Experts, including a professor of dermatological sciences, state that frequently cutting hair does not make it grow faster, debunking a common myth.

Rajko Danilović, a distinguished lawyer known for representing the Đinđić family and his work as a professor of political sociology, has passed away. He was born in Nikšić in 1938 and held degrees from the Faculty of Law and Faculty of Political Sciences in Belgrade.

Mr Olurode, a retired professor of sociology at the University of Lagos, said any attempt by serving officials to move around polling areas under the guise of monitoring amounts to an improper use of

Dr. Marjan Kos, an administrative law expert, and Dr. Mejra Festić, an economics professor, both stressed the significance of citizen participation in elections, viewing it as an opportunity to hold authorities accountable and a civic duty.

Ghana's Vice President Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang has offered Ramadan greetings and donated essential items to the Muslim community at the Cape Coast Central Mosque.

Professor Dragan Stojković's diary entry touches upon the diminishing number of living relatives for All Souls' Day (Zadušnice) and observes that only pigs seem happy in the countryside.

Presset på sundhedsvæsenet i Grønland omhandler primært mangel på fast personale, siger professor emeritus.

A student at a private homoeopathy college in Kalaburagi, Karnataka, assaulted a lecturer after being caught copying during an exam, with a video of the incident going viral.

Ben Goertzel had dozens of email exchanges with Jeffrey Epstein. Horacio Villalobos#Corbis/Getty Images Ben Goertzel, a computer scientist who popularized the term AGI, courted Jeffrey Epstein for research funding, emails show. DoJ files show that Goertzel was aware of Epstein's criminal charges, and their correspondence continued until at least 2018. Goertzel told Business Insider he "made a mistake" in accepting Epstein's money and regretted not doing due diligence. In January 2013, Jeffrey Epstein sent a blunt email to the computer scientist Ben Goertzel. Epstein had funded Goertzel's research in artificial intelligence and was frustrated with a lack of progress. However, on this day, the disgraced financier wasn't writing to discuss algorithms or neural networks — he wanted to discuss Goertzel's hair. "I think it is now time for you to drop the hippie look," Epstein wrote, warning Goertzel that his "disheveled 80s appearance" was an "unnecessary hindrance" to securing the capital that might one day help the two men achieve AGI — artificial general intelligence, a hypothetical level of computer intelligence that could surpass that of humans. Epstein compared the scientist's ponytail to "spinach in the teeth of a friend." "I would be willing to cut my hair for a lot of AGI money," Goertzel replied. Ben Goerzel (right) with Kelly Larson (co-curator of TEDx Hong Kong and Asia Consciousness Festival) and Jeffrey Martin (visiting assistant professor at Polytechnic University) Chris Ip/South China Morning Post via Getty Images The exchange was among dozens between Epstein and Goertzel in files released by the Department of Justice, chronicling Epstein's fascination with the potential of AI. Goertzel, a researcher who helped popularize the term AGI and develop the humanoid robot Sophia, courted Epstein for money over several years, promising he could build the "Sputnik of AI," the emails show. In an online résumé that has since been removed, Goertzel said Epstein gave him a $100,000 research grant in 2001. Emails reviewed by Business Insider show Epstein agreed to give Goertzel at least another $100,000 between 2008 and 2018, spread out across multiple transfers. It could not be learned how much of the money Goertzel ultimately received. The emails show Goertzel was aware of Epstein's criminal charges. In a 2010 email, Goertzel congratulated Epstein on his release from the Palm Beach County Jail. In 2008, Epstein had pleaded guilty to two sex charges, including solicitation of a minor. In 2015, several days after Prince Andrew was named in a lawsuit over underage sex claims related to Epstein, Goertzel wrote about "utterly idiotic negative publicity in the news" and said he was sorry Epstein's camp had to deal with it. "Maybe some variation of what is alleged did happen, but if so it was surely an occurrence among reasonably mature people who mutually consented at the time, so why is it anybody else's business?" Goertzel wrote, before asking for $25,000 for a "corporate contribution" to one of his companies. In a statement to Business Insider, Goertzel said he "made a mistake" in accepting Epstein's money. He said he regretted not doing due diligence on Epstein's crimes and that he had "basically zero knowledge of Epstein's sexual peculiarities and exploitative practices." He added: "I deeply regret being social-engineered by this terrible human being and not doing more research into him decades ago. I won't make this sort of mistake again." 'The Sputnik of AI' Goertzel is currently the CEO of SingularityNET, an AI and blockchain company. He is also chair of The AGI Society, a nonprofit that holds an annual AI conference. His correspondence with Epstein was among millions of documents released by the Justice Department. The files have reverberated through the business world, revealing emails between Epstein and Tesla CEO Elon Musk, Virgin founder Richard Branson, LinkedIn founder Reid Hoffman, among others. The fallout for some people named in the files has been swift. Goldman Sachs' top lawyer, Kathryn Ruemmler, resigned in mid-February, and Brad Karp resigned as chairman of the law firm Paul Weiss, among others. Appearing in the files does not necessarily suggest that a person has engaged in wrongdoing. In one of the emails released by the Justice Department, Goertzel said he had known Epstein since 2001. Epstein took an interest in what labs like MIT and Google were doing in the AI field. Goertzel, who some consider one of the "godfathers of AGI," coauthored a 2006 book on the topic, and in 2008, he created OpenCog, an open-source project to try to architect human intelligence. Goertzel told Business Insider that he met Epstein through "mutual friends" in New York City. Epstein was well-connected with the rich and the powerful. Martin BUREAU / AFP via Getty Images Epstein appeared concerned in some emails by the lack of support for Goertzel's AGI theories among mainstream experts. "i believe in you. i can't figure out why i am in the minority," he told Goertzel in 2010. In a 2011 email, Goertzel asked if Epstein would fund half of a $3 million grant over four years to fund a "full speed ahead toward AGI" plan, which included building AI that could control a video game character and a humanoid robot. "Of course, US$3M is a lot of money. However, this would be the 'Sputnik of AGI' -- it would set the development of AGI on a whole new course," Goertzel wrote. In his statement to Business Insider, Goertzel said, "I had basically zero knowledge of Epstein's sexual peculiarities and exploitative practices and have no orientation toward that sort of thing and little understanding of it -- it was all about being overly desperate at that stage for any source of $$ to fund innovative frontier science, which Epstein did recognize as valuable but mainstream science at the time did not." Epstein sometimes pushed Goertzel for more tangible proof of breakthroughs and tried to influence some research directions, the emails show. In February 2013, he emailed Goertzel and suggested that having an AI system pass "iq tests for children" would provide a concrete research milestone. Goertzel agreed to pursue the idea. "Epstein was very smart and fairly technically savvy and had a lot of ideas about AI, which were not terribly stupid nor terribly brilliant," Goertzel told Business Insider. "I did not pay much attention to them nor did they influence my work in any way." Ben Goertzel, gives a press conference with Hanson Robotics at Web Summit, 2019 Henrique Casinhas/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images Epstein used corporate and foundation vehicles to send money to Goertzel, including his Southern Trust Company, registered in the US Virgin Islands, the emails show. "As before, we can do this as a tax-deductible donation to a nonprofit, assuming that's still your preference," Goertzel said in a September 2010 email to Epstein. Depending on the circumstances, Goertzel, who spent some of his time in Hong Kong, requested that the money be sent to different nonprofits' accounts, the emails show. In 2014, Goertzel requested that Epstein send the money to Humanity+, a nonprofit focused on transhumanism that he was vice president of. Goertzel said it would act as a fiscal "pass-through" so the money could be diverted to himself and other researchers. "Yes all this was totally legit, the funding was going to open-source AGI R&D for the good of humanity and its future, which was very much within the mandate of Humanity+ as a 501-3c nonprofit," Goertzel told Business Insider. 'Moronic media shitstorm' Goertzel told Business Insider he "reconnected" with Epstein in 2008 after several years of no contact, and that Epstein told him about his legal situation. "He framed it as a politically motivated prosecution for involvement with a consenting adult. I believed him. I should not have," Goertzel told Business Insider. Several emails show Goertzel and Epstein arranging to meet in person. Goertzel told Business Insider they met on several occasions at Epstein's New York and Florida offices. "I never hung out with him in a social setting, never went to the island or flew in the jet or saw him partying with girlfriends or anything like that," he said. In 2015, Goertzel was following up on a payment he hoped to receive from Epstein. Richard Kahn, Epstein's accountant, responded that it had to be put on hold due to "bad press." The Guardian had reported days earlier that Prince Andrew was named in a US lawsuit involving Epstein. "I don't want to push you guys at a difficult time, but given my own situation I do feel moved to ask if Jeffrey might still be able to help with $25K for my 'corporate contribution' to the OpenCog Hong Kong project," Goertzel wrote. "He has helped in this way every year since 2010, usually via a donation to Humanity+." The South China Morning Post reported earlier on some of the payments Epstein made to Goertzel to help him secure Hong Kong grants. Epstein responded, "yes 25," and Goertzel thanked him and said he hoped to resume conversations "once this current moronic media shitstorm blows over." Emails between the men continued for several years. In December 2018, a few days after the Miami Herald published an investigation into Epstein that contributed to his arrest on federal sex-trafficking charges the next year, Goertzel sent an email inviting Epstein to an AI and blockchain event in New York. Alternatively, he said, they could find another time to meet in the city. "let me know if you're in town and might spare a few moments," Goertzel wrote. "it's been a while!" Have something to share? Contact this reporter via email at hlangley@businessinsider.com or Signal at 628-228-1836. Use a personal email address and a non-work device; here's our guide to sharing information securely. Read the original article on Business Insider

A group of academics at the University of British Columbia say the school’s D.E.I. policies and practices, which include land acknowledgments, violate a law that requires universities to be “nonpolitical.”

(ANSA) - OSLO, 18 FEB - The "Looking Beyond" photo exhibition was inaugurated today at the University of Bergen (UiB) by the Italian Ambassador to Norway, Stefano Nicoletti, the Vice Rector of UiB Sigrunn Eliassen, and the Dean of the Faculty of Science and Technology Gunn Mangerud, in the presence of professors, researchers, and students from the university—Norway's third largest academic center—as well as members of the local Italian community. The exhibition, promoted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MAECI) and produced in collaboration with the Italian Space Agency (ASI) and Telespazio/e Geos, was organized in Bergen by the Italian Embassy in Oslo and Dr. Andrea Magugliani, Honorary Vice Consul in Bergen, with the support of Vår Energi of the ENI group. Bergen is the third Norwegian stop for 'Looking Beyond', which has already been successfully hosted at the Science Museum (Vitenfabrikken) in Sandnes, near Stavanger, and at the Arctic University of Tromsø, where it was greatly appreciated by the public and teachers alike. The aim of the exhibition, consisting of 25 stunning high-resolution satellite images acquired by the COSMO-SkyMed constellation and sourced from the archives of Telespazio/e-Geos and ASI, is to stimulate reflection on the impact of human activities on the environment and the role of satellite technology in addressing global challenges such as deforestation, desertification, and pollution. But that's not all: divided into six thematic sections—agriculture, water, urban centers, climate change, natural disasters, and deforestation—Looking Beyond also aims to showcase the beauty of Earth as seen from space through spectacular images of glaciers, lava flows, megacities, cultivated fields, and waterways from different areas of the world. Italian Earth observation technology, in particular through the COSMO-SkyMed satellite constellation, plays a fundamental role in environmental monitoring and risk management. The satellites support early warning systems for landslides and floods, the coordination of relief efforts in the event of natural disasters, and the monitoring of crisis areas. In Norway, COSMO-SkyMed data is used thanks to a collaboration agreement between e-Geos and Kongsberg Satellite Services (KSAT). In his speech at the inauguration, Ambassador Nicoletti highlighted how "Italian Earth observation technology, developed by ASI and Telespazio, is now widely used in crucial sectors, and the COSMO-SkyMed constellation also supports monitoring activities in Norway, thanks to collaboration with local partners. We are very pleased to have been able to inaugurate a third stage of 'Looking Beyond' in Norway, which confirms the great attention and sensitivity of local institutions and the public towards issues such as scientific research and environmental protection." On the sidelines of the inauguration, Ambassador Nicoletti visited some of the university's leading research centers in the fields of aquaculture and marine biology and met with a group of Italian professors and researchers residing in Bergen. During the meeting, the Ambassador pointed out that "the more than 80 Italian scholars working in Bergen today represent one of the largest communities of researchers from our country in Norway, which now numbers almost 680 people. The social events we organize every year, such as Italian Research Day in the World or the Scienza Senza Confini (Science Without Borders) project by Comites in Oslo, are important opportunities for dialogue that aim to raise the level of interaction within the community of Italian researchers in Norway, who in turn represent an invaluable resource for promoting bilateral scientific and technological relations." Read article...

​Mahua Moitra also shared a Vaishnaw's deleted X post in which he had purportedly praised the Galgotias University's robodog, which triggered a massive backlash online over its Chinese origins. ​ In the post, as was posted by the TMC leader, Vaishnaw had said: "Bharat's sovereign models are performing well on global benchmarks."

Drake professor Stacy Gnacinski is in Italy coaching Olympians on how to mentally prepare before they go out and compete. “We actually think about it more like a skill, just like running, dribbling a basketball, all those things," Gnacinski said.

A leading expert, Professor Michael Wooldridge, cautions that the rapid race for artificial intelligence could lead to a 'Hindenburg-style disaster,' citing risks like deadly self-driving car updates or AI hacks that could undermine global interest in the technology.

Streetball legend Grayson 'The Professor' Boucher has returned to AND1, unveiling a new court in Compton during NBA All-Star Weekend as part of a community basketball event.

Anna Psarouda-Benaki, the former President of the Hellenic Parliament, died at the age of 92, surrounded by her family. A trailblazer in Greek public life, she was the first woman to serve as President of the Parliament and the first female President of the Academy of Athens. She was also a Professor Emerita of Criminal […]

Does it only affect weak people? Is work always the cause? Burnout myths, busted by the experts Once, after surviving yet another round of redundancies in a former job, I did something very odd. I turned off the lights in my room and lay face-down on the bed, unable to move. Rather than feeling relief at having escaped the axe, I was exhausted and numb. I’m not the only one. Fatigue, apathy and hopelessness are all textbook signs of burnout, a bleak phenomenon that has come to define many of our working lives. In 2025, a report from Moodle found that 66% of US workers had experienced some kind of burnout, while a Mental Health UK survey found that one in three adults came under high levels of pressure or stress in the previous year. Despite the prevalence of burnout, plenty of misconceptions around it persist. “Everybody thinks it’s some sort of disease or medical condition,” says Christina Maslach, the psychology professor who was the first to study the syndrome in the 1970s. “But it’s actually a response to chronic job stressors – a stress response.” Here we separate the facts from the myths. Continue reading...

Activist and professor Radivoje Jovović stated that Novi Sad has organically rejected the Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) and accused the government of tarnishing the memory of Svetozar Miletić.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has emerged victorious in five of the six Area Councils in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) during the weekend elections, while the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) secured a win in Gwagwalada, highlighting a strong endorsement of President Bola Tinubu’s ongoing reforms, according to the party’s National Chairman, Professor Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda. The post FCT Polls: APC wins 5 Councils, PDP one appeared first on Vanguard News.

Despite being considered the cradle of skiing, Norway's Telemark region has sent the fewest athletes to the Winter Olympics over the past two decades, a phenomenon sports professors call a 'mystery'.

A doctors' body in Telangana is urging the state government to complete the recruitment of Assistant Professors before proceeding to fill specialist posts, highlighting concerns about the hiring process.

Antonia Pup, an assistant professor at Georgetown University, expressed concern that the meeting between Nicușor Dan and Donald Trump in Washington might be merely a courtesy visit, hoping Dan consulted European allies beforehand.

At 80 years old, Professor Sogolo continues to advocate for African philosophy as a fundamental pillar of identity.

Nenad Rizvanović will present his book 'Zadnja pošta Osijek' (Last Post Osijek) on February 23rd in Zagreb, with the author and a professor of comparative literature discussing the biography.

Professors urge management to put issue to a vote rather than make top-down decision

Doctors discuss with Professor of Immunology Dan Davis whether taking Vitamin C is effective in preventing or stopping a common cold.

An opinion piece argues that the UP School of Economics needs a more profound response to Professor Monsod’s challenge, extending beyond mere incentives and moral fiber.

Marc Benioff said that the promise of AGI was a "TK" Halil Sagirkaya/Anadolu via Getty Images Business Insider obtained the results of Salesforce's annual employee survey. Most employees felt AI made them more productive. Fewer felt it had decreased their workloads. Salesforce says the survey shows big gains in AI use and enthusiasm. Salesforce says it's at the vanguard of the AI revolution and has even toyed with renaming itself Agentforce in honor of its bet on AI agents. The company is rapidly adopting AI internally as well, and a survey obtained by Business Insider reveals how that's actually playing out behind the scenes. The results — which were broadly positive — show that most employees feel AI is increasing their productivity, although fewer say it's lightening their workloads. Salesforce's annual "Great Insights" survey, which is not public, was conducted in November 2025 and released inside the software company the following month. It surveyed about 80% of the 76,000-person workforce. Most questions about AI received high favorability ratings: In addition to the 81% of employees who said AI tools boost productivity, 83% said they feel equipped to handle AI risks such as bias, and 81% said they felt encouraged to experiment with AI. More than half of employees — 57% — said AI tools helped their team identify opportunities that would have been impossible otherwise. And 62% said their workload is more manageable because they use AI tools. Both of these were among the lowest results in the survey. Salesforce told Business Insider in a statement that the survey showed significant gains in AI use and strong enthusiasm. A composite it creates called the AI Readiness score was at 85% enterprise-wide, an 18% gain year-over-year. "We're thrilled that our employees have moved on from adoption and are seeing AI tools make a meaningful impact in their daily work," a Salesforce spokesperson said. The results suggest that Salesforce is ahead of the pack on encouraging AI adoption, said Jason Schloetzer, an associate professor at Georgetown University's business school who has interviewed dozens of executives about AI adoption. The results also show that, for some employees, AI intensifies their workload rather than reducing it. "The gaps suggest people believe AI is enabling them to do more work, but it's not making their work easier," he said. Salesforce, which sells customer relationship management software, has garnered attention for an intense AI push led by CEO Marc Benioff. Last August, he said half of the work at Salesforce was being done by AI and that the company had eliminated 4,000 support roles because of AI agents. Salesforce's website says the company uses a mix of internal AI tools, including an AI from Salesforce-owned Slack that can quickly find old project templates, and Career Connect, which analyzes employees' strengths and weaknesses to help them move within the company. Salesforce is facing challenges despite its embrace of the AI revolution. Its stock is down over 40% in the past year as concerns mount about the fate of legacy software companies amid the arrival of AI tools from OpenAI and Anthropic. The company has also struggled to deliver on promises made in demos of its AI product Agentforce, Business Insider previously reported. Read the original article on Business Insider

(ANSA) - ROMA, 18 FEB - To mark the centenary of Grazia Deledda's Nobel Prize for Literature, the Italian Embassy in Luxembourg, in collaboration with the Cavour Foundation, is organizing an evening dedicated to the great Sardinian writer, entitled 'Trame di terra e leggenda. Grazia Deledda's Sardinia between anthropology and literature'. The meeting will be held on Thursday, February 27, at 6.30 p.m., in the Intesa Sanpaolo House Auditorium. The protagonist of the meeting will be Prof. Duilio Caocci, professor of Italian and Sardinian literature at the University of Cagliari, who will guide the audience through a reinterpretation of Deledda's work. The evening will also be enriched by the presence of visual artist Benedetta Cocco, recently featured in the European Investment Bank's Artists Development Programme. Read article...

Trump Calls In FEMA To Respond To Sewage Disaster In Potomac River Authored by Jill McLaughlin via The Epoch Times, President Donald Trump is directing federal emergency teams to respond to a sewage spill on the Potomac River, calling it a “massive ecological disaster” and blaming local leaders for not handling the crisis, which began nearly a month ago. “There is a massive Ecological Disaster unfolding in the Potomac River as a result of the Gross Mismanagement of Local Democrat Leaders, particularly, Governor Wes Moore, of Maryland,” Trump posted on Truth Social on Feb. 16. Moore’s office didn’t immediately return a request for comment on Trump’s statement. On Jan. 19, a section of the Potomac Interceptor sewer line collapsed, causing the failure of a 60-year-old, 72-inch concrete pipeline along the Clara Barton Parkway in Montgomery County, Maryland. Over 250 million gallons of sewage poured into the Potomac River in one of the largest spills in U.S. history, according to University of Maryland researchers. Water samples collected at the site show high levels of E. coli and Staphylococcus aureus, the bacteria that causes staph infections, researchers reported. “People coming into contact with the impacted water or land are at risk of becoming infected with these bacteria, which can lead to serious health conditions,” said Dr. Rachel Rosenberg Goldstein, a microbiologist and assistant professor at the university. Trump said the spill was the “result of incompetent local and state management of essential waste management systems.” “It is clear local authorities cannot adequately handle this calamity,” Trump stated. “Therefore, I am directing federal authorities to immediately provide all necessary management, direction, and coordination to protect the Potomac, the water supply in the Capital region, and our treasured National Resources in our Nation’s Capital City.” Despite state and local leaders not asking for federal assistance, Trump said he “cannot allow incompetent local ‘leadership’ to turn the river in the heart of Washington into a disaster zone.” The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), part of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), will play a key role in coordinating the response, the president stated. FEMA and DHS are facing a partial funding lapse as Democrats in the U.S. Senate demand changes to immigration enforcement. Crews work to keep raw sewage from flowing into the Potomac River after a pipeline rupture, in Glen Echo, Md., on Jan. 23, 2026. Cliff Owen/AP Photo According to Virginia’s health department, the utility DC Water is handling repairs to the pipe, while Maryland has regulatory authority over the Potomac River for recreational advisories, water quality monitoring, and issuing bans on shellfish harvesting. The Virginia Health Department was working with the Maryland departments of Health and the Environment during the crisis. DC Water has stated that drinking water is not affected by the incident. The nearest Virginia location using the Potomac River as a primary source of water is the city of Fairfax, with an intake located several miles upstream of where the sewage spill entered the river, according to Virginia. Tyler Durden Tue, 02/17/2026 - 10:40

A University of Michigan student is suing the institution for disability discrimination, alleging that professors mistook symptoms of her disability for signs of AI-generated content in her college papers, which she denies.

A few hours after the news broke of the death of Professor Biodun Jeyifo on the morning of 11 February, a friend who is a former vice‑chancellor of Federal University, Oye Ekiti, sent me “condolences on the passage of your friend, Teacher and Mentor.” Tributes, like the heartfelt one by Sola Adeyemi, began to appear in various […] The post Biodun Jeyifo: A personal remembrance, By Chima Anyadike appeared first on Premium Times Nigeria.

Tributes pour in for Professor Biodun Jeyifo, a renowned intellectual and literary figure, following his passing. He is remembered for his perspectives on emancipation and his unique humor.

David J. Farber, a renowned researcher, professor, and federal policy adviser credited as the 'Grandfather of the Internet' for his foundational work in connecting the world online, has passed away at 91.

Activist and professor Radivoj Jovović stated that Novi Sad has organically rejected the Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) and that the current government is tarnishing the memory of Svetozar Miletić by attempting to appropriate his legacy.

Ein Juraprofessor, ein Staranwalt und ein Weinimporteur bilden das Bündnis, das Trumps Notstandszölle zu Fall brachte. Ein solch zentrales Urteil gab es seit Jahrzehnten nicht mehr.

Professor Dragan Stojković's diary entry reflects on the diminishing number of living people attending All Souls' Day commemorations in villages, among other observations.

Two professors at Sciences Po Paris are under scrutiny for allegedly justifying the death of a student named Quentin in an informal WhatsApp group, sparking controversy within the institution.

In a rare interview, retired sociology professor Todor Kuljić stated that the wealthy have ceased to fear the left, suggesting that protests in small countries are insufficient to overcome this dynamic.

An anatomy professor clarifies whether the sensation of feeling cold 'in your bones' has a biological basis or is merely a figure of speech, as a new cold wave approaches.

Palgrave Macmillan has released a new book by Professor Abiodun Adeniyi, a distinguished scholar, focusing on the intersection of media, identity, and geopolitical realities.

Police in Christiansburg, Virginia, have cleared several white juveniles of hate crime allegations made by Virginia Tech Professor Onwubiko Agozino, who claimed they targeted him in a racist attack.

Two law professors are outlining strategies for the survival of equality in a post-DEI era under a Trump administration, arguing that 'DEI is dead, equality isn’t'.

A US professor has defended Indian-American visibility in Texas, shutting down a content creator's 'New Delhi' rant in a viral tweet that sparked a national debate on immigration and cultural shifts.

Professor Shamsad Mortuza has been appointed as the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh (ULAB).

Two articles from the Financial Times delve into societal discussions, with one scrutinizing arguments about the dangers of falling fertility and population decline, and the other reflecting on an economics professor's prescient thesis linking material and moral flourishing.

Following the release of the Epstein files, some universities have taken action involving faculty or affiliates named in the documents, prompting a call for students and professors to share their experiences.

Brands like Toteme are becoming more popular as investment dressing resurges. Edward Berthelot/Getty Images Workwear is recalibrating to styles that balance comfort with a more polished look. The tightening job market and return-to-office mandates have chipped away at pandemic casualness. Employees may also be using more polished workwear to create a boundary between work and home. Dress for the job you want to… keep? In a job market where power has shifted toward employers, at least one thing remains within an employee's control: how they choose to show up to work. With layoffs and slow hiring shaping the labor market and RTO mandates pulling employees back into offices, experts say workers are dressing more carefully to project competence. In periods of uncertainty, clothing is less about comfort and self-expression, and more about job security, Lizzy Bowring, a creative strategist and trend forecaster, told Business Insider. "Dressing smarter serves as career risk management," she said. The business casual era gave way to full-on casual Business casual had an era — a long one. Over the past 30 years, suits and ties have given way to blazers and sweaters in many white-collar industries. By the early 2000s, the casual look was ubiquitous in tech. Think Mark Zuckerberg's signature gray T-shirt, hoodie, and jeans. Facebook founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg delivers the opening keynote address at the f8 Developer Conference April 21, 2010 Justin Sullivan/Getty Images When the pandemic hit, casual dressing went from trend to default. There was no need to dress up for your living room. But times are different now. Workers are being called back into the office, and the franzied "Great Resignation" period post-pandemic, when employers were scrambling to retain staff and thrust into bidding wars to scoop up talent, is well behind us. The balance of power has shifted from employee to employer. US businesses are hiring at one of the slowest rates since 2013, and the early impact of AI is beginning to show up. Last month saw more layoffs than any January since 2009, as big companies like Amazon and Citi announced plans to cut thousands of jobs. Because of this, "employees are becoming more conscious of how they present themselves, not because they're being told to, but because uncertainty changes behaviour," Frances Li, founder and director of Biscuit Recruitment, a boutique recruitment agency based in London and New York, told Business Insider. Recalibration, not return An example of a more tailored silhouette is the oversized blazer, pictured here on content creator and writer Alba Garavito Torre. Edward Berthelot/Getty Images Still, experts say we aren't seeing a full return to suits and straight-cut dresses. Trend forecaster Lizzy Bowring describes this as an "'intentional recalibration' — blending comfort with sharper silhouettes, structured tailoring and more deliberate styling." The jacket you once wore over a T-shirt to look smarter for a Zoom meeting is now shifting to a more tailored look, said Bowring. Think oversized blazers and fitted dresses. Fashion's messaging is reflecting this. There's a focus on tailoring and silhouette-forming pieces across luxury brands like Prada, Saint Laurent, and Bottega Veneta, she said. A model walks the runway at Bottega Veneta's Spring/Summer 2026 fashion show at Milan Fashion Week in September. Victor VIRGILE/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images Economic uncertainty has also revived interest in investment dressing: wardrobe staples that work in the office and beyond, cut with precision and built to last. Brands like The Row and Toteme have gained cultural relevance by positioning their pieces as investments, reinforcing the appeal of clothing "that communicates stability, longevity and professional credibility," Bowring added. TikTok content about what to wear to the office and why it matters has also grown in popularity. Younger members of Gen Z, entering office settings for the first time, are questioning how to balance their personal style with work-appropriate attire. Grace McCarrick, a content creator who delivers soft skills training to companies such as Uber and Spotify, said her TikTok videos on being intentional with your appearance at work have been some of her most viral — garnering hundreds of thousands of views. @graceforpersonalityhires The cheat no one is telling you about- you don’t have to look super polished if you look rich. In the north east, the look tends to be a bit dull lol but do what feels right for you ♬ original sound - grace mccarrick "It is so complicated to move up and get noticed in the workforce today," she said. The idea of 'dressing for success' is one of the only levers you can control to help you progress at work, she added. "People who put in the effort stand out like neon signs. They've upped their charisma factor by simply not being as schlubby as everyone else. They could be the most awkward person, but because they look good in a sea of wrinkled khakis with black sneaker 'dress shoes,' they're magnetic," she said. Setting boundaries Formal dress is also a way for employees to clearly distinguish between work and home life. "Work wear cues a performance state, whereas home wear signals a relaxation state," Hajo Adam, an organizational psychologist and professor at the University of Bath, told Business Insider. This separation might help people to actually switch off when work finishes. So, once the clock strikes 5 p.m. — go ahead, loosen up, and hang up your blazer, whether your desk is in the office or in your living room. Read the original article on Business Insider

This article is an appreciation of Biodun Jeyifo, focusing on his intellectual contributions and revolutionary spirit, particularly referencing his connection to Professor Wole Soyinka's inaugural lecture.

Scott DeRue is CEO of The Ironman Group. Ironman Scott DeRue is the CEO of The Ironman Group. The Ironman Group is the largest operator of participation sports, including the Ironman race. DeRue shared his daily routine, which includes fitness training and binging "Schitt's Creek." This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Scott DeRue, CEO of The Ironman Group. The Ironman Group is the largest operator of global participation sports events, including the Ironman Triathlon Series, City2Surf, and the Epic Series mountain bike races. This story has been edited for length and clarity. I've had a pretty eclectic path, but there's a singular throughline of purpose that runs through it. I love creating experiences that transform people's lives for the better. I went into private equity, investment banking, and consulting after college. I developed a passion for the role business can play in society. Education, though, changed my life, so I took a big step back and said, "If I want to live a life of purpose, how might I do that?" A business school professor sounded like a pretty big gig. I joined the University of Michigan's faculty in 2007. Ultimately, I was on faculty for 14 years and served as dean of the business school at Michigan. Scott DeRue often exercises in the mornings or evenings, depending on his schedule. Ironman During that time, I joined the Equinox board as one of three independent directors. I fell in love with the brand, the team, the community, and really saw a sense of purpose behind it. It's really about unlocking and maximizing people's potential in life through health and fitness. When the pandemic happened, the board asked if I would join full-time and serve as president. We did a lot of great work, and I'm really proud of the team and what we built there. Then, Ironman called and asked if I would serve as CEO. We get to make people's dreams come true, so it's the same purpose, just a different vehicle. We're headquartered in Tampa, Florida, but my wife and I also have a place in Park City, Utah. Business Insider's Power Hours series gives readers an inside look at how powerful leaders in business structure their workday. Reach out to editor Lauryn Haas to share your daily routine. I wake up between 6 a.m. and 7 a.m. I care deeply about my sleep, so I aim for about 8 hours a night and wake up between 5 a.m. and 6 a.m. We're a global business, so some mornings I need to start early because we have teams in different time zones. Depending on the day, I'll either train in the morning or in the evening. For the last 17 years — usually once a year — I would climb a really big mountain. If I'm training for a mountain, it's a lot of running and lifting weights. I typically live in flat areas except for Utah, so I spend a lot of time on the StairMaster with my weighted pack. Last year, I finally finished the Seven Summits Quest, which is climbing the tallest mountain on each continent. If I'm training for a trail run in the mountains, I try to get out there as much as possible. If I'm in Florida, I just run long distances. If I'm training for a triathlon, then it's swim, bike, and run. I usually sit down every weekend and map out when I want to train vis-à-vis my work schedule that week. I usually have a Kashi cereal, a yogurt, and some fruit for breakfast. I'm not a big caffeine guy. I love the smell, don't like the taste. I arrive at work around 7:30 a.m. and take time to map out my day I'm usually at the office by 7:30 in the morning. I tend to drive when I'm in Tampa since it's more of a commuter city. In Park City, I keep a small office I can either drive to or walk to. Sometimes an early morning meeting is inevitable, but I like to sit down for about an hour to map out the two or three things I need to achieve to make it a great day. There's going to be a lot that happens during the day, but for me, I try to be very intentional. If you jump into every urgent matter, you'll never actually focus on what's important, and your team will come to expect you to engage in every matter. That's not healthy for me in my role or for them. In many, if not most, cases, they're better equipped to handle that matter than I am because I don't have the experience in the specific domain. My job is to create an environment and empower them to be successful. In the morning, Scott DeRue tries to map out two or three things he must achieve each day. Ironman I sometimes have untraditional morning meetings I have a lot of meetings during the day. It really depends on the day, and the stakeholders are varied, but they're not always your traditional meetings. This week, we're at the Iron Man World Championship in Hawaii. We organized a run for some of the partners, spouses, and coaches of some of our professional athletes this morning. Basically, a group of friends got together and went for a run. That's not a traditional meeting, but I learned a lot and gathered some good feedback on what we're doing well, so we can keep doing more of that and identify where we can continue to improve. My favorite lunch spot is in Utah Typically, I have a sandwich for lunch — nothing too fancy. My favorite sandwich in the world is the Crazy Chicken at the Clockwork Cafe in Park City, Utah. If I'm training for something specific, I'll supplement my diet with a smoothie and other supplements to get additional nutrients. Surprises can happen throughout the day We're in the live events business. There's always a surprise, and that surprise can come in many different forms. You come to expect the unexpected. But we have an incredible team with tremendous experience. I have a lot of trust in our team because they're the best in the business and can adapt to address issues that come up. Frankly, I don't get thrown off balance that much because our team is so talented, committed, and capable of handling matters as they come up. I typically go home around 7 p.m. Scott DeRue. Ironman Usually, I'll leave around 7 p.m. if it's a day in the office. If it's an event day, we can start at 4 a.m. and go to bed around 2 a.m. the next day. For dinner, my wife and I love to cook out, and fortunately, we live in places where we can do so for most of the year. Typically, some good chicken, rice, and vegetables on the grill is always a good one for us. If I'm training that evening, I'll run, and my wife will ride her bike next to me. That's our quality time. We also have two chocolate labs, so we'll play with them in the backyard or take them for a walk. Later, we'll watch television. We've got a few shows that we like together, typically in the realm of comedy. One of our favorite shows we binged together was "Schitt's Creek." I had never actually watched "Friends," which mortified my wife, so we binged that for a while. We like shows that bring a smile to our faces and give us a little bit of humor to end the day. We're usually in bed by 9:30 p.m. or so. I'm asleep by 10. Read the original article on Business Insider

Eat The Rich: California Democrats Trigger Reverse Gold Rush With Wealth Tax Authored by Jonathan Turley, This month, the anniversary of the California Gold Rush came and passed with little mention … for good reason. When James W. Marshall found gold at Sutter’s Mill, millions traveled great distances to seek their fortune in the “Golden State.” Now, 178 years later, California has engineered an inverse Gold Rush, virtually chasing wealth from the state. Rather than covered wagons going West, there is a line of U-Hauls going anywhere other than California. From boondoggle projects to reparations, California politicians continue to rack up new spending projects despite a soaring deficit and shrinking tax base. Rather than exercise a modicum of fiscal restraint, Democrats are pushing through a tax that takes five percent of the wealth of any billionaires left in the state. I have long criticized the tax as perfectly moronic for a state with the highest tax burden and one of the highest flight rates of top taxpayers. In my new book, “Rage and the Republic: The Unfinished Story of the American Revolution,” I discuss the reversal of fortunes in California and other blue states as politicians unleash new “eat the rich” campaigns before the midterm elections. The problem, of course, is that billionaires are mobile, as is their wealth. Liberals expect billionaires to stay put in a type of voluntary canned hunt.  They are not. Billionaires are joining the growing exodus from the state, taking their companies, investments, and jobs with them. The latest billionaire to be chased off may be Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, who is reportedly heading for Florida. The growing departures have triggered outrage among many on the left, who are in disbelief that billionaires will just not stand still to be fleeced. Former New York Magazine editor Kara Swisher captured that rage in a recent posting, declaring “you made…all your money in California, you ungrateful piece of s***, you could figure out a way to pay more taxes, and we deserve the taxes from you, given you made your wealth here . . . so why don’t we just do shock and awe at this point, because you don’t seem to be availing yourself to thinking that you owe your state something more.” By some estimates, California has already cost over a trillion dollars in lost investments and business. That is no small achievement. Here’s a mind teaser: How can you burn a trillion dollars (which would create a stack some 67,866 miles high) without taking years and destroying the environment? California politicians have a solution: Have people take it out of the state in a reverse gold rush. In addition to saying that they want to grab 5 percent of the wealth of these billionaires, California Democrats are planning to base wealth calculations on the voting shares of corporate executives. Often, particularly with start-ups, entrepreneurs have greater voting shares than actual ownership. However, they will be taxed as if voting shares amounted to actual wealth. In other words, California is moving to nuke the entrepreneurs who created the Silicon Valley boom. Emmanuel Saez, the U.C. Berkeley economist who helped design the tax, insists that they may not want to stay, but they will still be tapped. They are planning to trap the wealthy fleeing the state retroactively: “The tax is based on residence as of Jan. 1, 2026, sharply limiting their ability to flee the state to avoid paying. Despite billionaires’ threats to leave, I think extremely few will have been able to change residence by Jan. 1, given the complexity of doing so.” The effort to retroactively impose such a tax is legally controversial and will face years of challenges. In my view, this is unconstitutional, but admittedly it is a murky area. Regardless of the outcome, a wealth tax will affect a wide range of other wealthy taxpayers. If Democrats can get a retroactive wealth tax to be upheld, it is doubtful that they will stop with billionaires. Why should other top taxpayers stick around to find out where the next cull will fall in the tax brackets? Recently, Gavin Newsom boasted, “California isn’t just keeping pace with the world — we’re setting the pace.” That is undeniably true if the measure is the record number of U-Hauls fleeing the state — more than any other state. Indeed, the only thing harder to find than a wealthy taxpayer in California appears to be a U-Haul. According to U-Haul’s data, the state is again leading blue states in the exodus. The Washington Post noted recently that “California came in last. Massachusetts, New York, Illinois, and New Jersey rounded out the bottom five. Of the bottom 10, seven voted blue in the last election.” Conversely, “nine of the top 10 growth states voted red in the last presidential election,” with Texas again leading the growth states. The Post put it succinctly, “People want to live in pro-growth, low-tax states, while the biggest losers tend to be places with big governments and high taxes.” The problem is that, while the economics are horrific, the politics remain irresistible. Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna, who represents part of Silicon Valley, recently mocked billionaires rushing to escape the state. Laughing at his own constituents, Khanna quipped, “I will miss them very much.” You will not be alone as California becomes known as the La Brea Tar Pit of taxation. They are on the verge of converting the state motto from “Eureka” to “Welcome to Hotel California, you can check out any time you like, but you can never leave.” Jonathan Turley is a law professor and the best-selling author of “Rage and the Republic: The Unfinished Story of the American Revolution.” Tyler Durden Sat, 02/14/2026 - 20:15

A California professor argues that eliminating standardized tests like the SAT in the name of inclusivity may leave students unprepared for college coursework.