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Fable Dodges GTA 6’s Shadow as Korean Rating Points to a September or October 2026 Release Window

Playground’s Fable reboot has been rated in South Korea and Australia, pointing to a possible late September or October 2026 launch window.

May 22 • 1:15 PM EDT • Technology • wccftech.com

A Tennessee man was jailed over his Charlie Kirk social media comments. Now he's won a $835,000 settlement

The 61-year-old retired police officer spent 37 days behind bars before authorities dropped the felony charge against him in October.

May 20 • 1:30 PM EDT • Politics • pbs.org

MoMI announces the 2026 season of 'Open Worlds: Science' Programs

With themes ranging from walking for brain health, infinity day, NYC wildlife, and more May–October 2026 Astoria, New York, May 18, 2026 — The wildlife of New York City, walking and brain health, the nature of infinity, and alien encounters are some of the subjects explored in the second season of Open Worlds: Science, science-focused programs presented as part of Museum of the Moving Image (MoMI)’s free Open Worlds initiative. Running through October, Open Worlds: Science features scientist-led talks, screenings, and hands-on activities that all relate to science and the moving image to help illuminate and excite visitors of all ages about the ways science affects daily life.

May 18 • 1:00 PM EDT • Science • iloveny.com

Be Sure Your Small Business is Ready for Hurricane Season

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) will release its annual Atlantic hurricane season outlook on Thursday, May 21. Hurricane season runs from June 1 through Nov. 30, but storms are most common from mid-August through mid-October. Don’t assume your business is safe just becaus

May 18 • 10:01 AM EDT • Business • nfib.com

Bob Myers, tasked with hiring 76ers GM, wants a collaborator

Myers, who helped guide the Warriors to four championships as general manager, joined the 76ers organization in October.

May 16 • 11:32 AM EDT • Entertainment • pressdemocrat.com

Latvia’s President Nominates Kulbergs to Form New Government

Latvia’s President Edgars Rinkevics nominated Andris Kulbergs of the United List party to form a new government after Prime Minister Evika Silina resigned on Thursday ahead of parliamentary elections in October.

May 16 • 9:39 AM EDT • Politics • bloomberg.com

Chartbook 449: Voldemort on Threadneedle street. The Bank of England and the "haunted house" of English politics.

Imagine the scene: In some Harry Potter version of 21st-century London, a group of deathless UK Treasury officials gathered from across the last century huddle over warm pints and glasses of Chardonnay. Around the table there are officials from the 1920s, the 1930s, the 1970s, 2022 and today. Inevitably, in May 2026, the subject of conversation is the disintegration of the current Labour government. Despite its huge majority in parliament, it has been reduced to tatters by catastrophic local election result. These exposed the fact that rather than having a government with a clear popular majority, the UK is like most other modern societies divided into 5 segments each of which commands between 26 and 16 percent of the vote. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the leadership at Nos 10 and 11 Downing Street - where the Prime Minister and the Chancellor (Treasury Secretary) work - seem paralyzed. They are caught between mounting discontent over unfairness and the cost of living, and tough fiscal strictures that push them into making unpopular spending decisions. In the London pub, the Treasury officials from across the ages, can barely hide their satisfaction at the latest display of democratic politics caught in the vice-grip of financial logic. “Remember the mur d’argent and the banker’s ramp?” “Just like yesterday!” There are smirks around the table. Then the representative of 2026 pipes up: “One thing you have to say about the current lot (referring to the latest hapless Labour government), you don’t have to teach them about the bond market!” There is a murmur of ascent from the Treasury Mandarins. The trauma of the fiscal crisis of September-October 2022 sits deep. Back then, in the final stages of Tory decay, a ‘mini budget’ that challenged fiscal orthodoxy led to a brief but fierce panic in one of the oldest government bond markets in the world (aka gilt market). Now all you have to do is to mention the “bond market” to hush debate. [ Paul Mason@paulmasonnews In the name of public service, and as ex-economics editor of BBC Newsnight, I offer to do a zoom call, tonight, with any Labour MP who wants to understand why bond markets do not "fall into line" with governments. 1/ 3:57 PM · May 12, 2026 · 466K Views 224 Replies · 674 Reposts · 3.93K Likes ](https://x.com/paulmasonnews/status/2054229532404519082?s=20) “And the funny thing is”, the young man in the huddle continues, “they don’t even want to talk about … ”. There is a sudden hush. Significant looks are exchanged around the table. About? One of the senior figures puts down his glass with a decisive “clink”. He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named has entered their thoughts. Meanwhile, a few miles away in a grubby pub in Bloomsbury, two conspirators from the camp of Critical Macrofinance huddle over cans of low-alcohol IPA. They look at each other and blurt out loud: “The Bank!” “Everyone in the bloody Labour party is talking about the bond market. But why aren’t they even mentioning … the Bank of England!?” “Why is no one talking about Voldemort?” In Paul Mason’s blogpost, after much chest-thumping about basic fiscal logic, the basic point about the Bank of England is buried in the fine print at #3 in his list of suggestions as to what a radical Labour government might actually be able to do! [ Conflict & Democracy Down with the bond market! Down with gravity! It may seem unfair to focus on Labour MP Paula Barker for her off-the-cuff assertion that the bond market would have to “fall in line” with Andy Burnham, should he replace Keir Starmer as prime minister. But Burnham himself told the New Statesman that Labour had to “get beyond this thing of being in hock to the bond markets… Read more 2 days ago · 100 likes · 3 comments · Paul Mason ](https://htsf.substack.com/p/down-with-the-bond-market-down-with?utm_source=substack&utm_campaign=post_embed&utm_medium=web) Back in Bloomsbury they shake their heads and ask: “Didn’t we learn anything from the Eurozone crisis?” Meanwhile, as if summoned to the conversation by some higher force, the “pink pages” announce: “The days of ultra-cheap government borrowing have come to an end” and Martin “Whizzard” Wolf publishes the graph of the season Look at the UK in 2026, perilously positioned on the upper edge of the pack. No wonder no one in London needs any lessons about the “bond market”. But, look again. Imagine how they feel in Rome. What is London’s nightmare in 2026? The nightmare is that you end up like Italy in the early 2010s during the Eurozone crisis. Once comfortably situated in the middle of the pack, watching with horror as your ten-year yields explode to 7 percent and “spreads” become a national nightmare. One of the largest economies in Europe, a founding member of the euro, stigmatized. But the message of the Italian experience is ambiguous. After all, the stigma didn’t last. In 2026, Italy borrows at rates lower not only than the UK but the US. The US, which, as everyone knows, enjoys the “exorbitant privilege” of being the issuer of reserve, safe asets. What kind of magic is this? How did Italy, in the space of fifteen years, go from being good, to bad and back again? Which brings us back to our dissident friends in their Bloombury boozer and their memories of the Eurozone crisis. Italy never was Britain - with its ongoing fiscal deficits. Without interest payments, on primary balance, from 2000 to 2020 Italy ran a tight fiscal ship. Even in 2008 it barely went into deficit and when it was being put on the rack in the early 20210s its primary surplus matched that of austere Germany. So, what happened? How did it end up stigmatized? Of course Italian politics didn’t help. Berlusconi was at the helm and he had legal issues. But amongst friends in the Bloomsbury pub, Berlusconi is a sideshow, the name we whisper to each other is “Trichet”. From 2004 to 2011 the ECB was headed by Jean-Claude Trichet, ex of the French Treasury, more German than the Germans. After 2009 as the news of the Greek fiscal disaster broke, the European bond markets wento into panic mode and Trichet began a brutal game of cat and mouse. Between 2009 and 2011, Trichet intervened in the bond market to help, only when he thought he had compliance with austerity. When he thought they were uncooperative, he withdrew. In the summer of 2011, he even made direct suggestions to his Italian counterparts in Rome, as to how Italy should be governed. It was this cat and mouse game that drove the bond markets crazy and exposed Italy to a violent squeeze. When Mario Draghi took over the ECB at the end of 2011 and declared “whatever it takes”, the pressure on Italy, gradually eased. It is that starring role that has made Draghi into the towering figure in European politics that he remains today. So now you see why voices in London hush when it comes to the Bank of England. “The bond market” isn’t an irresistible objective force like the weather or an avalanche. It can appear like that. But that depends on the way it is being handled, or not handled by the central bank. Which is why the silence about the Bank of England in London right now is so significant. If you think this all sounds a bit fishy, coming from a left-liberal Keynesian like myself, well, let me introduce you to Robin Brooks, who, to put it mildly, plays on a different quidditch team to me. Here, from the position of a fiscal hawk is Robin’s celebratory account of the Bank of England’s role since 2022; In October 2022, at the height of the bond market blow-up in the UK, something incredible happened. Governor Andrew Bailey told British pension funds the Bank of England would end its support program for the country’s fragile gilt market, drawing a line under how much help the central bank was willing to give to exposed pension funds and - implicitly - the government. By the end of that week, Kwasi Kwarteng - the finance minister - had resigned. Prime Minister Liz Truss would soon follow. This episode is so incredible because it contrasts with what happened in the Euro zone earlier that year. Bond markets in Spain and Italy were under pressure amid high inflation and rising interest rates. In the middle of this, Mario Draghi - Italy’s Prime Minister - resigned, compounding pressure on bond markets of high-debt countries on the Euro periphery. Unlike the Bank of England, the ECB caved. It bought Italian and Spanish government bonds in an effort to cap yields and introduced a new tool that signaled to markets it might do such caps more frequently going forward. Faced with pressure on bond markets, the ECB capitulated to political pressure from high-debt countries like Italy and Spain. The Bank of England stood its ground and toppled the Truss government. This kind of thing has long-lasting consequences. It means markets price a higher probability of yield caps in the Euro zone, which keeps Italian and Spanish yields artificially low, while markets feel free to push up UK yields without fear of central bank intervention. As I flagged in yesterday’s post, this means you really can’t compare UK yields to those of other high-debt countries. The UK looks worse, but only because its central bank isn’t interfering with markets. There’s more to this than just that 2022 episode. The Bank of England has also been much more aggressive in its quantitative tightening (QT) than other central banks. If one motivation for quantitative easing (QE) is to lower bond yields - especially longer-dated ones - then it stands to reason QT pushes yields up. The left chart above shows a four-quarter moving average of UK government debt issuance (black line) in percent of GDP and which sectors absorb this issuance, including the Bank of England (blue bars). The right chart above compares the Bank of England’s accumulation or run-off of government bonds (blue line) with that of other central banks, where this blue line is the same as the blue bars in the left chart. The Bank of England was quicker and more aggressive than other central banks in downsizing its bond holdings, so UK yields will have risen more than elsewhere also for this reason, not just because of Governor Andrew Bailey’s remarks in October 2022. Back in October 2025, after a conversation in New York with friends in British politics, my sense of dysphoria was such that I raised the issue of the Bank of England openly in the FT Since 2008, the UK has slid into a deep economic and political predicament. Growth has stagnated to a degree far worse even than in the 1970s. The Tory leadership’s wager on the Brexit referendum spectacularly backfired, leaving the UK isolated from Europe and at the mercy of its special relationship with the US, many of whose political class regard the UK as a basket case. After years of austerity, the Labour party lurched to the left and then back to the centre. The Tory party has been eclipsed by the populist nationalism of Reform. Any British government should be worrying first and foremost about how to restart growth. Instead, Keir Starmer is beset by shades of the gilt market panic triggered by the Liz Truss government in 2022. The debt level is higher than in recent years, but there is no cause for panic. UK debt is at far from critical levels and of long duration. Whether you want to “take back control” or launch progressive economic policy, a democracy dogged by fear of bond market vigilantes is unhealthy. In a country that is a monetary sovereign, this climate points to one thing: a disconnect between the government and the central bank. Since 1997, the independence of the Bank of England has become a sacred cow. But independence is what you make of it. And in the wake of the gilt market crisis of September 2022, relations between the Bank of England and the UK government need a reset. In normal times, there is no doubt that an inflation-targeting independent central bank can serve a country well. But since 2008, the UK and other advanced economies have not had the luxury of such simple problems. To their credit, central bankers around the world have not stood on orthodoxy. After 2008, the US Federal Reserve rescued the global banking system and, through quantitative easing, it stabilised the Treasury market in the face of huge deficits. In Europe, things were trickier. Both the Bank of England under Mervyn King and Jean-Claude Trichet’s European Central Bank played cat and mouse with national governments. This was a high stakes wager that between 2010 and 2012 escalated bond market tension and triggered a disastrous turn to austerity. Shaken by the impact of those shocks, their successors, Mark Carney and Mario Draghi adopted a more protective stance (assuming you were not the government of Greece). Recall that Draghi’s legendary slogan, “Whatever it takes”, was uttered to face down the City of London’s bond vigilantes. In 2015, Draghi launched QE — financial repression by another name. In 2016, Carney used the authority of the Bank of England to stabilise markets following the vote for Brexit, an exemplary demonstration of how central banks can underpin democratic choice, even when those choices are wrong headed. All these were independent central bankers steeped in the best practice of the 1990s, who recognised that historic crises demanded radical action. It was the price surge of 2021-2023 that poisoned the atmosphere. Though the shock came mainly from the supply side, central banks ended up in the dock. Nowhere more so than in the UK. The Bank of England reacted with aggressive normalisation. Faced with a cost of living crisis, the governor called for workers to accept real wage cuts. In early 2022, as gas prices were at record levels and Russia’s army was poised to invade Ukraine, the Bank adopted a stringent programme of quantitative tightening, elevating interest rates. When the Truss government got itself in trouble, the Bank took almost a week to come to the rescue. Rather than enacting a charade of normality, it is time to recognise that in 2025 the UK faces a period of historic transition. To meet this challenge, what is needed is a new concordat with the Bank. This should not ignore inflationary pressures or the long-run trajectory of debt, but should affirm the priority of reviving investment-led growth. One could follow Donald Trump in demanding interest rate cuts. The Bank could shadow the ECB in its commitment to capping Eurozone yields. But the top priority should be to lay the ghost of September 2022. The Bank’s slowing of QT last month was a concession. An immediate and complete end would send the right signal. Such a concordat will not by itself restore sanity to politics, solve the housing problem or rebuild the NHS. But it would help to lift the fear of bond market crisis, which is paralysing the effort by democratic politicians to answer the fundamental questions facing the nation. Now, that call for a new concordat between government and Bank of Englands seems more urgent than ever. The problem is that in October 2025, Starmer still had some authority. Today the government is in tatters. And when you are the “under the harrow” - to echo a phrase of Montagu Norman’s from the 1920s - it is the worst possible time to consider institutional change. To make general arguments at a time of crisis can only seem like special pleading rather than a general argument for long-term change. The same, unfortunately, is also true for the other basic institutional reform that Britain urgently needs i.e. the abolition of the out-dated first past the post electoral system and its replacement by a moderated form of proportional representation. And thirdly - whilst we are saying the quiet parts out loud - Britain needs to reopen the question of EU membership. What the local election results of 2026 show is that this remains a key issue. And what they also show is that there is a clear majority that would favor a return. Until these basic features of Britain’s political economy are addressed the country will carry on its politics as though in a haunted house, governed by governments that lack actual majorities, conjuring up false constraints whilst ignoring the real ones. This one is for DG and MI. I love writing the newsletter. If you enjoy it too and fancy buying me a coffee once a month, you know what to do. Click below! Subscribe

May 15 • 3:04 AM EDT • Politics • adamtooze.substack.com

Fans, businesses already preparing for Eagles game in London

The team announced Wednesday morning that it will play the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday, October 11, at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

May 13 • 11:56 PM EDT • Business • 6abc.com

Next Major ARC Raiders Update Pushed to October as Embark Slows Down Content

In a post on social media, Embark Studios confirmed that it's slowing down updates and making them more meaningful when they do drop.

May 13 • 1:29 PM EDT • Technology • insider-gaming.com

805 After Five announces 2026 lineup running through October

805 After Five has unveiled its 2026 entertainment lineup, bringing a full slate of live music, community events, and seasonal gatherings to the popular Huntsville venue from May through October.

May 13 • 10:06 AM EDT • Entertainment • yahoo.com

Changes to the ARC Raiders update schedule

Update cadence changes, October update, and the future of ARC Raiders

May 13 • 8:00 AM EDT • Technology • arcraiders.com

Arc Raiders' Next Big Update Isn't Coming Until October, And That Might Be A Good Thing

Arc Raiders will move to a semi-annual cadence for its major updates.

May 13 • 6:00 AM EDT • Technology • gamespot.com

The MedTech Conference 2026: Where Medtech Does Business

The MedTech Conference, brings together the companies shaping the future of innovation. Hosted by AdvaMed®, The Medtech Association, #MTC26 gives companies a focused moment to connect, collaborate, and turn conversations into outcomes in Boston, October 18–21, 2026.

May 12 • 4:31 PM EDT • Business • advamed.org

'Cool Dude': Reef Runner Targets Jaipur

Alex and JoAnn Lieblong’s millionaire Florida homebred Reef Runner will point to the $500,000 Jaipur (G1) June 6, Belmont Stakes Day, at Saratoga Race Course. The 5 1/2-furlong test for 3-year-olds and up offers a ‘Win and You’re In’ berth to the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (G1) in October ...

May 10 • 3:47 PM EDT • Sports • sports.yahoo.com

Magic Mini Golf closes in Delmar Loop; Joe Edwards teases new business

Magic Mini Golf opened in October 2023 and had 18 holes of indoor miniature golf, 2 shuffleboard courts and a fully-functioning 5-car indoor Ferris wheel.

May 9 • 1:14 PM EDT • Business • stltoday.com

Business Lookahead: Trump on Tour

STORY: From Trump's trip to China, to a slew of new U.S. data releases, these are the stories to watch in business and finance in the coming week. :: Trump goes to Beijing U.S. President Donald Trump visits Beijing on Thursday and Friday.It will be his first visit to China in eight years.He'll try to lock in the trade truce agreed to in October in South Korea, and avoid a rerun of the tit-for-tat tariff battle that he set off a year ago.Fresh trade data should offer a reality check on whether a protectionist White House has managed to dent Americans' appetite for Chinese-made goods.:: Saudi Aramco posts resultsThe world's biggest exporter of crude oil, Saudi Aramco, reports first-quarter results on Sunday.The numbers are expected to show the pain from the more than two-month-old Iran war.This comes as efforts to end the conflict appeared to stall after the U.S. and Iran traded fire in recent days, with some of the biggest flare-ups in fighting in and around the Strait of Hormuz since a ceasefire began a month ago.:: U.S. economic dataA bunch of new data should give a clearer view of inflation in the U.S.Tuesday's April consumer price index is expected to rise 0.6% according to a Reuters poll.Prices at the pump are likely to loom large in the numbers.Producer price data for April on Wednesday is another inflation checkpoint after the Fed’s last meeting exposed a more hawkish tilt among some policymakers who are increasingly uneasy about price pressures.And retail sales figures on Thursday should show whether higher gas prices and other costs are starting to bite into household spending.

May 9 • 12:49 PM EDT • Business • finance.yahoo.com

In Memoriam: Peter R. Moody, Jr., Professor Emeritus of Political Science

Peter R. Moody Jr., October 13, 1943 ~ May 2, 2026 (age 82) Funeral Mass Livestream Link It is with deep sadness that the children …

May 8 • 8:00 AM EDT • Science • politicalscience.nd.edu

In Memoriam: Peter R. Moody, Jr., Professor Emeritus of Political Science

Peter R. Moody Jr., October 13, 1943 ~ May 2, 2026 (age 82) Funeral Mass Livestream Link It is with deep sadness that the children …

May 8 • 8:00 AM EDT • Politics • politicalscience.nd.edu

Fake rumors, real killings: Inside Congo's deadly health misinformation crisis

Angry mobs attacked and killed Four health workers conducting vaccination research in an episode that took place in October.

May 7 • 12:26 PM EDT • Health • detroitnews.com

Carlos Rodón could make season debut Sunday vs. Brewers as Yankees rotation gets healthier

Rodón underwent surgery last October to remove loose bodies from his elbow

May 6 • 5:30 PM EDT • Sports • cbssports.com

What’s behind the secessionist movement in the Canadian province Alberta?

Oil-rich western province could see independence referendum as soon as October, but complicated process remains ahead.

May 6 • 5:05 PM EDT • Politics • aljazeera.com

Columbus AI startup delays tech festival in wake of layoffs, lawsuit

OH.io, an AI startup with the stated goal of bringing at least 100 AI companies to the Columbus area, delayed its tech festival scheduled for October.

May 5 • 8:35 PM EDT • Entertainment • dispatch.com

Audrey Beth Davis, Longtime Entertainment Publicist, Dies at 82

Audrey Beth Davis, a retired longtime entertainment publicist, died of natural causes on May 1 in Pennsylvania. She was 82. Davis was born on October 17, 1943, in Brooklyn, N.Y. and graduated from Bro...

May 5 • 3:13 PM EDT • Entertainment • malaysia.news.yahoo.com

Hannibal told not to 'antagonise' crowd at Elland Road

For a few weeks now, Burnley had made it clear Hannibal Mejbri was on the verge of his return from a hamstring injury. This season the midfielder received a four-match ban and was given a £15,000 fine after admitting to spitting at Leeds supporters during Burnley's 2-0 victory at Turf Moor back in October. Being the last name on the teamsheet, it was a long build-up to the inevitable boos which followed "Hannibal" being read out by the stadium announcer.

May 2 • 11:18 AM EDT • Sports • sports.yahoo.com

Too early projection of the 2026-27 Penguins

It’ll be another offseason of change in Pittsburgh. Last season, the Penguins dropped eight players from the last game of the 2024-25 season to the following opening night lineup in October. A few more like Phil Tomasino, Danton Heinen and Tristan Jarry were soon to follow not long after the season began. That adds up […]

May 2 • 6:00 AM EDT • Sports • sports.yahoo.com

California Department of Public Health Issues Annual Shellfish Safety Warning

(SANTA BARBARA, Calif.) -- Beginning May 1st and continuing through at least October 31st, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) is advising

Apr 30 • 5:59 PM EDT • Health • independent.com

Apple Has Given Up on the Vision Pro After M5 Refresh Flop

Apple has all but given up on the Vision Pro after the M5 model failed to revitalize interest in the device, MacRumors has learned. Apple updated the Vision Pro with a faster M5 chip and a more comfortable band in October 2025, but there were no other hardware changes, and consumers still weren't interested. The Vision Pro has been criticized for its high price tag and its uncomfortable weight.

Apr 29 • 2:31 PM EDT • Technology • macrumors.com

Apple Vision Pro Used in World-First Cataract Surgery

Apple's Vision Pro has hit another medical-use milestone, with a New York ophthalmologist becoming the first surgeon to perform cataract surgery using the spatial computing headset. Dr. Eric Rosenberg of SightMD completed the initial procedure in October 2025 and has since performed hundreds of additional cases using ScopeXR, a surgical platform he co-developed for Apple's mixed reality device.

Apr 28 • 10:51 AM EDT • Technology • macrumors.com

Alaska Business Sweeps Awards for Magazine Feature Writing, Wins for Best Cover and Headlines

Alaska Business nets six Alaska Press Club awards, including a sweep of the Best Magazine Feature category by Senior Editor Scott Rhode.

Apr 27 • 7:46 PM EDT • Business • akbizmag.com

Watch the trailer for 'Verity,' an Amazon MGM Studios film premiering October 2

Apr 27 • 7:00 PM EDT • Entertainment • aboutamazon.com

Huawei Mate XT2 tipped to debut in October with these upgrades

It is said to offer camera hardware similar to the Mate X7. New details about the true successor to Huawei’s Mate XT Ultimate Edition tri-fold smartphone...

Apr 27 • 9:23 AM EDT • Technology • gsmarena.com

EUDA Health Holdings Limited Receives Nasdaq MVLS Notice with 180-Day Compliance Period to Regain Listing Status

EUDA Health Holdings received a Nasdaq notice for not meeting market value requirements, with a compliance period until October 2026.Quiver AI SummaryEUDA Health Holdings Limited received a notice from Nasdaq on April 23, 2026, indicating that it failed to maintain a Minimum Market Value of Listed Securities of $35 million for 32 consecutive business days, violating Nasdaq Listing Rule 5550(b)(2). The notice does not immediately affect the compan

Apr 27 • 6:11 AM EDT • Health • quiverquant.com

Lost season for some winter sports leads to adaptation in Black Hills visitor industry

From October through early April, snowfall in the northern Black Hills was about 8 feet less than average.

Apr 24 • 1:12 PM EDT • Sports • southdakotasearchlight.com

Westfield whiskey seller to make way for indoor golf and entertainment venue

A Hamilton County whiskey distillery and restaurant will be selling its hospitality and real estate assets to an indoor golf and social entertainment club, said a news release issued Tuesday morning.

Apr 21 • 8:26 PM EDT • Entertainment • wrtv.com

Vodafone offers small businesses cybersecurity, AI capability with Google tie-up

European mobile and broadband operator Vodafone said it would offer its small business customers ​advanced cybersecurity and agentic AI through its $1 ‌billion strategic tie-up with Google Cloud agreed in October 2024.

Apr 21 • 7:07 PM EDT • Business • reuters.com

Westfield whiskey seller to make way for indoor golf and entertainment venue

West Fork Whiskey Co. sells its hospitality and real estate assets to Stick & Hack, an indoor golf and social entertainment club in Indiana.

Apr 21 • 7:00 PM EDT • Entertainment • wishtv.com

The Death of Public Health

During the recent measles outbreak, the largest in more than 30 years, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. refused to clearly recommend the measles vaccine, saying instead that it was a “personal decision,” and that parents should “do their own research.” Similarly, during her recent confirmation hearing for United States Surgeon General, Casey Means was questioned by Senator William Cassidy (R, La). “You’re the nation’s doctor,” said Cassidy. “Would you encourage [a mother] to have her child vaccinated!” “I’m not an individual’s doctor,” Means said. “And every individual needs to talk to their doctor before putting a medication in their body.” In June 2025, Marty Makary, Commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), said that COVID vaccines for pregnant women should be a “personal choice”, even though every other country in the world recommended the COVID vaccine during pregnancy due to a higher risk for severe disease. It doesn’t end there. On January 5, 2026, RFK Jr. reduced the number of routinely recommended vaccines from 18 to 10. For vaccines that protected against influenza, COVID, and rotavirus, parents were urged to speak with their doctors—to make an individual choice. (On March 16, 2026, in a ruling by a federal court in Boston, RFK Jr.’s revised schedule was invalidated.) What’s happening? Why are public health officials moving away from making recommendations for the public? The origin of this change might be rooted in the first two years of the COVID pandemic. In 2020, during the first year on the pandemic, we didn’t have anything to stop a virus that was killing hundreds of people a day and could be spread asymptomatically. We didn’t have antivirals until October, monoclonal antibodies until November, and vaccines until December. All we could do was restrict travel, close businesses, shutter schools, and mask, isolate, quarantine, test, and social distance. During the second year of the pandemic, when we had vaccines to prevent COVID, people couldn’t go anywhere without their vaccine cards. They couldn’t go to their favorite bar or restaurant or sporting event or place of worship without proof of vaccination. Some people were fired from their jobs for refusing to get vaccinated. For many, this was seen as massive government overreach and energized what has been called the “medical freedom movement.” Indeed, a headline in the New York Times declared, “How Health Freedom Became a Winning Rally Cry.” As expressed in the comments of RFK Jr., Casey Means, and Marty Makary, the medical freedom movement focuses on the individual not the community—the opposite of public health. In an article titled “Ethics and Social Value Judgments in Public Health,” ethicists from Yale University distinguished public health from medical freedom. “Public health policies,” they wrote, “are population oriented. Because individual health affects the health of others, public health measures regulate individual behavior to achieve population health goals. All raise questions about how individual autonomy and freedom should be balanced against public health interests…which respects individuals’ sovereignty over their bodies and actions as long as their actions do not harm others.” The medical freedom movement fails to recognize that it often limits the freedom of others. For example, a parent who is afraid to send a child to school where many of the students are unvaccinated. Or immune compromised children who depend on those around them to for protection. The question then becomes “Freedom for whom?” Is it your right, in the name of medical freedom, to catch and transmit a potentially fatal infection—and in so doing, take away the freedom of others? In Four Essays on Liberty, Isaiah Berlin sums it up best. “Liberty for the wolves,” he wrote, “is death to the lambs.” Thanks for reading Beyond the Noise! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work. Subscribe

Apr 21 • 7:03 AM EDT • Health • substack.com

Tickets Are On Sale For Phil Collins Tribute

The team that produced "The Simon & Garfunkel Story" and "R.E.S.P.E.C.T.–The Aretha Franklin Story" will present "The Phil Collins Story" on Sunday, October 18, at Plymouth Memorial Hall. Start time

Apr 20 • 10:25 AM EDT • Entertainment • capenews.net

Advancing epidemic and pandemic preparedness through research readiness: SEAR Unity Studies Network Sites chart the way forward in 2026

On 25 March 2026, WHO Regional Office for the South‑East Asia Region (SEARO) convened the first meeting of the SEAR Chapter of the Unity Studies Network Meeting in 2026 to take stock of progress and plan next steps for strengthening epidemic and pandemic preparedness across the Region. The meeting focused on reviewing the ongoing adaptation of selected, standard Unity Study methodologies, sharing field implementation experiences from 2025, and identifying key priorities to guide collaborative work in 2026.Held virtually, the meeting brought together representatives from six Unity Studies network sites across five countries (Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Thailand) as well as participants from all three levels of WHO.The meeting took place against the backdrop of ongoing regional efforts in South‑East Asia to strengthen early investigations and studies for epidemic and pandemic preparedness, with a focus on pandemic influenza and other emerging respiratory pathogens with epidemic and pandemic potential. In this context, and as part of preparedness for the rapid generation of evidence, the WHO Health Emergencies Programme in SEAR (WHE/SEAR) encourages Unity Studies sites to adapt prioritized, standardized Unity Study protocols to their national contexts. This approach supports the generation of timely and reliable evidence to inform public health decision‑making during epidemics and pandemics.These efforts are supported through a combination of experience sharing, participation in the global Unity Studies network webinars, capacity‑building of the national public health workforce, and regional collaboration that promotes inter‑country, inter‑agency, and inter‑ministerial action. In parallel, sites are encouraged to explore diversified funding sources to help sustain research preparedness over the long term.Discussions highlighted the importance of WHO’s catalytic financial support through the Pandemic Influenza Preparedness (PIP) Partnership Contributions (PIP‑PC). When combined with national and institutional resources, this support enables countries and sites to maintain continuity of activities at a core level and remain prepared to respond rapidly and effectively to future epidemics and pandemics.Regional and Global Updates: Opening the session, Dr Pushpa Ranjan Wijesinghe, Programme Area Manager, Pandemic and Epidemic Management (PEM) Unit, WHO Health Emergencies Programme, highlighted the progress made in operationalizing the Unity Studies Network across the Region and acknowledged the collaborative efforts of WHO at all three levels, together with country unity studies sites. He emphasized the availability of limited but catalytic funding through the Pandemic Influenza Preparedness (PIP) Partnership Contribution (PIP‑PC) workplan at SEARO to sustain network activities in 2026, while encouraging sites to leverage additional funding sources to expand implementation.Representing SEARO, Dr Ashok Basnet, consultant, Pandemic Influenza Preparedness reported that, at the regional level, the Unity Studies Network currently includes six sites across five countries: Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Thailand. He noted that in 2025, catalytic funding supported protocol adaptation, training, and pilot implementation. In addition, a regional Unity Studies symposium held during the Global Public Health Summit in Sri Lanka strengthened and advocated collaboration between the Unity Studies site, national decision‑making forum, relevant technical units of the ministry of health, WHO and other partners.The symposium also highlighted the role of early investigations and studies as a key component of a multi‑source surveillance system needed at country level to generate a broad range of evidence. It underscored the critical role of country Unity Studies sites and similar research entities in generating evidence to support public health decision‑making during epidemics and pandemics.Participants of the WHO GISRS Unity Studies Sites Network- SEAR Chapter Meeting 2026 (Photo credit- PEM/WHE/SEARO). SEARO also updated participants on ongoing efforts to develop a regional Unity Studies webpage and to promote participation in global knowledge‑sharing platforms, including webinars and the WHO Community of Practice. Priorities for 2026 include supporting the implementation of Unity protocols, strengthening collaboration and experience sharing across sites, documenting and publishing findings, integrating Unity Studies activities as a component of multi-source national surveillance systems, and building workforce capacity.Dr Nickle Boddington of the Global Influenza Programme (GIP) at WHO Headquarters, which coordinates the Unity Studies Network globally, provided updates on global Unity Studies activities, noting that the network has expanded to 16 sites worldwide. New and updated protocols, including rapid clinical severity assessment tools and standardized data platforms, are being developed to support implementation. The global Community of Practice has also been launched to facilitate technical exchange, and continued support will be provided to sites for protocol adaptation, ethical approvals, and readiness for early investigation during outbreaks. Updates from Unity Studies sites in SEAR in 2025Unity Studies sites shared progress and experiences in implementing protocols across diverse country contexts. Sites initiated activities in 2025 using catalytic funding from SEARO, complemented by the mobilization of internal national resources. The Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR), Bangladesh, reported the adoption and piloting of investigation protocols on non‑seasonal influenza and emerging respiratory diseases during recent avian influenza outbreaks, demonstrating a multi‑source funding approach involving government, WHO and One Health partners.The Hamdard Institute of Medical Sciences and Research (HIMSR), New Delhi, India, highlighted the piloting of household transmission investigation studies, the expansion of the national Unity Studies network, and the contribution of study findings to global evidence through published outputs. The All-India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, India, shared experiences from large‑scale seroprevalence studies conducted during the COVID‑19 pandemic, recent efforts to strengthen national Unity network sites through training activities, and plans to initiate multi‑centre studies on respiratory viruses.Similarly, Prince of Songkla University, Thailand, highlighted its experience in developing integrated surveillance and diagnostic protocols for multiple respiratory pathogens, enhancing readiness for targeted investigations of emerging threats. The University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Sri Lanka, reported ongoing engagement with the Ministry of Health and exploration of additional funding sources to initiate studies. Meanwhile, the National Public Health Laboratory, Nepal, provided updates on continued coordination with national stakeholders to initiate implementation, despite delays related to the country context.Across sites, shared experiences underscored the importance of protocol adaptation, multisectoral collaboration, and sustainable funding to operationalize Unity Studies and generate evidence for public health action.Discussions and Way ForwardThe meeting reinforced key priorities for 2026, including strengthening unity studies protocol implementation, enhancing collaboration, knowledge sharing, integrating research as a component of national multi-source surveillance systems, and ensuring that generated evidence informs public health decision‑making. Participants also emphasized the importance of documentation, visibility, and leveraging multiple funding sources, and agreed on the following action points.Unity Studies Sites and WHO Country Offices:Advance adoption and implementation of at least one Unity protocol, continuing activities initiated in 2025 with catalytic funding, supplemented with other sources of funding where feasible.Document site-specific experiences, outcomes, and lessons learned; participate in regional and global knowledge-sharing platforms including WHO webinars and the Community of Practice.Work closely with ministries of health to establish unified national platforms for translating generated evidence into national public health decision-making. WHO Country Offices may facilitate technical support and complementary, synergistic funding opportunities where feasible. WHO Regional OfficeCoordinate with WHO Country Offices to support implementation of core unity studies activities by network sites through catalytic funding and provide technical guidance and virtual engagement opportunities throughout 2026.Facilitate the participation of all Unity Studies sites in the regional meeting on Unity Studies implementation in October 2026, to be held back‑to‑back with the Annual SEAR Regional PIP‑PC Meeting; develop and host a SEAR Unity Studies website; and mobilize support from academic institutions within the SEAR Unity Studies Network to support the development of regional manuscripts that showcase Unity Studies activities to scientific audiences and promote knowledge‑sharing.Explore complementary funding opportunities and partnerships to sustain and expand network activities across the Region.WHO HeadquartersProvide global technical guidance, updated protocols, and toolkits to support the implementation of Unity Studies in SEAR.Facilitate engagement of SEAR sites in global webinars, the Community of Practice, and opportunities to showcase their work.Support joint publications, inclusion of SEAR experiences in global outputs, and identification of additional funding and collaborative opportunities to strengthen Unity Studies activities.

Apr 19 • 8:00 PM EDT • Health • who.int

The next Mac Studio and MacBook Pro releases could be postponed by several months

Bloomberg is now expecting the Mac Studio to release in October and the MacBook Pro to be available in early 2027.

Apr 19 • 1:31 PM EDT • Technology • engadget.com

New Mac Studio may not arrive until October

In the latest edition of Mark Gurman’s Bloomberg newsletter, he reports that the new generation of Mac Studio may not...

Apr 19 • 10:14 AM EDT • Technology • 9to5mac.com

Tottenham 2-2 Brighton: What De Zerbi and Porro said

Today we deserved to win the game against one great Brighton. Roberto De Zerbi has won just one of his last 12 matches in the Premier League (D3 L8), while he has failed to win either of his opening two games in both of his spells in charge of Premier League sides (D1 L1, also with Brighton in October 2022).

Apr 18 • 3:39 PM EDT • Sports • sports.yahoo.com

Tavernier wants maximum points from split as Rangers target title

Rangers captain James Tavernier has set his side a title-clinching target of five wins from five after the split. The Ibrox side, who were 13 points adrift of leaders Hearts when Danny Rohl took charge in October, are now just a point off the pace. Rangers begin their post-split games at home to Motherwell next weekend while Hearts are at Easter Road for an Edinburgh derby against Hibernian and third-place Celtic host Falkirk.

Apr 17 • 4:09 AM EDT • Sports • sports.yahoo.com

Alex Vesia emotional after save with healthcare workers who helped family through daughter's death in stands

Alex Vesia, who lost his infant daughter in October, was admittedly emotional after collecting a save on healthcare appreciation night, where staff who helped him were in attendance.

Apr 15 • 2:42 PM EDT • Health • foxnews.com

Seniors: Carol Watson, 72

Owner of Carol Watson Greenhouse and Landscaping in LaFayette enjoys her growing business — still puts in six-, seven-day weeks By Mary Beth Roach Carol Watson, the owner of Carol Watson Greenhouse and Landscaping, has been in gardens since she could walk. Literally. She said she learned to walk in her grandfather’s garden, which was next door to her current home and business in LaFayette. Today, at 72, she is running the business that her mother, Claire, opened in 1981 as Watson Greenhouse. Watson worked part-time for her mom until 1990, when she joined her full time. While she may not have had any formal horticultural experience, she said she learned so much about growing and raising plants from her mom, who had an abundance of energy and talent. Now, after 35 years in the business full time, Watson has no plans to retire, although she joked that she’d like a couple of days off a week. On her seven-acre site, complete with four greenhouses, Watson said her favorite parts of the job are working with and educating her customers; helping some of her young customers build terrariums; conducting occasional class field trips; and supporting local art by decorating the shop with an eclectic mix of pottery from at least four area craftspeople. A one-time employee of the former Dey Bros. department store in Syracuse, Watson said she loves merchandising and enjoys displaying unique pieces of art on shelves and even suspending from ceilings. “We’re creative. We also had top quality plants. We got a reputation of quality plants and unusual products,” she said. It’s tending to her customers and her plants, showcasing the unusual products, and hosting special events to benefit the community that keep her motivated to work six to seven days a week. “I just love it. I love taking care of the plants. I’m one of the few people that really enjoys watering,” she said. And while she has cultivated a solid customer base over the years, she remains savvy in her marketing efforts to draw in new customers. For example, she does a gardening segment on CNY Central television; her active Facebook page has thousands of followers; and she hosts a number of unique events and classes that not only introduce her shop to potential new clients, but some benefit nonprofits as well. About 13 years ago, when the local symphony orchestra was struggling, she said she wanted to help. So, partnering with the group, she began offering concerts, called Soirees, featuring the Syracuse Orchestra’s string quartet. Following up on a suggestion from a customer whose brother is a deejay in retirement, specializing in sock hops, she hosted the greenhouse’s first sock hop. Plants got moved back toward the walls to make room for dancing; a caterer was brought in, offering diner-like food; guests came in period outfits; and proceeds went to the Food Bank of CNY. She is excited about doing it again in October. Via her website, she promotes the greenhouse as an “oasis in the snow,” offering visitors the opportunity to pick up some decorating and gift ideas while taking in the floral and citrus scents. And she also caters to her four-legged friends. Over this past winter, she said, she came up with a “brilliant idea,” although at the time she didn’t appreciate just how brilliant it would become. Feeling it too cold outside to take her dog for a walk, she opted to bring it into the greenhouse. And before long, she was inviting people to bring their dogs into the big greenhouse as well. She looks forward to extending that invitation again this upcoming winter season. For Watson and her customers, the greenhouse is always in season.

Apr 11 • 4:39 PM EDT • Business • oswegocountybusiness.com

Borderlands 4 Nintendo Switch 2 copies apparently spotted in the wild despite the game being put on hold indefinitely

There’s been an interesting development with the Nintendo Switch 2 version of Borderlands 4 as the game has now been spotted at retail. You may originally recall that the port was planned for release last October. However, it was delayed just a few days before release. Then in February, we heard that development had been paused. That brings us to...

Apr 11 • 11:17 AM EDT • Technology • nintendoeverything.com

Peru's Dysfunctional Politics Are an Economic Time Bomb

Peru has gone through three presidents since October, yet markets have largely yawned: Country risk has edged up only marginally, credit default swaps remain well below their five-year average and the currency has even gained against the dollar.

Apr 10 • 6:30 AM EDT • Politics • bloomberg.com

Guillermo del Toro's masterpiece Pan's Labyrinth Returns in 3D for 20th Anniversary from Cineverse and Fathom Entertainment on October 9

/PRNewswire/ -- Cineverse (Nasdaq: CNVS), an entertainment technology company and studio, has announced that Fathom Entertainment, the leading specialty...

Apr 9 • 2:00 PM EDT • Entertainment • prnewswire.com

Guillermo del Toro's masterpiece Pan's Labyrinth Returns in 3D for 20th Anniversary from Cineverse and Fathom Entertainment on October 9

Cineverse (Nasdaq: CNVS), an entertainment technology company and studio, has announced that Fathom Entertainment, the leading specialty distributor of content to theatrical partners worldwide, will be the theatrical distribution partner for the re-release of Guillermo del Toro's master creation, Pan's Labyrinth. Guillermo del Toro's Pan Labyrinth 20th Anniversary will be released in theaters nationwide on October 9, 2026. The announcement was made ahead of CinemaCon, at which Cineverse will pro

Apr 9 • 2:00 PM EDT • Entertainment • finance.yahoo.com

Ringling Bros. brings reimagined circus to Cleveland this fall

Ringling Bros. brings a revamped, high-energy circus to Cleveland in October, featuring stunts, acrobats, and interactive pre-show events.

Apr 8 • 10:10 AM EDT • Entertainment • cleveland.com

Fan dies after cardiac arrest at German Bundesliga soccer game

A long-time Eintracht Frankfurt supporter died in hospital, aged 87, hours after suffering a cardiac arrest in the stadium during a German Bundesliga game, the club said Tuesday. The stadium fell silent as paramedics worked to revive the man, who hasn't been named, during the second half of Frankfurt's 2-2 draw with Cologne on Sunday. In October, another fan died after falling ill while entering the stadium at a German Cup game between Leipzig and Energie Cottbus.

Apr 7 • 4:28 AM EDT • Sports • sports.yahoo.com

AI Giant Anthropic Leans Into Life Sciences With $400M Coefficient Bio Catch

Anthropic in October last year iterated its Claude AI model to better cater to biopharma purposes. Sanofi, Novo Nordisk, AbbVie and others already use Claude in their operations.

Apr 6 • 8:13 AM EDT • Science • biospace.com

Lineup announced for Rochester Broadway Theatre League's 2026-2027 season

"BOOP! The Musical" will lead the next season beginning in October.

Apr 1 • 10:29 AM EDT • Entertainment • spectrumlocalnews.com

3-2: Chart

Mariners 2, Yankees 1 Cold baseball because it’s March: Julio Rodríguez, -.18 WPACold baseball because it’s October: Luis Castillo, +.35 WPA Game Thread Comment of the Day

Mar 31 • 12:30 AM EDT • Sports • sports.yahoo.com

Celine Dion announces comeback concerts September-October in Paris

Céline Dion will perform at in Paris in September and October, marking her return to the stage after her diagnosis with stiff-person syndrome.

Mar 30 • 6:05 PM EDT • Entertainment • latimes.com

Kansas Officials Are Being Sued Over Raids Against Hemp Businesses

“The lawsuit is a tactic to distract from the fact that Indy Vapes and Abilene Vape and CBD made a business decision to ignore state law.” By Maya Smith, Kansas Reflector Three smoke and vape shops are suing the state of Kansas, accusing officials of Fourth Amendment violations in a series of October raids. The […]

Mar 29 • 10:36 AM EDT • Business • marijuanamoment.net

Vice Provost for AI Jeffrey Bardzell resigns before data and information science school launch

Bardzell is the former dean of the School of Information and Library Sciences, until UNC announced in October that it was set to merge with the School of Data Science and Society. He took on the chief AI officer role shortly after.

Mar 25 • 6:29 PM EDT • Science • dailytarheel.com

Italy's growth outlook darkens due to Iran conflict, business lobby says

Italy's economy will grow by 0.5% this year, the country's main business lobby Confindustria forecast on Wednesday, cutting its ​previous 0.7% estimate made in October and warning of ‌strong downside risks if the conflict in Iran drags on.

Mar 25 • 6:11 AM EDT • Business • reuters.com

Flavio Bolsonaro Inches Ahead of Lula in Brazil Election Poll

Flavio Bolsonaro edged ahead of President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva in the run-up to October’s election, with a new poll showing for the first time that the right-wing senator is leading the race.

Mar 25 • 5:00 AM EDT • Politics • bloomberg.com

French Business-Activity Gauge Hits Five-Month Low on Iran

French business activity declined at the fastest pace since October as the Iran war threatens to derail the country’s economic revival.

Mar 24 • 4:15 AM EDT • Business • bloomberg.com

Oura Ring 5 leaks

The design is slightly different, and the health tracking should be improved. Oura launched the Ring 4 back in October of 2024, and today its successor has...

Mar 23 • 6:00 PM EDT • Technology • gsmarena.com

Google rolling out modem update for original Pixel Watch

Following the last release in October, Google is rolling out a modem update for the original Pixel Watch...

Mar 16 • 2:50 PM EDT • Technology • 9to5google.com

Jon Keller back at WBZ News as special contributor, station says

Keller had been laid off from the station in October.

Mar 16 • 2:39 PM EDT • Politics • bostonglobe.com

Microsoft Will Add Gaming Copilot To Xbox Series Consoles in 2026

Microsoft Gaming Copilot has been out in the open and available as a beta for PC, mobile, and the ROG Xbox Ally since October 2025, but at a recent GDC conference, Sonali Yadav, Xbox Gaming AI partner group project manager, commented that Gaming Copilot would be landing on current-gen Xbox Series X|...

Mar 14 • 1:33 AM EDT • Technology • techpowerup.com

Clay craft brewery to close after less than 3 years in business

The brewery opened in October 2023.

Mar 11 • 12:04 PM EDT • Business • syracuse.com

Original founders of Bossfight Entertainment relaunch studio

After Netflix shut it down in October of last year, the original founders of Bossfight Entertainment are relaunching the studio as Bossfight.

Mar 11 • 10:25 AM EDT • Entertainment • gamedeveloper.com

CERN Science Gateway celebrates its 1000th science show

CERN Science Gateway has reached another milestone: the delivery of its 1000th science show! Since opening its doors in October 2023, Science Gateway has welcomed nearly 900 000 visitors of all ages to explore the fundamental questions of the Universe. Among its most popular activities are the science shows – dynamic, interactive demonstrations led by CERN guides and tailored to a broad audience of different age levels, including school groups, families and the general public. Designed to make complex scientific concepts accessible and entertaining, these live shows combine spectacular experiments, multimedia elements and audience participation. From the physics of particle collisions to the properties of superconductivity, electromagnetism and cryogenics, the science shows translate the research carried out at CERN into engaging visual experiences. Visitors might see superconductors levitate, follow particles through different detector layers or discover the beauty in phase transitions. Each demonstration is carefully crafted to spark curiosity while maintaining scientific accuracy. Members of the CERN community are of course warmly invited to visit CERN Science Gateway with their family or friends and attend one of the science shows. To register, please visit this page, and don’t forget to check the programme for the coming days. Become a CERN guide and run your own super-cool science show (and more)! To become a CERN guide, you can join the introduction course held every 3–4 weeks, which will give you an overview of what being a CERN guide entails. From there, further courses are available depending on what type of guide you would like to be. Because, of course, CERN guides are needed everywhere at CERN. If you imagine yourself as a more ‘traditional’ guide, you should know that there are currently more than ten exciting visit points in CERN’s visits portfolio, such as the Antimatter Factory, the ALICE experiment (surface), the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer (AMS) control room, the ATLAS experiment (surface), the CERN Control Centre (CCC), the Data Centre, the LHCb experiment (surface), the Synchrocyclotron (SC), the SM18 test facility and the newly inaugurated Linac2 visit point. Indeed, CERN’s Visits Service and Visual Impact and Exhibitions Section recently collaborated on redesigning the Linac2 visit tour, which has just reopened to the public after several months of renovation work. The new tour offers visitors and guides alike an enriched, more immersive experience, designed to highlight the history and scientific significance of this major facility. So, fancy becoming one of the insiders? Join the introduction course, check the guides website or contact guides.manager@cern.ch. And remember, becoming a guide can benefit you, too.

Mar 11 • 7:28 AM EDT • Science • home.cern

Missed grabbing Metallica ‘Life Burns Faster’ tickets? You still have a chance to see them live in Las Vegas

One of the most popular metal bands, Metallica, is settling down in Las Vegas for a 2026-27 residency at The Sphere with dates kicking off in October.

Mar 9 • 10:30 AM EDT • Entertainment • al.com

Iran had a plan to fight Israel and the US. It all collapsed after October 7.

The rise and fall of the “Axis of Resistance.”

Mar 4 • 6:00 PM EST • Politics • vox.com

Blow after blow to the power of Iran and its proxy militias set the stage for US-Israel attacks

As Israel unleashed a sweeping military response to the brutal assault by Hamas on October 7, 2023, it aimed punch after punch at Iran, the militant group’s longtime sponsor, and its proxies

Mar 2 • 12:23 AM EST • Politics • washingtonpost.com

Supply Chain Spotlight: How medical distributors and health systems stay ready for late-season flu surges

On Feb. 6, 2026, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that flu activity was "elevated" across the U.S. The CDC estimates that since the current flu season began in October...

Feb 26 • 7:00 AM EST • Health • newsroom.cardinalhealth.com

MLB Power Rankings: Picking the best rotations for the 2026 baseball season

An ace is the easy part but that's not enough to carry a pitching staff all the way to October

Feb 23 • 9:10 AM EST • Sports • cbssports.com

PRET for impact: Advancing pandemic preparedness in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea

IN THE SPOTLIGHT PRET for impact: Advancing pandemic preparedness in the Democratic People’s Republic of KoreaThe Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPR Korea) is making significant progress in strengthening pandemic preparedness, with dedicated support from the WHO South‑East Asia Regional Office (SEARO) and the Pandemic Influenza Preparedness (PIP) Partnership Contribution (PC).Aligned with the WHO Global Influenza Strategy and the Pandemic Influenza Preparedness (PIP) Framework Partnership Contribution High‑Level Implementation Plan III (2024–2030), the country is strengthening its capacity to prepare for and respond to influenza and other respiratory threats. In early 2025, a core team from the Ministry of Public Health of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) participated in a two‑day virtual workshop, which included a mini‑simulation exercise. The workshop was organized by WHO SEARO in collaboration with the Preparedness and Resilience for Emerging Threats (PRET) Secretariat at WHO headquarters and the WHO Country Office for the DPRK. Read more A REGIONAL CONSULTATION GUIDES WHO SEARO IN DEVELOPING A ROADMAP FOR IMPLEMENTING THE PREPPAREDNESS AND RESILIENCE FOR EMERGING THREATS (PRET) INITIATIVE BASED RESPIRATORY PATHOGEN PANDEMIC PREPAREDNESSInfluenza and other respiratory pathogens with pandemic potential continue to pose major public health risks globally. To strengthen regional preparedness and response, Member States of the WHO South‑East Asia Region (SEAR) convened in Colombo, Sri Lanka, to review and provide input on the draft Roadmap and Action Framework for Broad Respiratory Pathogen Pandemic Planning (2026–2031). Supported through the Pandemic Influenza Preparedness (PIP) Partnership Contribution (PC) funds, the proposed roadmap aims to advance robust, integrated preparedness and response capacities for influenza and other respiratory threats across SEAR. This work is aligned with the Preparedness and Resilience for Emerging Threats (PRET) initiative and the SEAR Strategic Roadmap on Health Security and Health System Resilience for Emergencies Read moreSRI LANKA’S USE OF ANTIVIRALS TO REDUCE THE SEASONAL INFLUENZA BURDEN Sri Lanka is strengthening its influenza response by placing greater emphasis on rapid testing, timely treatment, and integration with maternal health services. With support from WHO, the country is building a stronger evidence base on the burden of influenza and the value of vaccination, advancing a holistic approach to protect vulnerable populations and enhance pandemic preparedness. To reduce hospitalizations and deaths from seasonal influenza, Sri Lanka is taking proactive steps to expand access to rapid diagnostic testing and ensure prompt initiation of treatment. National clinical guidelines recommend the use of oseltamivir for individuals at high risk of complications, helping prevent severe illness and shorten the duration of infection. This strategy not only saves lives but also supports local pharmaceutical production, contributing to a reliable supply of antivirals for both seasonal outbreaks and future pandemics.Read moreBHUTAN BOOSTS PANDEMIC INFLUENZA READINESS WITH PANDEMIC INFLUENZA PREPAREDNESS FRAMEWORK PARTNERSHIP CONTRIBUTION SUPPORTED TRAINING AND SIMULATIONSOriginally developed in 2012, the National Influenza Pandemic Preparedness and Response Plan (NIPPRP) has long served as Bhutan’s central framework for managing influenza threats. In 2024, the plan underwent a comprehensive update to reflect evolving global and regional guidance, lessons learned from the COVID‑19 pandemic, and new capacities developed under the PIP Framework. The revised NIPPRP is now more clearly aligned with Bhutan’s broader emergency and disaster risk management structures, ensuring a coordinated, whole‑of‑government approach to pandemic response. As part of efforts to strengthen national pandemic preparedness, Bhutan conducted three national‑level training sessions followed by simulation exercises on influenza pandemic preparedness and response at five sentinel hospitals between April and May 2025, with support from the PIP Partnership Contribution (PC). These activities brought together more than 140 health professionals and key partners from across the country, with a focus on operationalizing the updated NIPPRP and enhancing readiness at key frontline facilities. Read moreSTRENGTHENING INFLUENZA SURVEILLANCE: WHO BRINGS TOGETHER INFLUENZA EXPERTS FROM SOUTH-EAST ASIA AND WESTERN PACIFIC REGIONSThe World Health Organization (WHO) convened the 18th Bi‑regional Meeting of National Influenza Centres (NICs) and Influenza Surveillance for the WHO South‑East Asia and Western Pacific Regions from 9–11 September 2025. Hosted by the WHO South‑East Asia Regional Office (SEARO), the meeting brought together representatives from Member States, Territories, and Areas across both regions, alongside experts from the WHO Collaborating Centres for Reference and Research on Influenza in Australia and Japan, the WHO Collaborating Centre for Studies on the Ecology of Influenza in Animals in the United States, quadripartite partners (WOAH and FAO), and other technical counterparts. The consultation provided a platform to review progress, share experiences, and outline priorities for strengthening influenza and respiratory pathogen surveillance across the two WHO regions.Read moreNETWORKS AND TECHNICAL PARTNERSHIPSSTRENGTHENING PANDEMIC READINES: SOUTH-EAST ASIA ADVANCES UNITY STUDIES UNDER THE PANDEMIC INFLUENZA PREPAREDNESS INITIATIVEThe WHO Global Influenza Surveillance and Response System (GISRS) Investigations & Studies initiative, also known as Unity Studies, provides a standardized, globally coordinated framework to support these efforts. Originally developed for influenza and adapted during COVID-19, Unity Studies enable countries to conduct rapid, nationally led investigations and studies to assess transmissibility, severity, susceptibility, and intervention effectiveness. To better prepare for future influenza pandemics, WHO has recently launched a network of sites which will be ready to conduct these investigations and studies rapidly in the event of a pandemic, or epidemic of an emerging or re-emerging respiratory pathogen. The WHO South-East Asia Region now hosts six sites of WHO GISRS Unity Studies across the five countries including Sri Lanka, strengthening regional capacity for early pandemic investigations. From 13–16 July 2025 in Colombo, the Global Public Health Summit offered an opportunity to advance this agenda. Read moreSTRENGTHENING PANDEMIC PREPAREDNESS THROUGH UNITY STUDIES: REAL-WORLD APPLICATIONS FROM INDIA IN WHO’S SOUTH-EAST ASIA REGION As countries continue to strengthen their pandemic preparedness through investments in resilient health systems during the interpandemic period, the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Global Influenza Surveillance and Response System (GISRS) Investigations & Studies Global Initiative, Global Initiative, commonly known as Unity Studies, remains a vital framework for respiratory pathogen pandemic preparedness. These standardized epidemiological protocols enable countries to rapidly generate high‑quality data on transmissibility, infection severity, population immunity, and the effectiveness of public health interventions. To highlight how Unity Studies protocols are being adapted and applied in national settings, WHO Headquarters, together with WHO Regional Offices, including the WHO South‑East Asia Regional Office (SEARO), hosted a global webinar. The session showcased case studies from India and the United Kingdom (UK), demonstrating innovative approaches to respiratory virus surveillance and pandemic readiness. Read moreSTRENGTHENING REGIONAL INFLUENZA SURVEILLANCE AND PREPAREDNESS: WHO SEARO HOSTS HIGH-LEVEL WEBINAR AMID RISING H5 THREATS In response to the increasing detection of avian influenza A(H5) cases in humans globally and within the WHO South‑East Asia Region, the WHO Regional Office for South‑East Asia (SEARO) convened a regional webinar on 25 July 2025 to review preparedness mechanisms, strengthen surveillance pathways, and promote timely reporting of unusual respiratory events. The virtual session brought together more than 50 participants from Ministries of Health, National Influenza Centres (NICs), National IHR Focal Points (NFPs), WHO Headquarters, WHO Country Offices across the Region, and WHO Collaborating Centres (CCs) for influenza. The webinar provided an opportunity to share situational updates, discuss surveillance gaps, and reinforce coordination mechanisms critical for early detection and rapid response to avian influenza threats. Read moreOther Key PIP Updates (July-December 2025)MEMBER STATES:Bangladesh drafted and conducted a series of Core Group Meetings in 2025 to review and update the National Pandemic Preparedness and Response Plan for Respiratory Pathogens. In addition, the country carried out Rapid Response Team (RRT) trainings on seasonal and avian influenza and other re‑emerging infectious diseases. Bangladesh also updated its epidemiological data‑training programme for physicians at sentinel surveillance sites, using a revised epidemiological data‑collection tool.Bhutan revised and updated its National Influenza Pandemic Preparedness and Response Plan (NIPPRP) in 2025 and developed a national Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for influenza outbreak management. DPR Korea conducted a nationwide simulation exercise in July 2025 to support the update of its National Influenza Pandemic Preparedness Plan (2019). This followed a PRET‑based virtual orientation and mini‑simulation exercise held in May 2025 by SEARO and the WHO PRET Secretariat. The comprehensive exercise, conducted across central and provincial levels, assessed strengths and gaps in pandemic influenza preparedness and response. The feedback gathered has been incorporated into the revised draft plan to address identified weaknesses and strengthen overall readiness.India conducted a targeted nationwide online re‑orientation training on review and updates to the influenza portal for all State Surveillance Officers (SSOs) and relevant officials using the Integrated Health Information Platform (IHIP). The training emphasized correct marking and reporting of influenza samples as “unsubtypable” or “not subtyped” where applicable, to ensure accurate national surveillance.Maldives conducted simulation exercises in three atolls based on its existing National Pandemic Preparedness and Response Plan (NPPRP). The country plans to conduct similar exercises in three additional atolls after updating the NPPRP in 2026. In addition, Maldives conducted training on FluID and FluMart as part of a broader data‑management training package for Ministry of Health and Health Protection Agency officials, aimed at improving routine reporting to WHO platforms and the DHIS2 system.In Myanmar, technical support was provided to the National Influenza Centre (NIC) through dedicated human‑resource support (January–December 2025) to sustain data management and laboratory detection capacity for influenza and other emerging and re‑emerging respiratory viruses. This support also included strengthening genomic sequencing capacity.Nepal conducted a consultative workshop on the National Pandemic Preparedness and Response Plan (NPPRP) in July 2025. The workshop engaged key stakeholders from multiple sectors to review lessons from past pandemic responses, assess current mechanisms, and gather critical inputs for strengthening national preparedness. Key recommendations included revising the 2019 NPPRP and developing an updated Influenza Pandemic Preparedness Plan aligned with emerging risks, national priorities, and relevant international frameworks. Nepal also held a two day workshop dedicated to advancing the National Action Plan for Genomic Surveillance, aimed at reinforcing the country’s capacities for early detection and monitoring of emerging respiratory pathogens.Sri Lanka received the final report from WHO on the feasibility assessment for conducting an Influenza Burden of Disease (BoD) study in the country. The assessment, conducted from 28 April to 9 May 2025, included a desk review of existing data sources, document review, visits to sentinel surveillance sites, and key informant interviews. The study identified critical data sources required for a future BoD assessment, as well as their availability and quality. Officials from the Epidemiology Unit, the National Influenza Centre (NIC), and SARI/ILI sentinel hospitals across the country participated in the assessment.Timor Leste conducted on‑the‑job training and monitoring activities at two sentinel surveillance sites to strengthen surveillance and laboratory capacity for the detection of SARI, ILI, ARI, and other respiratory infections. REGIONAL OFFICE:SEARO conducted a Member States Consultation on the first draft of the Regional Roadmap and Strategic Action Framework for implementing WHO’s PRET‑based broad respiratory pathogen pandemic planning for 2026–2031. The consultation took place on 29–30 October 2025 during the final two days of the Regional PIP PC Annual Review and PRET Meeting in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Participants included representatives from Member States, WHO Country Offices, WHO SEARO, WHO Headquarters, partner agencies, and invited multidisciplinary technical experts. They reviewed the draft and provided detailed feedback, which has since been incorporated into a revised version. The consultation helped shape a shared regional vision for robust, PRET‑aligned pandemic preparedness, building on country‑level progress, addressing existing gaps and challenges, and aligning with global and regional health security frameworks. The publication is planned for release during the SEAR regional committee in 2026.SEARO documented the evolution of the National Influenza Pandemic Preparedness Planning process in the Region, tracing its development from its origins as a planning tool for responding to avian influenza outbreaks in 2006, through the experiences of the 2009 and 2019 pandemics, to the current status. The document outlines the way forward for respiratory pathogen pandemic planning across all 10 SEAR countries, aligning future national plans with WHO’s PRET Framework for broad respiratory pathogen pandemic preparedness.The Infectious Hazard Management (IHM) Unit has drafted the WHO South‑East Asia Regional Guidance on Influenza Prevention and Control, aligned with the Global Influenza Strategy and other regional initiatives. The draft is currently under review. Although this technical product was developed in response to a request from the Ministry of Public Health of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (MoPH‑DPRK), SEARO is finalizing it for use not only in DPRK but also across all Member States in the Region.The Immunization and Vaccine Development (IVD) Unit, in collaboration with WHE/SEARO, completed a regional landscape analysis on key barriers, challenges, and opportunities for the introduction of seasonal influenza vaccination in WHO South‑East Asia Regional (SEAR) countries.Additionally, the Immunization and Vaccine Development (IVD) Unit has completed a regional landscape analysis of influenza vaccine procurement systems across the WHO South‑East Asia Region (SEAR).KEY MEETINGS AND PUBLICATIONSMEETINGS:Six-month progress review of the implementation of the PIP-PC workplans in SEAR, focusing on Outputs 1 and 2 for the period January to June 2025, and held virtually across three sessions on 4, 8, and 10 July 2025. Read moreAnnual Regional Meeting (Hybrid) on Pandemic Influenza Preparedness (PIP) Partnership Contribution (PC) and WHO’s Preparedness and Resilience for Emerging Threats (PRET) Implementation in SEAR in Colombo, Sri Lanka, 27 to 30 October 2025. Read more18th Bi-regional Meeting (Virtual) of National Influenza Centres (NICs) and influenza surveillance in WHO South-East Asia and Western Pacific Regions from 9 to 11 September 2025. Read morePUBLICATIONSImplications of influenza A virus surveillance in Southeast Asian Region countries: a scoping review of approaches for the surveillance of swine influenza viruses at human-swine interfaces. Read moreAnnual South-East Asia regional meeting on operational planning for implementation of global influenza strategy and preparedness for respiratory viruses in 2025 Report on annual review meeting of implementation of pandemic influenza preparedness (PIP) partnership Contribution (PC) Fund in South-East Asia Region and the simulation exercise on PRET Status of influenza in who south-East Asia Region

Feb 22 • 7:00 PM EST • Health • who.int

Euro zone business activity improved in February as manufacturing bounced back, PMI shows

Euro zone business activity accelerated faster than forecast this month as manufacturing swung back to growth for the first time since October, though the dominant services sector marginally underperformed expectations, a survey showed.

Feb 20 • 4:03 AM EST • Business • reuters.com

John Mulaney adds Upstate NY show to 2026 ‘Mister Whatever’ tour: How to get tickets

The three-time Emmy winner's Upstate New York show is part of 23 additional tour dates scheduled between July and October 2026.

Feb 17 • 1:47 PM EST • Entertainment • syracuse.com

Bryce Harper still mystified by Dave Dombrowski's 'elite' comments as Phillies open 2026 spring training

Harper said comments from the Phillies exec in October are 'kind of wild to me, still'

Feb 15 • 11:53 AM EST • Sports • cbssports.com

Alaska to begin soliciting funding ideas as state races to spend $272 million on rural health care

The state must award the funding by October or risk losing it.

Feb 14 • 3:26 PM EST • Health • adn.com

Igor Tudor: Tottenham confirm former Juventus boss as head coach for rest of season

Former Juventus boss Igor Tudor will take charge at Tottenham until the end of the season; he has been out of work since October; Spurs will look to name a long-term successor to Thomas Frank in the summer; they face Arsenal next on Sky Sports on February 22

Feb 14 • 7:00 AM EST • Sports • skysports.com

CISA flags critical Microsoft SCCM flaw as exploited in attacks

CISA ordered federal agencies on Thursday to secure their systems against a critical Microsoft Configuration Manager vulnerability patched in October 2024 and now exploited in attacks.

Feb 13 • 7:35 AM EST • Technology • bleepingcomputer.com

First German politician enters Gaza since October 7 attack

The speaker of the Bundestag, Julia Klöckner, entered as far as the so-called "Yellow Line" of predominantly Israeli control in Gaza. She held no talks with Palestinians, prompting some criticism at home.

Feb 12 • 7:57 AM EST • Politics • dw.com

Fitbit Coach preview expanding internationally, coming to iOS

After the initial Public Preview in October, Google is bringing its Fitbit personal health Coach to international Premium users.

Feb 10 • 12:20 PM EST • Technology • 9to5google.com

KBC Group finalises acquisition of Business Lease Czech Republic and Slovakia

KBC Group NV, ČSOB Leasing Czech Republic, ČSOB Leasing Slovakia, and AutoBinck Group NV announce Today the successful closing of the agreement for ČSOB Leasing Czech Republic, ČSOB Leasing Slovakia to acquire 100% of the shares in Business Lease s.r.o. (“Business Lease Czech Republic”) and Business Lease Slovakia s.r.o. (“Business Lease Slovakia”). The transaction, originally announced on 23 October 2025, has received all necessary regulatory approvals, including from the Antimonopoly Office of

Feb 10 • 12:00 PM EST • Business • finance.yahoo.com

Red Wings, Tigers partnering with MLB for post-FanDuel TV, streaming broadcasts

FanDuel Sports Network has carried Red Wings and Tigers games since October 2024, but the teams are moving on.

Feb 9 • 3:04 PM EST • Sports • nytimes.com

Microsoft's new commercial CEO is changing his top ranks, memo shows

Judson Althoff was promoted to this new CEO role in October. He's shuffling several executives who work for him.

Feb 4 • 5:00 AM EST • Business • businessinsider.com

Broadway's 'The Lion King' returns to New Orleans' Saenger Theater in October

Get ready for the return of "The Lion King" to the Saenger Theater in New Orleans this fall. And stay tuned for the full Broadway season lineup announcement in March.

Feb 3 • 5:30 PM EST • Entertainment • nola.com

Windows 11 26H2 confirmed for later this year, as references spotted on Windows Update page

If you're on Windows 11 25H2 or 24H2, you'll be getting Windows 11 26H2 later this year, likely around October 2026.

Feb 1 • 9:36 PM EST • Technology • windowslatest.com

Here’s how Baton Rouge’s casinos fared in December

After two strong months in October and November, Baton Rouge’s casinos continued their upward trajectory in December. Collectively, the casinos posted $25.7 million in revenue for December, u… Already an INSIDER? Sign in. Already an INSIDER? Sign in

Jan 30 • 7:10 AM EST • Business • businessreport.com

Three months after Hurricane Melissa: PAHO continues supporting health system recovery across the Caribbean

Washington, DC, 28 January 2026 (PAHO)- Ninety days after Hurricane Melissa swept across parts of the Caribbean, countries are transitioning from emergency response toward recovery—while continuing to confront public health risks linked to damaged infrastructure, disrupted services, and heightened vulnerability to disease. The Category 5 storm made landfall first in Jamaica on 28 October 2025, causing widespread damage in several Caribbean nations, mainly across Jamaica, Cuba and Haiti, and placing sustained pressure on national health systems.

Jan 29 • 5:18 PM EST • Health • paho.org

Google Chrome Gets Gemini Side Panel and Agentic Browsing Features

AI-powered browsing features have become a battleground among browser makers in recent months. OpenAI launched its Atlas browser in October, while Microsoft Edge and Opera have also introduced AI assistants and automated browsing capabilities. And now Google is upping the ante. The company has announced a slew of new AI features fro Chrome, including a persistent sidebar for the Gemini chatbot and "auto browse" capabilities that can perform web tasks on your behalf.

Jan 29 • 5:44 AM EST • Technology • macrumors.com

Amazon cuts about 16,000 corporate jobs in latest round of layoffs

The reductions follow October's layoffs of 14,000 workers

Jan 28 • 7:35 AM EST • Business • spectrumlocalnews.com