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Tigers can seize series win on Wednesday afternoon against Nationals
The Detroit Tigers missed a chance to secure a series win over the visiting Washington Nationals on Tuesday night, dropping the second of the three-game series, 3-1. Despite tossing a quality start, Drew Anderson was saddled with the loss while the offense barely made a peep at Comerica Park. Making his final start of the […]
Reform and the UAE – a threat to British politics
By Alex Carlen The United Arab Emirates likes to present itself as part of the solution to the climate crisis. The oil-rich Gulf state has committed to Net Zero by 2050, hosted COP 28, and even declared “championing climate action” as one of three strategic objectives for this week’s session of the United Nations General Assembly. But behind the scenes the UAE has quietly built one of its closest political relationships in Europe with the party most hostile to climate action in Britain: Nigel Farage’s Reform UK. There is no evidence that the UAE is funding Reform. But a new FairSquare report, Petro-populism: the UAE–Reform threat, published today, documents a growing political relationship that should concern anyone interested in the integrity of British democracy. Reform’s leaders have embraced the UAE’s political model and promoted positions that align closely with the Emirati government’s priorities, while the UAE has given Farage and his party unusually warm access and public backing. What is emerging is not simply a relationship between British politicians and a wealthy Gulf state, but a channel through which an authoritarian government can cultivate political influence here, and abroad. Democracy for Sale relies on its readers. If you already support us, thanks so much. If you don’t, sign up to support fearless independent investigative journalism. Subscribe Back in January, Nigel Farage appeared at a GB News event in Dubai. On the 50th floor of a tower overlooking the luxury resorts and upscale residences of Palm Jumeirah, the Reform leader declared: “I want Clacton to look like this.” At the event – which Farage never declared on his official register of interests – senior Emirati officials mixed with British expats. Farage was keen to flatter. “We recognise you are our friends”, he said, assuring them that “a Brexit London, a Reform London, will remember you.” Controversy surrounding Reform’s finances and its susceptibility to foreign influence have centred around high-profile donations from billionaire crypto donors, and the jailing of Nathan Gill, Reform’s former leader in Wales, for accepting bribes to give pro-Russia speeches. Far less attention has been paid to Reform’s blossoming new alliance with the UAE, an oil-rich authoritarian state with a track record of ruinous anti-democratic interventions. Farage wasn’t always so fond of the UAE. Back in 2023 he called it an “absolute monarchy with an abysmal human rights record.” Now Reform’s hierarchy calls the UAE home. Deputy leader Richard Tice splits his time between his constituency and Dubai and has called on the UK to learn from the UAE. The party’s treasurer Nick Candy runs a firm which has been in partnership with a UAE-state linked firm since 2024. Nadhim Zahawi sits on the board of an Abu Dhabi think tank alongside an array of the most senior UAE officials and is reportedly close to three brothers of the country’s despotic ruler Mohammed Bin Zayed. Reform’s leading lights have effusively praised the UAE’s governance model, defended it from criticism, and advanced its political agenda in the UK. GB News, whose two major shareholders – the Legatum Foundation and Paul Marshall – have strong links to the UAE, has been more than happy to broadcast UAE propaganda and was forced to pay damages in 2025 after airing a false claim about a UK charity by the UAE “disinfluencer” Amjad Taha. The UAE has responded in kind. When the UAE Minister for Foreign Affairs conducted an official visit to the UK in May, Farage was the only non-government figure granted an audience. UAE state media publicised the meeting, and said that they discussed “the strategic relations between the two countries and ways to enhance them in a manner that serves mutual interests.” For the UAE these ‘mutual interests’ largely concern its paranoia over political Islam, and in this regard the UAE-Reform alliance is part of a broad and troubling pattern. Following a crackdown on dissent at home in the aftermath of the Arab Spring, the UAE has offered material and political support to a range of violent and authoritarian actors willing to oppose the Muslim Brotherhood with no regard for the consequences. Its meddling in Egypt, Tunisia, Yemen, and most notably Sudan, have been devastating. The UAE’s strategy of seeking out partners on the political fringes who it believes will advance its interests is not unique to Britain – it extends beyond the Middle East to Europe and the US. In France, it has offered clandestine support to Marine Le Pen through secret meetings, as well allegedly funding trips to the region after which Le Pen returned with a renewed focus on the UAE’s perceived enemies – Qatar and the Muslim Brotherhood. Left-wing opposition leader Jean-Luc Mélenchon has accused the UAE of smearing him and of “encouraging discrimination, hatred or violence”. In the US, the UAE actively supported the rise of Donald Trump, establishing itself as a key ally during both his first and second terms. Around these relationships sits a wider ecosystem of figures willing to amplify UAE narratives, that even extends to Andrew Tate and Tommy Robinson. Subscribe In Britain, the UAE has used a combination of aggressive diplomacy and illicit, disruptive tactics to achieve its policy goal of eliminating any perceived threat from political Islam. In 2012, for instance, it threatened to block billion-pound arms deals with the UK and stop inward investment if David Cameron did not act against the Muslim Brotherhood and rein in the BBC’s coverage of the group – going so far as to suggest, with no supporting evidence, that the group had infiltrated the BBC. It has financed smear campaigns against a high-profile UK charity and funded a mercenary to secretly surveil, and possibly assassinate, a British national on British soil. In Reform UK, the UAE has finally found an ally willing to not only ban the Muslim Brotherhood, but to publicly vilify the group and repeat the UAE’s claims that dangerous Muslims are a fifth column in British society, a narrative that aligns with the Islamophobia and anti-immigration sentiments that underpin Reform’s populist politics. The Rycroft review into foreign interference concluded that “hostile states and non-state actors have a clear incentive to attempt to undermine UK democracy.” The UAE’s network and alliance with Reform must be understood within that framework. It is a powerful, disruptive and deeply authoritarian actor with the resources and networks to intervene in our politics, and a track-record of doing so in a multitude of other countries. The evidence of the threat the UAE poses is overwhelming. The question is whether parliamentarians are willing to call the UAE out and demand action using the tools that the government has to respond. Placing the UAE on the “Enhanced Tier” of the Foreign Registration scheme alongside Russia and Iran would send a powerful signal to the UAE that its meddling will no longer be tolerated, and would place Farage’s next trips to the UAE under the scrutiny they deserve. Alex Carlen is research and advocacy manager at London based human rights organisation FairSquare and author of its new report Petro-populism: the UAE–Reform threat. Subscribe
Pens Points: Penguins drop second preseason game
Here are your Pens Points for this Wednesday morning… The Pittsburgh Penguins fell 7-4 to the Detroit Red Wings in Pittsburgh’s second preseason game on Tuesday at PPG Paints Arena. Nick Robertson scored in his Penguins debut, while Kaeden Korczak and Rutger McGroarty also found the net in the loss. [Recap] Forward Nick Robertson is […]
Kimmich feels special sense of responsibility after World Cup debacle
Germany captain Joshua Kimmich said that he feels a special sense of responsibility after a third consecutive disappointing World Cup. "Looking back, these three World Cup eliminations are part of my career.
CDC survey finds mental health and suicide risk among U.S. teens has improved
The CDC's latest Youth Risk Behavior Survey highlights students' diets, sleep and nutrition, which are priorities for Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Roberto Mancini returns as Italy head coach but can the Azzurri recover from lowest ebb with a youth-inspired revolution?
Roberto Mancini is back as Italy head coach after a second spell; the former Man City boss won Euro 2020 with the Azzurri, who have not qualified for the last three World Cups; With exclusive insight from Gianluigi Donnarumma, Sky Sports Sam Blitz analyses the road back for Italy...
PM’s new anti-disinformation unit won’t target ‘domestic politcal dissent’, defence secretary says
Wes Streeting told GB News: ‘We’re not interested in policing domestic political dissent’
Liverpool U21's show 'character' in shootout win over Rochdale
Boss Rob Page hailed the "character and resilience" of his Liverpool U21's side as they drew 3-3 against Rochdale in the Jersey Mike's Trophy while down to 10-men. Mor Talla Ndiaye was sent off in the first half for Liverpool before Devante Rodney broke the deadlock for Rochdale. Liverpool equalised before the break with a great solo goal from Will Wright, but Rochdale scored twice in quick succession in the second half through 41-year-old Ian Henderson.
France private sector returns to growth at fastest rate in 25 months, PMI shows
France's private sector grew in September at its fastest pace in just over two years, driven by a rebound in services demand, a business survey showed on Wednesday.
UK to review Chagos Islands deal after Trump called it 'terrible'
Defence Secretary Wes Streeting has confirmed the review after US president told Andy Burnham the deal was "terrible".
Your weather app runs on satellites, supercomputers and a retired science teacher who walked to his rain gauge at 7 a.m. every day for 50 years
The forecast on your phone has a secret ingredient: 8,700 volunteers with a thermometer. Meet the Frenches, a family in Gouverneur, N.Y. Ray monitored the stats for 50 years before his son took over. The 11-year-old granddaughter is next.
Italy hope for new dawn under Mancini
After months of soul-searching, controversy and debate, Italy are ready to let football do the talking again as Roberto Mancini kickstarts his second spell in charge."We went to meet him in Barcelona, we had lunch together, we talked for an entire day.
FedExCup Fall Schedule 2026
The 2026 FedExCup Fall is here. For many players, the next eight events could have a major impact on their 2027 PGA Tour season.While the FedExCup Fall doesn’t carry the same spotlight as the playoffs, it can be an important stretch for players looking to improve their position in the standings, secure playing opportunities and, […] The post FedExCup Fall Schedule 2026 appeared first on HEAVY.
Minnesota Orchestra announces 2026–27 broadcast schedule
The Minnesota Orchestra has announced the return of This Is Minnesota Orchestra for its sixth consecutive season, featuring four live concert broadcasts on Minnesota PBS and livestreams on YouTube.
AMC Entertainment Holdings (AMC) Begins $3.97 Billion Debt Refinancing
AMC Entertainment Holdings (NYSE:AMC) launched a US$3.97b debt refinancing effort aimed at reshaping its capital structure. The package includes new secured note offerings designed to retire existing 2029 notes through a comprehensive tender offer. AMC is also pursuing new first and second lien term loans that are intended to replace upcoming debt maturities. This large refinancing of 2029 notes and new secured financing only captures part of what could reshape AMC’s risk profile. Check out...
Pete Buttigieg Slams ‘Corruption’ in US Politics: ‘Corporate Money Is Flooding the Election’ and Big Pharma Will ‘Get Their Way’
Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg criticized what he described as corruption in U.S. politics, arguing that corporate money and political incentives have left Americans without a system t...
Dolly Parton's estate seeks restraining order against singer's nephew
Dolly Parton's estate requested a restraining order against Bryan Seaver after he was fired as head of security, according to People and TMZ.
Rays clinch AL East title after dominant win over Yankees
The Tampa Bay Rays secured the American League East title after Drew Rasmussen nearly threw a no-hitter against the New York Yankees.
Governor Gianforte Announces Transition at the Department of Public Health and Human Services
HELENA, Mont. – Governor Greg Gianforte today announced that Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS) Director Charlie Brereton will transition out of his role on October 30 to pursue an opportunity in the private sector. The governor has named Dr. Doug Harrington, the department’s State Medical Officer, as Director of DPHHS.
Whitesides turns up the heat to connect with fellow politicians, voters
Freshman Rep. George Whitesides may be campaigning for a second term in Congress, but he’s also taking time to turn up the heat on his colleagues – literally.
Miranchuk And Hoyos Lead Atlanta To Road Win
Atlanta United secured a vital 1-0 win over Portland. Alexey Miranchuk found the net while Lucas Hoyos stood tall in goal to keep the playoff dream alive.
Colts Coach Detailed What’s Wrong With The Indianapolis Defense
The Indianapolis Colts have lost nine consecutive regular-season games. It has been a very significant reality check for head coach Shane Steichen. At one point, his collective was on op of the NFL world with an 8-2 record. The post Colts Coach Detailed What’s Wrong With The Indianapolis Defense appeared first on HEAVY.
Kono’s flawless Round 3 buoys Nebraska women’s golf at Ram Classic
Nebraska women’s golf played Monday and Tuesday in the Ben Connell Ram Classic hosted by Colorado State University at Ptarmigan Country Club in Fort Collins. The tournament marked the Huskers’ second outing of the season after they hit the links at The Bruzzy in Texas earlier this month. The two-day, 54-hole event welcomed 76 golfers from 13 schools that included: Washington, San Diego State, Washington State, UC Davis, Cal Poly, Wyoming, Hawaii, Southern Miss, Nevada, Northern Colorado, Colorado State and the event’s winner, UNLV, which managed to pull away from the competition with a 15-stroke victory at a cumulative 19-under par.
Merck Life Science Expands Bengaluru Manufacturing with €13 Million Investment
Merck Life Science is expanding its manufacturing capabilities in Bengaluru with an investment of approximately €13 million, strengthening the company’s ability to supply critical materials to customers across India and the wider Asia-Pacific region. The expansion at Merck Life Science’s Jigani site in Bengaluru will introduce biological buffer manufacturing alongside the facility’s established chemistry capabilities. The investment is designed to enable faster and more reliable access to critical materials used by customers across research, diagnostics, biotechnology and biopharmaceutical manufacturing. The development further advances Merck Life Science’s “in-region, for-region” approach, under which the company is expanding manufacturing capabilities closer to the markets and customers it serves. By adding biological buffer production in India, the Jigani expansion will broaden the site’s manufacturing capabilities while strengthening Merck Life Science’s regional supply infrastructure for the rapidly developing life sciences sector across India and Asia-Pacific. The company said the expansion reflects both the contribution of its teams and its collaboration with government and industry stakeholders. Merck Life Science acknowledged the support of India’s Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), the German Embassy New Delhi, and Invest India in helping strengthen life science manufacturing capabilities in the region. The investment comes as India continues to expand its role across pharmaceutical, biotechnology, diagnostics and biomanufacturing value chains, increasing demand for dependable regional access to materials supporting research and manufacturing operations. The Bengaluru expansion reinforces Merck Life Science’s focus on building manufacturing capacity within Asia-Pacific and supporting customers through a more regionalised supply network.
Conn Smythe Winner Jonathan Marchessault Poised for Bounce Back Season
After one of his worst seasons in the NHL, Nashville Predators forward Jonathan Marchessault is ready to bounce back in 2026-27. The 2023 Conn Smythe winner was a shell of himself last year as the Predators failed to make the postseason for the second year in a row. Nashville made several moves this summer. One […] The post Conn Smythe Winner Jonathan Marchessault Poised for Bounce Back Season appeared first on HEAVY.
Apple Releases First Public Betas of iOS 27.2 and macOS Golden Gate 27.2
Apple today seeded the first betas of iOS 27.2, iPadOS 27.2, macOS Golden Gate 27.2, tvOS 27.2, and watchOS 27.2. The software comes a day after Apple provided the second betas to developers. To get the new betas, you can sign up on Apple's beta testing website. After you're signed up, the betas can be installed through the Software Update section in the Settings app on each device. iOS 27.2 includes the redesigned Health app that Apple introduced at its September iPhone event.
XNA sees narrow dip in outbound passenger traffic in August
Northwest Arkansas National Airport (XNA) in Benton County saw its second year-over-year decrease in enplanements, or passengers flying out, after two consecutive record-high months this year. Still, airport officials expect...
Science teacher in Searcy takes lesson to the skies
Brett Baker was in his second year teaching as an 8th-grade science teacher at Ahlf Junior High School in Searcy when he decided to demonstrate gravity to his students by going skydiving.
Top Reps Talk Creator Economy As New Entertainment Business Model
It's no secret that Hollywood is rapidly changing, and one of several driving forces is the arrival of the creator economy.
Top Reps Talk Creator Economy As New Entertainment Business Model
It's no secret that Hollywood is rapidly changing, and one of several driving forces is the arrival of the creator economy.
Ernst Names Small Business of the Week, North Lumber & Home Center
Read the release on Sen. Ernst's website HERE. Throughout this Congress, Chair Ernst plans to recognize a small business in every one of Iowa’s 99 counties. RED OAK, Iowa – U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Chair of the Senate Small Business Committee, today announced her Small Business of the Week: North Lumber & Home Center of Decatur County. Throughout the 119th Congress, Chair Ernst plans to recognize a small business in each of Iowa's 99 counties. “North Lumber & Home Center has truly gotten to the root of what it means to be a hardworking, dedicated small business” said Chair Ernst. “For more than four decades, this family-owned and operated business has continued to branch out by providing quality services and staying actively engaged in its community.” In 1980, current owner Sally Dykes and her family purchased North Lumber. As the family continued to expand their inventory and operations to better serve its customers, they renamed the business to North Lumber & Home Center. In 2002, they opened a second store in Lamoni, Iowa. Today, Sally continues to run the lumberyard and building materials supplier business alongside her son, Tony Dykes. Stay tuned as Chair Ernst continues to recognize outstanding Iowa small businesses with her Small Business of the Week award. ###
Worsening El Nino threatens Asia with severe drought, potentially threatening global food security
El Nino already is depleting water supplies, hurting fish catches and jeopardizing Asia's globally important agriculture industry.
Detroit Lions Poach Safety from Steelers
The Detroit Lions reportedly signed rookie safety Bishop Fitzgerald off the Pittsburgh Steelers’ practice squad as injuries strain their secondary.
U.S. Senate, Texas Railroad Commission races remain tight less than month before early voting, TSU poll finds
A second poll, from Texas 2036, shows a large fraction of voters remain undecided, while many intend to split their tickets.
Lions Poach Ball-Hawking Safety from Steelers Practice Squad
With an ailing secondary, the Detroit Lions have taken rookie safety Bishop Fitzgerald from the Pittsburgh Steelers’ practice squad. Mike […]
People play second fiddle to politics
Steve Andrist, Bismarck, is a former publisher of The Journal and the co-chair of the North Dakota News Cooperative board of directors. It’s been a really bad week for government transparency, accountability and responsibility. In Bismarck and in Washington, D.C., government entities and officials have been more visible for what they’ve done wrong than what
How Yankees Can Still Win AL East Division Title
The New York Yankees are very likely to end up with the second-best record in the American League. But because of how the divisional format works, the Yankees are also very likely to end up as the 4-seed for the playoffs. That’s because the Tampa Bay Rays currently lead the AL East Division, and the […] The post How Yankees Can Still Win AL East Division Title appeared first on HEAVY.
Marblehead MCAS results show growth in younger grades, 20-point drop in MHS science
Marblehead students continued to outperform their counterparts statewide on most measures of the 2026 MCAS, but the results show a mixed picture — with significant gains in science and eighth-grade math offset by declines in Grade 10 English and science. The 2026 results, released publicly by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education Tuesday,
Piedmont to spend nearly $600 million to relocate, modernize Newton County hospital
The relocation effort would be the second-largest capital project in the Georgia health system's history, Piedmont said.
Montana Health Department Director Stepping Down for Private-Sector Job
The director of Montana’s largest state agency, the Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS), is stepping down from his position at the end of October for a job in the private sector. Charlie Brereton, 31, has led DPHHS since 2022, after serving as the agency’s chief of staff and as Gov. Greg Gianforte’s […]
How to turn your business’ AI interest into practical, secure results
“We have a really comprehensive solution, and we're not just checking a box with AI.”
Hims & Hers Health, Inc. (HIMS) Investors: November 2, 2026, Filing Deadline in Securities Fraud Class Action - Contact Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP
Did you buy HIMS securities between August 4, 2025 and July 29, 2026? Affected HIMS Investor Summary Who: Hims & Hers Health, Inc. (NYSE: HIMS) What:...
Ex-Eagles Star WR Sends Message To Zach Ertz
The veteran tight end Zach Ertz is heading back to the Philadelphia Eagles for a second stint. One of Ertz’s former teammates, Jordan Matthews, is happy to see the tight end get a second shot at helping the Eagles land back in the Super Bowl. Ex-Eagles Star WR Sends Message To Zach Ertz “[Zach Ertz] […] The post Ex-Eagles Star WR Sends Message To Zach Ertz appeared first on HEAVY.
UT Haslam Ranked Top 25 in Undergraduate Business by U.S. News & World Report
/PRNewswire/ -- The Haslam College of Business at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, held the No. 25 spot for a second year in a row among public colleges...
Florida's College Football Playoff Odds Skyrocket After 3-0 Start
Surging metrics give the Gators a fighting chance in a crowded SEC. With a crucial Ole Miss showdown looming, Gainesville braces for a gauntlet that could define their season.
Arsenal told Sunderland star suits them and would do well
Arsenal spent a significant amount of time in talks to sign Viktor Gyokeres from Sporting Club last season and were confident that they had secured a superb striker to improve their squad. However, he...
Rubio’s meme-worthy job collection takes new turn with permanent Trump upgrade
Trump signed a commission making Secretary of State Marco Rubio his permanent national security adviser, a dual role unseen since the 1970s.
World’s most contagious virus hits major US airport as officials warn of possible exposure
Philadelphia International Airport is tied to a second measles exposure event across multiple terminals amid Pennsylvania's worsening measles outbreak.
Major AI companies say their products will commit crimes. Where are the police?
Leaders and researchers at frontier artificial intelligence labs say the products they’re making may hack into other companies and have a possibility of harming or even killing humans. Lone Star Politics asks Brendan Steinhauser from the Alliance for Secure Ai where is law enforcement?
http://democrats-energycommerce.house.gov/media/press-releases/ec-democratic-leaders-demand-answers-energy-secretary-wright-after-he-lied
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Energy and Commerce Committee Democratic leaders are demanding answers from Secretary of Energy Chris Wright after the Department of Energy (DOE) admitted it has been targeting grant cancellations toward states that did not vote for Donald Trump in the 2024 election.
This Week In Happy Valley: Defense Leads The Way
Penn State football’s secondary exits non-conference play as one of the team’s most dominant position groups. Who should be Penn State’s starting running back as Big Ten play begins? The most important stats behind Penn State’s quick 3-0 start. Saturday’s win over Buffalo was the lowest recorded attendance at Beaver Stadium since the start of […]
How to secure Oprah Winfrey’s ‘AHA’ presale tickets for 2027 Las Vegas Sphere live shows
'AHA' is a two-hour immersive production built specifically for the Las Vegas Sphere, featuring surprise guests.
Jazz Chisholm Jr. to be activated from IL
Jazz Chisholm Jr. will return for second game against the Rays
Nearly $17 million awarded to expand mental health and addiction services across Kentucky
Kentucky has secured nearly $17 million in federal grants for 988 crisis services, youth mental health programs and addiction recovery support.
Florida returns to Athlon Sports rankings' top 25 after beating Auburn
Florida football opened its SEC schedule with a big win over the Auburn Tigers on the road, propelling them back into Athlon Sports rankings' top 25.
Trump signs U.S.-Denmark-Greenland agreement to bolster Arctic security
The move eases tensions over his repeated calls for Greenland to become part of the United States
As resistance mounts, Trump reaches for a familiar shield: national security
Legal experts said the president is applying it more broadly and frequently than his predecessors
Urbandale to host Civility Dialogues event today
A community conversation focused on how people can disagree without losing the ability to work together and finding common ground will take place today at the Urbandale High School Performing Arts Center. The free Civility Dialogues event will feature Tom Vilsack, CEO of the World Food Prize Foundation and former Iowa governor and U.S. secretary…
Earth Science Tech’s (ETST) Uplist to OTCQB Venture Market Continues Series of Milestones in Fiscal 2027
Austin, Texas, September 22nd, 2026, FinanceWireEarth Science Tech (OTCQB: ETST), a strategic holding company in the healthcare, pharmacy, and telemedicine sector, successfully uplisted to the OTCQB Venture Market effective September 17, 2026. The listing on OTCQB, an established public market for…
Florida high school football Super 25 poll: Columbia, Raines climb
St. Thomas Aquinas received all 15 first-place votes in the USA TODAY Florida Super 25 poll. IMG stays No. 2 after record second-half comeback.
Penguins Injury Updates on Kindel, Brazeau; Koivunen Hurt, Too
Pittsburgh Penguins center Ben Kindel did not return to the bench for the second period of the team’s first preseason […]
Durable Business Strengths Underpin Vontier Corp’s (VNT) Long-Term Growth Outlook
The London Company, an investment management company, released its second-quarter 2026 investor letter for its “Small Cap Strategy.” U.S. equities rebounded in the quarter, driven by AI infrastructure spending and positive earnings. The letter can be downloaded here. Despite this optimism, rate outlook uncertainty persisted. Technology, previously weak, surged to lead the market, especially in semiconductors, […]
NSSF’s Lawrence Keane Appointed to Hunting and Shooting Sports Conservation and Access Council
WASHINGTON, D.C. — NSSF®, The Firearm Industry Trade Association, celebrates the appointment of Lawrence G. Keane, NSSF’s Senior Vice President & General Counsel, to the Hunting and Shooting Sports Conservation and Access Council (HSSCAC). The Council will provide the U.S. Secretary of the Interior and the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture with advice regarding the establishment […]
Jessica Lange gave strict condition to Ryan Murphy for returning to “American Horror Story” — and it’s not a ‘musical number’
The star revealed the one stipulation she had before agreeing to come back, and revealed she plays a secret fifth character on “AHS” season 13.
SeaSTORE Scientists Measure Trawling's Impact On Irish Sea Carbon Storage
The SeaSTORE project is conducting real-world research cruises in the Irish Sea to measure how seabed trawling disturbs stored carbon and whether that carbon ultimately reaches the atmosphere. Findings will be shared with UK policymakers to inform net zero, biodiversity, and food security decisions.
AG Rob Bonta reaches settlement with Paramount/Skydance’s David Ellison over entertainment mega-merger with Warner Bros.
After clearing a state antitrust lawsuit with minor concessions, David Ellison pledges to keep the combined media empire in LA. By Sarah Lin Major California AG Rob Bonta settled an antitrust lawsuit against Paramount and Warner Bros., securing commitments from David Ellison to keep operations in Los Angeles.
UT Health Sciences' BSN Program Ranked No. 1 in Tennessee
For the second year in a row, the Bachelor of Science of Nursing (BSN) program at UT Health Sciences is the most highly ranked program in Tennessee.
Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences Data Breach Settlement
Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences in New York State has agreed to settle a class action lawsuit stemming from a 2024 cybersecurity incident Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences has agreed to settle a class action lawsuit related to a 2024 cybersecurity incident that affected 26,411 individuals.
Is AMC Entertainment (AMC) Outperforming Other Consumer Discretionary Stocks This Year?
Here is how AMC Entertainment (AMC) and Hugo Boss (BOSSY) have performed compared to their sector so far this year.
Caesars Entertainment supplements proxy over counsel conflict disclosure amid merger
Caesars Entertainment voluntarily supplements its definitive proxy to disclose Latham & Watkins’ separate representations of Fertitta affiliates while denying any required additional disclosure.Key Highlights:Original SEC Filing: Caesars Entertainment, Inc. [ CZR ] - 8-K - Sep. 22, 2026This is an A…
Scientists tested the five-second rule by dropping food onto contaminated surfaces 2,560 times — bacteria could transfer almost instantly, and watermelon picked up as much as 97 percent of what it landed on
The bacteria transfer begins before you can blink, and some foods absorb pathogens as readily as a sponge absorbs water.
Should Boeing Stock Investors Worry About Its Money-Losing Jet Business?
If you own Boeing (BA), the worry is whether its commercial airplane business can earn money on the jets it sells. In the second quarter of fiscal 2026, that business lost money. Its operating margin was negative 2.7%, meaning costs ran above sales. The jet business brought in nearly half of Boeing's revenue for the quarter.
Corbion launches second cultured preservation solution
The portfolio now includes Verdad Essence WH150.
Censys Shifts To Channel-Only For New Business, Aims To Expand Internet Intelligence With Partners
Censys unveiled an expanded channel program Tuesday that includes a major shift in its sales strategy in the direction of partners, with the aim of accelerating growth for its Internet intelligence platform through the channel, Censys CRO Sarah Ashburn tells CRN.
Attacks on Health Care in the occupied Palestinian territory (01-15 September 2026)
Situation Report in English on occupied Palestinian territory about Health, Protection and Human Rights and more; published on 22 Sep 2026 by Insecurity Insight
Bridging Climate Action and Health Security through One Health
Climate change is increasing the risk of infectious disease outbreaks, threatening health security around the world. A One Health approach is essential to managing growing risks at the intersection of people, animals, and the environment.
Underdog Ole Miss at Florida puts Rebels on upset alert
Fans still enjoying and reveling in the Magnolia Bowl win over LSU and Darth Kiffin are finding themselves with a wake up call that Ole Miss are underdogs to Florida this Saturday. The No.4 Rebels (3-0, 1-0 SEC) are hitting the road into one of the toughest environments in college football at the Swamp in […]
Marco Rubio defends Trump’s ban on media outlets from White House, arguing police or soldiers are not ‘kicking down the doors’
“They’re just not allowed to work from the workspace at the White House,” the secretary of state said in an interview on “TODAY,” referring to CNN, Politico and MS NOW.
University of Indianapolis to host conference supporting the health and wellness of pastors and ministry leaders
The Lantz Center at the University of Indianapolis will host the second annual Called + Crafted Preaching & Innovation Conference on Oct 19-21 to help pastors and ministry leaders address their own feelings of burnout and being overwhelmed while caring for their own congregations and communities. The conference is part of UIndy’s Compelling Preaching Initiative,
Blizzard layoffs are reportedly imminent, days after an exciting BlizzCon and a seemingly popular World of Warcraft: Forever beta
A second wave of Xbox cuts will reportedly affect World of Warcraft maker Blizzard.
MIT’s tiny flying robot gets 450% faster with AI
A new AI control system lets MIT’s tiny flying robot move with insect-like agility, boosting its speed by about 450 percent and allowing it to pull off 10 somersaults in 11 seconds. The technology could eventually enable miniature robots to search earthquake rubble and navigate dangerous spaces that conventional drones cannot reach.
Business Culture Podcaster Sammi Cohen Is Launching Social Commerce Network (SCN), a Livestreamed News Show Inspired by TBPN and Aimed at Being a Next-Gen CNBC
Sammi Cohen has hundreds of thousands of followers who tune in to her podcast focused on the intersection of business, tech and culture — and she thinks they’re hungry for a live dose of her brand of ...
Health Infrastructure Security Act reintroduced to strengthen healthcare cybersecurity standards, resilience and oversight
Health Infrastructure Security Act reintroduced to strengthen healthcare cybersecurity standards, resilience and oversight
HealtHIE Nevada and b.well Connected Health Launch HealthRecords Nevada to Bring Statewide Health Information Directly to Consumers
/PRNewswire/ -- HealtHIE Nevada, Nevada's statewide nonprofit health information exchange and trusted infrastructure for secure health data exchange, and...
Kenner business owner accused of secretly recording employees in bathroom, police say
Henry Rios, 57, arrested on three counts of video voyeurism
Summer spending put Alonso in 'impossible position'
Chelsea's Xabi Alonso as well as Roberto de Zerbi of Tottenham are in an "impossible position" this season, believes The Observer's Rory Smith. The managers took charge of their clubs in the spring and oversaw a lot of activity in the transfer window, with Chelsea and Spurs ending the summer as the second and third-highest spenders respectively. Smith says the changes to their squads is why Alonso and De Zerbi need time to build coherence in their sides.
TV and streaming viewing picks for September 22, 2026: How to watch WNBA on ESPN
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How lip-syncing to AI let Forced Entertainment ‘play the game of theatre’
Today we have a fascinating piece by long-time Forced Entertainment fan Ben Kulvichit, speaking to Tim Etchells about their latest show Cold Sweat, how they are integrating lip-sync and AI voices into their work, the question of ‘authenticity’ on stage, and how lip-sync has even opened the door for them to make “something a little bit like drama”. This piece is a paid partnership with the Southbank Centre, where you can see Cold Sweat next month – we’re very grateful to the Southbank Centre for their ongoing support for Exeunt. Holly Williams ‘It was immediately interesting and uncanny’ **By Ben Kulvichit** “Is the microphone on?” So goes one of the opening lines of Signal to Noise, delivered by a human performer lip-syncing to an AI-generated voice. The voice is American, cheery but sluggish, slowed down into a gelatinous drawl. It repeats ad infinitum in a farce of stuckness; an answer never materialises. I find myself asking the same question as I hop on a Google Meet call with Tim Etchells, the artistic director of Forced Entertainment. We spend five or ten minutes frowning at each other, muting and unmuting, me gesticulating in semaphore into my webcam, checking if I am coming through now, restarting the laptop. To Etchells, I appear exaggeratedly mouthing words, my voice missing. In this gloopy purgatory of broken communication, life imitates art imitates life imitates art. We try a Zoom instead. Forced Entertainment, the pioneering British theatre company who have been at the avant-garde of performance since the 1980s, turned an interesting artistic corner with Signal to Noise, created on the occasion of their 40th anniversary. The whole performance employed this lip-sync technique to AI voices; on the face of it a left-field move from a company whose identity has long been grounded in the earthy, immediate presences of its performers and its unassuming, low-tech approach to theatricality. The technique, however, turned out to provide the company with a “rich new seam” of artistic enquiry, and has now spawned a trilogy of works. The second instalment, Cold Sweat, plays at Sheffield Theatres, Southbank Centre, and Lancaster Arts in October, while the third part, Everything Must Go, has been touring in Europe and is slated to come to the UK in 2027. As is often the case with Forced Entertainment shows, the main conceit for this work didn’t arrive until quite late. They were “four or five weeks into rehearsals for Signal to Noise,” Etchells recalls, and getting nowhere. Away from rehearsals, he had been playing around with feeding “weird texts” to AI voices to see how they would cope with them – “basically for my own amusement” – and was compelled by the uniformly “serviceable, benign, good-natured” tone they would read in, no matter how poetic, fractured or experimental the writing. On a hunch, he brought some examples into rehearsals and the performers gave lip-syncing a go. “It was immediately interesting and uncanny,” he recalls, with the performers having to deal in the moment with the problem of mapping themselves onto another artificial ‘performer,’ which itself was dealing with the problem of a very human text. “Almost all the writing for these projects would be useless to us unless it was done in this way,” says Etchells. “We wouldn’t know what to do with it. It’s too poetic. It’s too fictional. It’s too tangled.” But exploring lip-syncing along to the text has opened “an enormous reservoir of ways of thinking about writing and performing.” Subscribe to Exeunt, and get two in-depth pieces on theatre a week, direct to your inbox Subscribe Forced Entertainment have long been sifting through the detritus of popular culture, from daytime TV to end-of-the-pier vaudeville, magic acts and clown shows, to find frameworks for their own unusual entertainments. Lip-syncing, then, makes sense for them to experiment with. As a mode of performance, it’s wired into popular consciousness through pop stars trying to convince stadium audiences of their liveness, or those same voices as channeled through the made-up lips of contestants on RuPaul’s Drag Race, or movie dialogue spreading virally through the host bodies of TikTok users. For Etchells, lip-syncing is often about “approaching real voices and trying to take on their aura,” subsuming that original human presence into yours. “There’s a very basic, elemental sort of theatre magic to it, produced in this very easy way.” This broad approach resonates with instances of lip-syncing within contemporary performance, too. In works like Re-Member Me and Showmanism, performance artist Dickie Beau acts as a kind of spirit medium for archival recordings (this process of re-membering – as in, giving corporeal form to voices – relies on his masterfully precise actor’s technique), while Frankie Thompson is similarly possessed by a host of characters ranging from a nine-year-old Jacob Rees-Mogg to Cliff Richards, all of whom she finds compellingly nauseating, in the exorcism ritual that is her latest show, Horrible Things. What’s different about Forced Entertainment’s use of lip-syncing is that here, there is no original presence to be channeled. The performers are instead taking on what Etchells describes as “the voices of nobody,” or rather the “phantasmic, aggregated echoes” of the many many voices on whose data the AI has been trained, and which are now conjuring into existence words they never actually said. There is a sort of mournful, empty quality to these voices, having “washed up” far away from the people they originally belonged to, to find themselves in stranger’s mouths listing objects, wondering if anyone can hear them and glitching in interminable loops. There is a cold, sad anonymity to it all. Etchells remarks that occasionally the software company he used has notified him that particular people are withdrawing their voices from the platform, instructing him to cease use of those voices. Using these technologies in performance certainly brings up ethical questions around digital rights, consent, identity and ownership, although in the grand scheme of things, Etchells is fairly blasé about it: of all the purposes someone’s voice might be put to without their knowledge, “an avant-garde performance is probably the least of their worries.” [ ](https://exeuntmagazine.substack.com/p/frankie-thompson-horrible-things-essay-mental-health-compulsive-behaviours-pleasance-courtyard-soho-theatre) [ Frankie Thompson: How I manage my own ‘horrible things’ at the Edinburgh Fringe ](https://exeuntmagazine.substack.com/p/frankie-thompson-horrible-things-essay-mental-health-compulsive-behaviours-pleasance-courtyard-soho-theatre) Exeunt · Aug 25 [ Read full story ](https://exeuntmagazine.substack.com/p/frankie-thompson-horrible-things-essay-mental-health-compulsive-behaviours-pleasance-courtyard-soho-theatre) For the performers, though, lip-syncing to these strange, artificial voices is an odd task, requiring them to bend their live, human presence into the shapes produced by machines. Politically, it mirrors processes that are already at play in the continued computational automation of human life. Etchells brings up James Bridle’s writings on new technologies as a reference point: one example Bridle gives is of “chaotic storage”, a logistics technique employed by Amazon fulfilment centres whereby items are stored not according to traditional methods of categorisation or alphabetisation, but in a way that an algorithm determines to produce the most efficient routes for ‘picking’ based on customer purchase patterns. This appears completely random and incomprehensible to humans, with paddling pools sitting next to USB sticks sitting next to blowtorches, and so for the warehouse workers, the process of picking items becomes completely reliant on technology which tells them where to go. Our world is increasingly being designed not with humans in mind, but rather machines. As Etchells puts it, “technology malforms the space, and then you end up having to live in it.” Initially, Forced Entertainment tried their best to live in the world of machines: “I was in the it’s-got-to-be-perfect school of lip-sync,” says Etchells. But with their aesthetic being so tied to the failing act, the slipping mask, the shoddy costume, “it’s no surprise really that that didn’t last.” Instead, the performers got to enjoy being late for a line, or playing games with each other, “stealing” each other’s voices. Etchells compares it to the principles of ventriloquism, in which a free-floating voice unattached to a body is fundamentally discomforting and “sort of traumatic”. That discomfort is equally as alluring to Forced Entertainment as the satisfaction of precision, the pretence of authenticity only interesting if shown to be a pretence. Lip-sync has also opened up new avenues for the company. Having been allergic all their lives to Plays-with-a-capital-P, with Cold Sweat Forced Entertainment find themselves approaching something a little bit like drama. Rather than the presentational arena of Signal to Noise’s open white stage, Cold Sweat places us more decisively in a “fictional locale”: what appears to be “the aftermath of some disastrous party or backyard drinking binge” where three figures – family members, or neighbours, perhaps – are the last ones standing. “It’s all quite acrimonious and accusatory, everyone’s talking over each other.” For Etchells, this more fictional mode is “a door that we’ve never been able to open. We’ve just never really gone there.” Perhaps it is the technique of lip-syncing, an extra buffer of mediation, that allows them to venture away from the here-and-now without feeling that they have to commit to the “psychological claptrap” that comes along with acting; to be able to “play the game of theatre, without getting one’s hands too dirty.” As I wonder how else the impulses behind Forced Entertainment’s work have changed over time, it occurs to me that over the last ten years of new creations, with the exception of If All Else Fails, the company’s performers haven’t ever spoken on stage: there were two shows without any language at all, Out of Order and Under Bright Light, and then this trilogy of lip-sync works. Etchells agrees it’s a shift away from earlier productions, that were so often about “the actual voices of the performers and their actual presences. We had a lot of money, in some ways, on an authentic approach to what it might mean to speak on the stage.” But this sense of authentic presence itself had a fakeness to it; these days, Etchells can’t stand that mode of being onstage where performers “are here to be cheeky and witty versions of themselves. I don’t want to be charmed.” Pulling back into a more anonymous space has resulted in works that feel slightly sharper-edged, more brutal in a way. “All of these shows are post-Brexit, post-Trump, post-truth, post-everything,” Etchells notes. Speech, charisma, authenticity – these things feel politically loaded, and perhaps warmth and openness just don’t feel like the right tools to reflect the world we’re living in. “It feels like the space is closing down, and we’re trying to deal with the fact that the system, the structure that you’re in, is more oppressive and more powerful. It probably always was, but I think we’re just more tuned to it now.” Yet even without their voices, the performers’ distinctive presences – ones that many audiences have followed around for years, if not decades – still, inevitably, shine through as they physically navigate whatever unending task the system of the piece has set for them. They’re still trying to keep up with the onslaught of text, still running about, changing costumes, moving stuff around. The human is always stuck in the teeth of the machine, jamming the smooth, frictionless cheeriness of the not-real, gesticulating silently, trying desperately to communicate. Cold Sweat is at Sheffield Theatres, 2 to 3 October; Southbank Centre, London, 9 to 10 October; Lancaster Arts, 14 October [ ](https://exeuntmagazine.substack.com/p/exeunt-recommends-the-best-autumn-theatre-2026-lives-of-others-standard-of-living-our-friends-in-the-north-lanny-) [ Exeunt recommends... the best autumn theatre ](https://exeuntmagazine.substack.com/p/exeunt-recommends-the-best-autumn-theatre-2026-lives-of-others-standard-of-living-our-friends-in-the-north-lanny-) Exeunt · Sep 16 [ Read full story ](https://exeuntmagazine.substack.com/p/exeunt-recommends-the-best-autumn-theatre-2026-lives-of-others-standard-of-living-our-friends-in-the-north-lanny-) This piece was paid for by the Southbank Centre. Such support helps Exeunt to keep publishing the most interesting writing, about the most exciting theatre. Interested in partnering with Exeunt? Visit our Advertise with Exeunt page, where you can get more information, download an advertising pack, and find our contact details.
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Jiang Feng: The Unravelling of German & European Politics
A state election in eastern Germany has become a revealing test of the changing political landscapes of Germany and Europe, writes Jiang Feng, Professor and Chairman of the Council of the Shanghai Academy of Global Governance and Area Studies (SAGGAS) at Shanghai International Studies University. His analysis follows the decisive victory of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) (which has been classified as right-wing extremist by German authorities)in the state of Saxony-Anhalt on 6 September, in which it finished far ahead of its mainstream rivals. Jiang previously served as Minister-Counsellor at the Chinese Embassy in Berlin. The following article was published on 8 September 2026 on huanqiu.com, the online platform of the Global Times. On 6 September, the results of the state election in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany, were announced. The Alternative for Germany (AfD), classified as far-right by German authorities, made history by becoming the largest party in the state parliament, winning 43.8 per cent of the vote — twice its share in the previous election. The Christian Democratic Union (CDU), which had governed the state continuously for 24 years, won just 17.2 per cent, its worst result ever in Saxony-Anhalt. On the night the results were announced, the atmosphere at the CDU gathering was unusually calm. There was neither shock nor argument, as if the defeat had long been expected. Several veteran party members who had spent years working in the state government said: “Defeat is not a bad thing. It is time to make changes.” This state election has not only upended Saxony-Anhalt’s political landscape, but also laid bare the deep tensions between Germany’s traditional party structure and model of governance, on the one hand, and an increasingly polarised society on the other. Its repercussions are already being felt at the federal level, making Saxony-Anhalt a useful case study of the broader trend towards political polarisation and realignment in Europe. Governing Difficulties after Electoral Victory The most immediate consequence of the election is a historic setback for the mainstream party order that took shape in post-war Germany. In Saxony-Anhalt, the AfD has leapt from a peripheral party to the largest political force in the state. Its electoral base has expanded beyond the traditional category of “marginal protest voters” to take on the characteristics of a cross-class coalition. The party has not only consolidated its support in rural areas, but also attracted many middle-class voters and even members of the social elite with stable jobs, their own homes, and substantial incomes. It has thus evolved from a “protest party” into one with the potential to govern. Despite its commanding lead in the vote, however, the AfD faces an institutional obstacle to governing the state: the mainstream parties’ long-standing “firewall” against it. Neither of the two potential routes to forming a government appears likely to break the current political deadlock. The first would be a coalition of establishment parties, led by the CDU and bringing together the Social Democratic Party (SPD), the Greens, the Left Party (Die Linke) and the Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance (BSW) in a cross-camp government. In terms of parliamentary arithmetic, such a coalition could prevent the AfD from forming a government and preserve the outward stability of the traditional political order. Yet these parties are fundamentally divided over key issues including immigration, the energy transition, economic management, and cultural and education policy. Coalition negotiations would therefore be extremely difficult, and even if a government could be formed, it would most likely prove short-lived. More importantly, an alliance of establishment parties aimed at keeping the largest party out of government would play directly into the AfD’s narrative that “political elites are suppressing public opinion”. It could deepen perceptions of political unfairness, further strengthening the AfD’s political capital, and creating a dynamic in which “the more it is suppressed, the more people vote for it”. Ulrich Siegmund, the AfD’s candidate for state premier, has said that if efforts to form a government fail because other parties refuse to cooperate, the AfD will push for a fresh election, which he believes could deliver the party an absolute majority of seats. This points to more intense political battles ahead. The second option would be a coalition between the AfD and the BSW. Together, the two parties would command a simple majority in parliament, making this, on paper, the quickest route to forming a government. The BSW is the only elected party that has not ruled out cooperation with the AfD, and the two parties share some common ground, including on policy towards Russia. There is therefore a degree of political basis for cooperation. Were such a coalition to materialise, Germany would see its first state government jointly formed by a party defined as far-right and one with a far-left background, creating what might be called a “bipolar anti-establishment alliance”. Such an outcome would fundamentally break with the ideological boundaries of post-war German party politics. It is worth noting that even if the AfD ultimately fails to enter the state government, its roughly 47 per cent share of parliamentary seats would give it a powerful blocking minority. Without its consent, major decisions requiring a two-thirds majority — including constitutional amendments, significant budgetary adjustments, and state-level institutional reforms — would be extremely difficult to pass. Therefore, whoever ultimately forms the government, the AfD will be an unavoidable force in Saxony-Anhalt politics, with a direct influence on the state’s legislative process. Systemic Failures in Germany’s Governance Model The Saxony-Anhalt election result reflects a systemic failure of Germany’s post-war mainstream-party model of governance to adapt to rapidly changing socioeconomic conditions. It stems from multiple, mutually reinforcing structural tensions and highlights the existing political system’s difficulty in adapting to “an increasingly polarised society First, collective anxiety has replaced individual material hardship as a central driver of political mobilisation. The rise of the AfD can no longer be explained simply by poverty or social marginalisation. Its increasingly cross-class electoral base suggests that what is driving voters towards the party is, above all, concern about the broader direction of society. This anxiety about the future of the political community goes beyond individual gains and losses. In political discourse, economic anxiety has become closely intertwined with immigration, while immigration and refugee issues are, in essence, questions of social fairness. This perception turns conflicts over the distribution of social resources into negative assessments of governing parties, providing a broad social basis for far-right political narratives. Second, regional disparities and East German identity have undermined the strategy of addressing eastern Germany’s structural challenges at the regional level. More than three decades after German reunification, eastern states such as Saxony-Anhalt have experienced periods of economic growth, but their underlying economic structures remain weak, and household incomes and wealth remain significantly below those in western Germany. At the same time, they continue to face population outflow, an ageing population, labour shortages, and other structural challenges. At a deeper level, historical experiences — including the collapse of the former East German economic system, mass unemployment during the transition, and the westward shift of decision-making power over major issues — have left some residents with a sense of being “second-class citizens” and of being excluded. For years, the German government treated the “syndrome” of reunification as a regional problem to be gradually addressed at the local level. That approach is becoming increasingly unsustainable, as regional development disparities emerge as a core structural factor shaping national politics. Third, the erosion of institutional trust is perhaps the most decisive factor. AfD supporters tend to distrust establishment institutions, including parliament, government, and the mainstream media. Their concerns about economic security, pensions, and social fairness are significantly greater than the social average. Increasingly, their support for the AfD reflects not an expectation that the existing system can be improved, but a search for an alternative to the current political order. Such a systemic deficit of trust will be extremely difficult for the traditional parties to repair in the short term. Fourth, a generational shift in political mobilisation has amplified political polarisation. Unlike traditional parties, which rely heavily on offline rallies and mainstream media coverage, the AfD has developed a social-media mobilisation strategy built around “raising an issue — identifying who is responsible — offering a simplified solution — building a shared identity”. It turns complex social tensions into concise political narratives, rapidly channelling public sentiment into political support. The contrast on the eve of the election was particularly telling. The establishment parties, together with trade unions and churches, organised an offline march attended by more than 10,000 people, but its reach was largely confined to those present and to traditional media coverage. The AfD held a much smaller indoor event, yet livestreaming on TikTok, YouTube, and other platforms, combined with the involvement of online influencers, gave it a reach and mobilising capacity far beyond that of the march. The contrast illustrates how the traditional parties’ methods of political mobilisation are increasingly struggling to keep pace with a political environment transformed by changes in media technology. A Microcosm of Structural Political Change in Europe The shockwaves from the Saxony-Anhalt election quickly travelled beyond the state to the federal level. Calls for political accountability followed immediately after the results were announced. The governing CDU and SPD are now under enormous pressure, while Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Vice Chancellor Lars Klingbeil face an unprecedented test. Political polarisation in Germany is no longer simply a regional phenomenon. The post-war model of multiparty government by establishment parties is breaking down and being reshaped. Viewed in a broader European context, the Saxony-Anhalt election is part of a continent-wide wave of party polarisation, mainstream-party decline, and rising right-wing forces. Far from an isolated phenomenon, it is a microcosm of the structural political changes unfolding across Europe. Weak economic growth, cultural tensions over immigration, and declining trust in institutions are fuelling the rise of right-wing forces in several countries, challenging the liberal internationalist order established in post-war Europe. As a core member state of the European Union, Germany’s ability to adapt its political system and the direction of its politics will have profound implications for both European integration and the evolution of the international order. Subscribe [ Pekingnology China’s Germany watchers take stock of Berlin’s uneasy turn On 7 December 2025, nearly 50 Chinese scholars and policy researchers gathered in Beijing for the 2025年德国形势年终研讨会 “2025 Year-End Seminar on the Situation in Germany… Read more 9 months ago · 31 likes · 1 comment · YIRUI LI and Yuxuan JIA ](https://www.pekingnology.com/p/chinas-germany-watchers-take-stock?utm_source=substack&utm_campaign=post_embed&utm_medium=web&embedding_publication_id=1151841) [ Jiang Feng on Germany's 2025 and beyond: no easy exit ](https://www.eastisread.com/p/jiang-feng-on-germanys-2025-and-beyond) Yirui LI and Yuxuan JIA · Jan 24 The following is an op-ed by Jiang Feng, published on 29 December 2025 at Shanghai Observer 上观新闻, the digital platform of Jiefang Daily, the official newspaper of the Shanghai Municipal Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC). [ Read full story ](https://www.eastisread.com/p/jiang-feng-on-germanys-2025-and-beyond)