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Trump dines with Anthropic CEO ahead of event with tech leaders
Trump’s meetings with top tech leaders come as bipartisan concern grows over what might happen if the government does not create guardrails
Flutter Entertainment PLC Stock (FLUT) Moved Down by 7.20% on Sep 28: Facts Behind the Movement
Flutter halted Brazilian betting operations after a government provisional measure banned online gaming.An extended shutdown will reduce revenue, adjusted EBITDA, and impact non-cash accounting assets.Technical indicators show sell signals, while the company reported annual revenue of $16.38B.
Climate System Warning: The Hidden "Multiplier" Discovery That Has Scientists Deeply Worried - Futura-Sciences
The Unseen Threat: Nature’s Own Greenhouse Gas Emissions For years, the scientific consensus has been clear: today’s climate change is driven first and foremost by massive deforestation and, above all, greenhouse gas emissions from human activities. According to the latest report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), this...
2 giant pandas arrive in Atlanta under a US-China government agreement
Two giant pandas have arrived in Atlanta as part of an agreement between the Chinese and American governments
GU Politics Welcomes Fall Fellows, Expands Programming to Capitol Campus
The Georgetown Institute of Politics and Public Service (GU Politics) introduced its Fall 2026 class of fellows on Wednesday, Sept. 9, bringing former government officials, political strategists…
Smiles, slogans and social signals: The hidden psychology of politics
Carl Senior explores the psychological factors that can shape political decision-making
Column: Voter ID ballot measure fixes a problem that doesn't exist
What’s so wrong about requiring every Californian to show a government ID before they’re allowed to vote?
Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes gave political aide no-bid government contract
Republican challenger Warren Petersen raised the no-bid contract during a Sept. 23 debate.
A political scientist studied the rise of grassroots activism in local government. Philly was his case study.
Stephen McGovern's "Mobilization Politics" details how Philly activists employed bottom-up tactics to win major policy victories in criminal justice reform and protections for immigrants and workers.
‘Samizdat Sundays’ at Wende Museum is political resistance through art
Wende Museum workshops center on samizdat, in which Soviet dissidents hand-typed literature to bypass state censorship. At a time when the U.S. government is curtailing public discourse, the practice remains relevant for cultivating forms of individual resistance.
‘Samizdat Sundays’ at Wende Museum is political resistance through art
Wende Museum workshops center on samizdat, in which Soviet dissidents hand-typed literature to bypass state censorship. At a time when the U.S. government is curtailing public discourse, the practice remains relevant for cultivating forms of individual resistance.
Iberville Parish hosts Mental Health Awareness Week
Iberville Parish hosts six days of mental health events in October featuring workshops, screenings and a walk.
Iberville Parish hosts Mental Health Awareness Week
Iberville Parish Government is hosting six days of events in October in observance of Mental Health Awareness Week.
Sweden faces political deadlock as center-left bloc fails to form government
Swedish Social Democratic Party leader Magdalena Andersson has abandoned efforts to form a four-party government. Deep divisions within the election-winning bloc have left Sweden in political deadlock.
Republicans and Democrats Find a Unifying Target: Pharmacy Benefit Managers
Some states have considered barring companies that own a PBM from also owning brick-and-mortar pharmacies, as CVS does. Two states have followed through. A similar proposal at the federal level has gained prominent sponsors, aligning conservative, business-friendly Republicans with Democrats traditionally more open to government regulation.
Mass. launched a program to stop school sports bullying. Why are so few schools using it?
A state government initiative started four years ago specifically to prevent hate and bias in athletics, called Addressing Hate in School Sports. Yet reports of such incidents remain common across the booming school sports landscape.
Haredi anti-draft march in Bnei Brak doubled as launch event for a protest political party
"In Netanyahu's Government of Evasion, the deserters are the heroes," Gadi Eisenkot claimed, dubbing the march "Netanyahu's walk of shame."
WHO recognizes healthy, innovative cities across the Western Pacific Region
Nine Healthy City champions from across the World Health Organization (WHO) Western Pacific Region received special recognition at an awarding ceremony during the 11th Global Conference of the Alliance for Healthy Cities in Sydney, Australia.The WHO Regional Office for the Western Pacific has presented the Healthy Cities Recognition Awards every two years since 2004 to celebrate innovative and impactful city-led initiatives that improve the health and well-being of urban populations.Eight cities received awards for their best practices, and one National Forum received the WHO Regional Director’s Special Award in recognition of its long-standing leadership in advancing the Healthy Cities movement.Awardees were selected through a rigorous evaluation process and recognized for demonstrating measurable, innovative and sustainable approaches to health challenges faced by cities.Remarking on the significance of the awards, Dr Huong Tran, Director of the Division of Health Promotion, Disease Prevention and Control at the Regional Office, said that, “There is no single blueprint for a healthy city. What works in one context may need to be adapted to another. But by sharing our experiences, including what worked, what was challenging, and what we learnt along the way, we can help one another move faster and further.”Award-winning cities and initiativesThis year's awards recognize outstanding city-led initiatives that have demonstrated measurable impact, innovation and sustainability in advancing health initiatives for urban populations.Baguio City (Philippines) – Data for equity: informing action, improving healthDr Donnabel Tubera-Panes, City Epidemiologist – Medical Officer IV of the Health Services Office accepted the award on behalf of Baguio City. Photo credit: Maria BoyadgisBaguio City was recognized for developing a pioneering Livability Index that provides village-level data across all 128 barangays (villages), enabling evidence-based planning and more equitable allocation of resources. By integrating community participation and institutionalizing the index within city planning and budgeting processes, the city has demonstrated how data can drive action to reduce health and social inequities.Eunpyeong-gu (Seoul, Republic of Korea) – Communities living in vulnerable situations: advancing health equity through community engagementVice Mayor Honourable Ahn Hyoung Jun accepted the award on behalf of Eunpyeong-gu. Photo credit: Maria BoyadgisEunpyeong-gu was recognized for its inclusive health equity programme supporting vulnerable populations, including isolated older adults and LGBTQI+ communities. Through peer-led community networks, social cooperatives and inclusive service design, the district has strengthened access to care, promoted social inclusion and advanced community ownership of health initiatives.Madiun City (Indonesia) – Adapting and mitigating climate-related crises: building heat resilience and preventing flood-related health risksMs Yuni Dwi Purwani, Secretary General of the National Forum for Indonesian Healthy Cities/Regencies, accepted the award on behalf of Madiun City. Photo credit: Maria BoyadgisMadiun City was recognized for its SUPERMIE (Sustainable Public Environmental Management Initiative) – a community-based environmental governance model that addresses urban flooding, climate resilience and environmental sustainability. The initiative contributed to reductions in flood-prone areas, greenhouse gas emissions, diarrhoeal disease and dengue fever, while at the same time improving food security through neighbourhood food gardens. The programme has already been replicated in 15 cities and regencies across Indonesia.Macao Special Administrative Region (China) – Protecting communities from tobacco and alcohol-related harms: tackling commercial drivers of riskDr LO Iek Long, Director of the Health Bureau, Macao SAR, China accepted the award on behalf of Macao. Photo credit: Maria BoyadgisMacao SAR was recognized for implementing a comprehensive and integrated approach to tobacco and alcohol control. Through legislation, monitoring systems, enforcement, public awareness campaigns and multisectoral partnerships, the programme has strengthened protection against major risk factors for noncommunicable diseases and established a model that is highly transferable to other urban settings.Phnom Penh Capital City (Cambodia) – Safe, active and health-enabling transport: advancing health and reducing inequities in urban mobilityH.E. Khoung Sreng, Governor of Phnom Penh Capital City accepted the award on behalf of Phnom Penh Capital City. Photo credit: Maria BoyadgisPhnom Penh received the award for its Safe School Zone Project, which combines infrastructure improvements, speed management, enforcement, education and stakeholder engagement to protect children and communities. The initiative has demonstrated measurable reductions in crashes and vehicle speeds while providing a scalable model for safer urban mobility across the country.Quezon City (Philippines) – Transforming food environments: addressing policy, market and urban design drivers of health and nutritionMs Jirah Asa M. Sideco, Chief of the Nutrition Section of the Quezon City Health Department accepted the award on behalf of Quezon City. Photo credit: Maria BoyadgisQuezon City was recognized for its public food procurement policy that promotes healthier diets through government-run institutions and feeding programmes. Supported by strong policy frameworks and monitoring systems, the initiative improves access to nutritious food for vulnerable populations while serving as a benchmark for other local governments.Samarinda City (Indonesia) – Preventing violence and promoting gender equality: transforming urban systems, norms and spaces Mrs Rinda Wahyuni, Chairperson of Samarinda Healthy City Forum accepted the award on behalf of Samarinda City. Photo credit: Maria BoyadgisSamarinda City was recognized for its multisectoral approach to preventing violence and advancing gender equality. Responding to local evidence on violence against women and children, the city has positioned violence prevention as a public health priority, bringing together health services, schools, social welfare institutions, law enforcement, civil society and community leaders to strengthen prevention, reporting, survivor-centred support and legal protection. Through inclusive policies, community engagement and sustainable city financing, Samarinda has developed a locally owned and scalable model for creating safer, more equitable and inclusive urban communities.Singapore – Age-friendly cities: transforming systems to bridge generations for a healthier tomorrowDr Tan Weng Mooi, Director, Integrated Health Promotion, accepted the award on behalf of Singapore. Photo credit: Maria BoyadgisSingapore received recognition for its Healthy Precinct Framework, which translates national healthy ageing priorities into neighbourhood-level action. The initiative integrates preventive care, social support, service coordination and age-friendly environments while actively engaging older persons, caregivers and community organizations. Its expansion across multiple precincts demonstrates its scalability and long-term sustainability.WHO Regional Director’s Special AwardNational Forum for Indonesian Healthy Cities/Regencies (Indonesia)Ms Yuni Dwi Purwani, Secretary General of the National Forum for Indonesian Healthy Cities/Regencies, accepted the award on behalf of the National Forum. Photo credit: Maria BoyadgisThe WHO Regional Director's Special Award was presented to the National Forum for Indonesian Healthy Cities/Regencies (FKKSI) in recognition of its long-standing leadership in advancing the Healthy Cities movement across Indonesia. As a national platform bringing together local governments, communities, academia and civil society, FKKSI has played a critical role in promoting collaboration, capacity-building, knowledge exchange and advocacy. Its efforts have strengthened and institutionalized healthy urban development nationwide and established a model for multisectoral engagement in the Region. Healthy Cities for allThe 2026 Healthy Cities Recognition Awards highlight how cities can lead transformative action on health by addressing climate change, inequity, ageing, nutrition, mobility, social inclusion, violence prevention and the commercial determinants of health. The recognized initiatives demonstrate that local governments, communities and partners can work together to create healthier, safer and more resilient urban environments for everyone. As urban populations continue to grow across the Western Pacific Region, WHO remains committed to supporting cities in advancing health, equity and sustainable development through the Healthy Cities approach and the Alliance for Healthy Cities. ###Note to editorsSince 2004, the WHO Healthy Cities Recognition Awards have provided a platform for cities to share innovative and effective approaches to improving health and well-being. The awards recognize achievements in areas including climate resilience, healthy ageing, health equity, gender equality, tobacco and alcohol control, urban mobility, nutrition and data-driven governance. In 2026, more than 150 submissions were received from cities and local governments across the Western Pacific Region. The titles and affiliations of awardees are presented as they were at the time the photo was taken.______________For more information, or to arrange media interviews, contact: WHO Regional Office for the Western Pacific: wprocom@who.int
A Trump 2024 Campaign Ad Returns, Now Brought to You by The Government
The ad, which ethics experts said could violate federal law, shows Mr. Trump vowing to “expel warmongers” from the government and fight the “deep state,” even as he wages a war with Iran.
Dario Amodei to have dinner with President Trump in rare meeting
The meeting comes as Amodei's calls for government regulation of AI companies have fallen flat.
The Trump Admin Is Airing Yet Another Taxpayer-Funded Political Ad
The video, originally from Trump's 2024 campaign, shows the president vowing to destroy "villains" with the disclaimer, "Paid for by the U.S. Government."
White House airs another government-funded ad, this time with Trump warning of ‘final battle’
The Trump administration is set to launch another overtly political campaign ad funded by taxpayer dollars, attacking the “fake news media” and “the sick political class that hates our country.”
How Trump Became Mob Boss of the United States
Donald Trump is the most corrupt president in United States history. He's been preparing to use the government for self-enrichment his entire life.
Korea’s Democratic Party gets behind Lee as economic challenges test his politics of compromise
The leadership race of South Korea’s Democratic Party has strengthened President Lee’s position within the party, along with greater responsibility for his government’s policy record
Democrats for office, Republicans for policy?
My prediction for this election: Voters will vote against … themselves. Voters will elect Democrats to run virtually everything — and then approve ballot measures telling those Democrats to stop doing virtually everything. Democrats for office. Limited government for policy. Colorado has reinvented ticket splitting without the inconvenience of electing Republicans. We used to split […]
OpenAI Pauses Training amid Growing Concerns over AI Agent Behavior
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – OpenAI has paused training of its latest AI models amid growing concerns about agents acting outside their instructions, following several incidents involving searches and interactions with US government websites.
FUTURE-HEALTH
Future Health – A Global Initiative by Abu Dhabi convened Ministers, senior government representatives, and global health leaders in New York on the sidelines of the 81st Session of the
Venezuela releases more political prisoners after opposition talks
More than three dozen political prisoners were released between Friday and Saturday, a rights group reported, after US-backed talks between Venezuela's interim government and the opposition.
Venezuela releases more political prisoners after opposition talks
More than three dozen political prisoners were released between Friday and Saturday, a rights group reported, after US-backed talks between Venezuela's interim government and the opposition.On Friday,...
Opinion | Genova: Three political platforms, three visions
American politics includes competing approaches to the economy, energy, immigration, abortion, taxation, transgender rights and the structure of our government. Comparing the published programs of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), the Democratic Party and...
Propaganda or a PSA, Trump's latest ad blitz is paid for by you.
Criticism spills over on strategically timed ads paid for by the U.S. government touting the alleged achievements of President Donald Trump.
Rogue OpenAI agents targeted three separate US government websites
OpenAI said Friday that some of its AI agents went rogue and probed US government websites this summer — the latest revelation of the artificial intelligence company’s technology.
Meth is a key driver in Fiji's fast-growing HIV epidemic: 1 in 60 adults are affected
In mid-September, Fiji's government declared a national emergency because of a startling rise in HIV infections. The country's crystal meth epidemic is a strong contributing factor.
Trump Promised the Truth About UFOs. These Scientists Are Waiting.
The president named a science council to review the government’s data. What's taking so long?
Angela Rayner criticises worker visa plans on eve of Labour conference
The housing secretary says the government's plans to change wait times for permanent residency are unfair because they "change the goalposts".
GOP governor candidate Stacy Garrity touts experience in business, military, state government
Editor’s note: This is the first of three profiles on this year’s candidates for Pennsylvania governor. A profile of Democratic incumbent Gov. Josh Shapiro is scheduled to be published on Tuesday, Sept. 29, and one on Libertarian Ken Krawchuk is scheduled for publication on Thursday, Oct. 1. HARRISBURG — It’s
White House orders over $800M in funds rescinded; Collins calls it 'clear violation' of law
The White House announced Friday evening that it was rescinding over $800 million in congressionally appropriated funds across a range of government programs.
White House claims pro-Trump ad it paid Fox to air was ‘public service announcement’
Some Democrats say taxpayer-funded ad could be illegal government propaganda aimed at influencing voters
Poll: Two out of three of North Carolinians get political news from local TV or social media
Local television and social media are where most North Carolina voters get their political and government news, according to a poll released Friday. No other source reached more than 17% of voters.
North Texas counselor convicted in $26 million health care fraud
Prosecutors say Kevin Curry funded a lavish lifestyle with the millions he received defrauding the federal government.
Photos: Fall semester, soap carving and business built by grads
Happy Friday, Huskies! This week, students in Oakland held a new kind of student government election. Over in Boston, dive inside the Soap Carving Club’s growing popularity. And, graduates share the businesses they build through entreprenuership.
Bill Gates warns AI could lead to 'a billion deaths'
The cofounder of Microsoft made grave predictions about AI and voiced support for government regulation of the sector.
Protests against war crimes verdicts add pressure on Kosovo's government
Daily protests in Kosovo against war crimes convictions for former rebel commanders have spread throughout the small Balkan country | WBBM Newsradio 780 AM & 105.9 FM
Here’s How Trump Is Building a National Citizenship Database to Check Voters
The Supreme Court allowed the Trump administration to deploy a system that merges personal data from across the government. Questions remain about its reliability.
Trump to usher in ‘golden age’ of American tech with DC bash showcasing powerful new tool
Trump and JD Vance will unveil America.gov, a new AI tool designed to be a one-stop shop for navigating federal government services.
Pro-Trump TV ad paid for by U.S. government continues airing with higher spend
The ad’s cost has jumped from $14,000 to $430,000 as it runs on a variety of network TV channels in markets across the country
WCES targets India’s semiconductor market with specialty gas business
Indian renewable energy firm Waaree Clean Energy Solutions (WCES) will enter the domestic specialty gases market to target semiconductor manufacturing amid the Indian government’s $13.2bn Semiconductor Mission 2.0 programme.
India orders crackdown on nicotine pouches, citing health risks, letter shows
India's government has ordered states to crack down on the sale of nicotine pouches, which it considers a major health risk, saying globally popular brands are being widely sold illegally in the country, a letter from the health ministry shows.
India orders crackdown on nicotine pouches, citing health risks, letter shows
By Aditya Kalra NEW DELHI, Sept 25 (Reuters) - India's government has ordered states to crack down on the sale of nicotine pouches, which it considers a major health risk, saying globally popular brands are being widely sold illegally in the country, a...
The AI race looks different from Colorado
President Donald Trump gave artificial intelligence a promotion at the United Nations this week. He said the government would begin calling it “superintelligence” and made clear he does not want fears about the technology to stifle its growth. The argument is familiar by now. America is in a race. Move faster. Build more. Stay ahead. […]
Australia steps up response to AI after OpenAI bot breaches health system database
Even before a rogue OpenAI bot breached the database of Australia's health system, the government was escalating its rhetoric about the need to tighten regulation.
Look Upstream: AI, Federal Data, and the Politics of What Gets Counted
The US federal government is expanding AI use in high-stakes decisions that affect people’s civil rights, privacy, health and safety, access to education,
Unused tents and uneaten food: Watchdog finds ‘waste’ in immigration crackdown
In a report Thursday, the Government Accountability Office said the Trump administration squandered millions of dollars to expand detention.
Hopping mad: New health warning stirs up Belgian brewers
In a country famed worldwide for its beer, a proposed tweak to health warnings on adverts for alcoholic drinks has shaken Belgian brewers.The government wants to alter the current warning from "the ab...
Rising health costs concern local governments
Budgets and healthcare costs were on the minds of local government and school officials who met at Minot’s Liaison Committee meeting on Thursday, Sept. 24. One of the shared budget concerns is the rising cost of health insurance. Ward County’s employee health insurance costs increased nearly 10% for 2027. Initially, the county was looking at […]
State and federal barriers complicate homeless outreach in New York
Providers and outreach organizations do much of the work on the ground, but government resources remain a key part of those efforts.
State and federal barriers complicate homeless outreach in New York
Providers and outreach organizations do much of the work on the ground, but government resources remain a key part of those efforts.
Agents involved in Mar-a-Lago search ask Judge Aileen Cannon whether gag order blocks testimony
FBI agents who probed Donald Trump’s handling of classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago home asked Judge Aileen Cannon on Thursday whether they could testify before a grand jury — or even consult their lawyers — as part of an investigation into whether former government officials conspired against the president.
Reducing the $2T federal deficit could lower inflation, interest rates for Americans: CRFB
Curbing the federal government's roughly $2 trillion budget deficit could lower inflation and current interest rates for households, a CRFB report finds.
Column: Politics has become a battle for attention
Democracy requires us to disagree and still live, work and solve problems together, government communications strategist Kellen R. Reed writes in a guest column.
Column: Politics has become a battle for attention
Democracy requires us to disagree and still live, work and solve problems together, government communications strategist Kellen R. Reed writes in a guest column.
‘Love Me’: White House airs government-funded ad praising Trump
With the midterm elections approaching, the White House is airing a new TV ad promoting President Donald Trump and his policies that says it is “Paid for by the U.S. Government.”
Netanyahu says Mamdani endangers Jewish New Yorkers
The mayor has encouraged the federal government to arrest Netanyahu.
Why Citizens from Two Key States Are Trying to Change How Their Governments Work
I respect it, but I’m not 100 percent sure it’ll work.
US government foots bill for television advertisement featuring Trump's midterm messaging
An ad running on Fox News and Newsmax showing images of President Donald Trump and calling for the defeat of communism was paid for by the U.S. government. The 30-second
US government foots bill for television advertisement featuring Trump's midterm messaging
At first glance, it looks like a typical Republican campaign advertisement. As images of President Donald Trump flash across the screen, the 30-second spot says “America will never be a communist cou...
Trump ad airing with government funding despite law against ‘propaganda’
A TV ad boosting President Trump and saying that it was paid for by the U.S. government is airing in two major markets despite a federal law against using tax funds for "propaganda."
Why did an OpenAI system hack Australia's health system - and can it be stopped in the future?
News that an automated AI agent hacked a government IT system raises big questions about regulating the tech.
Ryan Elijah slams Bale Dalton's position on gender-affirming care
Dalton says the federal government should stay out of family medical decisions.
Opinion: Social media & local politics: The death of citizen discourse?
Acrimonious social-media pile-ons can do much more than cause hurt feelings. On a personal level, at their worst, they result in court cases alleging slander and defamation. They contribute little of a positive nature to public discourse. Even more significantly, something larger is at play that threatens our very system of government and citizen involvement
Australia to investigate if OpenAI hack of government health website broke the law
The incident is the first known breach to affect a government agency, and Australia's prime minister has vowed to hold OpenAI accountable.
Is metascience being co-opted?
In July, the White House released a report that argued academia is deeply dysfunctional and in need of radical reform.Science: A New Golden Age sets out a litany of problems many academics will recognise: interminable waits for grants; short-term funding rather than support for longer, more ambitious projects; ballooning administrative requirements; pressure to publish, and many more. “The scientific machine is getting bogged down,” it says. At least on the face of it, Science: A New Golden Age is a triumph for the metascience movement, a loose-knit, global group of academics, philanthropists and think tankers that want far more testing and experimentation in how we fund public research and innovation. The report tells US research funders to set up internal metascience units to do just this. But it has also set alarm bells ringing that metascience is being conveniently deployed to help justify the defunding of US universities, which US vice president JD Vance has openly labelled “the enemy.” “Just because you have an issue with your plumbing in your house doesn't mean you light the entire house on fire and burn it to the ground,” said Colette Delawalla, chief executive of Stand Up for Science, a group campaigning against what it says are attacks on scientists by the Trump administration. No one is arguing that academia doesn’t need reform, but there’s debate over how far and how fast the system should be shaken up. Does public R&D need slow and steady evidence-based adjustment, or radical new experiments?One of the key arguments in Science: A New Golden Age is that there’s not enough funding for what it calls “mid-level” science: engineering-heavy projects that require tens of millions of dollars, involve ten to a hundred people, and last around five years. Such a project might develop a brain-computer interface for people with Alzheimer's disease, for example. As such, the US National Science Foundation (NSF) has already announced $1.5 billion to set up so-called X-Labs, effectively new research organisations to pursue breakthroughs in areas such as quantum sensing and new scientific instruments. Funding divertedBut there’s a catch: this money has squeezed NSF budgets for more traditional, fundamental research grants, Science reported in June, likely meaning less cash for university-based scientists. Science: A New Golden Age also makes various swipes at universities, accusing them of extracting overheads from scientists to fund administrative bloat. “We have become dependent on a narrow set of legacy institutions,” it says. The report doesn’t mention it, but the US government is simultaneously seeking greater powers over federal funding, which would allow political appointees at funding agencies to screen or cancel research grants mid-project. The White House is also seeking to slash the NSF’s budget by more than half in 2027, although similar cuts proposed for 2026 were blocked by Congress. Convenient hookThis has worried some that the metascience agenda could be misused as a kind of smokescreen to further weaken universities. James Wilsdon, executive director of the Research on Research Institute at University College London, said that the report contains lots of “interesting ideas” and agrees that in places, academia is a “pretty broken system.” But the risk is that metascience is being deployed as a “convenient hook” to support cuts and a “political land grab” to transfer grant power from scientists to political appointees in US funding agencies.So far, the metascience agenda hasn’t been seized on by radical right parties in Europe. But Wilsdon worries it will cross the Atlantic, politicising research reform efforts and making them more difficult to carry out. The report is already making some in Europe sceptical of the entire idea. “The system is not without flaws, but the metascience discussion is not likely to improve the system but rather to generate munition to undermine it,” said Claes de Vreese, a professor of AI and society at the University of Amsterdam. Peter Thiel protégéOfficially, Science: A New Golden Age has just one named author: Michael Kratsios, the director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy and a former chief of staff to Silicon Valley mogul Peter Thiel. He also served as chief financial officer of Thiel’s Clarium Capital Management. Since the 1990s, Thiel has criticised US universities for moving away from teaching what he views as the classic works of western civilisation, and drifting towards “anti-Western zealotry.” And since 2011, he has offered two-year fellowships of $250,000 to young people to skip or drop out of university, and instead start companies or pursue scientific research. “College can be good for learning about what’s been done before, but it can also discourage you from doing something new,” according to the Thiel Fellowships website. In other areas, the Trump administration has promoted academics with a longstanding interest in metascience. For example, the head of the National Institutes of Health, Jay Bhattacharya, in 2020 co-authored a study arguing the funder backs overly conservative proposals, although he achieved wider prominence as a critic of pandemic lockdowns. Careless talk costs fundingEven before the Trump administration embraced the metascience agenda, some metascientists privately wondered whether they should be careful not to overstate dysfunctions in academia, in case this gets used as ammunition against universities. But others think being cautious with criticism is pointless. After all, last year, the Trump administration sought to cut funding from US universities on an entirely different premise: supposed antisemitism on campus. “I don't think these governments need a technical metascientific excuse to attack the universities, they will want to do so anyway,” said Will Stone, a researcher at Science Works, a new think tank advocating for a “metascience revolution” in the UK. “I think researchers should report what they find, even when the findings may be used to advance policies they disagree with,” echoed Russell Funk, a researcher at the University of Minnesota, who in 2023 co-authored a highly influential paper that argued scientific papers were becoming less disruptive over time. No justificationThat said, Funk thinks that metascientific research certainly doesn’t justify a weakening of universities. Instead, scientists need “time, resources and stability to pursue unfamiliar ideas,” he said. “Taking away those conditions works against the very goal the reforms are supposed to achieve.”The Institute for Progress, a Washington DC-based innovation policy think tank that has championed X-Labs and metascience units, also says that reforms should complement, not supplant, universities. “Unpredictable, unreliable, and reduced federal funding to researchers is destabilising to the very foundations of research and development and is bad,” said Jenn Gustetic, the institute’s director of metascience and R&D policy.Evolution or revolution?This points to a much bigger divide in the metascience community: how far and how fast should public R&D be shaken up? Does it need evolution or revolution? For example, Science: A New Golden Age says the science system relies too heavily on traditional “workhorse” project grants, the type that pay out around $250,000 a year to fund “hypothesis-driven science by small teams on tractable questions.” However, in criticising project grants, the report “decisively picks one side of a debate that is far from settled,” David Hilmer Rex, a metascientist based in Denmark, has written. In June, Pierre Azoulay, a metascientist at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, defended project grants, saying that the alternative of X-Labs “merits scepticism.”A-B testingOne challenge in metascience is that it’s easier to generate evidence for some types of change than others. Most straightforwardly, research funders can run A-B tests on different ways of awarding money. For example, Germany’s Volkswagen Foundation recently trialled distributed peer review, where applicants rate each other’s proposals, and measured its results against traditional review panels. Distributed peer review made quicker decisions, although awarded money to largely different ideas. However, much of the focus of the metascience movement has been on founding fast-moving and free-acting new research organisations and funders, in contrast to the alleged stodginess of mainstream academia or public innovation grants. A culture of speed and freedom are the animating principles behind Germany’s Sprind or the UK’s Advanced Research and Invention Agency (Aria).Related articlesViewpoint: it's time to experiment with how Europe funds science European researchers sound the alarm that Trump rule changes will hit cooperationHowever, while it’s possible to closely study previously successful bodies, such as the US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (Darpa), for historical clues to their secret sauce, it’s impossible to guarantee in advance that the likes of Sprind or Aria will actually work as hoped. But advocates of new organisations say this inherent uncertainly shouldn’t stop us trying. “If we wait for definitive proof that something will work before we try it, I don't know where your proof is coming from,” said Stone. Trade-offsUp until now, experiments in metascience haven’t generally come with hard trade-offs over money. In the US, new ideas such as focused research organisations have often been funded by billionaire philanthropists. In Europe, new innovation agencies such as Sprind and Aria, or the Netherland’s new National Agency for Disruptive Innovation, haven’t needed explicit cuts elsewhere in the research system. But with the $1.5 billion establishment of X-Labs by the NSF, the trade-offs are becoming clearer. Some metascientists privately wonder whether a smaller pilot would have been more appropriate, given that the idea is untested. The Institute for Progress counters that the $1.5 billion X-Labs budget is spread out over a decade, so will account for less than 2% of the NSF’s annual budget. “It’s important to remember that [Darpa] was once an institutional experiment as well. Now it’s one of the most cited innovative funding models in the world,” said Gustetic.As for Europe?The US isn’t the only country placing metascience at the heart of its research strategy. Science: A New Golden Age looks admiringly at the UK, which in 2024 set up a Metascience Unit to scrutinise how it funds research. In Brussels, it’s more of a mixed picture. In 2018, the EU set up the European Innovation Council to funnel grants and equity to start-ups, although it’s sometimes criticised for awarding money too slowly. Recently, the council has started experimenting with challenges, where teams of inventors compete to overcome a technological challenge. The European Commission also wants to experiment with partially randomising grant winners, to cut down on bureaucracy. However, the Commission’s own advisers have said the EU’s own research schemes are too conventional. They want the Commission to establish a new dedicated unit to scrutinise and experiment with funding. But there’s no sign of a such unit emerging in Brussels’ plans for the next Horizon Europe programme, which from 2028 is set to distribute more than €160 billion over seven years. Sam Bogerd, director of breakthrough innovation at the Brussels-based Arq Foundation, an AI-focused think tank that also looks at metascience, says that Europe might have the opposite problem to the US: universities and basic research funding are still reasonably well supported, but there’s not enough experimentation. “We're not taking a close enough look at where this money can achieve the most, and I am worried that the good ideas around metascience will be tainted politically by their association with the Trump administration,” he said. He’s still lobbying for the Commission to set up an experimental unit. But in the meantime, the Arq Foundation plans to do its own research, and is currently hiring two metascience researchers to run the rule over how Brussels spends research funding.
Australia Says Rogue OpenAI Agent Hacked Health Service Website
Australia said an OpenAI agent hacked a data portal for its public health insurance system, in what’s thought to be the first known instance of an AI agent infiltrating a government website. Australian prime minister Anthony Albanese said the agent had accessed public and non-public information relating to health care spending, but personal information is not believed to have been part of the breach. Albanese, speaking on Wednesday at a media briefing in New York where he is attending the United Nations General Assembly, said that the incident took place in June. OpenAI learned of the hack in August, but only emailed a general inbox of an Australian government agency on September 10, and it wasn’t until this week that OpenAI and the Australian government spoke directly about the issue. “It took the company way too long to inform the government what had occurred,” Albanese said, “and the nature of the way that that notification occurred as well was unacceptable.”
An OpenAI Agent Hacked Australia's Health Service. Their Government Found Out Months Later.
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OpenAI Agent Hacked Australian Government Health Website
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Australian PM says OpenAI hacked government health website
A rogue OpenAI model bypassed safeguards during training and hacked an Australian government website, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said as he admonished the ChatGPT creator over an "obviously unacceptable" ...
Australia Condemns ‘Unacceptable’ OpenAI Breach of Government Health Portal
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OpenAI's breach of Australian health department website prompts rebuke from Albanese
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says he is extremely concerned about OpenAI's security breach of a government website, which the artificial intelligence company took too long to reveal
Australian prime minister says OpenAI agent accessed government health website, raises 'extreme concern'
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said investigations are ongoing into the June incident involving Australia's Medicare Statistics Reporting Service portal.
Australian PM says OpenAI hacked government health website
An autonomous OpenAI program infiltrated an Australian government health website in June in an "unacceptable" breach, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said.- 'Obviously unacceptable' - The prime minist...
OpenAI agent breaches Australia’s government health data portal
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Trump SBA to Extend Comment Period After Ranking Member Markey Leads Effort to Rescind SBA Policy that Reclassifies Billion-Dollar Businesses as “Small Businesses”
Trump admin policy would reclassify 114,000 larger businesses as “small” to access small business resources and win federal contracts meant for small businesses Letter (PDF) (Washington, September 23) – This week, the Small Business Administration (SBA) announced its plans to extend the deadline to submit comments on its controversial proposed rule regarding small business size standards until November 20. The Trump SBA’s announcement came shortly after Ranking Member Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), alongside 12 of his Senate colleagues, sent a letter to Administrator Kelly Loeffler demanding that the Trump SBA rescind a harmful policy that would dramatically redefine what a small business is. The Administration’s proposed policy would change the small business size standard to designate 114,000 larger companies some with annual revenue above $1 billion—as small businesses, giving these businesses access to small business resources and federal contracts typically set aside for actual small businesses. In the letter, Ranking Member Markey and the lawmakers emphasized that small businesses will be shut out of the federal contracting space as government agencies award contracts to larger businesses, causing small businesses to lose revenue, lay off workers, or close their businesses entirely. “For more than 70 years, SBA’s mission has been clear: promote and protect the interests and viability of small businesses. By proceeding with this proposed methodology and rule, SBA moves further away from its mission of facilitating healthy small business participation in the U.S. economy. We urge SBA to rescind these proposals, meet in earnest with small businesses across the country, and discuss the proposal and methodology with congressional committees of jurisdiction. SBA must be committed to developing measured increases to the size standards that do not reward large, billion-dollar companies but instead helps our small businesses survive, grow, and thrive.” The lawmakers highlighted the following points in their letter: Under the Trump SBA’s new size standards, the highest receipts-based standard would exceed $1 billion in annual revenue—more than 20 times the current $47 million maximum—and the highest employee-based standard would reach 3,600 employees—more than twice the current 1,500 employee maximum. Specific increases include an increase in size of nearly 492% for banks, 1,500% for law firms, and more than 2,051% for private equity firms. Of the 114,000 businesses that would be newly classified as small, more than 37,000 of these businesses have collectively won more than 100,000 federal contracts worth approximately $71 billion in Fiscal Year 2025 alone without a small business designation. If SBA included the awards won by these 37,000 businesses in its Fiscal Year 2025 analysis, small business contracts would have accounted for 38% of all federal contracts, instead of the 27% that SBA announced this summer. The letter was co-signed by Senators Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Christopher Coons (D-Dela.), Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Mark Warner (D-Va.), and Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.). Ranking Member Markey is fighting to protect small businesses in Massachusetts and across the country from the Trump SBA’s harmful policies that put big businesses and billionaires over American small businesses, workers, and families. In August, Ranking Member Markey slammed the Trump SBA’s proposal to overhaul its small business size standards to benefit big businesses over small businesses. In July, Ranking Member Markey and House Small Business Committee Ranking Member Nydia M. Velázquez (D-NY-7) introduced a Congressional Review Act (CRA) resolution to rescind the Trump administration’s policy that bans green card holders from accessing essential Small Business Administration (SBA) loans to start and grow their businesses. Also in July, Ranking Member Markey and Senator Hirono submitted a comment letter to the Small Business Administration (SBA) opposing a proposed rule change by Trump’s SBA to the 8(a) Business Development Program that would harm underserved small business owners and entrepreneurs. In June, Ranking Member Markey released a new report highlighting Trump’s drastic reduction in federal contracting dollars awarded to American small businesses. ###
Australia says OpenAI agent breached government health data portal
Australia said on Wednesday that an AI agent developed by OpenAI breached a government health data portal in June, gaining unauthorized access to public and non-public files, in what could
Australia PM Albanese says OpenAI agent breached government website in June
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Wednesday an AI agent developed by OpenAI infiltrated an Australian government website in June, accessing public and non-public files in the first known instance of an AI agent hacking a government website.
Trump's focus on noncitizen voting has led to 160 arrests. That shows it's rare, experts say
The Trump administration's whole-of-government effort to find and prosecute noncitizens illegally on state voter rolls has resulted in about 1,600 voter fraud cases that have led to 160 arrests, Homeland Security Investigations senior official Matthew Millhollin said in a press briefing Tuesday.
13th Session of the Plenary of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES 13)
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Government inaction, cuts are worsening Louisiana’s health outcomes
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RACHEL BLUMBERG, PRESIDENT & CEO OF TOBY & LEON COOPERMAN SINAI RESIDENCES, NAMED FINALIST IN 2026 STEVIE® AWARDS FOR WOMEN IN BUSINESS
Blumberg Recognized in Prestigious “Woman of the Year – Government or Non-Profit” Category BOCA RATON, Fla. – September 17, 2026 — Rachel Blumberg, President and CEO of Toby & Leon Cooperman Sinai Residences Boca Raton, a not-for-profit continuing care retirement community, has been named a finalist in the Woman of the Year – Government or Non-Profit category of the […]
Local government leader named planning, development services director
A leader in city and county government with a background in managing large infrastructure projects has been named the next director of planning and development services for the city of Sioux Falls.
Science Applications International (SAIC) After ORBIT Launch Narrative Puts Valuation In Focus
Science Applications International (SAIC) has recently drawn investor attention after its shares closed at US$129.69. The move comes amid steady government IT contract activity and mixed short term price performance. Recent trading has been choppy, with the share price slipping 2.7% over the last day and 3.0% over the past week. However, Science Applications International still shows building momentum, reflected in a 19.6% three-month share price return and a 33.4% one-year total shareholder...