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AMC Entertainment Holdings, Inc. (AMC) Outlook Improves, Yet Challenges Persist

AMC Entertainment Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:AMC) is among the best fundamentally strong penny stocks to invest in now. On April 23, Eric Handler from Roth Capital lifted the price target on AMC Entertainment Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:AMC) to $2 from $1.50 and reiterated a Neutral rating. According to the analyst, a multi-year positive content cycle could positively […]

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May 3 • 5:55 AM EDT • Entertainment • finance.yahoo.com
Gatorade getting a rebrand targeting non-athletes

Sixty years after it invented sports drinks, Gatorade is making a surprising pivot: It’s no longer focusing primarily on athletes. PepsiCo, Gatorade’s parent company, says the brand wants to broaden

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May 3 • 2:00 AM EDT • Business • telegraphherald.com
‘The reality, for better or worse’: Columbia comp sci students and faculty grapple with AI’s disruption of the field

‘The reality, for better or worse’: Columbia comp sci students and faculty grapple with AI’s disruption of the field ‘The reality, for better or worse’: Columbia comp sci students and faculty grapple with AI’s disruption of the field A field that once seemed like a direct path to stable, lucrative work is becoming less certain under AI, students and faculty told Spectator. By Ria Vasishtha and Arjun Menon May 3, 2026 Shanying Liu / Deputy Illustrations Editor Asia Genawi, SEAS ’29, first encountered artificial intelligence during her sophomore year at her high school in Indiana. Back in 2023, policies on AI varied widely—even within the same district—and some schools had no guidance at all. As Genawi began to see the effects of AI trickle into her classroom, she turned to guidance from her home state’s Department of Education, which she said she found “outdated and inaccessible.” Genawi spent the rest of her high school career dedicated to the issue, including writing a 15-page memo exploring varying AI policies across Indiana schools, which she sent to every Indiana state senator and representative whose contact information she was able to find. She later helped draft a bill that would have required public high schools to establish and share their own AI policies with students in an accessible format. But with so many other bills already awaiting referral, hers never made it to committee. When Genawi arrived at Columbia to study computer science, she found that the gaps she had spent years trying to address in Indiana had followed her there. Many students and professors were also grappling with what AI meant for the field. Across Columbia’s undergraduate schools, computer science has become the most popular major—accounting for around 11 percent of degrees awarded in Columbia College, 32 percent in the School of Engineering and Applied Science, and 12 percent in the School of General Studies in 2024. While the number of computer science majors in SEAS grew from 166 to 173 during the 2024-25 academic year, the total number across the three schools fell around 4.5 percent from 393 to 375, driven by declines at Columbia College and General Studies. At Barnard, it has grown to become the second most popular major as of 2025, up from third the year prior. The number of degrees awarded have grown fivefold since 2016. Faculty members and students in the department told Spectator that the surge in the major’s popularity has been driven in large part by its apparent promise of a secure, well-paid career path. However, they noted that the recent rise of generative AI has compromised the sense of stability that once defined the field, even as interest in technical skills among students persists. According to data from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York in 2024, out of 74 majors tracked, computer science had the fifth highest unemployment rate among majors at 7 percent, while computer engineering had the second highest at 7.8 percent. “Anecdotally, people are moving away from CS as a major,” Daniel Bauer, a senior lecturer in the computer science department, said. “They’re still taking some of our classes, right, because they think they need that, but they’re instead majoring in other things.” Bauer described a field that had shifted from what he called a “nerdy outlier discipline” to one that “everyone needs,” a sign that technical skills have become a baseline expectation across industries with the emergence of AI. “A lot of people thought, ‘Oh, it’s a guaranteed path to a stable income. You get a six-figure job right out of your undergrad,’” Bauer said. Now, companies may see AI as a way to reduce demand for entry-level programmers, especially in what he calls “code monkey jobs,” roles where a large number of employees are “just writing out code nine-to-five.” Chris Murphy, a senior lecturer in the computer science department, described the current moment as the convergence of two forces: the downturn of the job market and generative AI coming onto the scene. “Things kind of started to really pick up in 2014, 16,” he said, recalling the years after the weaker 2010 market. Murphy added that this was also a period where “students were getting more experience outside of class than they were inside of class” through internships, jobs, and side projects. Murphy suggested that the earlier momentum helped make computer science feel like both an academic program and a reliable pathway into work. That feeling is harder to sustain now as the industry reconfigures, which is a shift that students are seeing firsthand. Rebecca Yu, SEAS ’27, said that during a recent internship in Big Tech, she saw that “every single tech company was racing to integrate” large language models. She added that her manager said her intern class was the first to complete their assigned projects, which she attributed to the increased efficiency that comes with AI. Frank Liu, SEAS ’29, said that with AI lowering the barrier to coding, companies now expect everyone to write code. “A lot of companies outright say if you’re not using coding in your job, you might get fired for not being productive enough,” Liu said. Yu similarly expressed that students increasingly have to accept AI being a part of industry workflow, adding that many also “make use of it to maximize their productivity.” Richard Li, CC ’28, described a “franticness” among his peers as the pace of change accelerates. He explained how “some new tool” is released regularly, noting that tools rise and fall in prominence within weeks. He has come to believe that he doesn’t need to “match that speed all the time” and keep up with every development. Li has learned that AI tools allow him to “take a breath” and “get back into the loop much easier than before” when he needs to. While some companies specifically target Columbia when hiring, sending representatives to campus career fairs and recruiting large numbers from Columbia, a computer science degree cannot be treated as a static credential, Yu described. “You can’t just get your degree and stop learning after that. You have to always be learning,” Yu said. “That is something you basically have to expect for your job.” AI has not only affected students’ decisions to major in computer science, but also reshaped how the subject is taught. Across departments, faculty members no longer treat work done outside the classroom as a reliable measure of understanding, shifting instead toward in-person exams, quizzes, and attendance checks. While homework once made up as much as 60 to 70 percent of a student’s grade in computer science classes, Murphy said that breakdown has since flipped, with exams and quizzes now accounting for the majority. “The assumption—especially among pessimists—is that they’re using it to do their homework,” Murphy said. “They take the homework assignment. They put it into generative AI. Out comes the solution. Submit solution. The end.” Murphy said that faculty members ranged in their responses from fully prohibiting AI use to actively teaching students how to effectively work with AI. He said he shifted his approach this year after his teaching assistants called his belief that students weren’t using the technology “naïve,” and now permits students to use AI on assignments. His surveys of students in his introductory classes have told a more complicated story than the one so-called pessimists offer: Around 60 to 70 percent of students who reported using AI said they used it to have concepts explained to them, to clarify assignment instructions, to generate test cases, or to create practice questions. “Those are all ways that you might have had a tutor in the past to do that, and now you have this AI essentially as your tutor,” he said. Bauer has taken a different approach, teaching students how to use AI productively without sacrificing the core principles of the discipline. “People who are trained to actually use AI tools productively, while being in charge of designing the overall project, will be very much in demand in the next couple of years,” he said. Over the past year, a working group of computer science faculty has been redesigning the introductory and intermediate programming sequence to integrate generative AI as both a subject and a tool, representatives from SEAS wrote in a statement to Spectator. The effort is “coordinated” across the department, “not course-by-course,” with a systematic assessment of how AI integration is affecting student outcomes underway to shape the next round of changes. The goal, the department explained, is for students to be able to “read, verify, and reason about code, whether they or a model wrote it.” Tony Dear, senior lecturer in the computer science department, is piloting individualized AI feedback in a discrete mathematics course, while a machine learning course is also testing a Socratic AI dialogue system designed to “guide inquiry rather than supply answers,” the statement reads. Beyond individual courses, SEAS funded seven cross-departmental faculty projects in generative AI this past academic year, spanning biomedical engineering, chemical engineering, industrial engineering, and computer science, according to the statement. This phenomenon extends beyond the computer science department. SEAS’ new AI minor, which it announced in November 2025, reflects the University’s attempt to adapt. The minor is specifically designed for noncomputer science majors and aims to provide “essential AI knowledge” while emphasizing practical and responsible use across disciplines, according to the SEAS website. At the center of the minor is AI in Context, a course taught by a team of faculty from the departments of computer science, applied mathematics, philosophy, music, literature, and the Writing Center, the representatives told Spectator. Bauer described it as targeted at students who want to bring AI into fields like economics or biology, rather than as a path into software engineering itself. At the graduate level, SEAS announced a new Master of Science in artificial intelligence in February, with the inaugural cohort starting in the fall. While recognizing how AI has helped them navigate coursework, students also described its rise as isolating, even among members of the Application Development Initiative, one of Columbia’s largest computer science clubs. “As people start to ask AI for questions that they would normally ask students and members, it starts to isolate people” Li said. Alexa Kafka, BC ’27, echoed Li’s sentiment, pointing out that computer science has always been a collaborative discipline with code reviews and pull requests, even as AI makes independent work easier. Despite this, Kafka noted that she hasn’t been to office hours “in at least a year.” Bauer added that faculty are exploring long-term solutions to the assessment problem. “One of the things that we’re trying to do at the department or school level is to maybe move towards computerized testing facilities,” Bauer said, referring to ideas in the department to revitalize computer labs as an alternative to pen-and-paper exams. “We have to accept that this is the reality, for better or worse.” But more exams, students say, does not mean better learning, nor does it reflect how computer science is actually done. “Code is so variable and can be approached in so many directions, there’s never just going to be one correct answer. There can be multiple optimal solutions,” Kafka said. Students also expressed concern that the shift toward exam-heavy grading pulls focus away from the applied, project-based work that better reflects both discipline and industry expectations. ADI has tried to respond more quickly than the curriculum can. Through a vibe coding workshop this past semester, club members said they wanted to help students understand not just that AI exists, but how to use it deliberately. “Vibe coding” refers to the practice of prompting AI to write code for a task or project, and has become widespread enough that ADI felt the gap in formal instruction was worth addressing, according to Sophia Huang, BC ’29. The workshop introduced students to the concept of context engineering, which Shaina Sahu, SEAS ’27, described as not just writing a prompt, but optimizing “the rest of the relevant information that you would feed into the model.” Without that, students said that AI-generated code can fail at scale or introduce difficult-to-detect bugs. Genawi said the shift toward AI has changed what it means to be good at computer science. “I think the shift has kind of gone towards what can you create and what can you do, instead of, what do you know,” she said. Indeed, during ADI DevFest, its annual hackathon, Li said more teams are trying to complete their projects than in years past. While sign-ups have historically outpaced submissions, Li said this is beginning to change because teams “have a tool that completes the vision for them.” While many students see AI as an equalizer that lowers the barrier to entry for coding and technical work, Murphy said it also creates new equity concerns inside the classroom around who can afford stronger tools and who already knows how to use them. “The equity issues I worry about are students who have access to paid versions of things versus free versions of things,” he said. Although popular AI models like ChatGPT and Claude have free versions available, both have paid models that can reach over $100 per month, which output different qualities of code. Murphy also pointed to differences in prior exposure to AI literacy itself. “Students who go to high schools or K-12 education, where they’re taught AI literacy, prompt engineering, context engineering, they understand how to do this, as opposed to students who go to schools who don’t teach that,” he said. “Then they come in, and then they’re somehow expected to know how to use these tools.” For Genawi, those disparities begin long before students arrive on campus. “It’s very interesting to consider how lucky you were geographically,” she said. “To be born where you were is influencing your ability to get access to these spaces.” Students like Yu, though broadly apprehensive about the future of computer science, are not without hope. “I’m optimistic, because I think if you’re truly passionate about CS, there will definitely be a place in the field to do something you want to do,” she said. Senior Staff Writer Ria Vasishtha can be contacted at ria.vasishtha@columbiaspectator.com. Follow Spectator on X @ColumbiaSpec. Staff Writer Arjun Menon can be contacted at arjun.menon@columbiaspectator.com. Follow Spectator on X @ColumbiaSpec. Want to keep up with breaking news? Subscribe to our email newsletter and like Spectator on Facebook. Produced with Spectate by Emily Ta

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May 2 • 8:00 PM EDT • Science • columbiaspectator.com
Why eBay, in Its Latest Incarnation, Is a Takeover Target for GameStop

A focus on collectibles could make the online marketplace a match for the videogame retailer.

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May 2 • 7:20 PM EDT • Business • wsj.com
How The WEBTOON Entertainment (WBTN) Narrative Is Shifting With Softer Growth And New Partnerships

WEBTOON Entertainment’s latest analyst update keeps the model fair value steady at US$12.21 per share, while published price targets across the Street are now clustering in a wider US$10 to US$15 range. That spread reflects a split between analysts who still see long term growth drivers and others who are more cautious given softer recent revenue trends, weaker guidance, and questions around monetization, competition, and partnerships. In the sections ahead, you will see how to interpret...

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May 2 • 3:18 PM EDT • Entertainment • finance.yahoo.com
Opinion | Target’s problem isn’t politics. It’s credibility.

Target didn’t lose customers because it took a stand. It lost them because it didn’t, marketing professor Akshay R. Rao writes.

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May 2 • 2:30 PM EDT • Politics • startribune.com
Game 34: Blue Jays at Twins

First Pitch: 1:10 pm CDTTV: Twins.TVRadio: TIBN / WCCO 830 / The Wolf 102.9 FM / Audacy This week, I had free tickets to my first two Target Field games of the year, the deflating Tuesday night loss against the Seattle Mariners, and the series-opening victory against these very same Toronto Blue Jays. I wish I could say […]

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May 2 • 1:00 PM EDT • Sports • sports.yahoo.com
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Leaker indicates that Nvidia's GeForce RTX 3060 returns this June, retaining its 12GB VRAM offering

Reports from Chinese industry forums and leakers claim Nvidia will restart production of the GeForce RTX 3060 12GB in June 2026, with add-in board partners targeting a July launch to offset delays and uncertainty around an entry-level RTX 50-series release amid ongoing GPU and memory shortages. The move would rely on newly fabbed Samsung 8nm Ampere chips rather than clearing old stock, but pricing and supply remain key uncertainties that will determine whether the card can credibly serve budget buyers.

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May 1 • 11:53 PM EDT • Technology • notebookcheck.net
Browns coach Todd Monken talks about importance of play calling

The hot button target of play calling was addressed by Monken on Friday.

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May 1 • 6:51 PM EDT • Sports • sports.yahoo.com
OpenAI’s Revenue Chief Says Enterprise Business ‘Accelerating’

A recent report raised concerns about OpenAI missing its growth targets.

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May 1 • 4:00 PM EDT • Business • bloomberg.com
Charlotte-based Atrium Health targets WakeMed in proposed combination

Atrium's proposed deal with WakeMed would extend the reach of the state's largest hospital system and raise new competition concerns.

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May 1 • 3:26 PM EDT • Health • northcarolinahealthnews.org
DAZN targets local sports and US expansion with ‘US$100m’ ViewLift takeover

Broadcaster DAZN can offer end-to-end technical and distribution support to major league teams swapping cable for streaming.

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May 1 • 7:45 AM EDT • Sports • sportspro.com
Alliance Entertainment Relaunches 'Movies Unlimited' Retail Platform Targeting Collectors

Alliance Entertainment has relaunched “Movies Unlimited” into a collector-led, platform selling classic movies and TV show seasons across DVD, 4K UHD Blu-ray Disc, and Blu-ray. The platform is structured to drive higher-margin revenue growth, build durable brand equity, and scale efficiently without proportional increases in operating complexity or cost, according to Alliance. The platform’s redesign … Continue reading "Alliance Entertainment Relaunches ‘Movies Unlimited’ Retail Platform Targeting Collectors"

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Apr 30 • 7:50 PM EDT • Entertainment • mediaplaynews.com
The Chinese Government Has Been Targeting Journalists in an Entirely New Way

Let’s just say I’m not going to be clicking on dubious email links any time soon.

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Apr 30 • 4:27 PM EDT • Politics • esquire.com
Oakland County deputies warn of fake summer camp donation flier targeting local businesses
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Apr 30 • 12:55 PM EDT • Business • cbsnews.com
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After SBTi reset, some wonder if targets are still science-aligned

The old rules required certain companies to commit to unrealistically steep emissions cuts. But do the new regs break with IPCC recommendations on a 1.5-degree future?

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Apr 30 • 11:13 AM EDT • Science • trellis.net
Amazon Price Target as In-House Chip Business Hits $20 Billion

I'm adding to my long position in the big-tech name.

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Apr 30 • 10:16 AM EDT • Business • pro.thestreet.com
Instagram cracks down on content aggregators

The update targets content aggregators that don't post original content and instead simply re-upload others' posts.

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Apr 30 • 8:00 AM EDT • Technology • techcrunch.com
A bitter political race turns Alabama Muslims into a target: ‘We are proud Americans’

Jay Mitchell and Katherine Robertson have both referred to Muslims in campaign ads.

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Apr 30 • 7:00 AM EDT • Politics • al.com
South Loop business hit by burglary crew targeting ATM and slot machines for third time
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Apr 30 • 12:30 AM EDT • Business • cbsnews.com
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KKR explores $10bn sale of ex-Unilever spreads business

Private capital firm hires bankers to sell Flora Food Group after ditching targets to make its portfolio plant based

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Apr 30 • 12:00 AM EDT • Business • ft.com
Mark Sanford suspending congressional bid. Will launch advocacy targeting national debt instead.

Mark Sanford has dropped out of the SC 1st District race after a month and will start a nonprofit aimed at tackling the federal debt. He says he can do more outside Congress.

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Apr 29 • 8:45 PM EDT • Politics • postandcourier.com
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5 ways your Windows updates are about to get a lot less painful

Microsoft wants to fix 'pain points' in Windows 11 PCs. The first batch of changes, targeting the Windows Update experience, is hitting Insider preview channels and coming soon to your desktop.

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Apr 29 • 8:09 AM EDT • Technology • zdnet.com
Alphabet earnings are just around the corner. These are the key numbers for Google.

For the first quarter, Alphabet is expected to generate $76 billion of revenue from Google Ads, a 13.6% increase relative to a year before. In a note earlier this month, Bank of America analyst Justin Post wrote that AI allows for better targeting and query interpretation. Google's AI Max product,

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Apr 29 • 7:16 AM EDT • Business • marketwatch.com
Wells Fargo raises Caesars Entertainment stock price target on solid results

Wells Fargo raises Caesars Entertainment stock price target on solid results

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Apr 29 • 6:34 AM EDT • Entertainment • investing.com
Citizens raises Caesars Entertainment stock price target on solid Las Vegas trends

Citizens raises Caesars Entertainment stock price target on solid Las Vegas trends

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Apr 29 • 5:18 AM EDT • Entertainment • investing.com
Analysis | Trump is a target of political violence, but he’s hardly its only cause

Social upheaval, deep polarization and social media are primary drivers of the phenomenon, which has touched Republicans and Democrats alike.

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Apr 29 • 5:00 AM EDT • Politics • washingtonpost.com
Trump aims to defeat dissident Republicans in key May primaries

Trump has endorsed primary challengers to multiple GOP lawmakers, with Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky as his top target.

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Apr 29 • 5:00 AM EDT • Politics • nbcnews.com
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Candidates target Steyer, Becerra in free-wheeling California governor debate

Six Democrats and two Republicans attacked each other but struggled to offer clear alternatives in a chaotic debate that left one student voter "more confused than ever."

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Apr 29 • 12:50 AM EDT • Politics • calmatters.org
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Energy system science must look beyond net zero

Nature Reviews Clean Technology - Energy system models are used to inform decisions about the clean energy transition. Extending the foresight horizons of these models beyond net-zero target dates...

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Apr 28 • 8:00 PM EDT • Science • nature.com
Australia becomes the 30th country to eliminate trachoma as a public health problem

The World Health Organization (WHO) has validated Australia for eliminating trachoma as a public health problem, marking a significant milestone in the health of indigenous peoples and in global efforts to combat neglected tropical diseases (NTDs). Trachoma, the world’s leading infectious cause of blindness, no longer represents a public health problem in the country.Australia is among a growing number of countries that have successfully eliminated trachoma, contributing to global progress towards the targets set out in the WHO road map for NTDs 2021–2030.Trachoma is caused by the bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis and spreads through close contact with infected individuals, contaminated surfaces, and flies that carry eye and nose discharge. Repeated infections can lead to scarring of the eyelids, turning eyelashes inward, and ultimately causing blindness if untreated.“WHO congratulates Australia on this important achievement,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. “This success reflects sustained commitment, strong partnerships, and a focus on reaching populations most affected by health inequities. It brings us closer to a world free from the suffering caused by trachoma.”Australia’s journey to eliminationAustralia’s achievement reflects decades of targeted public health action, particularly in remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, where trachoma persisted despite its earlier disappearance from the rest of the country.National efforts intensified with the establishment of the National Trachoma Management Programme in 2006, which implemented the WHO-recommended SAFE strategy: surgery for trichiasis, antibiotics to treat infection, promotion of facial cleanliness, and environmental improvement. Regular screening of all communities classified as at-risk of trachoma by teams of qualified health workers formed an important part of the Programme. Interventions were delivered through coordinated partnerships between federal and state governments, Aboriginal community-controlled health services, and local communities.Over time, sustained screening, treatment, and prevention activities, including improvements in housing, water, sanitation and hygiene, led to a steady decline in trachoma prevalence. Australia’s approach included adaptations to reflect its context, such as targeted treatment based on community-level data rather than mass drug administration, and strong integration with environmental health programmes.“Elimination of trachoma is a win for the eye health of communities across Australia, particularly those whose lives have been impacted by a disease that is entirely preventable,” said Mark Butler, Minister for Health and Ageing, Australia. “This major milestone is thanks to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leadership, community commitment and sustained investment over many decades.“The lessons from this work will inform how we approach other preventable health conditions in remote and regional Australia. Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations and local health workers have been central to this success, delivering culturally safe care and community-led solutions.”“This recognition from the World Health Organization reflects decades of work led by Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations, alongside local health workers in remote First Nations communities,” said Malarndirri McCarthy, Minister for Indigenous Australians. “Their work has been critical to eliminating trachoma as a public health problem in Australia.”Advancing global efforts against neglected tropical diseases (NTDs)Trachoma is one of 21 diseases and disease groups that are regarded by WHO as NTDs. Together, NTDs affect more than 1 billion people worldwide, primarily in underserved populations with limited access to essential services such as clean water, sanitation, and health care.Australia’s elimination of trachoma as a public health problem highlights the importance of sustained political commitment and cross-sectoral collaboration in addressing the underlying determinants of health. It also underscores the feasibility of eliminating trachoma even in geographically challenging settings.In addition to trachoma, Australia has several endemic NTDs, including Buruli ulcer, leprosy and scabies. Validation of elimination of trachoma as a public health problem marks the first time that WHO has confirmed the elimination of an NTD in Australia, which becomes the 63rd country globally and 16th in the Western Pacific Region to have eliminated at least one NTD.“Tackling neglected tropical diseases in the Western Pacific Region has long been a challenge for countries across the socioeconomic spectrum, given the complexities in reaching the most vulnerable communities, including in remote areas,” said Dr Saia Ma’u Piukala, WHO Regional Director for the Western Pacific. “As a doctor from Tonga, I’ve experienced these challenges for myself. But I also know that with strategic commitment underpinned by optimal resources and partnerships in health, success is possible as other countries in our region have also demonstrated. I commend Australia on eliminating trachoma as a public health problem and urge all involved to remain vigilant to ensure this status is maintained.”WHO continues to support countries working to eliminate trachoma and other NTDs, ensuring that progress reaches those most in need and that gains are sustained through strong surveillance, appropriately integrated into national health systems, and mainstreamed within the wider health sector and beyond.Editor’s notesNeglected tropical diseases and trachoma elimination effortsNeglected tropical diseases are associated with devastating health, social and economic consequences. Their burden is mainly felt among impoverished communities in tropical areas.Public health targets for the control, elimination and eradication of these conditions were set in the road map for neglected tropical diseases 2021–2030 (https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240010352).In 1996, WHO launched the WHO Alliance for the Global Elimination of Trachoma by 2020 (GET2020), creating a network of governments, non-governmental organizations and academic institutions dedicated to the fight against trachoma. WHO continues to support endemic countries to accelerate progress towards the global target of eliminating trachoma as a public health problem worldwide; 2030 is the new target date.Elimination of trachoma as a public health problem is defined as: (i) a prevalence of trachomatous trichiasis (TT) “unknown to the health system” of < 0.2% in ≥15-year-olds; and (ii) a prevalence of trachomatous inflammation—follicular (TF) in children aged 1–9 years of < 5%, in each formerly endemic district, plus (iii) the existence of a system to identify and manage incident cases of TT.Other countries validated by WHO as having eliminated trachoma as a public health problem are: Algeria, Benin, Burundi, Cambodia, China, Egypt, Fiji, Gambia, Ghana, India, Iraq, Islamic Republic of Iran, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Libya, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mexico, Morocco, Myanmar, Nepal, Oman, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Togo, Vanuatu and Viet Nam.

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Apr 28 • 8:00 PM EDT • Health • who.int
Waldrum warns “one-size-fits-all” health policy could harm rural patients and providers

ECU Health CEO Dr. Michael Waldrum testified before a congressional committee Tuesday, urging federal lawmakers to take targeted action to address rising health

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Apr 28 • 4:49 PM EDT • Health • wcti12.com
What smart people are saying after OpenAI reportedly missed targets

A report that OpenAI missed on internal growth targets raised fresh concerns about AI demand. Here's what traders and scientists think.

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Apr 28 • 2:59 PM EDT • Business • businessinsider.com
CFTC sues Wisconsin over sports betting lawsuit targeting major prediction markets

The Commodity Futures Trading Commission said it's suing to "reaffirm its exclusive jurisdiction."

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Apr 28 • 2:53 PM EDT • Sports • wisn.com
Branch Basics, A Homegrown Small Business, Shares Its Target Playbook

Branch Basics, the clean home care brand, spent over a decade building a loyal online following. Then landed on Target shelves last year and sold out of product. Here's how.

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Apr 28 • 2:12 PM EDT • Business • forbes.com
Ashley Hinson says gala shooting shows need for White House ballroom

Republican U.S. Senate candidate Ashley Hinson said a shooting at at a gala targeting President Trump shows the need for a secure White House ballroom.

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Apr 28 • 1:49 PM EDT • Politics • desmoinesregister.com
Stock market today: Tech stocks tank on report OpenAI missed targets

A report that OpenAI missed key 2025 targets is hitting tech stocks at a critical time for the AI trade, with investors gearing up for tech earnings.

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Apr 28 • 9:40 AM EDT • Business • businessinsider.com
Apollo targets growth with new sports & entertainment arm

Apollo targets growth with new sports & entertainment arm

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Apr 28 • 8:00 AM EDT • Entertainment • captiveinternational.com
She dances in Target in a cape. Meet the viral woman 'reparenting' herself.

Heidi Bruce has gone viral for dancing in the aisles of Target in a cape and crown. She says she's doing it for an important reason.

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Apr 28 • 7:14 AM EDT • Health • usatoday.com
Efforts to eliminate hepatitis delivers gains but more action needed to meet 2030 targets

Global efforts to combat viral hepatitis are delivering measurable progress in reducing infections and deaths, but the disease remains a major global health challenge, according to a new WHO report released today at the World Hepatitis Summit.

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Apr 27 • 8:00 PM EDT • Health • who.int
Minnesota legislators retiring: Political violence drives lawmakers from office

A recent shooting at the same hotel as the White House Correspondents Dinner is hitting home for Minnesota lawmakers, many of whom are still reeling from targeted violence just ten months ago.

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Apr 27 • 6:07 PM EDT • Politics • fox9.com
How The Golden Entertainment (GDEN) Investment Story Is Shifting With Mixed Analyst Sentiment

The fair value price target for Golden Entertainment is now set at US$30.0, effectively unchanged from the prior US$30 level and signaling a steady headline anchor for the story. This static target comes as bullish and bearish analysts weigh steadier execution potential against more cautious expectations and a downgrade in research commentary. As you read on, you will see how to track these shifting views and what they may mean for following the evolving narrative around the stock. Analyst...

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Apr 27 • 8:03 AM EDT • Entertainment • finance.yahoo.com
A new attack on the rituals that define US democracy

The gunman who allegedly aimed to target President Donald Trump’s Cabinet at an annual dinner celebrating free speech crystallized widening political violence that imperils such fundamental rights.

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Apr 27 • 12:01 AM EDT • Politics • cnn.com
OpenAI Building A Custom Smartphone Processor With Qualcomm and MediaTek, Targeting 300-400 Million Annual Smartphone Shipments to Dethrone Apple’s iPhone

OpenAI's strategy upends Apple's business model, which is all about milking revenue from its ecosystem of services built on smartphone apps.

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Apr 26 • 11:49 PM EDT • Technology • wccftech.com
MIT researchers find self-organizing “pencil beam” laser could help scientists design brain-targeted therapies

After a surprising discovery that overcomes a longstanding problem in fiber optics, MIT researchers demonstrated a biomedical imaging technique that is faster and more precise than other methods, which could help scientists and clinicians study new brain therapies.

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Apr 26 • 8:00 PM EDT • Science • eurekalert.org
On ‘equitable care’: LGBTQIA+ SoCal Health Conference targets access, education

Healthcare providers emphasized the importance of supporting LGBTQ+ patients amid federal rollbacks on the community’s access to care at an April 19 UCLA conference. The 11th annual LGBTQIA+ SoCal Health Conference brought together UCLA physicians, medical students and community members to discuss gender-affirming care, mental health and policy issues in the LGBTQ+ community.

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Apr 26 • 8:00 PM EDT • Health • dailybruin.com
Concerns over rise of targeted political violence after WH Correspondents’ Dinner shooting

Saturday night’s shooting is the latest incident in what is an alarming rise of targeted political violence in recent years. NBC News’ Kelly O’Donnell reports.

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Apr 26 • 6:45 PM EDT • Politics • nbcnews.com
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Gala Shooting Suspect Was Targeting Trump Administration Officials, Writings Reveal

A man being held in connection with the attack wrote a note indicating potential targets and grievances, authorities say.

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Apr 26 • 6:11 PM EDT • Politics • nytimes.com
Trump administration to target corruption in Mexico

U.S. Ambassador Johnson signals a Trump administration anti-corruption campaign targeting Mexican officials allegedly linked to organized crime.

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Apr 26 • 4:47 PM EDT • Politics • latimes.com
Three prospects Browns should have selected in 2026 NFL Draft

Here are three prospects that the Cleveland Browns should have targeted in the 2026 NFL Draft.

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Apr 26 • 11:27 AM EDT • Sports • sports.yahoo.com
Blanche says it appears suspect was targeting Trump admin. members
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Apr 26 • 9:17 AM EDT • Politics • cnn.com
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Graphene kills harmful bacteria “superbugs” but spares human cells

Scientists have uncovered how graphene oxide pulls off a remarkable trick: it hunts down and destroys harmful bacteria while leaving human cells completely unharmed. By targeting a molecule found only in bacterial membranes, this ultra-thin carbon-based material acts with laser-like precision—offering a powerful new alternative to traditional antibiotics. Even more exciting, it works against drug-resistant “superbugs,” promotes faster wound healing, and keeps its antibacterial strength even after repeated washing.

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Apr 25 • 8:00 PM EDT • Science • sciencedaily.com
Why The Narrative Around Madison Square Garden Entertainment (MSGE) Is Shifting With New Street Signals

Recent Street research around Madison Square Garden Entertainment has produced several price target moves, including individual increases of between US$2 and US$6, while the consolidated target shift sits at about US$2. Bullish initiations and fresh coverage from major firms such as JPMorgan highlight growing attention, even as the removal from Goldman Sachs' US Conviction List and more cautious targets show that opinions are still split. In the sections ahead, you will see how these...

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Apr 25 • 6:04 PM EDT • Entertainment • finance.yahoo.com
In-state WR target commits to SEC program over FSU

The Florida State Seminoles missed out on in-state wide receiver Anthony Jennings, who has committed to the Florida Gators.

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Apr 25 • 5:17 PM EDT • Sports • sports.yahoo.com
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Trump's disdain for wind projects creates a political storm for Republicans in coastal Virginia

President Donald Trump’s attempts to cancel offshore wind projects have drawn opposition not only from environmentalists but also from Republicans. One of them is Jen Kiggans, a congresswoman who represents a coastal district in Virginia where an $11.5 billion wind farm is expected to create 1,000 jobs. Her support for a project targeted by Trump shows the scrambled politics of clean energy in an election year where Republicans are at risk of losing the House. Kiggans could be even more at risk after Virginia voters approved on Tuesday a new congressional map that makes her competitive district more Democratic than before.

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Apr 25 • 10:01 AM EDT • Politics • nbcwashington.com
Warner helps Kings keep PSL play-off hopes alive

Karachi Kings boosted their hopes of qualifying for the Pakistan Super League play-offs with a commanding nine-wicket win against Quetta Gladiators in Lahore. Chasing a target of 196, David Warner and Reeza Hendricks produced a 141-run second-wicket partnership to help the Kings finish the league stage with five wins in 10 matches. The Kings sit fourth with 10 points - two ahead of Lahore Qalandars and Hyderabad Kingsmen, who both have a game in hand.

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Apr 25 • 9:54 AM EDT • Sports • sports.yahoo.com
Harvard scientists link gut bacteria to depression through hidden inflammation trigger

A gut bacterium may be quietly fueling depression through an unexpected chemical twist. Researchers found that when Morganella morganii interacts with a common pollutant, it produces a molecule that triggers inflammation—something strongly linked to depression. This finding helps explain how gut microbes can influence brain health at a molecular level. It also raises the possibility of new treatments that target the immune system rather than just the brain.

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Apr 25 • 8:00 AM EDT • Science • sciencedaily.com
Cases of syphilis and other STIs drop in Pennsylvania, new data shows, as local counties ramp up prevention and testing

Public health teams across the state ramped up efforts to target STIs after a sharp increase between 2020 and 2021.

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Apr 25 • 6:00 AM EDT • Health • whyy.org
Wichita man gets 11 years for church, business burglary spree

A Wichita man was sentenced on Friday for a months-long burglary spree targeting local churches and businesses.

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Apr 24 • 7:23 PM EDT • Business • ksn.com
Target orders 150 remote workers back to Minneapolis HQ

Target is mandating that 150 remote workers in its merchandising team relocate to Minneapolis, as the retailer works to turn the business around.

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Apr 24 • 6:11 PM EDT • Business • businessinsider.com
Mamdani in the hot seat after first veto derails bipartisan effort to combat antisemitism: 'Disappointed'

New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani is vetoing a bill targeting antisemitism that would expand security restrictions on protests at education sites.

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Apr 24 • 5:46 PM EDT • Politics • foxnews.com
Republican congressman absent over ‘personal health matter’, Johnson says

Tom Kean, who has not voted since 5 March and whose seat is top Democratic target, due back ‘very soon’, speaker says

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Apr 24 • 4:09 PM EDT • Health • theguardian.com
Ron DeSantis taunts Hakeem Jeffries while delaying sending Legislature a redistricting map

Democrats plan to target GOP incumbents in November.

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Apr 24 • 3:32 PM EDT • Politics • floridapolitics.com
Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Pickups: 3 relievers to target going into this weekend, plus more streaming options
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Apr 24 • 10:28 AM EDT • Sports • sports.yahoo.com
Kentucky basketball under Mark Pope: Insiders reveal transfer portal news, 2026 recruits, roster, best targets

CatsPause, the 247Sports affiliate of the Kentucky Wildcats, shares its latest college basketball transfer portal news

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Apr 24 • 8:15 AM EDT • Sports • cbssports.com
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Gossip: Liverpool add Leao and Diomande to attacking targets

Liverpool, Manchester United, Manchester City and Real Madrid are keeping tabs on 26-year-old AC Milan and Portugal winger Rafael Leao, who is valued at about £60m. Mail) Ivory Coast winger Yan Diomande's agents have already held discussions with Liverpool and Paris St-Germain, but RB Leipzig are keen on keeping the 19-year-old at the club for at least one more season. (Bild - in German)

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Apr 24 • 2:19 AM EDT • Sports • sports.yahoo.com
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Auburn Hills targets ‘convenience gap’ with new downtown parking

Downtown Auburn Hills is set to get a significant boost in parking, with the city planning to add nearly 200 spaces.

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Apr 23 • 6:42 PM EDT • Business • clickondetroit.com
Arete Health Launches Affordable Healthcare Plan for Dallas Food Industry Workers

The new partnership with Dallas-Dallas County Food Collaborative targets food entrepreneurs and small operators with a low-cost alternative to traditional insurance.

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Apr 23 • 4:03 PM EDT • Health • dmagazine.com
Notre Dame 4-star safety target to announce commitment Saturday

Star Florida 2027 safety Zayden Gamble will make his commitment on Saturday night, and Notre Dame will have a hat on the table.

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Apr 23 • 2:52 PM EDT • Sports • sports.yahoo.com
AMA calls for regulatory crackdown on chatbots, wellness AI

In this edition of STAT Health Tech: OpenAI's targets clinicians, AMA's call for regulatory crackdown, and bargain-basement telehealth visits.

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Apr 23 • 9:39 AM EDT • Health • statnews.com
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2026 NFL mock draft 9.2: Will Cowboys target WR with their 1st-round picks after George Pickens negotiations stall?
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Apr 23 • 9:29 AM EDT • Sports • sports.yahoo.com
Attorney General Sunday Reaches $40K Settlement With Florida-Based Company that Allegedly Posed as Pa. State Agency Targeting New Business Owners

HARRISBURG – Attorney General Dave Sunday announced a settlement with a Florida-based company and its owners for allegedly impersonating a Commonwealth agency as part of efforts to get money from owners of newly-registered Pennsylvania businesses. The company will pay $40,000 in total restitution to impacted business owners. PA Corporate Certificates, LLC, contacted Pennsylvania-based business owners […]

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Apr 23 • 8:00 AM EDT • Business • attorneygeneral.gov
States are clamping down on prediction market insider trading

In the last few weeks, three governors have signed executive orders targeting potential insider trading by state employees on prediction markets.

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Apr 23 • 4:31 AM EDT • Business • businessinsider.com
2026 NFL mock draft 9.2: Do Cowboys target WR with their 1st-round picks after George Pickens negotiations stall?
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Apr 22 • 5:19 PM EDT • Sports • sports.yahoo.com
Enforcement update: Kalshi continues crackdown on political insider trading

Three cases target candidates trading on their own races.

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Apr 22 • 2:30 PM EDT • Politics • news.kalshi.com
AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D2 Dual Edition CPU Is Now Available – The Fastest Dual X3D Stacked Chip On The Planet

AMD launches Ryzen 9 9950X3D2 Dual Edition with 16 cores, 208 MB cache, and 5.6 GHz boost for $899, targeting developers and creators.

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Apr 22 • 9:30 AM EDT • Technology • wccftech.com
AI revolution hits medicine: SandboxAQ targets health, cyber breakthroughs

SandboxAQ CEO Jack Hidary joins 'Mornings with Maria' to discuss AI breakthroughs in healthcare, cybersecurity, and science, plus Dell’s $750M investment in a new AI medical campus.

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Apr 22 • 8:47 AM EDT • Health • foxbusiness.com
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Crewe still have targets this season

Despite missing out on the League Two play-offs, Crewe Alexandra still have some targets to hit before the end of the season says boss Lee Bell.

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Apr 22 • 8:40 AM EDT • Sports • sports.yahoo.com
NFL Draft targets for teams without a first-round pick in 2026

If your favorite team doesn't have a first-round pick, don't worry, we have the best targets for your second or third round picks.

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Apr 22 • 7:00 AM EDT • Sports • cbssports.com
‘Big AI’s #1 target’: Candidate for Congress speaks out about battling AI CEOs
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Apr 22 • 12:47 AM EDT • Politics • cnn.com
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Virginians approve Democratic map targeting 4 Republican congressional seats

Virginia voters on Tuesday approved a new Democratic-drawn congressional map that could flip four Republican U.S. House seats in November's midterm elections, U.S. media projected.

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Apr 21 • 10:25 PM EDT • Politics • detroitnews.com
Kentucky basketball under Mark Pope: Insiders reveal transfer portal news, 2026 recruits, roster, best targets

CatsPause, the 247Sports affiliate of the Kentucky Wildcats, shares its latest college basketball transfer portal news

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Apr 21 • 2:40 PM EDT • Sports • cbssports.com
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Shaky political science: using "simulated" elections over real-world elections

[Dear DSOS readers – this article is the latest in our “Shaky Political Science” series. In our 38 page report, “Shaky political ‘science’ misses mark on ranked choice voting,” released in early December, we examined over 40 studies focused on ranked choice voting. We found that many of these studies suffered from puzzling research methodologies, poorly constructed surveys, unrealistic simulated elections, cherry picked data, and faulty analyses that often were contradicted by results from real-world elections (a link to our full paper is here). Here are links to the first three articles in our series: the first one summarizing the overall results of our report, the second one analyzing a study co-authored by University of Minnesota academic Larry Jacobs, which was one of the most error-prone of all the research we reviewed in our report, and a third article showing an admirable example of two political scientists holding two other political scientists accountable for their flawed, sloppy research]. In this fourth article in our “Shaky Political Science” series, we shine a spotlight on seven studies that were web-hosted and funded by New America’s Political Reform Program and its Electoral Reform Research Group (the ERRG is an ad hoc committee headed by New America’s Political Reform Program and joined by the American Enterprise Institute, the Unite America Institute and Stanford University’s Center on Democracy, Development, and the Rule of Law). This research consortium has been led by Lee Drutman, senior fellow with New America’s Political Reform Program. These seven studies are simply not credible from any objective standard about how political “science” is supposed to illuminate our understanding of either ranked choice voting or politics in general. The feature that six of these seven studies have in common is that they all used surveys – artificial, simulated elections -- to attempt to say something cogent or interesting about ranked choice voting (RCV) elections. None of them used real world data from actual RCV elections – either the 1000+ elections in the US or the many thousands of elections from places like Australia, Ireland and elsewhere where RCV has been used for 100 years. While a few of these studies conclude with some mixed positives about RCV, our analysis here is content neutral. The idea that, with a political reform like RCV, you can ask respondents in a mock, artificial election to vote with that method, with only the barest of explanation about how RCV works or its likely impacts (i.e. no spoiler candidates, majority winners, voters liberated to pick their favorite candidates, coalition-building), and then ask them their thoughts/reactions about voting in that system, with fake candidates and no real campaigning, no real exposure to an actual election or actual candidates, rests on some very puzzling assumptions. The findings of these seven studies actually are contradicted by the findings from many other studies based on real-world RCV elections. These New America studies also failed to list the real-world RCV studies in their own citations, instead including those studies that reinforced their conclusions. The seven studies featured in this article were chosen because they form a cohesive cohort which precisely illustrates one of the main points of our research paper, namely that using surveys, i.e. artificial elections, or mathematical/theoretical models, instead of real-world data, is in fact “shaky political science.” Below are summaries of our analysis of five of the seven New America studies. You can read our complete analysis of all seven studies at our paper, “Shaky political ‘science’ misses mark on ranked choice voting.” Choosing to “Vote As Usual” by Andre Blais, Carolina Plescia, and Semra Sevi. New America. (Blais et al., 2021). This study, web-hosted and funded by New America’s Political Reform Program and its Electoral Reform Research Group, used two surveys in which respondents completed ballots for simulated elections using plurality, approval, RCV and point (Score) voting. In both cases the authors provided the respondents with only minimal explanation of each method. For example, the entire explanation for RCV was “For this vote, rank the candidates from your first to your last choice (you do not need to rank them all). This is called the ranked vote.” That’s it. The study did not provide any context or explanation to survey respondents about why she/he might want to rank multiple candidates. Participants were not even told that ballots would be tabulated using an “instant” runoff, not to mention any description of RCVs ability to eliminate the spoiler effect or liberate voters to rank their favorite candidates without fear of helping the “greater evil” candidate to win. That’s like taking an iPhone back in time to 1970 and asking someone if they like it better than their rotary phone without explaining how it works. Their first survey targeted states that held 2020 Super Tuesday Democratic primaries and used the real candidates’ names in the survey; the second survey used fictitious candidates. In other words, they surveyed respondents who had only ever participated in plurality elections, had no history or background with using RCV or any of the other methods, had no clue about its likely impacts, and did not communicate how the alternative methods would be counted, and then asked them: “How satisfied are you with using each system?” Predictably, the winner was plurality elections, the system used for president, Congress, gubernatorial and state legislative elections – in other words, the method they have been using, year after year, all their voting lives. With so little explanation of RCV and its impacts, this study is simply not credible in discovering anything useful about real-world RCV elections. It merely shows that a basic voter education campaign is needed when adopting a new election system. Additionally, the result contradicts many other post-election surveys following real RCV elections, asking opinions from voters who had just participated in a RCV election, that showed a great deal of satisfaction with RCV (see details on that in Studies 22-25 in our paper, as well as the four studies cited in the review for Study 28). Share Other studies on “satisfaction” and “understanding” make similar mistakes, in terms of basing their surveys on inadequate explanation to respondents and lack of education about context. How could any survey ever hope to measure accurately, in essence simulate a real-world election, without actual campaigning candidates, the media writing about those candidates, organizations endorsing candidates and voters being inundated with crucial information? More than anything, what these “studies” based on surveys show is that if you ask voters about something they don’t know very much about, and fail to adequately educate them, their responses will unsurprisingly reflect their confusion. Equally puzzling is that New America’s Electoral Reform Research Group, headed by political scientist Lee Drutman, found this to be a credible enough study that they not only published it but highlighted it in Drutman’s own discussion of research related to ranked choice voting. This pattern was repeated in study after study featured by New America’s Electoral Reform Research Group. For example in Ranked-Choice Voting and Political Expression: Voter Guides Narrow the Gap between Informed and Uninformed Citizens by Cheryl Boudreau, Jonathan Colner, and Scott MacKenzie, the researchers based their analysis on a survey which found that respondents who were asked to vote in a simulated RCV election, with minimal explanation of RCV or how it works, displayed less evidence of being informed about how to use RCV effectively, with the least informed voters ranking fewer candidates. As pointed out under the study above, in a real election voters are informed by a wide variety of methods, including public education by the election administration, by interested political groups, the media, and the candidates themselves who benefit from voters being aware of how to vote in the new system. In Support for Ranked-Choice Voting across Race and Partisanship by Joseph Anthony, David C. Kimball, Jack Santucci and Jamil Scott, the researchers used respondents from different parties and races voting in simulated plurality and RCV elections, who indicated their satisfaction with each voting method. Instead of using real world election results, the authors fell back on the easy, armchair and less reliable academic research methodology of making up mock elections. As with the other studies, little explanation was given of how RCV works or what its implications might be (electing majority winners or eliminating spoilers, for example). Unsurprisingly, this study found that respondents were not very satisfied with RCV. However, when the authors added an explanation that RCV has a tendency to elect more women and people of color, they found that this greater explanation increased the preference for RCV. The more voters were familiar with it, and the more they understood potential positive impacts – surprise! -- the more they were open to switching away from the status quo. Of note, the results from this study are thoroughly contradicted by a number of other studies whose data was obtained from real RCV elections with real voters. Those studies show a great deal of satisfaction with RCV. More “fake election” research An interesting wrinkle on this “research by fake elections” approach, which only served to illustrate how unreliable such “research” can become, was taken in Ranked-Choice Voting, Runoff, and Democracy: Insights from Maine and Other U.S. States by Joseph Cerrone and Cynthia McClintock_,_ also web-hosted and funded by New America’s ERRG. It gets high marks for creativity, but an eye-roll for thinking this could possibly add anything meaningful to our understanding of real world RCV elections. This study tried to determine whether RCV, plurality or two-round runoff elections provided greater voter satisfaction and acceptance of election results. To determine that, the authors conducted a survey asking if voters were satisfied with a fictional newspaper report of an election, with three different versions given to respondents – plurality, runoff and RCV, with variations of Republican/Democrat winners and variations of “come-from-behind” winners,” i.e. candidates not initially in first place but who win the “runoff.” Again, a minimal explanation of RCV or how it works was given, and the survey showed that respondents had the greatest unfamiliarity with RCV than the other methods. The unsurprising result? Respondents were much more satisfied with “come-from-behind” victories in a traditional two-round runoff election than in RCV, even though RCV is also a runoff system but with a single round of counting. Interestingly, the dissatisfaction with RCV disappeared for those who were more familiar with RCV. In fact, among those respondents who were “very familiar” with RCV, they were equally satisfied with RCV, runoff and plurality. Surprise, surprise. Again, what this study revealed, more than anything, is not only the inadequacy of the explanation for RCV given by the authors of this study, but the failure of the research format itself, thinking that such an artificial mock election could somehow simulate what actually happens in the real world in a real RCV election. Those four studies reviewed above are fitting examples of inadequate and shaky political “science.” Other studies reviewed in our paper from the New America/Electoral Reform Research Group cohort which also used mock elections included: Ranked-Choice Voting is an Acquired Taste by Joseph Anthony and David C. Kimball. New America. (Anthony et al., 2021). Ranked-Choice Voting is No Refuge for Extreme Candidates by Melissa Baker. New America. (Baker, 2021). Also included in this New America cohort is Does Ranked-Choice Voting Reduce Racial Polarization? by Yuki Atsusaka and Theodore Landsman, which actually did use real-world election results data but applied an odd and unconventional methodology to the data which relied on shaky assumptions and non-real-world scenarios that were too divorced from reality. To determine levels of “racially polarized voting,” the researchers imagined “ethnic parties,” by which they mean political parties for each ethnic group, which was especially odd since the election data they were using came from nonpartisan RCV races. But then they made an even odder assumption, namely that since race and ethnic characteristics of studied voters were not available, the authors tried to infer that information based on who voters selected and the racial make-up of voters in each district. This amounted to little more than vague and ambiguous guesswork dressed up with a bunch of mathematical equations used to give it a veneer of scientific appearance. Indeed, it seemed to assume racial polarization in order to prove racial polarization. Based on this questionable methodology, the authors concluded that RCV doesn’t reduce racial polarization. But the premise of this study missed an obvious reality: since RCV incentivizes more candidates to run and can result in more diverse fields of candidates, one would expect more racially-polarized voting in voters’ top rankings, not less, because more voters would have someone on that ballot who represents their racial or ethnic identity and more freedom to vote for their real first choice. By encouraging more diverse candidates and eliminating the spoiler effect, RCV facilitates voting for a favorite candidate of your own race and then selecting a second choice with the best likelihood of winning. The real measure is what voters do with their additional rankings – do they consider other candidates and vote “for the best of the rest”? This study didn’t tell us anything useful about that. But readily available data shows this is common in real RCV elections, and candidates act on this knowledge by engaging with voters outside their racial group. So the authors of this study failed to consider or account for what actually happens in real-world elections, and their conclusions are tainted by this failure. New America has contributed a great deal over the past 2.5 decades to our understanding of many policy areas, including politics and political reform (full disclosure: Steven Hill, one of the authors of this article and of the “Shaky Political Science” research paper and series, is a former senior fellow and former director of New America’s political reform program, 2005-2010). So it was especially disappointing that New America funded and published such a large batch of dubious studies about ranked choice voting. The stated praiseworthy goal of its Electoral Reform Research Group was to inspire new academic research about ranked choice voting that would shed light and help the public better understand the impacts of RCV. Instead, the ERRG research did just the opposite. It produced dubious research that created more confusion and misinformation. In so doing, New America’s political reform program contributed to “shaky political science.” Steven Hill and Paul Haughey Share Upgrade to $5 subscription Thanks for reading DemocracySOS, a reader-supported digital portal for the pro-democracy movement. Subscribe for only $5 per month to receive full benefits and to support our work. Subscribe

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Apr 21 • 9:31 AM EDT • Science • democracysos.substack.com
J.P. Morgan lifts S&P 500 year-end target to 7,600 on AI-driven earnings

J.P. Morgan on Tuesday raised its year-end target for the S&P 500 index to 7,600, citing AI and tech-driven ​earnings, just weeks after lowering its forecast, with a ceasefire ‌between the U.S. and Iran aiding sentiment.

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Apr 21 • 2:54 AM EDT • Business • reuters.com
Warriors reportedly targeting surprise SEC coach if Kerr departs

If Steve Kerr doesn't return for a 13th season in the Bay Area, the backup plan is reportedly already set.

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Apr 21 • 1:36 AM EDT • Sports • sports.yahoo.com
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House Ethics conducted 28 sexual misconduct investigations in 50 years, with 4 Florida Congressmen targeted

Current Florida candidate Madison Cawthorn also was investigated when he represented North Carolina.

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Apr 20 • 8:32 PM EDT • Politics • floridapolitics.com
Scientists discover skincare compound that kills drug-resistant bacteria

A popular Korean skincare ingredient may be far more powerful than anyone realized. Scientists have discovered that madecassic acid—derived from the herb Centella asiatica—can stop antibiotic-resistant bacteria in their tracks, including dangerous strains of E. coli. By targeting a bacterial protein that humans don’t have, the compound disrupts the microbes’ ability to survive, making it a promising new type of antibiotic.

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Apr 20 • 8:00 PM EDT • Science • sciencedaily.com
Bulls reportedly target 6 candidates for president of basketball operations opening
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Apr 20 • 11:35 AM EDT • Sports • sports.yahoo.com
Duke basketball under Jon Scheyer: Insiders reveal transfer portal news, 2026 recruits, roster, best targets

TheDevilsDen, the 247Sports affiliate of the Duke Blue Devils, shares its latest college basketball transfer portal news

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Apr 20 • 11:29 AM EDT • Sports • cbssports.com
U.S. Delivers Maternal Health Equipment Across Madagascar - U.S. Embassy in Madagascar

U.S. Delivers Maternal Health Equipment Across Madagascar U.S. Chargé d’Affaires Stephanie Arnold today provided critical maternal and newborn health equipment that will reach healthcare facilities across Madagascar, demonstrating how U.S. foreign assistance builds a safer, healthier world by helping recipient countries build self-reliant health systems in line with the America First Global Health Strategy. Under President Trump’s America First foreign assistance policy and the America First Global Health Policy, U.S. support serves as a tool of strategic engagement – not global charity. Every U.S. taxpayer dollar is subject to rigorous oversight to ensure measurable results, maximum efficiency, and accountability, with zero tolerance for fraud, waste, or abuse. Through the bilateral Global Health Memorandum of Understanding with Madagascar’s Ministry of Public Health, both governments agreed on shared priorities and responsibilities, including a strong focus on maternal and newborn health and Madagascar’s increasing co-investment in its own health system. Madagascar continues to face major challenges in maternal and newborn health, including high maternal mortality rates and significant gaps in access to quality delivery care. In rural regions, many women still give birth at home or in facilities without adequate infection-prevention supplies. Through the U.S.-funded Momentum Country and Global Leadership Project, the United States is providing essential equipment to healthcare facilities nationwide: calibrated reusable drapes for infection prevention in approximately 1,000 community health centers (CSBs), single-use calibrated drapes for 35 hospitals, and management tools for health workers to improve data collection and care coordination. “U.S. foreign assistance makes America safer by preventing instability and strengthening health systems that can detect and contain infectious diseases before they cross borders,” said Chargé d’Affaires Arnold during the handover ceremony. “Our support is temporary and targeted, designed to help Madagascar build greater self-reliance and reduce long-term dependence on U.S. taxpayer resources.” This U.S. support will help standardize safe delivery practices, strengthen infection prevention, and improve data management systems. Used effectively, these materials will contribute directly to reducing maternal and newborn deaths, especially in rural and hard-to-reach areas where access to quality delivery care remains limited. From major hospitals to remote health centers, U.S.-funded equipment is already delivering results. The nationwide scope of this support ensures that women and newborns across Madagascar benefit from improved infection prevention and safer delivery practices. This targeted assistance helps save lives today while supporting Madagascar’s transition toward a self-sufficient health system, ensuring that today’s U.S. support leads to Madagascar’s future independence from foreign assistance.

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Apr 20 • 8:57 AM EDT • Health • mg.usembassy.gov
Smash-and-grab burglars target sports card and comic store in Chicago's Dunning community
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Apr 20 • 7:19 AM EDT • Sports • cbsnews.com
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Iran’s Ballistic Missile Retaliatory Strikes and Escalation Dynamics

The fact that Iran simultaneously targeted US bases in the region and Israel marked a significant difference in the scale of the retaliation.

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Apr 20 • 4:37 AM EDT • Politics • politicstoday.org
Advancing epidemic and pandemic preparedness through research readiness: SEAR Unity Studies Network Sites chart the way forward in 2026

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

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