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How Taylor Swift\'s new single is curing my homesickness [Unscripted column]
Unlike most college students, I am not home for the summer right now.
From Toy Story 5 to The Bear: your complete entertainment guide to the week ahead
Pixar’s enduring animated favourites battle a rogue tablet, and Disney’s anxiety-inducing kitchen drama returns for a final series
Fears doctors criticising Israel may be silenced as health watchdog adopts contested antisemitism definition
Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency to use International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance definition for ‘regulatory work’
U.S. Open: Dustin Johnson returned to the top, then vanished at Shinnecock
Dustin Johnson seemingly turned back the clock, getting himself in contention, until disaster struck.
Ismael Kone: World Cup injury footage – how do sports broadcasters cover serious injuries?
When competitors suffer terrible injuries, broadcasters face difficult ethical choices
Anne Hathaway is pregnant with her third child
Anne Hathaway is pregnant with her third child. On Friday, the Oscar-winning actor shared an Instagram video showing her baby bump. The 43-year-old captioned it “Baby, I'm yours” and used
Jelly Roll breaks silence on Bunnie Xo divorce mid-concert: 'I wasn't going to talk about it tonight'
Jelly Roll broke his silence on his divorce from Bunnie Xo mid-concert. His comments come days after news broke that the country artist filed for divorce from the podcaster.
Binface, foxes and raving loonies: the UK’s proud history of costumed candidates
British love of silliness comes to the fore when politicians stand shoulder to shoulder with satirical rivals
“Clunky” Epic Games Launcher is getting a “Ground-up rebuild” that promises to be at least 5x faster
The company has confirmed that a major overhaul of the Epic Games Store with several improvements and changes is currently in development.
‘The purpose of the rule is fascism’: scientists fight back against planned Trump research cuts
Stand Up for Science founder says proposal to control how grants are spent would ‘dismantle US science ecosystem’
Scientists expected a black hole but found a neutrino factory powered by stars
A distant galaxy nicknamed Shadow Blaster may have revealed a surprising source of cosmic neutrinos: extreme star formation instead of a supermassive black hole. The discovery suggests that hidden, dust-filled starburst galaxies could account for a significant fraction of the Universe’s high-energy neutrinos.
Researchers found a Wordle strategy that wins 99% of the time
Researchers developed a Wordle-solving strategy that succeeds 99% of the time by focusing on information gain rather than likely answers. The method uses Shannon entropy to identify guesses that reveal the most about the hidden word. Each guess is designed to slash uncertainty and narrow the possibilities faster. The result significantly outperformed more traditional Wordle tactics.
Activision Confirms Call of Duty: Black Ops Ports to PS5/PS4 Are Not Remasters
Does that mean 120Hz support on PS5 is off the table?
Elizabeth Greenhall obituary
Other lives: Doctor who specialised in public health initiatives, especially family planning
KPMG leaked confidential Optus information and surveilled whistleblower’s laptop, inquiry hears
International firm owns up to breach of ethics after staff leaked confidential Optus information while bidding for telco contract
Tired with Iran, Trump refocuses on Ukraine
Jenna Amatulli speaks to the Guardian’s Andrew Roth about the chances this peace deal will succeed, and why Trump is turning his attention back to Ukraine
Sports quiz of the week: World Cup, US Open, Wimbledon and Royal Ascot
Have you followed the big stories in football, cricket, golf, tennis, athletics, rugby union, horse racing and MMA?
ICO watchdog opens inquiry into cameras in mental health patients’ bedrooms
Exclusive: Oxevision system used by 40% of NHS mental health trusts being scrutinised by information commissioner over privacy concerns
New First-of-Its-Kind Flu Vaccine Approved by FDA Expert Panel
This could prevent thousands of hospitalizations.
Texas Science & Natural History Museum opens new bat exhibit
During summer sunsets, Austin locals and tourists alike eagerly wait near the Congress Avenue bridge. Each evening, nearly 1.5 million bats emerge from underneath the bridge to begin their nightly flight to find food, covering the orange sky with black silhouettes. Open until August 2027, the Texas Science & Natural History Museum’s newest exhibit, “Masters...
SNP concedes Aberdeen South with Scottish Conservatives set to win
Byelection loss suggests voters rebelled against SNP over Peter Murrell’s theft of £400,000 in party funds
IOM Conducts Over 1 Million Health Screenings, Scales Up Ebola Response
Geneva/Nairobi 19 June 2026 – The International Organization for Migration (IOM) has conducted more than one million health screenings at borders and along key cross-border routes and travel corridors across Ebola-affected and at-risk countries as it scales up its efforts to support the control of an outbreak that has spread across eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Uganda.
'Toy Story 5' did not miss a crucial Easter egg. Yep, it's the Pizza Planet truck.
Did you catch it?
Mangione lawyers abandon psychiatric defense over health CEO’s killing
Legal team of alleged gunman, 28, reverses position on ‘extreme emotional disturbance’ defense after one day
The best wireless earbuds for iPhone owners, Apple’s AirPods Pro 3 are on rare sale
They cancel noise, track your heart rate, even double as hearing aids, and Apple’s AirPods Pro 3 are on a rare sale right now
At CMS, Oz Eyes Faster Tech Approvals and a 'Power to Convene'
Top Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services officials said Thursday they plan to increase patients’ access to new technology, including AI, but that they’re still exploring how best to regulate it and ensure patient safety. Addressing the U.S. News Healthcare of Tomorrow conference in Washington,
Cape Verde goalkeeper rockets past sports greats in Instagram followers after World Cup heroics
Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha has surpassed 13.5 million Instagram followers after his seven-save masterpiece against Spain at the FIFA World Cup.
NASA’s Lucy Reveals Wobbling, Peanut-Shaped Asteroid
Even small asteroids lead complex lives. During its flyby of the asteroid Donaldjohanson last year, NASA’s Lucy spacecraft revealed the asteroid to be a
Epic Games Launcher V2 promises 5x faster launch and 6.5x faster library restore
Launcher V2 public release appears on the 12-month roadmap. Epic Games is preparing a major redesign of the Epic Games Store and Launcher.
Marion Kozak obituary
Feminist, teacher and socialist campaigner who fought hard for children’s rights
Heathrow third runway likely to affect health of millions nearby, official report warns
Analysis says expansion could also harm access to housing, education, healthcare, open spaces and transport
Young men in UK are not more rightwing than older groups, study says
Analysis shows men aged 18 to 25 are less progressive than women their age, but less likely to vote for rightwing parties than other age groups of men
Mydays founder expresses interest in ProSiebenSat.1's adventure business
The founder of adventure experience business Mydays, now part of broadcaster ProSiebenSat.1, told Reuters he and co-investors are looking into buying back the unit, potentially pitting them against German entrepreneur Jochen Schweizer.
REV Ocean Begins First Operational Research Season With Ten-Mission Science Program
The missions cover seamount ecosystems off Brazil, in the Sargasso Sea, and across the Eastern Tropical Pacific—alongside Sargassum dynamics, mesophotic and deep-sea biodiversity, transboundary MPA networks, and the science-to-policy pipeline.
Nancy and the politics of deterrence: reading the French nuclear offer to Poland
A year after the Nancy Treaty, Polish-French defence cooperation is deepening and building a tangible element of European deterrence. The question is what kind of relationship Warsaw and Paris are actually building, and whether it will outlast the leaders who started it.
May moving on as Hibs reshape backroom staff
Eddie May is to leave his coaching position at Hibernian at the end of June, ending 12 years of service at Easter Road. The 58-year-old made over 100 appearances for the club between 1985-89 and returned in 2014, working across different roles in the academy, player development and with the first team. In June 2024, May he was chosen as an assistant coach, along with Liam Craig, as David Gray took on the position of head coach.
Shubman Gill surpasses MS Dhoni, enters elite India ODI list
Shubman Gill achieved a significant milestone by reaching 1,000 ODI runs in just 954 balls, surpassing MS Dhoni. This feat came during his brilliant 154 against Afghanistan, where he partnered with Ishan Kishan for a massive 224-run stand. Gill's century, his ninth in ODIs, was a masterclass in aggressive batting, further solidifying his status as a top modern-day Indian batter.
Small business loans available for businesses impacted by Garden Grove chemical crisis
The loans are part of the federal government's disaster recovery funds.
Federal Trade Commission sues leading transgender health group
Four states file alongside FTC, claiming WPath made deceptive claims about gender-affirming care for minors
UF Health Cancer Institute Hosts Conference for Science Teachers
Science teachers from across Florida and the southeastern United States gathered in Gainesville this week for the UF Health Cancer Institute’s Cancer Research Conference for Science Teachers.
Former Sony Boss Says Xbox Is 'Misunderstanding' The Industry
'The last couple weeks have been a real roller coaster. Feel bad for the dev teams'
Lil Nas X shares update after getting mental health care: ‘There’s less fear in my heart’
Musician says on Instagram he is ‘doing much better’ and receiving treatment and therapy after 2025 arrest
Starmer warns against ‘looking backwards’ to Brexit after rivals back UK’s return to EU
Speaking at the G7 summit, prime minister says he stands by Labour’s manifesto pledge not to rejoin bloc
How Trump’s immigration crackdown puts Americans’ healthcare at risk
‘Ali’, from Afghanistan, is a ‘stellar’ doctor caring for patients in under-served West Virginia – but like many other foreign medics, his US future is now in peril
iOS 27 makes your iPhone faster in 40+ ways, here’s the full list
While Apple Intelligence and Siri AI are the biggest additions to iOS 27, the update will also make your iPhone...
Master Your Money: Seton Hall Expands Curriculum with New Financial Li
New Financial Literacy course helps students build confidence in budgeting, saving, investing and other essential money skills for life after college.
WHO issues comprehensive guidelines on filovirus disease, including Ebola and Marburg disease
As the Democratic Republic of the Congo is battling an Ebola disease outbreak caused by the Bundibugyo virus, the World Health Organization (WHO) has released its first comprehensive guidelines for the clinical management of filovirus disease which include all types of Ebola and Marburg viruses.
Governor Sherrill Secures SBA Economic Injury Disaster Assistance for Businesses and Nonprofits Affected by Belleville Fire
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 17, 2026 Governor Sherrill Secures SBA Economic Injury Disaster Assistance for Businesses and Nonprofits Affected by Belleville Fire Business Recovery Center Opened June 16 in Belleville TRENTON – Small businesses and private nonprofit organizations affected by the devastating May 3, 2026 fire in Belleville Township may now apply[...]
7 events in Lancaster County this weekend, from used book sales to a jazz festival
Looking for a low-spend weekend in Lancaster County?
Macron’s Nuclear Gamble: Building a European Deterrent Faster Than French Politics Can Tear Down
In early March, French President Emmanuel Macron stood at a windswept submarine base on the Breton coast and quietly buried four decades of French nuclear
Woman says she ‘didn’t understand mental health’ before daughter in acute psychosis killed another child
Girl told mother she thought about killing people ‘all the time’, inquest into Biddy Porter’s death hears
Plantwatch: Russian dandelion offers solution to global rubber shortage
Scientists are returning to a wartime solution that may be more sustainable than the traditional rubber tree
Fashion tycoon Bernard Arnault accused of stranglehold over French business press
Arnault’s addition of leading weekly to stable of publications raises concerns about media ownership in France
Goats can find food by following a human voice, study finds
Experiments show 29 animals moved towards a treat-filled bucket 60% of the time when guided by a researcher
Latvia pilots citizen engagement in research grant evaluations
Latvia has introduced an element of citizen engagement to the evaluation of nationally funded research grants. The aim is to both create more connections between science and society, and to improve the quality of its evaluations. The move comes as research funders across Europe are experimenting with ways to improve evaluation processes in the face of a sharpened focus on science’s impact on society. Evaluators of grant applications submitted to Latvia’s Fundamental and Applied Research Programme (FLPP), the country’s main research funder, will this year have the option of consulting citizen feedback on challenges the public thinks science should focus on to inform their decisions. “In recent years, both public discussions and policy-level debates in Latvia have highlighted the importance of demonstrating how publicly funded research contributes to society, the economy and the resolution of real-world challenges,” said a source at the Latvian Council of Science (LCS), which manages the FLPP. “At the same time, research institutions themselves expressed interest in improving the project evaluation framework while continuing to ensure that funding is awarded to the highest-quality projects,” the source added. The citizen input comes from a survey that was conducted between 25 February and 16 March 2025, to which 1,737 people responded. It gathered information on what the public views as problem areas for Latvia, and the role of science and technology in providing solutions to these problems. A summary of these responses has been included as an annex to the FLPP 2026 call for proposals that evaluators can refer to, purely in an advisory manner, when judging proposals. Results from the survey show that the main problem areas identified by the public were in healthcare and public health, followed by the development of new treatment methods and medicines, and then digital technology, data security and cyber security. At the bottom of the list was research aimed at acquiring new knowledge about the universe, matter and the laws of nature. Further analysis looked at the public view of the possible role of science in solving these problems. The survey charted 4,167 individual responses based on open-ended questions that were derived from the participants’ answers. The analysis again found that medical and health sciences topped the scoring, with 788 responses referring to the field. Humanities and the arts were bottom of the list, with 625. Digging further into the details, the survey suggests citizens are aware of and concerned about a number of research areas. This includes technologies and innovation to improve the environment or reduce pollution, the development of modern military technologies and cybersecurity tools, and the development and application of artificial intelligence, among others. “We hope this initiative will help strengthen public trust in science and create a more meaningful dialogue between researchers and society,” the LCS source said, adding that it offers benefits to researchers, evaluators and to the general public. More space for citizen engagement in evaluationsThere is a gradual but increasing use of citizen engagement in research evaluation processes around Europe, especially in healthcare, but it remains relatively rare, said Henry Sauermann, a professor at the European School of Management and Technology in Berlin and an expert in citizen science.“Given that we are at a point where citizen involvement is extremely limited, there is presumably space for more, but it's not that we should do it just because we want to do it,” he told Science|Business. He said some research lends itself better to having citizen input, and this usually tends to be on the applied end of the science spectrum where the public can offer useful feedback based on their experiences. He added that advising scientists on certain topics to study is also a useful approach, in the way that Latvia is doing. “The public does fund a lot of science, there's a lot of tax money going into this. We of course do want to preserve academic freedom, but it's also not unreasonable to incorporate more feedback or input from citizens where possible,” he said. Related articlesCitizen science: where, when, and how to let the public contribute to researchHow can Europe cope with a flood of AI-assisted research grant proposals?Data Corner: Horizon Europe’s AI, digital and data call success rate is 5.2%There are several ways of involving citizens in science funding. The most minimal way is having a few representatives on a panel, such as members of a patient group or union. The most direct way is crowdsourcing funding for specific projects. There is an increasing number of online platforms that allow the public to chip in to support scientific proposals.Sauermann studied this in a recent paper and found that it can have its uses, but it still is not clear if there are benefits to it. There are various assumptions linked to citizen engagement, for example that it increases public trust in science, or that it provides a representative view of what the public thinks about science. These are not necessarily true, Sauermann found. People who participate in engagement activities tend to already be very trusting of science, and, on the whole, it is generally the well-off and well educated who contribute, giving a narrow view of public opinion. On whether citizen input can help manage the increasing number of proposals that are being submitted due to assistance from AI, Sauermann is more sceptical. “The obvious answer to the flood of AI-written proposals is AI-driven evaluation,” he said, adding that it doesn’t mean citizen engagement shouldn’t be a part of evaluations in a well thought-out manner. Southern Denmark’s successful approachOne successful example of citizen engagement in science evaluations was implemented in southern Denmark. Between 2019 and 2025, citizens in the region were invited to vote to fund one of five pre-selected projects in the field of healthcare. The project, called A Healthier Southern Denmark, was a collaboration between regional authorities, the University of Southern Denmark, and two media partners. Over the seven years, there were 75,000 votes and significant public engagement online and on social media. “It was a bit of a wild project, we’d never done something like that before and we were a bit nervous about what would be said in the media about it. But actually, people were very positive,” said Anne Kathrine Overgaard, one of the main organisers of the project from the University of Southern Denmark. The university and its researchers have learned a lot from the experience, particularly about engaging with society and shaping their research to match real-world needs. This is important with Europe’s increasing focus on competitiveness and bringing innovations to market faster, Overgaard said. She hopes to see more citizen engagement in evaluation processes and in science more broadly. “For many years, citizen engagement has been a bit of an add-on to proposals, just to check a box. But I think things are changing,” she said. It’s less about citizens just gathering data and more “about the dialogue between the public and the scientists,” she said. The initiative ended last year as the team wanted to regroup to find fresh momentum. The development of AI and AI-written proposals has made Overgaard reflect on how the project could be reworked to help evaluators. She hopes to bring it back in the future. “It could be a good idea to try this initiative again in a slightly re-worked format,” she said.
Northeastern appoints Mark Williams as dean of College of Science
Mark Williams, professor and chair of the Department of Physics, will assume the position of dean for the College of Science July 1, according to a June 11 email to the college’s faculty, staff and students. Williams, who joined Northeastern in 2001, will enter the role following physics professor and Senior Associate Dean for Academic...
MSU announces naming of Greene College of Science & Engineering, cementing eastern Kentucky family legacy
Morehead State University is honored to announce the naming of the Greene College of Science & Engineering in recognition of a significant and generous gift from Drs. Randy (Class of 1967) and Judy Greene. Approved by the MSU Board of Regents at the meeting on June 12, the college naming will take effect on July 1. A formal recognition and transition will occur later in the year. To learn more about the College of Science & Engineering and its programs, email dsci@moreheadstate.edu or call 606-783-2626. For more information on the Greene Family Scholarship Endowment, or to establish your own, contact MSU’s Office of Alumni Relations & Development at 606-783-2033 or email giving@moreheadstate.edu.
14 director’s cuts that surpass the originals
Whether they improved on a great film ("Aliens") or restored a filmmaker's masterful vision ("Once Upon a Time in America"), these director's cuts are worth seeking out.
Celebrating Geisel School of Medicine’s Health Sciences Education 2026 Investiture
On Friday, June 12, Geisel School of Medicine celebrated the academic accomplishments of 159 MPH and MS Health Science Education graduates, including the first online master’s degree cohort in impl…
Celebrating Geisel School of Medicine’s Health Sciences Education 2026 Investiture
On Friday, June 12, Geisel School of Medicine celebrated the academic accomplishments of 159 MPH and MS Health Science Education graduates, including the first online master’s degree cohort in impl…
Spring House Brewing Co. puts business and real estate portfolio on market for $5.2M
Spring House Brewing Co., a pioneer in the Lancaster County craft beer industry, has placed its real estate and business portfolio on the market for a combined $5.2 million.
Central City Flower Girls: A treasured tradition marks its 94th year
CENTRAL CITY OPERA Central City News: The 94th presentation of the Central City Flower Girls got off to its usual booming start, thanks to a perfectly timed dynamite blast that reverberated from an undisclosed location within earshot of the Teller House Garden. The window-rattling boom may startle those unfamiliar with the time-honored tradition, but it generates knowing smiles and a smattering of applause from everyone else. Once the sound subsides, master of ceremonies Roopesh Aggarwal, vice president/investor relations […]
MEAC Adds Women’s Flag Football and Women’s Golf as Championship Sports
NORFOLK, Va. – The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) announced Tuesday evening the addition of women's flag football and women's golf as championship sports, expanding opportunities for female student-athletes throughout the conference.
From YouTube to Hollywood: Digital creators are remaking the movie business
Some of the most promising young filmmakers in the movie business are arriving in Hollywood already experts at entertaining audiences and going viral. The twin sensations of “Obsession” and “Backrooms”
How the fight over US datacenters is scrambling this state’s politics: ‘We don’t want it’
Josh Shapiro, Pennsylvania’s governor, squares off with state lawmakers over the facilities powering an AI boom
Steve Harvey: God’s blessings come with a duty to give back
Steve Harvey believes his success as an entertainer and author is a blessing from God, tied to his philanthropy. He told The Associated Press that giving back is essential, as
How 50 Cent's business acumen shocked experts
Roundup of third-quarter financial results for Philly-area nonprofit health systems
Children's Hospital of Philadelphia was the most profitable nonprofit health system in Southeastern Pennsylvania during the nine months that ended March 31.
Game-Changing New, Online Master’s in Sport Management and Recreation Therapy
Sport management is a growing industry, and UNC Greensboro is preparing the next generation of leaders to meet the demand. The new fully online Master of Science in Sport Management & Recreational Therapy is designed for working professionals ready to advance their careers in sport, athletics, and recreation. With flexible coursework, real-world experiences, and strong industry connections, students can gain the skills they need to lead without putting their careers on hold.
China offers staunch support to Myanmar president during his state visit
The two countries sign 18 cooperation deals, including on free trade and assistance in the event of natural disasters.
‘Sadly, things are worse,’ says sister of MP Jo Cox 10 years after her murder
Kim Leadbeater, now an MP, and fellow politicians fear that ‘kinder, gentler politics’ after Cox’s death was an illusion
How to tell if you have a changeable personality according to science
We like to imagine ourselves as unfinished masterpieces. But is that wishful thinking?
‘Unbelievable’ waste and inefficiency at MoD, says ex-defence minister Al Carns
Exclusive: Carns, who quit last week, says he was angered by unwillingness to confront sunk costs of legacy programmes
Dutch children are unusually happy and healthy. Is it because of the Avondvierdaagse?
Once a year, Dutch kids, parents and teachers take part in a walking festival, heading out for four nights in a single week to explore their neighbourhoods, exercise and make friends. It’s a tradition that seems to be genuinely transformative
Health Science Institute hosts disaster drill on USI campus
First responders pulled out stretchers, performed triage, and administered aid on the students, who were acting in a disaster scenario.
The Hidden Health Toll of Loneliness in Aging
Loneliness in older adults is more than a social concern — it is linked to higher mortality, poorer mental health, frailty, and faster cognitive decline.
Designing the Health Systems AI Promised
Every technology transition in healthcare has produced the same pattern: capability arrives before governance, deployment outpaces integration, and the accountability gap closes, eventually, through incident, litigation, or regulation. AI is running the same pattern, faster and at greater scale, in systems that were already fragile before it arrived.The more uncomfortable question shifts the lens away from what AI is doing to health systems, toward what health systems were never built to be. The institutions now absorbing...
Monday Musings: Road tripping
Happy Monday, errrrrrbody. Hope your weeks have gotten off to a great start. It’s been a minute for me on here. Went out West on vacation and had a heck of a time. Hit up western Colorado and eastern Utah. Mesa Verde, Moab, national parks, etc. Pretty damned nice weather and scenery. And that trip […]
Ebola outbreak strains health system in eastern Congo
In eastern Congo’s Ituri province, a new Ebola outbreak is testing an already fragile health system. In the city of Bunia, hospitals are overwhelmed or shut down after suspected infections, while health workers race to contain the virus.
RFK Jr under fire for ‘bullying’ letter to scientific journal
Health advocates criticized Kennedy’s move demanding answers from journal that removed ‘flawed’ vaccine study
Sports broadcaster Bill Daughtry reflect on Knicks' win
Bill Daughtry, a longtime voice on WFAN and MSG Network, joined NY1.
Lancaster County measles outbreak garners national attention; 4 new cases in the past week
With measles cases in Lancaster County continuing to rise and the state tracking possible public exposures at the courthouse and a local department store, the outbreak here is attracting national
Fluorescent nanosensor enables rapid, first-of-its-kind detection of key gut health biomarker
Researchers developed an optical nanosensor to rapidly detect a key gut biomarker, enabling faster, accessible screening for conditions such as inflammatory bowel disease, Type 2 diabetes, and liver disease.
The politics of intergenerational wealth inequality
Letters: Dr Rajiv Prabhakar assesses the best age at which grants should be provided to young people, while Jeremy Galtress argues against redistribution
Eddie Andelman, known as "godfather of sports radio," dead at 89
Eddie Andelman, a member of the Massachusetts Broadcasters Hall of Fame who is known as the "godfather of sports radio," has died.
Cleanup begins after fire destroys homes, business in Columbia [photos]
Columbia Borough residents are assessing the damage after three homes and a business were completely destroyed in a fire that spread through a block in Columbia Borough on Saturday afternoon.
City & Guilds bosses awarded themselves millions in bonuses, investigation finds
Report finds Kirstie Donnelly and Abid Ismail paid bonuses ‘without authorisation or knowledge’ of superiors
Xbox Game Studios boss Craig Duncan steps down
The head of Xbox Game Studios Craig Duncan has stepped down after more than 18 months in the role. Duncan replaced former Studios boss Alan Hartman in November 2024, and oversaw Halo Studios, The Coalition, Flight Sim, Turn 10, Playground Games, Rare, Obsidian, Ninja Theory, Compulsion Games, The Initiative, Double Fine, InXile, Undead Labs, World’s Edge and XGS Publishing. He departs the organization this week. His studios will report to Xbox Chief Content Officer Matt Booty until a replacement is found. Duncan has been part of the Xbox organization since 2011 and is best known for running highly regarded UK developer Rare for nearly 14 years. He oversaw the developer’s Kinect and Sea of Thieves eras. Prior to that, he held various senior roles at Codemasters, Midway and Sumo Digital, and worked cross titles such as Sonic and Sega All-Stars Racing, Wheelman and Colin McRae. He's also VP of the charity SpecialEffect. Subscribe Meanwhile, Xbox Game Studios chief of staff Louise O’Connor will also be leaving the company. O’Connor joined Rare in 1999 beginning as an animator on cult favourite N64 game Conker’s Bad Fur Day. She’s worked in numerous art and production roles at the UK studio, and even won an AIAS award for voicing the character Leafos in Viva Piñata. She left Rare following the cancellation of Everwild in 2025, before becoming chief of staff in September that year. In an email to staff, Duncan wrote: “When I stepped into the role of leading XGS 20 months ago, my purpose was to serve our studios, our teams, and the people making our games. Together, we set out to deliver high-quality games, strengthen the cultural fabric across our studios, and help shape the future of the business. I’m proud to say we delivered many flawless launches that drove business success for the company.” On O’Connor, he added: “Louise has been a thoughtful, creative, and trusted partner who has consistently championed the craft and supported our studios with clarity and care. I’m grateful for everything she’s brought to XGS, and I’m sure she’ll be successful in whatever comes next for her.”
Xbox Game Studios boss Craig Duncan steps down
The head of Xbox Game Studios Craig Duncan has stepped down after more than 18 months in the role. Duncan replaced former Studios boss Alan Hartman in November 2024, and oversaw Halo Studios, The Coalition, Flight Sim, Turn 10, Playground Games, Rare, Obsidian, Ninja Theory, Compulsion Games, The Initiative, Double Fine, InXile, Undead Labs, World’s Edge and XGS Publishing. He departs the organization this week. His studios will report to Xbox Chief Content Officer Matt Booty until a replacement is found. Duncan has been part of the Xbox organization since 2011 and is best known for running highly regarded UK developer Rare for nearly 14 years. He oversaw the developer’s Kinect and Sea of Thieves eras. Prior to that, he held various senior roles at Codemasters, Midway and Sumo Digital, and worked cross titles such as Sonic and Sega All-Stars Racing, Wheelman and Colin McRae. He's also VP of the charity SpecialEffect. Subscribe Meanwhile, Xbox Game Studios chief of staff Louise O’Connor will also be leaving the company. O’Connor joined Rare in 1999 beginning as an animator on cult favourite N64 game Conker’s Bad Fur Day. She’s worked in numerous art and production roles at the UK studio, and even won an AIAS award for voicing the character Leafos in Viva Piñata. She left Rare following the cancellation of Everwild in 2025, before becoming chief of staff in September that year. In an email to staff, Duncan wrote: “When I stepped into the role of leading XGS 20 months ago, my purpose was to serve our studios, our teams, and the people making our games. Together, we set out to deliver high-quality games, strengthen the cultural fabric across our studios, and help shape the future of the business. I’m proud to say we delivered many flawless launches that drove business success for the company.” On O’Connor, he added: “Louise has been a thoughtful, creative, and trusted partner who has consistently championed the craft and supported our studios with clarity and care. I’m grateful for everything she’s brought to XGS, and I’m sure she’ll be successful in whatever comes next for her.”
The Mother of All Deep Space Radio Telescopes Is Going Up in the Nevada Desert
Caltech says its Deep Synoptic Array will be larger and 100-times faster than any radio telescope ever constructed.
How Apple Is Making Your Older iPhone Run Faster and Stay Alive Longer
Even the aging iPhone 11 will feel a little more responsive soon, thanks to improvements in an unsung iOS feature.
How Ohio State is helping the US men's World Cup players recover
Ohio State researchers are helping U.S. soccer players recover faster using data-driven methods.
French business schools lead FT Masters in Finance 2026 ranking
ESCP tops the table amid growing demand as graduates seek sanctuary from a tough job market
Shark expert says Tony Abbott ‘doesn’t understand the science’ after former PM calls for cull
Another expert says drone technology may have prevented a shark attack at Coogee beach on Saturday
Why Marketing Feels Harder as Your Business Grows by Nathan Tayloe
At some point, most growing businesses hit the same moment. What used to feel straightforward starts to feel more complicated. Marketing takes more effort. Results feel less predictable. What once worked consistently begins delivering mixed outcomes. It is easy to assume something is broken. In many cases, nothing is. The business has simply reached a different stage. What Worked Before Starts to Lose Its Edge Early on, growth is often driven by a few things working well at the same time: Referrals are strong The value of the offering is clear The team is aligned Decisions are made quickly Marketing, in that stage, tends to feel easier because the business itself is easier to understand. As the company grows, that simplicity fades. The audience expands. Services evolve. New people join the team. More channels are added. More decisions are made across more touchpoints. Marketing is no longer communicating one clear story. It is trying to represent a more complex business. Complexity Creates Friction That added complexity does not always show up immediately. It builds over time. Messaging starts to drift. Different parts of the business describe what they do in slightly different ways. The website no longer reflects how the company actually operates. Sales conversations evolve faster than the brand. At the same time, more activity is introduced to try to keep growth moving: New campaigns More content Additional platforms More tools and reporting The volume increases. The clarity does not always keep pace. That is when marketing starts to feel harder. It’s Not a Lack of Effort Most teams respond to this stage by doing more. More output More meetings More adjustments More experimentation That effort is not misplaced. It is often pointed in the wrong direction. When the underlying issue is a lack of alignment, more activity tends to create more noise. Results become harder to interpret. Decisions take longer. Progress feels inconsistent. From the outside, everything looks active. From the inside, it feels less certain. The Real Shift As businesses grow, marketing becomes less about execution and more about alignment. The companies that navigate this transition well tend to refocus on a few fundamentals: A clearly defined audience A strong, consistent position in the market Messaging that reflects how the business actually operates Alignment between leadership, marketing, and sales When those elements are in place, execution becomes more effective again. Marketing does not necessarily become easier, but it becomes more consistent. A Different Kind of Discipline Growth introduces more opportunity, but it also demands more discipline. What worked when the business was smaller often cannot be scaled without adjustment. The systems, messaging, and decision-making that once felt intuitive need to become more intentional. That is not a sign of failure. It is a normal part of growth. Marketing feels harder because the business has become more complex. The solution is not to outwork that complexity. It is to bring clarity to it. The companies that do that well tend to regain momentum quickly. Those who do not often stay busy without seeing the same level of progress. — Learn more about how we help organizations align strategy, brand, and execution. Visit tayloegray.com, or reach out directly at nathan@tayloegray.com.
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