising power costs. The same data ends up duplicated across nodes and past a point, adding servers stops adding useful throughput.
Compute Express Link (CXL) is the most credible answer to that memory pressure, helping to use pooled memory to balance loads so HBM can be saved for the most crucial use cases. CXL 2.0 products are already shipping, CXL 3.x endpoint devices are arriving now, and switching is moving into a real evaluation phase. The practical inflection point is the arrival of CXL 3.x-capable CPUs, expected in early 2027 which is when broad development becomes realistic. The market is expected to be significant, as the Yole Group estimates the global CXL component market will exceed $15 billion by 2028.
But CXL is not a drop-in memory upgrade. Treating it as just another layer of RAM is the fastest way to misjudge where CXL can help, which workloads will benefit, and what it takes to run reliably. Three decisions matter before hyperscalers look at deploying CXL in their infrastructure.
1. The Best Fit for CXL Today
The first symptom that a hyperscaler has reached the limits of traditional scale-out memory is familiar: GPU memory is fully populated, but compute is still underutilized and the working set is the constraint. Server platforms keep adding DIMM channels and slots, but operators still face memory pressure. Large datasets, KV cache, vector indexes and analytics working sets get duplicated across nodes, increasing power, network traffic and system cost without always improving useful performance.
CXL is best considered when operators need more addressable memory, better memory utilization or are evaluating a computational memory solution that can reduce unnecessary data movement. It is not a replacement for HBM. Training is still heavily dependent on HBM bandwidth, and CXL adds latency relative to local DRAM.
The better question is whether a workload benefits more from added capacity than it loses from added latency. For warm or less frequently accessed data, the trade-off is often acceptable. If the alternative is remote memory, SSD access or adding more servers, CXL is the better option.
2. Which Workloads Benefit
The strongest fit for CXL workloads is AI inference, especially long-context KV cache, plus RAG, vector databases, and in-memory analytics. As AI use grows, and companies become more cost-conscious about token costs, inference is the use case where OpEx can be saved with CXL.
KV cache scales with context length and concurrent requests. Memory planning can no longer be based on model weight size on a single node. It becomes a rack-level problem that has to account for HBM, DRAM, CXL memory and SSD-backed tiers together. Tiering becomes relevant when local memory starts forcing trade-offs: shorter context, fewer simultaneous requests, lower batch size, more recomputation or spilling to slower storage. The exact threshold depends on the model and serving setup, but the signal stays the same: there’s a problem when memory capacity limits the service before compute is fully used.
For RAG and vector databases, the primary bottleneck is index size. As vector indexes grow, keeping them fully in memory gets harder. When they spill to SSD or get distributed across more nodes, that creates more I/O and higher retrieval latency. CXL expansion helps by increasing the addressable memory pool. CXL products that support near-data processing can go further by handling certain operations closer to the data, reducing how much needs to move back to the CPU or GPU. A purely bandwidth-bound workload may not benefit from expansion alone, but if memory is full while compute and bandwidth still have headroom, CXL can help out.
3. What Determines Production Reliability
Coherency matters in practice, not just on architecture diagrams. Operators want expanded memory to behave like memory, not like a separate I/O device that requires manual copy management. Without the right coherency model, software has to handle more copies, synchronization and consistency issues.
Pooling delivers more flexibility but raises the bar on orchestration, isolation and security. The prerequisites are control and visibility: which workloads are using pooled memory, how performance is changing, whether latency targets are being met.
Failure domains expand when memory is shared across hosts. Reusable or read-mostly data is easier to share. Sensitive, constantly changing or latency-critical data should be kept isolated. Operators need monitoring for memory errors, link health, latency, bandwidth and device status, with a fallback when part of the pool fails.
RAS features carry more weight in AI infrastructure than in conventional servers. ECC, error tracking, telemetry, poison handling, link reliability and failure isolation are required to detect early signs of degradation before a memory-side issue disrupts an expensive GPU workload. The goal is prevention as much as correction.
Transparent tiering can expose CXL memory as an additional memory tier with minimal application changes to make adoption easier. Workload-aware optimization, through SDKs or runtime APIs, places data more intentionally for KV cache, vector search or analytics to unlock larger gains.
Addressing the Skeptics
(Shutterstock/DCStudio)
Some media outlets have argued that PCIe-based interconnects are roughly 3x worse than Ethernet-style SerDes in a bandwidth-constrained world. This critique is fair when CXL is treated as a replacement for high-bandwidth networking, RDMA-style fabrics or GPU interconnects.
But that is not where CXL belongs. CXL should be focused on capacity expansion, memory pooling and sharing, coherency, KV cache management and reducing data movement. For KV cache specifically, research has shown CXL-based shared memory can be more attractive than RDMA-based approaches.
Making the Decision
Before committing, operators should verify CPU support, BIOS and firmware readiness, switch interoperability, software support, management tools and real workload performance. Long-context LLM inference is one of the best starting workloads. It is capacity-bound, measurable and can begin with transparent tiering before deeper application changes.
A pilot is successful when it shows at least one clear result on the same infrastructure: larger context support, more concurrent requests, fewer servers, better GPU utilization, lower network traffic, lower CPU overhead or better cost per token. Memory utilization, GPU utilization and system cost or power per unit of work are the metrics that matter most.
CXL is ready for serious infrastructure planning. Think of it as an architectural decision driven by workloads instead of a simple swap with HBM. CXL lets operators use their existing memory more efficiently – improved KV cache performance and the ability to open up a much bigger layer of memory to handle large prompts and frequent inference queries.
About the author: Jin Kim is the CEO and co-founder of XCENA, a South Korean semiconductor startup developing computational memory and CXL pooling products designed to break the memory bottleneck in AI workloads. Prior to co-founding XCENA, Jin was a vice president at SK Hynix, where he led the next-generation architecture development team. Jin also spent time at Samsung and has a degree in Computer Science from Seoul National University.
American Bridge 21st Century is a liberal hybrid PAC that conducts opposition research and runs ads to aid Democratic candidates and organizations. Since 2019, its official name has been AB PAC.
As part super PAC, AB PAC can accept unlimited donations and has largely been funded by major Democratic donors and labor unions. Those donors must be disclosed, according to federal election rules.
Bradley Beychok, a former president of Media Matters, is the co-founder of the hybrid PAC and served as the group’s president until March 2021. Opposition research veteran Pat Dennis took over as president in December 2022, replacing Jessica Floyd, who previously had been managing director of campaigns for the progressive Hub Project.
For the 2026 election cycle, the group has set a goal of spending $50 million on paid media focusing on nearly 20 House and Senate races in Iowa, Alaska, Colorado, Michigan, Mississippi, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Texas. That is in addition to the nearly 150 races covered by its ongoing opposition research for the November elections.
“The campaign will feature local storytellers sharing firsthand accounts of rising costs due to Trump’s tariffs and Iran War, health care challenges including rising costs and Medicaid cuts, and other economic pressures,” American Bridge said in a June press release.
American Bridge said $50 million would be the most the group has ever spent in a midterm cycle, and it aims to expand the Democratic map by also spending in areas that are traditionally Republican.
As of June 30, it had received almost $34.8 million in the 2026 election cycle, and had about $5.1 million on hand, according to its latest monthly filing with the Federal Election Commission in July. Major donors include Deborah Simon, daughter of the late property developer Melvin Simon; AB Foundation, the hybrid PAC’s affiliated advocacy group; and Democracy PAC, a liberal super PAC created by billionaire George Soros.
AB PAC has already spent more than $1 million this election cycle on independent expenditures, which are advertisements and other communications that expressly advocate for or against candidates for office. During the 2026 primary elections, it opposed a trio of Iowa Republicans, including Rep. Ashley Hinson, who won the Republican nomination in the Iowa Senate race; Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks, who won the Republican nomination for the state’s 1st Congressional District seat; and former state Rep. Joe Mitchell, who won the Republican nomination for the state’s 2nd Congressional District seat.
The group launched a project in April called “The Shaky Eights” targeting 17 “weak” Republican House incumbents, including Reps. French Hill of Arkansas and Virginia Foxx of North Carolina. In Mississippi, it said it planned to spend a little more than $2 million in support of Democratic Senate nominee Scott Colom in his race against Republican Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith. It has also contributed over $7 million to Texas Majority PAC, which describes itself as “a project dedicated to electing a Democrat to statewide office in Texas.”
During the 2024 elections, AB PAC spent about $97.7 million in total, including roughly $58.6 million in independent expenditures opposing President Donald Trump. The group ran ads in Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin focusing on Trump’s role in rolling back abortion protections, and it financed a $20 million campaign addressing his criminal conviction, his conduct surrounding the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol and other aspects of his record.
FactCheck.orgUndergraduate Fellow Angela Lin contributed to this article.
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Caption: On the day he became old enough under federal regulations to fly a glider solo, he was already prepared to take the controls.
On July 1, Cheng completed his first solo glider flight on his 14th birthday, reaching the minimum age at which the Federal Aviation Administration allows a student pilot to solo a glider or balloon.
By John Riddle
Most teenagers celebrate turning 14 with cake, presents and time with family and friends. Newark resident Jonathan Cheng celebrated his birthday a little differently.
He took control of a glider, climbed thousands of feet into the sky and flew solo.
On July 1, Cheng completed his first solo glider flight on his 14th birthday, reaching the minimum age at which the Federal Aviation Administration allows a student pilot to solo a glider or balloon.
For Cheng, the flight represented much more than a memorable way to celebrate a birthday. It was the culmination of years of interest in aviation and months of training, preparation and determination.
“I’ve been fascinated by aircraft since I was young and have always dreamed of flying one someday,” Cheng said. “Soloing a glider was an incredible experience, especially since I was able to do it on my 14th birthday, the youngest age possible.”
Cheng’s fascination with aviation began four years earlier when his father arranged a discovery flight for his 10th birthday. The hour in the air sparked an interest that quickly grew.
For his 11th birthday, Cheng wanted a flight simulator setup. He spent countless hours using it to learn more about the mechanics of flight. By age 12, he was ready to move beyond simulated flying and joined the Brandywine Soaring Association, where he began training at New Garden Airport.
Gliders provide a distinctly different flying experience from powered aircraft. Without an engine, pilots must understand air currents, locate rising air and carefully manage the aircraft’s available energy. Cheng describes it as the sensation of “flying like a bird.”
His involvement with the soaring association has extended beyond sitting in the cockpit. During more than a year of training, he has regularly volunteered as part of the ground crew, helping with wing-running, glider assembly and staging aircraft for flight operations.
The work eventually led to July 1.
In the days before his birthday, Cheng concentrated heavily on both ground and flight training. An additional challenge came when flight operations moved to a different airport, requiring him to become familiar with a new environment and traffic pattern.
When the day finally arrived, Cheng climbed into a Blanik glider. After being towed to 2,000 feet, he released the tow rope and was alone in the aircraft.
“I had spent a long time training and preparing for this moment, so finally being able to solo made me feel both excited and proud,” Cheng said. “It showed me that my hard work and dedication were paying off and motivated me to keep learning and pursuing my goal of becoming a pilot.”
He successfully flew his planned maneuvers and traffic pattern before bringing the glider back for a smooth landing on the grass.
The milestone was also a memorable moment for his father, Wei Cheng, who had watched his son’s interest in aviation grow from that first discovery flight into a serious pursuit.
“I couldn’t be prouder of Jonathan’s dedication and maturity,” Wei Cheng said. “Reaching this historic milestone on his exact 14th birthday is a testament to months of disciplined training, early mornings, and his unwavering commitment to his aviation goals.”
The conditions made the day even more challenging, with temperatures reaching about 100 degrees.
“Special credit goes to the Brandywine Soaring Association for making it happen,” Wei Cheng said. “We truly appreciate the local aviation community and feel blessed.”
Jonathan credits instructor Barry Muhlenberg, tow pilot Dan Wroe, his parents and members of the Brandywine Soaring Association with helping him reach his goal. His training has also received a boost from the Soaring Society of America, which awarded him the 2026 Purduski Flight Training Scholarship to help support his work toward a Private Pilot Glider Certificate.
Aviation, however, is only one part of Jonathan’s busy schedule.
He is a Cadet Master Sergeant in the Civil Air Patrol and a competitive archer. He also participated in the United States Naval Academy Summer STEM Camp. His interest in science and technology includes cybersecurity, software development, 3D printing and analog photography.
He reached the Platinum Tier in the CyberPatriot competition, with his team ranking in the top 30 percent of more than 5,000 teams. He also combines his engineering and aviation interests by 3D printing his own radio-controlled airplanes.
At school, Jonathan is the founder and president of the Rubik’s Club.
His father says Jonathan’s willingness to pursue opportunities has been an important part of his progress.
“He knows clearly what he wants to be, and he always drags us to take him to New Garden Airport whenever the weather permits,” Wei Cheng said. “His flight instructor is a USAFA graduate and retired fighter pilot, and Jonathan is learning not just how to fly, but also how to become a leader and serve our country.”
Jonathan already has his next aviation milestones mapped out. He hopes to earn his Private Pilot Glider Certificate at age 16 and a private pilot certificate for powered aircraft at 17.
His longer-term ambition is even higher. Inspired in part by aviation history and Capt. Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger’s book Highest Duty, Jonathan hopes to earn an appointment to the United States Air Force Academy as a member of the Class of 2030 and eventually serve as a fighter pilot.
For other young people who may think they need to wait until adulthood before seriously pursuing a dream, Jonathan has a different message.
“If you really care about something, don’t be afraid to work for it,” he said. “There will be challenges and days when things really don’t go perfectly, but you have to keep going and learn from your mistakes.”
He also encourages young people to seek out mentors, ask questions and surround themselves with people who will help them improve.
“Most importantly, start working toward your dream now,” Jonathan said. “You don’t have to wait until you’re older.”
Jonathan certainly didn’t.
On the day he became old enough under federal regulations to fly a glider solo, he was already prepared to take the controls.
Caption: This is the second installment of a three-part Delaware LIVE series examining Delaware’s literacy challenge.
Reaching the 2028 goal will require faster progress, interim measurements, and action when strategies fail
Editor’s note: This is the second installment of a three-part Delaware LIVE series examining Delaware’s literacy challenge. Part 1 reported the latest assessment results and introduced the state’s 2028 reading goal. Read Part 1.
By George D. Rotsch, Editor, Delaware LIVE
DOVER, Del. — Delaware has established a clear literacy destination: At least 53% of third graders reading proficiently by 2028.
The state has not yet presented an equally clear public path for getting there.
Third-grade English language arts proficiency reached 40% in 2026, up 1 percentage point from the previous year. That leaves Delaware with a 13-point gap and two annual testing cycles remaining. Note: the full report can be accessed online: https://news.delaware.gov/files/2026/08/State-Board-2026-Briefing-August-20.pdf
To reach the goal on a roughly even trajectory, proficiency would need to rise to approximately 46.5% in 2027 and 53% in 2028.
That would require average annual gains of 6.5 percentage points—more than six times the improvement recorded this year.
If proficiency continued rising at only 1 point per year, it would reach approximately 42% in 2028. At that rate, Delaware would not reach 53% until about 2039.
That is a mathematical illustration, not a prediction. Results can accelerate, particularly when effective instructional changes reach large numbers of classrooms. But the calculation demonstrates that incremental improvement will not be sufficient.
A goal needs interim benchmarks
Delaware’s Early Literacy Plan calls for a public dashboard, quarterly progress updates and an annual State of Literacy report.
Those measures can improve transparency. But reporting results is not the same as establishing what must happen when results fall short.
A complete accountability plan should identify:
The statewide proficiency target for 2027.
Corresponding district and school targets.
The officials responsible for implementation.
The expected effect of each major literacy strategy.
The cost of each initiative.
The measurements used during the school year.
The response when a benchmark is missed.
The conditions for expanding, revising or ending a program.
Without interim benchmarks, the public may not learn that Delaware is off track until the 2028 results are released.
Boards cannot wait for the next state test
Annual assessments show whether students met the state standard, but the results arrive after the school year has ended. For school boards, the challenge is to use that annual result to establish a clear student outcome goal and then monitor progress toward it throughout the year.
Keleher said the board and superintendent have different responsibilities in that process. The board establishes the student outcome it expects and monitors whether the district is making sufficient progress toward it. The superintendent and educators determine the strategy for achieving the goal and manage its implementation. That distinction is consistent with student-outcomes-focused governance frameworks, which place goals and progress monitoring with the board while leaving implementation to the superintendent and administration.
“The annual assessment tells a board where students finished, but boards don’t have to wait until the end of the next school year to know whether students are on track,” Keleher said. “Once the board establishes the outcome it expects, the superintendent can identify the measures that will show throughout the year whether the district’s strategy is being implemented and students are making progress.”
Boards should receive regular reports on:
Early literacy screening.
Students reading above, at or below grade level.
Students assigned to additional intervention.
Progress among students receiving assistance.
Attendance in kindergarten through third grade.
Differences among schools and student groups.
Implementation of approved literacy programs.
Program spending and the results expected from it.
Those measures will depend on the district’s strategy and the barriers it is trying to address. They could include student reading progress, early literacy screening, attendance, access to intervention, or evidence that the district’s literacy strategy is being implemented as intended. Academic KPIs and interim measures are commonly used by districts to track progress over time rather than relying solely on annual results.
“The board’s role is not to determine which intervention a student receives or manage how a literacy program is implemented. Its role is to set the outcome, understand the superintendent’s strategy, ensure resources and policies support it, and monitor the evidence that shows whether students are on track.” Keleher said.
If progress is insufficient, the board asks what the superintendent is changing and determines whether additional governance action is needed. This approach also creates greater transparency for the broader community: everyone can understand the outcome the district is working toward, the strategy for achieving it, whether students are making progress, and where there are opportunities to contribute.
Mississippi added a promotion consequence
Mississippi adopted a more consequential approach through its Literacy-Based Promotion Act.
Under the law, a third grader scoring in the lowest two achievement levels on the state reading assessment generally is not promoted to fourth grade unless the student later demonstrates sufficient competency or qualifies for a good-cause exemption.
The policy is not based on one testing opportunity. Mississippi provides reading intervention, individual plans, parent notification and opportunities to retest. The law also includes exemptions for specified students and circumstances.
The promotion requirement establishes a clear expectation: Students generally must demonstrate minimum reading competency before advancing to fourth grade.
Mississippi reported that 84.6% of third graders passed its reading assessment after their final opportunity in 2025.
That percentage should not be directly compared with Delaware’s 40% proficiency rate because the states use different assessments, performance standards and reporting methods.
Mississippi’s improvement also cannot be attributed solely to its promotion requirement. The state combined that policy with early screening, teacher training, evidence-based instruction, literacy coaches and intervention for struggling students.
Delaware emphasizes support and reporting
Delaware also is investing in evidence-based materials, teacher development, screening, coaching and family engagement.
Unlike Mississippi, Delaware has not made third-grade reading competency a statewide requirement for promotion to fourth grade.
Delaware’s assessment identifies whether a child met the standard, but students may advance without demonstrating proficiency. Promotion and retention decisions remain largely local.
The difference can be summarized simply: Mississippi added a gate. Delaware established a goal and a reporting system.
Delaware is not without accountability. Schools may be identified for support and intervention through the Delaware School Success Framework, which considers achievement, growth, attendance and other measures.
But Delaware has not established a comparable statewide consequence when a third grader fails to demonstrate minimum reading competency.
Who should face the consequence?
Mississippi’s approach raises a difficult policy question: Should the immediate consequence fall on a child who has not learned to read, or should it fall more directly on the adults and institutions responsible for delivering instruction?
Supporters of literacy-based promotion argue that advancing a student who cannot read does not solve the problem. It transfers the problem to fourth grade, when students increasingly must read independently to learn other subjects.
Critics argue that retention can impose social and emotional costs and disproportionately affect low-income students, multilingual learners and students with disabilities.
They also warn that repeating third grade will accomplish little if the student simply receives the same instruction that previously failed to produce results.
Delaware would not necessarily have to copy Mississippi. A graduated approach could require:
Early identification of reading difficulties.
An individual reading plan.
Intensive intervention.
Summer instruction.
Multiple opportunities to demonstrate competency.
A parent, teacher and principal review before promotion.
Appropriate exemptions.
Corrective action when a school repeatedly produces low results.
That would preserve professional judgment while making third-grade reading more than an annual statistic.
Accountability involves changing course
“Accountability involves changing course that goes beyond receiving a report and acknowledging disappointing results”, says Nancy Mercante, President of Citizens for Delaware Schools.
“It includes transparent reporting by every school board to the community about progress and setbacks. Every board must make academic achievement their top priority and engage in monthly discussions about improving it. Meeting thir goals will require particular attention to high-needs students, who keep falling further behind.”
A board’s response could include:
Strengthening implementation.
Directing more support toward struggling schools.
Revising an intervention.
Redirecting resources.
Replacing an ineffective program.
Requiring a school-specific corrective plan.
Making leadership changes when warranted.
The objective should not be to punish schools for serving high-need students. It should be to prevent persistently low performance from becoming accepted.
Promising programs need further evidence
The eight Delaware schools receiving literacy coaching and having comparable data averaged gains of nearly 7 percentage points.
That is approximately the annual statewide gain Delaware now needs to reach the 2028 target.
The results warrant further examination, but responsible expansion requires answers:
How much did the coaching cost?
How often did coaches work with teachers?
What other instructional changes occurred?
Did school leadership or enrollment change?
How did comparable schools perform without coaches?
Can the gains be sustained?
Does Delaware have enough qualified personnel to expand the program?
A program should not be considered successful merely because it was launched, fully staffed or well received. The ultimate measure is whether students receiving the service make meaningful and sustained progress.
Delaware must define the path
Delaware has defined where it wants third-grade reading proficiency to be in 2028.
Reaching that target will require interim measurements that show whether students are on track, clear responsibility for implementation and a defined response when strategies fail.
Otherwise, the 53% target risks becoming an aspiration rather than an accountability measure.
Read Part 3:
Delaware’s new funding model will give school boards greater discretion over education resources. Part 3 examines how boards can use academic evidence, professional guidance and community participation to make better literacy decisions.
In announcing the latest FBI annual report on nationwide crime, President Donald Trump wrongly cast the decline in crime in 2025 as a dramatic turnaround and made misleading claims about the impact of his administration’s policies.
Speaking to an audience of law enforcement officers at the Nassau County police academy on Aug. 14, Trump said that his speech was meant to “celebrate the historic progress our administration is making together with law enforcement partners nationwide to restore law and order in America.” The FBI that day released data collected from local law enforcement agencies showing that both violent and property crime nationwide declined from 2024 to 2025, with the largest one-year drops in the violent crime and murder rates since the FBI began publishing these estimates in 1936.
The president accurately cited those large one-year reductions, but he ran afoul of the facts and available evidence in taking credit for them:
Trump claimed that the decline happened “because of what the federal government’s doing.” Criminology experts say there are many plausible factors and the exact reasons are unclear.
He claimed that the U.S. experienced “a horrible four years” of violent crime during the Biden administration. But violent crime fell during the second half of Biden’s presidency and was lower in the last year of Joe Biden’s term compared with Trump’s final year in office.
Trump vastly overstated the decline in crime since his deployment of National Guard troops in Washington, D.C., Memphis and New Orleans, citing 70% or 80% reductions that don’t match up with police data. Experts also say the troops aren’t the primary reason for crime dropping in those cities.
The president suggested that an executive order he signed upon taking office in 2025 contributed to a significant decline in police officers dying in the line of duty that year. However, the law enforcement organization that keeps records of such deaths said the decrease was “likely” due to other factors.
Trump’s speech embracing the FBI’s report for 2025 is noteworthy because he previously disparaged the FBI reports as “fake,” “phony” and “a fraud” when they showed a decline in crime under Biden.
Reasons for Crime Drop Unclear
Trump cited several statistics from the FBI report and claimed credit for the 2024-to-2025 crime reduction. But criminology experts have said the reasons behind the decrease are myriad and unclear. Also, the large single-year declines in 2025 follow a few years of crime dropping after a spike during the 2020 pandemic.
“And with your help, last year, we achieved the largest drop in murder rate ever recorded, the lowest level in 125 years. That’s since the year 1900,” Trump said, adding that according to the FBI crime report, “we achieved the single largest reduction in violent crime in American history.”
Trump is correct that the FBI report says the data it collects from local law enforcement agencies show the 2024-to-2025 decreases in both the violent crime rate and the murder rate were the largest one-year declines since the FBI began releasing the nationwide crime estimates in 1936. The violent crime rate went down by 9.7%, and the murder and nonnegligent manslaughter rate dropped by 18.5%, the FBI said.
The data are estimates based on figures submitted by more than 17,000 local law enforcement agencies covering about 96% of the U.S. population. The violent crime rate went from 362.9 offenses per 100,000 population in 2024 to 327.6 per 100,000 population last year. The murder rate dropped from 5.1 per 100,000 to 4.1.
Trump’s reference to the murder rate being the lowest since 1900 comes from a report by the Council on Criminal Justice, a nonprofit think tank, which used FBI statistics dating back to 1960 and public health data going back to 1900 in determining that. (See Figure 20 in CCJ’s year-end report for 2025.)
The murder rate is the lowest over that time, per CCJ’s methodology. The FBI said the 4.1 rate is tied with the bureau’s 1955 and 1956 figures. (CCJ explained to us that it didn’t use the FBI estimates prior to 1960 because they weren’t standardized and are considered less reliable.)
Regardless, the murder rate is now at a historic low.
“Overall, it was the largest percentage point drop in murder, violent crime and property crime ever recorded,” Jeff Asher, a co-founder of AH Datalytics, a consulting firm that compiles crime data, wrote on Substack. “With murder you have to go all the way back to 2024 to find the previous largest one-year drop in murder and before that the previous largest one-year drop was in 2023.”
In his speech, Trump went on to credit his administration. “But we have the numbers down because of what the federal government’s doing,” the president said. “We get no — we get no credit for it. … They like to take all the credit, but everyone knows we’ve done an amazing job.”
In an Aug. 18 press release, the White House similarly said that Trump and his administration “have delivered the most dramatic decline in violent crime in American history.” It wrongly said the FBI crime estimates “mark the decisive reversal of the crime crisis Democrats left behind.” As we explain later in this article, the rates for violent crimes were lower in 2024 than in 2020, Trump’s last year of his first term. The press release went on to cite figures on arrests made by the FBI.
Presidents of both parties often take credit for the good things that happen while they’re in office, but experts say the reasons behind the 2025 crime figures aren’t yet known.
“The homicide drop is historic and crystal clear. But right now, what’s driving it is about as clear as a glass of milk,” Adam Gelb, the president and CEO of the Council on Criminal Justice, said in a statement. “Rates are falling in cities with very different public safety strategies, economic conditions, and political leadership.”
Criminology experts have told us before that one or even a few years of crime data isn’t enough to draw conclusions.
“As with every edition with these kind of reports, the feeding frenzy begins to take credit,” Matthew Cavedon, director of the Cato Institute’s Project on Criminal Justice, told the Washington Post. “Everybody wants to be able to go to the public and the voters and say, ‘This is exactly what did it.’ It’s a bit of a fool’s errand to even try.”
The Trump administration, however, is taking a victory lap. We asked the White House if there were reports or other information it could point to showing the crime drop in 2025 was due to the administration’s actions or policies. “President Trump is right: thanks to this Administration’s tough-on-crime policies, 2025 showed the largest year-to-year decrease in violent crime. President Trump has restored law and order,” Lauren Bis, a White House spokeswoman, said in response.
In an interview, Gelb told us that there could be some impact on crime from what the administration is doing, but we don’t know what that is yet.
He said that attrition is one factor that could be playing a role, as there are fewer high-risk people on the street. Factors contributing to that, he said, include a surplus in murders beginning in 2020 (resulting in more arrests and some criminals killed), a spike in drug overdose deaths, and the federal government’s immigration enforcement and other activities. While clearly not all those who die from drug overdoses, or all immigrants swept up by the federal government, have committed crimes, some percentage of them would have some involvement in criminal activity.
Available data have shown that the majority of immigration enforcement by the federal government has swept up people without convictions or charges for violent crime. A February CBS News report said that about 14% of nearly 400,000 arrests by Immigration and Customs Enforcement in 2025 involved those with charges or convictions for violent crimes, according to an internal Department of Homeland Security document. We’ve also reported that an increasing percentage of ICE arrests over Trump’s first year back in office were of those with no criminal convictions or pending charges, whether for violent or lesser offenses. Still, the increased enforcement does result in some number of violent criminals being detained.
Gelb cautioned, however, that reducing crime isn’t “as simple as taking bad guys off the street,” because of the replacement effect, where those arrested are quickly replaced by someone else in a criminal organization, such as in gang activity, drug dealing or organized retail theft.
Asked when there might be clarity on the Trump administration’s impact on crime, Gelb said, “We’re still trying to understand the crime drop that started in the early 1990s. So, I don’t think we can expect definitive conclusions that with any precision assign credit to any particular policy, program, party or leader. … But with careful and rigorous analysis, we can get a lot closer.”
Next month, CCJ is convening about 50 crime researchers and scholars to discuss the reasons behind the decline in crime in recent years, and they’re looking at about 40 different plausible factors. Gelb said that they fall into three buckets: criminal justice operations, strategies, policies and programs; technology; and social and cultural shifts.
He went on to list several factors in each of those buckets. Criminal justice would include local and federal policies under multiple administrations, community violence intervention programs, and mayoral offices’ whole-of-government strategies that involve everything from policing to improving street lighting. Technology includes a “massive expansion in the last few years of surveillance” through cameras; a shift to a cashless society, which reduces robberies; and improvements in emergency medical care that can lower the lethality rate from assaults or robberies. Finally, the broad social and cultural changes include people drinking less, particularly young people, and kids spending more time at home alone — on their phones — rather than being out with friends.
“You know the movie ‘Everything Everywhere All at Once’?” Gelb asked. “That’s what we’ve got here. And when you have so many, so many things happening at once, it can be extremely hard to disentangle.”
Violent Crime Under Biden
Trump also claimed that the U.S. had “four years in hell” because of violent crime under Biden. But the violent crime rate was lower when Biden left office than when Biden was inaugurated.
“And in the past four years, before I took office, our country was overrun by violent criminals,” Trump said. “I mean, you remember just a couple of years ago, how bad it was, right? It was really bad, foreign gangs, savage thugs with Biden, sleepy Joe. What a — what a horrible four years. That was four years in hell. We lived in hell.”
FBI data show the overall violent crime rate did increase a smidge during the first half of Biden’s term. It was 389.5 per 100,000 population in 2022, a slight bump from the rate of 389.2 per 100,000 in 2020, Trump’s last full year in office, when violent crime spiked during the pandemic. (See Table 1 after downloading the FBI’s 2025 estimations for crime in the U.S.)
But violent crime began to fall in 2023 and the rate was down to 362.9 per 100,000 in 2024. That was 26.3 fewer offenses per 100,000 population than in 2020 and even down from the pre-pandemic rate of 368.6 per 100,000 in 2019.
In fact, the rates of murder, rape, robbery and aggravated assault were all lower in 2024 than in 2020. The murder rate in particular dropped from 6.6 in 2020 to 5.1 in 2024, and the number of murders declined by about 21%. At the same time, the rate of aggravated assaults declined by 13.7 offenses per 100,000 and the raw number went down by almost 2%.
Impact of National Guard
Trump touted his efforts to deploy the National Guard and federal law enforcement to assist several cities with crime, and he said it has paid dramatic dividends. But he vastly overstated the drop in crime post-National Guard. And crime experts say the infusion of National Guard troops is not the primary reason for the reduced crime those cities have experienced.
Members of the U.S. National Guard patrol near the Washington Monument on the National Mall with the Lincoln Memorial in the background on Aug. 6 in Washington, D.C. Photo by Kevin Carter/Getty Images.
Via presidential memos, Trump deployed the National Guard in several cities to focus on public safety: in Washington, D.C., on Aug. 11, 2025; in Memphis on Sept. 15; and in New Orleans in late December.
“In Memphis, crime is down 71%. In New Orleans, crime is down 75%. And in D.C., crime is down 81%,” Trump said. “I’ll tell you, because D.C. is very personal for me, but in D.C., crime is — it was so bad when I got there. A year and a half ago, people were being murdered, three a week on average. We have very few murders anymore.”
There were 16 homicides in Washington, D.C., in July, more than the “three a week on average” Trump said was the norm before he deployed the National Guard there.
But overall, crime and homicides are generally down in the three cities where Trump deployed the National Guard, just not by nearly as much as Trump claimed. And crime had been trending down for at least a few years prior to the National Guard arrival.
The White House did not respond to our question about the source of Trump’s figures.
Washington, D.C.
On Aug. 11, 2025, Trump declared what he called “Liberation Day in D.C.” to “rescue our nation’s capital from crime, bloodshed, bedlam and squalor and worse.” He put the Metropolitan Police Department under temporary federal control and deployed the National Guard to the nation’s capital to help with law enforcement.
Data from the city’s Metropolitan Police Department indicate a 20% reduction in overall crime in D.C. so far in 2026, compared with a similar period in 2025.
Digging into the numbers, there were 67 homicides between Jan. 1 and Aug. 14, 33% fewer than over the same period in 2025 (nearly entirely before the National Guard deployment). Robberies over the same period were down 14%. But sex abuse cases were up 2%, and assaults with a dangerous weapon rose 40%. Overall, violent crime rose 4%. Property crimes declined by 23%.
“If you want to argue that there was an additional decline on top of that [the downward trend] due to all these interventions, you could plausibly make that argument,” Asher, with AH Datalytics, told the Washington Post. “But you can’t make the argument that the intervention caused that decline or even was a major factor in those trends turning over.”
Thaddeus Johnson, an assistant professor at Georgia State University and a senior fellow at the Council on Criminal Justice, echoed that conclusion, telling the Washington Post, “One would be hard-pressed to say that it didn’t play a role, but you would also be hard-pressed to say it was the only or primary reason why we’ve seen reductions.”
“DC homicides fell from 187 in 2024, the year before [Trump] took office, to 127 in 2025, and are down another 32% so far this year, from about 3.6 murders a week in 2024 to about 2 a week now,” Richard Hahn, senior manager for research and evidence in the Niskanen Center’s criminal justice department, told us via email. “That is a roughly 40% improvement on the pace he inherited, not 81%, and the sharpest single drop (274 homicides in 2023 to 187 in 2024) happened entirely under local policing before his term began.”
Hahn is one of the co-authors of a report from the Niskanen Center, a centrist think tank, titled, “Washington, D.C.’s Crime Decline and Its Lessons for American Policing.”
The analysis concluded that deployment of the National Guard to D.C. gets “some credit” for “a narrow slice of crime,” Hahn told us. “The Guard was posted in tourist corridors, transit hubs, and federal areas rather than the neighborhoods where violence concentrates, and Guard members could detain but not arrest. We found the deployment produced a real reduction, about 24%, in opportunistic property crime where the Guard was visible, and no detectable effect on violent crime. That is what the research on policing would predict: visible uniformed presence deters crimes of opportunity, but it does not reach violence rooted in interpersonal disputes.”
According to the report, “What the Guard brought was a massive, sudden shock from the visible presence of uniformed military personnel on the streets of Washington almost overnight. For crimes driven by opportunistic calculation, that visibility appears to have mattered. For violent crime, which is less deterrable by patrol presence alone, it did not.”
The report concluded that while the Guard’s deployment “reduced the occurrence of specific crimes, it was (and remains) a blunt and expensive instrument.” The report’s analysis found that “a targeted, data-driven policing strategy optimized on where and when crime actually occurs could achieve comparable or better outcomes at a fraction of the cost.”
Memphis
Last September, Trump’s executive order created the Memphis Safe Task Force, which included sending hundreds of federal law enforcement agents and deploying 1,450 National Guard troops to the city.
In Memphis, total crime dropped nearly 39% from the period of Oct. 1 to Aug. 18 compared with the same period the year before, according to city data. That includes drops in crimes across the board: -41% for murder; -30% for aggravated assault; -32% for sexual assault; -48% for robbery; -28% for burglary; -36% for larceny; and -62% for motor vehicle theft.
Memphis Mayor Paul Young told Action News 5 in Memphis that the task force “amplified” state and city efforts — including millions in state funds targeting violent crime and other targeted enforcement approaches — that had already resulted in crime dropping 27% in the year before the task force was created.
“I think two things can be true at the same time,” Tyreece Miller, U.S. marshal for the Western District of Tennessee, told Action News 5. “I think crime was trending downward. But I think the task force certainly escalated the decrease in crime.”
New Orleans
In late December 2025, Trump deployed 350 National Guard members to New Orleans. But the results have been mixed.
In New Orleans, crime began to markedly drop in late 2023, but leveled off in mid-2025. Since the National Guard arrived in New Orleans in late December, crime overall has remained relatively unchanged. The rolling yearly total number of crimes on Aug. 18 was 13,375, up slightly from the yearly total ending Aug. 17, 2025, of 13,207. Year-to-date, overall crime is up 4.8% compared with the same period last year; murder is down 23.9%; and sexual assault is up 1.6%.
“The National Guard has had no impact on New Orleans’ murder trend,” Asher, of AH Datalytics, told us via email. “To begin with, the Guard is deployed largely in the French Quarter where gun violence is very rare. In addition, shootings in New Orleans began falling dramatically in mid-2023 with the city experiencing a 60 percent drop in shooting incidents between mid-2023 and early 2025. This trend began long before the National Guard arrived and almost certainly has been caused by other factors.”
Hahn also cautioned not to ascribe too much credit to National Guard deployment in the three cities.
“The whole country is in a historic crime decline,” Hahn said, citing the FBI’s 2025 report that found the largest one-year drops in violent crime and murder since the bureau started tracking the data. “The Council on Criminal Justice found homicide down 21% in 2025 across its big-city sample, and down another 18% in the first half of 2026, putting the country on track for a historic low. Against that backdrop, the three deployment cities look much like everywhere else. When crime is falling nearly everywhere, falling crime in three cities is not sufficient evidence that any particular intervention worked.”
Trump, meanwhile, said he stands ready to implement similar federal surges in other cities that are receptive.
“For other cities like New York, Chicago, L.A., all they have to do is call us and we will stop that crime,” Trump said. “We’ll stop that horrible crime.”
But Hahn said the data do not support that, as big cities around the country saw major crime drops over the last several years, commensurate to the cities where Trump sent the National Guard.
“Crime has not dropped more dramatically in the deployment cities than in New York, Chicago, and LA,” Hahn said. “In 2025, the NYPD recorded the fewest shooting incidents in its recorded history (688, down 24% from 2024) with murders down 20%. Chicago ended 2025 with 411 homicides, down 30% and the fewest in decades, per CPD data. Los Angeles recorded its fewest homicides since 1966, down 19%. And Denver led the nation’s large cities with a 41% homicide decline. None of these cities had a Guard deployment. That they matched or beat the deployment cities without federal troops is strong evidence that the Guard is not what is driving the numbers.”
Decline in Police Dying on Duty
Trump appeared to credit an executive order he signed in early 2025 for last year’s decline in the number of police officers who died in the line of duty. But that was not one of the reasons for the decrease that was cited by the law enforcement organization that tracks those deaths.
“Shortly after taking office, I signed a historic executive order directing that anyone convicted of killing a police officer should face the death penalty,” Trump said. “And last year, deaths of law enforcement — well, think of this — deaths of law enforcement officers in the line of duty fell to an 80-year low.”
Trump did sign an executive order on Jan. 20, 2025, directing the attorney general to “pursue the death penalty for all crimes of a severity demanding its use,” including “murder of a law-enforcement officer.” The National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund also reported that 109 officers died in the line of duty in 2025, representing a 26% decrease from 148 officers in 2024.
The 2025 total — which included 45 officers who died after being shot — was the lowest since 93 officers died in the line of duty in 1943, according to NLEOMF figures. But as far as the reason for the overall decline in 2025, the NLEOMF did not mention Trump’s executive order.
“We lament to document even a single such death, but this encouraging downward trend in fatalities likely reflects the continued adoption of proven best practices by police, sheriff, and corrections agencies, as well as a growing emphasis on the physical and psychological health of the men and women who work to keep our communities safe,” NLEOMF CEO Bill Alexander said in a statement in January. “These practices align directly with — and underscore the importance of — NLEOMF’s Officer Safety and Wellness initiatives, which are designed to help ensure that more officers return home safely at the end of each shift.”
Experts on the death penalty previously told us that there is no conclusive evidence that capital punishment is “a very strong preventative” to violent crimes such as murder, as Trump has claimed.
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Collage by ProPublica. Photo by Sarah Blesener for ProPublica.
As a reporter for The Washington Post and now ProPublica, I’ve investigated how youth sports organizations have failed to protect kids from sexual predators. I’ve spoken to dozens of parents. Some had children who were victimized by coaches. Others wanted to know how to keep their children safe.
Nearly every parent I’ve met said they didn’t have the information they needed to understand the system set up to protect their kids.
Here’s what you need to know (and how to get in touch with tips):
How is the system supposed to work?
The system revolves around one organization: the U.S. Center for SafeSport. SafeSport, as it’s known, is charged with investigating allegations of abuse at all levels of sport, from elite Olympic athletes to young recreational players. Its focus is sexual abuse, but it can also look into allegations of emotional and physical abuse.
The center has the power to suspend coaches as it investigates them, recording their names in a public database known as the SafeSport list. It can ultimately ban abusive coaches for life, declaring them “permanently ineligible.” It can also ban coaches based on certain types of criminal convictions, like those involving abuse of minors.
SafeSport was set up by Congress in 2018, in the wake of revelations about abuse by USA Gymnastics doctor Larry Nassar and other prominent sports figures.
How do coaches get on the SafeSport list?
Coaches and club administrators are required to report misconduct to SafeSport, but anyone can make a report online or by phone.
SafeSport then decides whether to investigate; it doesn’t take every case. Usually coaches can keep working with kids while SafeSport looks into an allegation, but if the allegations are recent or serious, SafeSport can issue a suspension — temporarily placing a coach on the list — while it investigates. If the coach is found not to have engaged in misconduct, they’ll be removed from the list.
If SafeSport substantiates allegations, it can issue sanctions ranging from suspensions or other restrictions to permanent bans.
Which sports does SafeSport cover?
The center has jurisdiction only over the country’s 50 national sports governing bodies, which oversee and set rules for volleyball, swimming, basketball, soccer and any other sports that are included in the Olympics. Those governing bodies are overseen by the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee.
That covers millions of young athletes, but there are millions more who don’t fall under that system or who are only partially covered by it.
What does it mean if a coach is banned or suspended?
Banned coaches cannot be associated in any way with a team or organization that falls under the 50 sports governing bodies. That means they cannot interact at all with athletes in those groups, including at practices. Any adult in the organization who allows that to happen is also in violation of the SafeSport code.
A banned coach can keep working with kids, however, by joining clubs or organizations that are not covered by SafeSport.
What else does SafeSport do?
SafeSport also creates and mandates training for coaches and other adults that is centered on recognizing and reporting sexual abuse, and it enforces strict rules meant to govern how adults interact with kids, like making sure an adult is never alone with a minor.
Athletes have to take the training only if they are over 18, although the organization provides optional courses for younger kids. The training is optional for parents. Understanding how to recognize patterns that coaches use to abuse and groom children can become an important way to keep their children safe.
As part of my reporting on a volleyball coach who has been accused of sexual misconduct, I spoke to a mother and daughter who both told me that the coach had groomed the girl when she was a young teenager in his gym. The mom told me she tried her best to protect her daughter, but there was a lot she didn’t know.
When she finally watched a SafeSport training video with her daughter, who had just turned 18, the mother told me, “Had we watched this earlier, my kid might have been more open to be like, ‘Mom, my coach made a comment about my butt.’ ‘Mom, he sent me a message to my phone.’”
SafeSport said it has since resolved some of those issues, improving its process to resolve cases more quickly and cut down its backlog. In a statement, the center’s new CEO, Benita Fitzgerald Mosley, an Olympic gold medalist, said the organization “acknowledges the challenges we have met as the first national sport safeguarding organization in the world. We are on surer footing today.”
My reporting has also found gaps in the system and failures by both SafeSport and national governing bodies that put young athletes at risk.
What can you do?
First, ask your child’s club or team if your child is competing under a national governing body, which is legally bound by SafeSport, or in an organization that voluntarily follows the SafeSport list. Keep in mind that this still might not mean the organization is regularly checking the list or enforcing bans, as my reporting has documented.
Check for your child’s coach in the SafeSport database. It’s important to remember that coaches can be added to the list temporarily while an investigation is ongoing, which means they ultimately might not be found to have engaged in misconduct.
If you find a coach you know on the list, review SafeSport’s resources for deciding on your next steps.
Take SafeSport training yourself to learn about red flags for abuse and grooming, and discuss them with your child.
Do you have a story about a coach?
I know these are sensitive topics that can be difficult to discuss. I also know how important these stories are. If you’d like to share what you found in the SafeSport database, or you have other experiences with how youth sports organizations have handled abuse allegations, please fill out our brief questionnaire.
I’m particularly interested in:
Finding instances of coaches who are continuing to work with kids after being banned by SafeSport.
Better understanding how abusive coaches manipulate and deceive parents.
Learning about coaching abuse, safety and misconduct in basketball, a sport in which SafeSport has far less influence compared with many other popular youth sports.
We take your privacy seriously and will contact you if we wish to publish any part of your story.
Caption: On September 12, Cub Scouts, Scouts BSA members and Girl Scouts in second grade and older can spend two 2½-hour sessions doing maritime activities that connect naturally with Scouting’s emphasis on learning through experience. Photos courtesy of the Kalmar Nyckel and edited with AI on 8/19.
Kalmar Nyckel event on September 12 will challenge Scouts with boat racing, knot tying, cannon drills, sea chanteys and an outdoor adventure course
By George D. Rotsch, Editor and Publisher of Delaware LIVE
WILMINGTON — Long before young people learned leadership around a campfire, sailors learned many of the same lessons aboard ships: Work together, master practical skills, accept responsibility and be prepared when conditions change.
Those shared traditions will come together Sept. 12 when the Kalmar Nyckel Foundation hosts its annual Scout Day at the Copeland Maritime Center campus and nearby Fort Christina Park.
The event is designed for Cub Scouts, Scouts BSA members and Girl Scouts in second grade and older. Two 2½-hour sessions will offer maritime activities that connect naturally with Scouting’s emphasis on learning through experience.
Participants will be assigned to groups and rotate through five hands-on stations: a Rain Gutter Regatta, an outdoor adventure course, knot tying, sea chanteys and cannon drills.
Each activity introduces a different part of maritime life while reinforcing teamwork, communication, problem-solving and personal confidence.
Small boats create a big challenge
The Rain Gutter Regatta brings one of Scouting’s familiar traditions to the maritime campus.
Scouts will race small boats through narrow channels, discovering how a boat’s design, balance and movement can affect its performance. The activity combines friendly competition with basic lessons about buoyancy, propulsion and the challenges of moving a vessel through water.
It also encourages Scouts to observe what works, make adjustments and try again — the same problem-solving process used by sailors, engineers and shipbuilders.
The regatta may be on a much smaller scale than the Kalmar Nyckel, but the challenge reflects a much larger maritime principle: A successful voyage begins with a vessel designed to move efficiently through the water.
Knots with a purpose
At the knot-tying station, Scouts will practice one of the most fundamental skills in both Scouting and sailing.
Knots aboard a ship are not decorative. Sailors depend on them to secure equipment, manage lines and keep people and cargo safe. Each knot must be appropriate for the job and tied correctly.
Scouting teaches the same combination of knowledge, practice and responsibility. Learning a knot requires concentration and repetition, but it also gives a young person a skill that can be used while camping, boating or responding to an emergency.
The station will help Scouts understand why sailors had to know not only how to tie a knot, but also when and why to use it.
Cannon drills demand coordination
The cannon drill will introduce Scouts to the highly organized teamwork required aboard a historic vessel.
Operating a ship’s cannon required crew members to perform different tasks in a precise order. Each person had to understand an assigned role, listen for commands and work safely with the rest of the team.
The activity turns history into a group exercise. Instead of simply hearing how a tall ship’s crew worked, Scouts will experience how communication, timing and shared responsibility allowed sailors to complete a complicated assignment.
Those lessons closely match Scouting’s patrol system, in which young people learn that a team succeeds when every member understands the plan and carries out a responsibility.
Singing that helped sailors work
Sea chanteys will bring music into the Scout Day experience, but the songs historically served a practical purpose.
Sailors used chanteys to establish a rhythm when performing demanding group tasks, such as hauling a line or raising a sail. The song helped crew members coordinate their movements and apply their effort at the same time.
For Scouts, the station will demonstrate how music could become a tool for teamwork. It also provides a window into the culture of sailors who spent long periods living and working together at sea.
The activity connects history, performance and cooperation while giving Scouts an opportunity to participate together.
An outdoor test of confidence
The outdoor adventure course will draw on another strong connection between the Kalmar Nyckel and Scouting: the belief that young people build confidence by confronting manageable challenges.
The course will require Scouts to listen, move, think and work with others. Like many Scouting activities, the objective is not simply to finish. Participants must determine how to approach a challenge and support the other members of their group.
The station brings maritime adventure onto land while reinforcing the qualities needed aboard a ship: awareness, preparation, perseverance and trust.
Learning by doing
Together, the five stations create a progression of experiences rather than a traditional classroom lesson.
Scouts will race, tie, sing, drill and navigate physical challenges. Each station approaches maritime education differently, but all are built around active participation.
That approach reflects a central value shared by Scouting and the Kalmar Nyckel Foundation: Young people often understand a lesson more deeply when they have an opportunity to put it into practice.
The activities also demonstrate that leadership is not limited to the person giving directions. Leadership can mean completing an assigned task, communicating clearly, helping a teammate or remaining focused when a challenge becomes difficult.
Adventure tied to Delaware history
The event’s setting adds another layer to the experience.
The original Kalmar Nyckel carried Swedish settlers to the Delaware Valley in 1638. They established New Sweden at The Rocks, near present-day Fort Christina Park.
The modern Kalmar Nyckel serves as Delaware’s tall ship and a floating classroom, helping visitors understand the maritime skills, risks and decisions that shaped the region’s early history.
Scout Day allows young people to encounter that history near the place where Delaware’s colonial story began. It supports another value shared by Scouting and the Kalmar Nyckel Foundation: Citizenship begins with understanding the community and history people inherit.
Before or after their assigned session, Scouts may also participate in the Junior Ranger Program at Fort Christina Park, part of First State National Historical Park. Scouts who complete that program will receive a wooden Junior Ranger pin.
Every Scout who completes the five-station Scout Day rotation will also receive an exclusive Kalmar Nyckel Scout patch.
Registration is limited and open to troops as well as individual Scouts.
To Go Box
What: Annual Kalmar Nyckel Scout Day
When: Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026
Morning session: Check-in at 8:30 a.m.; activities from 9 to 11:30 a.m.
Afternoon session: Check-in at 12:30 p.m.; activities from 1 to 3:30 p.m.
Where: Copeland Maritime Center at the Kalmar Nyckel Shipyard, 1124 E. Seventh St., Wilmington. Sessions conclude at Fort Christina Park.
This is the first installment of a three-part Delaware LIVE series examining Delaware’s literacy results, announced by the State Department of Education this week; the changes required to reach the state’s 2028 goal; and the expanding responsibilities of local school boards.
Third-grade proficiency rose 1 percentage point, leaving Delaware with a 13-point gap to close in two years
Editor’s note: This is the first installment of a three-part Delaware LIVE series examining Delaware’s literacy results announced by the State Department of Education this week, the changes required to reach the state’s 2028 goal and the expanding responsibilities of local school boards.
By George D. Rotsch Editor, Delaware LIVE.
DOVER, Del. — Delaware students made modest progress in reading on the latest statewide assessments, but the results show the state remains far from its goal of having 53% of third graders reading proficiently by 2028.
Across grades 3 through 8, English language arts proficiency increased from 41% to 42%.
The movement is positive, but the larger result remains concerning: Six in 10 Delaware third graders did not meet the state’s grade-level proficiency standard.
Delaware now needs to gain another 13 percentage points over the next two testing cycles to reach its 2028 target.
State highlights literacy-coaching gains
In an announcement this week, the Department of Education emphasized results from schools receiving state-supported literacy coaching.
All eight schools with literacy coaches and comparable third-grade results improved from 2025 to 2026. Those schools averaged gains of nearly 7 percentage points, compared with the 1-point statewide increase.
Johnson Elementary School in the Red Clay Consolidated School District and Las Américas ASPIRA Academy each posted 12-point gains. Gateway Charter School improved by 11 points.
The department said those results give state and local leaders reason to examine the relationship among literacy coaching, instructional materials, school leadership and classroom practices.
The results do not prove that coaching alone produced the improvement. Changes in leadership, curriculum, enrollment, attendance and student intervention also may have contributed.
The proficiency level after an increase also matters. Johnson Elementary, for example, improved from 3% to 15%. That is a substantial one-year gain, but it means 85% of the school’s third graders remained below proficiency.
State calls progress modest
The state’s announcement acknowledged that Delaware’s overall performance remains inadequate.
“A one-percentage point statewide increase is not the win,” Education Secretary Cindy Marten said. “The more important question is what we learn from schools where students are moving faster and what we change where students are not making enough progress.”
Marten said Delaware must study schools showing stronger improvement and apply those lessons more broadly.
The department also said proficiency remains below where students need it to be, progress is uneven and achievement gaps remain significant.
Schools highlighted for improvement should be studied, the department said, but their results should not be interpreted as evidence of statewide success.
Understanding what the numbers mean
Julia Keleher, executive director of First State Educate, said statewide averages are an important starting point, but the work of a local school board begins with understanding what those results look like for the students and schools it governs.
“The statewide result tells us the size of Delaware’s literacy challenge, but every board needs to understand its own results,” Keleher said.
School boards are responsible for establishing the outcomes they expect for students and monitoring whether the district is making progress toward them. “State assessment results give boards an annual measure of performance, but effective governance requires going further: understanding how the district performed against its goals, where results differ across schools and student groups, and what the superintendent is doing in response. Boards can then monitor progress throughout the year rather than waiting for the next annual assessment to know whether the district is on track.”, Keleher said.
Board members could ask
What do these results tell us about progress toward our district’s student outcome goals?
Where are students making progress, and where are they not?
Are all student groups making progress toward the outcomes we established?
What does the superintendent believe is driving the differences in performance, and what is the district doing in response?
Are our budget, policies, and resources aligned with the outcomes we are trying to achieve?
What will we monitor throughout the year to know whether the district’s strategy is working and students are on track
Keleher’s organization works with school board members on governance and data interpretation. It is one of several potential resources boards may use to understand local results and evaluate district strategies.
High school performance declines
The elementary results were accompanied by a decline in high school reading and writing performance.
Among students taking the SAT School Day assessment, generally administered in 11th grade, 44% demonstrated proficiency in evidence-based reading and writing. That was down from 47% in 2025.
SAT essay proficiency rose by 10 points to 43%.
The high school results suggest Delaware’s literacy challenge does not end after elementary school. Students who advance without strong reading foundations may face greater difficulty as assignments become more complex across English, history, science and other subjects.
Proficiency and growth are different
The results released this week measure proficiency—whether students met grade-level expectations.
Delaware will release student-growth results separately. Growth measures how much students improved academically, including students who made progress but remain below grade level.
Both measures are important.
Growth can show whether a student is catching up and whether an intervention is helping. Proficiency shows whether the student has reached the state’s grade-level standard.
The state’s 2028 third-grade target is based on proficiency.
A significant challenge remains
Delaware has recorded an improvement, but the state is not currently progressing fast enough to reach its goal.
The 2026 results provide encouraging examples that deserve further examination. They also raise difficult questions about schools where most students remain below the reading standard.
As Keleher noted, the next step is not merely acknowledging a statewide number. It is understanding what produced improvement in some schools and what must change in schools where progress remains limited.
Delaware must raise third-grade reading proficiency by an average of 6.5 points in each of the next two years. Part 2 examines what that would require, how boards can measure progress between annual tests and whether the state has established sufficient accountability.
Wildfires and extreme heat show climate change is now Europe’s biggest security threatExpert commentthilton.drupal
The continent is increasingly vulnerable to arson attacks, while climate disasters are diverting militaries from other threats. Policymakers must respond with a security-based approach to climate change.
Climate change is now Europe’s biggest systemic security risk. As the continent faces its worst ever summer of extreme heat, drought and wildfires, no other threat is simultaneously affecting so many countries, people and critical systems.
The extreme heat contributed to an estimated 10,000 excess deaths during the June heatwave, which also destroyed roughly 9 million tonnes of crops from the European harvest. Drought and wildfires have affected almost the entire continent; so far this year over 600,000 hectares of land and forests have burned, with hundreds of thousands of people forced to evacuate.
The disruption extends far beyond the immediate disaster zones and across national borders. Extreme heat and water shortages are threatening water and food security, restricting river and rail transport and putting strain on health and emergency services.
Homes, businesses and essential infrastructure have been damaged. Falling river levels have forced nuclear reactors to shut down due to a lack of suitable cooling water, threatening to disrupt energy supply chains.
Climate terrorism
Climate change is also making Europe more vulnerable to non-conventional attacks. Prolonged heat and drought can turn countries into a ‘tinderbox’, as UK prime minister Andy Burnham warned last week, before his government sent a national emergency alert over wildfires.
Arson attacks are easy to carry out and difficult for authorities to prevent.
In these conditions, a single act of arson can cause mass evacuations, destroy infrastructure and overwhelm emergency services. These arson attacks are easy to carry out and difficult for authorities to prevent. This makes wildfire a potentially devastating instrument of terrorism or asymmetric warfare.
This year, France has arrested almost 500 people on suspicion of starting fires; as of 30 July, the interior ministry said around 70 per cent of those detained were accused of deliberate arson.
Meanwhile, Russian strikes have repeatedly set forests ablaze in Ukraine. In May 2026, drone attacks caused multiple forest fires in the Chernobyl exclusion zone and Zhytomyr.
Demands on militaries
Climate change also affects European military readiness by damaging bases, airfields and transport networks. For example, prolonged dry conditions contributed to wildfires that began at military training grounds in the Netherlands in April.
Any disruption to wider infrastructure such as electricity or transport networks can also directly undermine military operations.
Europe’s armed forces must now prepare to be called upon more frequently to fight fires, reinforce flood defences, support evacuations, deliver emergency supplies and restore critical infrastructure. This will divert personnel and logistical capacity away from other security threats.
This is already happening. According to the Council on Strategic Risks, militaries were deployed over 30 times in response to wildfires across Europe in June and July alone. In July, Spain deployed more than 1,200 military personnel and 400 vehicles for a single major fire. In the UK, around 200 military personnel are currently fighting wildfires in south Wales.
How to respond
The scale and scope of these risks require action.
The NATO Science and Technology Organization’s January 2026 climate security assessment already acknowledges climate change as a ‘systemic problem’ that impacts all other security risks.
It concludes that NATO’s existing Climate Change and Security Action Plan (published in 2021) should be thoroughly updated and translate climate knowledge into practical action. This should be supported by better, more institutionalized coordination between scientists, defence professionals and policymakers.
Beyond NATO’s plan, a broader European security-based approach to climate change is needed. It must achieve four goals.
Deal with wildfires
First, it must strengthen preparedness for climate disasters that are already happening.
In the case of wildfires, this means acting before they break out. This involves managing dry vegetation and landscapes, enforcing fire-safe building and land-use rules, monitoring high-risk areas and reducing preventable sources of fire. It must account for both deliberate and accidental fires.
It also requires adequately staffed and trained emergency services, better specialist equipment such as ‘water bomb aircraft’, stronger early-warning and evacuation systems, and greater capacity to respond to several emergencies at once.
The military has an important supporting role within this system. Armed forces will need to provide aircraft, engineering expertise, communications, logistics and personnel when civilian capacity is overwhelmed, particularly during large-scale evacuations or simultaneous disasters. But they should form part of a planned, multi-agency response rather than become a permanent substitute for underfunded fire and rescue services.
Consider climate spending as security
Second, governments need to consider spending on climate as a core security investment.
European NATO members have committed to spend 5 per cent of GDP on defence by 2035, including up to 1.5 per cent on broader investment related to defence and security, such as critical infrastructure and resilience.
Despite NATO recognizing climate change as a security threat, it has not explicitly designated climate adaptation as defence-related spending. But investing in climate change adaptation can make a critical contribution to long-term resilience.
Likewise, investments in infrastructure, civil protection and preparedness should all be climate-resilient and future proof. These could potentially be categorized under the vaguely defined 1.5 per cent of broader security-related spending.
Considering climate measures as important security investments would therefore help to focus scare resources and improve resilience, while also potentially helping members to meet their spending commitments.
Address underlying causes
Third, a security approach must accelerate decarbonization to mitigate climate change as the underlying cause of the escalating threat.
European climate and energy policies have helped cut EU27 emissions to approximately 35 per cent below their 1990 levels, but the EU27 is still responsible for 3.2 gigatonnes of greenhouse gas emissions annually, or six per cent of global emissions. Europe’s decarbonization matters not only for reducing emissions but also for its global signalling effect in encouraging other countries to follow suit.
Preparedness and adaptation can reduce casualties and damage, but they cannot keep pace indefinitely with worsening heat, drought, floods and fires. Europe is the world’s fastest-warming continent. Its existing policies and climate pledges will not be sufficient to adapt fully to the expected 2.4°C to 3.9°C increase in global mean temperature this century.
Investment in resilience must therefore be accompanied by rapid emissions reductions and stronger political commitment to decarbonization. This is the principal way to prevent the threat from becoming progressively more severe and unmanageable.
Public involvement
Fourth, building societal resilience to climate shocks will depend on governments working with the public.
This does not mean just issuing one-off instructions during emergencies. People need trustworthy information, practical guidance and opportunities to participate in local preparedness activities. Examples include ‘heat-health’ plans to protect people from heat-related risks, water conservation to cope with drought, and evacuation exercises and support for vulnerable neighbours.
Such measures are all part of the basic infrastructure that allows society to continue functioning during a crisis.
The benefits outweigh the costs
What will all this cost? Assessments suggest the EU needs to invest approximately €70 billion a year in climate adaptation until 2050 to prevent the worst impacts. The UK needs to invest around £11 billion annually, according to a May report by the UK Climate Change Committee.
Although these sums may appear substantial, they are modest compared with the escalating cost of inaction. Climate-related disasters caused a yearly average of €45 billion in direct EU losses during 2020–2024, while inadequate adaptation could cost the UK £60-260 billion annually by 2050.
Many measures will pay for themselves several times over. For example, according to the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre, every euro invested in protection against coastal flooding can avoid around €6.35 in damages while also saving lives and protecting other resources.
The estimated costs for adaptation are small compared to the risks averted and damage avoided. Climate adaptation should therefore be understood not as an environmental expense, but as a cost-effective and necessary investment in European national security and strategic autonomy.
Tune in to our upcoming episode of the Independent Thinking podcast this Friday to hear more from our experts on the challenges of climate change.
The Delaware Coalition for Human Trafficking Survivors hopes to close those knowledge and coordination gaps through Delaware’s inaugural Human Trafficking Awareness, Prevention and Action Summit on Friday, Oct. 2, at Hyatt Place Dewey Beach.
Delaware’s inaugural statewide summit will bring survivors, national experts, professionals and concerned citizens together to improve prevention, identification and survivor support.
By George Rotsch, Editor of Delaware LIVE
DEWEY BEACH — Human trafficking can remain hidden in plain sight, leaving teachers, medical professionals, police officers, business leaders and concerned residents uncertain about how to recognize the warning signs or respond safely.
The Delaware Coalition for Human Trafficking Survivors hopes to close those knowledge and coordination gaps through Delaware’s inaugural Human Trafficking Awareness, Prevention and Action Summit on Friday, Oct. 2, at Hyatt Place Dewey Beach.
The summit is open to professionals, organizational leaders and members of the public who want to better understand human trafficking and help Delaware build a more informed and coordinated response.
“It’s for everybody,” said Jennifer Cooper, the coalition’s Community and Continuing Education Committee chair and one of the summit’s organizers. “It’s not just for people doing the work. It’s for people who may want to learn a little bit more.”
Cooper, a registered nurse and forensic coordinator at Nemours Children’s Health, said the program will explain trafficking, challenge common misconceptions and help participants understand how exploitation occurs in Delaware.
“We’re going to break down the myths, dispel the myths and talk about what trafficking looks like in Delaware,” Cooper said.
Public engagement is part of the response
Marcia Ferranto, board chair of the Delaware Coalition for Human Trafficking Survivors, said public involvement is essential because human trafficking cannot be addressed solely by law enforcement agencies or organizations serving survivors.
“Human trafficking affects Delaware communities, but too often it remains unseen or misunderstood,” Ferranto said. “We need residents, business leaders, educators, health care professionals, faith communities and policymakers to understand the warning signs and recognize that each of them can play a role in prevention.”
Ferranto said trafficking affects Delaware even when victims are not immediately identified and cases are not publicly described as trafficking.
“Trafficking does not happen only somewhere else; it is affecting people here in Delaware,” Ferranto said. “When the public understands what exploitation looks like and knows how to respond, we become better able to protect vulnerable people, support survivors and make Delaware a much more difficult place for traffickers to operate.”
Delaware needs its own summit
Cooper has worked with the forensic team at Nemours since 2012 and became its coordinator in 2019. Through that work, she began seeing more young patients affected by or vulnerable to exploitation.
Her involvement in Delaware’s anti-trafficking efforts also showed her that professionals frequently had to travel outside the state to receive advanced training.
“I went to a lot of conferences, and I realized that I wasn’t going to anything in Delaware,” Cooper said. “I was traveling. And I said, ‘Delaware needs its own.’”
That realization helped lead to the October summit.
National experts and local authorities are expected to participate as keynote speakers, panel moderators and breakout-session presenters. The program will include learning tracks focused on survivors, law enforcement, mental health, direct-service workers and medical providers.
Continuing education credits for eligible medical and other professionals are planned, with additional details to be announced.
Bringing Delaware’s response together
Cooper said the summit has two immediate goals: raising awareness among leaders and bringing together the professionals and organizations already working with vulnerable people and survivors.
“I want to bring together the people who are doing the work,” Cooper said. “There are organizations doing phenomenal work, and right down the street there may be another organization doing something a little differently. They really could benefit from each other.”
Better coordination could help Delaware identify trends, determine where services are missing and direct resources toward needs involving young people, labor trafficking, health care, housing and other areas.
“By bringing all of the people together, we can see what our trends are in Delaware and where we need more services,” Cooper said.
The summit also is intended to support professionals engaged in emotionally demanding work.
“From a trauma perspective, this is very challenging and very tough work,” Cooper said. “Making sure that everybody has their own resources and people to bounce things off of is really important.”
A private executive roundtable will precede the public summit Thursday, Oct. 1. Attendance at the roundtable is by invitation only.
The roundtable is expected to bring Delaware leaders and decision-makers together to review state-level information and consider potential policy, training and legislative responses. The public summit the following day will focus on education, professional development and building connections among participants.
A problem that can be difficult to identify
Cooper said one of the challenges involving young people is that victims may not identify themselves as having been trafficked. They may believe they willingly participated in an exchange or may not recognize food, housing, drugs, alcohol or other items of value as part of commercial sexual exploitation.
Under federal and state law, proof of force, fraud or coercion is not required when a minor is induced to perform a commercial sex act. A commercial exchange also does not have to involve cash.
Cooper said 80 juvenile cases were referred to Delaware’s Juvenile Trafficking Oversight Team last year. Those cases involved young people identified as being at risk of trafficking, suspected of being trafficked or confirmed as victims.
The National Human Trafficking Hotline has identified 301 trafficking cases involving 662 victims in Delaware since 2007. The hotline received 51 signals from Delaware in 2024, including eight from victims or survivors.
Hotline figures reflect only situations reported to the organization and should not be interpreted as representing the full extent of trafficking in the state.
Survivors and experts lead the program
Opening keynote speaker Kevin McNeil is a retired police officer, trafficking and sexual-abuse survivor and motivational speaker. His presentation, “Stuck in Traffic,” will compare the experience of being trapped in vehicle traffic with the sense of being trapped in exploitation.
Marty MacGibbon, a trafficking survivor, therapist, author and comedian, will discuss the intersection of human trafficking and substance abuse. She also will close the program with a presentation addressing mental wellness, self-care and trauma-informed practices.
Breakout sessions will address trafficking fundamentals, myths and realities; care for survivors; familial trafficking; legal and law enforcement considerations; trauma among children and adults; and the development of multidisciplinary response teams.
The program also will include survivor perspectives and discussion of vulnerabilities affecting boys and members of the LGBTQ community.
Why leaders and residents should attend
For leaders in government, health care, education, law enforcement, hospitality, nonprofits and other community institutions, the summit offers an opportunity to examine whether their organizations have adequate training, policies and referral relationships.
Front-line professionals can learn more about recognizing possible exploitation, interacting with survivors without causing additional trauma and coordinating with other service providers.
For parents, faith leaders, volunteers and concerned residents, the summit offers a clearer understanding of what trafficking can look like, which warning signs deserve attention and how to report concerns without placing a potential victim at greater risk.
Established in 2014 as Meet Me at the Well Delaware, the Delaware Coalition for Human Trafficking Survivors provides individualized assistance to survivors seeking to leave sex trafficking and rebuild their lives. Its work includes education, street outreach, advocacy, mentoring and connections to housing, employment and treatment resources.
The larger objective of the summit is to create a more unified statewide response capable of recognizing exploitation sooner, supporting survivors more effectively and making Delaware a more difficult place for traffickers to operate.
To Go Box
What: Human Trafficking Awareness, Prevention and Action Summit
When: Friday, Oct. 2, 2026
Where: Hyatt Place Dewey Beach, 1301 Coastal Highway, Dewey Beach
Who may attend: Professionals, organizational and community leaders, service providers and members of the public
Hotel: A discounted room rate is available through Sept. 3. Call 1-855-556-1297 and request the Delaware Coalition for Human Trafficking Survivors rate using group code G-DECO.
Information: Visit the coalition’s summit information page, call 302-250-5918 or email contact@dcfhts.org.
Participants race during the 2025 Special Olympics Delaware Cycling Classic. Photo Courtesy of Special Olympics Delaware.
The Special Olympics Delaware Annual Cycling Classic will be held on August 22, at DelDOT’s Danner Campus in Dover.
Special Olympics Delaware announced that the 2026 Special Olympics Delaware Cycling Classic will be held at the Danner Campus located in Dover, Delaware, on Saturday, August 22, via a press release on August 13.
The event will bring over 90 athletes and 30 coaches from Delaware and surrounding states to the campus to compete in multiple different cycling events. The other states represented in the event are Pennsylvania, Maryland and Virginia, according to the release.
“Cycling showcases so much more than athletic achievement. Behind every athlete is a network of coaches, family members, volunteers, and supporters who help make success possible,” said Director of Sports & Area Engagement for Special Olympics Delaware, Kylie Lavelle, via the press release. “The encouragement athletes receive throughout training and competition builds confidence, creates meaningful connections, and reinforces the sense of belonging that is at the heart of Special Olympics. It’s inspiring to see our community come together to celebrate each athlete’s accomplishments both on and off the course.”
The event will start at 8:00 a.m. with registration and warm-ups for participants. The opening ceremonies will begin at 9:30 a.m. and the racing will start at 10:00 a.m. The event will end around 3:00 p.m.
Awards for racers will be given out throughout the day.
To learn more about the event and Special Olympics Delaware check out their website here.
Hospitals set up special testing sites to prevent measles patients from spreading the disease in waiting rooms. The virus can linger in the air for up to two hours after an infected person leaves. Jan Sonnenmair/Getty Images
The U.S. recently reached a grim milestone: As of July 23, more measles cases have been reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention than in any year since 1991. It took less than seven months to blow past the three-decade high recorded last year.
This potentially deadly disease is easily prevented. Shots are widely available and, in many cases, free. Still, since the beginning of last year, more than 4,850 people here have been infected, and three have died. Among them were two unvaccinated girls in West Texas whose deaths made national headlines.
It may feel like the continuous stream of cases is just the way things are now. But it is dangerous to shrug off the resurgence of measles. In a story I reported earlier this year, I showed what’s happened in parts of the world that have let their guard down to vaccine-preventable diseases. My reporting found that long-forgotten scourges roared back, killing and disabling children. Even countries that made what seemed like subtle changes to immunization policies suffered disastrous consequences years later.
Babies were born blind, deaf and with intellectual disabilities because their mothers caught rubella in the early weeks of pregnancy. Parents saw why diphtheria used to be known as “the strangling angel of children.” Doctors told me they couldn’t undo the damage when these horrors returned. Modern medicine can do a lot of things, but it can’t reverse paralysis from polio.
The story also showed how Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the nation’s top health official, and President Donald Trump have been transforming a government that for decades promoted the lifesaving benefits of shots into one that sows doubts about their safety. Last week, the president issued another executive order that’s sure to fuel further hesitancy about the shot that has protected children from measles, mumps and rubella for decades.
It’s a sharp departure for a government that, since the 1960s and with bipartisan support, built vaccination programs that shielded kids from deadly and disabling diseases. Federal and state health leaders strengthened those policies based on lessons learned from measles outbreaks. That’s because measles, among the most contagious diseases in history, is almost always the first vaccine-preventable disease to strike when immunization rates fall.
Some U.S. schools have set up vaccination clinics as immunization rates have dropped in many parts of the country.Sarah L. Voisin/The Washington Post via Getty Images
In my many months of reporting for that story, I learned that measles is like the bright dye that plumbers flush through pipes to find leaks in a complex system. The continued appearance of the virus’ telltale rash in state after state since last year warns of cracks in our once-solid protection, leaving communities vulnerable to other deadly contagions.
My reporting also found that access to vaccines may be in peril: Since last year, Kennedy has been considering changes to an obscure but crucial government program that could prompt the few companies that make vaccines for American kids to flee the U.S. market. If that were to happen, even parents who still want vaccines for their kids wouldn’t be able to get them.
A spokesperson for the Department of Health and Human Services said the agency has not limited access to vaccines. In an email, the spokesperson wrote, “Secretary Kennedy believes that trust is rebuilt through an open review of safety data, the willingness to ask the hard questions, and ensuring the American people have all emerging information as soon as we know it.”
Several dozen people who’ve worked on U.S. government vaccination programs here and around the world conveyed to me a sense of foreboding about America. They fear that children will wind up fighting for their lives against infections that have long been preventable.
“I think there always was a worst-case scenario,” said Dr. Melinda Wharton, who retired last September after more than three decades leading CDC immunization programs. “I don’t think I imagined it could or would be this bad.”
Doctors I spoke to told me they had seen images of those diseases in textbooks, but these were problems medicine had solved long ago. They never thought they’d see an actual patient until an unvaccinated child lay before them, gravely ill with one of these ancient scourges.
I’ll never forget what one German doctor, whose hospital treated an unvaccinated boy who later died of diphtheria, told me of the infection: “It was taught as history,” he said.
Here in the U.S., measles was taught as history, too. Now it isn’t.
We’ve been covering public health and vaccine policies for years. Let me walk you through reporting from my colleagues and me that helps show how we ended up here and where we might go.
In 2020, I reported with my colleagues on how the world’s greatest public health organization was brought to its knees by COVID-19, the president and the capitulation of its own leaders. And we also foreshadowed how the government’s response to COVID-19 led to a loss of trust in public health institutions — a lingering resentment that RFK Jr. has tapped into. (The CDC and the White House declined to comment on this story.)
At the beginning of the second Trump administration, I learned that CDC leaders ordered staff not to release their experts’ assessment that found the risk of catching measles was high in areas near outbreaks where vaccination rates were lagging.
In an aborted plan to roll out the news, the agency would have emphasized the importance of vaccinating people against the disease that had then infected fewer than 500 people in 19 states, the records show. (At the time, the CDC told us that the agency decided against releasing the assessment “because it does not say anything that the public doesn’t already know” and that the agency continued to recommend vaccines as “the best way to protect against measles.”)
Not long after I broke the news about the buried measles forecast, I learned more about a vaccine program that RFK Jr. plans to overhaul, one that’s vital to Americans’ access to immunizations. I showed how dramatic changes to this little-known program — which offers payouts for people who suffer rare side effects from shots without having to prove that drugmakers were negligent — could prompt vaccine makers to stop selling them here.
(HHS declined to answer detailed questions about Kennedy’s plans. Previously, an HHS spokesperson had said that Kennedy is “not anti-vaccine — he is pro-safety.”)
That story laid bare how surprisingly fragile the nation’s vaccine system is. Kennedy still hasn’t revealed what he plans to do.
Two Stanford epidemiologists had modeled the scenario. My colleague Lucas Waldron created a chilling visualization that allowed us to depict how many people could die or be disabled in 25 years if vaccines for polio, measles, rubella or diphtheria were no longer available.
ProPublica shared the key findings of that scenario with HHS. An agency spokesperson didn’t address the modeling but said “HHS has not limited access or insurance coverage to any FDA-approved vaccines” and routinely recommends the shots for children.
As measles cases continued to rise, a team at the CDC was investigating whether the disease has become endemic in this country again. In June, my colleague Nat Lash and I showed how hard it will be for them to prove that it isn’t, after what Nat found when he analyzed the genetic code of cases around the country.
A CDC spokesperson told ProPublica that the agency was conducting a more comprehensive investigation and that genetic sequences “alone cannot determine whether” measles is endemic.
The Loco Beach Coconuts and Texas Tailgaters played the first ever Banana Ball series in Wilmington, Delaware, from August 13 – August 15.
Fans enter the plaza before the gates to the stadium officially open for the game.
A young fan dressed as a Banana walks around the plaza pregame.
Delaware resident Mike Husni came dressed in a hot dog costume to see Banana Ball in person for the first time.
Husni meets Tailgater assistant coach Andrew Bartman pregame.
A couple young Banana Ball fans pose for a picture with their signed yellow baseballs. Players from both teams spent over an hour in the plaza signing autographs before the game.
The Hulagans share the stage with the Coconuts’ traveling band “Sitting on Saturn” during the Loco Beach Live Show during the pregame festivities.
Tailgater head coach Joe Mikulik (No. 00) and Coconuts assistant coach Anthony Marks pose for a selfie with a group of fans on the field pregame.
Texas Tailgater Zach Watson leads off the first Banana Ball ever played in Delaware.
Coconuts Peyton Chatagnier (No. 1) fields the throw down to second on Sal Jacobo’s (No. 2) shoulders during warmups.
Tailgater outfielder Travis Moniot (No. 16) bumps the ball into the air to intiate a trick play out between him and Jordan Hussein (No. 5).
Hussein completes the trick play out, catching the ball in his cowboy hat.
Catcher Ashby Vining (No. 11) looks into the Loco Beach dugout ready to celebrate after driving in a walk-off run in the bottom of the first inning. Banana Ball rules require teams to win the inning to earn a point. The team with the most runs in an inning wins the inning and the point.
(To read more about the Banana Ball experience click here.)
Coconut players Grady Morgan (No. 31) and Dane Tofteland (No. 23) recreate the scene from “Titanic” after Tofteland as hit by a pitch.
Coconut outfielder Gideon Antle (No. 18) just barely gets a hand in before the tag from Tailgater catcher Taj Porter (No. 26) winning the fourth inning for the Coconuts. They led, 2-1, through four innings.
A pair of dualing fathers pick up their youngest children on first base as they race around the diamond to collect there children before reaching home during the fourth inning. The two dad’s hilariously “forgot” their middle child on second base.
Both teams broke out into an impromptu water balloon fight during Nick Lopez’s (Tailgaters’ No. 9) at-bat. Lopez was not allowed to step out of the box because a rule of Banana Ball requires the hitter to stay in the box no matter what. If the batter steps out of the box the batter is out.
Tailgater Kyle Martin (No. 27) gets the handoff from his head coach on his way home after hitting a solo home run.
The stadium goes dark in the middle of the eighth as the teams and crowd sing along to “3 Little Birds” by Bob Marley.
Tailgater Jose Gonzalez (No. 28) celebrates after getting a hit. The Tailgaters ended up winning the game, 6-3.
All photos courtesy of Dave Reeder. To see more of Dave’s work check him out on Instagram @bfr_photo
Image: Hillary Olson comes to Hagley Museum and Library with nearly 30 years of experience working in natural and cultural history museums, science centers and planetariums. Photos courtesy of Hagley Museum and Library and image created using AI on 8/17/26
Museum innovator Hillary Olson plans to invite employees, visitors, educators and the wider community to help shape Hagley’s future
WILMINGTON — For Hillary Olson, Hagley Museum and Library is more than a place to study what inventors and business leaders accomplished in the past. It is a place where a child, family or researcher can begin imagining what might be possible in the future.
Olson, who became Hagley’s CEO in July, wants to build on that sense of inspiration and discovery as the museum prepares for its next era.
Hagley is now in the fifth and final year of its current five-year strategic plan, which will conclude at the end of 2026. In 2027, Hagley will begin developing its next strategic plan through a collaborative process involving employees, volunteers, board members, visitors, educators, community organizations and other stakeholders.
The new plan has not yet been written. Input gathered during the 2027 planning process will help establish Hagley’s priorities and direction for the years ahead.
“In any strategic planning process I’m a part of, when we say that we’re engaging our stakeholders, it’s not just our board, it’s not just our members,” Olson said. “It is people who don’t visit, because it’s a great time to find out why.”
The effort will consider how Hagley can reach more people, strengthen its educational programs, expand community partnerships and maintain its historic property for future generations.
“I can tell you that it will probably be a visitor-focused strategic plan,” Olson said.
Visitors will be broadly defined to include families, students, museum guests, scholars and researchers who use Hagley’s library.
A career built around museums and stories
Olson comes to Hagley with nearly 30 years of experience working in natural and cultural history museums, science centers and planetariums.
Her original academic background is in astronomy and geology. She later returned to school and earned a master’s degree in museum leadership, bringing together her interest in science with a passion for helping museums tell stories in engaging and understandable ways.
Before joining Hagley, Olson served as president and CEO of the Rochester Museum and Science Center in New York. There, she led an organization with three sites and more than 1.2 million collection objects. Her work included strategic and master planning, capital improvements, fundraising and building relationships with regional communities.
Olson said her passion is helping people engage with authentic artifacts, documents and historic places in ways that encourage them to see history, science and culture differently.
A museum visit, she said, should do more than present facts. It should give visitors an opportunity to encounter an object, understand how it was used and consider what they might create or improve themselves.
That focus on storytelling and discovery made Hagley especially appealing.
Olson had visited Hagley when she lived in Philadelphia and later returned with her young children. She remembered the powder yards, exhibitions and setting along the Brandywine.
When she learned the CEO position was available, she began studying the museum, its library, finances and programs. She was drawn to the complexity of an institution that combines industrial and business history, science, technology, horticulture, historic preservation and public education.
“I saw the wonderful complexity of it all, which is something that I’m drawn to,” Olson said.
Hagley’s board also helped persuade her to take the position. She said its members are open to change and new initiatives while remaining committed to protecting Hagley for future generations.
Inspiration built into the property
Hagley occupies 235 acres along the Brandywine and includes the site of the gunpowder works founded by E.I. du Pont in 1802. Its working machinery, millrace, historic homes, gardens, museum artifacts and collections, and business history archives allow visitors to encounter history through objects and experiences.
Olson sees those resources as tools for inspiring people to ask how things work, how they can be improved and what problems they might solve.
“The historic gunpowder yard is full of STEM,” she said. “It’s an engineering endeavor.”
Visitors can watch water turn machinery installed during the 19th century. They can study small patent models created to demonstrate inventions and improvements. They can also see how science, mathematics and engineering helped transform a gunpowder operation into the foundation of a major American company.
Olson said innovation does not always require creating something entirely new. Frequently, it begins by improving something that already exists.
“You’re not just inventing the wheel; you’re improving the wheel,” she said.
That message could be particularly valuable for children who may not yet think of themselves as scientists, engineers or inventors.
During Hagley’s gunpowder demonstrations, the sound of a small explosion immediately captures people’s attention. Olson said that excitement creates an opening to ask how people solved difficult problems hundreds of years ago — and what problems today’s students might one day solve.
“What are you going to figure out, fourth grader, in your life?” Olson said. “What is the problem that you’re going to solve?”
Bringing classroom lessons to life
Expanding school partnerships is expected to be an important part of Hagley’s planning.
Olson wants the museum to speak directly with teachers about their curriculum requirements and develop field trips that support what students are learning in school. Hagley guides create programs using the working equipment in the powder yards to demonstrate technology concepts that can be difficult to understand from a textbook.
Hagley also offers opportunities involving history, social studies, horticulture, and science. Its DuPont Discovery Loft includes current technologies like 3D printers and space for hands-on STEM activities.
Olson described the goal as providing “hands-on, minds-on” experiences that offer something beyond what children can receive in a classroom.
The programs must be educationally useful because teachers often need to demonstrate that a field trip meets curriculum standards before a school can approve the cost.
Hagley will also expand fundraising to provide free or subsidized field trips for students from underserved communities. Olson said access to transportation and admission should not prevent students from experiencing the museum’s resources.
Expanding partnerships with community organizations could help Hagley reach new audiences while also bringing in expertise and connection, meeting the needs of community members in setting rooted in the history of innovation.
Asking the community what it needs
Olson began listening immediately upon arriving at Hagley.
During her first several days, she sent a survey to the museum and library’s more than 150 full- and part-time employees. She asked what they wanted her to understand about their jobs, what they believed Hagley was doing well and what opportunities they saw for its future.
The responses reflected considerable pride in Hagley and its mission, as well as an interest in more collaboration and connection with each other.
That internal conversation is expected to grow into a broader community discussion when Hagley begins developing the new strategic plan in 2027.
Olson said outreach should include people who attend Hagley’s popular events, families who visit its museum and gardens, teachers who bring students and scholars who travel to Delaware to use the library. It should also reach residents who live in the region but have never visited.
Their absence, she said, is itself valuable information. Hagley must understand whether people are unfamiliar with its programs, do not see something that speaks to their interests or face practical barriers to visiting.
The objective is to make Hagley welcoming and relevant to more people while staying true to its strong connection to northern Delaware.
Local roots and a wider reach
Olson believes Hagley can remain a community institution while attracting more visitors from the broader region.
Its museum audience is largely local, but its library already has a national and international reputation. Scholars travel from around the world to examine its collections of business records, advertising materials and other primary-source documents. Some researchers visit for a few hours, while others remain on campus for months.
Olson sees an opportunity to expand the museum’s regional reach and impact, introducing Hagley to new visitors and people who are traveling to the Brandywine Valley.
But expanding Hagley’s audience will not mean leaving the local community behind.
“Serving the people in the immediate community is step one,” Olson said.
Preserving a complicated historic site
Hagley’s future also depends on maintaining the property that makes its educational mission possible.
Historic buildings, waterways and working machinery require specialized skills and regular investment. Hagley must address rising costs while raising money for capital improvements, operations and educational programs.
The 2027 planning process is expected to examine philanthropic support as well as earned revenue from admissions, memberships and programs.
Olson said Hagley benefits from long-serving employees, dedicated volunteers, support from members of the du Pont family and many other donors, and a board willing to consider change while protecting the institution’s legacy.
That balance — preserving the past while encouraging discovery — helped attract her to Hagley.
Few institutions bring together industrial history, science, a dynamic library and archive, gardens, historic homes and hands-on education in one place. Olson believes those resources can be used to inspire more people to understand how earlier generations solved problems and to imagine what they might make possible themselves.
The answers will come not only from Hagley’s leadership. They will also come from the employees who care for its collections, the teachers seeking new ways to reach students, the families and guests who use its grounds, and the community that surrounds it.
At a glance
What:Hagley Museum and Library’s next strategic planning process
When:Hagley is in the final year of its current five-year strategic plan, which concludes at the end of 2026. Development of the next plan will begin in 2027.
Who will participate:Hagley employees, volunteers, board members, donors and sponsors, visitors, educators, community partners, academics, researchers and people who do not currently visit
Likely areas of discussion: Visitor engagement, educational access, community partnerships, digital engagement, regional growth, fundraising, capital improvements and long-term sustainability
Central question: How can Hagley use its history, library, land and collections to help more people discover what they can create, improve or make possible?
Image: State Rep. Josué Ortega and Councilwoman Shané Darby want the Delaware Department of Justice to use its authority to obtain records from the city and its towing contractor and independently examine the program.
Officials cite 19,083 vehicle tows, incomplete financial records and questions about how cars are selected, held and disposed of
WILMINGTON — A state representative and Wilmington City Council member are asking the Delaware Attorney General’s Office to investigate the city’s vehicle-towing and parking-debt collection practices, citing records they say raise questions about financial accountability, enforcement and the loss of residents’ vehicles.
State Rep. Josué Ortega and Councilwoman Shané Darby submitted the referral after reviewing city records covering 19,083 vehicles towed from fiscal years 2020 through 2025.
The officials are not alleging that any individual committed a crime or asking the attorney general to accept their conclusions. They want the Delaware Department of Justice to use its authority to obtain records from the city and its towing contractor and independently examine the program.
“The reason we are asking the attorney general to look at this is straightforward,” Ortega said. “Some of the questions raised by those records can be answered only by an office empowered to compel the city and its towing contractor to produce records that a member of the public cannot reach on their own.”
The Attorney General’s Office had not publicly announced whether it would open an investigation as of Monday.
Wilmington’s tow volume questioned
According to the referral, Wilmington towed more vehicles during the six-year period than all other Delaware municipalities that responded to related public-records requests combined.
The officials said Wilmington’s per-capita towing rate was roughly twice that of comparable Delaware cities.
They contrasted Wilmington’s system with Newark, which generally immobilizes vehicles for parking debt instead of towing them. Immobilization allows an owner to recover the vehicle after resolving the debt without the vehicle being immediately removed and impounded.
The figures and comparisons were presented by Ortega and Darby based on records obtained through Delaware’s Freedom of Information Act. They have not been independently audited by the Attorney General’s Office.
Questions about money collected
A central issue is whether the city can document how much parking debt it collects when a vehicle is towed.
According to the referral, an assistant city solicitor responded to a public-records request by saying the city “does not maintain records responsive to this request” when asked for the amount of ticket revenue collected through towing.
Ortega and Darby said the city’s reported revenue appears to account for a flat vehicle-release fee but does not separately identify payments toward the parking tickets that triggered the tow.
“Delawareans expect that when a government takes a person’s car, the records will show the debt that justified the tow,” Ortega said. “When those records cannot be produced, an independent look is warranted.”
Thousands of vehicles reportedly scrapped
About 29% of all vehicles towed during the period were scrapped rather than returned to their owners, according to the referral. Among vehicles towed specifically for parking debt, the figure was approximately 58%.
Under the city’s arrangement, the towing contractor retains proceeds from vehicles that are scrapped or resold, the officials said. The city then waives the underlying ticket debt when ownership is transferred to the contractor.
Ortega said towing itself is not evidence of misconduct but argued that government must be able to document what happened to a vehicle and the debt associated with it.
“Cities tow cars,” he said. “But how a city tows cars matters.”
Few appeals and no recorded owner victories
The referral also raises questions about the appeals process.
Of approximately 4,564 tows reviewed over an 18-month period, only 30 vehicle owners appealed, according to the officials. None of the records showed an appeal decided in favor of the owner.
Appeals are heard within the same city department responsible for ordering tows and collecting the debt, the referral said.
Darby said investigators should examine whether the process provides vehicle owners with a meaningful opportunity to challenge a tow.
“Why not one appeal is recorded as decided in an owner’s favor — those are questions that require access to records the council cannot reach on its own,” she said.
Uneven enforcement alleged
The officials also questioned how the city selects vehicles for enforcement.
More than 2,000 vehicles reportedly carried balances above the city’s threshold for booting, but only a small percentage were towed during any particular month. Some vehicles with the largest unpaid balances were apparently not targeted.
The referral does not conclude that the differences resulted from favoritism or intentional discrimination. It asks investigators to determine whether the city follows consistent criteria when choosing which eligible vehicles to boot or tow.
Vehicles held for years
Ortega and Darby identified 182 vehicles that were held for more than 180 days after the city ordered them towed under collection-related accounts.
Fifty-eight of those vehicles had no recorded release or final disposition, according to the referral. Some had reportedly remained in the records for more than five years.
The city identified five vehicles as having been disposed of through Justice of the Peace Court lien proceedings initiated by its towing contractor. However, the officials said the contractor’s operational records did not contain corresponding entries documenting a release, sale or other disposition.
One was a 1990 Lotus Esprit whose record reportedly contains only its towing date. The five vehicles had a combined estimated private-party value of at least $55,000 based on current published valuation guides, while the contractor’s records listed each with a zero balance, according to the referral.
Those valuations are estimates and do not establish the vehicles’ condition or value when they were towed.
Earlier review raised similar concerns
The referral contends that questions about Wilmington’s towing records predate the current contractor.
In 2018, an assistant city solicitor told AAA Mid-Atlantic that the city had never received vehicle-sale records from its towing contractor and said monthly reporting would begin.
AAA’s 2019 report examined 3,671 vehicles towed during a 15-month period. It found records of only 468 notices to owners and said 1,320 vehicles appeared never to have been released.
Although Wilmington has since changed towing contractors, Ortega and Darby contend that gaps in recordkeeping remain.
City did not respond before referral
The officials said they presented their questions to the city in July and gave the administration until Aug. 14 to respond or announce an audit. According to their release, the city did neither.
Darby sponsored a 2024 City Council resolution calling for a comprehensive audit of Wilmington’s towing and parking-enforcement practices. The administration declined to conduct it, she said.
Ortega previously worked in the city’s Office of Constituent Affairs from 2016 to 2021, where he said he handled complaints from residents about towing.
“This request is not adversarial to the city of Wilmington,” Darby said. “I represent the city. I want its systems to work fairly, uniformly and lawfully.”
The referral asks the attorney general to determine what the city collects when it tows a vehicle for parking debt, whether payments are reconciled with the underlying tickets, how enforcement targets are selected, whether appeals are handled fairly and what happens to vehicles that are not reclaimed.
At a Glance
What happened: State Rep. Josué Ortega and Wilmington Councilwoman Shané Darby asked the Delaware Attorney General’s Office to investigate Wilmington’s towing, impoundment and parking-debt practices.
Period examined: Fiscal years 2020 through 2025.
Vehicles involved: 19,083.
Vehicles reportedly scrapped: About 29% of all towed vehicles and approximately 58% of those towed for parking debt.
Appeals reviewed: Thirty appeals among roughly 4,564 tows during an 18-month period. None was recorded as decided for the vehicle owner.
Long-term impounds: The referral identifies 182 vehicles held longer than 180 days, including 58 with no recorded release or disposition.
What the officials want: An independent investigation with authority to obtain records from the city and its towing contractor.
What happens next: The Attorney General’s Office must decide whether to open an investigation. The referral itself does not establish wrongdoing.
Errors
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Republican Councilwoman Kilpatrick has decided to retire, and her seat is up for grabs
