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Forza Horizon 6 Runs Like A Next-Gen Showcase On Top-End PCs, And Xbox’s Project Helix Could Inherit It All
Forza Horizon 6 pushes the technical boundaries of racing games, with RTGI and advanced reflections providing a clear look at the future of next-gen hardware
Lehigh Valley Political Pulse: Politics in an evolving news landscape
Katherine Reinhard said many voters remain undecided heading into the primary and urged audiences to rely on credible reporting as they make final decisions.
The young and hungry Washington Nationals are playing with emotion
Between Daylen Lile and Richard Lovelady, the Nats were wearing their emotions on their sleeves in last nights win
Rocky Inning Dooms Keller, Pirates vs. Colorado
PITTSBURGH — Mitch Keller could not have gotten off to a better start, but the right-hander was hit hard in […] The post Rocky Inning Dooms Keller, Pirates vs. Colorado appeared first on Pittsburgh Baseball Now.
Confusing THC Vape laws don’t change the health risks for teens, experts warn
THC vape pens are becoming harder for parents and teachers to recognize. Some devices are designed to look like USB drives, highlighters, or other everyday electronics — making them easy for teens to hide. Now, with changing policies surrounding THC products in Texas, experts worry some teenagers may wrongly assume vaping THC is harmless.
Cultivating a Bright Future
Inspired by the values of community and environmental stewardship she learned as a member of the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina, Stella Hardin hopes to use the skills she gained as an agricultural science major to make an impact that honors her roots.
Meet a Health Hero: John Matthews of Ride Hard, Breathe Easy
He rode across America for his mom.That cross-country journey became a nonprofit that has raised $1.2 million for lung-cancer patients, families, and researchers.
Intel CPUs Set to Power Googlebook Laptops, with "Wildcat Lake" in Play
Google launched its "Googlebook" laptops yesterday, introducing a new intelligent platform that leverages Gemini AI, succeeding its Chromebook offerings. Initially, it was unclear what hardware Google would use for its upcoming laptop models. However, Intel announced that it has been collaborating w...
Colorado’s health care cuts are painful — what comes next could be worse
By Ross Brooks and Beverly Razon Last December, a broad coalition of consumer advocates, safety net providers, hospitals, health plans and physicians statewide published a warning: our state was facing a health care crisis, and fragmented policymaking would make it harder to solve. These members of the Colorado Health Policy Forum called on Gov. Jared […]
Colorado’s health care cuts are painful — what comes next could be worse
By Ross Brooks and Beverly Razon Last December, a broad coalition of consumer advocates, safety net providers, hospitals, health plans and physicians statewide published a warning: our state was facing a health care crisis, and fragmented policymaking would make it harder to solve. These members of the Colorado Health Policy Forum called on Gov. Jared […]
Seattle-area prices inflation spikes. Here's why
That makes the Seattle area one of the hardest hit regions by rising costs over the last year. Nationwide, prices increased 3.8% year over year.
Coffee Science: How to store coffee beans for freshest flavor at home
Starbucks coffee master and educator Lincoln Bechard explains why ‘airtight and away from light’ is the key to keeping coffee beans taste better longer.
From the latest Physicality / Playing Hard report: …
From the latest Physicality / Playing Hard report: …
First look at Googlebook: A premium Chromebook alternative for Android users
Googlebooks use an all-new OS that merges Android and ChromeOS with more premium hardware.
Google announces its Chromebook successor: the Googlebook
Google has a new operating system and a new laptop platform, but no hardware just yet.
New Software: Introducing Rivian Assistant and Rivian Unified Intelligence
Unlike basic voice command tools found in phone-mirroring systems, Rivian Assistant is built directly into your vehicle’s hardware and software, providing the unique power to talk to every aspect of the vehicle and get things done for you.
Good Intentions, No Easy Solution: Why Income Diversification Needs a Gender Reckoning
When commodity prices drop, the path forward is rarely straightforward, and our recent field research in Côte d’Ivoire’s cocoa communities shows that the costs of getting diversification wrong fall hardest on women and girls.
The best hardtop gazebos for stylish patio entertainment
Shading you from the sun and protecting you from precipitation, hardtop gazebos let you get more use from your yard.
Four Earn College Sports Communicators Academic All-District® Men’s Tennis Teams
College Sports Communicators recently released their Academic All-District® teams for men's tennis, and four Big Red were honored for their hard work in the classroom.
Forza Horizon 6 Dev Bans Pirate Who Leaked Gameplay Footage Until the Year 10,000 — but Faces Uphill Battle Plugging the Leak
Forza Horizon 6 developer Playground Games is following through on its threat after the game was leaked online ahead of the official release date, with one pirate reporting a hardware ban until the year 10,000.
The Apprentice: Boafo fills coffers with support from Hoyer’s political network
It’s no secret that Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-5th), the dean of Maryland’s federal delegation, is working hard to elect Del. Adrian Boafo (D-Prince George’s) to succeed him. But the full extent of Hoyer’s investment in Boafo’s campaign is only now coming into focus.
Who won 'American Idol' 2026? Season 24 champion crowned after standout viral audition.
Keyla Richardson, Jordan McCullough and Hannah Harper are battling to win the long-running singing contest.
What to know about states' efforts to limit corporate donations in politics
HONOLULU (AP) — Two states could try a new way to reduce the influence of corporations and hard-to-track “dark money” groups that have been able to spend unlimited amounts on politics since the Supreme Court's 2010 Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission ruling.
Why joining the family business was James Reed’s hardest decision — and why it paid off
James Reed reflects on the decision that defined his career — taking the risk of joining the family business. The Reed CEO discusses failure, purpose and why standing still is the worst decision of all.
'American Idol' season 24 winner revealed in star-studded finale
The new winner of 'American Idol' has been named. Find out whether Hannah Harper, Jordan McCullough, or Keyla Richardson won.
Oakland County water main break causes business closures
Most people could understand restaurants that require water for cooking and cleaning needed to be closed – but it was harder to understand why retail stores, and a music shop would have to be closed.
Entertainment mogul Byron Allen to acquire Buzzfeed, HuffPost
Buzzfeed, once an internet sensation known for its listicles, news and quizzes, has fallen on hard times.
Entertainment mogul Byron Allen to acquire Buzzfeed, HuffPost
Buzzfeed, once an internet sensation known for its listicles, news and quizzes, has fallen on hard times.
Nintendo share value falls as president admits increased prices will "raise the barrier to purchase"
Nintendo shares have dropped after president Shuntaro Furukawa acknowledged that raising the prices on its hardware "wi…
Richard C. J. Somerville on the Science of Climate Change
In his new book, Climate Change Science: An Essential Reader, Richard C. J. Somerville describes cutting-edge climate change science in language that everyone can understand.
Business re-entry students prove no setback is permanent
Brian McGauley dropped out of high school and college and had two health scares. Carlos Torres worked too hard, partied too hard and was academically disqualified. Now, both students are graduating with honors from the Craig School of Business at Fresno State, proving that a late start and early difficulties don’t have to be permanent […]
Several Local Businesses Named the 2026 Crowns of Enterprise Winners
The Crowns of Enterprise Awards honor the hard work of small businesses and their economic impact for the Charlotte-Mecklenburg area. 2026 marks the 15th year of the Crowns of Enterprise Awards, which are presented annually by the the City of Charlotte’s Charlotte Business INClusion program and Mecklenburg County Office of Economic Development’s Business Diversity and Inclusion division.
South Philadelphia event raises awareness for heart health in the construction industry
It was all part of the American Heart Association's 2026 Hard Hats with Heart Homerun Derby at Citizens Bank Park in South Philadelphia.
Missouri star RB Ahmad Hardy shot at concert in Mississippi, in stable condition after undergoing surgery
Hardy rushed for 1,649 yards and 16 touchdowns last season for the Tigers
Safe, Healthy, and Happy: Practical Tips To Help Kids Who Are Deaf and Hard of Hearing Make the Most of Summer
Swimming, playing outside, and traveling are central parts of the summer experience for many children. For families with children who are deaf and hard of hearing, taking some additional precautions can help kids stay safe without sacrificing any of the fun.
Healthcare cuts threaten Sullivan’s reelection chances in Alaska
Alaskans have been hit hard by the healthcare cuts in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act and lapsed Obamacare subsidies, presenting a prime target for Democrats seeking to oust Republican Sen. Dan Sull…
GOP hardliners aren’t buying into U.S. Rep. Veronica Escobar’s bipartisan immigration bill
The latest version of the El Paso Democrat’s Dignity Act includes a key change to make it more palatable to Republicans. Some have gotten on board, but others are firmly opposed.
Who are the 'American Idol' finalists? These 3 will compete for the Season 24 crown tonight.
Keyla Richardson, Jordan McCullough and Hannah Harper are battling to win the long-running singing contest.
Join the Keyhive at these Keyla Richardson American Idol watch parties
Pensacola's Keyla Richardson is in the 'American Idol' season finale. Check out these Pensacola area watch parties, where you can join in.
How to watch Keyla Richardson on 'American Idol' finale
Pensacola's Keyla Richardson performs on the 'American Idol' finale tonight. Here's how to watch and vote.
As ranks of uninsured grow, charity care can be hard to come by at many hospitals
An investigation of hospital data and charity care programs shows most Minnesota hospitals provide little financial aid to patients and often make assistance difficult to get.
Three enjoyable ways to slow your brain's ageing
Our brains thrive on a challenge, but it doesn't all have to be hard work to see the health benefits. Here are three simple and fun ways to protect your brain as you age.
GrapheneOS says Google is making life harder for rival operating systems and devices
Graphene argues that Google's device verification systems could lock users into approved hardware and software.
Nintendo Shares Tumble After Lackluster Switch 2 Games Outlook
Nintendo Co.’s shares plunged the most in three months after the company forecast hardware and software sales declines, a sign that the Switch 2 has yet to create a self-sustaining demand cycle.
Pacers president Kevin Pritchard apologizes for Ivica Zubac trade that cost them lottery pick after falling out of top 4: 'I own taking the risk'
MILAN FUTURO'S CAMPAIGN ENDS, CHIEVO IN THE FINAL
A hard-fought match, which brings the curtain down on the season for Coach Oddo's Milan Futuro. It ended 2-1 to Chievo in Verona, at the end of a truly intense 120 minutes. Victory was essential to ad...
Fitbit Air has status light & double-tap gesture, gets Whoop size comparison
The hardware design of the Fitbit Air is quite straightforward, but there are two features that aren’t particularly obvious...
AOC-backed $25 minimum wage could squeeze small businesses in red states
A $25 minimum wage sounds appealing but experts and economists warn it could squeeze small businesses and hit lower-wage states hardest.
I Knew Shopping for a Wedding Dress Would Be Hard. I Didn’t Expect It to Go Like This.
I’ve seen hundreds of dresses that defy the laws of physics.
Farage trying to avoid scrutiny over £5m gift from crypto billionaire, Labour says
Reform’s deputy leader, Richard Tice, seeks to present issue as irrelevant in interview with Laura Kuenssberg
$200 NVIDIA V100 server GPU mod beats RTX 3060 in local LLM test
Used NVIDIA V100 server GPU becomes low-cost local LLM accelerator Hardware Haven has tested one of the stranger GPU setups we have seen recently. The
Most Utah businesses aren’t using AI. But new college grads might still have a hard time finding a job.
Utah businesses are using AI more often. Is that making the job hunt more difficult as people look for work?
The Knicks Have Finally Hit the Gas
A change in New York’s post-season offense has made the team more precise, more urgent, and much harder to stop as it pushes toward the Eastern Conference Finals.
"Yeah 'Beard', what chatter?" - Patrick Beverley trolls James Harden's critics after his bounce back performance in Game 3
James Harden finally showed up when the Cavs needed him the most.
Sales Are Up. Celebrities Are In. Is Gap Officially Back?
Richard Dickson has drawn inspiration from the clothing retailer’s early days as he tries to regain its cultural cachet.
Harden lifts Cavs over Pistons 116-109 in Game 3
Donovan Mitchell scored 35 points.
Voice AI in India is hard. Wispr Flow is betting on it anyway.
Wispr Flow says growth accelerated in India after its Hinglish rollout, even as voice AI products continue to face challenges.
Nintendo Switch 2 Is Harder To Get In Japan Ahead Of May 25 Price Hike
The Nintendo Switch 2 is getting a price increase faster in Japan than abroad.
College football signee from Destrehan adds to family title haul at state track meet
Damien Richard’s first leap put him in first place. His next three jumps were longer than the previous one.
James Harden bounces back with 4th-quarter heroics in Cavaliers' Game 3 win vs. Pistons: 'What chatter?'
Cavaliers earn must-win Game 3 at home, defeating Pistons 116-109 with Donovan Mitchell scoring 35 points
Donovan Mitchell and James Harden combined for 54 points, giving Cleveland the star performances it needed.
Here he finally is! The perfect right-back for Liverpool
The perfect right-back for Liverpool is finally here. Replacing Trent Alexander-Arnold has probably been Richard Hughes’ biggest challenge since arriving at Anfield.At first, it looked like Conor Br...
James Harden of the Cleveland Cavaliers has moved into …
James Harden of the Cleveland Cavaliers has moved into …
Science Hill holds off William Blount to open region tournament
DANDRIDGE — Trailing by one run, William Blount was in great position to tie or retake the lead. Lead-off batter Karson Hard opened the sixth frame with a base hit
TST Best Bets: May 9, 2026
Two teams down 0-2 face the brink of elimination on Saturday, as the Cleveland Cavaliers and Los Angeles Lakers try to steer their respective series in their favor on their homecourts. For the Cavs, the solution may be as simple as being back in Cleveland, as they are undefeated at home and winless on the road so far this postseason. However, it seems to be almost too tall a task for the Cavs to secure a win with the level of play they have gotten from James Harden, who has 11 turnovers to just
Nintendo R&D expenses increase 23% from last fiscal year suggesting new hardware could be in works
An eagle-eyed Redditor has noticed that Nintendo’s Resource and Development expenses have surged by 23% from the last fiscal year, suggesting that new hardware is being worked on. You never know what…
Some RFK minions are innovating to boost public health
RFK Jr. is presiding over a host of innovative developments that should foster miracle cures for numerous hard-to-beat diseases.
What is a radical? It's the question of M.I.A.'s vexing career
Fans who danced to "Paper Planes" might hardly recognize the conspiracy-touting artist before them today — but in a certain way, she's the same button-pusher as ever.
Detroit's health woes don't daunt new director: 'We can do hard things'
Mayor Mary Sheffield recruited Ali Abazeed from Dearborn where he restarted the Wayne County community's public health department.
Jacob Misiorowski hits 103.6 mph vs. Yankees, unleashes hardest pitches ever tracked by MLB from starter
Misiorowski got a strikeout for every letter in his last name.
The San Jose Sharks Will Be the NHL’s Next Dynasty
It’s always hard to predict which team will be the next big dynasty, but there are always signs. The San Jose Sharks are beginning to show exactly those kinds of signs, building a foundation that suggests something much bigger could be on the horizon. San Jose hasn’t been in the playoffs since 2019 and has […] The post The San Jose Sharks Will Be the NHL’s Next Dynasty appeared first on The Lead.
Manufacturing qubits that can move
It's hard to mix electronic manufacturing and flexible geometry.
Middle school Science Olympiad teams compete at state level - Fayetteville-Manlius CSD
A group of 30 Fayetteville-Manlius School District middle school students spent the past eight months preparing for the chance to participate in the New York State Science Olympiad Tournament, and their hard work paid off. In March, both Eagle Hill and Wellwood middle schools had teams compete at the Regional Science Olympiad Division B competition
Sony forecasts lower gaming business sales amid memory price surge
By Sam Nussey TOKYO, May 8 (Reuters) - Sony forecast on Friday annual sales at its gaming business would fall 6% to 4.42 trillion yen ($28 billion) due to lower hardware sales as its PlayStation 5 ages and as the industry grapples with a surge in memory chip prices. The Japanese company, however, said it expects gaming profit to rise 30% due to higher first-party software sales and the absence
Sony forecasts lower gaming business sales amid memory price surge
STORY: Sony forecast lower sales in its gaming business due to a memory chip price surge.The tech giant said Friday annual sales in the segment would fall 6% to $28 billion.It also blamed lower hardware sales as its PlayStation 5 ages.Although the Japanese company said it expects gaming profit to rise 30%.That's due to higher first-party software sales and no repeat of the impairment loss it recorded a year earlier.Sony has been praised by analysts in recent years for its transformation into an entertainment powerhouse.But markets have grown concerned about the impact of AI on its business, while Sony also faces a perceived lack of growth catalysts.Both factors have weighed on shares in recent months.Investors are also concerned about the impact of a memory-chip price surge.As well as disruption to supply chains from the Iran war on margins at electronics manufacturers.The firm said it sold 1.5 million PS5 consoles in the fourth quarter, which was a 46% drop on the same period a year earlier.Looking ahead, the PS5 is expected to receive a major boost from the launch of the delayed "Grand Theft Auto VI."The game is due to release in November.Sony said in February it had secured the minimum quantity of memory needed to manage the year-end shopping season. Sony also said it sees higher profits at its pictures and chips units but a lower profit at its music business.The group reported operating profit for the year ended March rose 13.4% to $9.2 billion - below analyst forecasts. Meanwhile, rival Nintendo said it expects to sell 16.5 million units of its Switch 2 console in the financial year ending March 2027.It also projects profit to rise 2.7% to $2.36 billion.But, like with Sony, investors are concerned about the possible impact of a memory price surge on margins.
Why is watching the NBA playoffs at a bar harder than it should be?
Two writers walk into a bar and ... no joke, can't find an NBA game on TV at the establishment. We tried to find out why.
Oilers D-man Evan Bouchard ‘upset’ over Norris Trophy snub
Edmonton Oilers‘ Evan Bouchard did not hide his frustration after being left off the NHL’s 2025–26 Norris Trophy finalist list, despite producing one of the best offensive seasons by a defenseman in recent league history. The NHL announced Rasmus Dahlin,…
PS5 sales expected to decline due to generative AI memory drought and rising prices
Sony has released its financial results for the past fiscal year. Inside, it predicts a decrease in PS5 hardware sales in the next 12 months.
See How the G.O.P. Cut Up Tennessee’s Only Majority Black District
A recent Supreme Court ruling makes it much harder to argue that a map illegally dilutes Black voting power. Tennessee has since broken up a predominantly Black district.
A ‘Couples Weekend’ gets complicated
It’s hardly a merry weekend getaway for the two couples in “Couples Weekend,” available today.
U.K. election results: Starmer’s Labour suffer huge losses as hard-right Reform gains
Early results Friday suggested sweeping losses that will heap pressure on Prime Minister Keir Starmer. He said the results were “very tough,” but signaled he had no plans to step aside.
Iran’s Economy Buckles Under Pressure as Millions Face Unemployment
Iranian officials argue the economic hardship is the result of what they describe as an unjust war imposed by the United States and Israel.
James Harden's struggles continue in Cavaliers' Game 2 loss, with turnovers piling up vs. Pistons
Iowa luncheon raises more than $84,000 for children's mental health services
The inaugural "Rooted in Resilience" luncheon raised over $84,000 to support Orchard Place, Iowa's oldest nonprofit providing mental health services for children.
How Disneyland Remade American Politics
America is turning 250, and The Free Press is marking the occasion with a yearlong series of events, conversations, and stories celebrating our country’s history. Today, we’re taking a journey with historian Beverly Gage to Southern California. Beverly traded the archives for the open road for her new book, This Land is Your Land: A Road Trip Through U.S. History. We’re proud to publish an excerpt, on the theme park that shaped American politics—and the presidents who loved it. —The Editors On July 17, 1955, Ronald Reagan stood near a mocked-up wood-plank town in Anaheim, California, where a 13-star flag flew incongruously over an “Old West” landscape, and introduced the world to Disneyland. He had been invited by Walt Disney himself to co-host the park’s live ABC broadcast, alongside Art Linkletter and Bob Cummings—three Hollywood actors who seemed to embody a wholesome, all-American ethos. From the imagined past of Frontierland, the show leaped ahead to Tomorrowland, set in the far-off year of 1986, emphasizing the technical marvels yet to come: nuclear energy harnessed for civilian purposes, human beings riding rocket ships into space. Disney foretold great things for a 1980s in which the United States would serve as “a source of joy and inspiration to all the world.” But even he could not predict the most important political fact of the age: that his genial co-host would become president. Southern California was a strange place to build a park about the past, because the region at the time was all about newness and abundance and growth. For a lot of its history, Orange County had been Southern California’s version of flyover country: a vast agricultural expanse between two desirable places, Los Angeles and San Diego. But Disneyland was changing that. Before long, 50 miles south of deep-blue Hollywood, Orange County would become a region famed for its right-wing politics—but also for its mythmaking skills. Those two things, it turned out, went naturally together. ADVERTISEMENT The two presidents Southern California gave America both understood this instinctively. Richard Nixon and Reagan each built a national career on invoking a version of the American past in which the specificities of historical context mattered less than the big picture. For Nixon, progress meant proclaiming a “New American Revolution” on the eve of America’s bicentennial while dismantling the federal programs that had built the postwar middle class. For Reagan, it meant recapturing a lost optimism and an old-fashioned faith in America as an exceptional nation. Both men were less interested in history as it actually happened than in history as it felt—and Orange County, a place that had built itself almost entirely from scratch, turned out to be exactly where the myth of America’s future was getting made. I’m a historian—and historians tend to be myth-busters. With the country’s 250th birthday on the horizon, I figured it was a good time to step out of the ivory tower and check in with the past as it exists here and now, at the museums and monuments and roadside attractions where Americans go to learn about their history. After all my travels—to Davy Crockett’s Tennessee and Texas, to the real Erie Canal, to the birthplace of the American automobile and the actual Old West—I couldn’t miss out on Disneyland, the single most influential historic attraction in U.S. history.
Analysis: GOP politics — and Little — have changed since 2018. This election proves it.
Gov. Brad Little faces no prominent hardline opponent in the May 19 GOP primary, and it's no accident. For eight years, Little has sought to neutralize opposition from the right — while stepping away from the centrist coalition that helped elect him in the first place.
Science diplomacy lessons from a North Korean volcano
Mount Paektu, a mythic, active volcano on the border between North Korea and China, is almost the epitome of a scientific challenge that crosses political lines. In 946 CE, it erupted in one of the five biggest volcanic events of the past 10,000 years, kicking up huge quantities of ash and sending destructive mud flows down river channels for hundreds of kilometres. Should this happen again, the entire region, including easternmost Russia, South Korea and even Japan could be hit. “It’s definitely got the potential to be big,” said James Hammond, a professor of geophysics at Birkbeck, University of London. An eruption on the scale of 946 would have “huge regional impact.” For the past 15 years, Hammond has helped lead a groundbreaking collaboration with North Korean scientists to study the volcano, navigating scientific sanctions, tough export controls on scientific equipment and a long, pandemic-enforced exodus from the country. Although he seems more at home on far-flung research expeditions – before speaking to Science|Business, Hammond was camping out on a Greenland ice sheet – he has also advised the European Commission on its changing science diplomacy strategy. His long experience with North Korea has made Hammond sceptical of blanket bans on science collaboration, no matter the country.This is a live question in Europe, where in the wake of Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, institutional ties with Russian universities were almost entirely severed, although some scientists fear this could undermine our understanding of climate change’s impact on the Arctic. Here, Hammond tells the story of the Mount Paektu mission and the policy lessons he takes from it. Ominous rumblingsThe genesis of Hammond’s collaboration came in 2002, when Mount Paektu began to rumble ominously. Earthquake activity picked up and the volcano began to emit unusual gases. North Korean scientists took notice. “People felt we need to know more about this volcano,” said Hammond. In 2011, North Korean vulcanologists put out a request for international expertise to help them learn more. At the time, Hammond and his collaborator, Clive Oppenheimer, were working on a vulcanology project in another sanctioned country, Eritrea, and so decided to answer the call. Within a month, they had flown into Pyongyang. “It was pretty incredible,” recalls Hammond (left). “We were made to feel like honoured guests, and invited to official celebrations.” The scientific opportunity was huge. Paektu is unusually positioned, a thousand kilometres from where tectonic plates rub against each other in the Pacific. “It was an incredibly interesting volcano, but not much research had been done, at least not in the international community,” he said. “There was so much we felt we could do. And we had these partners that were super keen to engage.”The mission received an unusual visitor in the form of volcano-obsessed filmmaker Werner Herzog, who accompanied Hammond and Oppenheimer while directing his 2016 film Into the Inferno about volcanos across the world. Four days into the trip, the German director delivered a long speech about reunification to his North Korean hosts, recalls Hammond. “He got to the heart of the Koreans and how they felt, and how they thought, in a way that I'm not sure I ever will,” he said. UN sanctionsHowever, Hammond realised he’d been “naïve” about how difficult it would be to collaborate with North Korea, which was sanctioned far more heavily than Eritrea. “We didn’t fully appreciate the all-encompassing nature of restrictions,” he said. In 2016, as tensions escalated over Pyongyang’s nuclear tests, a United Nations resolution banned all joint scientific work with North Korea. However, the UN sanctions did allow countries to request carve outs, and the UK successfully requested an exemption for Hammond’s work. Related articlesEU pushes for joint science diplomacy, but care needed to avoid gridlock, experts sayRussia severs its last ties with German scienceAnchor Greenlanders in Arctic climate research, experts tell EU ahead of policy updateExport controls have also delayed Hammond’s work. In one case, it took 18 months to get approval from the UK government to take seismometers, which measure earthquakes, to North Korea. “It was frustrating,” he said. “But they didn’t just say no.” However, one instrument, called an induction coil, used to measure how the earth conducts electricity, was blocked entirely because it can in theory be used to detect submarines. Karaoke bondingSince the collaboration started in 2011, Hammond has visited the country around 15 times, although the pandemic closed off North Korea for more than five years. A trip last November was Hammond’s first since the outbreak. Despite this lengthy interlude, Hammond has deep bonds in the country. The North Korean scientists Hammond works with are somewhat isolated, as they struggle to access the latest research papers and travel to international conferences. That said, they are “excellent geophysicists” and are “very well trained in the field,” he said. Over karaoke and chats about their families, “we’ve made friendships, for sure,” he said. The authorities have to sign-off things like the placement of seismometers, for example, but Hammond said these requests have been approved. “Everything that we've asked for within a scientific context has been delivered.”Scientific backchannels? These kind of personal links between scientists across political lines are one purported benefit of science diplomacy. During the Cold War, some historians argue, scientific contact between the US and Soviet Union laid a groundwork of trust for other cooperation, such as on arms control. Hammond agrees that backchannel contacts to North Korean geophysicists are hardly likely to defuse a military crisis on the Korean peninsula, but the simple fact of the scientific collaboration makes contacts between diplomats that little bit easier. “It creates opportunities to understand each other a little bit better,” he said. “When maybe you have those more difficult discussions as diplomats, it's coming from a slightly better place.” Cutting tiesDrawing lessons from the Mount Paektu mission for today’s links with Russian science isn’t simple. The analogy is far from exact, Hammond said, “because one is essentially a Cold War, versus a pretty hot war in the case of Russia.” But Hammond’s broader argument is that the challenges we face, such as climate change, pandemics, biodiversity loss, pollution and so on, have globalised in an unprecedented way, making blanket shutdowns in collaboration with any country unwise.He’s somewhat critical of the UN scientific sanctions imposed on North Korea in 2016, even though they did allow for exceptions. “I think a blanket halt to some of these things, when we face big global challenges [. . .] that’s quite a risky thing to do,” he said.Institutional endorsement?European academics are still by and large free to work individually with Russian counterparts. However, official, institutional partnerships have largely ended. Shortly following the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Russian university rectors wrote a public letter endorsing the war, meaning European universities fear official collaboration could also be seen as a kind of endorsement. Hammond acknowledges there is a risk of legitimising regimes, and state-controlled universities, through scientific cooperation. “That’s the trade off you have to make,” he said. Strategic projectsWith Russia, instead of giving a green light to restart all Arctic science, a middle ground might be firing up a few carefully selected “strategic” projects, said Hammond. After all, European countries are still collaborating with Russia on the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor, an experimental nuclear fusion plant in the south of France. However, even if Europe did try to revive Arctic science with Russia, there’s no guarantee Russian scientists would play ball. A series of high-profile arrests of physicists in Russia accused of sharing their findings with the outside world has made collaboration fraught. Even before the invasion of 2022, “the Russian regime made it increasingly difficult, and this sort of discouraged people,” Dag Rune Olsen, rector of the Arctic University of Norway, told Science|Business last year.
Economic reforms could help pull Thailand away from China
The prime minister is angry about how hard it is to import a chainsaw.
American Athletic Conference championship, NCAA Tournament bid highlight spring sports achievements
The stock is rising at UNC Charlotte athletics. A year that included new head football and basketball coaches, groundbreaking on the expansion of Jerry Richardson Stadium and a new athletic director was capped with athletic and academic excellence from the spring student-athletes. Student athletes celebrated at Normies Charlotte 49er student-athletes, coaches and staff all gathered […]
Nintendo Under Pressure to Raise Switch 2 Console Price, as Hardware Currently Sold at a Loss
Nintendo is reportedly facing pressure to raise the price of Switch 2 consoles, as costs rise and its share price continues to fall.
CEA Retail + Hospitality Winner: Biggers blends produce, entertainment
Biggers Market’s roots run deep, tracing back to the 1940s when founder and partner Sven Wallin’s grandfather, alongside his brothers, opened Biggers Brothers, a family-run produce business in Charlotte. Decades later, the family’s reputation for farm-fresh fruits and vegetables lives on. In 2010, Wallin opened Biggers Market, building on a reputation that endured for the past 16 years. “I learned a lot about my grandfather, who passed away when my mother was young, through my uncle. The one thing that is ingrained in me is my grandfather’s willingness to go the extra mile for a better product, not settling for what’s easy, but finding what is better,” said Wallin. “He taught me the importance of name and reputation. If your name was on it, it had better be right. Word-of-mouth was always very important to gain a good reputation.” So was hard work. Entrepreneurialism has always been central to Biggers Market’s identity, Wallin said. In high school, Wallin worked at a produce stand in Charlotte, an experience that shaped how he thought about food. “I realized all produce was not created equal, and we could focus on freshness, seasonality and flavor. Grocery stores were convenient, but the produce often didn’t have the same taste or quality,” he said. As a college graduate without a paying job, Wallin took a leap and opened a 20-by-30-foot roadside stand with just three employees. “It was so small we had to put tables with umbrellas out in the yard to accommodate everything. We didn’t have pallet jacks or forklifts to unload the trucks. We would form a line and toss watermelons to get them to where they needed to go,” he recalled. In year two, Wallin opened a market on Carolina Beach Road, still in operation today but larger, and later on Market Street, setting up tents for extra space. In 2019, the sale of the land forced a hunt for a new property, and Wallin landed on his current location at 6250 Market St. “We had ambitions beyond produce,” he said. “We wanted this market to be a place that felt different from a typical grocery store.” In 2024, Wallin added his kitchen to the Biggers brand. “I’ve blurred the lines of a market and a grocery store,” Wallin said. “It’s a place where you can shop, eat, have a drink and listen to live music with friends and family. It’s a mix of retail and social experiences cultivated over time.” What hasn’t changed, however, is Wallin’s Southern hospitality, a strong sense of pride, purpose and responsibility and a commitment to seasonality. Spring brings the garden center to life with herbs, veggie plants and jumbo ferns. Summer leans heavily into produce. Fall brings the pumpkin patch, and winter hosts a Christmas market. “It means a lot to have what we’ve built recognized, especially in Wilmington. There’s a lot that goes into the business from our team. And that’s something we’re genuinely grateful for,” Wallin said. With plans underway for a new larger Carolina Beach Road location, Wallin continues to look ahead. “It’s an opportunity to build another market from the ground up and continue growing what we’ve been doing,” he said. “We’ve been through development before, so we understand what it takes.”
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