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419 FW and 151 ANG Advocates tackle mental health: briefs Utah clinicians
As mental health professionals from across Utah gathered for the University of Utah College of Social Work’s Continuing Education Unit Institute on May 13, behavioral health leaders from the military community took the virtual stage to shed light on a critical but often misunderstood population: Reservists and Guardsmen.
Americans don’t like either political party. We asked them why.
The wide-ranging criticisms — that the parties are corrupt, subservient, "wishy washy" or unable to handle the president — signal major challenges for both sides.
Cheaper, Alternative Health Plans Are Having A Moment, But Critics Urge Caution
By Sarah Kwon and KFF Health News HealthDay ReportersWEDNESDAY, May 27, 2026 (HealthDay News) — When Melanie Miller saw that her health insurance premium payment was set to nearly triple to $914 a month this year, she stopped shopping on the Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplace. The 59-year-old ...
Artist Kyle McDonald uses private jets to predict emergencies
Kyle McDonald's jet tracker exposes wealth inequality by monitoring private jets, and questions who has access to critical information.
Mayes Middleton Defeats Chip Roy in the Runoff for Texas Attorney General
After connecting his opponent to past criticism of President Trump, the conservative state senator now advances to the general election.
Health care loan repayment expands to address doctor shortage - Record expansion part of strategy to add health providers in NM - Office of the Governor
SANTA FE – Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham today announced a major expansion of New Mexico’s Health Professional Loan Repayment Program, the latest in a series of administration actions to address a physician shortage that has left 32 of the state’s 33 counties with critical gaps in care. Under the expanded Health Professional Loan Repayment Program, […]
Millions of AI agents imperiled by critical vulnerability in open source package
BadHost" was found in Starlette, a package with 325 million weekly downloads.
Dog daycare leptospirosis outbreak in Los Angeles reveals broader public health risks
A 2021 outbreak of leptospirosis that sickened more than 200 dogs in Los Angeles County reveals critical gaps in vaccination practices and raises broader concerns about the spread of the disease between ...
Rachel Ward Had A Blunt Response To Critics Of Her Appearance — And It’s A Masterclass In Confidence
The British actor, best known for her role in 1983′s “The Thorn Birds,” recently returned to the public eye with a surprising career pivot.
This Global Survey Reveals a Brutal Truth About AI in Customer Service. Here's What Every Leader Needs to Hear.
New data reveals how customers really feel about AI in service, and why human connection still plays a critical role in trust, loyalty and growth.
Democrats criticized for Memorial Day ICE protest as 'political stunt'
New Jersey Democrats protest an ICE facility on Memorial Day, drawing sharp criticism. 'Outnumbered' discusses the timing of the demonstration and highlights accusations of it being a 'political stunt'.
Trump convenes rare Camp David Cabinet meeting as Iran deal pressure grows
President Trump convenes a rare Cabinet meeting at Camp David as high-stakes negotiations with Iran enter a critical phase amid a fraying ceasefire.
Dayton Business Journal: Wright State, Premier Health secure $2.5M grant for expansion of healthcare program
A $2.5 million grant — the first of its kind awarded in Ohio — will allow two major organizations to expand a critical healthcare program in Dayton. Wright State University’s Boonshoft School of Medicine and Premier Health received a $2.5 … Continue reading →
The ‘007 First Light’ Metacritic Review Score Is In
007 First Light reviews are in, which has landed it a stellar Metacritic score, one of the best in 2026 so far.
Cheaper, alternative health plans are having a moment, but critics urge caution
Congress' decision not to extend enhanced marketplace tax credits has boosted the appeal of alternative health coverage with lower monthly premiums.
Cyber resilience is a critical component of your healthcare infrastructure
Healthcare data storage decisions and an organizational mindset shift are key components in the fight against cyberattacks.
Bernie Sanders, Graham Platner rally for 'political revolution' in Maine
Maine Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner and Sen. Bernie Sanders rally supporters in Portland, Maine. Both leaders call for a 'political revolution,' criticizing the economic and campaign finance systems as corrupt.
Cheaper, Alternative Health Plans Are Having a Moment, but Critics Urge Caution
Congress' decision not to extend enhanced marketplace tax credits has boosted the appeal of alternative health coverage with lower monthly premiums. Consumer advocates dismiss the plans as "junk insurance,” while proponents say patients need alternatives to pricey marketplace options.
‘Restart Multiple Times’—Microsoft Changes Windows Next Week
Microsoft starts expiring critical Secure Boot certificates next week — "the clock is ticking" on a billion PCs.
State lawmakers cancel funding for Boundary Waters educational trips after criticizing nonprofit as too political
After Defeat, Massie Opens Door to a 2028 Run. Which Office Is Unclear.
Representative Thomas Massie of Kentucky, a critic of President Trump who lost his primary last week, filed papers for another candidacy but said he was not sure which office he might seek.
The World Health Assembly adopts updated Global Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance (2026–2036)
Geneva, 23 May 2026 – Member States at the Seventy-ninth World Health Assembly (WHA79) adopted the updated Global action plan on antimicrobial resistance (GAP-AMR) 2026–2036, marking a major milestone in the global response to antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and delivering on a key commitment contained in the 2024 United Nations General Assembly Political Declaration on AMR. The updated plan was developed through a consultative process led by the Quadripartite organizations – FAO, UNEP, WHO and WOAH – with extensive engagement of Member States and stakeholders across sectors. AMR remains one of the most significant global health and development challenges, affecting humans, animals, plants, food systems and the environment. The updated GAP-AMR provides a comprehensive One Health framework to guide coordinated global, regional and national action over the next decade. It builds on the foundation established by the original GAP-AMR adopted by the World Health Assembly in 2015 while reflecting evolving evidence, lessons learned, and the commitments made at the 2024 UN High-Level Meeting on AMR. During the Assembly, Member States expressed broad support for the updated plan and its strengthened multisectoral and One Health approach. Delegates highlighted the importance of prevention-first interventions, including infection prevention and control, water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), vaccination, biosecurity, and environmental measures. They also highlighted the need for responsible, equitable and sustainable use of antimicrobials, strengthened surveillance, innovation, and sustainable agrifood systems. The updated GAP-AMR is intended to serve as the global framework for coordinated action against AMR through 2036. It aims to accelerate global progress towards the commitments and targets agreed by Member States and support countries in developing, implementing and financing ambitious multisectoral national action plans. The plan also reinforces the importance of accountability, monitoring and reporting, sustainable financing, and international cooperation to address AMR through a One Health approach. The adoption of the updated GAP-AMR reflects renewed global commitment to preserving the effectiveness of antimicrobials and safeguarding advances in human, animal and plant health, food security, economic development and environmental sustainability. As implementation begins, continued collaboration among governments, international organizations, civil society, academia and the private sector will be critical to translating commitments into measurable impact. The Quadripartite organizations will continue supporting Member States and partners in operationalizing the updated GAP-AMR and advancing coordinated One Health action against AMR at country, regional and global levels.
Semiconductor decoupling. Powell's politics. Industrializing Ogaden. Free trade and the Magna Carta.
Thank you for opening your Chartbook email. Feliks Topolski, 1907-1989 8th Army’s Front, Italy 1944 Semiconductor decoupling Source: FT One thing that Jerome Powell deeply understood is that chairing the Fed under current conditions is a deeply political job. “Powell has successes and mistakes to his name. But he stands out as having thought more carefully about the Fed’s democratic legitimacy than any chair since Paul Volcker,” said Paul Tucker, a former deputy governor at the Bank of England, referring to the Fed chair who successfully fought the great inflation of the 1970s and early 1980s. … While Powell was at the Treasury in the early 1990s, he watched Alan Greenspan build relationships within the government. That convinced Powell he needed to follow the former Fed chair’s lead and spend more time in Congress than his predecessors Yellen and Bernanke. “The accountability for the Fed runs through Congress,” said Claudia Sahm, a former Fed official who is now chief economist at New Century Advisors. “That’s not just about having people on speed dial — it’s answering questions, explaining policy and getting feedback.” Source: FT Ethiopia’s PM Abiy and Nigerian business tycoon, with Chinese engineering, are driving industrialization in Ogaden/Somali region of Ethiopia. - Michael Masri’s reporting for Africa Report if fascinating. Ethiopia has launched a cluster of large industrial schemes in the Somali region, laying foundation stones for a urea plant and an oil refinery in Gode while opening the first two phases of the Ogaden LNG project. Abiy Ahmed framed the push as part of a broader strategy to link energy, agriculture and industry. “These projects embody more than industrial growth,” he said. “They represent our shared responsibility to harness opportunities, strengthen co-operation and promote peace.” The Gode urea plant, backed by Dangote Group and Ethiopian Investment Holdings (EIH), is designed for 3m tonnes a year. Dangote owns 60%, while EIH holds 40%. Officials say Dangote’s equity totals about $2.5bn, while the state provides land and implementation oversight. Gas from the Calub fields will be piped 108km to the site. Construction is slated for 40 months, with operations targeted for 2028. Ethiopia imports most of its fertiliser, spending more than $1.2bn a year for 1.5m–2m tonnes. Usage was roughly 1.7m tonnes in 2023, almost half of it urea, and demand for 2024–25 is put above 2.4m tonnes. If delivered on time, the Gode plant could cover domestic needs and allow exports to neighbours. Brook Taye, chief executive of EIH, called the venture “a significant milestone in the journey toward industrial self-sufficiency”. Dangote told the groundbreaking crowd that the complex would be integrated with gas supply and a polypropylene unit to support local inputs. He pointed to Ethiopia’s Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), with a capacity of more than 5,000MW, and noted his group’s cement operations and expansion plans. The Gode refinery is being developed by Golden Concord Group of China. It is designed to process 3.5m tonnes a year of crude and condensate from the Hilala field, with associated storage. Backers say it will ease foreign-exchange pressure from fuel imports and anchor further industrial activity, including a proposed steel smelting site in Dire Dawa. GCL’s chair, Zhu Gongshan, cast the project as “a key step in Ethiopia’s path to energy sovereignty”, underscoring the Beijing–Addis ties. Financing details are still being finalised, but the refinery is central to the government’s energy-security narrative. Source: The Africa Report Dangote’s Ethiopian vision: Dangote began with cement. His crown jewel, Dangote Cement, dominates Nigeria’s market and has 10 operations in other nations in Africa. The formula has been consistent: identify sectors with chronic shortages – cement, fertiliser, sugar – commit massive local investments, and scale up to serve regional demand. Ethiopia was a natural extension of that model. In 2015, Dangote launched the Mugher Cement Plant outside Addis Ababa at a cost of $600m, with an annual capacity of 2.5 million tonnes. The investment gave him a firm foothold in one of Africa’s fastest-growing construction markets. But success came with risks. In May 2018, violent unrest led to the killing of Dangote’s country manager and temporary shutdowns at Mugher. While other investors might have retreated, Dangote doubled down. Today, he is preparing to spend $400m to expand Mugher’s capacity to 5 million tonnes, alongside a new grinding unit near Addis Ababa. Cement is just one market Dangote is targeting. Ethiopia’s enormous state-controlled sugar industry, long plagued by inefficiency and debt, has struggled for years to reform. Its Omo Kuraz Sugar Development Project, touted as one of the continent’s largest initiatives, continues to face delays and mismanagement. … The most ambitious venture of all is the planned fertiliser production complex in Gode, Somali region. Publicised on 28 August 2025, the Dangote Group and Ethiopian Investment Holdings (EIH) deal plans one of the world’s largest single-site urea manufacturing plants. The project costs an estimated $2.5bn and has an estimated capacity of 3 million metric tonnes annually, a rate that would not only render Ethiopia independent, but even a net exporter of fertiliser. EIH, the state wealth fund of Ethiopia, will hold 40%, while 60% is held by Dangote Group. … For Dangote, Ethiopia is a trifecta: Cement demand is projected to grow by 10% annually, its sugar consumption is growing with rapid urbanisation, and fertiliser demand is all but insatiable, given that farming supports the livelihood of 70% of Ethiopians. Source: The Africa Report The stakes for Abiy are high: For Addis Ababa, the $4bn fertiliser project in Ethiopia’s Somali region is no longer simply a manufacturing investment. It is increasingly being framed as a strategic state project tied to food sovereignty, import substitution and the government’s broader attempt to build economic resilience under mounting fiscal pressure. “Becoming self-sufficient in food is our main agenda,” Abiy says during the visit. “Land is needed; we have it. Water is needed; we have it. Human resources are needed; we have it.” The scale is enormous even by African industrial standards. Once operational, the plant is expected to produce three million metric tonnes of urea annually, potentially making it one of the continent’s largest fertiliser complexes. Ethiopian officials say the project now includes a 110km gas pipeline, a 120MW power plant, a polypropylene packaging facility and a two-million-tonne NPK blending plant. For a government grappling with chronic foreign exchange shortages, ballooning import bills and pressure on agricultural productivity, the numbers matter politically as much as they do economically. The decision to anchor the project in Gode is deliberate. Long viewed as peripheral to Ethiopia’s industrial economy, the Somali region is now being repositioned by the federal government as a future irrigation and agro-industrial corridor. Officials argue that the area’s vast land reserves and access to water could eventually support large-scale commercial farming capable of reshaping Ethiopia’s food economy. The government is simultaneously building housing infrastructure for about 5,000 residents near the plant, while officials project broader industrial expansion along the corridor. Abiy goes further, comparing the long-term revenue potential of the Gode development zone with Ethiopia’s flagship state enterprise. “The investments we are making in this Gode area, combined, will generate high revenue for Ethiopia, at par with Ethiopian Airlines,” he says. Source: The Africa Report Feliks Topolski 1907-1982 Topolski’s Chronicle, ‘Nazi Revival’, Vol. 8, Is. 1-2, 1960 HEY READERS, THANK YOU for opening the Chartbook email. I hope it brightens your day. I enjoy putting out the newsletter, but tbh, what keeps this flow going is the generosity of those readers who clicked the subscription button. Photo by Jakub Dziubak on Unsplash If you are persuaded to click, please consider the annual subscription of $50. It is both better value for you and a much better deal for me, as it involves only one credit card charge. Why feed the payments companies if we don’t have to. Subscribe Grim vision of drone warfare by Sylvie Kaufmann For contributing subscribers only. Subscribe The state of the art in Colbert-studies. Jean-Baptiste Colbert was Louis XIV chief minister from 1661 to 1683 and traditionally seen as an architect of absolutism and mercantilism. Alexander Hamilton later cited him as an inspiration in 1782. Now his legacy is disputed. Daniel Dessert, the chief critic, sees Colbert as the orchestrator not so much of an absolutist state as of an elite cabal. Would be great to have a good English-language review of this important debate. Source: lhistoire Didn’t know that the Magna Carta included free trade provisions Fighting for the right to the beach in Oregon in 1967: Source: Research Gate RAF Station – British and Polish Flags, c. 1940-45, The Ingram Collection Feliks Topolski, 1907-1989 ink and wash If you’ve scrolled this far, you know you want to click: Subscribe
African countries can still get US funding for public health—if they cough up minerals and data first
New 'transactional' US global health agreements offer US aid for combatting HIV and other health threats in return for what critics say is expansive US access to resources.
Jewish Democrats grapple with a changing party and Israel’s entrenched leadership
Speakers at a conference blame Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu for alienating Democrats and say there’s room to criticize his government without turning on the nation.
The Political Truths of Harold Bloom's Literary Friendship
The private letters of famed literary critic Harold Bloom offer an ethical guide for politics.
Why Trump’s possible Iran deal may be almost as divisive as his decision to wage war
The best hope for ending a poorly planned war started with scant consultation with Congress or the American people may be an unsatisfactory peace that leaves critical issues to be resolved later and deepens Washington strife.
How integrating tradition and self-care has strengthened public health in the Americas
On 13 May 2026, a regional dialogue for the Americas titled, Innovative Experiences to Strengthen Health and Self-Care through Traditional, Complementary, and Integrative Medicine, was hosted by EsSalud, the government agency responsible for social security and health care in Peru.The event brought together representatives from the World Health Organization (WHO), the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), WHO collaborating centres, the health sector and academia. It presented regional perspectives from BrBolivia, Brazil, Mexico and Peru to explore how self-care and traditional medicine can strengthen public health, empower communities and support more inclusive models of care. Across all four countries, a clear message emerged: traditional medicine is not being positioned as an alternative to formal systems, but as a way to strengthen them. In the Americas region, the challenge is to consolidate intercultural and holistic care, with the aim of strengthening the healthcare system – making care more preventive, culturally relevant and community-based.Peru: institutionalizing complementary care over 28 years Dr Martha Villar López from EsSalud Peru demonstrated how integration can be institutionalized over time. With nearly three decades of investment, including a research programme dating back to 1998, traditional medicine is now embedded within public health infrastructure. EsSalud’s flagship programme, Reforma de Vida, operating as Prevenir, takes multidisciplinary teams into workplaces to reduce and detect risk factors for chronic noncommunicable diseases. Education cycles are structured around three pillars: celestial nourishment, focused on life purpose and movement; terrestrial nourishment, centred on regional food and healthy diets; and human nourishment, addressing identity, relationships, stress and spirituality. Grounded in Andean cosmovision and the principle of the ayllu, the programme aligns with local cultural values. Since 2007, it has trained over 6600 health leaders, certified more than 3100 health-friendly organizations and built alliances with nearly 11 000 employers.Bolivia: legal recognition and medical pluralism Adelino Pau Carpacheco, an 82-year-old Callawaya healer, described working with more than 220 medicinal plants, supported by deep generational knowledge. Traditional healers and plant medicine are highly respected in the country. Bolivia’s contribution also highlighted the role of policy in enabling integration. Through Law 459, traditional medicine has been formally recognized within a legal framework and led the country to medical pluralism where traditional medicine coexists with biomedicine, and both are now offered free of charge through the public health system. Mexico: preserving Indigenous knowledge and reinventing food culture Mexico presented two complementary approaches focused on knowledge preservation and food systems. In Veracruz, communities partnered with a university to safeguard Totonac traditional medicine through a diploma programme launched in 2019. This collaboration has already produced practical outputs, including manuals and a dictionary, helping to sustain knowledge at risk due to migration and generational change. Alongside this, Dr Hernán García, Directorate of Traditional Medicine and Intercultural Development – Mexico, explained how the Dieta de la Milpa programme addresses Mexico’s dual burden of malnutrition and rising noncommunicable diseases. Rooted in traditional Mayan cultivation systems and ingredients, it promotes healthier diets through community-led, intercultural approaches involving local authorities, Indigenous leaders and cooks. By reconnecting food, culture and health, it offers a practical pathway to prevention. Brazil: community therapy as a public health tool Brazil’s experience centred on Integrative Community Therapy, a methodology developed over 40 years ago by Dr Adalberto Barreto and now used in more than 47 countries. Therapy circles create spaces where participants share experiences and coping strategies, building social support networks at very low cost. Within Brazil’s Unified Health System, the approach has expanded rapidly since its inclusion in national policy in 2017. By 2025, more than five million integrative practice procedures were delivered annually in primary care, with registrations for this therapy increasing by over 500% in eight years. The main challenge now is equity, with access still concentrated in urban areas such as São Paulo. A shared regional direction against a global backdrop Drawing these experiences together, Dr Natalia Aldana of the TCIM Network of the Americas highlighted the shared outcomes of the interventions discussed. Such approaches strengthen healthy behaviours, social networks and community resilience; they are low-cost, adaptable and enable active participation in care, while showing potential to reduce the burden of noncommunicable diseases.The regional momentum mirrors a broader global shift. Dr João Paulo Souz, Director of BIREME (Latin American and Caribbean Center on Health Sciences Information), the specialized center of PAHO/WHO, emphasized that the Global Traditional Medicine Strategy 2025–2034 promotes a vision centred on people, evidence and integrated use. He noted that health should be understood through the relationships between people, community, nature and spirituality. Self-care interventions as a critical pathway towards universal health coverage Dr Manjulaa Narasimhan, Unit Head for Sexual Health and Well-being across the Life-course at WHO, delivered a presentation titled Advancing Self-Care in Traditional Medicine: Aligning the WHO Traditional Medicine Strategy 2025–2034 with the WHO Self-Care Framework, co-authored by Dr Geetha Krishnan Gopalakrishna Pillai, Unit Head for Research, Data and Innovation at the WHO Global Traditional Medicine Centre. WHO recommends self-care interventions for every country and economic setting as a critical path to reach universal health coverage – and traditional medicine acts as a bridge for self-care. Dr Narasimhan explained that traditional medicine contributes most effectively to self-care when embedded directly into primary health care, not operating in parallel, siloed systems. This, she stated, “is possibly the only sustainable way to deliver continuity of care that meets the needs, rights and priorities of communities and individuals”. The Global Traditional Medicine Strategy 2025–2034 is a move towards a more people-centred approach to health care that champions holistic approaches to health equity and patient autonomy.The integration of traditional medicine and self-care requires collaboration across disciplines, clear referral pathways, trained health and care workers, and strong leadership that supports integration. The WHO self-care competency framework defines 10 key competencies for health and care workers to support self-care in their clinical practice, supported by the WHO guideline on self-care interventions for health and well-being. These documents help health-care workers safeguard their own well-being and ensure that care is consistent, safe and grounded in shared standards and values.Together, the discussion through this dialogue points to a fundamental shift in how health systems are designed in the region, and globally, towards models that are more inclusive, culturally-grounded and responsive to the needs of the communities they serve. It is a move towards a system where traditional medicine is respected and responsibly integrated, where self-care provides empowerment and evidence-based care, and where health systems are supportive rather than being distant from these systems.Traditional medicine perspectives from Bolivia, Mexico and Peru - WHO's "Restoring Balance" seriesInnovative Experiences to Strengthen Health and Self-Care through Traditional, Complementary, and Integrative Medicine was streamed in Spanish, with Spanish and Portuguese subtitles. Recordings are available through the CABSIN YouTube channel with Portuguese subtitles and on the BVS MTCI Americas YouTube channel with Spanish subtitles. Dr Narasimhan’s session can be watched in English on both channels.
Trump’s emerging plan to end Iran war draws criticism from hard-line Republicans
President Donald Trump’s emerging deal to end the Iran war is drawing heavy criticism from some fellow Republicans who favor a harder line against the government in Tehran and fear a lost opportunity to finally rein in a longtime Mideast nemesis.
BottleRock artists criticize Trump, spark anti-ICE chants
Concious hip-hop pioneers Arrested Development and performers Fred Armisen, Carrie Brownstein and Corin Tucker delivered some of BottleRock’s most political moments at BottleRock Napa Valley 2026.
Republicans who have drawn a hard line on Iran pan Trump's emerging proposal to end the war
President Donald Trump’s emerging deal to end the Iran war is drawing heavy criticism from some fellow Republicans.
Republicans who have drawn a hard line on Iran pan Trump's emerging proposal to end the war
President Donald Trump’s emerging deal to end the Iran war is drawing heavy criticism from some fellow Republicans.
Anthony Edwards responds to criticism for congratulating Spurs during Game 6 of playoff series: 'That's why I'm me'
Ghost CMS SQL injection flaw exploited in large-scale ClickFix campaign
A large-scale campaign is exploiting a critical SQL injection vulnerability (CVE-2026-26980) in Ghost CMS to inject malicious JavaScript code that triggers ClickFix attack flows.
How the Silicon Valley-backed steroid Olympics aim to get everyone hooked
As biohacking gains momentum among elites including Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the Peter Thiel-backed Enhanced Games aims to normalize longevity drugs through a Vegas sports spectacle. Critics call the premise dangerous and unethical.
RFK Jr.’s Push to Curb Antidepressants Has Shaken Psychiatry
An annual psychiatric meeting was abuzz over Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s call to rein in the use of depression medications. Some fear it will drive patients away from care.
Reality check: Will online attention translate to real-life votes for Spencer Pratt in Los Angeles?
Ahead of the June 2 primary, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass has high disapproval ratings and has drawn broad criticism for her handling of the Palisades fires.
La Porte County deputy shot at Michigan City hospital undergoes 8-hour surgery, officials say
Officials provided a health update Saturday on an Indiana sheriff's deputy who was critically hurt in a hospital shooting Friday in Michigan City.
Bridge Center for Hope highlights mental health services during awareness month
During Mental Health Awareness Month, members of the public are being reminded about the critical services provided by the Bridge Center for Hope.
U.S. Ebola Travel Ban Faces Criticism From Congo Health Officials
Kinshasa residents continue to pack markets, bars and public transportation, despite growing international concern about the spread of the virus.
Welcome to sport’s ultimate taboo where athletes risk it all for millions in Las Vegas
The Enhanced Games promise human advancement and world records but critics fear more worrying effects
Ted Cruz says senators were ‘screaming’ at Todd Blanche during ‘anti-weaponization’ fund briefing
The private meeting came hours before the Senate postponed a critical vote to advance a partisan funding bill for ICE and Border Patrol.
‘Deserted parking lot’: Business owner criticizes Beachwalk developer over lack of progress; developer responds
A St. Johns County restaurant owner is voicing frustration over what he calls stalled progress at Beachwalk, the high-profile development known for its artificial lagoon, saying unfinished construction and empty lots have left his business struggling for customers.
Yanic Truesdale Signs With Mainstay Entertainment
EXCLUSIVE: Canadian actor Yanic Truesdale has signed with Mainstay Entertainment for management. Best known for his role in the critically acclaimed series Gilmore Girls from Amy Sherman-Palladino, Tr...
Ebola outbreak live updates: WHO upgrades risk to 'very high' and warns virus 'spreading rapidly'
Meanwhile, an American doctor who was flown to Germany for treatment after contracting the virus in the Democratic Republic of Congo is "critically ill," his missionary group says.
DNC chair under pressure again after flipping on releasing autopsy
DNC Chair Ken Martin faces calls to resign after releasing a widely criticized 2024 election autopsy report that omits mention of Gaza and Biden's age.
Arne Slot responds to Mohamed Salah’s Liverpool criticism
Mohamed Salah is due to play his final game for Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday, but vented his frustration at the club’s form and style of play this season in criticism of Arne Slot’s approach
Trump’s new ‘slush fund’ for his pals
This week, Donald Trump dropped a personal $10bn lawsuit he had against the Internal Revenue Service in exchange for a so-called anti-weaponisation fund. The $1.8bn fund will be used to compensate those who think they have been unfairly investigated by the government in the past. Jonathan Freedland speaks to the legal analyst Kristy Greenberg about why critics are calling this fund ‘corruption on steroids’
Colbert eschews politics during final ‘Late Show’ on CBS
Stephen Colbert largely steered clear of politics or direct criticism of President Trump during his final broadcast of “The Late Show” on Thursday night. Colbert, who repeatedly thanked…
How Fanatics cornered the sports collectibles market
As FIFA's exclusive collectibles licensee, Fanatics is set to tap a rapidly growing market in the world's largest sport, but longstanding criticisms follow.
DNC's 2024 election autopsy criticizes Kamala Harris while sidestepping controversial elements of the campaign
Although the autopsy criticizes Democrats' focus on “identity politics,” the report does not address former President Joe Biden’s decision to seek reelection, the rushed selection of Harris to replace him on the ticket or the party's acrimonious divide over the war in Gaza.
‘Seattle can’t survive this’: Critics hammer socialist mayor after Starbucks reversal
Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson reverses her Starbucks boycott stance as the coffee giant announces a massive corporate expansion in Nashville, Tennessee.
Read the DNC's full post-election autopsy for the 2024 campaign
Democratic National Committee Chair Ken Martin released a critical study of the party's performance in the 2024 campaign on Thursday, bowing to intense internal pressure from frustrated Democratic operatives who had publicly demanded the release of the post-election autopsy.
RWJBarnabas Health Launches NJ’s First Ever Street Medicine Program to Serve Unhoused Population, Deliver Critical Care and Lowe
RWJBarnabas Health today launched New Jersey’s first Street Medicine Program at Trinitas Regional Medical Center (TRMC) to bring essential care and services directly to unhoused individuals across the City of Elizabeth with the goal of expanding to other areas in the state to improve access to care among a particularly vulnerable population.
Facing intense internal pressure, DNC releases post-election autopsy
NEW YORK (AP) — Democratic National Committee Chair Ken Martin released a critical study of the party’s performance in the 2024 campaign on Thursday, bowing to intense internal pressure from frustrated Democratic operatives who had publicly demanded the release of the post-election autopsy. The 192-page report, which was concluded last December and authored by Democratic […]
Ebola outbreak raises alarms about Trump's global health moves
Public health experts fear the administration's actions have weakened critical health networks.
DEI support tanked UF’s last president. How does Stuart Bell’s record stack up?
“At worst,” said one critic, “you have somebody who’s spent a decade approving the very agenda DeSantis has fought against.”
Highly Critical Drupal Core Flaw Exposes PostgreSQL Sites to RCE Attacks
Drupal released security updates for a highly critical Drupal Core vulnerability affecting sites that use PostgreSQL.
Thomas Massie, a Trump Critic, Causes Latest Midterm Fight Over Israel
In primary races across the country, debates over Israel are taking center stage, dividing Democrats and Republicans alike.
Free health screenings in Boston neighborhoods thanks to the Family Van
With barriers rising in health care access, mobile clinic fills critical gaps
Dodgers’ Mookie Betts Fires Back at Shohei Ohtani Criticism
Mookie Betts came to Shohei Ohtani’s defense amid criticism of his offensive start to the season.
Drupal critical update to fix bug with high exploitation risk
Drupal has announced a "core security release" scheduled for later today, warning that threat actors might develop exploits within hours of the update disclosure.
MAPS 4 Mental Health Crisis Center final plans approved
MAPS 4 includes $12.27 million to build the new crisis center and expand access to critical mental health and substance use intervention resources for Oklahoma City residents. The Arnall Family Foundation also contributed $3 million to the project.
Stephen Colbert\'s long goodbye is coming to an end, leaving a void
Stephen Colbert's run on “The Late Show” ends Thursday, marking the conclusion of his on-air feud with President Donald Trump. Colbert began hosting in 2015 and often criticized Trump and
Stephen Colbert's long goodbye is coming to an end, leaving a void
Stephen Colbert's run on “The Late Show” ends Thursday, marking the conclusion of his on-air feud with President Donald Trump. Colbert began hosting in 2015 and often criticized Trump and his...
Massie's loss leaves no doubt about Trump's power over the GOP. 6 takeaways from Tuesday's primaries
While President Donald Trump has racked up several wins this primary season, this one perhaps sends an even more forceful message to the president's Republican critics.
Cheaper, alternative health plans are having a moment, but critics urge caution
What critics are saying about “Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu”
The latest "Star Wars" adventure opens May 22.
Texas Democrat Maureen Galindo faces backlash for pledging to imprison 'American Zionists' at ICE facility
Texas Democratic candidate Maureen Galindo draws criticism from her own party over posts pledging to detain American Zionists at an ICE facility.
Scientists use DNA from poop to save the world’s rarest marsupial
Scientists in Australia are using cutting-edge DNA techniques to help save one of the world’s rarest marsupials — the critically endangered Gilbert’s potoroo, with fewer than 150 left in the wild. By analyzing tiny traces of DNA in the animals’ scat, researchers uncovered clues about the elusive fungi the potoroos depend on for survival. The findings could help conservationists identify safer new habitats and establish backup populations before disasters like bushfires wipe them out.
Sen. Gillibrand of New York Clashes With Sean Duffy Over Funding Freeze
Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, Democrat of New York, criticized the transportation secretary, Sean Duffy, for posting a video that bragged about withholding money from the state.
NFL Fans Loved Michael Wilbon's Public Criticism Of ESPN
Michael Wilbon ripped ESPN's incessant coverage of the "irrelevant" Aaron Rodgers on Tuesday.
Trump-backed Navy SEAL vet delivers major blow to Massie in fiery GOP primary
Trump targeted GOP critic Rep. Thomas Massie in Kentucky's record-breaking $32 million House primary, backing former Navy SEAL Ed Gallrein to unseat him.
Rubio criticizes WHO’s Ebola response as US continues sweeping public health cuts
US secretary of state says WHO was ‘a little late’ in identifying deadly Ebola outbreak in the DRC and Uganda
Justice Jackson criticizes Supreme Court’s handling of major voting case
Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson said the court's decision to expedite a ruling in a major voting rights case made it appear political.
Live Results: Pennsylvania midterm congressional primaries
Democratic voters in Tuesday's Pennsylvania primary will pick their nominees to flip four seats seen as critical for the party to retake the U.S. House in November.
A critical window to stop hantavirus is opening. Not all countries are managing exposed travelers the same way
The hantavirus-stricken cruise ship MV Hondius arrived at its last stop Monday. Now, the waiting begins.
Mizzou begins construction of new Radioisotope Science Center
Construction has begun on a new Mizzou research facility that will produce critical isotopes for medicine, research and national security.
Dallas Wings respond to coach's public criticism with blowout win over Mystics
The Dallas Wings responded to coach Jose Fernandez's 'selfishness' call-out with a dominant win over the Mystics.
Live Results: Kentucky midterm congressional primaries
WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. Rep. Thomas Massie, one of President Donald Trump’s most vocal critics within the Republican Party, faces a tough primary challenge Tuesday in Kentucky’s state primary. It’s the latest example this primary season of the president trying to purge the party of Republicans he perceives as disloyal. Kentucky voters will also pick nominees for U.S. Senate, five other U.S. House seats and the state General Assembly. Voters in Louisville will winnow down
Politicians criticize MS Lt. Gov. Hosemann's redistricting committee
Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann's committee on redistricting caught flak from some of his Republican colleagues because it includes two Democratic senators.
Murdaugh attorney SLAMMED after retrial ruling: ‘Bald-faced allegations of politics’
South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson discusses the state Supreme Court’s ruling in the Alex Murdaugh retrial case and criticism of defense attorney Dick Harpootlian’s past Democratic political leanings.
Hackers Actively Exploiting Critical NGINX RCE Vulnerability in the Wild
Hackers are actively exploiting a newly disclosed critical NGINX heap buffer overflow flaw.
New MatterChat Model Helps AI to ‘See’ the Language of Science
From writing emails to generating computer code, much of the artificial intelligence prevalent in our daily lives has succeeded by mastering one domain: text. However, this leaves a major blind spot in the physical sciences, where models depend on the high-resolution, three-dimensional data of the physical world, like the intricate lattice of atoms in a crystal. Delivering on the promise of using AI for science requires teaching these data-driven text models to seamlessly “talk to” physics-based models. Now, a new AI framework from Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab), called MatterChat, solves this problem by creating a specialized “bridge.” It connects the conversational power of a Large Language Model (LLM) with a physics-based AI that models “interatomic potentials”: the complex physical forces between atoms. The resulting system already significantly outperforms general-purpose AI tools like GPT-4 at predicting material properties, and the team hopes it can accelerate scientific discovery by serving as a robust research partner that provides grounded insights and generates step-by-step instructions for synthesizing novel materials. A paper describing this work was recently published in Nature Machine Intelligence. “Traditional simulations can provide the physical rigor required for materials science, yet their computational cost remains prohibitive for high-throughput screening. Conversely, while LLMs excel at rapid knowledge synthesis, they inherently lack the ‘structural vision’ to interpret materials directly from their underlying atomic coordinates,” said Yingheng Tang, a postdoctoral researcher in Berkeley Lab’s Applied Math and Computational Research Division (AMCR) and lead author on the paper. “MatterChat was built to solve this dilemma, empowering LLMs with a structural ‘vision’ that allows researchers to leverage their full potential for solving complex, real-world materials challenges.” Empowering language models to solve complex challenges in materials science To build MatterChat, the Berkeley Lab team drew inspiration from technologies like Vision Question Answering (VQA) and Text-to-Image (T2I) generation. In these tasks, AI must translate high-level text concepts into visual images, or vice versa. Doing so requires developers to build tools that “bridge” two fundamentally different forms of data. The researchers adapted this concept to the physical sciences. With MatterChat, they created a “bridge model” that successfully connects an LLM’s general knowledge with the deep understanding of the atomic-scale world encoded in scientific interatomic potentials. Until now, researchers using LLMs to solve materials problems usually had to feed them raw data files as if they were just strings of text. It’s like asking an AI to understand a complex 3D engine based only on a parts list: the LLM can read the names, but it can’t “see” how the atoms fit together in space. MatterChat solves this by training a specialized AI bridge model, pre-trained on millions of crystal structures and an LLM, to align the LLM’s representation of the world with the interatomic potential’s representation of the world. The bridge model can translate physical insights into a format the LLM can actually understand. By giving the LLM these “scientific eyes”— a scientific “inductive bias” in the terminology of AI — the Berkeley Lab team has transformed it into a robust research tool capable of providing grounded scientific insights into complex materials challenges, such as predicting thermal stability or analyzing electronic band gaps. “We think of atoms as living in a physical space, but from a machine learning perspective, they are just vectors living in some very non-trivially structured manifold in a high-dimensional Euclidean space; and, of course, the same is true for the sentences and paragraphs that we use to express our ideas about those atoms,” said co-author Michael Mahoney, Berkeley Lab’s Scientific Data Division (SDD) AI Initiative Research Lead. “The bridge model basically gets those two structures to ‘talk with’ each other.” As a proof-of-concept of this general approach, the team trained their bridge model on a dataset curated by pairing nearly 143,000 stable atomic structures from the Materials Project with their corresponding physical properties. This training data was automatically assembled using the Materials Project’s API and deliberately enriched with properties fundamental to microelectronics design — like formation energy and bandgap — allowing MatterChat to learn the complex patterns connecting a material’s atomic blueprint to its functional performance. To validate their model, the researchers benchmarked MatterChat against a suite of other AI systems, from general-purpose LLMs to other specialized scientific AI methods. The results show that MatterChat consistently outperformed its competitors across a range of tasks. The model was more accurate in classifying material types and demonstrated superior precision in predicting numerical properties. For example, it excelled at predicting a material’s bandgap, a property critical for designing new electronics from high-capacity energy storage to next-generation computer chips. “Our design is significantly more efficient because we don’t have to build a massive AI model from the ground up,” said co-author Zhi (Jackie) Yao, a research scientist in Berkeley Lab’s AMCR. “Instead, we take two powerful, pre-trained models — a structural encoder for materials physics and an open-source LLM — and use them off-the-shelf. The only component we actually train is the lightweight ‘bridge model’ that translates between them. It’s the difference between building an entire car factory and simply designing a smart adapter that connects a world-class engine to a world-class navigation system. This approach is not only computationally efficient, but also makes the system modular, so we can easily upgrade components or adapt the bridge for other scientific domains in the future.” Crucially, this modular design highlights exactly how institutions like Berkeley Lab and the Department of Energy are carving out a highly valuable niche in the booming AI landscape. Rather than competing with Silicon Valley tech giants to build ever-larger language models from scratch, the lab is focusing on the specialized connective tissue that makes commercial AI useful for hardcore science. Because the bridge model approach underlying MatterChat is forward-compatible, it is perfectly positioned to leverage these parallel tracks of innovation. As Mahoney pointed out, “We expect that industry will continue to develop improved LLMs, and we expect domain scientists and facilities will continue to generate new data. An important part of scientific machine learning is not simply to solve problems on today’s data, but instead to develop general methods that will be forward-compatible with orders of magnitude more data, whether from scientific domains or from LLMs.” According to Yao, the MatterChat project, which was initially developed and enhanced with funding from a Berkeley Lab Laboratory Directed Research & Development (LDRD) Program, will now expand its capabilities. In a collaboration with Fermilab, MatterChat is already contributing to a U.S. Department of Energy Genesis Mission project — called Accelerating eXtreme Environment Specs-to-Silicon (AXESS) — that aims to speed up the development of next-generation, high-speed, radiation-hardened detectors for challenging particle physics experiments by using advanced 3D integrated circuits (chiplets) and AI-driven data analysis. In addition to the LDRD support, the team also credits supercomputing resources at the National Energy Research Scientific Computing Center (NERSC), located at Berkeley Lab, with MatterChat’s success. “We are incredibly grateful to NERSC; this research simply would not have happened without access to the Perlmutter supercomputer through their AI for Science program,” said Tang. Wenbin Xu, a NERSC postdoctoral fellow at the time, was also a major co-author of the work, as was Benjamin Erichson, a research scientist in Berkeley Lab’s SDD, highlighting the benefits of AMCR-SDD collaboration on AI for science. ### Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) is committed to groundbreaking research focused on discovery science and solutions for abundant and reliable energy supplies. The lab’s expertise spans materials, chemistry, physics, biology, earth and environmental science, mathematics, and computing. Researchers from around the world rely on the lab’s world-class scientific facilities for their own pioneering research. Founded in 1931 on the belief that the biggest problems are best addressed by teams, Berkeley Lab and its scientists have been recognized with 17 Nobel Prizes. Berkeley Lab is a multiprogram national laboratory managed by the University of California for the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Science. DOE’s Office of Science is the single largest supporter of basic research in the physical sciences in the United States, and is working to address some of the most pressing challenges of our time. For more information, please visit energy.gov/science.
Lululemon calls founder’s ideas ‘misguided’ in public letter
Lululemon has publicly rejected founder Chip Wilson’s ideas to fix the struggling athleisure brand with some strongly worded criticisms of its former leader.
AP Decision Notes: What to expect in Kentucky’s primaries
One of President Donald Trump’s most vocal critics within the Republican Party faces a tough primary challenge in Kentucky’s state primary | 97.3 The Sky
AP Decision Notes: What to expect in Kentucky’s primaries
One of President Donald Trump’s most vocal critics within the Republican Party faces a tough primary challenge in Kentucky’s state primary.
Ball State’s Dr. Renee Twibell Recognized Nationally for Pioneering Contributions to Nursing Science
Dr. Renee Twibell, a Ball State University alumna and associate professor emerita in the University’s School of Nursing, has been selected to receive the 2026 Pioneering Spirit Award from the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN).
‘It’s not supposed to look like you’re going to dive in’: Historians criticize Trump’s Reflecting Pool makeover as group sues
Workers with boots dyed an “American Flag Blue” have painted over about two-thirds of the iconic Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, covering the dull gray with bright azure following a directive by President Donald Trump to expedite the pace of the project.
Selfish Salah should be dropped from Anfield finale
Mohamed Salah should be dropped from Liverpool's season finale for 'selfish' criticism of Liverpool, says Wayne Rooney.
Trump’s vendettas deliver, but at what cost to the GOP?
President Donald Trump is lining up new targets after felling yet another Republican critic in a retribution campaign that he finds deeply satisfying but that comes with widening political risks for his party.
The Women’s Health Innovation Radar:
Advancing women’s health requires not only scientific progress, but an innovation ecosystem capable of translating discovery into evidence, technologies and scalable solutions that improve outcomes for women globally. Yet many high-impact conditions continue to receive insufficient targeted innovation. The Women’s Health Innovation Radar maps activity from research funding and scientific publications to clinical trials and product development across 10 high-impact conditions, highlighting where innovation is advancing and where critical gaps persist. It offers a foundation to guide research priorities, inform policy decisions and mobilize investment towards areas of unmet need, helping to ensure that scientific advances translate into meaningful impact for women worldwide.
The Women’s Health Innovation Radar:
Advancing women’s health requires not only scientific progress, but an innovation ecosystem capable of translating discovery into evidence, technologies and scalable solutions that improve outcomes for women globally. Yet many high-impact conditions continue to receive insufficient targeted innovation. The Women’s Health Innovation Radar maps activity from research funding and scientific publications to clinical trials and product development across 10 high-impact conditions, highlighting where innovation is advancing and where critical gaps persist. It offers a foundation to guide research priorities, inform policy decisions and mobilize investment towards areas of unmet need, helping to ensure that scientific advances translate into meaningful impact for women worldwide.
Peter G. Neumann, Who Warned of Computer Security Risks, Dies at 93
For decades, he criticized the industry’s lax attitudes toward both computer security and individual digital privacy. And he developed solutions.
Critics fear a midterm purge as the Trump administration promotes program to check voter eligibility
At least 67 million registrations, primarily from Republican-controlled states, have gone through a beefed-up verification program at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, and tens of thousands of those have been flagged as potential noncitizens or people who have died.
Trump attacks Massie as Republican critic describes ‘desperate’ attempts to oust him from primary
US president writes ‘vote the bum out’ as congressman faces close race against Trump-endorsed Republican
Pete Davidson's ex Elsie Hewitt says she's 'exhausted' from parenting on her own after couple split
Pete Davidson's ex Elsie Hewitt, the mother of his daughter, defended herself as a solo parent following criticism of her appearance after their split: 'I'm doing it on my own.'