Latest news with #Harvards
Mint
27-05-2025
- Business
- Mint
Vedanta's Anil Agarwal sees BIG opportunity for India amid ongoing Harvard-Trump row
Mining giant Vedanta's Founder and Executive Chairman, Anil Agarwal, in a social media post, flagged a big opportunity for India to create Harvards and MITs in the nation amid the ongoing Harvard-Trump row over revoking authority to sponsor U.S. visas for international students. 'Amidst global uncertainty, there is a big opportunity for India, beyond manufacturing. Higher education. More and more Indians want a world-class education. The West is closing its doors. The 800 Indian students at Harvard are facing this unfortunate circumstance,' said Agarwal in his post on LinkedIn. Emphasising the need for the nation's youth to pursue 'world-class education,' Anil Agarwal highlighted that India should build Harvards and MITs on a larger scale with global standards. 'We should create Harvards and MITs in India. Universities built on a large scale with global standards,' he said. Agarwal also said that India should focus on capturing this opportunity as other countries are letting go of their international students strength. 'Land should not become a constraint for building large Universities. The returns to society will be phenomenal. Let us seize this opportunity to be a leader in knowledge and research, occupy the space other countries are letting go of,' said Anil Agarwal in his post. Anil Agarwal also announced Vedanta's plans to launch an institution in Odisha for students from 'less privileged backgrounds' amid the ongoing foreign studies debate. The CEO also emphasised that the students will get full financial support from the institution to study in the non-profit digital-first university. 'Vedanta has a plan for one such institution based on the waterfront in Odisha near Puri. It will be a not-for-profit, digital-first university with the best faculty and students from India and abroad. Students from less privileged backgrounds will get full financial support,' said Anil Agarwal in his LinkedIn post. US President Donald Trump's federal administration revoked the Massachusetts-based, world-famous Harvard University's authority to sponsor U.S. visas for international students. The federal government revoked the University's ability to sponsor F and J visas for international students and scholars under the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) after Harvard allegedly failed to comply with the Department of Homeland Security's request for information. The University condemned Trump's move and said it has filed a complaint and a motion for a temporary restraining order regarding the action. They also called the move 'unlawful and unwarranted,' according to an official email circulated from the office to the Harvard Alumni. 'Harvard did respond to the Department's requests as required by law,' said the University in the email, shared by Member of Rajya Sabha Raghav Chadha on the platform X. President Trump also highlighted his concerns how there are nearly 31 per cent of foreigners who are coming in to study at Harvard, and also claimed that the University refused to tell the federal government who the people are.
The Citizen
07-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Citizen
SPONSORED I Mpumalanga Air Show set to take to the skies this Saturday
SPONSORED I Mpumalanga Air Show set to take to the skies this Saturday With just days remaining, the skies above the Lowveld are about to roar to life for the legendary Mpumalanga Air Show, proudly supported by the Mpumalanga Tourism and Parks Agency. This spectacular aviation event is set to take flight this Saturday, bringing together families, aviation lovers and thrill-seekers from across the country. The gates will open at 10:00, welcoming early visitors to enjoy a festive atmosphere filled with vendors, food stalls and a beer garden. Throughout the morning, aircraft arrivals and display validations will take place, offering a behind-the-scenes glimpse into the action that lies ahead. From 13:00, the skies will begin to stir with model aircraft demonstrations, including a performance by the Extra 330 LX. This will be followed by a sequence featuring Harvards, Navions, AT802 Air Tractors and helicopter take-offs, with fire trucks and emergency vehicles showcased on the runway. The main show officially begins at 14:45 with a high-impact Vietnam War-themed opening, which will consist of AT802s, Harvards and Navions, as well as helicopters, skydivers and the L29 jet with a fire wall. The programme includes a performance by the Airlink Embraer 190E, an aerial display by the Puma Flying Lions, a solo from the Extra 330 LX and an adrenaline filled race between a helicopter and a car. The intensity continues from 16:00 with a helicopter formation display, followed by individual highlights such as the Navion display, the agile RV7 and the Kishugu firefighting demonstration featuring UH-1s and AT802s. Spectators can also look forward to the L29 jet and a gyrocopter display. At 17:00, skydivers will descend with a massive South African flag, marking the beginning of the grand finale. A glider will trace elegant paths through the sky, followed by the Flying Lions' sunset show and their explosive 'Tora Tora' display. Hot air balloons will rise as twilight sets in, setting the stage for a breathtaking fireworks display at 18:05. The programme will conclude officially at 18:15. Beyond the thrilling aerial performances, the air show promises a vibrant ground experience, with hundreds of food and craft stalls, a dedicated kids play area, and multiple entertainment zones to keep families engaged throughout the day. Tickets are selling fast and are available online until May 8. General admission is priced at R195 per adult, R110 for pensioners aged 65 and over, and R85 for children aged 2 to 12 (note that access to the kids play area is sold separately). For those looking to elevate their experience, a VIP ticket is available at R500 per adult. This exclusive option includes gourmet canapés, access to a private cash bar, and comfortable, covered seating in a shaded area. Parking is offered in two tiers. On-site parking is limited to only 200 tickets and costs R250 per vehicle. These tickets must be purchased online in advance. Alternatively, public parking is available at R20 per vehicle, payable (in cash only) upon arrival. For the safety and comfort of all guests, certain items are permitted and others prohibited. Visitors may bring non-glass water bottles, camp chairs, child identification measures, sunscreen and hats. However, no alcohol, glass containers, cooler boxes (except for water), unauthorised gazebos or umbrellas, laser devices or any type of weapon will be allowed. 'This airshow is a tribute to the people of Mpumalanga and a celebration of flight,' says Johan Heine, the chairperson of the Mpumalanga Air Show. 'Every year we raise the bar, and 2025 will be our biggest, boldest, and most unforgettable event yet.' Visit for more information At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
Yahoo
04-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Toward a Negotiated Settlement of the Trump-Harvard Showdown
In the high-stakes clash between the Trump administration and Harvard - fraught with peril for the White House, for Americas oldest and most famous university, and for higher education in America - both sides have hardened their stances. In an April 11 letter, the Trump administration demanded supervision over reform of the universitys admissions, hiring, curriculum, and internal governance. In an April 14 email to the Harvard community, President Alan Garber rejected White House demands. The Trump administration promptly froze more than $2 billion in federal grants to Harvard and $60 million in contracts, and threatened to eliminate the universitys tax-exempt status. On April 21, Harvard sued several Trump administration officials. Conservatives, who have been sounding the alarm about higher educations failings for decades, have divided over how best the Trump administration should hold Harvard accountable. On the one hand, the federal government has considerable leverage: It provides Harvard more than $500 million annually with billions in the pipeline. On the other hand, the Trump administration must respect constitutional and statutory limits on executive power. Political prudence dictates, moreover, that the president and his team consider that a sizeable majority of the public opposes increasing the federal governments oversight of universities and that the federal government is ill-suited to the task. Best for both sides would be a negotiated settlement. The settlement should minimize the federal governments role in managing Harvard while ensuring that the university obeys civil-rights law, curbs progressive indoctrination, and bolsters traditional liberal education. Harvard precipitated the crisis. The proximate cause of the Trump administrations drastic intervention was the universitys violation of civil-rights law by indulging antisemitism and discriminating based on race. Harvards indulgence of antisemitism stands in marked contrast to the alacrity with which it has protected non-Jewish minorities and women. For decades, Harvard has been narrowing the boundaries of permissible campus speech to shield students - particularly favored minorities and women - from supposedly offensive utterances, the offense of which often consists in departure from progressive orthodoxy. Yet following Iran-backed Hamas Oct. 7, 2023, massacre in southern Israel, former Harvard President Claudine Gay discovered that campus free speech is wide and flexible enough to sometimes protect calling for the genocide of the Jews. Furthermore, as the university has acknowledged, it has harbored antisemitism and has been slow and ineffective in responding to campus antisemitisms post-Oct. 7 surge. In addition, for decades Harvard discriminated based on race. In Students for Fair Admissions, Inc. v. President and Fellows of Harvard College (2023), the Supreme Court held that the universitys race-conscious admissions violated the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment. Yet despite losing in the highest court of the land, Harvard maintained DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) programs that classified, and doled out and withheld, benefits based on race. Beyond the proximate cause of the Trump administrations unprecedented efforts to reshape Harvard lies the longstanding cause. For decades, Harvard has betrayed liberal education. It has offered undergraduates a shambolic curriculum: Instead of concentrating on the essentials of an education for freedom - the American experiment in ordered liberty, the defining events and seminal ideas of Western civilization, and basic knowledge of non-Western civilizations - professors lard the curriculum with courses revolving around their arcane research interests. And for decades, Harvard has politicized the humanities and social sciences, promoting a progressive - and often radical - ideology that puts advocacy for left-wing social change ahead of understanding the basics of ethics, economics, culture, society, and politics. Harvards hospitability to antisemitism and its race-conscious policies justified aggressive White House measures to compel the university to abide by its legal obligations or lose federal financial support. The universitys decades-long debasement of liberal education magnified the White Houses sense of urgency. But Trump administration remedies adopt a cavalier attitude toward the law and overlook the federal governments limited competence. The week before Harvard filed its lawsuit, City Journal published essays by Manhattan Institute senior fellows Heather MacDonald and Christopher Rufo assessing Trump administration endeavors to reform Harvard. While agreeing that reform was vital, the two eminent commentators on higher education differed over the governments tactics. A searing critic of universities war on free speech and discrimination disguised as diversity, MacDonald nonetheless worries in "The White Houses Clumsy Attack on Harvard" that the Trump team has overreached. "The administration calls for oversight of faculty hiring to ensure 'viewpoint diversity, though the legal basis for such authority is unclear," writes MacDonald. "Its demand for a 'critical mass of intellectually diverse faculty is either a wry joke or unintentionally ironic. After all, the notion of a 'critical mass of 'diverse students was one of the flimsy concepts the Supreme Court used for decades to justify racial admissions preferences." In contrast, Rufo wants to fight fire with fire. In "The Right Is Winning the Battle Over Higher Education," he argues that the left transformed the 1964 Civil Rights Act into "a vehicle for entrenching left-wing racialist ideology throughout American institutions." Now, maintains Rufo, the right must use civil-rights law to achieve its original purpose - to establish "a framework grounded in colorblind equality." He insists that "racial discrimination is wrong whether it targets whites, Asians, and Jews or blacks and Hispanics." And he urges the Trump administration to "use every tool at its disposal to ensure that Americas elite universities adhere to the principle of colorblind equality." But Rufo overlooks the Trump administrations proclivity to reach for constitutionally and congressionally prohibited tools, and its penchant for unwisely, if lawfully, extending federal authority. Meanwhile, Harvards lawsuit argues that the Trump administration overreached in the legal sphere. Harvards first major allegation might be a close call. According to the university, the governments freezing of funds and demanding of sweeping reforms of admissions, hiring, curriculum, and internal governance unconstitutionally burden Harvards free-speech rights. The Trump administration will probably argue that its demands do not impair Harvards speech but rather give the university a choice. Harvard can say what it likes and do as it pleases and, consequently, lose federal funding, to which there is no constitutional entitlement. Or Harvard can adopt measures that would make the university worthy of taxpayer dollars. Harvard is likely to prevail on the second major allegation, which is that the Trump administration disregarded the congressionally established procedures for withholding approved federal funds. The facts are clear: The Trump administration froze federal funding for Harvard without taking the statutorily prescribed steps for suspending or terminating signed contracts and approved grants. A court battle would bloody both parties. Needed, therefore, is an out-of-court settlement. In dealing with the proximate cause of the showdown, a reasonable settlement should ensure that Harvard abides by civil-rights law and that the Trump administration respects constitutional and statutory limits on executive-branch power. In handling the longstanding cause, a reasonable settlement should reduce indoctrination at Harvard in favor of liberal education while obliging the government to honor the universitys academic freedom and institutional independence. Ethics and Public Policy Center senior fellow Stanley Kurtz has provided an excellent proposal that provides an appealing compromise concerning the longstanding cause of the Trump-Harvard showdown. In "Trump vs. Harvard: A Negotiated Solution," which appeared online at National Review on April 21 (the day Harvard sued the Trump administration), Kurtz highlights Harvards "lax handling of disruptive demonstrations and antisemitic harassment" and its "pervasive leftist bias." At the same time, Kurtz expresses skepticism about the Trump administrations demand that Harvard place itself "into a de facto federal receivership." But Harvard and the Trump administration, Kurtz optimistically contends, could agree to a compromise based on "model legislation called General Education Act (GEA), a limited version of which just became law in Utah, and which is likely to be considered by other states in 2026." A co-author of the model GEA, Kurtz sketches a modified version for Harvard. It would create within Harvard a "School of General Education, where the governing dean and the newly recruited faculty are committed to a traditional 'great books approach." While Harvard undergraduates could earn a degree in general education, "[t]he distinctive feature of this plan is that the new School of General Education is put in charge of teaching a set of great books and Western Civ-focused courses required of every student at the university in question." Whereas the Trump approach involves intrusive federal monitoring - and Democrats would remove it immediately upon regaining the presidency - the school of general education, once established, would be difficult to abolish. Everyone could claim victory. The Trump administration could claim credit for impelling Harvard to invest in liberal education. Harvard could take pride in maintaining its independence. Harvard students could acquire precious knowledge of their civilizational heritage while learning to exchange conflicting opinions in a spirit of curiosity, civility, and toleration. Higher education in America could adopt as a model the liberal-education reforms instituted by the nations oldest and most famous university. And citizens could draw inspiration from the White Houses and Harvards cooperating to achieve compromise and conciliation that advances the public interest. Peter Berkowitz is the Tad and Dianne Taube senior fellow at the Hoover Institution, Stanford University. From 2019 to 2021, he served as director of the Policy Planning Staff at the U.S. State Department. His writings are posted at and he can be followed on X @BerkowitzPeter.
Yahoo
22-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
The complex legacy left by Pope Francis and Harvard fights back against the Trump administration : Morning Rundown
Pope Francis leaves behind a legacy peppered with moments of challenging Catholic Church traditions, Harvards sues the Trump administration over first amendment rights and whooping cough is on the rise in the United States. Here's what to know today. As the leader of the world's one billion Roman Catholics, Pope Francis leaves behind a legacy as a reformer who pushed the boundaries of the Catholic Church. Born of Italian immigrant parents in 1936, Jorge Mario Bergoglio was the first pope from South America and was ordained at age 32. Francis was elevated to Cardinal by John Paul II in 2011. When he took the reins in 2013, the church was tainted by financial scandal and the first papal resignation in 600 years. Many of his most radical changes to Vatican policy were in recent years, namely when he allowed priests to bless same-sex couples in 2023. 'If a person is gay and seeks God and has goodwill, who am I to judge him?' he told reporters in 2013. He continued to oppose gay marriage, but the decision pointed to a longstanding shift in attitude that would cement his legacy as one of the most progressive popes in firmly spoke out against the sexual abuse of children by Catholic Church clergy and issued the most extensive revision to its law in 40 years. He criticized the border wall during President Donald Trump's first term, referring to the plan as a 'razor wire,' and sought out a meeting with Cuba's former leader Fidel Castro during his visit to the communist country in 2015. His actions often rattled the church's progressive arm, too. Francis refused to consider ordaining women, was against abortion, and faced criticism from victims of sexual abuse who didn't believe he went far enough to punish offenders. Francis bucked several traditions in his early leadership and worked to establish a new order marked by speaking out to World leaders, embracing humility in the face of the Catholic church pomp, and elevating the needs of marginalized communities. Read the full story of his complex legacy here. After a pope dies, an ancient and secretive process begins to elect his successor. Here are some of the contenders who could be the next pope As the first Latin American pontiff, Pope Francis holds a special place for Hispanic Catholics LGBTQ Catholics and theologians said Pope Francis' legacy teaches that change can happen when leaders are willing to listenHarvard sues federal government after Trump administration slashed billions in funding In the latest volley between Harvard and the White House, the university filed a lawsuit accusing the administration of violating the First Amendment by freezing $2.2 billion in grants. Harvard is accusing the federal government of 'unprecedented and improper' control over the Ivy League institution, and arguing the funding freeze is not related to the administration's stated concerns about antisemitism on campus 'The Government has not — and cannot — identify any rational connection between antisemitism concerns and the medical, scientific, technological, and other research it has frozen that aims to save American lives, foster American success, preserve American security, and maintain America's position as a global leader in innovation,' the lawsuit says. Harvard wants a judge to declare the freeze unconstitutional and order the government to reverse any terminations of federal funding. Read more about the progress of the lawsuit here. Some doctors are raising alarm over so-called GLP-1 supplements that claim to 'supercharge' the body's natural levels of the gut hormone. The compounded version of weight loss drugs including Wegovy (semaglutide) and Zepbound (tirzepatide) require at least a virtual consultation with a clinician to receive a prescription. But these popular supplements are available over the counter. While compounded versions of Wegovy and Zepbound are readily available, the FDA has previously announced there's no longer a shortage of tirzepatide or semaglutide — enter in GLP-1 supplement sellers to flood the market. These supplements often come in colorful patches or fruit-flavored gummies but experts say they are likely to be ineffective for weight loss. 'If you can buy it without a prescription, it's not an actual GLP-1 drug,' says Jamie Alan, an associate professor of pharmacology and toxicology at Michigan State University's College of Human Medicine. 'It is something else that's marketed to support your endogenous GLP-1 production. A close read of the ingredients of these GLP-1 supplements will show items that have minimal scientific evidence supporting their claims to help people lose weight. The FDA states the ingredients have not been tested, and health experts urge consumers to remember there's no immediate dietary fix that will have the same impact as weight loss drugs. Read the full story here. The Education Department is restarting 'involuntary' repayment of federal student loans that are in default after payments were first paused in 2020 during the pandemic. A woman filed a lawsuit against Pro Football Hall of Famer and TV analyst Shannon Sharpe, alleging nearly two years of sexual assault and battery. Cases of whooping cough are on the rise across the U.S. and could be on track to reach the highest number of infections since vaccination was introduced in 1948, according to one medical journal. The Supreme Court will weigh parents' objections over books in certain Maryland elementary schools that feature stories about gay and transgender characters. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem's bag — including $3,000 in cash — was stolen while she was out dining with family in Washington, D.C. The start of spring signals a fresh hairstyle or regular pedicures, but many salons are seeing a drawdown in repeat clients as they fear an impending economic slowdown. When finances are stretched, maintenance appointments are often the first discretionary purchase on the chopping block: clients stretch their haircuts to 10 or 12 weeks, rather than the recommended six to eight weeks, or find ways to conduct the treatments at home. Meanwhile, tariffs have raised the cost of foils used for highlights by 20%, and made steel hair spray cans even more pricey, causing a concern among beauty service providers who are already seeing a drop-off in business. Shannon Pettypiece spoke with salon owners, estheticians and other experts in the beauty industry who share their fears about what this shift means for their business. — Kaylah Jackson, platforms editor Non-European populations have historically been excluded from genetic studies and databases, as they make up only 14% of genetic data. While popular DNA testing companies like 23andMe and share their large data pools with academic and nonprofit partners, they are self-selecting for users who can afford their tests. Even the future of the federal government's initiatives to diversify genetic studies is uncertain with the Trump administration's recent freeze of research funds. All of this equates to underrepresented communities potentially being left out of scientific breakthroughs. To fill these gaps, read how two biobanks are offering free DNA tests and greater transparency about how users' data is shared. is a free, award-winning education program for developing new skills and advancing careers in journalism, media and tech. Are you in search of a brighter smile? The NBC Select team spoke with dental experts to find the best teeth whitening products, including whitestrips, toothpaste and mouthwash. We've been testing fitness trackers for a few years now and these are our favorites from brands like Apple, Garmin and Fitbit. We have a multitude of options whether you want something to track your running speed or your sleep habits. newsletter for hands-on product reviews, expert shopping tips and a look at the best deals and sales each week. Thanks for reading today's Morning Rundown. Today's newsletter was curated for you by Kaylah Jackson. If you're a fan, please send a link to your family and friends. They can sign up here. This article was originally published on
NBC News
22-04-2025
- Politics
- NBC News
The complex legacy left by Pope Francis and Harvard fights back against the Trump administration : Morning Rundown
Pope Francis leaves behind a legacy peppered with moments of challenging Catholic Church traditions, Harvards sues the Trump administration over first amendment rights and whooping cough is on the rise in the United States. Here's what to know today. Pope Francis leaves a legacy as a Catholic Church reformer As the leader of the world's one billion Roman Catholics, Pope Francis leaves behind a legacy as a reformer who pushed the boundaries of the Catholic Church. Born of Italian immigrant parents in 1936, Jorge Mario Bergoglio was the first pope from South America and was ordained at age 32. Francis was elevated to Cardinal by John Paul II in 2011. When he took the reins in 2013, the church was tainted by financial scandal and the first papal resignation in 600 years. Many of his most radical changes to Vatican policy were in recent years, namely when he allowed priests to bless same-sex couples in 2023. 'If a person is gay and seeks God and has goodwill, who am I to judge him?' he told reporters in 2013. He continued to oppose gay marriage, but the decision pointed to a longstanding shift in attitude that would cement his legacy as one of the most progressive popes in history. This is Morning Rundown, a weekday newsletter to start your day. Sign up here to get it in your inbox. Francis firmly spoke out against the sexual abuse of children by Catholic Church clergy and issued the most extensive revision to its law in 40 years. He criticized the border wall during President Donald Trump's first term, referring to the plan as a 'razor wire,' and sought out a meeting with Cuba's former leader Fidel Castro during his visit to the communist country in 2015. His actions often rattled the church's progressive arm, too. Francis refused to consider ordaining women, was against abortion, and faced criticism from victims of sexual abuse who didn't believe he went far enough to punish offenders. Francis bucked several traditions in his early leadership and worked to establish a new order marked by speaking out to World leaders, embracing humility in the face of the Catholic church pomp, and elevating the needs of marginalized communities. Harvard sues federal government after Trump administration slashed billions in funding In the latest volley between Harvard and the White House, the university filed a lawsuit accusing the administration of violating the First Amendment by freezing $2.2 billion in grants. Harvard is accusing the federal government of 'unprecedented and improper' control over the Ivy League institution, and arguing the funding freeze is not related to the administration's stated concerns about antisemitism on campus 'The Government has not — and cannot — identify any rational connection between antisemitism concerns and the medical, scientific, technological, and other research it has frozen that aims to save American lives, foster American success, preserve American security, and maintain America's position as a global leader in innovation,' the lawsuit says. Harvard wants a judge to declare the freeze unconstitutional and order the government to reverse any terminations of federal funding. Some doctors are raising alarm over so-called GLP-1 supplements that claim to 'supercharge' the body's natural levels of the gut hormone. The compounded version of weight loss drugs including Wegovy (semaglutide) and Zepbound (tirzepatide) require at least a virtual consultation with a clinician to receive a prescription. But these popular supplements are available over the counter. While compounded versions of Wegovy and Zepbound are readily available, the FDA has previously announced there's no longer a shortage of tirzepatide or semaglutide — enter in GLP-1 supplement sellers to flood the market. These supplements often come in colorful patches or fruit-flavored gummies but experts say they are likely to be ineffective for weight loss. 'If you can buy it without a prescription, it's not an actual GLP-1 drug,' says Jamie Alan, an associate professor of pharmacology and toxicology at Michigan State University's College of Human Medicine. 'It is something else that's marketed to support your endogenous GLP-1 production. A close read of the ingredients of these GLP-1 supplements will show items that have minimal scientific evidence supporting their claims to help people lose weight. The FDA states the ingredients have not been tested, and health experts urge consumers to remember there's no immediate dietary fix that will have the same impact as weight loss drugs. Staff Pick: Longer hair, nails at home, fewer facials: How economic warning signs are flashing at the salon The start of spring signals a fresh hairstyle or regular pedicures, but many salons are seeing a drawdown in repeat clients as they fear an impending economic slowdown. When finances are stretched, maintenance appointments are often the first discretionary purchase on the chopping block: clients stretch their haircuts to 10 or 12 weeks, rather than the recommended six to eight weeks, or find ways to conduct the treatments at home. Meanwhile, tariffs have raised the cost of foils used for highlights by 20%, and made steel hair spray cans even more pricey, causing a concern among beauty service providers who are already seeing a drop-off in business. Shannon Pettypiece spoke with salon owners, estheticians and other experts in the beauty industry who share their fears about what this shift means for their business. — Kaylah Jackson, platforms editor NBCU Academy: Amid 23andMe's Bankruptcy, These Biobanks Promise More Transparency and Representation Non-European populations have historically been excluded from genetic studies and databases, as they make up only 14% of genetic data. While popular DNA testing companies like 23andMe and share their large data pools with academic and nonprofit partners, they are self-selecting for users who can afford their tests. Even the future of the federal government's initiatives to diversify genetic studies is uncertain with the Trump administration's recent freeze of research funds. All of this equates to underrepresented communities potentially being left out of scientific breakthroughs. To fill these gaps, read how two biobanks are offering free DNA tests and greater transparency about how users' data is shared. NBCU Academy is a free, award-winning education program for developing new skills and advancing careers in journalism, media and tech. NBC Select: Online Shopping, Simplified Are you in search of a brighter smile? The NBC Select team spoke with dental experts to find the best teeth whitening products, including whitestrips, toothpaste and mouthwash. We've been testing fitness trackers for a few years now and these are our favorites from brands like Apple, Garmin and Fitbit. We have a multitude of options whether you want something to track your running speed or your sleep habits. here.
