In early lab models, “NICER” shows promise of targeting both bulk cancer cells and residual cancer cells post-surgery.
Day: September 26, 2025
Left-wing terror attacks are on track to reach record highs this year — as Democrats have been accused of ramping up their harmful rhetoric in their opposition to the Trump administration, a disturbing new study has found. Violent plots planned or perpetrated by the far-left in the US, as a percentage of all terrorist attacks…
Air quality alerts were in effect for two major Texas metro areas on Friday.
Carbon Dioxide Reduction Targets Challenged by European Automotive Associations
European automakers are increasingly at odds over the EU’s transition to electric vehicles (EV), with industry leaders warning that strict policy timelines risk undermining Europe’s competitiveness in internal combustion engines, reports 24brussels.
At the recent 2025 International Motor Show Germany (IAA Mobility) in Munich, which concluded earlier this month, several executives backed calls to postpone the EU’s planned 2035 ban on new petrol and diesel cars while simultaneously promoting their latest electric models. Analysts suggest that as competition heightens, automakers must delicately balance legislative climate targets with prevailing market realities.
The European Automobile Manufacturers Association and the European Association of Automotive Suppliers highlighted that the EU’s ambitious carbon dioxide reduction goals are now unfeasible. In a joint letter to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in August, they advocated for a more pragmatic approach that reflects both industrial and geopolitical constraints.
This issue took center stage at IAA Mobility, where German Chancellor Friedrich Merz expressed support for the automotive sector’s electrification initiatives but emphasized the necessity of regulatory flexibility. He cautioned against rigidly enforcing a single technological path and urged manufacturers to remain open to various technologies to maintain both competitiveness and environmental objectives.
Executives from major firms, including Mercedes-Benz, BMW, and Stellantis, criticized the EU’s planned 2035 ban, labeling it “unrealistic.” They called for ongoing investment in hybrid vehicles, range-extended EVs, and smaller combustion engines as part of their strategy moving forward.
The market’s performance has indicated challenges ahead. First-generation EVs, such as the Volkswagen ID series, Audi e-tron, and Mercedes EQ, have faced obstacles in consumer adoption due to limitations in driving range, lengthy charging times, design issues, and higher costs compared to traditional vehicles. As a consequence, numerous manufacturers are reassessing their strategic goals. Mercedes-Benz has postponed its target of achieving 50 percent EV sales by 2025 while committing to continue developing internal combustion engines over the next decade. Audi has delayed its goal of full electrification by 2032. Volkswagen Group Chairman Oliver Blume has voiced concerns over declining EV sales and advocated for adjustments to carbon dioxide targets, while former Renault CEO Luca de Meo has emphasized the need for more adaptable, market-driven timelines.
Europe is grappling with multiple challenges in its automotive transition. A significant setback occurred in late 2024 when Swedish startup Northvolt, previously backed by BMW and Volkswagen, declared bankruptcy, revealing critical gaps in Europe’s battery technology and domestic manufacturing capabilities. Additionally, the cessation of EV purchase subsidies in Germany in 2023 has weakened the continent’s largest automotive market.
The industry has reported declining profits, with approximately 51,500 jobs lost last year, or nearly 7 percent of the overall workforce. Structural issues further complicate the situation, including uneven charging infrastructure among EU member states, high electricity costs, rising production expenses, and U.S. tariffs impacting exports. Collectively, these factors have made a rapid shift to electrification increasingly challenging for European automakers.
Political pressures are escalating, with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni condemning the ban as “self-destructive” and warning of potential social and economic repercussions. Similar concerns have been raised by Poland and other nations. Experts suggest that the EU auto industry’s measured response reflects the difficult realities posed by competitive pressures, technological deficiencies, and employment worries.
Some manufacturers are advocating for a multi-technology approach. The European Automobile Manufacturers Association has proposed incentives, including subsidies, tax breaks, and reduced electricity rates, to enhance EV adoption. While EVs are anticipated to dominate in the long term, they stress the necessity of low-carbon alternatives during the transition phase.
Conversely, other companies, including Volvo and certain industrial manufacturers, support the EU’s 2035 ban, viewing it as vital for bolstering Europe’s global competitiveness. Kia Europe CEO Marc Hedrich cautioned against any policy reversals, highlighting that production of the EV4 has already commenced in Slovakia, with full compliance anticipated by 2035.
German automotive expert Ferdinand Dudenhoeffer has described the opposition to the ban as largely unwarranted, arguing that as EV prices align with those of combustion vehicles and carbon taxes come into play, the appeal of gasoline and diesel cars will decline. He predicts that price parity will be achieved by 2030, potentially alleviating much of the controversy surrounding the ban.
During a strategy dialogue on September 12, chaired by von der Leyen, manufacturers emphasized the need for greater flexibility regarding carbon dioxide targets, although the EU reaffirmed the timeline for the 2035 ban. In March, assessments for carbon emissions from new cars were postponed from 2025 to 2027, intended to provide a transitional buffer. Critics contend this extension may favor underperforming companies and compromise overall competitiveness.
Experts assert that the EU’s 2035 ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel cars serves not just as an industrial benchmark but also as a measure of the bloc’s climate leadership. Adhering to this goal could foster innovation, whereas compromises might alleviate immediate pressures while risking long-term objectives.
OnePlus Phones Face Security Vulnerability
The majority of OnePlus phones in use today may be vulnerable to a security flaw that leaves SMS and MMS data exposed, and it won’t be patched until mid-October. Only OnePlus phones still running 2020’s OxygenOS 11 or earlier are believed to be safe from the flaw, reports 24brussels.
Security company Rapid7 was first to discover the vulnerability, which relates to changes OnePlus made to the Telephony service within Android. The flaw allows installed apps to access SMS data “without permission, user interaction, or consent.” Rapid7 found the vulnerability on devices running OxygenOS 12, 14, and 15, indicating that it may affect a core component of Android and is not hardware-specific.
OnePlus has acknowledged the issue but stated through an unnamed spokesperson to 9to5Google that a fix will not arrive until mid-October at the earliest. The company has committed to protecting customer data and prioritizing security improvements.
We acknowledge the recent disclosure of CVE-2025-10184 and have implemented a fix. This will be rolled out globally via software update starting from mid-October.
Rapid7 announced the discovery on its blog earlier this week; however, OnePlus did not respond until Wednesday. Rapid7 reported attempts to contact OnePlus privately were unsuccessful, leading the firm to reveal the issue publicly. They ruled out the company’s bug bounty program due to a restrictive Non-Disclosure Agreement.
Until the flaw is patched, Rapid7 advises OnePlus device owners to only install apps from trusted sources, uninstall unnecessary applications, switch to encrypted messaging apps, and use authenticator apps instead of SMS-based two-factor authentication.
A fire and a building collapse in Egypt’s Nile Delta leave 8 people dead
The family was using tools they bought at a dollar store.
The “Borat” actor separated from Isla Fisher in 2024 after 20 years together. The duo, who share three children, finalized their divorce in June.
Kazakhstan’s IT labor market is expanding rapidly but facing growing mismatches between available skills and employer demand, according to new research by Ranking.kz.
Fast Growth Beyond Statistics
The number of specialists in “computer programming, consulting, and related services” has more than tripled in recent years, according to the Bureau of National Statistics. The sharpest increase occurred in 2020, when IT employment jumped from 6,900 to 12,100 workers, a 76.7 percent rise in the first post-pandemic year.
As of June 2025, 19,500 programmers, developers, and AI specialists were officially registered. However, this figure excludes in-house IT staff employed across industries such as oil and gas, energy, and metallurgy, suggesting actual employment is significantly higher.
A 2024 survey by Kolesa Group profiled the median IT specialist as a 26-year-old male with three to five years of experience, working in fintech as a mid-level data analyst, earning approximately 700,000 tenge ($1,300) per month, and having switched jobs twice.
International companies increased their IT headcount by 17 to 37 percent between 2021 and 2024, while the proportion of employees aged 26-30 rose by 15 percentage points. Fully remote work has declined, with hybrid formats now the norm.
Competition for jobs has intensified. The national electronic labor exchange listed 9,700 resumes in the “IT and telecommunications” category, compared to just 580 vacancies, nearly 17 applicants per position. In Almaty, there were 1,500 candidates for 133 roles; in Astana, 1,000 applicants for 124 positions. The Mangystau region saw the highest disparity, with 655 resumes for just four openings.
Skills and Expectations Gap
Employers are primarily seeking experienced professionals: 61 percent of vacancies require one to five years of experience, and 8 percent demand more than five years. Only 31 percent of listings are suitable for junior specialists. In contrast, 48 percent of job seekers are entry-level, while only 22.9 percent are senior-level.
Demand is shifting toward automation and AI integration.
“Today AI is used by everyone from small businesses to multinationals. It raises the bar for employees, basic tools are no longer enough,” said Ekaterina Rehert, founder of DataBoom. “Even Excel now includes Copilot AI. Companies want specialists who know how to embed AI into real processes. Anyone pursuing a career in analytics or related fields must upgrade their AI skills.”
Salaries and Global Trends
According to Kolesa Group, IT salaries rose 40 percent between 2021 and 2024. The Bureau of National Statistics reported an even steeper increase: salaries in programming and consulting rose 2.5 times, reaching 1.2 million tenge in Q2 2025. The wage gap between IT professionals and the national average widened from 1.7 times in 2020 to 2.8 times in 2025.
By specialty, a survey of 420 IT professionals found that machine learning engineers earned the highest salaries (1.6 million tenge or $2,900 per month), followed by data scientists (1.1 million) and data warehouse specialists (1.08 million). Big Data professionals in finance earned 986,300 tenge, compared to just 177,600 tenge for similar roles in the public sector.
The World Economic Forum forecasts that by 2030, approximately 22 percent of jobs will be transformed, with 170 million new roles created and 82 million eliminated. Nearly 39 percent of job skills are expected to be reshaped by automation and digitalization. Among the fastest-growing roles are Big Data specialists (projected demand to more than double), fintech engineers (+92%), AI and ML experts (+83%), software developers (+57%), and data analysts (+41%).
Italy Deploys Naval Support to Gaza-Bound Humanitarian Flotilla Amid Escalating Tensions
On September 26, 2025, Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto announced the deployment of navy ships to the southern Mediterranean to provide protection for civilians accompanying an international aid flotilla en route to Gaza, reports 24brussels.
The deployment follows a series of drone attacks on the Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF) that occurred off the coast of Crete, Greece. Crosetto confirmed that the frigate Fasan was sent on Wednesday after several vessels in the flotilla were targeted with stun grenades. A larger ship is also on its way to replace the Fasan upon its arrival.
“The Italian government strongly condemns what has happened. Attacks on civilian vessels in open waters are completely unacceptable,” stated Crosetto. He clarified that the mission of the Italian warships is strictly to protect Italians and other civilians aboard the flotilla and does not entail any offensive operations.
No group has claimed responsibility for the drone attacks; however, the flotilla attributed the assaults to Israel, which has yet to respond to the allegations.
The Global Sumud Flotilla consists of approximately 52 vessels and over 500 volunteers from more than 40 countries, aiming to challenge Israel’s naval blockade imposed since 2007 and deliver essential food and medical aid to Palestinians.
Earlier at the United Nations General Assembly in New York, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni expressed her concerns, stating that Israel had “crossed a line” in its military operations in Gaza. While acknowledging Israel’s right to retaliate against Hamas following the October 2023 attacks, she emphasized that the scale of retaliation is disproportionate and has resulted in extensive civilian casualties.
The ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict has surged over the past two years, claiming over 65,000 lives in Gaza, with nearly half being women and children. This has intensified the humanitarian crisis, leaving 2 million people suffering in dire conditions.