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Ravens GM recalls early days working beside Ozzie Newsome
Ravens GM Eric DeCosta reflects on his humble beginnings, starting in a tiny scouting department nearly 30 years ago.
China’s assault on the Tibetan language
Tighter policies in schools reflect the ‘narrowed’ tolerance towards Tibet from the Chinese state
Kalshi Referral Code SBWIRE | Get $10 Bonus for NBA, Politics Trading & More This Weekend
Sign up with Kalshi referral code SBWIRE, trade $10 and get $10 in credit. Trade the NBA Playoffs, Stanley Cup Playoffs, MLB, politics, crypto and more.
AHA Reframes Brain Health as a Lifelong Process
A new AHA scientific statement says sleep, mental health, pollution, and childhood adversity can shape cognitive aging and dementia risk, underscoring that brain health is built across a lifetime.
UM students' wearable device targets overuse injuries in sports
By Robert C. Jones Jr. / University of Miami News
Mary Berry thanks her son 'in heaven' as original Bake Off stars Mel and Sue reunite for emotional BAFTA tribute
Mary called the pair 'dear friends' before giving a moving speech reflecting on her career and her family
“We Are the Ones We’ve Been Waiting For”: Bhatti’s Vision for a Different Politics
Virginia congressional candidate Salaam Bhatti discusses campaign finance reform, redistricting, and his policy vision rooted in community and structural change. In this interview, Bhatti outlines his approach to welfare reform, donor influence, and the role of local engagement in shaping a more responsive and representative government.
Why Ruin a Good Thing?
All money isn’t good money. It’s a life lesson that must be learned by those with a hunger for increasing their income. Typically, the refrain is used in rags-to-riches style films, where one must confront the reality that desperation leaves them vulnerable to overlooking a trap or taking a dumb risk. In other film styles, […]
Saudi oil giant Aramco sees Q1 profits rise 25% by shifting exports to its East-West Pipeline
Aramco, the world’s largest oil company, reports a 25% jump in first-quarter profits.
Former Dolphins draft bust takes accountability for struggles
After being one of the biggest draft busts in NFL history, former Miami Dolphins defensive end Dion Jordan reflects on his struggles.
After Virginia Redistricting Map Is Tossed, Democrats Search Desperately for a Response
A conversation involving House members from Virginia and the top House Democrat reflected the fury and desperation that has gripped the party after Friday’s ruling in the state.
Trump tariff refunds are actually happening – and businesses should pay attention
Business owners may have to wade through paperwork, but the US government is now processing refunds
LC’s Fire Science Program Hosts “Burn ‘n’ Learn” STEM Experience for Educators
LC Community College’s Fire Science program and ROE 40 host "Burn 'n' Learn," engaging educators with hands-on firefighting and STEM activities in Bethalto, Illinois.
Chicago Teachers Union wants $8.5 million dues hike to fund politics
“Has your brand become toxic?” This was a pointed question from WGN Political Editor Tahman Bradley, posed to Chicago Teachers Union President Stacy Davis Gates in a recent interview. Her immediate response: “I don’t understand the question.” When pressed, Gates added, “The Chicago Teachers Union is not a political party, it is a labor union.” But internal union documents show CTU leadership is trying to skim $8.5 million more from teacher paychecks explicitly for politics, while trying to silence union members critical of Gates’ leadership. Under the proposed dues hike, Chicago teachers would see up to $800 more per year flow from their paychecks to union coffers. The union already takes in more than $40 million a year, mostly from dues. And it spends less than 18 cents of every dollar on teacher representation. The No. 1 reason for the proposed dues hike? Politics. “We must win a majority of the first 21 person fully elected school board in November,” reads the first point in CTU’s member FAQ document.1 This directly contradicts CTU’s promise to members about how leadership uses dues money. The official CTU handbook tells members that the union does not use dues money for politics, so if they are interested in funding political activity, they should consider voluntary donations to CTU’s political action committee. “Our dues are not used for political purposes,” according to the handbook. “So our PAC relies on extra contributions from our members to support progressive candidates and to impact elected officials at the city, county and state levels.” This kind of double-speak is one reason members are concerned about another constitutional change slipped into the dues hike vote, which will take place on May 20-21: an attempt to stop members from holding the union accountable. A proposed amendment to the union constitution tries to place limits on when members may bring a lawsuit against the union for violating members’ rights.2 This provision is clearly a response to members’ lawsuit against union leadership regarding Gates’ years-long refusal to publish audited financial statements. The judge in that case has repeatedly denied the union’s attempts to dismiss it. Teachers opposed to these changes have been circulating this flier, urging members to vote no. What will CTU members get in return for millions of dollars in additional dues? If the 2024 school board elections are any indication—not much. CTU leadership’s record on school board races may not inspire confidence among members. A Chicago Policy Center analysis of a dozen affiliated PACs found CTU spent nearly $2.9 million on school board races in 2024. Of that spending, more than $2.1 million (75%) went to losing candidates. And while CTU-backed candidates lost six of the nine competitive seats overall, they fared worse in their biggest-spending races, losing five of six contests in which the union and its affiliates put up more than $250,000 for their candidate. The Chicago school board elections take place Nov. 3.3 Is another $8.5 million enough to clean up a toxic reputation? Not likely. Update on federal tax credit scholarship: Last week, Democratic New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said she plans to opt into the federal tax credit scholarship program. If Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker follows suit, Illinois could unlock $1 billion in donor money statewide for both public- and private-school students. If Illinois does not opt in, that money will flow to other states. The Last Ward reported in February on how Illinois Democrats could unlock at least $100 million in new resources for Chicago public-school students by opting in. Update on the investigation into how Chicagoans learned about a meeting to hike their property taxes: The Last Ward reported in January on an absurd, taxpayer-funded investigation into how local media learned of a planned Chicago school board meeting to hike the district’s property tax levy. That investigation is now complete. Lawyers interviewed two dozen witnesses, and found nothing. Update on Illinois’ muni debt crisis: My colleague Joe Tabor last week published a must-read piece in Crain’s Chicago Business about how Illinois recently rejected south suburban Harvey’s request to be designated a “distressed city.” The saga shows why the state must implement a better structure to assist insolvent local governments, including allowing for the option to pursue debt relief via Chapter 9 bankruptcy. The Last Ward reported in October on how Harvey is tipping the first domino in Illinois’ municipal debt crisis. Mincing Rascals: I joined the Mincing Rascals podcast to discuss the SAFE-T Act, the millionaires tax, and more. My “green light” recommendation: Force Majeure (2014). 1 Notably, the No. 2 reason cited is “resources to fund a state-wide millionaires tax campaign in order to fully fund the state’s school funding formula.” The constitutional amendment necessary to implement a progressive income tax in Illinois recently died in the Illinois House, meaning this question would not appear on the ballot until 2028 at the earliest. 2 There is seemingly no single-subject rule for CTU constitutional amendments. So members only get one vote on the full package. One cannot vote “yes” on the dues hike and “no” on the restriction of members’ rights, for example. 3 Illinois law grants far too much power over local government to unelected officials like Gates. State lawmakers should fix that.
Tories are still biggest party on the right, claims James Cleverly
Leading Tory brands Reform a "cult of personality" but Reform deputy leader says its electoral success has shaken up politics.
Oregon Democrats found a way to improve roads. Now their gas tax goes before voters as prices soar
A referendum on Oregon’s primary ballot seeking to repeal a Democratic gas tax increase is complicating the affordability message central to the party’s midterm election strategy
Oregon Democrats found a way to improve roads. Now their gas tax goes before voters as prices soar
A referendum on Oregon's primary ballot seeking to repeal a Democratic gas tax increase is complicating the affordability message central to the party's midterm election strategy.
Farage trying to avoid scrutiny over £5m gift from crypto billionaire, Labour says
Reform’s deputy leader, Richard Tice, seeks to present issue as irrelevant in interview with Laura Kuenssberg
A Political End for an Unusually Political FDA Commissioner
Marty Makary has made a habit of letting political preference color decisions at the agency.
Walmart’s Great Value Brand Makeover Is A Lesson For All Businesses
A smart brand refresh builds trust, attracts new customers, and keeps loyal ones. Learn how to modernize your brand without losing what made it successful.
A Political End for an Unusually Political FDA Commissioner
Marty Makary has made a habit of letting political preference color decisions at the agency.
Allyson Felix and me: A Mother’s Day reflection on the health crisis of preeclampsia
The track star's pregnancy experience brought change to women's sports, and also a life-threatening condition that deserves more attention.
Study Shows 75% of Americans Prefer to Text Instead of Call Their Moms on Mother’s Day
The new study also revealed the top 10 U.S. cities where people call and text their moms the most on Mother’s Day
Forum: The story behind the Sports Business Awards
Inside the making of the Sports Business Awards, born in a Charlotte conference room and refined in New York.
Renters’ rights: ‘a regulatory avalanche’
Labour has presented reforms as a ‘moral crusade’ against rogue landlords, but risks shrinking the rental market
Dua Lipa Sues Samsung for $15 Million After Company Refuses to Remove Her Photo From TV Boxes
Dua Lipa has filed a $15 million suit against South Korean tech giant Samsung. Lipa claims that the company used her image on its product packaging without her prior authorization.… The post Dua Lipa ...
Is Flutter Entertainment (NYSE:FLUT) Pricing Reflect A 54% Year To Date Share Price Slide
If you are wondering whether Flutter Entertainment's current share price really reflects what you are getting for your money, this article breaks down how the stock looks on several valuation yardsticks. After closing at US$101.20, the stock has seen a 6.2% decline over the past week, a 2.3% decline over the last month, and a 53.6% decline year to date. It has also declined 58.0% over the last year and 49.0% and 43.1% over the past 3 and 5 years respectively. Recent coverage has focused on...
UFL ref interviewed during game on Fox broadcast
The UFL has come up with innovative features and unique access on broadcasts that have left fans wondering if we could see such additions to future NFL broadcasts. But something that happened on Friday night’s Fox telecast of a UFL game between the Columbus Aviators and St. Louis BattleHawks that probably won’t carry over to…
Class of 2026: Aspiring medical illustrator Zora Weir-Gertzog is drawn
At VCU, her two degrees, independent project and broad collaborations reflect longtime creativity and motivation.
‘Climb for Air’ raises funds to support lung health
BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — Hundreds of firefighters, families and other local corporate teams flocked to Sahlen Field Saturday to climb for a good cause. “Climb for Air” returned for …
Bozeman Small Businesses Help Shape Downtown, Local Economy During National Small Business Week
Bozeman, Mont. — As National Small Business Week wraps up on Saturday, May 9th, it's a reflection of how Bozeman’s downtown scene shapes its local economy.
The unfinished business of Sonia Hayes and Mildred Frisby
Maryland Sen. Antonio Hayes reflects on the enduring influence of his mother, Sonia Hayes, and grandmother, Mildred Frisby, in a heartfelt Mother’s Day commentary about resilience, sacrifice and public service. Drawing from his upbringing in West Baltimore’s Penn North community, Hayes connects his legislative work to the struggles and hopes of the women who shaped his life and inspired his commitment to improving Baltimore neighborhoods.
Samsung Finally Fixed the Fold: First Look at the Z Fold 8 Wide Design
Get a first look at the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Wide design changes, including a refined dual-camera setup and updated screen dimensions.
VAR will not be used in European play-off final
The Northern Ireland Football League [NIFL] confirms that the video assistant referee [VAR] will not be used during the European play-off final at Windsor Park.
Art and politics collide as protests reframe the Venice Biennale
From Pussy Riot’s chants to Latvia’s “Death in Venice” campaign, art has taken a backseat at this year’s Vernissage as...
Olin Refocuses Epoxy Business As Valuation Gap And Risks Persist
Olin Corporation (NYSE:OLN) has restructured its Epoxy segment, including rationalizing high cost assets. The company now positions itself as the last integrated epoxy producer in Europe. Olin is relying on structural cost advantages from its U.S. Gulf Coast assets to support Epoxy segment profitability. These steps come as the broader epoxy market faces volatility tied to geopolitical events and global supply chain disruptions. Olin, a chemicals and ammunition producer, is putting fresh...
Ice age humans in China crafted surprisingly advanced stone tools 146,000 years ago
Scientists in China discovered that ancient humans were making surprisingly advanced stone tools during a harsh ice age 146,000 years ago. The tools, created by Homo juluensis, show careful planning and complex thinking rather than simple stone-chipping. Researchers dated the site using tiny calcite crystals inside animal bones, revealing the tools are much older than expected. The discovery challenges the idea that human creativity only thrives in easy, prosperous times.
Arts and entertainment calendar
Events coming up in the Greenville area offer music, arts, theater and family fun. Here is a sampling.
Steelers rookie minicamp roster includes 3 tryout punters
Big-legged punter Ryan Stonehouse is fighting for a roster spot in Pittsburgh this weekend.
Frontier flight reported it struck person in Denver, airport says
Denver International said a "brief engine fire" was extinguished by firefighters at the scene.
Is Autodesk (ADSK) Using Small-Business Flex Pricing To Quietly Redefine Its Competitive Moat?
Earlier this month, Autodesk Inc. launched “Autodesk for Small Business,” introducing a Small Business Hub, product refinements across AutoCAD, Revit, Fusion, and Flow Studio, plus more flexible Autodesk Flex token and pricing options in the US and UK. The initiative materially lowers onboarding complexity and upfront commitment for small firms, potentially broadening Autodesk’s customer base while giving these users a clearer feedback channel into future product development. Next, we’ll...
Germany’s Healthcare Reforms Herald More Pain for Big Pharma
Donald Trump’s push to bring down drug prices in the US has rattled the world’s leading pharmaceutical companies. Now, they’re confronting a new menace as Germany seeks to plug a ballooning deficit in its public health-insurance funds.
Salary caps, a Group of Six playoff, antitrust shield: The White House's early ideas for college sports reform
A draft document obtained by CBS Sports details the most concrete federal reform plan yet for college athletics, including salary caps for coaches and the creation of a new entity empowered to act without litigation risk
During Small Business Month, Reform CIPA Coalition Says Best Way to Support Small Businesses Is to Reform CIPA
One of the best ways to celebrate and support small businesses this May is to protect them from abusive litigation tied to outdated interpretations of a 1960s law. In recognition of Small Business Month, the Reform CIPA Coalition today called on California policymakers to modernize the California Invasion of Privacy Act (CIPA), by passing SB 690. The Reform CIPA Coalition continues to grow. Among its 146 coalition members, more than 30 individual small businesses and over 40 organizations repres
Colorado lawmakers eye 5% fee on online gaming ‘skins,’ other game features
Colorado lawmakers are seeking to impose a new fee on online game purchases, in particular targeting “add-on transactions,” referring to features or enhancements that players can buy. Sponsors said they want to earmark the new revenue toward youth mental health services. The sponsors are pushing the new revenue source amid a budget deficit and at […]
Companies Are Getting Tariff Refunds. Here’s What They Plan to Do With the Money.
Invest in the business? Pay down debts? Refunds to customers? Businesses are weighing their options.
Steelers Afternoon Drive: Reaction to Rodgers, Refs & Rookie Camp
Welcome to the Steelers Afternoon Drive, our new daily podcast featuring all the latest Steelers news and analysis. Alan Saunders […] This article originally appeared on Steelers Now: Steelers Afternoon Drive: Reaction to Rodgers, Refs & Rookie Camp
MHA Leaders Present at Michigan State of Reform Health Policy Conference
The 2026 Michigan State of Reform Health Policy Conference convened May 5 in East Lansing, MI, to discuss the most pressing challenges across the healthcare continuum.
Vanderbilt Health to open Acute Care Center
Access to the new center’s services will be limited to existing adult Vanderbilt Health patients referred by Vanderbilt Health clinicians. The center will not accept walk-up patients or referrals from providers outside the Vanderbilt Health system.
Small Business Deduction Shouldn't Exclude Independent Financial Advisors - Americans for Tax Reform
Americans for Tax Reform urges the Trump Treasury Department to issue guidance allowing independent financial advisors to fully qualify for the 20 percent
‘The hill just got a little steeper’: Dems reel after Virginia Supreme Court voids redistricting referendum ahead of midterms
NFL Referees Association ratifies new CBA with NFL; league won't need replacement officials during 2026 season
Nigel Farage: Reform election gains show historic shift in British politics
Labour and the Conservatives suffer losses at the expense of Reform across England.
Virginia Supreme Court blocks referendum that would have helped Democrats win up to four more US House seats
The Virginia Supreme Court voided Democrats’ attempt to redraw the state’s US House map in an April referendum.
NFIB Urges Congressional Leaders to Include Small Business Priorities in Additional Reconciliation Bill
New package should further unleash small business success with targeted tax, regulatory, and healthcare reforms
The Supreme Court Crippling Black Voting Power Was Not an Accident
There is a particular kind of violence the court’s majority prefers because the justices can deny it while it is happening.
Why Firefighters Burned Down an Old Building on the National Zoo’s Science Campus
When faced with the challenge of an aging facility, staff at the Zoo's science campus found a creative solution to its closure.
State employees speak out against dropping Blue Cross from Kansas health plan
Retired and current state employees spoke out against Kansas dropping Blue Cross Blue Shield health insurance from the state plan.
Bangor public health director reflects on HIV outbreak
Penobscot County has now logged 41 known cases of HIV, but there are likely more.
Samsung devices getting an uncommon Security Policy update
Users of Samsung phones and tablets are seeing a rare May 2026 Security Policy update in South Korea. It’s available across Galaxy S and Galaxy Tab lineup, but don’t expect a wider availability outside Samsung’s home ground. Unlike standard firmware updates that require a full OTA package, this update quietly refreshes Samsung’s security policy files […]
Why VCs Are Suddenly Funding the Business Model They Used to Hate
For decades, VCs called agencies 'lifestyle businesses' and refused to invest. AI changed the math, and now the biggest firms in venture are racing to fund them.
Long Hours, Big Impact: St. Mary’s Celebrates Small Business Month
LEONARDTOWN, Md. — For Mike Hewitt, the reality of small business was learned long before adulthood — in the quiet hours of a Saturday morning, when work came first. During the May 5 commissioners meeting, Hewitt reflected on decades spent working alongside his father, sharing a lesson that began long before most people started their […]
Corporate Hospitals Bilking Americans as GOP Destroys Health Care
Patients are caught in the middle of a corporate money grab and lawmakers who refuse to regulate.
This Ohio business makes the referee stripes seen on courts across the country
Smitty Officials Apparel in Canton helps sports officials make calls with style.
John Curtice: Election results show politics in the UK has fragmented
Reform are the winners so far, with more results still to be declared.
U.K. election results: Starmer’s Labour suffer huge losses as hard-right Reform gains
Early results Friday suggested sweeping losses that will heap pressure on Prime Minister Keir Starmer. He said the results were “very tough,” but signaled he had no plans to step aside.
Apple’s Massive 2026 Roadmap: New Devices Coming After the M5 MacBook Pro
Apple’s rumored 2026 lineup expands with M5 Mac Studio options, including M5 Ultra and M5 Max, signaling a desktop refresh.
Emerging picture shows Reform gains as Labour counts losses in heartland seats
So far, we have a chunk of the results around the parts of England that have had contests and no results yet from Scotland or Wales.
Lakers coach JJ Redick says LeBron James gets 'worst whistle of any star player' after players confront refs
As Colorado debates sports betting reform, Kalshi operates outside state rules
Prediction markets are able to operate largely free of the state laws governing sports gambling in Colorado
Election results so far at a glance - and what's still to come
Reform UK has made gains at the expense of Labour and the Conservatives in early council election results overnight.
Trump Reversed Hormuz Plan After Saudis Denied Airspace Access
Saudi Arabia’s refusal of support suggests that President Trump’s unpredictable approach to Iran has strained ties with one of his closest allies in the Middle East.
Always Inspired: CaroMont Health Senior Leaders on the Nurses Who Drive Us Forward
In honor of Nurses Week, three senior leaders at CaroMont Health — who are also experienced nurses themselves — reflect on what makes our nursing workforce exceptional. From the compassion felt by patients in our community to the resilience required in an evolving healthcare landscape, these nurse executives offer a unique perspective on the past, present, and future of nursing at CaroMont Health.
Mozilla says AI helped squash 423 Firefox security bugs
Yet it remains unclear if Anthropic's uber model was effective, or if better model middleware is what makes the difference
How Disneyland Remade American Politics
America is turning 250, and The Free Press is marking the occasion with a yearlong series of events, conversations, and stories celebrating our country’s history. Today, we’re taking a journey with historian Beverly Gage to Southern California. Beverly traded the archives for the open road for her new book, This Land is Your Land: A Road Trip Through U.S. History. We’re proud to publish an excerpt, on the theme park that shaped American politics—and the presidents who loved it. —The Editors On July 17, 1955, Ronald Reagan stood near a mocked-up wood-plank town in Anaheim, California, where a 13-star flag flew incongruously over an “Old West” landscape, and introduced the world to Disneyland. He had been invited by Walt Disney himself to co-host the park’s live ABC broadcast, alongside Art Linkletter and Bob Cummings—three Hollywood actors who seemed to embody a wholesome, all-American ethos. From the imagined past of Frontierland, the show leaped ahead to Tomorrowland, set in the far-off year of 1986, emphasizing the technical marvels yet to come: nuclear energy harnessed for civilian purposes, human beings riding rocket ships into space. Disney foretold great things for a 1980s in which the United States would serve as “a source of joy and inspiration to all the world.” But even he could not predict the most important political fact of the age: that his genial co-host would become president. Southern California was a strange place to build a park about the past, because the region at the time was all about newness and abundance and growth. For a lot of its history, Orange County had been Southern California’s version of flyover country: a vast agricultural expanse between two desirable places, Los Angeles and San Diego. But Disneyland was changing that. Before long, 50 miles south of deep-blue Hollywood, Orange County would become a region famed for its right-wing politics—but also for its mythmaking skills. Those two things, it turned out, went naturally together. ADVERTISEMENT The two presidents Southern California gave America both understood this instinctively. Richard Nixon and Reagan each built a national career on invoking a version of the American past in which the specificities of historical context mattered less than the big picture. For Nixon, progress meant proclaiming a “New American Revolution” on the eve of America’s bicentennial while dismantling the federal programs that had built the postwar middle class. For Reagan, it meant recapturing a lost optimism and an old-fashioned faith in America as an exceptional nation. Both men were less interested in history as it actually happened than in history as it felt—and Orange County, a place that had built itself almost entirely from scratch, turned out to be exactly where the myth of America’s future was getting made. I’m a historian—and historians tend to be myth-busters. With the country’s 250th birthday on the horizon, I figured it was a good time to step out of the ivory tower and check in with the past as it exists here and now, at the museums and monuments and roadside attractions where Americans go to learn about their history. After all my travels—to Davy Crockett’s Tennessee and Texas, to the real Erie Canal, to the birthplace of the American automobile and the actual Old West—I couldn’t miss out on Disneyland, the single most influential historic attraction in U.S. history.
Southern Door schools to cut teachers, sports after referendum fails
After voters turned down a referendum last month, the Southern Door County School District says it will make cuts.
Mozilla says 271 vulnerabilities found by Mythos have "almost no false positives"
The developer of Firefox says it has "completely bought in" on AI-assisted bug discovery.
Google's New 24/7 AI Agent Can Make Purchases on Your Behalf
Google is internally working on Remy, a Gemini-powered AI Agent that will have the ability to learn your preferences and take action your behalf. Currently being used and tested by Google...
Trump Administration Weighs Citing ‘Emergency’ to Admit More Afrikaners as Refugees
The move would further solidify the U.S. refugee program as a pipeline for the white minority from South Africa.
How Anthropic’s Mythos has rewritten Firefox’s approach to cybersecurity
Security researchers at Mozilla say Anthropic's Mythos has unearthed a wealth of high-severity bugs in Firefox.
Appeals court appears poised to reject Hegseth’s bid to punish Mark Kelly over ‘illegal orders’ video
A federal appeals court appeared ready Thursday to reject Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s effort to punish Democratic Sen. Mark Kelly over his call to US service members to refuse illegal orders.
German Business Leader Criticizes Merz for Poor Reform Record
The head of Germany’s Chambers of Commerce and Industry sharply criticized Chancellor Friedrich Merz for his poor reform record, calling the conservative leader’s ruling coalition dysfunctional and unreliable.
Science diplomacy lessons from a North Korean volcano
Mount Paektu, a mythic, active volcano on the border between North Korea and China, is almost the epitome of a scientific challenge that crosses political lines. In 946 CE, it erupted in one of the five biggest volcanic events of the past 10,000 years, kicking up huge quantities of ash and sending destructive mud flows down river channels for hundreds of kilometres. Should this happen again, the entire region, including easternmost Russia, South Korea and even Japan could be hit. “It’s definitely got the potential to be big,” said James Hammond, a professor of geophysics at Birkbeck, University of London. An eruption on the scale of 946 would have “huge regional impact.” For the past 15 years, Hammond has helped lead a groundbreaking collaboration with North Korean scientists to study the volcano, navigating scientific sanctions, tough export controls on scientific equipment and a long, pandemic-enforced exodus from the country. Although he seems more at home on far-flung research expeditions – before speaking to Science|Business, Hammond was camping out on a Greenland ice sheet – he has also advised the European Commission on its changing science diplomacy strategy. His long experience with North Korea has made Hammond sceptical of blanket bans on science collaboration, no matter the country.This is a live question in Europe, where in the wake of Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, institutional ties with Russian universities were almost entirely severed, although some scientists fear this could undermine our understanding of climate change’s impact on the Arctic. Here, Hammond tells the story of the Mount Paektu mission and the policy lessons he takes from it. Ominous rumblingsThe genesis of Hammond’s collaboration came in 2002, when Mount Paektu began to rumble ominously. Earthquake activity picked up and the volcano began to emit unusual gases. North Korean scientists took notice. “People felt we need to know more about this volcano,” said Hammond. In 2011, North Korean vulcanologists put out a request for international expertise to help them learn more. At the time, Hammond and his collaborator, Clive Oppenheimer, were working on a vulcanology project in another sanctioned country, Eritrea, and so decided to answer the call. Within a month, they had flown into Pyongyang. “It was pretty incredible,” recalls Hammond (left). “We were made to feel like honoured guests, and invited to official celebrations.” The scientific opportunity was huge. Paektu is unusually positioned, a thousand kilometres from where tectonic plates rub against each other in the Pacific. “It was an incredibly interesting volcano, but not much research had been done, at least not in the international community,” he said. “There was so much we felt we could do. And we had these partners that were super keen to engage.”The mission received an unusual visitor in the form of volcano-obsessed filmmaker Werner Herzog, who accompanied Hammond and Oppenheimer while directing his 2016 film Into the Inferno about volcanos across the world. Four days into the trip, the German director delivered a long speech about reunification to his North Korean hosts, recalls Hammond. “He got to the heart of the Koreans and how they felt, and how they thought, in a way that I'm not sure I ever will,” he said. UN sanctionsHowever, Hammond realised he’d been “naïve” about how difficult it would be to collaborate with North Korea, which was sanctioned far more heavily than Eritrea. “We didn’t fully appreciate the all-encompassing nature of restrictions,” he said. In 2016, as tensions escalated over Pyongyang’s nuclear tests, a United Nations resolution banned all joint scientific work with North Korea. However, the UN sanctions did allow countries to request carve outs, and the UK successfully requested an exemption for Hammond’s work. Related articlesEU pushes for joint science diplomacy, but care needed to avoid gridlock, experts sayRussia severs its last ties with German scienceAnchor Greenlanders in Arctic climate research, experts tell EU ahead of policy updateExport controls have also delayed Hammond’s work. In one case, it took 18 months to get approval from the UK government to take seismometers, which measure earthquakes, to North Korea. “It was frustrating,” he said. “But they didn’t just say no.” However, one instrument, called an induction coil, used to measure how the earth conducts electricity, was blocked entirely because it can in theory be used to detect submarines. Karaoke bondingSince the collaboration started in 2011, Hammond has visited the country around 15 times, although the pandemic closed off North Korea for more than five years. A trip last November was Hammond’s first since the outbreak. Despite this lengthy interlude, Hammond has deep bonds in the country. The North Korean scientists Hammond works with are somewhat isolated, as they struggle to access the latest research papers and travel to international conferences. That said, they are “excellent geophysicists” and are “very well trained in the field,” he said. Over karaoke and chats about their families, “we’ve made friendships, for sure,” he said. The authorities have to sign-off things like the placement of seismometers, for example, but Hammond said these requests have been approved. “Everything that we've asked for within a scientific context has been delivered.”Scientific backchannels? These kind of personal links between scientists across political lines are one purported benefit of science diplomacy. During the Cold War, some historians argue, scientific contact between the US and Soviet Union laid a groundwork of trust for other cooperation, such as on arms control. Hammond agrees that backchannel contacts to North Korean geophysicists are hardly likely to defuse a military crisis on the Korean peninsula, but the simple fact of the scientific collaboration makes contacts between diplomats that little bit easier. “It creates opportunities to understand each other a little bit better,” he said. “When maybe you have those more difficult discussions as diplomats, it's coming from a slightly better place.” Cutting tiesDrawing lessons from the Mount Paektu mission for today’s links with Russian science isn’t simple. The analogy is far from exact, Hammond said, “because one is essentially a Cold War, versus a pretty hot war in the case of Russia.” But Hammond’s broader argument is that the challenges we face, such as climate change, pandemics, biodiversity loss, pollution and so on, have globalised in an unprecedented way, making blanket shutdowns in collaboration with any country unwise.He’s somewhat critical of the UN scientific sanctions imposed on North Korea in 2016, even though they did allow for exceptions. “I think a blanket halt to some of these things, when we face big global challenges [. . .] that’s quite a risky thing to do,” he said.Institutional endorsement?European academics are still by and large free to work individually with Russian counterparts. However, official, institutional partnerships have largely ended. Shortly following the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Russian university rectors wrote a public letter endorsing the war, meaning European universities fear official collaboration could also be seen as a kind of endorsement. Hammond acknowledges there is a risk of legitimising regimes, and state-controlled universities, through scientific cooperation. “That’s the trade off you have to make,” he said. Strategic projectsWith Russia, instead of giving a green light to restart all Arctic science, a middle ground might be firing up a few carefully selected “strategic” projects, said Hammond. After all, European countries are still collaborating with Russia on the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor, an experimental nuclear fusion plant in the south of France. However, even if Europe did try to revive Arctic science with Russia, there’s no guarantee Russian scientists would play ball. A series of high-profile arrests of physicists in Russia accused of sharing their findings with the outside world has made collaboration fraught. Even before the invasion of 2022, “the Russian regime made it increasingly difficult, and this sort of discouraged people,” Dag Rune Olsen, rector of the Arctic University of Norway, told Science|Business last year.
From Archaeology to Medicine: How a Health Crisis Led to a Major Career Change
Lydia Jacob ‘26PBPM reflects on how proud she is of the Columbia student body and the ways the program has facilitated her career change.
EA SPORTS FC™ and LALIGA Launch New York Community Pitch as Part of FC FUTURES Program, Designed by Local Artist BG183
EA SPORTS FC™ and LALIGA have unveiled a newly refurbished community football pitch in the South Bronx, New York, as part of FC FUTURES – EA SPORTS’ grassroots initiative to expand access to the game and connect football communities around the world. EA SPORTS FC™ and LALIGA launch New York community pitch as part of FC FUTURES program Marking the 10th pitch delivered through the program with LALIGA globally, the project brings together soccer, creativity and community to create a safe, inclusive space for young people and local families to learn through play. Developed in collaboration with local partners and featuring a custom design by Bronx artist BG183, the pitch is connected to P.S./M.S. 31 The William Lloyd Garrison School and has been delivered alongside love.fútbol and South Bronx United to support long-term impact in the community. Located in the South Bronx, the pitch has been designed as a multi-use space that goes beyond the game, supporting school physical education and
Meet the School of Biological Sciences Class of 2026 | Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
The Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL) School of Biological Sciences (SBS) takes an innovative approach to advanced science education. Graduates of the doctoral program go on to pursue a wide range of careers across academia and industry. On May 3, the SBS awarded six graduates Ph.D. degrees. Here, the class of 2026 reflects on their...
The 15 best moments in historic Iowa Hawkeyes sports year
Register sports columnist reflects on Iowa's 2025-26 sports year by ranking the top 15 Hawkeye moments in football, basketball and wrestling.
Is the FDA Really Suppressing Science? Plus. . .
It’s Thursday, May 7. This is The Front Page, your daily window into the world of The Free Press—and our take on the world at large. Today: Aaron MacLean says Trump is poised to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory in the Iran war. Joe Klein on the life of CNN founder Ted Turner. Jillian Lederman on why cruise ships are here to stay. And much more. But first: Is the FDA suppressing science? On Tuesday, The New York Times published a story with an alarming takeaway. “FDA Blocked Publication of Research Finding Covid and Shingles Vaccines Were Safe,” read the headline. It is the latest in a string of stories that all have the same message: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and other agencies, are engaged in a cover-up—and silencing scientists trying to get the word out about the Covid vaccine. What all these stories suggest—some more subtly than others—is that the outsiders now running the public health establishment, officials such as Marty Makary at the FDA and Jay Bhattacharya at the National Institutes of Health, are on a revenge tour. That they are doing harm to the country to get back at the scientists and bureaucrats who ostracized them for deviating from the public-health consensus during the pandemic. It’s a seductive narrative. But is it true? That’s the question we address in our latest editorial. —The Editors Read [ Marty Makary's FDA Has All the Right Enemies ](https://www.thefp.com/p/marty-makary-vaccine-study-fda) [ Trump Blinks First ](https://www.thefp.com/p/iran-peace-deal-pakistan-trump-strait-of-hormuz) Aaron MacLean In return for no detectable concessions, President Trump this week gave up on forcing open the Strait of Hormuz. Now, the Trump administration looks desperate for a deal to end the war with Iran. It’s easy to understand the desire to end the war, but are they blowing the chance at victory? Aaron MacLean makes sense of the administration’s latest moves—and Iran’s response—in his column today. Read full story Aaron MacLean and Niall Ferguson: Live in New York City Join Aaron MacLean and Niall Ferguson on May 19 for a live recording of School of War at the iconic New York Historical. In a conversation as timely as it is wide-ranging, Aaron and Niall will explore the strategic stakes of the moment, including the Middle East, China, and the future of American leadership on the global stage. Get Tickets Now [ Ted Turner, the Optimist Who Built CNN ](https://www.thefp.com/p/ted-turner-cnn-tribute) Joe Klein The man who gave us CNN and the 24-hour news cycle, Ted Turner, died Wednesday at the age of 87. Today, political writer Joe Klein—who almost ghostwrote Turner’s autobiography—remembers his friend, the American media mogul who stood out for his idealism and lack of a filter—something that got Turner in trouble more than once. “His was not a traditional intelligence, but one of horizon: Ted saw things before other people did,” Joe writes. Read full story [ Nothing Can Sink the Cruise Ship ](https://www.thefp.com/p/cruise-ship-hantavirus) Jillian Lederman A viral outbreak on a cruise ship that left three passengers dead has left some people wondering: Are cruise ships on the way out? Not so fast, says Jillian Lederman, who has been on many a cruise herself. Read her piece on why 38 million people a year take a cruise—and aren’t about to stop. Read full story [ The Great Writers Who Were Terrible People ](https://www.thefp.com/p/the-great-writers-who-were-terrible) Shilo Brooks Throughout history, some of the greatest literary geniuses have also been immoral bigots. In the latest episode of Old School, Shilo Brooks is joined by Eli Lake for a conversation about those geniuses, from Voltaire to Norman Mailer and Roald Dahl—and why we should read their work despite their odious prejudices. Listen on MORE FROM THE FREE PRESS [ Inside the Digital Intifada ](https://www.thefp.com/p/digital-intifada-social-media-hamas-terror) Warren Kinsella Read full story [ This Week in American History: Trump’s Over-Arching Problem ](https://www.thefp.com/p/this-week-in-american-history-trumps-over-arching-problem) Jonathan Horn Read full story [ Humanity Is Still Evolving—and Fast ](https://www.thefp.com/p/humanity-is-still-evolvingand-fast) Razib Khan Read full story THE NEWS Thirteen D.C. Metropolitan Police officers have been placed on administrative leave and could face termination after an internal investigation found evidence that crime statistics were manipulated to make the city look safer. The Republican-led House Oversight Committee previously alleged that former D.C. police chief Pamela Smith pressured officers to skew data. Tennessee Republicans unveiled a redrawn U.S. House map yesterday that would split up Memphis’s black-majority Democratic district, the latest move in a nationwide push to redraw congressional boundaries ahead of the midterms. The effort follows a Supreme Court ruling last week on Louisiana’s districts, which Tennessee House Speaker Cameron Sexton said gave states the green light to redraw maps along partisan lines. Israel struck Beirut for the first time since a ceasefire with Hezbollah took effect last month, saying it targeted a commander of the militant group’s elite Radwan force in the city’s southern suburbs. The strikes risk destabilizing that truce at a delicate moment, as Iran and the U.S. report progress toward a deal to resolve their own standoff. The U.S. Air Force is aiming for a Fourth of July delivery of a Boeing 747 gifted by Qatar, hoping to add it to the Air Force One fleet in time for the U.S.’s 250th anniversary, Reuters reported. (For more on the controversy surrounding the aircraft, read Jed Rubenfeld’s piece “It’s a Terrible Idea, but Trump Probably Can Accept a Free Jet from Qatar.”) Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick testified privately before Congress that he has no memory of why he and his family dined on Jeffrey Epstein’s private island in 2012, according to Reuters. The admission contradicts Lutnick’s earlier claim that he had cut ties with the convicted sex offender well before that visit. Weeks before a former JPMorgan investment banker filed a lawsuit packed with explosive allegations, the bank reportedly offered him $1 million to settle his sexual assault and harassment claims, according to The Wall Street Journal. The suit, filed by Chirayu Rana, alleges he was sexually assaulted by a female colleague, subjected to racial discrimination, and forced into a degrading dynamic at work. JPMorgan says the claims lack merit, and the female colleague’s lawyers call the accusations fabricated. A new report from the Hartford Institute for Religion Research shows that, for the first time in roughly 20 years, church attendance is trending upward, with more people volunteering and clergy expressing renewed optimism. The study’s authors described the findings, based on a survey of more than 7,400 congregations, as showing signs of widespread recovery from low attendance numbers.
UniCredit Strikes Deal to Sell Part of Russia Business to U.A.E. Investor
The lender, which didn’t name the buyer, said the deal will help refocus its operations in Russia mainly on international payments.
Starmer Braces for Local Election Losses Amid New Era of UK Politics
Polls predict historic losses for Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s Labour Party on Thursday as anti-immigrant Reform U.K. makes gains, and a new era of multiparty politics takes shape.
New OnePlus 16 leak reveals specs, 200MP periscope, 9000mAh battery in cards
A new leak reveals the OnePlus 16 may feature a 200MP periscope camera, 9,000mAh battery, and a display with up to 240Hz refresh rate.
Former Southwest Philly refinery site will become home to nuclear life science facility
The company plans to manufacture a rare, radioactive isotope for use in cancer treatment trials starting in 2029.
Business owners 'blindsided' by construction in Seattle's Leschi neighborhood
Business owners in Seattle's Leschi neighborhood are demanding answers after a surprise construction project barricaded their storefronts just days before Mother's Day.
Insmed Reports First-Quarter 2026 Financial Results and Provides Business Update
— Total Company Revenues of $306.0 Million for the First Quarter of 2026— —BRINSUPRI® (brensocatib) Revenues of $207.9 Million for the First Quarter of 2026, Reflecting 44% Growth Over the...
People once risked everything just to keep their hats on
Centuries ago in England, hats weren’t just accessories—they were statements of power and rebellion. Refusing to remove a hat could challenge authority, even in courtrooms and before kings. People valued their hats so deeply that robbery victims sometimes begged to keep them over money. In a world where going bareheaded signaled poverty or madness, hats shaped identity, respect, and even family discipline.
World Patient Safety Day 2025 Webinar on Goal 4: Prevent health care-associated infections
Webinar Series on the World Patient Safety Day GoalsSafe care for every newborn and every childPatient safety for newborns and children remains a critical global health priority. Children are particularly vulnerable to preventable harm due to developmental factors, dependency on caregivers, complex medication dosing requirements, diagnostic uncertainty, and increased susceptibility to health care-associated infections.Ensuring safe care for every newborn and every child is therefore essential to improving health outcomes and strengthening quality of care across health systems.The World Patient Safety Day 2025 campaign, under the theme:“Safe care for every newborn and every child: Patient safety from the start!”emphasizes the importance of embedding patient safety principles early in life and across the continuum of maternal, newborn and child health services.The campaign identifies five priority goals, calling for coordinated action by governments, health professionals, professional associations, civil society, and families globally.Webinar 4: “Prevent health care-associated infections”Thursday 7 May 2026, 14.00–15.30 CESTJoin this five-part webinar series on the Patient Safety Goals for safe care for every newborn and every child, featuring global experts and practitioners discussing real-world implementation, challenges, and solutions to reduce avoidable harm.The webinar will address the following topics:• Why infection prevention and control is essential for safe newborn and childcare• How Goal 4 can be implemented in practice at the point of care• What health care workers, leaders, managers, and policymakers can do to Prevent healthcare-associated infections.Registration linkDownload the flyer
Southern Republicans press ahead with election-year House redistricting despite protests
The stakes are high for minority voters who stand to lose their preferred representatives and for any Republican lawmakers reluctant to follow Trump's wishes.
Economic reforms could help pull Thailand away from China
The prime minister is angry about how hard it is to import a chainsaw.
What’s behind the secessionist movement in the Canadian province Alberta?
Oil-rich western province could see independence referendum as soon as October, but complicated process remains ahead.