SCROLL NEWS / DISCOVERY
Search headlines
Find the stories shaping the conversation.
Results for " four " 5,390 found 🔀 AI-powered Shuffle
Health Care Partnership outlines workforce progress
More local nursing graduates are staying in the region, according to officials offering an update on the progress of the New Hanover Healthcare Career Partnership at a public forum last night. According to Jack Watson, dean of UNCW’s College of Health & Human Services, the number of UNCW nursing graduates choosing to remain in the area after graduation has climbed from 27% to the mid-40% range. The New Hanover Healthcare Career Partnership aims to address the region’s healthcare worker shortage, with a key focus on nursing through strategic partnerships between UNCW, Cape Fear Community College (CFCC), New Hanover County Schools and the Wilmington Chamber of Commerce Foundation. "Each of the partners had pathway programs,” said Watson, “but they were almost at times done in a silo." One of the New Hanover Community Endowment's largest commitments to date, the collaborative received a $22.3 million grant in 2023, to be disbursed over three years, beginning in 2024. At the public forum, leadership addressed the nursing bottleneck created by the pandemic, and Laurie Whalin, president of the Novant Health Coastal Region, acknowledged that Novant Health had relied heavily on travel nurses during that period, with travel nurses making up about 47% of staff and nursing turnover at 35% at the height of the pandemic. "I can say we are in a tremendously different place today,” Whalin said at the forum. The number of travel nurses employed by the Novant Health Coastal Region has dropped to around 100 today, which Whalin says accounts for less than 4% of the workforce. Roughly two years into the grant term, major stakeholders in the collaboration pointed to various accomplishments tied to the initiative. According to Stephen Hill, vice president of talent development with the Greater Wilmington Chamber of Commerce, 250 more nurses live in New Hanover County in 2026 than in 2023. Whalin added that between 2021 and 2025, the Novant Health Coastal Region has hired close to 1,200 registered nurses. Additionally, according to Whalin, over the past two years, hiring and retention of nursing graduates from UNCW increased by 103%, while hiring and retention of nursing graduates from CFCC increased by 70%. Mandy Mills, director of career & technical education at New Hanover County Schools, pointed to the launch of its first Health Sciences Academy program, established across the county's four traditional high schools (Hoggard High School, Laney High School, Ashley High School and New Hanover High School), which started with 38 students last year. Mills also pointed to growth in the district’s Nursing Fundamentals course, which grew from 10 seats in 2023 to 50 in 2025-2026 and is now offered at all four traditional high schools. Watson emphasized the growing nursing class sizes and offered an update on the school’s accelerated nursing degree, which launched last year. Eleven students graduated in the first class, and all passed their boards on the first try, Watson said. This year’s class has 24 students. When the endowment announced its $22.3 million grant for the collaborative in 2023, UNCW and CFCC were each slated to receive the bulk of the funds, at about $10 million each. UNCW’s plans for the grant money included expanding its simulation lab, Watson said. He added that construction is expected to begin on the simulation lab this year and will likely extend through next year. According to Mary Ellen Naylor, dean of Health & Human Services at CFCC, the college has experienced growth in its associate degree nursing retention, rising from 59% in 2023 to 76% for the May 2026 class. CFCC used part of its endowment funding to support wraparound services, including a housing stipend, tuition assistance, exam assistance, emergency assistance, drop-in daycare and clinical and educational supplies. "We have very strong … students, but once they get into the program, there are competing priorities,” Naylor said. “They are working multiple jobs. They have children. They're single parents." According to Naylor, in 2026, 94% of students who used support services are still enrolled or have graduated. Addressing a question from an audience member about an approaching “enrollment cliff,” driven largely by dropping birth rates, Watson and Naylor said demand remains strong at both schools. “Right now … we do have more applicants than we have spots in our nursing program, and it is still a competitive process to get into,” Watson said. “I do not foresee that changing.” "(We've) doubled enrollment in our nursing programs over the last few years, but just as Dean Watson said, we still have very robust applicant pools, so it is still very competitive to get in,” Naylor said. "We have the applicant pool to support that, but again, it's not as easy as just saying, 'Okay … we're going to take another 90 students.' It's making sure all the resources and infrastructure that we need to educate the students outside the classroom is there as well." In response to a question about applying the collaborative model to other healthcare positions besides nursing, Sophie Dagenais, CEO and president of the endowment, said she sees the potential for the model to expand to other healthcare jobs and even other industries, but that the endowment hopes to learn from this model first. “This is a grant that is in year two of three years, and first we wanted to learn what is this going to demonstrate, what will we learn and then how may we scale it possibly,” she said. According to endowment spokesperson Amber Rogerson, funds for the program are set to expire after June 2027. “It's too early to discuss what happens after that,” wrote Rogerson in an email, “though we know the partners are considering the future, and some of the work supported by the grants is now built into their regular operations.”
‘Politics means caring for people’ says city council candidate Dina Ramaha
SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. – A recent voice in city council public comment, Dina Ramaha announced her campaign during the Fourth of July parade. Ramaha, who owns Three Pines Coffee and Conscious Mind Therapy, says...
Junior Achievement to honor four Corridor business leaders Thursday
Junior Achievement of Eastern Iowa will induct four business leaders into its Corridor Business Hall of Fame during an event Thursday in Cedar Rapids.The 27th a
Penguins cut nine players, including Tomas Galvas
The Penguins made some roster cuts today during their off day, trimming away nine players. Besides Gauthier, the fourth goalie in the organization, only Tomas Galvas is on an NHL contract from this group. The Penguins stuck with the plan to loan the 20-year old 2026 second round pick back to his Czech team for […]
Presidents Cup 2026: Thursday's fourball matchups, starting times at Medinah
The first session features five fourball matches, the first of which tees off at 12:35 p.m. ET.
Summer signings assessed & why Town fans can have hope
Heading into the international break, Ipswich Town have double the amount of points at this stage of the season compared with their previous Premier League campaign. Bear in mind as well that they've played four teams who are featuring in Europe this season. Saturday at Hill Dickinson Stadium - against a team with just their domestic fixtures to worry about - was particularly frustrating, as Gary O'Neil's side didn't deserve to come away with nothing.
CVS Health Launches National "Wear Your HeART" Bandage Art Contest
Four winning designs will be featured on limited-edition CVS brand bandages for sale in 2027Originally published on Company NewsroomWOONSOCKET, RI / ACCESS Newswire / September 23, 2026 / ® (NYSE:CVS) recently announced the launch of its nationwide "Wear Your HeART" Bandage Art Contest, inviting people across the United States to submit original artwork inspired by the importance of protecting personal, family and community health.The contest offers artists, students, families and community grou
Patriots' Drake Maye Earns Worrying Label on 'Gross' Ranking
With four interceptions to start the year, a weekly ranking believes Drake Maye appears "rattled" this season.
Maryland health inspector general audits find $42M in improper payments, report says
Maryland’s Office of Inspector General for Health (OIGH) has identified more than $42 million in improper or unrecovered payments over the last four years, acco
Science, Unleashed
Dogs hear things we miss. Cats spot things we don’t. Turns out, there’s some cool science behind it. This fall, Cox Science Center & Aquarium is giving families a chance to step inside the sensory world of their favorite four-legged companions with “Cats & Dogs,” a large-scale exhibition that blends science, behavior and culture. The
Taylor Swift announces 'The Life of a Showgirl: The Encore' will be released on Friday
The pop superstar will release an expanded version of her blockbuster 2025 album with four new songs.
Playoff Countdown: New England Revolution, St. Louis CITY mean business
Most teams have eight games left. The end is nigh. Until then… Each week, we’ll look at four teams rising or falling in the standings, three players making an impact, and three storylines to watch. An Audi 2026 MLS Cup Playoffs race 4-3-3, if you will. Four teams we're monitoring
Aberdeen's attacking issues laid bare
The 48 chances created by Stephen Robinson's side is the lowest tally in the division - same for their 37 chances from open play - while they have the fewest shots on target (18) and second-fewest shots (70). It must be noted Aberdeen haven't had the kindest fixtures, with Robinson keen to point out they have faced five of last season's top-six teams in their opening seven games. Eight points have been accrued, leaving the Dons seventh in a congested table and just two points shy of fourth, so there's no reason for panic.
Using archery to help first responders with mental health support
Initiative born from 2024 ambush that killed four officers now taking shape with outdoor therapy approach
Using archery to help first responders with mental health support
Initiative born from 2024 ambush that killed four officers now taking shape with outdoor therapy approach
Using archery to help first responders with mental health support
Initiative born from 2024 ambush that killed four officers now taking shape with outdoor therapy approach
Yellowstone County launches mobile mental health crisis response team with $3M grant
Yellowstone County is launching a new mobile crisis response program backed by a four-year, $3 million federal grant.
Trump wants to make America 1988 again
Four decades after Willie Horton, the president still invokes the politics of the past.
Is football too dangerous for kids’ brains? These scientists are racing to find out
A new study found that one in four professional football players who died between 2016 and 2021 had CTE—a degenerative brain disease—but what about children who play these sports?
Nick Sirianni’s winning percentage places him among NFL legends
Nick Sirianni’s .701 winning percentage places him alongside four Hall of Fame coaches in an exclusive group of NFL winners
Ruben Amorim wants Real Madrid forward Endrick at AC Milan
AC Milan are already considering squad additions as they look to finish in the top four and return to the Champions League under head coach Ruben Amorim.According to Calciomercato, the Rossoneri have ...
Minnesota Orchestra announces 2026–27 broadcast schedule
The Minnesota Orchestra has announced the return of This Is Minnesota Orchestra for its sixth consecutive season, featuring four live concert broadcasts on Minnesota PBS and livestreams on YouTube.
Why scientists still cannot say how much plastic infants are actually consuming
A systematic review of 22 primary studies and four reviews found plastic-derived contaminants across infant foods and feeding equipment, but major differences in sampling, analytical methods, and quality control made exposure estimates difficult to compare. The authors found substantial evidence gaps for nanoplastics and oligomers and concluded that better-standardized exposure assessment is needed before infant health risks can be reliably evaluated.
Alaska governor candidates discuss education, PFD and energy
Four Alaska governor candidates answered questions from community members and Rotarians about education, the Permanent Fund Dividend and energy. The candidates also discussed natural gas production in Cook Inlet ahead
Newly available reports show state owed millions by providers, local health agencies
The Office of Inspector General for Health did almost 1,400 audits and investigations over the last four years and found more than $42 million in improper or unrecovered payments -- but those reports have only recently been posted for public review.
Steelers facing tough decision after offensive line’s disastrous start
Aaron Rodgers is taking the hits as the Pittsburgh Steelers search for answers after protection breakdowns, four sacks and costly turnovers exposed major concerns along their offensive line.
Georgia Bulldogs, Clemson Tigers cancel future games, per report
According to a new report, the Georgia Bulldogs and Clemson Tigers are cancelling four future non-conference football games.
Did Tri-City Latino business leader threaten Canadian immigrant with ICE?
“Immigration is not a joke. It’s serious what’s going on in our world today.”
Browns QB Trade Could Help Giants After Jaxson Dart Injury
The Cleveland Browns have a four-man quarterback room, and with the Giants desperate after the Jaxson Dart injury, a trade could be in order. The post Browns QB Trade Could Help Giants After Jaxson Dart Injury appeared first on HEAVY.
How can the Diamondbacks still make the 2026 MLB postseason?
PHOENIX – With six games remaining, the Diamondbacks are still alive in the NL Wild Card race, but barely. Arizona sits four games behind Philadelphia for the third National League Wild Card spot.
Ernst Names Small Business of the Week, North Lumber & Home Center
Read the release on Sen. Ernst's website HERE. Throughout this Congress, Chair Ernst plans to recognize a small business in every one of Iowa’s 99 counties. RED OAK, Iowa – U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Chair of the Senate Small Business Committee, today announced her Small Business of the Week: North Lumber & Home Center of Decatur County. Throughout the 119th Congress, Chair Ernst plans to recognize a small business in each of Iowa's 99 counties. “North Lumber & Home Center has truly gotten to the root of what it means to be a hardworking, dedicated small business” said Chair Ernst. “For more than four decades, this family-owned and operated business has continued to branch out by providing quality services and staying actively engaged in its community.” In 1980, current owner Sally Dykes and her family purchased North Lumber. As the family continued to expand their inventory and operations to better serve its customers, they renamed the business to North Lumber & Home Center. In 2002, they opened a second store in Lamoni, Iowa. Today, Sally continues to run the lumberyard and building materials supplier business alongside her son, Tony Dykes. Stay tuned as Chair Ernst continues to recognize outstanding Iowa small businesses with her Small Business of the Week award. ###
First-ever literary festival planned for Orange County
What happens when you bring together four Orange County writers with a goal to recognize its proud literary heritage and honor the poets, novelists, memoirists and others who have shaped
Game Discussion: Milwaukee Brewers (98-58) @ Philadelphia Phillies (86-70)
Brewers eye four straight wins to close in on 100
In 2022, scientists unveiled a wind-turbine material that could be recycled into gummy-bear ingredients. Four years later, where did the idea go?
A viral scientific breakthrough promised to solve wind energy's waste problem—but the gummy bears were never the real goal, and the hype outpaced what the lab could actually deliver.
Jeffrey Adams, an established restaurateur's first business, is closing after 14 years
Jeffrey Adams on Fourth, an upscale New American restaurant in downtown Winston-Salem, closes after 14 years due to financial challenges.
Gears of War: E-Day Story Director Laid Off Just Four Days After Celebrating The Game Going Gold
The Gears dev had been at the Coalition since 2022 and was excited for people to play the game
Warriors legend Andre Iguodala invests in new California sports team
Former four-time NBA champion Andre Iguodala recently invested in Major League Volleyball, joining a new expansion team in Northern California.
Michigan Chamber endorses John James for governor
The endorsement of James over Democrat Jocelyn Benson was not unexpected given the group’s history of supporting Republican gubernatorial candidates. But it came considerably earlier than four years ago.
Apple Watch Series 10 vs. Series 12 Buyer's Guide: Should You Upgrade?
The Apple Watch Series 12 is now available, two years after the Series 10 introduced the current thinner design. But is it worth upgrading? While last year's Series 11 brought just four changes, the Series 12 is a much more substantial update, with a new chip, twice as much RAM, redesigned health sensors, exclusive health and audio features, tougher cover glass, 5G connectivity, and new case materials. The Series 12 starts at the same $399 price as the Series 10 did in 2024.
How “Primetime” director convinced Robert Pattinson to play Chris Hansen: Four Lokos, gummies, and a late rewrite
Director Lance Oppenheim reveals the moment the actor decided to star in the film after initially boarding only as a producer.
Florida State’s roster overhaul gets harsh early grade by 247 Sports
247Sports’ Cody Nagel gave Florida State the lowest grade among Power Four programs with 50-plus newcomers after a 1-2 start.
The B-teams making elite look ordinary
The fact that Arsenal are not invincible has clearly come as a bit of a surprise to some people. Both Brighton and Brentford will sit in the top four for the three weeks of the international break, with Bournemouth finding their feet under a new manager. In the last four seasons Brighton have averaged an eighth-place league finish - astonishing for a smaller provincial club outwith the major cities.
Gates Foundation and MTN launch AI maternal health platform to reach 500,000 women by 2030 in Nigeria, which accounts for about 30% of maternal deaths
The four-year, $25 million partnership pairs AI tools with phone and connectivity access to cut preventable maternal deaths.
Player Preview: Adam Oumiddoch
The four-star freshman hopes to be a regular contributor from day one.
Mariachi, heavy metal and a little blood spatter: Things to do in Merced in October
A four-time Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter performs at the Merced Theater.
This emerging treatment could help people avoid knee replacement surgery
A minimally invasive procedure called genicular artery embolization could offer a new middle ground between conservative treatments and knee replacement for osteoarthritis. By blocking tiny blood vessels associated with inflammation, GAE can significantly reduce pain, with some patients reporting little or no pain afterward. Studies suggest the benefits may last two to four years in people who respond well.
Four clubs eyeing struggling Arsenal star
Viktor Gyokeres moved to Arsenal just over a year ago, but he already finds himself struggling for regular action despite arriving as one of the deadliest strikers in the world.When he competed for Sp...
Furlani officially departs Milan with new look directors in place
Giorgio Furlani is no longer part of Milan’s board, nearly four months after the club announced his dismissal as chief executive.According to TuttoMercatoWeb, the latest company registry filing conf...
Here's where Sports Illustrated has Notre Dame in mock CFP bracket
Most of the College Football Playoff projections have Notre Dame outside the top four. But Sports Illustrated has put the Irish in a different spot.
Why the CDC is excluding measles deaths in Pennsylvania even as outbreak appears to be ‘accelerating’
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention refuses to count four measles deaths in the state though doctors are ‘seeing new forms’ of disease
How lip-syncing to AI let Forced Entertainment ‘play the game of theatre’
Today we have a fascinating piece by long-time Forced Entertainment fan Ben Kulvichit, speaking to Tim Etchells about their latest show Cold Sweat, how they are integrating lip-sync and AI voices into their work, the question of ‘authenticity’ on stage, and how lip-sync has even opened the door for them to make “something a little bit like drama”. This piece is a paid partnership with the Southbank Centre, where you can see Cold Sweat next month – we’re very grateful to the Southbank Centre for their ongoing support for Exeunt. Holly Williams ‘It was immediately interesting and uncanny’ **By Ben Kulvichit** “Is the microphone on?” So goes one of the opening lines of Signal to Noise, delivered by a human performer lip-syncing to an AI-generated voice. The voice is American, cheery but sluggish, slowed down into a gelatinous drawl. It repeats ad infinitum in a farce of stuckness; an answer never materialises. I find myself asking the same question as I hop on a Google Meet call with Tim Etchells, the artistic director of Forced Entertainment. We spend five or ten minutes frowning at each other, muting and unmuting, me gesticulating in semaphore into my webcam, checking if I am coming through now, restarting the laptop. To Etchells, I appear exaggeratedly mouthing words, my voice missing. In this gloopy purgatory of broken communication, life imitates art imitates life imitates art. We try a Zoom instead. Forced Entertainment, the pioneering British theatre company who have been at the avant-garde of performance since the 1980s, turned an interesting artistic corner with Signal to Noise, created on the occasion of their 40th anniversary. The whole performance employed this lip-sync technique to AI voices; on the face of it a left-field move from a company whose identity has long been grounded in the earthy, immediate presences of its performers and its unassuming, low-tech approach to theatricality. The technique, however, turned out to provide the company with a “rich new seam” of artistic enquiry, and has now spawned a trilogy of works. The second instalment, Cold Sweat, plays at Sheffield Theatres, Southbank Centre, and Lancaster Arts in October, while the third part, Everything Must Go, has been touring in Europe and is slated to come to the UK in 2027. As is often the case with Forced Entertainment shows, the main conceit for this work didn’t arrive until quite late. They were “four or five weeks into rehearsals for Signal to Noise,” Etchells recalls, and getting nowhere. Away from rehearsals, he had been playing around with feeding “weird texts” to AI voices to see how they would cope with them – “basically for my own amusement” – and was compelled by the uniformly “serviceable, benign, good-natured” tone they would read in, no matter how poetic, fractured or experimental the writing. On a hunch, he brought some examples into rehearsals and the performers gave lip-syncing a go. “It was immediately interesting and uncanny,” he recalls, with the performers having to deal in the moment with the problem of mapping themselves onto another artificial ‘performer,’ which itself was dealing with the problem of a very human text. “Almost all the writing for these projects would be useless to us unless it was done in this way,” says Etchells. “We wouldn’t know what to do with it. It’s too poetic. It’s too fictional. It’s too tangled.” But exploring lip-syncing along to the text has opened “an enormous reservoir of ways of thinking about writing and performing.” Subscribe to Exeunt, and get two in-depth pieces on theatre a week, direct to your inbox Subscribe Forced Entertainment have long been sifting through the detritus of popular culture, from daytime TV to end-of-the-pier vaudeville, magic acts and clown shows, to find frameworks for their own unusual entertainments. Lip-syncing, then, makes sense for them to experiment with. As a mode of performance, it’s wired into popular consciousness through pop stars trying to convince stadium audiences of their liveness, or those same voices as channeled through the made-up lips of contestants on RuPaul’s Drag Race, or movie dialogue spreading virally through the host bodies of TikTok users. For Etchells, lip-syncing is often about “approaching real voices and trying to take on their aura,” subsuming that original human presence into yours. “There’s a very basic, elemental sort of theatre magic to it, produced in this very easy way.” This broad approach resonates with instances of lip-syncing within contemporary performance, too. In works like Re-Member Me and Showmanism, performance artist Dickie Beau acts as a kind of spirit medium for archival recordings (this process of re-membering – as in, giving corporeal form to voices – relies on his masterfully precise actor’s technique), while Frankie Thompson is similarly possessed by a host of characters ranging from a nine-year-old Jacob Rees-Mogg to Cliff Richards, all of whom she finds compellingly nauseating, in the exorcism ritual that is her latest show, Horrible Things. What’s different about Forced Entertainment’s use of lip-syncing is that here, there is no original presence to be channeled. The performers are instead taking on what Etchells describes as “the voices of nobody,” or rather the “phantasmic, aggregated echoes” of the many many voices on whose data the AI has been trained, and which are now conjuring into existence words they never actually said. There is a sort of mournful, empty quality to these voices, having “washed up” far away from the people they originally belonged to, to find themselves in stranger’s mouths listing objects, wondering if anyone can hear them and glitching in interminable loops. There is a cold, sad anonymity to it all. Etchells remarks that occasionally the software company he used has notified him that particular people are withdrawing their voices from the platform, instructing him to cease use of those voices. Using these technologies in performance certainly brings up ethical questions around digital rights, consent, identity and ownership, although in the grand scheme of things, Etchells is fairly blasé about it: of all the purposes someone’s voice might be put to without their knowledge, “an avant-garde performance is probably the least of their worries.” [ ](https://exeuntmagazine.substack.com/p/frankie-thompson-horrible-things-essay-mental-health-compulsive-behaviours-pleasance-courtyard-soho-theatre) [ Frankie Thompson: How I manage my own ‘horrible things’ at the Edinburgh Fringe ](https://exeuntmagazine.substack.com/p/frankie-thompson-horrible-things-essay-mental-health-compulsive-behaviours-pleasance-courtyard-soho-theatre) Exeunt · Aug 25 [ Read full story ](https://exeuntmagazine.substack.com/p/frankie-thompson-horrible-things-essay-mental-health-compulsive-behaviours-pleasance-courtyard-soho-theatre) For the performers, though, lip-syncing to these strange, artificial voices is an odd task, requiring them to bend their live, human presence into the shapes produced by machines. Politically, it mirrors processes that are already at play in the continued computational automation of human life. Etchells brings up James Bridle’s writings on new technologies as a reference point: one example Bridle gives is of “chaotic storage”, a logistics technique employed by Amazon fulfilment centres whereby items are stored not according to traditional methods of categorisation or alphabetisation, but in a way that an algorithm determines to produce the most efficient routes for ‘picking’ based on customer purchase patterns. This appears completely random and incomprehensible to humans, with paddling pools sitting next to USB sticks sitting next to blowtorches, and so for the warehouse workers, the process of picking items becomes completely reliant on technology which tells them where to go. Our world is increasingly being designed not with humans in mind, but rather machines. As Etchells puts it, “technology malforms the space, and then you end up having to live in it.” Initially, Forced Entertainment tried their best to live in the world of machines: “I was in the it’s-got-to-be-perfect school of lip-sync,” says Etchells. But with their aesthetic being so tied to the failing act, the slipping mask, the shoddy costume, “it’s no surprise really that that didn’t last.” Instead, the performers got to enjoy being late for a line, or playing games with each other, “stealing” each other’s voices. Etchells compares it to the principles of ventriloquism, in which a free-floating voice unattached to a body is fundamentally discomforting and “sort of traumatic”. That discomfort is equally as alluring to Forced Entertainment as the satisfaction of precision, the pretence of authenticity only interesting if shown to be a pretence. Lip-sync has also opened up new avenues for the company. Having been allergic all their lives to Plays-with-a-capital-P, with Cold Sweat Forced Entertainment find themselves approaching something a little bit like drama. Rather than the presentational arena of Signal to Noise’s open white stage, Cold Sweat places us more decisively in a “fictional locale”: what appears to be “the aftermath of some disastrous party or backyard drinking binge” where three figures – family members, or neighbours, perhaps – are the last ones standing. “It’s all quite acrimonious and accusatory, everyone’s talking over each other.” For Etchells, this more fictional mode is “a door that we’ve never been able to open. We’ve just never really gone there.” Perhaps it is the technique of lip-syncing, an extra buffer of mediation, that allows them to venture away from the here-and-now without feeling that they have to commit to the “psychological claptrap” that comes along with acting; to be able to “play the game of theatre, without getting one’s hands too dirty.” As I wonder how else the impulses behind Forced Entertainment’s work have changed over time, it occurs to me that over the last ten years of new creations, with the exception of If All Else Fails, the company’s performers haven’t ever spoken on stage: there were two shows without any language at all, Out of Order and Under Bright Light, and then this trilogy of lip-sync works. Etchells agrees it’s a shift away from earlier productions, that were so often about “the actual voices of the performers and their actual presences. We had a lot of money, in some ways, on an authentic approach to what it might mean to speak on the stage.” But this sense of authentic presence itself had a fakeness to it; these days, Etchells can’t stand that mode of being onstage where performers “are here to be cheeky and witty versions of themselves. I don’t want to be charmed.” Pulling back into a more anonymous space has resulted in works that feel slightly sharper-edged, more brutal in a way. “All of these shows are post-Brexit, post-Trump, post-truth, post-everything,” Etchells notes. Speech, charisma, authenticity – these things feel politically loaded, and perhaps warmth and openness just don’t feel like the right tools to reflect the world we’re living in. “It feels like the space is closing down, and we’re trying to deal with the fact that the system, the structure that you’re in, is more oppressive and more powerful. It probably always was, but I think we’re just more tuned to it now.” Yet even without their voices, the performers’ distinctive presences – ones that many audiences have followed around for years, if not decades – still, inevitably, shine through as they physically navigate whatever unending task the system of the piece has set for them. They’re still trying to keep up with the onslaught of text, still running about, changing costumes, moving stuff around. The human is always stuck in the teeth of the machine, jamming the smooth, frictionless cheeriness of the not-real, gesticulating silently, trying desperately to communicate. Cold Sweat is at Sheffield Theatres, 2 to 3 October; Southbank Centre, London, 9 to 10 October; Lancaster Arts, 14 October [ ](https://exeuntmagazine.substack.com/p/exeunt-recommends-the-best-autumn-theatre-2026-lives-of-others-standard-of-living-our-friends-in-the-north-lanny-) [ Exeunt recommends... the best autumn theatre ](https://exeuntmagazine.substack.com/p/exeunt-recommends-the-best-autumn-theatre-2026-lives-of-others-standard-of-living-our-friends-in-the-north-lanny-) Exeunt · Sep 16 [ Read full story ](https://exeuntmagazine.substack.com/p/exeunt-recommends-the-best-autumn-theatre-2026-lives-of-others-standard-of-living-our-friends-in-the-north-lanny-) This piece was paid for by the Southbank Centre. Such support helps Exeunt to keep publishing the most interesting writing, about the most exciting theatre. Interested in partnering with Exeunt? Visit our Advertise with Exeunt page, where you can get more information, download an advertising pack, and find our contact details.
Jiang Feng: The Unravelling of German & European Politics
A state election in eastern Germany has become a revealing test of the changing political landscapes of Germany and Europe, writes Jiang Feng, Professor and Chairman of the Council of the Shanghai Academy of Global Governance and Area Studies (SAGGAS) at Shanghai International Studies University. His analysis follows the decisive victory of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) (which has been classified as right-wing extremist by German authorities)in the state of Saxony-Anhalt on 6 September, in which it finished far ahead of its mainstream rivals. Jiang previously served as Minister-Counsellor at the Chinese Embassy in Berlin. The following article was published on 8 September 2026 on huanqiu.com, the online platform of the Global Times. On 6 September, the results of the state election in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany, were announced. The Alternative for Germany (AfD), classified as far-right by German authorities, made history by becoming the largest party in the state parliament, winning 43.8 per cent of the vote — twice its share in the previous election. The Christian Democratic Union (CDU), which had governed the state continuously for 24 years, won just 17.2 per cent, its worst result ever in Saxony-Anhalt. On the night the results were announced, the atmosphere at the CDU gathering was unusually calm. There was neither shock nor argument, as if the defeat had long been expected. Several veteran party members who had spent years working in the state government said: “Defeat is not a bad thing. It is time to make changes.” This state election has not only upended Saxony-Anhalt’s political landscape, but also laid bare the deep tensions between Germany’s traditional party structure and model of governance, on the one hand, and an increasingly polarised society on the other. Its repercussions are already being felt at the federal level, making Saxony-Anhalt a useful case study of the broader trend towards political polarisation and realignment in Europe. Governing Difficulties after Electoral Victory The most immediate consequence of the election is a historic setback for the mainstream party order that took shape in post-war Germany. In Saxony-Anhalt, the AfD has leapt from a peripheral party to the largest political force in the state. Its electoral base has expanded beyond the traditional category of “marginal protest voters” to take on the characteristics of a cross-class coalition. The party has not only consolidated its support in rural areas, but also attracted many middle-class voters and even members of the social elite with stable jobs, their own homes, and substantial incomes. It has thus evolved from a “protest party” into one with the potential to govern. Despite its commanding lead in the vote, however, the AfD faces an institutional obstacle to governing the state: the mainstream parties’ long-standing “firewall” against it. Neither of the two potential routes to forming a government appears likely to break the current political deadlock. The first would be a coalition of establishment parties, led by the CDU and bringing together the Social Democratic Party (SPD), the Greens, the Left Party (Die Linke) and the Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance (BSW) in a cross-camp government. In terms of parliamentary arithmetic, such a coalition could prevent the AfD from forming a government and preserve the outward stability of the traditional political order. Yet these parties are fundamentally divided over key issues including immigration, the energy transition, economic management, and cultural and education policy. Coalition negotiations would therefore be extremely difficult, and even if a government could be formed, it would most likely prove short-lived. More importantly, an alliance of establishment parties aimed at keeping the largest party out of government would play directly into the AfD’s narrative that “political elites are suppressing public opinion”. It could deepen perceptions of political unfairness, further strengthening the AfD’s political capital, and creating a dynamic in which “the more it is suppressed, the more people vote for it”. Ulrich Siegmund, the AfD’s candidate for state premier, has said that if efforts to form a government fail because other parties refuse to cooperate, the AfD will push for a fresh election, which he believes could deliver the party an absolute majority of seats. This points to more intense political battles ahead. The second option would be a coalition between the AfD and the BSW. Together, the two parties would command a simple majority in parliament, making this, on paper, the quickest route to forming a government. The BSW is the only elected party that has not ruled out cooperation with the AfD, and the two parties share some common ground, including on policy towards Russia. There is therefore a degree of political basis for cooperation. Were such a coalition to materialise, Germany would see its first state government jointly formed by a party defined as far-right and one with a far-left background, creating what might be called a “bipolar anti-establishment alliance”. Such an outcome would fundamentally break with the ideological boundaries of post-war German party politics. It is worth noting that even if the AfD ultimately fails to enter the state government, its roughly 47 per cent share of parliamentary seats would give it a powerful blocking minority. Without its consent, major decisions requiring a two-thirds majority — including constitutional amendments, significant budgetary adjustments, and state-level institutional reforms — would be extremely difficult to pass. Therefore, whoever ultimately forms the government, the AfD will be an unavoidable force in Saxony-Anhalt politics, with a direct influence on the state’s legislative process. Systemic Failures in Germany’s Governance Model The Saxony-Anhalt election result reflects a systemic failure of Germany’s post-war mainstream-party model of governance to adapt to rapidly changing socioeconomic conditions. It stems from multiple, mutually reinforcing structural tensions and highlights the existing political system’s difficulty in adapting to “an increasingly polarised society First, collective anxiety has replaced individual material hardship as a central driver of political mobilisation. The rise of the AfD can no longer be explained simply by poverty or social marginalisation. Its increasingly cross-class electoral base suggests that what is driving voters towards the party is, above all, concern about the broader direction of society. This anxiety about the future of the political community goes beyond individual gains and losses. In political discourse, economic anxiety has become closely intertwined with immigration, while immigration and refugee issues are, in essence, questions of social fairness. This perception turns conflicts over the distribution of social resources into negative assessments of governing parties, providing a broad social basis for far-right political narratives. Second, regional disparities and East German identity have undermined the strategy of addressing eastern Germany’s structural challenges at the regional level. More than three decades after German reunification, eastern states such as Saxony-Anhalt have experienced periods of economic growth, but their underlying economic structures remain weak, and household incomes and wealth remain significantly below those in western Germany. At the same time, they continue to face population outflow, an ageing population, labour shortages, and other structural challenges. At a deeper level, historical experiences — including the collapse of the former East German economic system, mass unemployment during the transition, and the westward shift of decision-making power over major issues — have left some residents with a sense of being “second-class citizens” and of being excluded. For years, the German government treated the “syndrome” of reunification as a regional problem to be gradually addressed at the local level. That approach is becoming increasingly unsustainable, as regional development disparities emerge as a core structural factor shaping national politics. Third, the erosion of institutional trust is perhaps the most decisive factor. AfD supporters tend to distrust establishment institutions, including parliament, government, and the mainstream media. Their concerns about economic security, pensions, and social fairness are significantly greater than the social average. Increasingly, their support for the AfD reflects not an expectation that the existing system can be improved, but a search for an alternative to the current political order. Such a systemic deficit of trust will be extremely difficult for the traditional parties to repair in the short term. Fourth, a generational shift in political mobilisation has amplified political polarisation. Unlike traditional parties, which rely heavily on offline rallies and mainstream media coverage, the AfD has developed a social-media mobilisation strategy built around “raising an issue — identifying who is responsible — offering a simplified solution — building a shared identity”. It turns complex social tensions into concise political narratives, rapidly channelling public sentiment into political support. The contrast on the eve of the election was particularly telling. The establishment parties, together with trade unions and churches, organised an offline march attended by more than 10,000 people, but its reach was largely confined to those present and to traditional media coverage. The AfD held a much smaller indoor event, yet livestreaming on TikTok, YouTube, and other platforms, combined with the involvement of online influencers, gave it a reach and mobilising capacity far beyond that of the march. The contrast illustrates how the traditional parties’ methods of political mobilisation are increasingly struggling to keep pace with a political environment transformed by changes in media technology. A Microcosm of Structural Political Change in Europe The shockwaves from the Saxony-Anhalt election quickly travelled beyond the state to the federal level. Calls for political accountability followed immediately after the results were announced. The governing CDU and SPD are now under enormous pressure, while Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Vice Chancellor Lars Klingbeil face an unprecedented test. Political polarisation in Germany is no longer simply a regional phenomenon. The post-war model of multiparty government by establishment parties is breaking down and being reshaped. Viewed in a broader European context, the Saxony-Anhalt election is part of a continent-wide wave of party polarisation, mainstream-party decline, and rising right-wing forces. Far from an isolated phenomenon, it is a microcosm of the structural political changes unfolding across Europe. Weak economic growth, cultural tensions over immigration, and declining trust in institutions are fuelling the rise of right-wing forces in several countries, challenging the liberal internationalist order established in post-war Europe. As a core member state of the European Union, Germany’s ability to adapt its political system and the direction of its politics will have profound implications for both European integration and the evolution of the international order. Subscribe [ Pekingnology China’s Germany watchers take stock of Berlin’s uneasy turn On 7 December 2025, nearly 50 Chinese scholars and policy researchers gathered in Beijing for the 2025年德国形势年终研讨会 “2025 Year-End Seminar on the Situation in Germany… Read more 9 months ago · 31 likes · 1 comment · YIRUI LI and Yuxuan JIA ](https://www.pekingnology.com/p/chinas-germany-watchers-take-stock?utm_source=substack&utm_campaign=post_embed&utm_medium=web&embedding_publication_id=1151841) [ Jiang Feng on Germany's 2025 and beyond: no easy exit ](https://www.eastisread.com/p/jiang-feng-on-germanys-2025-and-beyond) Yirui LI and Yuxuan JIA · Jan 24 The following is an op-ed by Jiang Feng, published on 29 December 2025 at Shanghai Observer 上观新闻, the digital platform of Jiefang Daily, the official newspaper of the Shanghai Municipal Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC). [ Read full story ](https://www.eastisread.com/p/jiang-feng-on-germanys-2025-and-beyond)
Has Arsenal's Strong Start Masked Issues Arteta Must Address?
Arsenal have won four of their opening five league games, but narrow margins and Brighton’s aggressive press have shown where there is still room to improve.
Fourteen players on international duty
An overview of the matches involving Eintracht players over the next three weeks, featuring UEFA Nations League fixtures, Africa Cup of Nations and European Championship qualifiers as well as friendli...
“Nurturing tomorrow’s Einsteins in Dalseong-gun”: DGIST Science Creativity School opens admissions for the 2027 academic year
- Advanced education in four fields—mathematics, physics, chemistry, and life science—with full tuition support for sixth-grade elementary and first-year middle school students in Dalseong-gun - “Taught Directly by DGIST Faculty”: Customized advanced education for gifted students in the region
Trench play proves big in Nebraska football’s win over North Dakota
To wrap up non-conference play, Nebraska football defeated North Dakota 34-7. The Huskers’ strong first and fourth quarters secured the win against the sixth-ranked FCS team, as the Scarlet and Cream earned their third consecutive 3-0 start to the season.
Matthew Stafford tosses four TD passes in win
Coming off a disappointing showing in Australia, Matthew Stafford rebounded with 327 yards and four TDs through the air on Monday night.
Rams bounce back as Giants reel from Dart injury
The Los Angeles Rams bounced back from their season-opening flop in Australia to score a stylish 28-6 victory over the New York Giants on Monday.The Rams fourth touchdown made it 28-6 when Stafford picked out tight end Terrance Ferguson at the back of the end zone. rcw/sla
OSU’s special teams responded to challenge from JaMarcus Shephard
Xayvion Noland returned three kickoffs for 79 yards, including a 46-yarder, and four punts for 37 yards, with a 29-yard return in the 52-17 win for the Beavers.
Ryans owns Texans’ 0-2 start as Houston scrambles to avoid another 0-3 hole
The Texans fell to 0-2 for the third time in four years with Sunday’s 20-6 loss to Cincinnati.
Build a Career in Wine: Linfield University Opens Applications for Graduate Certificate in Wine Business Leadership
Four-month online program gives wine professionals and career changers the business knowledge to take their next step in the wine industry September 21,
Rep. John Larson won't seek third-party run after primary defeat
Larson lost the four-way primary to Luke Bronin in August. Larson's term ends in early January, marking the end of his 28-year tenure.
Most Oklahoma mental health employees affected by privatization have employment offers
As the state’s mental health department works to privatize four mental health clinics, nearly all of the state employees affected have already been offered alternative employment.
Can Democrats flip the Senate? Here's the latest in key races
Democrats need to gain at least four seats, and not lose any, to retake control of the Senate. Here are five races to watch in the final weeks before Nov. 3.
iPhone 14 Pro vs. iPhone 18 Pro Buyer's Guide: Should You Upgrade?
Apple announced the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max earlier this month, arriving four years after the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max. Four generations of changes make for a substantial upgrade, bringing larger displays, an all-new design, improvements to every camera, significantly longer battery life, faster charging, USB-C connectivity, and support for Apple Intelligence.
Memphis QB Marcus Stokes named American Conference Honorable Mention
On Monday, Marcus Stokes was named an American Conference Honorable Mention after throwing for four touchdowns against UT Martin.
Tennessee football offers former Mississippi State commit
Tennessee football offers 2028 four-star safety from Florida.
Trump shattered Canada’s old US relationship. Carney is building a new one in Europe
TORONTO (AP) — For nearly four decades, Canada built its economy around closer integration with the United States. President Donald Trump has turned that dependence into leverage, imposing tariffs, threatening Canada’s sovereignty and openly seeking to pull Canadian industrial production south. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has moved on. Rather than return to trade talks […]
Zelensky said Trump agrees to speak in New York for diplomatic meeting
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced plans for a high-stakes meeting with President Donald Trump in New York. As the Ukraine-Russia war continues for more than four years, the U.S. has provided support valued at billions. Zelensky and Trump have had a strained relationship as the U.S. president balances relations with Ukraine and Russian leader Vladimir […]
Take part in Palmer Group’s 2027 salary survey
Palmer Group is seeking input from Iowa business leaders for its 2027 Annual Salary Guide, which will examine hiring plans, compensation trends and workforce priorities for the coming year. The four-question, multiple-choice survey takes less than 5 minutes to complete and will be available to complete through Oct. 2. Responses will be kept confidential and…
REV Entertainment Unveils Spartanburg College Baseball Series Matchups and Gametimes
SPARTANBURG, S.C. – REV Entertainment today announced the complete schedule for the inaugural College Baseball Series in Spartanburg, S.C., at Fifth Third Park, home of the Hub City Spartanburgers. The slate of matchups and game times for the four-team field, featuring Austin Peay, Indiana, UNCW and Wofford, can be found
MBARI and Synchro Join Global Workshop to Tackle Deep-Sea Science Challenges
MBARI and Synchro staff joined nearly 70 experts from 22 countries at the Deep Ocean Collective Solution Accelerator, a four-day DOOS-convened workshop at Scripps Institution of Oceanography focused on biodiversity data access, affordable ocean technology, seafloor video analysis, and BBNJ Agreement implementation.
Hunt for the Red Planet: URI Honors Colloquium lecture will discuss why humans must go to Mars
KINGSTON, R.I. – Sept. 21, 2026 – Traveling to Mars has been a major human aspiration for the last half century. In the last three decades, aerospace scientists and engineers have taken significant steps in exploring the fourth planet from the sun with several rover landings. So, why is it a must for humans to […]
Prescott throws 4 TD passes as Cowboys beat Commanders
Prescott threw four touchdown passes to break Romo's record of 248, and the Cowboys beat Washington 37-20 on Sunday after the Commanders' Jayden Daniels went down with another gruesome-looking dislocated left elbow.
Dak Prescott breaks Tony Romo's franchise record for Cowboys
Prescott’s record-breaking TD toss was a 24-yarder to receiver CeeDee Lamb in the fourth quarter, the 249th of his career.
Dak Prescott breaks Tony Romo's franchise record for Cowboys
Prescott’s record-breaking TD toss was a 24-yarder to receiver CeeDee Lamb in the fourth quarter, the 249th of his career.
DRC’s Ebola Outbreak: The Vast Mobilisation That Doesn’t Measure Itself (Part II)
The world has ridden fast to rescue DRC from Ebola. But four months on, nobody can say for sure how many agencies are responding, how many people they employ,
Pigskin Palaver: Coaching Blunders & Empty Seats
“Alex, I’ll take Stupid Coaching for $800.” “Whose team up 17-0 went for it on 4th and inches at his own 14 at the 2 minute mark of the first half, costing his team a TD?” “Who is Dave Doeren/” “Correct.” “Stupid Coaching for $1000.” “Who up four points had his QB run around the […]
Pennsylvania Health Secretary calls on CDC to acknowledge measles deaths
Pennsylvania Secretary of Health Dr. Debra Bogen is calling on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to publicly recognize four measles-related deaths connected to the state’s ongoing outbreak. In a letter addressed to CDC Director Dr. Erica Schwartz, Bogen outlined Pennsylvania’s response to the outbreak. “The CDC’s choice
'A recipe for disaster' - but Tottenham 'will turn it around'
Former Premier League striker Clinton Morrison has backed Tottenham to "still have a good season", despite their poor start in Roberto de Zerbi's first full campaign in charge. Saturday's 3-2 defeat by Aston Villa has left Spurs rooted to the bottom of the Premier League going into the international break, but they did score league goals for the first time in 2026-27. "Spurs were the better team in that first half and [Zion] Suzuki made three or four outstanding saves," Morrison told BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily podcast.
North Carolina State Basketball 2026-27 Preview
The North Carolina State Wolfpack were hopeful that Will Wade would steady the ship after several so-so seasons under Kevin Keatts. However, not long after the Wolfpack was upset by Texas in the First Four game of the NCAA Tournament, Wade decided to return to LSU. NC State Basketball 2026-27 Preview While it was a …
Proposed rate hikes for long-term care plans would double premiums for thousands of seniors
Thousands of Maryland seniors paying for long-term health care could see their annual premiums double, or triple, over the next five years if state officials approve the steep increases requested by four Maryland insurance companies last week.
Cole Palmer expected to withdraw from England squad
England manager Thomas Tuchel is set to be without Cole Palmer for the international break.The Three Lions will be in UEFA Nations League action four times in this bumper break including the visit of ...
Does my cat love me? Here are four science-backed ways to tell
Even the most devoted cat owners wonder at some point whether their cat really loves them
England latest: Cole Palmer withdraws from Thomas Tuchel's squad ahead of long international break
Cole Palmer was recalled to Thomas Tuchels squad after being snubbed for the 2026 World Cup; Palmer has scored four goals in seven games this season for Chelsea; Palmer had previously stated he felt back to his best after an injury-hit 2025-26 campaign
Four grabs for Malik Washington
Malik Washington led the Dolphins with four receptions against the 49ers in Week 2, turning those catches into 43 yards in the loss.
Europe's STOXX 600 gains as tech rallies, oil retreat eases nerves
Sept 21 (Reuters) - European shares climbed on Monday, led by technology stocks, while a fourth consecutive session of declines in oil prices soothed nerves and boosted risk sentiment.
Missed World Cup Boost
Passenger traffic declined at all four local airports in July for the second straight month as higher fuel costs drove up fares and prompted consumers to
Eighty-three yards for Rashee Rice in prime time
Rashee Rice racked up 83 yards on four receptions during KC's Week 2 win over the Colts.
Arman Tsarukyan Issues Statement Following Big UFC 331 Win
UFC lightweight contender Arman Tsarukyan issued a statement following his big win at UFC 331 over Mauricio Ruffy.In the co-main event of UFC 331, Tsarukyan knocked out Ruffy with a standing elbow and punches with just four seconds left in the first round.The fight was scheduled for five rounds, but Tsarukyan didn’t even need a […] The post Arman Tsarukyan Issues Statement Following Big UFC 331 Win appeared first on HEAVY.
Stellar Blade Still Not Finished, Four Free Bayonetta Costumes Coming to PS5
Original game will get "some changes" for sequel
Gaza health officials say 4 killed in Israeli strikes, including child
Four people, including a 10-year-old girl, were killed in Israeli strikes in Gaza, according to local health officials. The attack also claimed the life of a government official’s son.
Ole Miss Star Trinidad Chambliss Sends Powerful Message Beyond Football
Trinidad Chambliss had plenty of reasons to talk about football after one of the biggest wins of his Ole Miss career. The Rebels had just beaten No. 7 LSU 32-24, Chambliss threw for 363 yards and two touchdowns, and his fourth-quarter rushing score helped finish off an emotional night in Oxford. Yet when the Ole […] The post Ole Miss Star Trinidad Chambliss Sends Powerful Message Beyond Football appeared first on HEAVY.
Alec Pierce Injury Update Isn’t Good News For Colts
The Indianapolis Colts need all their weapons to keep up with the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday Night Football. They certainly need big-play WR Alec Pierce, who led the NFL in yards per catch a season ago. Pierce is coming off a four-catch, 61-yard Week 1, and he was back out there hoping to make […] The post Alec Pierce Injury Update Isn’t Good News For Colts appeared first on HEAVY.
Ashton Jeanty totals 63 scrimmage yards
Las Vegas Raiders running back Ashton Jeanty ran 21 times for just 48 yards in Week 2, while adding four receptions for 15 yards on seven targets.
Jake Ferguson scores pair of touchdowns
Dallas Cowboys tight end Jake Ferguson posted four receptions for 43 yards and two touchdowns on four targets in Week 2
Matthew Golden leads team with 58 yards
Green Bay Packers wide receiver Matthew Golden posted four receptions for a team-high 58 yards on six targets in Week 2
Christian McCaffrey joins elite company with his 100th career touchdown
Christian McCaffrey put himself in some elite company with two short touchdown runs. McCaffrey's two 1-yard TDs in a 35-13 win over the Miami Dolphins on Sunday made him the fourth-fastest player in the Super Bowl era to reach 100 career touchdowns and the third player ever with at least 50 TDs with two franchises. “It means a lot,” McCaffrey said.