DOE's NNSA Removes Enriched Uranium From Venezuela And Japan

 The Department of Energy's National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) has coordinated with Japan and Venezuela to remove enriched uranium from both countries. 

The NNSA coordinated with Japanese government and nuclear agencies to transfer 1.7 metric tons of high-assay low-enriched uranium (HALEU) from Japan to the US. The material comes from excess supplies at the recently shut-down test reactor in Japan. 

Japan has not completely ceased research into new reactor technology, and instead will focus on the Joyo research reactor. There is a long-standing coordination between the US and Japan to offload excess quantities of enriched uranium due to proliferation concerns.

Typical commercial reactors run on low-enriched uranium (LEU) which is typically enriched to 3-5%. The percentage of enrichment indicates how much of the fuel is actually usable for fission; the amount of U-235 isotopes present in the uranium mix. 

Some of the advanced reactors and currently operating research reactors across the world use HALEU, enriched up to 20%. Enrichment levels beyond that are considered weapons grade and only used for military reactors and nuclear weapons development. 

The HALEU that was imported from Japan will be repurposed and utilized in advanced reactors being developed under the DOE's Reactor Pilot Program and other research efforts.

For context, the amount of enriched uranium brought over from Japan is likely enough to fuel only one microreactor for one full operating cycle. Centrus Energy also currently produces 900kg/year of HALEU at their Piketon facility, with a massive expansion effort currently underway. 

Immediately following the Japan announcement, the NNSA declared all the highly enriched uranium (HEU) was successfully removed from Venezuela. The material was left over from a research reactor program in Venezuela that shut down in 1991. 

The HEU has been transported to the Savannah River Site for processing and reuse, potentially to also be included in future DOE programs 

https://www.zerohedge.com/energy/does-nnsa-removes-enriched-uranium-venezuela-and-japan

The Rise Of AI Writing And The Decline Of Human Voice

 Artificial intelligence has become a powerful writing assistant, helping people draft emails, essays, marketing copy, and social media posts in seconds. But as these tools grow more popular, researchers are raising concerns about an unintended consequence: AI may be changing not just what we write, but how we communicate altogether, according to Axios.

New research suggests that widespread use of large language models is making language more uniform. A study conducted by University of Southern California found that after the release of ChatGPT, diversity in writing styles declined across several forms of communication, including scientific publications, local journalism, and social media posts. Researchers observed fewer differences in vocabulary choices and sentence patterns, pointing to a growing preference for polished, formulaic language.

Axios writes that the influence appears to extend beyond writing. Researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Human Development analyzed more than 740,000 hours of spoken and written material and found that certain words commonly associated with ChatGPT responses are appearing more frequently in everyday communication. Words like “delve,” “meticulous,” “boast,” and “comprehend” have become increasingly common, suggesting AI-generated language may be shaping human speech habits as well.

Morteza Dehghani, who led the USC research, believes this shift is happening because people are becoming familiar with a specific type of polished communication. “People get used to this idealized, very predictable form of language, and even people who are not using it, in order to have that sense of powerful, influential writing, they start writing more like LLMs,” he told Axios.

Not everyone sees that as progress. Alex Mahadevan of the Poynter Institute for Media Studies argues that AI-generated content often feels empty despite being technically sound. He described it as noticeably “soulless” and “mediocre,” adding, “There’s no art in it.”

For Emily M. Bender, the concern is personal as well as cultural. The University of Washington linguist said she avoids AI-generated writing whenever possible, explaining, “I do my very best not to read any synthetic text.” However, she admitted that identifying it is becoming increasingly difficult: “oftentimes people will send me something and I won’t know.”

That challenge may only grow as AI adoption accelerates. According to a 2025 survey from the Brookings Institution, nearly one-third of small businesses now use AI tools for customer service and outreach, while 16% of individuals report using large language models for communication and social media content.

Bender warns that the pursuit of flawless AI-style writing could create what she calls the “‘LinkedIn average,’” where communication becomes polished but generic. Mahadevan echoed that frustration, saying he misses “good bad writing,” the kind of imperfect but memorable work that reflects real human personality. He admitted that AI’s growing presence has even made him second-guess his own style: “I have been second-guessing myself, thinking, ‘well, sh*t, is someone going to think this was written with AI?’”

At the heart of the debate is a larger question about what writing actually does for people. Bender argues that writing is more than producing clean sentences—it helps people process ideas and sharpen their thinking. “There is value in the struggle of writing, because we learn to express ourselves, and we learn to do the thinking that happens as we’re writing,” she said.

As AI tools become a permanent part of modern communication, experts say the challenge will be maintaining individuality in a world increasingly shaped by machine-generated language. “Each time we choose not to do that, we are losing out, both individually and societally,” Bender says.

https://www.zerohedge.com/markets/rise-ai-writing-and-decline-human-voice

J&J seeks to rewrite the script on depression treatment

 A survey by Johnson & Johnson has revealed patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) are pessimistic about the chances of being free of their symptoms – and it has launched an awareness campaign to challenge that assumption.

The global Generation Fine campaign, developed in partnership with Mental Health America and clinical experts, is designed to "challenge what it means to feel 'fine' in depression care and empower patients to take the first step in moving beyond 'good enough' by talking with their healthcare provider."

The survey – conducted in 859 MDD patients currently managing their MDD with oral antidepressants and 800 healthcare providers who treat patients with MDD in the US, Brazil, Canada, China, Germany, Italy, and Spain – found that nearly four out of five patients felt antidepressants were unlikely to address all of their symptoms or help them reach remission.

Around three-quarters of them also said that residual symptoms still plague their lives, with 90% saying this affects their work and more than half reporting that they sometimes isolate themselves from others as a result.

Among patients who had not discussed the problem of lingering symptoms with their doctor, 40% reported they did not have the energy to even raise the subject, while a third said there was little point because they felt nothing could be done about it.

"Depression doesn't look the same for everyone, but it is often treated with the same one-size-fits-all approach," said Jessica Jackson, head of alliance development at Mental Health America.

"This disconnect can leave people feeling unseen or misunderstood, while stigma and societal pressures make it even harder to seek help," she added. "We need to change the conversation and create opportunities where all people feel empowered to say, 'I'm not okay'."

Generation Fine has been launched to highlight the day-to-day challenges of people living with MDD – an estimated 332 million people worldwide – and support conversations about their care and the possibility of remission.

The campaign is being fronted by mental health advocates, including retired National Football League (NFL) player Kyle Long, who played for the Chicago Bears and is now a TV pundit for the game.

"I've battled depression at different stages of my life, including during my career in the NFL, and for a long time I felt like I had to 'tough it out' and handle it by myself," said Long. "When I stopped trying to fight it alone and started being honest with myself and my support system, including my doctor, everything changed. Speaking up about what you're feeling isn't weakness - it's the strongest play you can make."

J&J has developed two therapies aimed at the estimated two-thirds of MDD patients who continue to experience symptoms despite treatment with conventional antidepressants, Caplyta (lumateperone) and Spravato (esketamine), which are both approved as add-ons to standard therapy.

The drugmaker also has another candidate in the pipeline with orexin-2 receptor antagonist seltorexant, which has shown efficacy in a phase 3 trial for insomnia associated with depression, a symptom that currently has no FDA-approved treatments and affects around 60% of patients. 

https://pharmaphorum.com/news/jj-seeks-rewrite-script-depression-treatment

Capricor sues partner Nippon Shinyaku in DMD therapy spat

 Capricor Therapeutics has fallen out with its commercial partner for Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) cell therapy deramiocel, Nippon Shinyaku, and is taking its complaint to the courts.

The San Diego biotech has filed a lawsuit against the Japanese drugmaker and its US subsidiary, NS Pharma, claiming that the terms of their distribution contract for deramiocel are flawed and could hinder DMD patients from getting access to the therapy if it gets approved by the FDA.

According to Capricor, the distribution agreement with NS Pharma contains a "fundamental pricing flaw" that its partner has refused to address, and it has accused the company of failing to "adequately prepare" for the commercial launch.

Deramiocel was turned down by the FDA last year as a treatment for cardiomyopathy associated with DMD, but has since been refiled as a treatment for skeletal and cardiac manifestations of the muscle-wasting disease, and the US regulator is due to deliver a verdict on that second attempt by 22nd August after a priority review.

The lawsuit is seeking to set aside the agreement altogether, arguing that NS Pharma's actions mean that the deramiocel launch will be "delayed and disrupted" due to a previous pricing structure, described as a "mutual mistake," that it claims "renders commercialisation nonviable."

While Capricor has tried to modify the agreement with a new pricing structure, correcting what it describes as a disconnect between the proposed pricing and the Medicare reimbursement framework that would affect both federal and private reimbursement. However, it contends that NS Pharma has refused to cooperate and effectively has tried to "seize control" of the deramiocel.

"I have spent nearly two decades building Capricor with one goal in mind: making deramiocel available to treat these boys," said Dr Linda Marbán, Capricor's chief executive. 

"I know what every additional month of delay costs them, because I know what is happening inside their muscles when they cannot be treated," she added. "There is no version of this case in which I am willing to watch NS Pharma's inaction take that away from them."

The lawsuit is asking for the distribution agreement to be rescinded and an injunction imposed to prevent NS Pharma from "interfering with Capricor's efforts to distribute deramiocel […] in the US."

Deramiocel consists of donor cardiosphere-derived cells (CDCs), given by intravenous infusion once every three months, that are thought to modulate the immune system and regenerate skeletal and cardiac muscle cells.

Capricor entered into the distribution agreement with Nippon Shinyaku and NS Pharma in 2022, receiving an upfront payment of $30 million and the promise of up to $705 million in milestone payments.

Under the terms of the deal, Capricor would sell supplies of the therapy to NS Pharma for distribution and receive a share of product revenue.

https://pharmaphorum.com/news/capricor-sues-partner-nippon-shinyaku-dmd-therapy-spat

US military says it killed 2 in strike on alleged drug-trafficking boat

 The U.S. military’s latest strike on an alleged drug-trafficking boat in the eastern Pacific Ocean killed two men Friday while leaving one survivor.

Video posted on social media by U.S. Southern Command shows a black, boat-shaped image before what appears to be an explosion, followed by a column of fire rising from the ocean.

Southern Command said it “immediately notified the U.S. Coast Guard to activate the Search and Rescue system for the survivor.”

The White House announced Wednesday that President Donald Trump has signed off on a new U.S. counterterrorism strategy that sets eliminating drug cartels in the Western Hemisphere as the administration’s highest priority.

The Trump administration’s campaign of blowing up alleged drug-trafficking vessels in Latin American waters, including the eastern Pacific and the Caribbean Sea, has gone on since early September and killed at least 193 people in total. The military has not provided evidence that any of the vessels were carrying drugs. The strikes have ramped up again in recent weeks.

At the same time, Trump has sought to press regional leaders to work more closely with the U.S. to target cartels and take military action themselves against drug traffickers and transnational gangs that he says pose an “unacceptable threat” to the hemisphere’s national security.

Critics, meanwhile, have questioned the overall legality of the boat strikes.

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/trump-administration/us-strike-alleged-drug-boat-eastern-pacific-kills-2-leaves-survivor-rcna344320

US concerned by Taiwan defence delay 'concession' to China

 Further delays to Taiwan military spending are a "concession" to China, the U.S. State Department said, as Taipei's defence ministry detailed the impact of projects excluded from a package passed by the opposition-controlled parliament.

Taiwan President Lai Ching-te had sought $40 billion in supplementary defence spending to better deter China, which views the democratically governed island as its own territory and has stepped up its military pressure.

But after repeated delays by opposition parties, who hold the majority of seats, parliament on Friday approved only two-thirds of the money requested, all for U.S. weapons rather than including other projects like domestically developed drones and missiles. 

The opposition said that while it supports defence spending, it would not sign "blank cheques", saying the proposals were vague in places and could open the door to corruption.

A State Department spokesperson said the U.S. supports Taiwan's acquisition of critical defence capabilities "commensurate with the threat it faces" and consistent with the ongoing commitment of multiple U.S. administrations.

"While we are encouraged by the passage of this special defence budget after unhelpful stalling, the United States notes that further delays in funding the remaining proposed capabilities are a concession to the Chinese Communist Party," the spokesperson added.

The U.S. is Taiwan's most important international backer and arms supplier, despite the lack of formal diplomatic ties, and has strongly supported increased military spending. Beijing has repeatedly demanded an end to weapons sales.

In a statement late on Friday, Taiwan's defence ministry said the approved spending completely excludes certain commercial purchases, which is highly likely to create "capability gaps".

"Our country faces a severe and continuously escalating threat environment," it said.

One plan not included is the Chiang Kung, or "Strong Bow", anti-ballistic missile which is meant to form the backbone of Taiwan's new "T-Dome" air defence system, the ministry added.

"Following its removal from the special budget, if it cannot be procured in a timely manner, air defence combat effectiveness will be severely impacted," it said.

Lack of approval for drone systems like sea attack drones will significantly delay asymmetric warfare capabilities and affect projected economic growth and employment opportunities for domestic industry, the ministry said.

Lai said that while he appreciated the approved funding, which allows purchases of such items as the Lockheed Martin-made HIMARS multiple-launch rocket system to proceed, this was only the first step.

"Any gap will affect the integrity of the overall defence system. Any delay will increase the shared security risks borne by the people of Taiwan," he posted on Facebook.

https://www.marketscreener.com/news/us-concerned-by-taiwan-defence-delay-concession-to-china-ce7f5bdbd08ff521

Fed's Christopher Waller Advocates for Centralized Support Functions

 Christopher Waller, a Federal Reserve governor, proposed a new model for the Fed's supportive functions, emphasizing the benefits of centralizing areas such as human resources, IT, and risk management. 

Christopher Waller's proposal at a monetary policy conference at Stanford University highlights a significant shift in the operational structure of the Federal Reserve. By advocating for the centralization of support functions, Waller aims to streamline operations and reduce costs across the 12 regional Reserve Banks, which currently operate independently. This change is expected to enhance risk management and operational efficiency, ultimately benefiting taxpayers. The Fed's focus on operational efficiency is particularly relevant as it plans to reduce its workforce by 10% in the coming years.

https://www.gurufocus.com/news/8847187/feds-christopher-waller-advocates-for-centralized-support-functions