SCROLL NEWS / DISCOVERY
Search headlines
Find the stories shaping the conversation.
Results for " EmBe " 8,944 found 🔀 AI-powered Shuffle
Ballot measure to scrap party primaries sparks Democrat infighting
A ballot question that would eliminate political party primaries for state elections in favor of a single, all-party primary is creating fractures among Massachusetts Democrats, pitting members of the state committee against a handful of prominent figures.
Thailand’s Thaksin Shinawatra Is Out of Prison. What Will He Do Now?
Mr. Thaksin has long been a foil to Thailand’s conservative establishment. He still holds significant influence, with his political party a member of the governing coalition.
Hinge Health Q1 Earnings Call Highlights
Hinge Health (NYSE:HNGE) reported first-quarter 2026 results that topped its prior outlook and raised its full-year guidance, citing stronger-than-expected member engagement, growth in eligible lives and continued operating leverage from artificial intelligence and automation. Co-Founder and CEO Da
Reminder: Edmonds School District Health and Wellness Expo May 16
The Edmonds School District invites students, families and community members from Brier, Edmonds, Lynnwood, Mountlake Terrace and Woodway to the District’s free Health and Wellness Expo from 9 a.m. to […]
Connections: Arkade forms startup support advisory board - Talk Business & Politics
Arkade, a Bentonville-based commercial growth platform supporting retail and supply chain technology companies, recently formed an advisory board. Following members include leaders across venture capital, enterprise strategy, legal and retail...
Connections: Arkade forms startup support advisory board - Talk Business & Politics
Arkade, a Bentonville-based commercial growth platform supporting retail and supply chain technology companies, recently formed an advisory board. Following members include leaders across venture capital, enterprise strategy, legal and retail...
MN politics: HCMC funding still in question as legislative session winds down | FOX 9 Minneapolis-St. Paul
With only a week left in the Minnesota legislative session, congressional candidates are securing endorsements ahead of the elections in November. But the issue of funding Hennepin County Medical Center still remains, with the House and Senate offering very different solutions. Political analyst Blois Olson spoke to FOX 9's Leah Beno on the details.
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.
SALA Event Center Celebrates Business Recognition, Honors Key Team Member, And Announces Beer & Wine Service
Magaly Veleta, receiving special recognition from Allan Saenz on Wednesday, May 6, 2026. Courtesy SALA Magaly Veleta, receiving special recognition from Allan Saenz on Wednesday, May 6, 2026. Court…
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.
How TMZ is finding its footing on the political scene, even after some misfires
The salacious gossip website is hounding politicians and tracking vacationing members of Congress
What Happened to the 'Highway to Heaven' Cast? Inside Their Lives After the Show Ended
'Highway to Heaven,' which has been ordered for a revival on Fox, starred Michael Landon and Victor French, who both died shortly after the show ended in 1989. Here's everything to know about what happened to the 'Highway to Heaven' cast members.
This is California's most interesting governor's race in ages
Far from boring, the contest is the most wide open in a generation, with a potential to make history in November. Those yawning at the contest may be looking for glitz and entertainment. Voters aren't.
Springfield entertainment center debuts new sign, name
In November, Incredible Pizza announced it would be rebranding in 2026. The Springfield location now bears the new name Incredible Food and Fun.
Pols & Politics: Massachusetts RNC members call on Shortsleeve to drop out of Republican primary
The two Massachusetts RNC members are calling on gubernatorial candidate Brian Shortsleeve to drop out of the GOP primary in order for the party to “unite” candidate Mike Minogue.
Lawrence school board to consider health plan change, hear needs assessment
Lawrence school board members on Monday will consider a change to save the district money on rising health insurance costs, though employees would have to pay to keep their current level of coverage.
Remembering Bobby Cox, iconic manager of the Atlanta Braves
A former player, general manager and manager, Cox let an indelible imprint on the organization.
Michigan Football lands commitment from 4-star edge rusher
BOOOOOOOM! Michigan Football picked up its seventh member of the 2027 recruiting class, as four-star edge rusher Jayce Brewer has announced his commitment:
Jacksonville event offering free health and wellness services is ‘a big help’ for local patients struggling financially
Ascension St. Vincent’s hosted its Medical Mission at Home event Saturday at the Prime Osborn Convention Center, offering free health and wellness services to uninsured and underserved members of the Jacksonville community.
UWL hosts groundbreaking ceremony for phase two of the Prairie Springs Science Center
On Friday, May 8, members of the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse community and local media gathered at the south end of the Cowley Hall construction site for the ceremonial groundbreaking of the second phase of the Prairie Springs Science Center. “Today is a great day for this campus. We are here to celebrate something that...
Nick Cannon’s business accountant accused of embezzling $2 million, reportedly leaves US
If convicted, Frank Musoke faces up to 20 years in federal prison for each wire fraud charge and up to
Dignity Health Sierra Nevada Memorial Hospital Achieves 6th Consecutive Hospital ‘A’ Safety Grade in Patient Safety
GRASS VALLEY, Calif. MAY 9, 2026 – Dignity Health Sierra Nevada Memorial Hospital (SNMH), a member of CommonSpirit, earned an “A” Hospital Safety Grade for the sixth consecutive grading round by The Leapfrog Group, an independent national nonprofit watchdog focused on patient safety. This recent award continues the Hospital’s “Straight A” designation, defined as hospitals […]
How China May Have Sought to Recruit a House Aide to Spy on the U.S.
A staff member on the House China Committee was promised $10,000 for U.S. policy insights, on issues like Venezuela and rare-earth minerals.
Nintendo president apologizes for Switch 2 price increase, promises "robust software lineup" to make up for it
Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa has commented on the company’s plans moving forward in light of today’s price increase announcement for Switch 2. The company intends to raise the console’s price worldwide. For example, in the U.S., it’ll be going up by $50. Price changes will be going into effect mostly in September, though it’ll be happening as early as this...
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
MADSEN: Understanding gendered communication: What science reveals
This article is the fifth in a series designed to help parents, family members, educators, and community members better understand gender differences so we can more effectively support the children, youth, and families in our lives. The first editorial examined how boys and girls see the world, the second explored how they hear, the third […]
MADSEN: Understanding gendered communication: What science reveals
This article is the fifth in a series designed to help parents, family members, educators, and community members better understand gender differences so we can more effectively support the children, youth, and families in our lives. The first editorial examined how boys and girls see the world, the second explored how they hear, the third […]
Top House Democrat vows to go ‘all in’ on 2028 gerrymandering push after Virginia setback
Hakeem Jeffries predicted his party would still win the US House in November despite the GOP’s now-clear advantage in the nationwide redistricting fight.
Long-Qing Chen named Evan Pugh University Professor
Long-Qing Chen, Hamer Professor of Materials Science and Engineering, has been named an Evan Pugh University Professor, the highest honor that Penn State bestows on a faculty member.
Aston Villa owners V Sports in talks to buy controlling stake in French club FC Annecy
The Athletic revealed last November that Villa had established a partnership with the Ligue 2 club, such as exchanging details on players.
Scientists split gentoo penguins into four species, one totally new to science
The four-foot-tall Emperor penguin of Antarctica may be the most iconic member of this unique family of birds, but 17 other species of penguins populate the Southern Hemisphere, many of them confined ...
Helena Moreno, DA Jason Williams call for special election for combined Orleans Parish clerk
New Orleans is legally required to hold a special election to elect an Orleans Parish clerk, Mayor Helena Moreno said in a letter to city councilmembers on Friday.
Trump Has a Disturbing Ability to Make Violent Acts of War Sound Way Too Casual
Remember when presidents sounded, you know, presidential?
From Campus to Capitol Hill: Stony Brook Students Advocate for Science and Research Funding
Members of Stony Brook University’s student Advocacy Corps recently traveled to Washington, D.C., to participate in the AAAS Catalyzing Advocacy in Science and Engineering (CASE) workshop, representing the university in the national program focused on science policy and advocacy. The undergraduate students were selected and sponsored by the university’s Office of Federal Relations to attend
Berkeley Lab’s Kristin Persson Elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences
The Materials Project founder is among the 252 new academy members inducted this year.
The Politics of Estrangement
It’s sad to see family members and friends cut each other off over political disagreements.
White Earth Nation leadership sets priorities for tribe: Land stewardship, tribal health services
White Earth Nation leadership addressed tribal members at an annual State of the Nation Thursday, setting out priorities for the upcoming year.
Fitness wearable Whoop to offer on-demand clinician access to U.S. users
Whoop is introducing on-demand clinician access and AI-powered health guidance, largely included in the price of membership.
Google opens its smartest Gmail writing feature to basically everyone
Google is rolling out Gmail's new 'Help me write' upgrades to almost everyone with a Workspace or Premium account.
Chicago Cubs history unpacked, May 8
Happy 176th Birthday to a member of the 1876 Chicago team — Ross Barnes, considered the GOAT upon his death in 1915
Sony forecasts lower gaming business sales amid memory price surge
STORY: Sony forecast lower sales in its gaming business due to a memory chip price surge.The tech giant said Friday annual sales in the segment would fall 6% to $28 billion.It also blamed lower hardware sales as its PlayStation 5 ages.Although the Japanese company said it expects gaming profit to rise 30%.That's due to higher first-party software sales and no repeat of the impairment loss it recorded a year earlier.Sony has been praised by analysts in recent years for its transformation into an entertainment powerhouse.But markets have grown concerned about the impact of AI on its business, while Sony also faces a perceived lack of growth catalysts.Both factors have weighed on shares in recent months.Investors are also concerned about the impact of a memory-chip price surge.As well as disruption to supply chains from the Iran war on margins at electronics manufacturers.The firm said it sold 1.5 million PS5 consoles in the fourth quarter, which was a 46% drop on the same period a year earlier.Looking ahead, the PS5 is expected to receive a major boost from the launch of the delayed "Grand Theft Auto VI."The game is due to release in November.Sony said in February it had secured the minimum quantity of memory needed to manage the year-end shopping season. Sony also said it sees higher profits at its pictures and chips units but a lower profit at its music business.The group reported operating profit for the year ended March rose 13.4% to $9.2 billion - below analyst forecasts. Meanwhile, rival Nintendo said it expects to sell 16.5 million units of its Switch 2 console in the financial year ending March 2027.It also projects profit to rise 2.7% to $2.36 billion.But, like with Sony, investors are concerned about the possible impact of a memory price surge on margins.
Nintendo Switch 2 price rise takes effect from September
The Japanese company behind Mario says "global market conditions" contributed to the decision.
Ohio AG Dave Yost's surprise departure could impact November election
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine will appoint someone to replace Dave Yost months before voters choose a new attorney general.
Spain readies for evacuations as a hantavirus-hit cruise ship heads for Canary Islands
Spanish authorities are preparing to receive more than 140 passengers and crew members on board a hantavirus-stricken cruise ship headed for the Canary Islands.
Family of imprisoned Chinese journalist pleads for his release over health concerns
Family members and activists are calling for the release of imprisoned Chinese journalist Dong Yuyu due to health concerns
Family of imprisoned Chinese journalist pleads for his release over health concerns
BANGKOK (AP) — Family members and activists have called for the release of imprisoned Chinese journalist Dong Yuyu due to health concerns.
Under the Radar: Iowa State’s Gaming and E-Sports Club
AMES — The rise of gaming among college students has turned video games into a competitive outlet, and Iowa State students have found a place to connect through the university’s Gaming and Esports Club. The club gives students opportunities to play competitively and casually across multiple platforms, including consoles, PCs and mobile devices. Members can...
Tennessee lawmakers pass U.S. House map carving up majority-Black district in Memphis
The new voting districts approved Thursday could give Republicans a chance to win all nine of the state’s congressional seats in the November midterm elections.
With GTA 6 Due Out in November, Rockstar Teases 'Exciting New Update' for GTA Online This Summer
In a blog post, Rockstar Games teased that an "exciting" new GTA Online update will be released this summer, sparking speculation about what it could involve given GTA 6 is set to launch in November.
Mess Fest returns to Orlando Science Center May 9–10 with messy, hands-on physics
Mess Fest is back at Orlando Science Center May 9–10, and I got a media preview of the messy, hands-on fun (including 3 experiments outside). Expect washable paint, physics demos, and big reactions—plus it’s included with general admission (members get in free).
ICYMI: Rep. Smucker in York Daily Record: From Main Street to family farms, small businesses power region
WASHINGTON – In case you missed it, Rep. Smucker (PA-11), Vice Chairman of the House Budget Committee and senior member of the tax-writing Ways and Means Committee, published an op-ed in recognition of Small Business Week in the York Daily Record, highlighting the ways small businesses bolster our economy.
Tennessee Republicans approve map carving up majority-Black US House district
Republican lawmakers in Tennessee approved a new US House map Thursday that carves up a majority-Black district in Memphis, reshaping it to the GOP’s advantage as part of President Donald Trump’s strategy to hold on to a slim majority in the November midterm elections.
‘Bit challenging’: Bindi Irwin’s family gives health update after she misses gala
A beloved member of the family was notably absent at the annual Steve Irwin Gala in Las Vegas over the weekend.
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.
The National Academy of Sciences Elects Two Berkeley Lab Researchers
Two Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) scientists have been elected to the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) in recognition of their distinguished and continuing achievements in original research. They are part of a cohort of 120 new members and 25 international members. The National Academy of Sciences is a private, nonprofit institution that was established under a congressional charter signed by President Abraham Lincoln in 1863. It recognizes achievement in science by election to membership, and — alongside the National Academy of Engineering and the National Academy of Medicine — provides science, engineering, and health policy advice to the federal government and other organizations. The 2026 electees bring the total number of active members to 2,705 with 557 international members. Gary Karpen is a biologist senior faculty scientist in Berkeley Lab’s Biological Systems and Engineering Division and a Professor of Cell and Developmental Physiology in the Department of Molecular and Cell Biology at UC Berkeley. Karpen studies how the structure, organization, and maintenance of genetic material impact inheritance and cell function. His lab focuses on chromatin — a packaged form of DNA strands wrapped around proteins that comprises our chromosomes — with a particular emphasis on centromeres, rarely expressed sequences called heterochromatin, DNA repair, and regulatory RNAs. His research reveals insights into fundamental aspects of nuclear organization and genome regulation that are shared across the tree of life, broadening our understanding of cancer and other diseases, birth defects, and aging. Kam-Biu Luk is a Professor Emeritus of physics at UC Berkeley and a retired senior faculty scientist in Berkeley Lab’s Physics Division. He is an experimental particle physicist whose research has focused on neutrinos: nearly massless, electrically neutral elementary particles that can pass through matter virtually undetected. Neutrinos are created during radioactive decay processes, including the fusion process occurring in stars and the fission process that powers nuclear reactors. Luk initiated and co-led the Daya Bay Reactor Neutrino Experiment, a project based in China with more than 200 international collaborators. In 2012, the Daya Bay experiment discovered a new form of a phenomenon called “neutrino oscillation” in which neutrinos change from one type to another. For this discovery, Luk and his collaborator Yifan Wang received the 2014 American Physical Society Division of Particles and Fields W.K.H. Panofsky Prize for outstanding work in experimental particle physics, and he was also the co-recipient of the 2016 Breakthrough Prize. Luk is currently participating in the Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment (DUNE) hosted by Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory, which will investigate any potential difference in behavior between neutrinos and antineutrinos that may shed light on the evolution of the universe, especially why antimatter is absent in the present universe. ### Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) is committed to groundbreaking research focused on discovery science and solutions for abundant and reliable energy supplies. The lab’s expertise spans materials, chemistry, physics, biology, earth and environmental science, mathematics, and computing. Researchers from around the world rely on the lab’s world-class scientific facilities for their own pioneering research. Founded in 1931 on the belief that the biggest problems are best addressed by teams, Berkeley Lab and its scientists have been recognized with 17 Nobel Prizes. Berkeley Lab is a multiprogram national laboratory managed by the University of California for the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Science. DOE’s Office of Science is the single largest supporter of basic research in the physical sciences in the United States, and is working to address some of the most pressing challenges of our time. For more information, please visit energy.gov/science.
2026 Players Era Tournament increasing to 24 teams in two separate brackets with millions in NIL prize money
The third iteration of the NIL-based November college basketball event will again be staged in Las Vegas later this year and move to ESPN's airwaves
Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles announces surprise resignation 6 months after reelection
“Serving as Charlotte’s mayor has been the honor of my life,” Lyles said. She easily won a fifth term in November.
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.
Around the MHS
The latest news from around the Military Health System for the week of May 4-8, 2026, includes the National Intrepid Center of Excellence leading in care for service members with brain injuries, Uniformed Services University medical student competes in an Ironman Triathlon, and an important award for the Alexander T. Augusta Military Medical Center.
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.
In new poll, Americans voice broad bipartisan support for age caps in Congress
The vast majority of Americans — 8 in 10 — say there should be age caps for members of Congress, as well as term limits, according to the latest NPR/PBS News/Marist Poll.
Sally Field remembers Robin Williams trying to make her laugh on 'Mrs. Doubtfire': 'It wasn't funny'
Sally Field says her 'Mrs. Doubtfire' costar Robin Williams was forever trying to make her laugh on the set, but she didn't find his antics funny.
Women in Business hosts spring self-care event highlighting local wellness vendors
Members of the Cherokee Chamber of Commerce held its Women in Business Spring Event on Tuesday, offering locals tools to decompress.
UFC 328 Embedded, Episode 3: 'I love my job'
On the third episode of UFC 328 Embedded, Tatsuro Taira packs his suitcase and heads to New Jersey; Joshua Van hits one last strength and conditioning session with his mother; Ateba Gautier takes his traditional fight week trip to see some animals; Waldo Cortes Acosta hits everything but the pads ...
Hamilton County commissioners advance business incubator move despite dissent
Hamilton County leaders are moving forward with a plan to relocate the county’s business incubator, but not without pushback from some community members and com
Legacy Health back in Regence BlueCross network with new contract
The new deal ends a dispute that left thousands of Regence members facing higher costs at Legacy's network of hospitals, clinics and physicians across Oregon and Southwest Washington.
How Ethics Committee handling Chuck Edwards' investigation works
Edwards is one of numerous Congress members who have faced allegations of sexual misconduct.
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
Ted Turner impacted US politics
Ted Turner, the "mouth of the South" remembered for his impact on journalism and American politics.
Ted Turner impacted US politics
Ted Turner, the "mouth of the South" remembered for his impact on journalism and American politics.
Ted Turner impacted US politics
Ted Turner, the "mouth of the South" remembered for his impact on journalism and American politics.
Ted Turner impacted US politics
Ted Turner, the "mouth of the South" remembered for his impact on journalism and American politics.
Ted Turner impacted US politics
Ted Turner, the "mouth of the South" remembered for his impact on journalism and American politics.
Seattle council member touts ‘Black budget,’ calls for Black residents to form ‘most powerful political party’
Seattle City Council president says she works with a "Black budget" to address economic disparities faced by the Black community in budget talks.
National Science Board member with longtime New Mexico ties speaks out on firing
At the end of April, the Trump administration fired the entire National Science Board, which one former member says threatens U.S. science.
Redistricting shuffle: Leela Gray doubles down on CD 13 bid
'No matter how they draw the district lines, the people of Florida will get their say in November.'
Bioluminescent algae’s blue light harnessed to make 3D-printed shapes
Scientists suggest algae could be embedded within biosensors that glow when toxins detected in the environment
BioShock, game prices, GTA, the disappearing NFL deal and more: An interview with Take Two CEO Strauss Zelnick
In 20 years of covering the video game beat, I’d probably not spoken more than 20 words with Take Two chairman Strauss Zelnick, who’s been running the company behind NBA 2K, Grand Theft Auto, BioShock and Red Dead Redemption for, you guessed it, nearly 20 years. Last week, though, ahead of a panel I was hosting at the iicon event in Las Vegas, I had about 20 minutes to interview Zelnick. I could ask one question for each year, I joked, as we settled into our seats on opposite sides of a conference table. Take Two’s longtime head of corporate communications, Alan Lewis, was seated at Zelnick’s side. I didn’t quite conduct our chat that way, but we wound up going through a lot, including… The state of BioShock The ramifications of the rising costs of game development The fate of Take Two’s recent multi-game deal with the NFL Some hints about Take Two’s mobile plans Whether Zelnick’s answer to me about Civ VII was a good one The do’s and don’t’s of NBA 2K microtransactions Take Two’s take on the Switch 2 Oh, and GTA VI (Spoiler: if Zelnick had spilled the beans on the price of the game or a release date for a PC version or whether there will be a polka radio station, that would have been this article’s headline). Before all of that, I would learn what it’s like to interview Strauss Zelnick, who is confident, calm and focused on delivering precise answers. To wit, I thought I’d start our chat with something fun, a bit insidery but maybe safe for him to share. The team at Take Two’s Rockstar label delays their games a lot, I noted. Of course, those delays, however painful, tend to be worth it. So, I was wondering how Zelnick finds out about them. Take the most recent postponement back in November 2025, when Rockstar said that GTA VI would not hit its May 26, 2026 release date (just 20 days from now!) and would instead come out on November 19, 2026. Was that news delivered via a call? An email? How does it work? “I work super closely with my team,” Zelnick said. “It's a very thin team at Take Two. The entire senior management team is six executives who sit in one hallway and share two assistants. And then, basically, there are two people who head up each of our labels.” They meet weekly to discuss their business, he said. So no one emails him about a delay? Nothing like that? Zelnick craned his neck to look at my left hand. He asked if I was married. I am, I said. “Does your partner email you to give you information?” he asked. Fair enough. I didn’t get the sense Zelnick was going to read me the minutes of the management meeting where the GTA VI delay was discussed. Slight pivot, maybe I could get some personality insights about one of the most successful gaming execs of the last 20 years, before getting to my big list of questions about specific Take Two games, franchises and policies. I asked: How do you deal with delay news like that? Go for a run? Meditate? “I tend to default to being very calm,” he said. “I’m not a person who freaks out easily.” He noted that he has a daughter with special needs due to an illness, and he shared that that situation had gotten him worked up. It was a personal, family emergency. “But, you know, business is not that,” he said. “I have no trouble distinguishing between, like, a business challenge and an emergency.” He turned to his left to ask Lewis, his colleague of 17 years, a question. “Have you ever seen me freak out?” “Never,” Lewis replied. “You’ve seen me upset,” Zelnick told Lewis. “Have you seen me raise my voice? Maybe how many times? Be honest, because we might as well be.”
Astrocade: $56 Million Raised To Build AI-Powered Interactive Entertainment Platform
Astrocade announced $56 million in new funding to expand its AI-powered interactive entertainment platform that enables users to create and play games generated with artificial intelligence. The funding included a Series B round led by Sequoia Capital and a Series A round led by Sea, with participation from Google’s AI Futures Fund, NVIDIA, LG Technology Ventures, Dentsu Ventures, Conviction Embed, Chaac Ventures, Rogue VC, and additional investors.
Savan Kotecha on Co-Writing Justin Bieber’s ‘Beauty and a Beat’ & What Its Post-Coachella Comeback Means: ‘My Kids Think It’s a New Song’
"I remember sending it to Max Martin, going, 'look at this!'" the hit songwriter-producer recalls of the 2012 pop hit currently topping Billboard's global charts.
Trump's Indiana wins show his power over GOP with more primaries and redistricting debates ahead
Tuesday's election results in Indiana prove President Donald Trump can still punish wayward party members after he endorsed a slate of challengers who defeated almost every one of those lawmakers he wanted to dislodge.
Takeaways from Indiana, Ohio and Michigan: Trump's flex pays off and Democrats win special election
Elections in Indiana, Ohio and Michigan on Tuesday reinforced a picture that's becoming increasingly clear — while President Donald Trump still dominates the Republican Party, Democrats seem to have the momentum ahead of November's midterm elections.
Davenport University’s Excellence in Business gala hosted Martin Short, honored the president and raised $400,000 for scholarships
Davenport University’s 2026 Excellence in Business gala was a resounding success for students. The May 2 event raised $400,000 to support student scholarships and brought together business leaders, community members and supporters for an evening that included award-winning actor-comedian Martin Short. The gala at DeVos Place in Grand Rapids featured Short in
UA Little Rock Professor Joins Board of Institute for Design Science and Public Policy
Dr. Mohsen Rafiei, a faculty member at UA Little Rock, was recently appointed to the Board of Directors of the Institute for Design Science and Public Policy (IDSPP), a nonprofit ... UA Little Rock Professor Joins Board of Institute for Design Science and Public Policy
Remember Tim Eyman? He’s bearing bad news — for his own side
The anti-tax crusader is passing around internal poll results that show the "millionaires tax" would be easily upheld by voters this year.
Oscar Health Reports Record Profit As Obamacare Enrollment Jumps
Oscar Health swung to a $679 million first quarter profit – the highest in company history – as its health plan membership jumped more than 50% and medical costs eased.
Meet IndyStar high school reporter Marc Ray, a Houston sports fanatic
Meet new IndyStar high school sports reporter Marc Ray, a Houston native and NAHJ member.
'My heart is so full.' Meeka Owens wins county commission primary
Cincinnati City Council member Meeka Owens is the Democratic pick for Hamilton County commissioner.
Trump gets revenge, and other takeaways from Tuesday’s Indiana and Ohio primaries
President Donald Trump vowed revenge when the Republican supermajority in the Indiana state Senate embarrassed him in December, voting down Trump’s demands to redraw the state’s congressional maps to help the party win two more seats.
Trump Posts Meme of Top Democrats in Sombreros
The fake image of Representative Hakeem Jeffries of New York and Senator Chuck Schumer of New York was similar to a post from September that was widely denounced as racist.
Trump Posts Meme of Top Democrats in Sombreros
The fake image of Representative Hakeem Jeffries of New York and Senator Chuck Schumer of New York was similar to a post from September that was widely denounced as racist.
Zack Polanski falsely claimed to be British Red Cross spokesperson, charity says
Green party leader also accused of incorrectly stating he was a full member of the National Council of Hypnotherapy
National Academy of Sciences elects six Berkeley researchers to its
The National Academy of Sciences announced its newest members this week, among them six eminent UC Berkeley faculty members, including former U.S. Secretary of the Treasury Janet Yellen. Membership
Alito and Jackson’s fiery debate over the Voting Rights Act exposes Supreme Court tensions
The November election is still a long way off, but patience is already running thin at the Supreme Court.
White House says Trump's deals with pharmaceutical companies offer billions in savings
WASHINGTON (AP) — White House economists estimate that President Donald Trump’s deals with pharmaceutical companies to drop some of their U.S. prescription drug prices to what they charge in other countries could save $529 billion over the next 10 years. The analysis obtained by The Associated Press includes the first economy-wide projections behind a policy at the core of Trump’s pitch to voters going into November’s midterm elections for control of the House and Senate.
National Academy of Sciences elects Hart, Schmitz to 2026 class
With the election of University of Georgia professors Gerald Hart and Robert Schmitz, the university now has 19 NAS members.
Gemini in Google Docs update addresses repetitive commands with ‘persistent’ instructions
Gemini’s integration in Google Docs will now let users add groundwork instructions that it will remember across all projects. Gemini’s...
Allan Domb: One Easy Revenue-Raising Idea for Philly
There are only two options for generating more money to fund schools and city services, writes the former City Councilmember. And one is clearly better than the other.
Penn State faculty offer two free Mental Health First Aid trainings in June
Penn State faculty members and certified Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) Peer Educators Roxanne Atterholt and Tammy Divens are offering free MHFA training sessions on June 15 and June 18.