SCROLL NEWS / DISCOVERY
Search headlines
Find the stories shaping the conversation.
Results for " ahead " 4,765 found 🔀 AI-powered Shuffle
Horse dies after race on Black-Eyed Susan Day ahead of Preakness Stakes
Hit Zero collapsed shortly after his first-ever race on Friday.
Vienna Is Tense Ahead of 2026 Eurovision Final
Dueling rallies and a general air of unease hung over the city as Israel prepared to take the stage Saturday.
Overland Park hotels filling up as sports tourism booms ahead of World Cup
City booked 80% of hotel rooms last June, with Top Gun softball tournament returning this year
Forza Horizon 6 Advanced Access Kicks Off With Over 170,000 Concurrent Players
Forza Horizon 6 officially launches on May 19, but advanced access for buyers of the $119.99 Premium Edition kicked off on May 15, and it appears as though, despite a recent leak of the game ahead of the official launch, gamers have come out in droves to play the new open-world racing game. On Steam...
Supreme Court deals blow to Virginia Democrats in fight over state court ruling
The Supreme Court on Friday rejected Virginia Democrats’ emergency appeal seeking to revive a voter-approved congressional redistricting overhaul, leaving intact a Virginia Supreme Court ruling that struck down the effort as unconstitutional ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.
Player Availability Report: #ATXvSKC
Player Availability Report is SportingKC.com’s look at the latest status updates around the team ahead of upcoming matches and is presented by Saint Luke’s. All details listed are from the league’s official Player Status Report that is submitted the day prior to the match. Sporting Kansas City is back on
Ranking college football's 26 most-feared defensive players ahead of the 2026 season
The 2026 season will largely be defined by these elite pass rushers, linebackers and defensive backs
Rocket Science Health validates targeted olfactory-cleft deposition in non-human primates ahead of the 4th Nasal Formulation & Delivery Summit
As the pace of modern drug discovery accelerates, the industry is increasingly recognizing that a breakthrough molecule is only as effective as its ability to reach the target site.
Britain Politics
Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer meet with police officers to discuss operational planning ahead of this weekend's protests in London, Friday, May 15, 2026. (Peter Nicholls/Pool Photo via AP)
Britain Politics
Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Commander Clair Haynes meet with police officers to discuss operational planning ahead of this weekend's protests in London, Friday, May 15, 2026. (Peter Nicholls/Pool
Cristiano Ronaldo adds free sports streamer to his business empire ahead of the World Cup
The channel will be responsible for showing 34 matches from the 2026 World Cup, live and at no cost to viewers, including all the matches of the Portuguese national football team.View on euronews
Lamar Alexander on Six Decades in Power — And the Future of the GOP
Ahead of his new memoir, the former senator reflects on nearly 60 years of public service, the presidents he’s served and Trump’s GOP.
Nemaha Sports Construction completes major renovations at Ryder Park baseball field ahead of Fightin’ Cranes opening season
GRAND ISLAND - The City of Grand Island selected Nemaha Sports Construction as the general contractor for a co...
Running back revival? Maybe Dolphins were ahead of the curve with De'Von Achane and his contract
2026 NFL schedules by team: Live leaks, dates, times, opponents and TV channels for all 32 franchises
Track schedule leaks and team-by-team updates ahead of the full release, including dates, kickoff times, TV channels and opponents
GOP candidates for governor align on energy, housing — and against Bobby Charles
All seven Republican gubernatorial candidates shared a stage for the first time in a televised debate ahead of the June 9 primary election.
Who are the US CEOs in China with Trump, and what’s in it for them?
Top executives hope to expand their businesses in China as Trump aims for win ahead of midterm vote.
Vance is set to speak in Maine about fraud investigations ahead of primary election
Vice President JD Vance is set to visit Maine to highlight the Trump administration’s anti-fraud efforts before the state’s primary elections.
‘Google Home Display’ appears, hopefully as a potential Nest Hub replacement
Ahead of the upcoming release of Google Home Speaker, a new “Google Home Display” has appeared in Google app code,...
Texans sign five rookies to contracts ahead of schedule release
And then, there were three players for the Houston Texans who needed to be signed to long-term deals entering the 2026 NFL season.
New exhibit showcases the science of soccer in Vancouver ahead of FIFA World Cup
Cameron Boozer's GPA surfaces ahead of NBA Draft
Duke's Player of the Year is a bookworm.
Start your engines, Xbox's Forza Horizon 6 release dates, launch times, and Early Access is upon us — here's when it comes out, and how to play early
Ahead of its release date, Xbox has announced Forza Horizon 6's official launch times.
Women’s flag football in the ACC? Jim Phillips says conversations are happening
At ACC Spring Meetings, commissioner Jim Phillips says the league is having conversations about women's flag football ahead of its Olympic debut.
2026 World Cup Odds: France, Mbappé Emerging as Sportsbook’s Biggest Nightmare
France and Kylian Mbappé are drawing massive betting action ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Check out the latest odds and betting trends.
Free Medicare wellness exams help seniors stay ahead of health concerns
Who Is Traveling With Trump to China?
President Trump arrived in Beijing, ahead of his meeting with President Xi Jinping of China. Among those accompanying Mr. Trump were top administration officials and business leaders.
CBS Sports 138: Ohio State edges out Texas for No. 1 in post-spring college football rankings
Ranking every FBS team ahead of the 2026 college football season with spring practice now in the rearview mirror
Yahoo Sports and FOX One team up to introduce new soccer fantasy games ahead of summer's biggest sporting event
The games give fans fun new ways to put their predictions to the test while enjoying the FIFA World Cup 2026™ on FOX One.
Higher gas prices sent wholesale inflation soaring last month, signaling more pain ahead for consumers
The war with Iran is squeezing US businesses at a rate not seen in nearly four years, likely dealing an even bigger blow to consumers next.
Saints fans out in force to push team to Wembley
Thousands of Southampton fans turned up to create a colourful atmosphere ahead of their play-off semi final.
Health Catalyst (HCAT) Reports Q1: Everything You Need To Know Ahead Of Earnings
Healthcare data analytics company Health Catalyst (NASDAQ:HCAT) will be reporting results this Monday after market hours. Here’s what you need to know.
Wes Streeting set to meet Keir Starmer ahead of King’s speech
A number of the health secretary’s allies called for the prime minister’s resignation but Streeting has yet to call for a formal leadership challenge
Celebrating 15 years of investments in pandemic influenza preparedness at this year’s World Health Assembly
The Pandemic Influenza Preparedness (PIP) Framework marks 15 years in action at this year’s World Health Assembly in Geneva, Switzerland, to be held on 18–23 May. The innovative global approach to preparing for and responding to influenza pandemics was adopted in 2011, prompting WHO and its Member States to look back at what has been achieved and look ahead to the role it can continue to play in the future.
Doozy of a Patch Tuesday includes 30 critical Microsoft CVEs
The good news: no 0-days. The bad news: busy week ahead for Microsoft admins
Alignment Healthcare (ALHC) Climbs 7% Ahead of Business Updates
Alignment Healthcare Inc. (NASDAQ:ALHC) is one of the 10 Stocks With Stunning Gains. Alignment Healthcare bounced back by 7.11 percent on Tuesday to finish at $18.38 apiece, as investors positioned portfolios ahead of business updates from its participation in a health conference this week, while digesting changes in its leadership composition. In a notice on […]
Player Availability Report: #SKCvLA
Player Availability Report is SportingKC.com’s look at the latest status updates around the team ahead of upcoming matches and is presented by Saint Luke’s. All details listed are from the league’s official Player Status Report that is submitted the day prior to the match. Sporting Kansas City returns home midweek
Google Previews Android 17 With 'Gemini Intelligence' a Month Before Apple's iOS 27 Reveal
Google today previewed Android 17, the next version of Android that it is bringing to smartphones and other devices. Android 17 includes multiple new AI features, and it comes about a month ahead of when Apple plans to unveil iOS 27 with new AI capabilities. Google is now calling the AI features on Android "Gemini Intelligence," branding similar to Apple Intelligence.
Everything Google announced at its Android Show, from Googlebooks to vibe-coded widgets
Google unveiled its new AI-first Googlebooks laptops, more agentic Gemini features, vibe-coded Android widgets, Gemini in Chrome, refreshed Android Auto, and more ahead of I/O.
Google Unveils New Android AI Features Ahead of Apple’s Siri Revamp
Alphabet Inc.’s Google announced a slew of upcoming features for its Android 17 operating system, showcasing its progress in artificial intelligence weeks before Apple Inc. is set to announce major upgrades to its own iOS platform and AI offerings.
China highlights U.S. business ties in video ahead of President Trump’s trip
Eunice Yoon reports on the latest surrounding President Trump’s planned trip to China as he departs for a state visit on Tuesday.
Nintendo announces limited Switch 2 console & game bundle, ahead of planned price rise
Starting next month, Switch 2 will be available bundled with Mario Kart, DK…
Sports Daily: Could Wichita be host option for expanded NCAA Tournament games?
Could Wichita be an option for the expanded NCAA tourney games? Should it? We dive into what could lie ahead with March Madness and the Air Capital.
Forza Horizon 6 Dev Bans Pirate Who Leaked Gameplay Footage Until the Year 10,000 — but Faces Uphill Battle Plugging the Leak
Forza Horizon 6 developer Playground Games is following through on its threat after the game was leaked online ahead of the official release date, with one pirate reporting a hardware ban until the year 10,000.
California's Democratic incumbents face primary challenges from political newcomers
The challenges are part of a national wave reshaping the debate over generational power and the direction of the Democratic Party ahead of the 2026 midterms.
Sarasota waterfront business open for decades forced to move
Popular Sarasota tourism business unveils survival plan ahead of May 14 move.
Longtime Sarasota waterfront business reveals survival plan
Longtime Sarasota waterfront business unveils a plan ahead of forced move.
Sam Altman’s Business Dealings Under GOP Scrutiny Ahead of OpenAI’s IPO
The Republican-led House Oversight Committee says it is investigating, and six GOP state attorneys general are calling for SEC review after a WSJ article.
Jake Paul Shares Concerning Health Update Ahead of Possible Boxing Return
Since suffering a brutal sixth-round knockout loss to Anthony Joshua on Dec. 19, 2025, Jake Paul has largely stayed out of the boxing spotlight. The loss reportedly left Paul with a broken jaw in two places, forcing him into recovery and putting his fighting future into question. Now, months later, Paul is making the media rounds again while promoting MVP’s massive Netflix MMA event headlined by the return of Ronda Rousey vs. Gina Carano this Friday, May 15.
Businesses offer events, special deals ahead of Preakness
Anne Arundel County businesses are embracing the Preakness Stakes with themed events and specials as Laurel Park prepares to host the race.
The week ahead in Hawai‘i sports: HHSAA wraps up state championships
Four different sports will crown their state championships this week to wrap up the school year in high school sports.
Virginia Democrats ask US Supreme Court to let them use new congressional map
Democratic officials in Virginia asked the US Supreme Court on Monday to reinstate a congressional map that would benefit their party ahead of this year’s midterm elections, the latest map drawing appeal to reach the high court amid a flurry of mid-decade redistricting.
Iowa politics: KCCI's full interview with Zach Lahn, Republican candidate for governor
KCCI sat down with GOP governor candidate Zach Lahn to ask where he stands on key issues ahead of the June 2nd primary election.
KCCI hosts Iowa Republican gubernatorial debate Tuesday, May 19
KCCI will host a Republican Gubernatorial debate as part of its Commitment 2026 political coverage ahead of the June 2 primary.
Alan Ritchson's “Reacher” renewed for season 5 ahead of fourth season's premiere
A premiere date for "Reacher" season 4 has not yet been announced.
Starlink blocks access to its GPS alternative ahead of SpaceX IPO
Shutdown of Starlink location feature won’t dampen interest in GPS alternatives.
International sports officials tour Greensboro ahead of World University Games
Yet another new Onn Streaming Stick passes through FCC approval
Walmart just released its new Onn 4K Stick and 2nd-gen Onn 4K Pro streaming devices. The retailer hasn't been able to keep up with demand, as it is difficult to find them in stock online or in stores, yet it's already moving ahead with another new model.
What to know about 'Yellowstone' spinoff 'Dutton Ranch' ahead of premiere
The long-awaited “Dutton Ranch” premiere is set for Friday, May 15, debuting two episodes that introduce life after “Yellowstone” for Beth and Rip.
Malaysia’s Umno marks 80th anniversary with show of Malay political power
The party held its celebrations in the Johor palace where it was founded, signalling it is back on track ahead of coming state polls.
The Latest: Trump rejects Iran’s latest response to ceasefire proposal ahead of his trip to China
Iran and the United States reached an impasse again over how to end their war while their ceasefire grew increasingly shaky, with the two sides exchanging fire in recent days, ships and Gulf states being targeted, and fighting flaring between Israel and the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah.
Orioles news: O’s avert sweep with win over A’s
As bad as the Birds have been, they’re still ahead of multiple AL teams.
Texas GOP primaries show President Donald Trump’s endorsement power
President Donald Trump flexed his endorsement power during the Texas primaries. More tests are ahead for the May runoffs and beyond.
Lawmakers Urge Trump to Move Ahead on Delayed Arms Sale to Taiwan
The Trump administration has held up the sale for months ahead of President Trump’s meeting this week with President Xi Jinping of China.
Marketers say NAD+ pills and infusions can boost longevity. What's the evidence?
Wellness and longevity influencers are pushing a compound called NAD+. There's scientific interest in its potential, but researchers say the marketing claims have gotten ahead of the science.
Science spotlight: AI 'transformative' for cosmetic dermatology
Artificial intelligence (AI) offers significant promise in cosmetic dermatology, but technologies must be used in synergy with human expertise to overcome risks associated with scaled integration. According to a review published in Actas Dermo-Sifiliográficas [1], AI tools have revolutionised skin assessment and the development of personalised treatments in cosmetic dermatology already. And, looking ahead, the researchers said advances are set to further transform the category. “AI has...
macOS 27: Two More Changes Leaked Ahead of WWDC Next Month
macOS 27 will have a "slight redesign" compared to macOS Tahoe, along with an option to automatically group tabs in Safari, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. In his Power On newsletter today, Gurman said the design changes will help to address some of the criticism surrounding macOS Tahoe's new Liquid Glass interface. In particular, the changes should improve overall readability. "Apple aims to address the shadows and transparency quirks," he said.
Cameron Young shoots 63 at Quail Hollow, trails Alex Fitzpatrick by 2
Fitzpatrick was at 14-under 199 through 54 holes, one shot ahead of Norway's Kristoffer Reitan after each shot 64.
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.
Health Insurers Performing Better But There’s Potential Trouble Ahead
Health insurance companies including UnitedHealthcare, CVS Health’s Aetna and Blue Cross and Blue Shield plans are seeing lower costs. But there’s trouble ahead.
Local businesses deal with high gas prices amid Mother's Day rush
Chalifour's Flowers prepped about 1,100 arrangements ahead of Mother's Day. In all, the shop had about 1,800 orders.
Barnes & Noble CEO James Daunt’s Leaner, Meaner Strategy for Success
He is unsentimental about books as he wrings out expenses ahead of a potential IPO.
All passengers on hantavirus-hit ship considered high-risk contacts, EU health agency says
All passengers on the cruise ship hit by a deadly hantavirus outbreak are considered high-risk contacts as a precautionary measure, Europe's public health agency said ahead of the ship's expected anchoring on Sunday off the Spanish island of Tenerife.
Nintendo Switch 2 Is Harder To Get In Japan Ahead Of May 25 Price Hike
The Nintendo Switch 2 is getting a price increase faster in Japan than abroad.
Lionel Messi Shatters MLS Milestone Ahead of 2026 FIFA World Cup
Lionel Messi reaches MLS milestone as fastest MLS player to notch 100 goal contributions following Inter Miami's 4-2 win over Toronto FC.
This day in Penguin history: Francis steps up
(Wrote this for tomorrow, and then realized the date was wrong. So pull up a chair for some bonus history content..) 1992: Ronnie tips the balance of the series, and playoffs Pittsburgh’s hopes to defend their 1991 Stanley Cup championship were in deep trouble on May 9th, ahead of Game 4 of the Patrick Division […]
Business Lookahead: Trump on Tour
STORY: From Trump's trip to China, to a slew of new U.S. data releases, these are the stories to watch in business and finance in the coming week. :: Trump goes to Beijing U.S. President Donald Trump visits Beijing on Thursday and Friday.It will be his first visit to China in eight years.He'll try to lock in the trade truce agreed to in October in South Korea, and avoid a rerun of the tit-for-tat tariff battle that he set off a year ago.Fresh trade data should offer a reality check on whether a protectionist White House has managed to dent Americans' appetite for Chinese-made goods.:: Saudi Aramco posts resultsThe world's biggest exporter of crude oil, Saudi Aramco, reports first-quarter results on Sunday.The numbers are expected to show the pain from the more than two-month-old Iran war.This comes as efforts to end the conflict appeared to stall after the U.S. and Iran traded fire in recent days, with some of the biggest flare-ups in fighting in and around the Strait of Hormuz since a ceasefire began a month ago.:: U.S. economic dataA bunch of new data should give a clearer view of inflation in the U.S.Tuesday's April consumer price index is expected to rise 0.6% according to a Reuters poll.Prices at the pump are likely to loom large in the numbers.Producer price data for April on Wednesday is another inflation checkpoint after the Fed’s last meeting exposed a more hawkish tilt among some policymakers who are increasingly uneasy about price pressures.And retail sales figures on Thursday should show whether higher gas prices and other costs are starting to bite into household spending.
West Ham United v Arsenal: Key stats and talking points
In what is a crucial match for both sides, Champions League final-bound Arsenal continue their bid for a first top-flight title for 22 years against a West Ham United side who dropped into the bottom three after last weekend's results. BBC Sport takes a look at the key themes ahead of Sunday's game (16:30 BST). The equation for Arsenal is simple on paper; win all four of their remaining matches and it will be the greatest season in the club's 139-year history.
How Republicans Gained an Edge on the Midterm House Map Over 10 Days
Republicans are charging ahead in the nation’s redistricting race, and showing new bullishness after months of growing midterm fears.
From The Sheep Detectives to Rivals: your complete entertainment guide to the week ahead
Hugh Jackman and Emma Thompson star in a farmyard mystery, while the spirited bonkbuster returns for a smutty second outing
Sporting KC signs Pierre Lurot to short-term agreement from SKC II
Sporting Kansas City announced today that the club has signed Sporting KC II defender Pierre Lurot to a short-term agreement ahead of the club’s road match against the Portland Timbers on Saturday night at Providence Park. The call up marks the fourth and final available short-term agreements of the 2026
Player Availability Report: #PORvSKC
Player Availability Report is SportingKC.com’s look at the latest status updates around the team ahead of upcoming matches and is presented by Saint Luke’s. All details listed are from the league’s official Player Status Report that is submitted the day prior to the match. Sporting Kansas City hits the road
Construction closures in EaDo frustrate businesses, residents ahead of FIFA World Cup
Businesses and residents in Houston’s EaDo say overlapping construction projects are hurting access and traffic ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
‘The hill just got a little steeper’: Dems reel after Virginia Supreme Court voids redistricting referendum ahead of midterms
Former South Carolina QB Stephen Garcia changes his approach on mental health amid cancer battle
Former South Carolina QB Stephen Garcia is fighting Stage-4 colorectal cancer, sharing an emotional story about family, mental health, and his battle ahead.
Islanders, Northwell Health Team Up to Welcome Newest "Rookies" with 2,000 Onesie Gift to North Shore Hospital
The New York Islanders and Northwell Health today announced a new collaboration to celebrate the community’s newest additions. Launching ahead of Mother’s Day weekend, the Islanders and Northwell are teaming up to provide 2,000 co-branded infant onesies and swaddles to every newborn at North Shore University Hospital (NSUH) in Manhasset.
The Hidden Opponent spotlights student-athlete mental health
Led by softball player Maddie Manes '26, swimmer Hannah Waldron '27, and baseball player Danny Tambascia '28, Brandeis' chapter of The Hidden Opponent (THO) continues to grow and expand its impact on campus. The Hidden Opponent is a national nonprofit organization that works with high schools and colleges to promote discussions around mental health in athletics. They recently collaborated with the Brandeis softball team during their matchup against Tufts on April 22 to highlight their mission ahead of May's Mental Health Awareness Month.
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.
How Disneyland Remade American Politics
America is turning 250, and The Free Press is marking the occasion with a yearlong series of events, conversations, and stories celebrating our country’s history. Today, we’re taking a journey with historian Beverly Gage to Southern California. Beverly traded the archives for the open road for her new book, This Land is Your Land: A Road Trip Through U.S. History. We’re proud to publish an excerpt, on the theme park that shaped American politics—and the presidents who loved it. —The Editors On July 17, 1955, Ronald Reagan stood near a mocked-up wood-plank town in Anaheim, California, where a 13-star flag flew incongruously over an “Old West” landscape, and introduced the world to Disneyland. He had been invited by Walt Disney himself to co-host the park’s live ABC broadcast, alongside Art Linkletter and Bob Cummings—three Hollywood actors who seemed to embody a wholesome, all-American ethos. From the imagined past of Frontierland, the show leaped ahead to Tomorrowland, set in the far-off year of 1986, emphasizing the technical marvels yet to come: nuclear energy harnessed for civilian purposes, human beings riding rocket ships into space. Disney foretold great things for a 1980s in which the United States would serve as “a source of joy and inspiration to all the world.” But even he could not predict the most important political fact of the age: that his genial co-host would become president. Southern California was a strange place to build a park about the past, because the region at the time was all about newness and abundance and growth. For a lot of its history, Orange County had been Southern California’s version of flyover country: a vast agricultural expanse between two desirable places, Los Angeles and San Diego. But Disneyland was changing that. Before long, 50 miles south of deep-blue Hollywood, Orange County would become a region famed for its right-wing politics—but also for its mythmaking skills. Those two things, it turned out, went naturally together. ADVERTISEMENT The two presidents Southern California gave America both understood this instinctively. Richard Nixon and Reagan each built a national career on invoking a version of the American past in which the specificities of historical context mattered less than the big picture. For Nixon, progress meant proclaiming a “New American Revolution” on the eve of America’s bicentennial while dismantling the federal programs that had built the postwar middle class. For Reagan, it meant recapturing a lost optimism and an old-fashioned faith in America as an exceptional nation. Both men were less interested in history as it actually happened than in history as it felt—and Orange County, a place that had built itself almost entirely from scratch, turned out to be exactly where the myth of America’s future was getting made. I’m a historian—and historians tend to be myth-busters. With the country’s 250th birthday on the horizon, I figured it was a good time to step out of the ivory tower and check in with the past as it exists here and now, at the museums and monuments and roadside attractions where Americans go to learn about their history. After all my travels—to Davy Crockett’s Tennessee and Texas, to the real Erie Canal, to the birthplace of the American automobile and the actual Old West—I couldn’t miss out on Disneyland, the single most influential historic attraction in U.S. history.
Fewer than half of US states adequately prepared for health emergency ahead of World Cup: Report
Fewer than half of U.S. states are sufficiently prepared for a health emergency, according to new research released on Thursday. Only 20 states scored “high” on the annual report from Trust for Am…
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.
Republicans poised to vote on new House map that would erase Democratic seat in Tennessee
Such a move could reshape the electoral map ahead of the midterms by carving up a majority-Black congressional district
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.
Kenyan politicians trade accusations of 'goonism' as political violence rises ahead of 2027 election
Kenya's political word of the moment is “goonism," used to describe gang-related political violence | WBBM Newsradio 780 AM & 105.9 FM
Kenyan politicians trade accusations of 'goonism' as political violence rises ahead of 2027 election
Kenya's political word of the moment is “goonism," used to describe gang-related political violence | WWJ Newsradio 950
Kenyan politicians trade accusations of ‘goonism’ as political violence rises ahead of 2027 election
NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — Kenya’s political word of the moment is “goonism,” frequently uttered by national leaders to convey annoyance at the gangs that intimidate those whose political activiti…