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Texans Get Concerned Message About Second-Year Running Back
The Texans hope they did enough to address their issues. The post Texans Get Concerned Message About Second-Year Running Back appeared first on HEAVY.
Important Takeaways From Houston’s Summer League Blowout
A sluggish start derailed Houston’s championship hopes, but Quadir Copeland’s aggressive 24-point breakout and Bruce Thornton’s versatile playmaking provided silver linings despite a frustrating night in Vegas.
Boy band BTS' J-Hope teases the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 ahead of launch
It's expected to go official on July 22. Samsung is hosting a Galaxy Unpacked event on July 22 in London, where it's expected to unveil its new folding...
Helena couple grows Mid Valley Farm into community driven farmstand business
What started as a small family garden in the Helena Valley has grown into a thriving local farm operation — and now, the owners of Mid Valley Farm hope a new farmstand will help connect even more people with fresh, local food.
Player availability report, presented by Orlando Health Jewett Orthopedic Institute: Orlando Pride at Utah Royals
Here is this week's player availability report, presented by Orlando Health Jewett Orthopedic Institute, for Saturday's away match at Utah Royals
Common antidepressant may ease long COVID’s crushing fatigue
A low-cost antidepressant may offer new hope for people struggling with long COVID fatigue. In a randomized clinical trial involving 399 adults, fluvoxamine significantly reduced fatigue and improved quality of life compared with a placebo, making it one of the first medications to show meaningful benefits for this disabling condition.
Can Wisconsin spoil Notre Dame's college football playoff hopes?
The Wisconsin Badgers have a chance to do some serious damage to Notre Dame's college football playoff aspirations.
Who Really Influences US Public Action: Science Or Government? A New Study Finds A Hopeful Answer
“Institutional failure does not have to lead to public paralysis. Even when leadership from the top is missing, agreement between experts and citizens can still help create momentum,” the study authors say.
Belichick Sees North Carolina Turnaround as Night and Day
Bill Belichick calls the North Carolina football turnaround a night and day difference after the 2025 disaster. Fans see real hope now.
Boston businesses hope energy from World Cup crowds can have lasting impact on nightlife
Boston's summer of major international events is nearing its finale, but businesses and residents hope the momentum will continue long after the final whistle of the World Cup.
Businesses hope that Boston can maintain high nightlife energy after summer of events
Weekly Portland women’s sports wrap up (6/12)
Weekly Portland women’s sports wrap up (6/12) Presented by Rivermark Community Credit Union and Rebound Orthopedics and Neurosurgery.
Historic Strand Theatre renovation aims to bring entertainment back to Creston
CRESTON, Iowa – As some small Iowa communities work to keep their downtowns vibrant, the new owners of the Strand Theatre in Creston hope restoring the historic building will create a new gathering…
Andy Burnham is declared leader of UK's Labour Party, pledges to restore hope
The former mayor of Greater Manchester was the only contender in the center-left party's leadership contest to replace departing Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who was forced out by a rebellion within his party.
Fetterman warns he could leave the Democratic Party over Israel policy, threatening their Senate hopes
Andy Burnham set to become UK prime minister after Keir Starmer resignation
Andy Burnham was officially declared leader of Britain's governing Labour Party on Friday, promising to bring hope to the British people and purpose to the floundering government as he cleared his final hurdle to take office as prime minister next week.
Burnham promises to 'bring hope back' as he becomes Labour leader
The new Labour leader says he will give "hope back" to working class communities across the UK.
RJK Jr. lauds Tampa General Hospital for going healthy with patient meals
U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said he hopes other hospitals will replicate Tampa General's move to ditch high-carb, highly processed foods.
UChicago scientists create interactive screens that can appear on demand
Designers hope ‘BloomBeacon’ approach could reduce screen clutter
Kai Trump says politics is 'not my thing,' hopes to inspire next generation through her vlogs
Kai Trump spoke at the ESPYs about her vlog and staying out of politics while preparing for her college golf debut with the Miami Hurricanes.
'Crisis' in youth sports comes into focus after early US World Cup exit
Another early World Cup exit underscores a fractured youth sports culture in the United States, as the nation hopes to catch up with footballing powerhouses that have no clogs in their talent pipeline.
One of the world’s most prominent hospitals is testing how AI can revolutionize health care
Mayo Clinic, one of the world’s most well-known hospital systems, is using AI in hopes of improving patient care and, ultimately, saving lives.
Couple making $120,000 with laundromat side hustle as passive business trend booms
The couple hopes the unexpected booming business will create more flexibility and freedom in the future.
Country Roads lead Japanese business leaders to tour Mid-Ohio Valley looking for opportunities
DAVISVILLE – Local business and development leaders hope that country roads will lead a number of Japanese businesses to West Virginia to develop businesses in Wood County. A delegation from Japan is in the area this week looking at opportunities to possibly locate businesses locally. There were 19 people in the delegation, including four corporate […]
Japanese business leaders tour Mid-Ohio Valley looking for opportunities
DAVISVILLE – Local business and development leaders hope that country roads will lead a number of Japanese businesses to West Virginia to develop businesses in Wood County. A delegation from Japan is in the area this week looking at opportunities to possibly locate businesses locally. There were 19 people in the delegation, including four corporate […]
ZeniMax Online Studios leadership to exit as part of Xbox cuts
There are major changes happening atop Maryland-based ZeniMax Online Studios, developer of the Elder Scrolls Online, Game File has learned. Joe Burba, a 14-year veteran of the studio who was appointed to run it last July, is departing, along with ESO executive producer Susan Kath, studio game director Rich Lambert and production director Ala Diaz. Their roles were listed among hundreds of others cut last week from the Maryland offices of ZeniMax, in a WARN letter sent to the state by ZeniMax and obtained today by Game File. Tonight, BUrbam Kath, Lambert and Diaz notified Zenimax Online Studios workers of plans to “transition” to a new leadership team consisting of promoted ZOS veterans. That transition will occur “over the next few months,” they told workers, according to a copy of the notice reviewed by Game File. “We will remain in place during the transition period to help ensure a smooth handoff.” Last week, Microsoft laid off of 1,600 workers across its vast gaming teams in locations around the U.S. and abroad. Just who has been impacted and how hard various studios have been hit has been emerging day by day. Game File reported last week that Microsoft/ZeniMax notified officials in Maryland that 379 gaming jobs were being cut across the state. They tallied cuts in two locations: one for ZeniMax Media Inc. (covering Elder Scrolls/Starfield/Fallout-maker Bethesda Game Studios and central Bethesda game publishing) and one for ZeniMax Online Studios (Elder Scrolls Online). More than 200 jobs were cut at the latter. Last week’s totals did not reveal job titles, nor did Microsoft announce any leadership changes in the ZeniMax group. That has now happened. Earlier today, Game File obtained from Maryland officials a breakdown of the 379 impacted roles, which, extraordinarily, included “studio head.” Microsoft later confirmed to Game File which studio head that referred to: ZeniMax Online Studios’. Microsoft has since has notified studio employees and internally announced new leadership. ZOS will now be run by Josh Henderson, previously head of business operations at the studio, and Nick Giacomini, who was promoted to game director for ESO last August. Game File is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my journalism, please consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Subscribe Last week’s news of 200+ cuts at ZeniMax Online Studios generated public sympathy for those workers and questions about the long-term viability of the Elder Scrolls Online. ESO is a massively multiplayer online game that inherently persists on the strength of new content being developed for it. Earlier today, fans and workers in Maryland protested the cuts at the ZeniMax teams in a rally organized by the Communication Workers of America, the union that represents many of the impacted employees. Regarding concerns around the game, a community manager stated on Saturday: “The plan is still to deliver great content, and we will hopefully have an update soon.” In their note to the studio today, the outgoing leaders of ZeniMax Online Studios predicted “growth” for the game: We have tremendous confidence in Josh and Nick, the future of this studio, and the continued growth of ESO. With exciting experiences still ahead for our players as we wrap up work for Update 51 and beyond, we believe that your passion, creativity, and commitment to each other and the community will continue serving as the heartbeat of ESO. The list of jobs cut in the ZeniMax WARN notice in Maryland includes several very senior roles, including: Studio Head Studio Operations Director Studio Game Director Studio Audio Director Studio Art Manager Vice President and Controller VP, Global Sales & Business Development While some of those job descriptions match the exiting ZOS leadership team, Game File couldn’t verify if all were from that studio. The full list of cut roles shared by Maryland officials also covers workers at Bethesda Game Studios and its central publishing office. The following is an excerpt: The list of 379 eliminated ZeniMax jobs in Maryland also includes: four animators three bilingual CS (community service) leads for Chinese, Italian, and Japanese a creative director for the Elder Scrolls Online Player Life Cycle two food service workers seven producers more than 60 senior QA testers. and many others The WARN notice states that almost all of the 379 workers were notified of their layoff on July 6. In fine print, it states: “Approximately 9 employees were notified of the elimination of their position prior to July 6, 2026.” A 2021 mega-merger scaled back Microsoft announced in 2020 that it intended to buy ZeniMax and its network of game studios in 2020, and closed the $7.5 billion deal in March 2021. The purchase, which preceded Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard, added several award-winning studios to Microsoft’s portfolio, including Bethesda (Elder Scrolls, Fallout), Arkane (Dishonored), and id Software (Doom). The studios’ output since then included a 2024 Game of the Year contented from MachineGames in the form of Indiana Jones and the Great Circle along with Starfield from Bethesda and the poorly-received Redfall from Arkane Austin. In recent years, a Microsoft repeatedly in cutback mode closed ZeniMax’s Tango Gameworks (which was reconstituted by Krafton) and closed Arkane Austin. The Xbox cuts last week have hit the ZeniMax group hard, with 158 jobs eliminated in Texas, many of them at id, and 379 from the ZeniMax teams in Maryland. Xbox also said last week that it would be entering a consultation process around Arkane Lyon, a process expected to end in a sale, shutdown or other form of divestment. The Lyon team has been working on a game tied to Marvel’s Blade vampire-hunting super-hero.
Japanese business delegation tours Wood County industrial sites in economic development push
Region's industrial leaders hope visits lead to new business investment
Trump pick for CDC Dr. Erica Schwarz starts confirmation process
Dr. Erica Schwartz has the skills for the job running the CDC, doctors say. They just hope she'll be allowed to do it.
Business offices to hopeful homes: Milliron Foundation moves forward with plan for veterans, seniors
That recommendation will now be sent to City Council for its vote on the building the Milliron Foundation purchased for $1 million a year ago
Troy Jackson’s Politics Are Rooted in Maine Logger Struggles
Maine Senate hopeful Troy Jackson’s history is a case study of something the Left often discusses but rarely sees: a working-class politician who emerged from workplace organizing struggles and used his power to advance pro-worker policies.
Player availability report, presented by Orlando Health Jewett Orthopedic Institute: Orlando Pride vs Boston Legacy FC
Here is this week's player availability report, presented by Orlando Health Jewett Orthopedic Institute, for Wednesday's home match vs Boston Legacy FC
The Mac Speaks: ‘We’ll Be Back!‘
Don’t give up hope on Conor McGregor just yet. For the first time since his disastrous UFC 329 leg injury (not the broken leg from five years ago) suffered versus Max Holloway, McGregor has gotten in front of a camera and addressed fans directly. On his 38th birthday, McGregor shares a sip of his energy […]
Atlanta leaders hope FIFA World Cup sparks long-term business investment and economic growth
Metro Atlanta's business leaders say the 2026 FIFA Men's World Cup is creating new international partnerships they hope will translate into lasting future economic opportunities.
Chattanooga officials hope to launch business grant program in blighted corridors
Chattanooga officials are hoping to launch a grant program for local businesses outside the downtown core later this year.
Heastie hopeful Hochul will sign data center bill despite executive order
“We’re going to continue to look at getting a bill signed into law,” Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie said at an unrelated event in the Capital Region Tuesday.
In football and also in politics, we must balance high hopes with realism
Letter: Absurdly high expectations for the new prime minister will only lead to anger and resentment, writes Colin Montgomery – we new a new political ballgame
“Meaningless without the Hope of Jesus”: Willie and Korie Robertson on the Uplifting Entertainment Hub of eKKL
We recently sat down with Stan Jantz to chat about The Chosen, the Come and See foundation, and an ambitious mission to translate the series into 600 languages and share the authentic Jesus with 1 billion people around the globe.
Over 200 businesses hope to forge Sundance sponsor partnerships, Boulder Chamber says
With the Sundance Film Festival on the horizon, businesses can share details through an online hub, and will be contacted directly if their services or space matches the needs of a festival sponsor.
Can humans hibernate their way to Mars?
Scientists are trying to recreate the biology that lets animals survive months without food or water, in hopes of making deep-space travel possible
US Senate hopeful Abdul El-Sayed responds to Peters’ endorsement for Haley Stevens
‘Nothing says change like the last two senators trying to pick the next one,’ a spokesperson for El-Sayed’s campaign said Monday.
Gray unveils new and improved online business directory
The town hopes the directory will improve the relationship between town government and local businesses.
The World Cup showed me sports fans are the same everywhere
The players were different, the songs were different and the sport was different. The hope, heartbreak and belief? Those felt just like home.
Bringing Virginia Politics into the Light
In a time of declining faith in our public institutions, veteran journalist David M. Poole offers a hopeful story about achieving bipartisan trust and keeping the public informed. Poole will […]
Back to school at 26: Former UNC two-sport commit returns to college football
Jordyn Adams chose pro baseball over college football in 2018. Eight years later, the former Green Hope High School standout is headed back to school.
Business Leader Key to Maryland Buying Preakness Rights
When CDI announced in April its purchase of the Preakness' intellectual property rights, Greater Baltimore Committee president and CEO Mark Anthony Thomas felt it important to unite the community in hopes of keeping ownership of the race local.
Sports hopelessly muddled with politics
IOC lifts its ban on Russian athletes as the country's war on Ukraine rages on.
Families using tech to help seniors age at home, ease caregiving bills
Families are experimenting with technology like cameras and robots in hopes of swapping $10,000-a-month assisted living bills for $100 subscriptions.
Business Leader Key to Maryland Buying Preakness Rights
When CDI announced in April its purchase of the Preakness' intellectual property rights, Greater Baltimore Committee president and CEO Mark Anthony Thomas felt it important to unite the community in hopes of keeping ownership of the race local.
Koei Tecmo talks Pokemon Pokopia, wanted to make the best-selling Pokemon spin-off
Koei Tecmo has shared a few comments about Pokemon Pokopia’s massive success, including some lofty sales hopes the company had back when it was working on the project. Famitsu recently spoke with Koei Tecmo president and CEO Hisashi Koinuma in a wide-ranging interview. Of course, it was only natural for Pokemon Pokopia to come up during the interview. When Famitsu...
Makers market brings ‘small business love’ to Pottsville
Heather Schlein hopes her new pop-up makers market — a summer-long series of gatherings by women, for women — is a future Pottsville tradition in the making.
Black Men’s Mental Health Conference hopes to address barriers for better outcomes
The conference runs until 2 p.m. Saturday, July 11 at Western Middle School for the Arts (2201 W. Main St.).
Senate hopefuls try to keep Platner at a distance while embracing his movement
In Maine, Democrats vying to take on GOP Sen. Susan Collins are condemning the scandal-tarred former candidate while wrapping their arms around his populist rhetoric and agenda.
Sports salmon season reopens in CA, bringing big catches and new hope to North Bay fishermen
After nearly a three-year closure, Bay Area sport salmon fishing is back, and North Bay fishermen are celebrating a season already producing impressive catches.
Timberwolves’ Projected LeBron James Contract Offer Revealed By Top Insider
The Minnesota Timberwolves are hearing all about how sweet reunions are. That hasn’t stopped them from lining their cards in hopes to sign the NBA’s hottest free agent. For over a week, the NBA world has (impatiently) been waiting for LeBron James to make a free agency decision. After James told the Los Angeles Lakers he […] The post Timberwolves’ Projected LeBron James Contract Offer Revealed By Top Insider appeared first on HEAVY.
Anne Hathaway hopes that her kids grow up to be as ‘wonderful’ as this “Odyssey ”star
Hathaway is currently pregnant with her and husband Adam Shulman’s third child.
Anne Hathaway hopes that her kids grow up to be as ‘wonderful’ as this ‘Odyssey’ star
Anne Hathaway said that she hopes her children grow up to be as ‘wonderful’ as this castmate from ‘The Odyssey.’
Network for Hope hosts barbershop event on kidney health
Kidney disease remains an urgent health issue for Black Americans, and a local organization is bringing health education and screenings into the community.
Half of small-business owners hope to sell their companies and retire in the next decade. What happens to their workers?
“It’s an American tragedy” when small businesses close up shop.
Player availability report, presented by Orlando Health Jewett Orthopedic Institute: Orlando Pride vs Kansas City Current
Here is this week's player availability report, presented by Orlando Health Jewett Orthopedic Institute, for Friday's home match vs Kansas City Current
Armiger Entertainment Launches Kickstarter Campaign for Tenchi Galaxy Anime Pilot
Tenchi Universe director Hiroshi Negishi returns for spiritual sequel with hopes of full new series
Seattle business owners hope Club World Cup improvements become permanent
Business owners say downtown looked better than ever during the tournament, but they'd like to see long-term solutions to keep it that way.
World Cup 2026: EU lawmakers call for formal investigation into Folarin Balogun 'scandal'
Plus: Englands Anthony Gordon says he took Mexico boss Javier Aguirres foul-mouthed rant as a compliment; Arsenal expected to test Newcastles resolve with a first official bid for Bruno Guimaraes; Lamine Yamal says he hopes to see Julian Alvarez complete a transfer to Barcelona
Mayor Johnson names Dr. Garth Walker to lead Chicago Department of Public Health
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson has named Dr. Garth Walker as his choice to lead the Chicago Department of Public Health, putting the current chief medical officer of Rush Health in line to become the city's next public health commissioner.
Center for Sports Medicine surgeries to shift away from CommonSpirit Health
Patients who utilize the Center for Sports Medicine and Orthopedics received a notice stating that CommonSpirit Memorial Hospital is in a transition period.The
I Gave My Steam Machine A Second Stick Of RAM Because Valve Couldn't
I had to buy a 16GB stick of DDR5 RAM at 2026 prices so I hope you read this.
Middle schoolers choosing to repeat grade to excel in high school sports
As high school sports get more competitive, some families are choosing to “reclass’ their children in hopes of earning a college athletic scholarship.
NFL offseason power rankings: No. 20 Pittsburgh Steelers welcome back Aaron Rodgers, hope Mike McCarthy changes their arc
‘View’ cohost Sara Haines reveals house emergency that led to absence from show
‘The View’ star Sara Haines revealed a home emergency that saw her basement cave in, leading to her absence from the talk show: ‘Not very hopeful,’ the cohost said.
Meet Biomni
In creating a comprehensive, AI-enabled research agent for the biomedical sciences, Stanford researchers hope to speed innovation by eliminating the tedium of scientific legwork.
Lane Johnson’s longevity remains crucial to Eagles’ title hopes
At 36 years old, Lane Johnson continues to prove that elite offensive linemen don't always follow the NFL's aging curve.
Vikings Insider Gets Blunt on Potential Jadeveon Clowney Fit
The Minnesota Vikings have questions regarding their pass rush. Behind Dallas Turner and Andrew Van Ginkel, there’s not much reliable depth, so any injuries or poor form could be a major issue for Minnesota. Moreover, over the offseason, the Vikings traded Jonathan Greenard to the Philadelphia Eagles. As a result, the team hopes Turner can […] The post Vikings Insider Gets Blunt on Potential Jadeveon Clowney Fit appeared first on HEAVY.
Tyrella beach: How beachgoers are turning snaps into science
Scientists hope to learn more about the impact of climate change on coasts through people's photos.
Senate hopeful Haley Stevens knows how to win in Michigan. Democrats must decide if that's enough
U.S. Rep. Haley Stevens is closing Michigan’s Democratic Senate primary by arguing she is the party’s strongest candidate to beat Republicans
It's hard to break U.S. sports fans' habits. Can this World Cup do it?
Though soccer fanatics surely hope Americans will remain spellbound by soccer, it's more likely this World Cup fever breaks once the tournament ends.
Vikings Get a Little Shade from ESPN
Among the Minnesota Vikings’ fan base, hopes are high for 2026, mainly because the club acquired Kyler Murray in March […]
Michigan GOP governor hopefuls square off tonight in televised debate
The three men hoping to be the Republican nominee for governor will square off tonight in their first televised debate together.
World Cup feeds Seattle's appetite for international sports
The World Cup broke visitation and hotel revenue records in Seattle. Officials hope the games made the city a destination for future international sporting events.
‘Hometown feel’: Historic downtown Fort Mill sees local business boom
Channel 9's Deneige Broom went to Main Street in downtown Fort Mill to see what's changing and what the locals hope stays the same.
Greektown business owners upbeat as streetscape project nears end
Gratiot-Randolph plaza dedication gives shop, eatery operators hope for payoff from more than a year of construction.
Democratic Senate Hopeful Abdul El-Sayed Is Running Against Both Parties
His progressive campaign's strength in Michigan has caught some Democrats off guard
Browns' QB Shedeur Sanders takes bold stance regarding his future
Cleveland Browns' quarterback Shedeur Sanders has high hopes for his future in the NFL.
Greenland is being swarmed by autonomous drones and underwater robots as scientists race to answer one question: How close is Earth to a climate tipping point?
Self-driving drones, robotic boats, and underwater vessels will be sent to Greenland to find the answer to one of the most important questions in the realm of climate science: how far are we from crossing the climate tipping point on our planet? In this expedition, scientists hope to collect data from some of the world's most difficult glaciers, improve sea-level projections and assess whether major ocean circulation systems are changing irreversibly.
Small Business Spotlight: Business blooms beyond bouquets
BUSINESS: The Busy Bloom OWNERS: Amanda and Walter Adkins ADDRESS: 708 S. 17th St., Wilmington EMAIL: thebusybloomco@gmail.com WEBSITE: thebusybloomco.com PHONE NUMBER: (910) 742-0790 YEAR FOUNDED: 2024 NO. OF EMPLOYEES: 4 WHAT IS THE BUSY BLOOM? AMANDA ADKINS: “The Busy Bloom is a flower shop with a spin – a creative experience shop located in Wilmington’s Cargo District. Founded in 2024 by husband-and-wife team Amanda and Walter Adkins, we offer fresh flowers, botanical teas, a build-your-own bouquet bar, candle-making experiences, gifts, workshops, wedding florals and event services. Our mission is simple: to make flowers accessible, approachable and enjoyable for everyone – not just for special occasions.” WHY DID YOU START THE BUSINESS? AMANDA ADKINS: “The Busy Bloom was born from a lifelong connection to flowers and a desire to create meaningful experiences for people. After doing my own wedding florals and after years of working in healthcare management, I found myself returning to gardening and floral design as a creative outlet and source of healing. The loss of my mother-in-law, who always shared flowers from her garden, inspired me to pursue floristry full-time. My husband encouraged me and built a small flower cart for us to grow, and fast forward to now, two years later, it has grown into a community-centered business focused on bringing joy, connection and creativity through flowers.” WHAT KIND OF GROWTH ARE YOU HOPING FOR? AMANDA ADKINS: “We’re focused on sustainable growth that allows us to continue serving our community while expanding creative experiences. We hope to grow our wedding and event services, expand our educational workshops and creative programming and become a destination where people can gather, create and connect. We’re also passionate about creating opportunities that showcase floral design as an art form, such as our Fleur Couture fashion show and other community collaborations.” WHAT PAST EXPERIENCE HAVE YOU HAD WITH STARTING/WORKING IN BUSINESS? AMANDA ADKINS: “Before opening The Busy Bloom, I worked as a clinical manager in healthcare and spent years building leadership, operations and customer service skills. I’ve also worked in education and nonprofit programming, teaching people about nature and local ecosystems. Along the way, I designed flowers for weddings and events on the side, gradually turning a passion into a business. Walter has years of welding and construction experience, combined with entrepreneurship and a drive to own his own company. …The Busy Bloom has been a journey of combining creativity with entrepreneurship alongside my husband ... learning every step of the way.”
Through the teargas, I saw something missing from German politics for too long: hope
I joined thousands of people blockading the AfD’s congress. A civil disobedience movement is showing how to beat the far right, says the journalist Scott Roxborough
Lionel Messi is the ultimate summer romance: Why he's so beloved
I knew Lionel Messi would be the headliner of this World Cup, but I didn't expect to fall so hopelessly in love with him.
Hungary moves to overhaul university models banned from Horizon Europe
Hungary’s new government is aiming to overhaul the governance model of the institutions and universities that lost access to Horizon Europe and Erasmus+ funds “in a short timeframe,” according to Péter Horváth, the new state secretary for science policy and innovation. “As of today, the two non-university foundation-controlled institutions under my remit have been transformed,” he told Science|Business. “We hope the universities will follow and that this will be enough to satisfy the EU’s demands.”Under the previous government, led by Viktor Orbán and his Fidesz party, many academic and scientific institutions were restructured and made into special public trust foundations, with members strongly linked to the government given lifelong mandates and significant decision-making powers with little oversight. The European Commission deemed that this undermined academic freedom and transparency in the country, leading to a ban on 34 institutions in 2022, including 21 universities, which saw academics in Hungary lose access to Horizon Europe grants. The new Hungarian government, elected in May and led by Péter Magyar and his Tisza Party, has promised to dismantle this governance model and restore the institutions to EU programmes. As a result, the European Commission has promised to return access to the Erasmus+ education mobility programme, but so far no concrete agreement has been made on the Horizon Europe programme for research and innovation. Hungary has already made legislative changes in June to allow the institutions to be reformed and set a timeline for the implementation.The non-university foundations, which are mainly cultural centres such as the Foundation for Hungarian Culture or the Makovecz Campus Foundation, will all be dissolved by August 31 this year, a date tied to EU-set milestones that Hungary must meet to unlock frozen funds, with control transferred to relevant ministries. Meanwhile, the universities will have until 31 August 2027. For each university foundation, the government will set the dissolution date and the body to take over operations. There is no final decision on a permanent new model for the universities, according to Hungarian MEP Eszter Lakos, who is shadow rapporteur for the Horizon Europe specific programme, a separate piece of legislation detailing implementation rules for the EU’s next research programme, due to start in 2028. “The aim of the transition year is to settle this with [the universities], not to impose a model, and not to put them under state control,” she told Science|Business. “The goal is to give academic independence back to universities.”There are three models that are most likely to be implemented. One would be a return to a traditional, state-run model. Another could be a newer, more self-standing public institution. A third option would be a reformed version of the foundation models that meet EU standards. According to Lakos, the dismantling of the system put in place by the Orbán government is well underway and if all goes according to plan, Hungary could regain access to EU research money by the start of the next academic year in 2027. “I believe that the Hungarian government is doing the necessary changes so the universities could return as beneficiaries to Horizon from the next school year,” she said. In the meantime, “the universities, institutes and cultural assets carry on under proper public stewardship rather than a handful of unaccountable trustees,” said Lakos. The laws passed in June impose new safeguards: board terms are capped at four years and renewable only once, appointments are made through open competitions and sitting politicians cannot join joining these boards.It remains unclear whether a domestic science funding programme set up as a back-up scheme by the former government following the EU funding ban, called HU-rizon, could be continued. “This programme should never have had to have been established in the first place, but it has proven to be quite popular,” he said. “I am considering continuing this programme with a refined focus on helping international collaborations.”Re-organising the research network One of the first priorities for Horváth and his cabinet is to resolve questions over the future of the Hungarian Research Network, Hun-Ren. The network of academic institutes was taken away from the Hungarian Academy of Sciences in 2019 and turned into a quasi-private organisation, with similarities in its governance to the public trust foundations.Horváth and his team have consulted over 5,000 representatives from the network and the conclusion is broad unhappiness with the directors of all the institutes involved. “We have presented the results to the president and the chief executive of the network and this is currently being discussed,” Horváth said. The plan is to re-integrate the network back into the Academy of Sciences but in an improved way, “learning from mistakes of the past,” he added. The government also wants to reintegrate four humanities and social science research centres into the network that the previous government had transferred to Eötvös Loránd University. The transfer brought sharp criticism from the academic community, with a group of Hungarian research heads, including European Research Council grant recipients, sending an open letter to Orbán warning that the transfer would “cause historically significant harm to the entirety of Hungarian scientific life.” The transfer was “one of the biggest shames in Hungarian research in the past 20 years,” Horváth said. “We want to immediately re-integrate them back into the research network and to regain the trust of these institutions, because the way they were treated was really unfair.”Another pressing issue is the Élvonal Excellence Research and Talent Development Foundation, led by Nobel laureate Ferenc Krausz. The foundation signed a financing agreement with the former government earlier this year for a budget of over €730 million over the next five years. The goal is to create a world-class centre to attract top talent from abroad and to develop local researchers. But there was little transparency about this foundation, and news of its huge budget, which is nearly as much as Hungary’s entire research budget, caused a stir in the media following the recent elections. Another issue is that, as with the foundation boards of the institutes banned from Horizon Europe, there was little-to-no oversight of decisions led by Krausz. “It was an excellent idea but an unacceptable execution,” Horváth said of the foundation. “The fact that this is out of the Hungarian funding scheme, mostly concentrating on one person who decides on the budget is unacceptable for us.”The government plans to merge the centre with the National Research, Development and Innovation Office, the country’s R&D funding agency, with a reduced budget. Horváth is hopeful that Krausz will still be involved. The new government’s R&D goalsA phrase that crops up regularly during the discussion with Horváth is “democratic process.” The new state secretary is determined to involve Hungary’s research community in shaping future policies. This marks a departure from the previous government’s approach, and several people in Hungary’s research community have commented on the openness of the new government. In terms of concrete goals, Horváth and his team already have plans. He wants to create a new science fund in Hungary, based on the best practices of other European countries. The fund would not be tied to annual government budgets and would provide long-term, stable financing. “If we were to succeed in creating this fund, then I think it would be one of the biggest achievements for me in this period of government,” Horváth said. On the innovation side, he is looking into how best to bring in the private sector. “We want to make sure that we are working with the private sector to support innovation,” Horváth said. One of his big aims is to introduce entrepreneurship teaching into high schools. Hungary already has a reputable national academy offering research and innovation training in the field of natural sciences, and Horváth wants to expand this to all disciplines and across the whole country. “One of the main ways to elevate our innovative businesses is to teach our children to be innovative,” he said. “This will probably need ten years to pay off, but this is what we should do. Our aim is to make Hungary strong in our region, and this is what is needed.” Related articlesHungary’s Horizon Europe performance in numbersCommission unlocks Erasmus+ cash for Hungary, Horizon could be next‘Academic Huxit.’ Hungarian researchers speak out on impact of EU ban A more difficult task will be funding. The new government is aiming to increase research spending to 2% of the GDP by 2030, and then increase it to 3% in line with EU objectives. Currently, spending sits around 1.3%. But according to Horváth, the current budget, inherited from the previous government, is “heavily in the negative,” so any plans to increase research spending will have to start next year. Achieving 2% by 2030 already needs a big push, almost doubling the research budget. “This is something we’d definitely like to reach, and something I can see us achieving,” he said. “From the 2030s, I’d like to see an innovative generation growing up that can help us reach the 3% target.” Positivity in the new governmentDespite the many challenges facing Horváth and his team, the mood is positive. “It feels a bit like a start-up right now. Everyone is working 24/7, day and night, trying to do as much as they can. There is a lot of energy,” he said. It is a big change for the state secretary who, like many in his cabinet, is coming from a background in research or business, and not in politics. “Six weeks ago, I was sitting with my microscope and my research PhDs, so it’s been a big change for me,” said the computer scientist, who was previously the director of the Institute of Biochemistry at the Hun-Ren Biological Research Centre in Hungary and worked at the Institute for AI for Health at Helmholtz Munich. But he is relishing the task to transform the country’s R&D landscape. “We feel enormous support from the Hungarian people, but also from Europe,” he said. “We’ve received a lot of letters of support from around Europe. There is big trust there, and huge responsibility on our side. We want to get everything back on track, and there’s a lot to do.”
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(Welcome to the “Most Important Story of the Week”, my bi-weekly strategy column analyzing the most important (but often not buzziest) news story of the last two weeks. I’m the Entertainment Strategy Guy, a former streaming executive who now analyzes business strategy in the entertainment industry. Please subscribe.) I hope everyone had a happy Fourth of July in America, celebrating the country’s 250th birthday. Frankly, I am bummed the 250th wasn’t a bigger celebration, but that’s a different topic for a different Substack. While it was generally a quiet week on the entertainment/streaming/media business fronts, we still had some interesting news stories. Actually, that kinda undersells one of the stories, a huge, huge, huge divestment that could upend the entertainment landscape... So let’s get right to it. In today’s column, I’ll cover Comcast spinning off the rest of NBCUniversal, an entertainment company investing in an LLM company and an LLM-owner investing in a movie studio, the latest round of threats of digital tariffs, and more. Let’s dive in. Subscribe Most Important Story of the Week - Most: Comcast/NBCU Breakup!!!! If I had to describe my reaction to Comcast spinning out NBCUniversal, it feels like a relationship ending, either breaking up or divorcing. Comcast’s decision to spin off the rest of NBCUniversal, after spinning off some of its cable assets into Versant last year, really does feel like a family breaking up under “irreconcilable differences”. Of my stereotypes of the entertainment moguls, my go-to for Comcast CEO Brian Roberts—heir to the Comcast fortune, but a man who’s been at the helm for 24 years now, and president for twelve years before that—is that he likes building empires. He cut his teeth acquiring cable rivals in the 1990s and tried to buy Disney repeatedly, then settled for NBCUniversal after a long court battle. (Contrast this with Rupert Murdoch, a man who also loved to buy, but would also sell when the price is right. Murdoch made Fox out of nothing, but then sold 20th Century Fox to Disney, arguably at the top of the market. So I understood why he sold.) But I don’t understand Roberts’ motivation to sell now. I have some explanations but no single, super-satisfying explanation. Strategically, it would just make more sense to have kept NBCUniversal in-house, especially for a one-time empire builder like Comcast. Yet one powerful force—arguably the decider in modern capitalism—likely overwhelmed all other considerations. At first, I thought I’d arrange my thoughts as a “Five Why” analysis, digging through each layer of the puzzle. But instead, I found myself asking, “But…why?” (And I only ended up with four sections.) So let’s look at Comcast from that angle. Then, at the end, I’ll give my biggest strategic recommendation for every company in Hollywood. It’s obvious, but sometimes, the obvious strategy is the most ignored. But…Why? The Stock Market, Conglomerations, and Sum of the Parts Analysis We’re just getting started with this issue, but the rest is for paid subscribers of the Entertainment Strategy Guy, so if you’d like to find out… Why Comcast could never get a “tech company” valuation The not-so-secret motivation for Comcast What Versant has to do with all of this The key strategic advice I think every entertainment exec should follow (though it’s really obvious) Some big AI investment news… Whether we’ll see digital tariffs… And more… ...please subscribe! We can only keep doing this great work with your support.
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