A data breach at a Texas state government department allowed hackers to take the driver's license information and passport numbers of more than 3 million people, according to the state's attorney general. In a data breach notice on the Texas Parks & Wildlife website, the department said the state's cybersecurity unit recently detected a security incident ' the nature of which, or when, were not specified ' that allowed hackers to access to the department's license system vendor, which handles the sale of hunting and fishing licenses. Get an inside look at what it takes to scale and succeed from leaders at Mach Industries, Founders Fund, and Shinkei Systems. Through candid fireside chats and high-impact networking, you'll walk away with valuable insights and new connections....

Late in Steven Spielberg's new film, Disclosure Day, a former nun-to-be calls the abbess of the convent she left behind. The world is about to learn that aliens have been living on Earth for decades. Although Jane, the onetime novitiate, is no longer religious, she still thinks that the idea of God is what 'keeps whole civilizations together.' She's worried that when people find out that humans aren't the only intelligent beings in the universe, they'll lose their faith, and society will crumble. In other words, Jane shouldn't be afraid. The existence of aliens does not necessarily conflict with belief in God. As Sister Maura says later in the conversation, 'Why would he make such a vast universe yet save it only for us'' Jane seems not to have heard this perspective before, and it reassures her. But centuries of Catholic writing and thinking about the universe demonstrate that Sister Maura's view on God and aliens is hardly novel. Although the Catholic Church takes no official position on the existence of extraterrestrial life, past and present Catholic figures have explored the possibility and not found it threatening. The 15th-century cardinal Nicholas of Cusa surmised that 'none of the other regions of the stars are empty of inhabitants' and even that some said inhabitants might be 'brilliant, illustrious, and intellectual.' In 1821, the Catholic philosopher Joseph de Maistre puzzled over the fact that some of his contemporaries regarded other planets as 'mere globes, destitute of life and beauty, which the Almighty has launched into space, apparently like a tennis-player, for his amusement solely.' And in a 2010 interview, the former head of the Vatican Observatory, Brother Guy Consolmagno, said that he would be 'delighted' if humans were to discover intelligent life beyond our world....

The board meeting ended early, revenue was ahead of plan, margins were improving. Customer churn was low. The CEO walked the board through a confident strategy deck, the CFO showed disciplined cost control, and the head of sales explained why the pipeline looked stronger than expected. The meeting ended on a positive note. The board members went out for drinks. The mood was relaxed. For boards, AI, and eventually quantum computing, and other technologies, should not be treated as another technology trend. These technologies can reshape pricing, customer expectations, cybersecurity, product development, talent needs and the company's business model itself. If a competitor uses AI to reduce costs, accelerate delivery, improve personalization or launch faster products, the cost of delay may be far greater than the investment required. The company may lose pricing power, customer loyalty and market relevance before the damage fully appears in the financials. Every major technology discussion should include a 'cost of inaction' analysis....

Iran's national soccer team has made its 2026 World Cup debut amid a tumultuous backdrop: an abrupt and tentative ceasefire after months of war, an extraordinary set-up in Mexico after the US prevented the team from residing in-country between matches, and political uncertainty that has now expanded to the international stage. But for many Iranians, professional sports have always sat at an intersection between athleticism, identity, and politics. From sporting defections and political activism to moments of immense national sporting pride, the trajectory of Iranian sports underscores what's at stake this World Cup. The Iranian team, on Tuesday morning, drew 2-2 in their debut against New Zealand and will next face Belgium and Egypt, traveling to and from Mexico in between. 'I think it's not fair,' says Iranian athlete Hadi Tiranvalipour about Iran's team flying from Mexico to the US ahead of each match, although he's not paying much attention to the World Cup this year. Tiranvalipour, like several prominent Iranian athletes, knows the dichotomy of pursuing his sporting dreams amid the backdrop of the nation he once represented. In fact, he left everything behind in 2022: his family, friends, an entire life in Iran, crossing into Turkey, before seeking asylum in Italy. The taekwondo athlete and TV presenter had spent eight years on the Iranian national team and even became its captain, winning countless national and international accolades while representing his country....