SCROLL NEWS / DISCOVERY
Search headlines
Find the stories shaping the conversation.
Results for " Xu " 1,960 found 🔀 AI-powered Shuffle
Call Her Mommy! Alex Cooper Is Pregnant, Expecting Her First Baby with Husband Matt Kaplan
'Call Her Daddy' podcast host Alex Cooper is pregnant and expecting her first baby with husband Matt Kaplan. The pair tied the knot in Mexico in 2024.
Country music star left a ‘vast archive’ of unreleased music after his recent death
The beloved singer died in December.
Why quiet luxury is giving way to loud, tacky wealth
From Lauren Sánchez to the gold-plated Oval Office to "Mar-a-Lago face," America's elite are embracing louder, flashier displays of wealth.
Barcelona vs Real Betis – Match preview and team news
Barcelona are ready to face Real Betis on Sunday in a La Liga encounter.Hansi Flick’s men will be looking to bounce back after their recent loss and will look to win their final home match of this s...
Sales of luxury homes in Las Vegas jump in 2025, report says
“Southern Nevada’s luxury market saw healthy growth in 2025,” states a new report from Nevada State Bank. “This increase followed four years of relatively flat activity afte...
Preakness Stakes 2026 payout: How much did Napoleon Solo earn by claiming second Triple Crown race?
Bettors on Napoleon Solo won $17.80 on a $2 bet at 7-1 odds.
James Franco mounting big Hollywood comeback with 'Rambo' prequel
James Franco will star in the Rambo prequel 'John Rambo' alongside Noah Centineo, marking Franco's first big Hollywood blockbuster since he was accused of sexual misconduct in 2018.
What to know about the mistrial in Harvey Weinstein’s rape retrial
A New York has declared a mistrial in Harvey Weinstein’s rape case from the #MeToo-era that has gone to trial three times so far after a jury was unable to come to a unanimous decision | Talk 1370
Rep. Chris Deluzio targets rising youth sports costs in Let Kids Play Act
'Youth sports should not be a luxury item,' Deluzio said.
Rep. Chris Deluzio targets rising youth sports costs in Let Kids Play Act
'Youth sports should not be a luxury item,' Deluzio said.
Chartbook 449: Voldemort on Threadneedle street. The Bank of England and the "haunted house" of English politics.
Imagine the scene: In some Harry Potter version of 21st-century London, a group of deathless UK Treasury officials gathered from across the last century huddle over warm pints and glasses of Chardonnay. Around the table there are officials from the 1920s, the 1930s, the 1970s, 2022 and today. Inevitably, in May 2026, the subject of conversation is the disintegration of the current Labour government. Despite its huge majority in parliament, it has been reduced to tatters by catastrophic local election result. These exposed the fact that rather than having a government with a clear popular majority, the UK is like most other modern societies divided into 5 segments each of which commands between 26 and 16 percent of the vote. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the leadership at Nos 10 and 11 Downing Street - where the Prime Minister and the Chancellor (Treasury Secretary) work - seem paralyzed. They are caught between mounting discontent over unfairness and the cost of living, and tough fiscal strictures that push them into making unpopular spending decisions. In the London pub, the Treasury officials from across the ages, can barely hide their satisfaction at the latest display of democratic politics caught in the vice-grip of financial logic. “Remember the mur d’argent and the banker’s ramp?” “Just like yesterday!” There are smirks around the table. Then the representative of 2026 pipes up: “One thing you have to say about the current lot (referring to the latest hapless Labour government), you don’t have to teach them about the bond market!” There is a murmur of ascent from the Treasury Mandarins. The trauma of the fiscal crisis of September-October 2022 sits deep. Back then, in the final stages of Tory decay, a ‘mini budget’ that challenged fiscal orthodoxy led to a brief but fierce panic in one of the oldest government bond markets in the world (aka gilt market). Now all you have to do is to mention the “bond market” to hush debate. [ Paul Mason@paulmasonnews In the name of public service, and as ex-economics editor of BBC Newsnight, I offer to do a zoom call, tonight, with any Labour MP who wants to understand why bond markets do not "fall into line" with governments. 1/ 3:57 PM · May 12, 2026 · 466K Views 224 Replies · 674 Reposts · 3.93K Likes ](https://x.com/paulmasonnews/status/2054229532404519082?s=20) “And the funny thing is”, the young man in the huddle continues, “they don’t even want to talk about … ”. There is a sudden hush. Significant looks are exchanged around the table. About? One of the senior figures puts down his glass with a decisive “clink”. He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named has entered their thoughts. Meanwhile, a few miles away in a grubby pub in Bloomsbury, two conspirators from the camp of Critical Macrofinance huddle over cans of low-alcohol IPA. They look at each other and blurt out loud: “The Bank!” “Everyone in the bloody Labour party is talking about the bond market. But why aren’t they even mentioning … the Bank of England!?” “Why is no one talking about Voldemort?” In Paul Mason’s blogpost, after much chest-thumping about basic fiscal logic, the basic point about the Bank of England is buried in the fine print at #3 in his list of suggestions as to what a radical Labour government might actually be able to do! [ Conflict & Democracy Down with the bond market! Down with gravity! It may seem unfair to focus on Labour MP Paula Barker for her off-the-cuff assertion that the bond market would have to “fall in line” with Andy Burnham, should he replace Keir Starmer as prime minister. But Burnham himself told the New Statesman that Labour had to “get beyond this thing of being in hock to the bond markets… Read more 2 days ago · 100 likes · 3 comments · Paul Mason ](https://htsf.substack.com/p/down-with-the-bond-market-down-with?utm_source=substack&utm_campaign=post_embed&utm_medium=web) Back in Bloomsbury they shake their heads and ask: “Didn’t we learn anything from the Eurozone crisis?” Meanwhile, as if summoned to the conversation by some higher force, the “pink pages” announce: “The days of ultra-cheap government borrowing have come to an end” and Martin “Whizzard” Wolf publishes the graph of the season Look at the UK in 2026, perilously positioned on the upper edge of the pack. No wonder no one in London needs any lessons about the “bond market”. But, look again. Imagine how they feel in Rome. What is London’s nightmare in 2026? The nightmare is that you end up like Italy in the early 2010s during the Eurozone crisis. Once comfortably situated in the middle of the pack, watching with horror as your ten-year yields explode to 7 percent and “spreads” become a national nightmare. One of the largest economies in Europe, a founding member of the euro, stigmatized. But the message of the Italian experience is ambiguous. After all, the stigma didn’t last. In 2026, Italy borrows at rates lower not only than the UK but the US. The US, which, as everyone knows, enjoys the “exorbitant privilege” of being the issuer of reserve, safe asets. What kind of magic is this? How did Italy, in the space of fifteen years, go from being good, to bad and back again? Which brings us back to our dissident friends in their Bloombury boozer and their memories of the Eurozone crisis. Italy never was Britain - with its ongoing fiscal deficits. Without interest payments, on primary balance, from 2000 to 2020 Italy ran a tight fiscal ship. Even in 2008 it barely went into deficit and when it was being put on the rack in the early 20210s its primary surplus matched that of austere Germany. So, what happened? How did it end up stigmatized? Of course Italian politics didn’t help. Berlusconi was at the helm and he had legal issues. But amongst friends in the Bloomsbury pub, Berlusconi is a sideshow, the name we whisper to each other is “Trichet”. From 2004 to 2011 the ECB was headed by Jean-Claude Trichet, ex of the French Treasury, more German than the Germans. After 2009 as the news of the Greek fiscal disaster broke, the European bond markets wento into panic mode and Trichet began a brutal game of cat and mouse. Between 2009 and 2011, Trichet intervened in the bond market to help, only when he thought he had compliance with austerity. When he thought they were uncooperative, he withdrew. In the summer of 2011, he even made direct suggestions to his Italian counterparts in Rome, as to how Italy should be governed. It was this cat and mouse game that drove the bond markets crazy and exposed Italy to a violent squeeze. When Mario Draghi took over the ECB at the end of 2011 and declared “whatever it takes”, the pressure on Italy, gradually eased. It is that starring role that has made Draghi into the towering figure in European politics that he remains today. So now you see why voices in London hush when it comes to the Bank of England. “The bond market” isn’t an irresistible objective force like the weather or an avalanche. It can appear like that. But that depends on the way it is being handled, or not handled by the central bank. Which is why the silence about the Bank of England in London right now is so significant. If you think this all sounds a bit fishy, coming from a left-liberal Keynesian like myself, well, let me introduce you to Robin Brooks, who, to put it mildly, plays on a different quidditch team to me. Here, from the position of a fiscal hawk is Robin’s celebratory account of the Bank of England’s role since 2022; In October 2022, at the height of the bond market blow-up in the UK, something incredible happened. Governor Andrew Bailey told British pension funds the Bank of England would end its support program for the country’s fragile gilt market, drawing a line under how much help the central bank was willing to give to exposed pension funds and - implicitly - the government. By the end of that week, Kwasi Kwarteng - the finance minister - had resigned. Prime Minister Liz Truss would soon follow. This episode is so incredible because it contrasts with what happened in the Euro zone earlier that year. Bond markets in Spain and Italy were under pressure amid high inflation and rising interest rates. In the middle of this, Mario Draghi - Italy’s Prime Minister - resigned, compounding pressure on bond markets of high-debt countries on the Euro periphery. Unlike the Bank of England, the ECB caved. It bought Italian and Spanish government bonds in an effort to cap yields and introduced a new tool that signaled to markets it might do such caps more frequently going forward. Faced with pressure on bond markets, the ECB capitulated to political pressure from high-debt countries like Italy and Spain. The Bank of England stood its ground and toppled the Truss government. This kind of thing has long-lasting consequences. It means markets price a higher probability of yield caps in the Euro zone, which keeps Italian and Spanish yields artificially low, while markets feel free to push up UK yields without fear of central bank intervention. As I flagged in yesterday’s post, this means you really can’t compare UK yields to those of other high-debt countries. The UK looks worse, but only because its central bank isn’t interfering with markets. There’s more to this than just that 2022 episode. The Bank of England has also been much more aggressive in its quantitative tightening (QT) than other central banks. If one motivation for quantitative easing (QE) is to lower bond yields - especially longer-dated ones - then it stands to reason QT pushes yields up. The left chart above shows a four-quarter moving average of UK government debt issuance (black line) in percent of GDP and which sectors absorb this issuance, including the Bank of England (blue bars). The right chart above compares the Bank of England’s accumulation or run-off of government bonds (blue line) with that of other central banks, where this blue line is the same as the blue bars in the left chart. The Bank of England was quicker and more aggressive than other central banks in downsizing its bond holdings, so UK yields will have risen more than elsewhere also for this reason, not just because of Governor Andrew Bailey’s remarks in October 2022. Back in October 2025, after a conversation in New York with friends in British politics, my sense of dysphoria was such that I raised the issue of the Bank of England openly in the FT Since 2008, the UK has slid into a deep economic and political predicament. Growth has stagnated to a degree far worse even than in the 1970s. The Tory leadership’s wager on the Brexit referendum spectacularly backfired, leaving the UK isolated from Europe and at the mercy of its special relationship with the US, many of whose political class regard the UK as a basket case. After years of austerity, the Labour party lurched to the left and then back to the centre. The Tory party has been eclipsed by the populist nationalism of Reform. Any British government should be worrying first and foremost about how to restart growth. Instead, Keir Starmer is beset by shades of the gilt market panic triggered by the Liz Truss government in 2022. The debt level is higher than in recent years, but there is no cause for panic. UK debt is at far from critical levels and of long duration. Whether you want to “take back control” or launch progressive economic policy, a democracy dogged by fear of bond market vigilantes is unhealthy. In a country that is a monetary sovereign, this climate points to one thing: a disconnect between the government and the central bank. Since 1997, the independence of the Bank of England has become a sacred cow. But independence is what you make of it. And in the wake of the gilt market crisis of September 2022, relations between the Bank of England and the UK government need a reset. In normal times, there is no doubt that an inflation-targeting independent central bank can serve a country well. But since 2008, the UK and other advanced economies have not had the luxury of such simple problems. To their credit, central bankers around the world have not stood on orthodoxy. After 2008, the US Federal Reserve rescued the global banking system and, through quantitative easing, it stabilised the Treasury market in the face of huge deficits. In Europe, things were trickier. Both the Bank of England under Mervyn King and Jean-Claude Trichet’s European Central Bank played cat and mouse with national governments. This was a high stakes wager that between 2010 and 2012 escalated bond market tension and triggered a disastrous turn to austerity. Shaken by the impact of those shocks, their successors, Mark Carney and Mario Draghi adopted a more protective stance (assuming you were not the government of Greece). Recall that Draghi’s legendary slogan, “Whatever it takes”, was uttered to face down the City of London’s bond vigilantes. In 2015, Draghi launched QE — financial repression by another name. In 2016, Carney used the authority of the Bank of England to stabilise markets following the vote for Brexit, an exemplary demonstration of how central banks can underpin democratic choice, even when those choices are wrong headed. All these were independent central bankers steeped in the best practice of the 1990s, who recognised that historic crises demanded radical action. It was the price surge of 2021-2023 that poisoned the atmosphere. Though the shock came mainly from the supply side, central banks ended up in the dock. Nowhere more so than in the UK. The Bank of England reacted with aggressive normalisation. Faced with a cost of living crisis, the governor called for workers to accept real wage cuts. In early 2022, as gas prices were at record levels and Russia’s army was poised to invade Ukraine, the Bank adopted a stringent programme of quantitative tightening, elevating interest rates. When the Truss government got itself in trouble, the Bank took almost a week to come to the rescue. Rather than enacting a charade of normality, it is time to recognise that in 2025 the UK faces a period of historic transition. To meet this challenge, what is needed is a new concordat with the Bank. This should not ignore inflationary pressures or the long-run trajectory of debt, but should affirm the priority of reviving investment-led growth. One could follow Donald Trump in demanding interest rate cuts. The Bank could shadow the ECB in its commitment to capping Eurozone yields. But the top priority should be to lay the ghost of September 2022. The Bank’s slowing of QT last month was a concession. An immediate and complete end would send the right signal. Such a concordat will not by itself restore sanity to politics, solve the housing problem or rebuild the NHS. But it would help to lift the fear of bond market crisis, which is paralysing the effort by democratic politicians to answer the fundamental questions facing the nation. Now, that call for a new concordat between government and Bank of Englands seems more urgent than ever. The problem is that in October 2025, Starmer still had some authority. Today the government is in tatters. And when you are the “under the harrow” - to echo a phrase of Montagu Norman’s from the 1920s - it is the worst possible time to consider institutional change. To make general arguments at a time of crisis can only seem like special pleading rather than a general argument for long-term change. The same, unfortunately, is also true for the other basic institutional reform that Britain urgently needs i.e. the abolition of the out-dated first past the post electoral system and its replacement by a moderated form of proportional representation. And thirdly - whilst we are saying the quiet parts out loud - Britain needs to reopen the question of EU membership. What the local election results of 2026 show is that this remains a key issue. And what they also show is that there is a clear majority that would favor a return. Until these basic features of Britain’s political economy are addressed the country will carry on its politics as though in a haunted house, governed by governments that lack actual majorities, conjuring up false constraints whilst ignoring the real ones. This one is for DG and MI. I love writing the newsletter. If you enjoy it too and fancy buying me a coffee once a month, you know what to do. Click below! Subscribe
UK health minister Wes Streeting resigns
British health minister Wes Streeting resigned from government on Thursday, saying he had lost confidence in Prime Minister Keir Starmer's leadership.
The 12 contenders to fill Manchester United’s midfield hole
Just as overhauling the attack was Manchester United’s primary aim last summer, revamping their midfield is the priority in this transfer window.
Johnson and Jeffries appoint bipartisan task force to reform sexual harassment reporting process on Capitol Hill
House Speaker Mike Johnson and Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries appointed a bipartisan task force that will work to reform the way sexual harassment claims are handled in Congress.
House launches bipartisan push to combat sexual misconduct in Congress
House Speaker Mike Johnson and Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries are announcing a task force “to make Congress a safer work environment” following several high-profile cases.
Kustom Entertainment, Inc. Announces Global Frequencies, a Massive EDM Event Coming to Kansas City’s Azura Amphitheater on Sunday, June 28, 2026
DJ Diesel AKA Shaquille O'Neal, Loud Luxury, TroyBoi, Alison Wonderland and many more to be announced, bringing an unmatched global dance music experience to Kansas City. OVERLAND PARK, Kan., May 13, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Kustom Entertainment, Inc. (NASDAQ: KUST) is turning up the volume with Global Frequencies, a high-impact EDM event set for Sunday, June 28, 2026, at Azura Amphitheater. Coming right after the World Game, Global Frequencies will bring an electric wave of sound, lights, and w
The class politics of modern outbreaks
The MV Hondius hantavirus scare revived debates about luxury travel, public health and unequal vulnerability to disease.
The class politics of modern outbreaks
The MV Hondius hantavirus scare revived debates about luxury travel, public health and unequal vulnerability to disease.
Android Adds Intrusion Logging for Sophisticated Spyware Forensics
Android Intrusion Logging stores encrypted forensic logs for 12 months, helping experts investigate spyware attacks on high-risk users.
Asking Eric: Youth podcaster ghosted by professional contacts
Teen with sports broadcasting dreams wishes professionals in the industry were better about responding.
Ms. Basketball talks entertainment headlines
Savannah Guthrie is hosting a new game show, and Matt Damon and Ben Affleck are being sued by a South Florida police department. Christina has all the details.
It’s not where you think: men’s “G-spot” mystery finally solved - Futura-Sciences
Unraveling the Myths: Is the Glans Really the Most Sensitive Part? For years, researchers have maintained that the glans (head) of the penis is the most sensitive area when it comes to sexual sensation. This was considered common wisdom in the urological community. But a recent study published in the...
Why 57% of business leaders say their metrics will fail
Companies are investing billions in AI-powered dashboards, predictive analytics and real-time reporting. Yet there's a widening gap between data availability and decision quality.
Jack Sutton closing luxury jewelry store after 4 decades inside New Orleans’ Canal Place
It's the latest departure from the high-end mall and another blow to Canal Street.
Tick species new to Alabama poses health risk for pets and livestock
The a single female can lay between 1,000 and 2,000 eggs.
The sugar intake – oral diseases nexus: Leveraging food environments for better population nutrition and health
Across the World Health Organization (WHO) Western Pacific Region, our diets are changing rapidly. Globalization has made processed foods, which often do not align with healthy diets, easier to find, more affordable, and more heavily marketed than ever before. Unfortunately, many of these products are often high in saturated fat, trans-fatty acids, salts and free sugars, contributing to the burden of all forms of malnutrition, including diet-related noncommunicable diseases (NCDs). The impact of these dietary changes is staggering. Sugars, in particular, are empty calories and are often hidden in processed foods and beverages. Over the last 20 years, the health burden linked to sugary drinks has nearly tripled, reaching 52.3 disability-adjusted life years per 100 000 in 2023. Excessive sugar is a leading cause of obesity, diabetes, and—most notably—oral diseases. Today, oral diseases affect over 960 million individuals in the Western Pacific Region. Tooth decay is the most common issue, especially for childre
Reddit Starts Blocking Mobile Website, Pushing Users to App Instead
Social network Reddit recently began blocking mobile visitors to its website while pushing them to download the official Reddit app, and it's fair to say that the move is not going down well with users. If you visit reddit.com on your iPhone today, you may see a new popup that can't be dismissed, asking you to "get the app to keep using Reddit".
49ers News: Schedule releasing this week
Your daily San Francisco 49ers news for Monday, May 11th, 2026
Fake OpenAI Privacy Filter Repo Hits #1 on Hugging Face, Draws 244K Downloads
Fake OpenAI Privacy Filter hit #1 on Hugging Face with 244,000 downloads, spreading infostealer malware to Windows users.
French evacuee from hantavirus-hit ship tests positive, health minister says
A French national evacuated from a luxury cruise ship linked to a deadly hantavirus outbreak tested positive for the virus, the French health minister said Monday. Four other French passengers from the…
The Western Conference Never Gets Any Easier, Does It?
Fresh lottery results promise a talent influx for Utah and Memphis, arming division rivals with elite picks that complicate Houston’s path through an increasingly relentless Southwest Division.
Woman turns COVID hobby into business, transforming broken car windows into jewelry
"I had a lot of people trying to offer me certain glass, and I had to learn a lot about how specific glass was made."
Scientists have unraveled the details of how plants clone themselves
Scientists found the genetic switch - the GEMMIFER gene - behind asexual reproduction, or cloning, in plants.
City of Auburn Hills issues warning to businesses during Water Main Break
According to city officials, “Instances of water use for non-essential purposes during the State of Emergency will be investigated, and violators may be prosecuted.”
Why Ruin a Good Thing?
All money isn’t good money. It’s a life lesson that must be learned by those with a hunger for increasing their income. Typically, the refrain is used in rags-to-riches style films, where one must confront the reality that desperation leaves them vulnerable to overlooking a trap or taking a dumb risk. In other film styles, […]
Oregon Democrats found a way to improve roads. Now their gas tax goes before voters as prices soar
A referendum on Oregon's primary ballot seeking to repeal a Democratic gas tax increase is complicating the affordability message central to the party's midterm election strategy.
Pokémon GO Events This Week: 11
Pokémon GO’s May 11-17 week sees us enter the final month of the season of Memories in Motion! Welcome Spring with the Spring Marathon, and enjoy Deino Community Day Classic. Plus the weekly rotating Raid Hours, Dynamax Battles and Mega Raids. ⭐Highlights Raid Boss Change (May 13): Pheromosa, Buzzwole, Xurkitree, and Mega Glalie return to the raid pool. […]
The unexpected region fuelling UK's American football rise
The NFL UK manager says he is keeping an eye out for talent in Bristol and its surrounding areas.
Ben Affleck and Matt Damon sued by Miami cops for defamation over portrayal in their movie 'The Rip'
Two Miami police officers are suing Matt Damon and Ben Affleck's production company for defamation, claiming that the actors' recent Netflix crime drama, 'The Rip,' harmed their 'personal and professional reputations.'
Big takeaways from my first-ever Formula 1 race
In this Saturday edition of Business Insider Today, we're talking about all the luxury on display at the F1 Miami Grand Prix.
Get more space and solid performance with this MacBook Pro for under $500
Extra space for files, apps, and projects.
Prosecutors aim to strip U.S. citizenship from diplomat-turned-spy
The Trump administration moved this week to denaturalize 11 other people accused of crimes, including child sexual abuse and providing material support to terrorists.
Monterey police arrest man accused of sexual battery at unlicensed massage business
Monterey Police said they arrested a man allegedly running an unlicensed massage business who sexually battered a person.
Game on: ASU students join ‘hot' field of sports psychology
Nowadays, every time a professional athlete wins a gold medal, dunks a ball or knocks it out of the park, there's a good chance a mental performance coach is celebrating along with the rest of the team.And while these coaches have long been considered essential at an elite level, they are no longer a luxury reserved for professionals only.
Money for maternal health
The Dallas Foundation will invest $2 million toward improving pediatric and maternal health in underserved parts of Dallas County, the foundation announced this week.
Rivian eyes more EV variants as affordable R2 rollout begins
Rivian is signaling that its push into more affordable electric vehicles may extend well beyond the upcoming R2 SUV — a key development for the EV maker as it tries to broaden its appeal beyond luxury buyers.
Did Microsoft just tease a new Xbox UI?
Microsoft is working on a more consistent Xbox UI across consoles, PC, and cloud gaming.
Is the FDA Really Suppressing Science? Plus. . .
It’s Thursday, May 7. This is The Front Page, your daily window into the world of The Free Press—and our take on the world at large. Today: Aaron MacLean says Trump is poised to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory in the Iran war. Joe Klein on the life of CNN founder Ted Turner. Jillian Lederman on why cruise ships are here to stay. And much more. But first: Is the FDA suppressing science? On Tuesday, The New York Times published a story with an alarming takeaway. “FDA Blocked Publication of Research Finding Covid and Shingles Vaccines Were Safe,” read the headline. It is the latest in a string of stories that all have the same message: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and other agencies, are engaged in a cover-up—and silencing scientists trying to get the word out about the Covid vaccine. What all these stories suggest—some more subtly than others—is that the outsiders now running the public health establishment, officials such as Marty Makary at the FDA and Jay Bhattacharya at the National Institutes of Health, are on a revenge tour. That they are doing harm to the country to get back at the scientists and bureaucrats who ostracized them for deviating from the public-health consensus during the pandemic. It’s a seductive narrative. But is it true? That’s the question we address in our latest editorial. —The Editors Read [ Marty Makary's FDA Has All the Right Enemies ](https://www.thefp.com/p/marty-makary-vaccine-study-fda) [ Trump Blinks First ](https://www.thefp.com/p/iran-peace-deal-pakistan-trump-strait-of-hormuz) Aaron MacLean In return for no detectable concessions, President Trump this week gave up on forcing open the Strait of Hormuz. Now, the Trump administration looks desperate for a deal to end the war with Iran. It’s easy to understand the desire to end the war, but are they blowing the chance at victory? Aaron MacLean makes sense of the administration’s latest moves—and Iran’s response—in his column today. Read full story Aaron MacLean and Niall Ferguson: Live in New York City Join Aaron MacLean and Niall Ferguson on May 19 for a live recording of School of War at the iconic New York Historical. In a conversation as timely as it is wide-ranging, Aaron and Niall will explore the strategic stakes of the moment, including the Middle East, China, and the future of American leadership on the global stage. Get Tickets Now [ Ted Turner, the Optimist Who Built CNN ](https://www.thefp.com/p/ted-turner-cnn-tribute) Joe Klein The man who gave us CNN and the 24-hour news cycle, Ted Turner, died Wednesday at the age of 87. Today, political writer Joe Klein—who almost ghostwrote Turner’s autobiography—remembers his friend, the American media mogul who stood out for his idealism and lack of a filter—something that got Turner in trouble more than once. “His was not a traditional intelligence, but one of horizon: Ted saw things before other people did,” Joe writes. Read full story [ Nothing Can Sink the Cruise Ship ](https://www.thefp.com/p/cruise-ship-hantavirus) Jillian Lederman A viral outbreak on a cruise ship that left three passengers dead has left some people wondering: Are cruise ships on the way out? Not so fast, says Jillian Lederman, who has been on many a cruise herself. Read her piece on why 38 million people a year take a cruise—and aren’t about to stop. Read full story [ The Great Writers Who Were Terrible People ](https://www.thefp.com/p/the-great-writers-who-were-terrible) Shilo Brooks Throughout history, some of the greatest literary geniuses have also been immoral bigots. In the latest episode of Old School, Shilo Brooks is joined by Eli Lake for a conversation about those geniuses, from Voltaire to Norman Mailer and Roald Dahl—and why we should read their work despite their odious prejudices. Listen on MORE FROM THE FREE PRESS [ Inside the Digital Intifada ](https://www.thefp.com/p/digital-intifada-social-media-hamas-terror) Warren Kinsella Read full story [ This Week in American History: Trump’s Over-Arching Problem ](https://www.thefp.com/p/this-week-in-american-history-trumps-over-arching-problem) Jonathan Horn Read full story [ Humanity Is Still Evolving—and Fast ](https://www.thefp.com/p/humanity-is-still-evolvingand-fast) Razib Khan Read full story THE NEWS Thirteen D.C. Metropolitan Police officers have been placed on administrative leave and could face termination after an internal investigation found evidence that crime statistics were manipulated to make the city look safer. The Republican-led House Oversight Committee previously alleged that former D.C. police chief Pamela Smith pressured officers to skew data. Tennessee Republicans unveiled a redrawn U.S. House map yesterday that would split up Memphis’s black-majority Democratic district, the latest move in a nationwide push to redraw congressional boundaries ahead of the midterms. The effort follows a Supreme Court ruling last week on Louisiana’s districts, which Tennessee House Speaker Cameron Sexton said gave states the green light to redraw maps along partisan lines. Israel struck Beirut for the first time since a ceasefire with Hezbollah took effect last month, saying it targeted a commander of the militant group’s elite Radwan force in the city’s southern suburbs. The strikes risk destabilizing that truce at a delicate moment, as Iran and the U.S. report progress toward a deal to resolve their own standoff. The U.S. Air Force is aiming for a Fourth of July delivery of a Boeing 747 gifted by Qatar, hoping to add it to the Air Force One fleet in time for the U.S.’s 250th anniversary, Reuters reported. (For more on the controversy surrounding the aircraft, read Jed Rubenfeld’s piece “It’s a Terrible Idea, but Trump Probably Can Accept a Free Jet from Qatar.”) Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick testified privately before Congress that he has no memory of why he and his family dined on Jeffrey Epstein’s private island in 2012, according to Reuters. The admission contradicts Lutnick’s earlier claim that he had cut ties with the convicted sex offender well before that visit. Weeks before a former JPMorgan investment banker filed a lawsuit packed with explosive allegations, the bank reportedly offered him $1 million to settle his sexual assault and harassment claims, according to The Wall Street Journal. The suit, filed by Chirayu Rana, alleges he was sexually assaulted by a female colleague, subjected to racial discrimination, and forced into a degrading dynamic at work. JPMorgan says the claims lack merit, and the female colleague’s lawyers call the accusations fabricated. A new report from the Hartford Institute for Religion Research shows that, for the first time in roughly 20 years, church attendance is trending upward, with more people volunteering and clergy expressing renewed optimism. The study’s authors described the findings, based on a survey of more than 7,400 congregations, as showing signs of widespread recovery from low attendance numbers.
UniCredit to Take Cumulative €3 Billion Hit on Russia Sale
UniCredit SpA has signed a non-binding accord to sell parts of its business in Russia to a private investor in the United Arab Emirates, as the Italian lender accelerates efforts to scale back its presence in the country.
How Ethics Committee handling Chuck Edwards' investigation works
Edwards is one of numerous Congress members who have faced allegations of sexual misconduct.
New Mavericks president Masai Ujiri gives perfect answer when asked if he would've traded Luka Dončić
Xbox continues its brand refresh with a slick new boot-up animation that leans into nostalgia and the return of "Team Green"
Xbox is introducing a brand new boot-up animation for Xbox consoles as part of the company’s ongoing brand refresh.
Can a peace deal be agreed between Iran and US?
Both sides want an end to the war but on their terms – and they remain far apart
ECOSOC Science, Technology and Innovation Forum 2026 | UN Meetings Coverage and Press Releases
The two-day Multi-stakeholder Forum on Science, Technology and Innovation for the Sustainable Development Goals, held 6-7 May, will focus on the theme "Transformative, equitable and coordinated science, technology and innovation for the 2030 Agenda and a sustainable future for all”. In the morning, Economic and Social Council President Lok Bahadur Thapa and Assistant Secretary-General for Policy Coordination, United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs Bjørg Sandkjær will make opening remarks. Wednesday will feature a ministerial session under the theme “Strengthening the science-policy nexus to drive sustainable development” and a session on "Transforming water systems with science, technology and innovation".
Marina business owner arrested in alleged sexual assault during spiritual cleansing
Marina police said a business owner was arrested in connection with the alleged sexual assault of a woman who went to the business for a spiritual cleansing.
Lucid plans to adjust production, citing elevated EV inventory
Lucid Group said it will make moves to better align its production with customer demand for its luxury all-electric vehicles.
Audrey Beth Davis, Longtime Entertainment Publicist, Dies at 82
Audrey Beth Davis, a retired longtime entertainment publicist, died of natural causes on May 1 in Pennsylvania. She was 82. Davis was born on October 17, 1943, in Brooklyn, N.Y. and graduated from Bro...
Ogilvy Sports & Entertainment Expands Offering with Article 41 Investment
Little Black Book, Ogilvy names Vickie Segar global chief sports and entertainment officer
Jamie-Lynn Sigler reveals James Gandolfini was a no-show at her first wedding with ‘no warning’
Jamie-Lynn Sigler revealed in her memoir, 'And So It Is...A Memoir of Acceptance,' that her 'Sopranos' costar James Gandolfini was a no-show to her first wedding.
Newly released documents reveal more than $300,000 in taxpayer-funded sexual harassment settlements involving lawmakers
Taxpayers have paid more than $300,000 in confidential sexual harassment settlements on behalf of six former members of the House of Representatives or their offices, according to GOP Rep. Nancy Mace and documents reviewed by CNN.
Dustin Diamond's father responds to late son's allegation he stole his money: 'Throwing me under the bus'
Mark Diamond, the father of late 'Saved by the Bell' star Dustin Diamond, is clearing up allegations shared years ago by his son that he pocketed or spent most of Dustin's money while he worked as a child star.
EDITORIAL: Normalization of misconduct in U.S. politics
President Donald J. Trump's 2016 presidential campaign propelled conversations regarding sexual assault into the national spotlight. A handful of women slowly began coming forward with allegations of unwanted advances and perverse comments over the course of the election cycle, and concerns were further solidified after a secret recording from a 2005 Hollywood Access tape was leaked. Trump had been caught on a hot mic stating he was able to touch women as he pleased, and due to his social status as a "star," they would let him do it. The New York Times published a series of interviews from individuals who had both witnessed and experienced his inappropriate behavior soon after.
A 22,000-Home Community Is Being Built in a 5,000-Person Town
Chatham Park, a master-planned community in Pittsboro, N.C., is expected to expand the town to 60,000 people when completed.
Global Health & WASH: May 2026 Funding Opportunities (14 new opportunities!)
The May update for Global Health & WASH brings new calls that cluster around three distinct shifts: LMIC research leadership moving from funder encouragement into a hard eligibility constraint, pharmaceutical and corporate-linked funders running structurally independent education and use-inspired research portfolios at substantial scale, and AI adoption shifting decisively from speculative tool to operational capability across health and WASH systems alike. In LMIC Research Leadership as Eligibility, Not Encouragement, Wellcome anchors the dominant signal of the month with three separate major calls that all require or strongly center LMIC leadership in their basic eligibility architecture. Wellcome’s ESIC Hubs (£1.5-£1.9M per hub over 3-5 years) explicitly requires an LMIC-based lead applicant, treating Global South leadership as a design constraint rather than a participation goal. Wellcome’s Infectious Disease Clinical Trial Development Award funds transdisciplinary teams whose lead must be a mid-career or established researcher based at an organization in Africa, South Asia, or Southeast Asia. Wellcome’s larger Infectious Disease Clinical Trial Award (£1M-£8M for optimizing licensed interventions) requires the administering organization to be in eligible LMIC regions and at least 50% of applicants based there. Around Wellcome, the same pattern shows up at smaller scale and across funders: CHINNOVA channels $1M into West and Central African research institutions for climate-health work; IBRO’s Neuroscience Training Grants explicitly tier ceilings by region of residence with Africa receiving the highest amount ($5,000); IHME’s GBD Emerging Researcher Award reserves at least one of its two annual awards for an LMIC researcher; Sidaction’s HIV Cure call funds research teams across France, the Netherlands, and eligible African countries with a minimum two-country collaboration requirement. Taken together, these calls signal a meaningful shift in how research equity is being operationalized — not as encouragement language at the bottom of a call, but as a structural feature of who can lead, where the work must be administered, and what proportion of the team must be regionally rooted. In Pharma-Funded Independent Medical Education and Use-Inspired Research, the lineup this month is unusually deep. Pfizer alone runs four parallel calls under independent education and quality improvement frameworks: a Migraine and Women’s Health RFP (200K x 2-year, $500K pool), Migraine IME ($200K, $1M pool), JAK Inhibitor evidence-based education ($100K), and Maternal Vaccination HCP Education in Saudi Arabia ($75K), plus a separate Pediatric Pneumococcal Surveillance research call in Saudi Arabia ($400K per project). Novo Nordisk Foundation runs four parallel calls of its own at substantial scale: Infectious Diseases Catalyst Grants (DKK 60M pool, up to DKK 7M collaborative), Non-Diabetic Endocrinology Collaborative Grants (DKK 53M pool, DKK 5-10M per project), Pioneer Innovator Grant Health (DKK 1.1M), and Distinguished Innovator Grant Health (DKK 6.8M). LEO Foundation deploys DKK 2-4M per project for dermatology research excellence. Pfizer’s framing across calls deliberately separates the funding from product promotion, emphasizing measurable practice-relevant change and structural distance between scientific outputs and commercial activity. Novo Nordisk’s “use-inspired” hard filter pushes researchers toward a credible translation pathway from mechanism to deployable tool. The pattern: industry-aligned funders are running structurally independent portfolios at meaningful $ that fund implementation evidence, not promotion. In AI as Operational Capability, Not Speculation, several calls this month explicitly treat AI adoption as a near-term operational question with real evidence and governance requirements, rather than a speculative trend to be watched. Wellcome’s ESIC Hubs frames AI as “the accelerator” for evidence synthesis, asking hubs to translate technical innovation into adoption-ready workflows that can match real-world policy timelines. UNICEF Venture Fund’s new Climate Tech for Children’s Health call funds for-profit startups deploying AI, machine learning, and blockchain in low-resource environments, with a strict requirement that solutions must already have a working prototype with promising pilot results. The Water Research Foundation has launched two simultaneous AI calls treating reproducibility, cybersecurity guardrails, and human-in-the-loop deployments as core design constraints rather than nice-to-haves: one on GenAI and Agentic AI in water utilities ($200K), one on alternatives to water shutoffs that explicitly screens for implementation economics evidence. Nordic Innovation’s quantum technology call (NOK 4.5M) extends the same logic into life science and healthcare, demanding consortium-stage projects mature enough to test with real users. TEF-Health offers €300K in subsidized testing infrastructure for European healthcare AI and robotics SMEs. The pattern: funders are converting AI pilots into playbooks, requiring transfer evidence and risk controls before AI can move from experimentation to sector-wide operational practice. For LMIC-based researchers in infectious disease or evidence synthesis, the three Wellcome calls together represent the deepest concentration of LMIC-led research capital in recent memory — pair the Infectious Disease Clinical Trial Development Award (£200K, deadline May 19) as a strategic pipeline feeder into the larger Infectious Disease Clinical Trial Award (£1-£8M, deadline June 2), since the development award functions explicitly as a track into the larger trial scheme. For Nordic researchers, the four Novo Nordisk Foundation calls plus LEO Foundation and Nordic Innovation Quantum represent ~$30M in regional research capital this cycle, all with deadlines clustered in May-August. For WASH practitioners, the three Water Research Foundation calls together (each up to $200K) are a cluster worth reading across — one on AI deployment, one on shutoff alternatives, one rewarding applied innovation — and the strongest applicants will articulate how their work bridges utility operations to policy-relevant evidence. For US-based clinical researchers and educators, the four Pfizer calls plus the APF Portfolio’s 80+ programs form an unusually accessible recurring pipeline; APF’s prohibition on indirect costs is a meaningful structural feature for early-career applicants whose institutions might otherwise absorb significant overhead. Snapshot of New Opportunities Total Estimated Funding Pool: $100 Million+ USD The grants are organized into three categories: Open Calls: Current grant and opportunities with a deadline. Grants are listed by closing date. 39 open opportunities- 14 new! Rolling Applications: current grant and opportunities with rolling applications (but it’s still best to submit as early as possible). 14 rolling opportunities- 1 new opportunity! Long term planning: Grants that have closed their current rounds, but are expected to open new windows. 4 long term opportunities! A quick tip for returning readers: if you want to jump straight to the newest additions, use CTRL F to search for “New!” and navigate quickly to the latest funding opportunities This post is for paid subscribers. This helps support the time and effort it takes to curate and organize these opportunities. Subscribe To keep this accessible to everyone who needs it, we’re happy to offer pay what you can rates. You can find more details here. Open Calls: Migraine Competitive Grant Program: Migraine and Women’s Health (Quality Improvement and/or Research RFP), Pfizer.*Closing soon!* Pfizer, in collaboration with the American Headache Society, is seeking independent quality improvement and research projects that close persistent gaps in migraine care for women across the United States. The funding logic centers on measurable, practice-relevant change: proposals should generate actionable evidence, tools, or system improvements that can be shared and used widely, not just within a single site. Priority areas span menstrual migraine and screening in women’s health settings, the role of hormonal fluctuations across the lifespan, sex-specific risk factors, comorbidities and quality-of-life burden, and disparities in outcomes by race, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status. The call is structured as a two-step competitive process with an initial Letter of Intent, with the strongest concepts expected to translate scientific insight into implementable improvements in diagnosis, management, and equity. Geographies: United States. Who can apply: U.S.-based organizations (not individuals), including professional schools, healthcare institutions, professional organizations, and other entities focused on healthcare improvement. Funding amount: Up to USD $200,000 total over 2 years; total pool USD $500,000. Targeted Sectors / SDGs: Health; Focus areas: migraine, women’s health, quality improvement, clinical research, menstrual migraine, health disparities. Deadline: LOI: May 5, 2026; Full proposal (by invitation): August 28, 2026. Learn more and apply here. This RFP rewards “shareable impact”: the most competitive submissions will pair rigorous methods with a clear plan for system uptake and dissemination beyond the originating institution. ReSSARC: Strengthening the Health Sector and Food Security in the Central African Republic (AID 013381/01/0) Call for Proposals, Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS). *Closing soon!* AICS is seeking a limited set of high-capacity humanitarian partners to deliver an integrated package that stabilizes essential health services while reducing acute malnutrition and strengthening food security resilience in priority areas of the Central African Republic. The funder’s logic is explicitly nexus-based: proposals should meet urgent, life-saving needs while reinforcing local systems, coordination mechanisms, and community-level capacity so results persist beyond the emergency window. AICS emphasizes inclusion and protection outcomes, expecting gender-sensitive design and explicit measures for groups facing compounded vulnerability, including women, children under five, internally displaced people, and people with disabilities. The call also signals a localization pathway, encouraging stronger collaboration with national NGOs and balanced partnerships, alongside clear coordination with existing cluster and humanitarian actors to minimize duplication and improve coverage. Geographies: Central African Republic (Bangui, Ombella-Mpoko, Ouham, Ouham-Pende, Lim-Pende, Lobaye). Who can apply: Non-profit organizations registered with AICS, plus eligible non-profits without an office in Italy that have a pre-existing collaboration agreement with an AICS-listed organization. Funding amount: Total pool EUR €1,800,000; max EUR €800,000 (single applicant) or EUR €1,000,000 (ATS). Targeted Sectors / SDGs: Health; Focus areas: malnutrition prevention and treatment, maternal and child health, community health services, food security and resilience, localization partnerships Deadline: May 5, 2026. Learn more and apply here. This call is structured to reward partners who can link frontline service delivery to system durability and localization, not just short-term coverage gains. Contracts for Innovation in drug and alcohol addiction healthcare, Innovate UK. *Closing soon!* Innovate UK, on behalf of the Office for Life Sciences Addiction Healthcare Goals program, is procuring R&D to accelerate innovations that can improve treatment outcomes, strengthen recovery, and reduce harm and deaths linked to drug and alcohol addiction. The competition is positioned as a market-facing readiness push: selected projects are expected to advance solutions toward later-stage validation, generate evidence of user acceptability and UK market fit, and map credible routes through regulatory and certification requirements. Innovate UK signals a preference for innovations that can be field-tested in relevant UK settings and progressed to TRL 6 or 7, with practical plans for commercialization after contract completion. This structure favors applicants that can execute most work in-house, co-develop with service providers and people with lived experience, and translate technical progress into deployable tools for addiction healthcare delivery. Geographies: United Kingdom. Who can apply: Single organizations of any size (including EU, EEA, or international) leading delivery, with most work and key deliverables carried out in the UK; subcontractors for specialist skills only. Funding amount: GBP £200,000–1.5 million per project (inclusive of VAT); Total pool: GBP £20 million (across two strands). Targeted Sectors / SDGs: Health; Focus areas: Mental Health, Health Systems Strengthening, Research & Development, Technology Access. Deadline: May 6, 2026 (11:00am). Learn more and apply here. This call uses procurement to pull near-market addiction innovations toward operational proof and adoption pathways in UK services.
Missed Sexual Health Assessment May Limit Clinical Insight
New data show strong links between chronic disease, sexual dysfunction, and loneliness, highlighting missed opportunities for holistic patient evaluation.
Syphilis spikes in California as health chiefs warn sexually active to urgently get tested
76ers limit ticket sales vs. Knicks to Philadelphia as Joel Embiid implores fans not to sell: ‘If you need money, I got you'
Pittsburgh Irish Festival reveals headlining acts for 35th annual event
The 35th annual event at the Carrie Blast Furnaces National Historic Landmark features a slate of international headliners and local performers.
Georgia cashes in with 5-star tight end commitment
The Bulldogs landed a premier offensive weapon in their 2027 recruiting class.
Joel Embiid implores 76ers fans not to sell their tickets for playoff series vs. Knicks: 'If you need money, I got you'
CISA Adds Actively Exploited Linux Root Access Bug CVE-2026-31431 to KEV
CVE-2026-31431 exploited in Linux since 2017, enabling root access via simple PoC, increasing container and cloud risks.
Despite blowing 3-1 lead after standout regular season, the Celtics remain unfazed: 'We stick to the process'
Jaylen Brown accuses Joel Embiid of 'flopping around,' points to refs after Celtics' Game 7 loss to Sixers
Inter set to sign Manuel Akanji permanently from Man City
Serie A side Inter have come just a bit closer to winning the title after Napoli’s failure to beat Como. Their match towards silverware is also just a confirmation that Manuel Akanji will join them ...
Michigan football lands in-state four-star lineman
Four-star offensive tackle Jakari Lipsey from Loy Norrix High in Kalamazoo has committed to Michigan.
Ex-One Direction singer cancels all U.S. tour dates following health crisis
The former 'One Direction" boy band member announced that he has removed all of his upcoming U.S. tour dates to focus on his health.
Fabrizio Romano confirms Liverpool could agree outrageous transfer
Fabrizio Romano has confirmed Liverpool could agree an extraordinary move.Liverpool sporting director Richard Hughes is expected to prioritise midfield reinforcements in the upcoming transfer window, ...
Mets earn a much needed win
The Mets’ main pitching and hitting problems disappeared tonight.
Florida Yacht Charter Business Fights $1.5 Million Tax Bill
A Florida yachting venture that participated in high-stakes offshore fishing tournaments before unforeseen setbacks forced a pivot to luxury charters told the US Tax Court the IRS wrongly defined its business as a hobby and assessed more than $1.5 million in tax liabilities.
ECAC Women’s Flag Football Coaches Exude Enthusiasm as Championship Weekend Arrives
Danbury, Conn. - ECAC Women’s Flag Football Coaches Exude Enthusiasm as Championship Weekend Arrives
Meryl Streep explains why she 'had a beef' with her 'Death Becomes Her' costar Goldie Hawn
Meryl Streep explained why she 'had a beef' with Goldie Hawn during the production of 1992's 'Death Becomes Her.'
The Trump Administration Casts Out the ‘Soul’ of MAHA
The withdrawal of Casey Means’s nomination for surgeon general is the latest blow to the movement.
House Ethics Committee investigating allegations of sexual harassment against GOP Rep. Chuck Edwards
The House Ethics Committee is investigating allegations of sexual harassment against GOP Rep. Chuck Edwards, according to two sources familiar with the matter.
Dolphins' 2026 NFL draft plan impressed NFC executive
The Miami Dolphins added 13 players in the 2026 NFL draft, their largest class in almost 30 years. At least one exec was impressed by Miami's plan.
New Linux 'Copy Fail' Vulnerability Enables Root Access on Major Distributions
CVE-2026-31431 CVSS 7.8 flaw since 2017 enables root via 732-byte exploit, impacting major Linux distributions.
How to Build a Profitable Handbag Business From Scratch
With profitability now within reach, the London-based luxury leather goods brand Métier is raising fresh capital to fuel its next chapter.
Johnson quells House GOP revolt to advance controversial surveillance bill
For more than two hours on the chamber’s floor, the speaker and fellow Republican leaders cajoled holdouts on that bill and others on DHS funding and farm policy.
Josh Duggar's prison sentence extended as cousin Amy claims he's in solitary confinement
Josh Duggar's prison sentence has been extended as his cousin claims the reality star — who was convicted of possessing child sexual abuse material — has been placed in solitary confinement.
GalaxyBids Announces New Auction Platform That Blends Entertainment and Luxury
Part of GalaxyBids’s allure is meant to come from its ability to make online shopping a more active and, therefore, interesting process.