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France restricts public drinking and outdoor sports as heat wave bakes parts of Europe

The Eiffel Tower and other Paris venues set up misting stations to cool crowds, among a raft of measures introduced by authorities to minimize risks. Tourists in Rome dunked in fountains. Spain’s Basque Country canceled some sports and cultural events.

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Jun 21 • 12:10 PM EDT • Sports • pbs.org
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Latvia pilots citizen engagement in research grant evaluations

Latvia has introduced an element of citizen engagement to the evaluation of nationally funded research grants. The aim is to both create more connections between science and society, and to improve the quality of its evaluations. The move comes as research funders across Europe are experimenting with ways to improve evaluation processes in the face of a sharpened focus on science’s impact on society. Evaluators of grant applications submitted to Latvia’s Fundamental and Applied Research Programme (FLPP), the country’s main research funder, will this year have the option of consulting citizen feedback on challenges the public thinks science should focus on to inform their decisions. “In recent years, both public discussions and policy-level debates in Latvia have highlighted the importance of demonstrating how publicly funded research contributes to society, the economy and the resolution of real-world challenges,” said a source at the Latvian Council of Science (LCS), which manages the FLPP. “At the same time, research institutions themselves expressed interest in improving the project evaluation framework while continuing to ensure that funding is awarded to the highest-quality projects,” the source added. The citizen input comes from a survey that was conducted between 25 February and 16 March 2025, to which 1,737 people responded. It gathered information on what the public views as problem areas for Latvia, and the role of science and technology in providing solutions to these problems. A summary of these responses has been included as an annex to the FLPP 2026 call for proposals that evaluators can refer to, purely in an advisory manner, when judging proposals. Results from the survey show that the main problem areas identified by the public were in healthcare and public health, followed by the development of new treatment methods and medicines, and then digital technology, data security and cyber security. At the bottom of the list was research aimed at acquiring new knowledge about the universe, matter and the laws of nature. Further analysis looked at the public view of the possible role of science in solving these problems. The survey charted 4,167 individual responses based on open-ended questions that were derived from the participants’ answers. The analysis again found that medical and health sciences topped the scoring, with 788 responses referring to the field. Humanities and the arts were bottom of the list, with 625. Digging further into the details, the survey suggests citizens are aware of and concerned about a number of research areas. This includes technologies and innovation to improve the environment or reduce pollution, the development of modern military technologies and cybersecurity tools, and the development and application of artificial intelligence, among others. “We hope this initiative will help strengthen public trust in science and create a more meaningful dialogue between researchers and society,” the LCS source said, adding that it offers benefits to researchers, evaluators and to the general public. More space for citizen engagement in evaluationsThere is a gradual but increasing use of citizen engagement in research evaluation processes around Europe, especially in healthcare, but it remains relatively rare, said Henry Sauermann, a professor at the European School of Management and Technology in Berlin and an expert in citizen science.“Given that we are at a point where citizen involvement is extremely limited, there is presumably space for more, but it's not that we should do it just because we want to do it,” he told Science|Business. He said some research lends itself better to having citizen input, and this usually tends to be on the applied end of the science spectrum where the public can offer useful feedback based on their experiences. He added that advising scientists on certain topics to study is also a useful approach, in the way that Latvia is doing. “The public does fund a lot of science, there's a lot of tax money going into this. We of course do want to preserve academic freedom, but it's also not unreasonable to incorporate more feedback or input from citizens where possible,” he said. Related articlesCitizen science: where, when, and how to let the public contribute to researchHow can Europe cope with a flood of AI-assisted research grant proposals?Data Corner: Horizon Europe’s AI, digital and data call success rate is 5.2%There are several ways of involving citizens in science funding. The most minimal way is having a few representatives on a panel, such as members of a patient group or union. The most direct way is crowdsourcing funding for specific projects. There is an increasing number of online platforms that allow the public to chip in to support scientific proposals.Sauermann studied this in a recent paper and found that it can have its uses, but it still is not clear if there are benefits to it. There are various assumptions linked to citizen engagement, for example that it increases public trust in science, or that it provides a representative view of what the public thinks about science. These are not necessarily true, Sauermann found. People who participate in engagement activities tend to already be very trusting of science, and, on the whole, it is generally the well-off and well educated who contribute, giving a narrow view of public opinion. On whether citizen input can help manage the increasing number of proposals that are being submitted due to assistance from AI, Sauermann is more sceptical. “The obvious answer to the flood of AI-written proposals is AI-driven evaluation,” he said, adding that it doesn’t mean citizen engagement shouldn’t be a part of evaluations in a well thought-out manner. Southern Denmark’s successful approachOne successful example of citizen engagement in science evaluations was implemented in southern Denmark. Between 2019 and 2025, citizens in the region were invited to vote to fund one of five pre-selected projects in the field of healthcare. The project, called A Healthier Southern Denmark, was a collaboration between regional authorities, the University of Southern Denmark, and two media partners. Over the seven years, there were 75,000 votes and significant public engagement online and on social media. “It was a bit of a wild project, we’d never done something like that before and we were a bit nervous about what would be said in the media about it. But actually, people were very positive,” said Anne Kathrine Overgaard, one of the main organisers of the project from the University of Southern Denmark. The university and its researchers have learned a lot from the experience, particularly about engaging with society and shaping their research to match real-world needs. This is important with Europe’s increasing focus on competitiveness and bringing innovations to market faster, Overgaard said. She hopes to see more citizen engagement in evaluation processes and in science more broadly. “For many years, citizen engagement has been a bit of an add-on to proposals, just to check a box. But I think things are changing,” she said. It’s less about citizens just gathering data and more “about the dialogue between the public and the scientists,” she said. The initiative ended last year as the team wanted to regroup to find fresh momentum. The development of AI and AI-written proposals has made Overgaard reflect on how the project could be reworked to help evaluators. She hopes to bring it back in the future. “It could be a good idea to try this initiative again in a slightly re-worked format,” she said.

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Jun 16 • 8:00 PM EDT • Science • sciencebusiness.net
Authorities respond after car crashes into massage business in Hallandale Beach

Authorities were responding after a car crashed into a massage business in Hallandale Beach on Tuesday.

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Jun 16 • 12:15 PM EDT • Business • nbcmiami.com
UNESCO Director-General reinforces strategic cooperation with Italy

UNESCO Director-General Khaled El-Enany carried out his official visit to Italy on 8 and 9 June 2026, travelling to Venice, Trieste and Rome to strengthen cooperation with national authorities, UNESCO

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Jun 15 • 8:00 AM EDT • Science • unesco.org
Ebola cases in eastern Congo climb to 782 and deaths reach 181, authorities say

The Congolese Ministry of Health reports that confirmed Ebola cases in Congo have increased to 782, with 181 deaths

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Jun 14 • 5:06 PM EDT • Health • washingtonpost.com
Georgia man accused of forging check from local Iowa livestock business

Authorities said he forged a check for more than $14,000.

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Jun 13 • 9:26 PM EDT • Business • kcrg.com
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Barricaded man prompts SWAT, police response at Fort Lauderdale business

Fort Lauderdale police and SWAT officers responded Friday afternoon to a barricaded man believed to be inside a business after authorities say entered an unauthorized area and refused to leave.

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Jun 12 • 4:35 PM EDT • Business • local10.com
Sheriff in Nancy Guthrie case addresses anonymous tip about alleged unmarked grave near Mexican border

The Pima County Sheriff's Department says it has not been in contact with Mexican authorities over an anonymous tip alleging that Nancy Guthrie's remains were buried in an unmarked grave near the border.

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Jun 11 • 7:59 PM EDT • Entertainment • ew.com
Authorities investigate giant ‘8647’ markings on National Mall

A judge ruled this month that the numbers on their own, which the Trump administration has called a threat against the president, constitute free speech.

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Jun 11 • 7:42 PM EDT • Politics • nbcnews.com
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Serena Williams and the coming reckoning with GLP-1s and performance enhancement

GLP-1s are not prohibited; the way they work means they might never be. Anti-doping authorities are still monitoring how athletes use them.

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Jun 10 • 5:01 AM EDT • Sports • nytimes.com
Congo’s Ebola outbreak rises to 100 deaths out of 550 cases after a month

At least 100 people have died from Ebola less than a month after authorities declared an outbreak of the disease in eastern Congo.

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Jun 9 • 2:39 AM EDT • Health • seattletimes.com
Britain's New Political Stars Just Don’t Do Regret

According to her housekeeper’s testimony, the New York hotel magnate Leona Helmsley’s policy on tax in the 1980s was “only the little people pay.” The courts found the so-called “Queen of Mean” guilty of federal tax evasion and the authorities ordered her sentence to begin on April 15 — for filing purposes, US Tax Day.

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Jun 9 • 12:00 AM EDT • Politics • bloomberg.com
Mental health counselor accused of child sex crimes, federal authorities searching for more victims

A mental health counselor is accused of child sex crimes, and federal investigators believe there are more victims.

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Jun 8 • 8:19 AM EDT • Health • weau.com
Mental health counselor accused of child sex crimes, federal authorities searching for more victims

A mental health counselor is accused of child sex crimes, and federal investigators believe there are more victims.

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Jun 8 • 8:19 AM EDT • Health • 12onyourside.com
Mental health counselor accused of child sex crimes, federal authorities searching for more victims

A mental health counselor is accused of child sex crimes, and federal investigators believe there are more victims.

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Jun 8 • 8:19 AM EDT • Health • azfamily.com
Mental health counselor accused of child sex crimes, federal authorities searching for more victims

A mental health counselor is accused of child sex crimes, and federal investigators believe there are more victims.

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Jun 8 • 8:19 AM EDT • Health • wtvm.com
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Police: Suspect arrested after man shot in head outside Sandbar sports bar in Miami Beach

A suspect has been arrested after a man was shot in the back of the head Friday outside the Sandbar sports bar in Miami Beach, authorities confirmed.

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Jun 8 • 7:58 AM EDT • Sports • local10.com
LAPD and feds conduct drug-busting operation in fentanyl hotspot MacArthur Park

The Los Angeles Police Department and federal agents are working on a joint operation targeting "illegal narcotics activity" in MarArthur Park, a hotspot for fentanyl sales and use, on Thursday afternoon, authorities said.

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Jun 4 • 6:57 PM EDT • Business • latimes.com
Weakened public health powers raise outbreak risks

Some jurisdictions have weakened their public health authorities in response to criticism of lockdowns, school closures, mask mandates, vaccine requirements and other COVID-era restrictions.

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Jun 4 • 4:36 PM EDT • Health • npr.org
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Luxury cars seized after alleged $30 million fraud ring involving children's health services busted, officials say

Federal authorities have busted what they say is a $30 million fraud conspiracy involving billing for children's behavioral health services that were never provided, officials announced.

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Jun 4 • 11:27 AM EDT • Health • cbsnews.com
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DR Congo friendly with Chile cancelled by Spanish city after health concerns over Ebola outbreak in the African nation.

DR Congo's international friendly against Chile in Spain next week is cancelled after authorities raise health concerns over the Ebola outbreak in the African nation.

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Jun 2 • 3:28 PM EDT • Health • bbc.com
Cause of death confirmed for Jamie Lee Curtis’ sister Kelly

Kelly Lee Curtis' cause of death has been confirmed by authorities. The older sister of Jamie Lee Curtis, Kelly died of natural causes.

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Jun 2 • 1:04 PM EDT • Entertainment • ew.com
Five people have left hantavirus quarantine facility in Nebraska

Some passengers from a hantavirus-striken cruise ship have returned to their home states, where they are under the watch of public health authorities for the remainder of their monitoring period.

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Jun 2 • 1:02 PM EDT • Health • washingtonpost.com
Health Alert: U.S. Embassy – June 2, 2026 – Thailand Enhanced Ebola Screening - U.S. Embassy & Consulate in Thailand

Health Alert: U.S. Embassy – June 2, 2026 – Thailand Enhanced Ebola Screening Ebola Screening Location: International Ports of Entry, Thailand Event: Thailand has implemented Ebola disease-related screening and quarantine measures for travelers who stayed in or transited through Ebola disease-affected countries, including the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda. Effective May 27, 2026, travelers from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda, or other neighboring countries with cross-border transmission will be screened by communicable disease control officers at the international port of entry in Thailand and could be subject to mandatory quarantine or self-isolation for at least 21 days. Failure to comply with quarantine or isolation orders may result in fines, imprisonment, or both under Thai law. Thailand currently has no confirmed Ebola cases but has implemented these measures following the World Health Organization’s Public Health Emergency declaration. For more information, contact Thailand’s Department of Disease Control hotline at 1422. Actions to Take: Follow directions from Thai authorities. Review Consular Information for Americans Regarding the Ebola Outbreak Stay up to date with the latest CDC Travel Health Notices Review the CDC’s Ebola Disease: Current Situationand Ebola Disease Basics Prepare or update your personal emergency plan. Review the Traveler’s Checklist. If at risk for Ebola disease, alert your healthcare provider if you are experiencing symptoms consistent with Ebola disease to receive guidance prior to presenting for care. Continue to take malaria prophylaxis if recommended, as the symptoms of malaria can mimic symptoms of Ebola disease, leading to preventable health scares. Monitor your health for 21 days following travel if you traveled to an area experiencing an Ebola disease outbreak. If you are a U.S. citizen or national planning to travel to the United States, contact your airline to confirm your flight and route. Enroll and update your information in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP). Follow the Department of State on Facebook and X . Visit state.gov and the U.S. Embassy in Thailand website. Assistance: U.S. Embassy Bangkok Phone: +66 02-205-4000 Email: ACSBKK@state.gov https://th.usembassy.gov/ State Department – Consular Affairs 888-407-4747 or 202-501-4444 Thailand Country Information Enroll in Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive security updates

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Jun 1 • 9:29 PM EDT • Health • th.usembassy.gov
Towards a responsive health system and equitable access to quality RMNCAH services

Indonesia’s vast geography and sociocultural diversity shape the delivery of reproductive, maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health (RMNCAH) services in ways that are both enabling and challenging. Across provinces, significant variation has been observed in how services are planned, resourced, and delivered. These variations in service standards and quality are felt daily in the lives of women, newborns and adolescents. Despite these challenges, progress is visible. National estimates show a drop in maternal mortality ratio, from 331 to 140 per 100 000 live births since 2000, signaling improvements in care quality and access. Fertility has stabilised and contraceptive use has grown, yet unmet reproductive health needs persist, and adolescent pregnancies continue to reflect early marriage and limited access to youth-friendly services.To better understand how Indonesia’s health system has evolved under decentralisation, the Ministry of Health, supported by World Health Organization (WHO), United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), IPAS and the Asian Development Bank (ADB), conducted a joint external review of RMNCAH programmes. This review draws on multiple sources of evidence, including existing literature, policy documents, national health system data, as well as field visits to six selected provinces to represent Indonesia’s geographic and administrative diversity. During the field visits, review teams observed service delivery in health facilities, spoke with health workers and local leaders and met mothers and families to understand how RMNCAH policies are operationalised. One of the challenges identified was the management of low birthweight (LBW) infants, a major contributor to neonatal deaths, under resource constraints. One midwife described a severe case of extremely LBW twins, one stillborn and the other died after three days of care. She recalled how the surviving infant struggled to swallow and may not have received breast milk, while simultaneous emergencies required the team’s attention, affecting the care provided to the infant.A subsequent review of the case by the district health office revealed insufficient antenatal care, fragmented maternal medical history due to population mobility, referral delays, limited provider capacity in neonatal intravenous access and a heavy workload that constrained proper newborn monitoring. These insights informed recommendations to strengthen both system-wide and service-level responses. Since the early 2000s, Indonesia’s decentralisation initiative has given much of the responsibility for funding, staffing and managing health services to regional governments. While the Ministry of Health sets national clinical standards, daily management of public health facilities falls under regional authorities through the Ministry of Internal Affairs. While this arrangement allows services to be tailored to local needs, it also depends heavily on local capacity for planning, budgeting and management. Health facilities and district health offices are better positioned to translate national priorities into local action when they have access to consistent technical support, helping health workers manage resource constraints and infrastructure gaps.The complexity of Indonesia’s health system governance is no easy feat to navigate. Understanding these dynamics is essential to strengthening policy, improving coordination and ensuring more equitable access to services across Indonesia. Under the leadership of Ministry of Health, recommendations from this exercise will be key in guiding the nation’s roadmap to an equitable and quality health system for RMNCAH.Written by Edit Oktavia Manuama, National Professional Officer (Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health), and Jessie Yunus, National Professional Officer (Gender, Rights, Equity, and Disability Inclusion)

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Jun 1 • 8:00 PM EDT • Health • who.int
Congo’s Ebola Footprint Widens as Officials Race to Gauge Epidemic’s True Scale

Congo’s Ebola outbreak is being detected across a widening swath of the country’s conflict-hit east as health authorities struggle to trace exposed contacts and determine the true scale of the epidemic.

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May 31 • 10:00 PM EDT • Health • bloomberg.com
Ministry of Public Health, WHO Thailand and the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the Kingdom of Thailand launch initiative to strengthen Thailand’s public health workforce

28 May 2026 | Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in ThailandA skilled and coordinated public health workforce is essential for protecting population health and responding to public health emergencies. Strengthening these capacities was the focus of a meeting held on 28 May 2026 at the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Thailand.Dr Ailan Li, WHO Representative to Thailand, together with Dr Watcharanan Tinnaitorn, Deputy Director of the Division of Public Health Emergency Management, Ministry of Public Health, and officials from WHO and the Ministry of Public Health, met with Counselor Zhang Xiaoxiao from the Economic & Commercial Counsellor's Office, Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the Kingdom of Thailand to mark the launch of collaboration under the WHO Roadmap to strengthen the public health workforce.The initiative supports Thailand in strengthening its public health workforce across both health and non-health sectors. Public health emergencies require coordinated action across a wide range of professions and institutions, including health workers, border control officers, water safety specialists, communication professionals and local government authorities. Through the project, partners will work together to assess workforce capacities, strengthen competencies and promote coordination across sectors to support preparedness and response efforts.The discussion highlighted opportunities to enhance cross-country collaboration through knowledge exchange, communication activities and engagement at key project milestones, supporting workforce development and emergency preparedness efforts.Beyond its immediate objectives, the initiative also reflects Thailand’s contributions to public health at regional and global levels. The exchange highlighted the importance of sharing experiences, lessons learned and good practices through international cooperation to strengthen public health capacity and preparedness.WHO expressed appreciation to the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Thailand for supporting the project and recognizing the importance of investing in public health workforce development, preparedness and health security through partnership and multilateral cooperation. WHO also commended Thailand’s continued leadership and commitment to strengthening public health systems and emergency preparedness, including through cross-sector collaboration and workforce development.WHO remains committed to supporting Thailand and partners in advancing resilient and people-centred public health systems and strengthening preparedness for future health challengesAbout the EPHF Roadmap ProjectThailand is one of four countries selected in 2026 to initiate implementation of the Essential Public Health Functions (EPHF) Roadmap, alongside Maldives, Papua New Guinea and Timor-Leste. The initiative is funded by the China International Development Cooperation Agency (CIDCA). The project is led by Thailand’s Ministry of Public Health, with WHO Thailand serving as a co-implementing partner. Other partners include the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (China CDC), the International Association of National Public Health Institutes (IANPHI), the Global Network for Academic Public Health/Public Health Interprofessional Leadership Alliance (GNAPH/PHILA) and the World Federation of Public Health Associations (WFPHA).

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May 31 • 8:00 PM EDT • Health • who.int
1 fatally shot, another critically wounded outside Santa Clarita Sports Complex

One man was killed, and another was left critically wounded from a shooting just outside of the Santa Clarita Sports Complex late Saturday night, authorities said. Deputies with the Los Angeles Cou…

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May 31 • 12:51 PM EDT • Sports • ktla.com
Suspected Ebola case in Cagliari, patient taken to hospital

A person has been taken to a hospital in Cagliari over a suspected Ebola case. Authorities admitted the patient for tests. They are said to have recently returned from a trip abroad.

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May 31 • 12:06 PM EDT • Health • euronews.com
🙂 Positive (50%)
Brazil’s Health Authorities Investigating a Suspected Ebola Case

Brazilian health authorities are investigating a suspected case of the Ebola virus involving a 37-year-old man from the Democratic Republic of Congo who recently traveled to Africa.

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May 30 • 3:18 PM EDT • Health • bloomberg.com
Suspected Ebola cases in Congo rise to 1,028, health minister says

Congolese ​authorities have ‌identified 1,028 suspected ​cases ​of Ebola, Health ⁠Minister Samuel ​Roger ​Kamba told reporters late Friday, ​up ​from 906 the ‌day ⁠before.

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May 29 • 4:47 PM EDT • Health • reuters.com
Man accused of killing grandmother during mental health call in Shavano Park identified

SAN ANTONIO - The man authorities say killed his elderly grandmother Wednesday in Shavano Park has been identifiedJoseph Martin Finnegan, 27, was charged with the murder after deputies found him at the home in what they

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May 28 • 10:55 AM EDT • Health • news4sanantonio.com
Iran: Mass arbitrary arrests and political executions mark intensifying repression

Iranian authorities are using the cover of what they call “wartime conditions” to intensify their repression of dissent through mass arbitrary arrests, accelerated grossly unfair judicial proceedings, politically motivated executions, harsh prison sentences, and asset confiscations, Amnesty International said today. Since the unlawful military attack launched by the USA and Israel against Iran on 28 […]

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May 28 • 5:00 AM EDT • Politics • amnesty.org
Cuba before Castro: See the island before the communist revolution

Federal US authorities have indicted former Cuban President Raúl Castro. See what the island looked like before the Cuban revolution and the Castros.

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May 27 • 9:08 AM EDT • Business • businessinsider.com
Ugandan health officials report new Ebola virus infections, bringing cases to 7

Ugandan health authorities on Monday reported two new Ebola cases, bringing the number of infections to seven.

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May 25 • 11:05 AM EDT • Health • pbs.org
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New ebola infections in Uganda as Congo passes 900 suspected cases

Ugandan health authorities reported two new Ebola cases, bringing the number of infections there to seven as the number of suspected cases in the Congo continued to rise.

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May 25 • 7:36 AM EDT • Health • cbsnews.com
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Ugandan health officials report new Ebola virus infections, bringing cases to 7

Ugandan health authorities on Monday reported two new Ebola cases, bringing the number of infections to seven.

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May 25 • 6:11 AM EDT • Health • ksat.com
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How integrating tradition and self-care has strengthened public health in the Americas

On 13 May 2026, a regional dialogue for the Americas titled, Innovative Experiences to Strengthen Health and Self-Care through Traditional, Complementary, and Integrative Medicine, was hosted by EsSalud, the government agency responsible for social security and health care in Peru.The event brought together representatives from the World Health Organization (WHO), the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), WHO collaborating centres, the health sector and academia. It presented regional perspectives from BrBolivia, Brazil, Mexico and Peru to explore how self-care and traditional medicine can strengthen public health, empower communities and support more inclusive models of care. Across all four countries, a clear message emerged: traditional medicine is not being positioned as an alternative to formal systems, but as a way to strengthen them. In the Americas region, the challenge is to consolidate intercultural and holistic care, with the aim of strengthening the healthcare system – making care more preventive, culturally relevant and community-based.Peru: institutionalizing complementary care over 28 years Dr Martha Villar López from EsSalud Peru demonstrated how integration can be institutionalized over time. With nearly three decades of investment, including a research programme dating back to 1998, traditional medicine is now embedded within public health infrastructure. EsSalud’s flagship programme, Reforma de Vida, operating as Prevenir, takes multidisciplinary teams into workplaces to reduce and detect risk factors for chronic noncommunicable diseases. Education cycles are structured around three pillars: celestial nourishment, focused on life purpose and movement; terrestrial nourishment, centred on regional food and healthy diets; and human nourishment, addressing identity, relationships, stress and spirituality. Grounded in Andean cosmovision and the principle of the ayllu, the programme aligns with local cultural values. Since 2007, it has trained over 6600 health leaders, certified more than 3100 health-friendly organizations and built alliances with nearly 11 000 employers.Bolivia: legal recognition and medical pluralism Adelino Pau Carpacheco, an 82-year-old Callawaya healer, described working with more than 220 medicinal plants, supported by deep generational knowledge. Traditional healers and plant medicine are highly respected in the country. Bolivia’s contribution also highlighted the role of policy in enabling integration. Through Law 459, traditional medicine has been formally recognized within a legal framework and led the country to medical pluralism where traditional medicine coexists with biomedicine, and both are now offered free of charge through the public health system. Mexico: preserving Indigenous knowledge and reinventing food culture Mexico presented two complementary approaches focused on knowledge preservation and food systems. In Veracruz, communities partnered with a university to safeguard Totonac traditional medicine through a diploma programme launched in 2019. This collaboration has already produced practical outputs, including manuals and a dictionary, helping to sustain knowledge at risk due to migration and generational change. Alongside this, Dr Hernán García, Directorate of Traditional Medicine and Intercultural Development – Mexico, explained how the Dieta de la Milpa programme addresses Mexico’s dual burden of malnutrition and rising noncommunicable diseases. Rooted in traditional Mayan cultivation systems and ingredients, it promotes healthier diets through community-led, intercultural approaches involving local authorities, Indigenous leaders and cooks. By reconnecting food, culture and health, it offers a practical pathway to prevention. Brazil: community therapy as a public health tool Brazil’s experience centred on Integrative Community Therapy, a methodology developed over 40 years ago by Dr Adalberto Barreto and now used in more than 47 countries. Therapy circles create spaces where participants share experiences and coping strategies, building social support networks at very low cost. Within Brazil’s Unified Health System, the approach has expanded rapidly since its inclusion in national policy in 2017. By 2025, more than five million integrative practice procedures were delivered annually in primary care, with registrations for this therapy increasing by over 500% in eight years. The main challenge now is equity, with access still concentrated in urban areas such as São Paulo. A shared regional direction against a global backdrop Drawing these experiences together, Dr Natalia Aldana of the TCIM Network of the Americas highlighted the shared outcomes of the interventions discussed. Such approaches strengthen healthy behaviours, social networks and community resilience; they are low-cost, adaptable and enable active participation in care, while showing potential to reduce the burden of noncommunicable diseases.The regional momentum mirrors a broader global shift. Dr João Paulo Souz, Director of BIREME (Latin American and Caribbean Center on Health Sciences Information), the specialized center of PAHO/WHO, emphasized that the Global Traditional Medicine Strategy 2025–2034 promotes a vision centred on people, evidence and integrated use. He noted that health should be understood through the relationships between people, community, nature and spirituality. Self-care interventions as a critical pathway towards universal health coverage Dr Manjulaa Narasimhan, Unit Head for Sexual Health and Well-being across the Life-course at WHO, delivered a presentation titled Advancing Self-Care in Traditional Medicine: Aligning the WHO Traditional Medicine Strategy 2025–2034 with the WHO Self-Care Framework, co-authored by Dr Geetha Krishnan Gopalakrishna Pillai, Unit Head for Research, Data and Innovation at the WHO Global Traditional Medicine Centre. WHO recommends self-care interventions for every country and economic setting as a critical path to reach universal health coverage – and traditional medicine acts as a bridge for self-care. Dr Narasimhan explained that traditional medicine contributes most effectively to self-care when embedded directly into primary health care, not operating in parallel, siloed systems. This, she stated, “is possibly the only sustainable way to deliver continuity of care that meets the needs, rights and priorities of communities and individuals”. The Global Traditional Medicine Strategy 2025–2034 is a move towards a more people-centred approach to health care that champions holistic approaches to health equity and patient autonomy.The integration of traditional medicine and self-care requires collaboration across disciplines, clear referral pathways, trained health and care workers, and strong leadership that supports integration. The WHO self-care competency framework defines 10 key competencies for health and care workers to support self-care in their clinical practice, supported by the WHO guideline on self-care interventions for health and well-being. These documents help health-care workers safeguard their own well-being and ensure that care is consistent, safe and grounded in shared standards and values.Together, the discussion through this dialogue points to a fundamental shift in how health systems are designed in the region, and globally, towards models that are more inclusive, culturally-grounded and responsive to the needs of the communities they serve. It is a move towards a system where traditional medicine is respected and responsibly integrated, where self-care provides empowerment and evidence-based care, and where health systems are supportive rather than being distant from these systems.Traditional medicine perspectives from Bolivia, Mexico and Peru - WHO's "Restoring Balance" seriesInnovative Experiences to Strengthen Health and Self-Care through Traditional, Complementary, and Integrative Medicine was streamed in Spanish, with Spanish and Portuguese subtitles. Recordings are available through the CABSIN YouTube channel with Portuguese subtitles and on the BVS MTCI Americas YouTube channel with Spanish subtitles. Dr Narasimhan’s session can be watched in English on both channels.

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May 24 • 8:00 PM EDT • Health • who.int
How Congo is dealing with an Ebola outbreak complicated by aid cuts, anger

On Sunday, Congolese authorities said suspected Ebola cases have now passed 900 in the east of the country.

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May 24 • 3:14 PM EDT • Health • kcra.com
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Rush for new Ebola vaccine as outbreak grows in Africa

US health authorities have warned that 10 African countries are at risk in the Ebola epidemic. There may be hope on the horizon: British scientists say a vaccine for this Ebola variant could soon be ready for testing.

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May 24 • 6:46 AM EDT • Health • dw.com
White House shooting marks another incident in a string of political violence

The shooting comes less than a month after authorities say a man attempted to assassinate the president at the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner.

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May 24 • 1:09 AM EDT • Politics • nbcnews.com
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Newberg bear update: Cub shot, killed in Canby due to 'public health and safety concerns'

A bear cub who was previously spotted in Newberg has been killed in Canby. Authorities fatally shot the animal around 11:15 a.m. on Saturday, the Canby Police Department reported. Officials said multiple agencies "decided to stop the bear with legal force" as it moved toward the public.

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May 23 • 7:18 PM EDT • Health • koin.com
Law enforcement authorities are responding to reports of shots fired near White House

An investigation is ongoing.

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May 23 • 7:12 PM EDT • Politics • floridapolitics.com
Bond breakout? Big effects of bad data. Immigration and thermostatic politics & dad-chat is coming for dad-books.

Thank you for opening your Chartbook email. Anna Airy, A Shell Forge at a National Projectile Factory, Hackney Marshes, London, 1918 Bond breakout - John Authers Across the developed markets, bond markets are staging a slow-motion car wreck. Looking at the drastic moves in the US, Japan, the UK and France, Barclays’ Ajay Rajadhyaksha commented: “Last week, long bonds broke. Not in one country. In all of them. Simultaneously. Four countries. Four different political systems. Four different central banks. But the same trade — “get me out of duration!”” Each country has its own contributing political problems, but the uniformity of the shift out of long-term bonds with high duration makes clear that something broader is afoot. For Rajadhyaksha, it is “simple and uncomfortable.” The developed​ world “has too much debt, too little fiscal discipline, and no political appetite for fixing either.” If there’s a trigger, it has been the Iran war and the resulting shock to oil supply. Source: Bloomberg G7 countries are now borrowing at rates that were enjoyed by EM in the early 2020s For contributing subscribers only. Subscribe Trade between China and Russia has grown in recent years For contributing subscribers only. Subscribe Big effects of bad data A decade ago nearly nine in ten Americans, when approached, agreed to fill out the Current Population Survey, which is administered to about 60,000 households each month and asks about, among other things, employment. Fewer than seven in ten do so now (see chart 1). For the Consumer Expenditure Survey, which tries to capture 3,700 households monthly, the response rate is down from 68% to 40%. … When the information becomes less reliable, investment decisions get more difficult to make. Some may be delayed, creating a potential drag on the economy. A new working paper by Nicholas Bloom of Stanford University, Erica Groshen, former head of the Bureau of Labour Statistics (BLS) now at Cornell University, and Duncan Hobbs and Michael Strain of the American Enterprise Institute, a think-tank, hazards an estimate. Preserving trust in “the integrity and quality of official statistics”, the authors claim, generates economic benefits of about $25 for every $1 spent on the BLS, the agency with an annual budget of $700m that is responsible for many of these data. To arrive at their conclusion the quartet analysed an ignoble episode in the BLS’s recent history. On August 1st 2025 Donald Trump sacked Erika McEntarfer, appointed as the agency’s commissioner by his predecessor, Joe Biden. The president alleged, without evidence, that the BLS’s steep downward revision to recent jobs numbers had been “RIGGED in order to make the Republicans, and ME, look bad”. In fact, it was the wanton dismissal that looked bad in the eyes of many observers. In the following seven days there was a 50% leap, relative to the week before, in the average value of the index of Economic Policy Uncertainty (EPU), which tracks the number of articles mentioning such uncertainty that are published daily in American newspapers. This was a discernible jump even when compared to the chaos caused by Mr Trump’s trade war in April 2025 and his real one in Iran in the past two months (see chart 2). Based on Mr Bloom’s earlier study with other colleagues of the EPU’s impact on business investment, industrial production and employment, the authors estimate that the jump reduced American GDP by over $100bn (0.3%) and non-farm payrolls by 168,000 (0.1%). Source: The Economist Immigration and thermostatic politics (Sarah O’Connor in the FT) A strange thing happened a year and a half ago. No sooner had Americans elected Donald Trump as president on an explicitly anti-immigration platform than US public opinion began to swing much more favourably towards immigration. … to political scientists who study “thermostatic” politics, this development is no surprise at all. Public opinion often moves against the prevailing party, especially if they are perceived to have gone “too far” in one direction. The phenomenon was first explored in the 1990s with reference to fiscal policy, but in recent years it has been particularly evident in the realm of immigration policy. While these swings in opinion polls can make it seem as if people don’t know their own minds, they can be a useful democratic check on governments by sending bright flashing warning lights when policies stray too far from the public’s comfort zone. The problem comes when politicians misinterpret those signals. When people tell pollsters they want less immigration, or think it is bad for the country overall (or the converse), they are often expressing an opinion about how things appear to be going in that moment relative to their preferences, rather than a deep shift in their underlying views. According to Alexander Kustov, a political scientist, most Americans’ views are quite stable and moderate: they support immigration that is controlled and in the national interest, and oppose flows that are disorderly or under-enforced. In the US, he argues the Trump administration over-interpreted dissatisfaction with high immigration under Joe Biden, and implemented policies that went too far for many voters. “People don’t necessarily change their idea about their ideal immigration policy, but they can react to what the government is currently doing,” he told me. “A lot of people are not happy with what the Trump administration are doing — right now we’re not talking about border enforcement, we’re talking about people not just getting harassed, but killed.” But similarly, he added, pro-immigration advocates would be making a mistake to interpret the recent, more favourable swing towards immigration as a deep-seated ideological shift in attitudes. The recent history of UK immigration policy offers another cautionary tale. After the 2016 Brexit referendum, public concern about immigration fell. This was partly because net migration statistics declined, but also because people felt a sense of catharsis and control, says Sunder Katwala, director of British Future, a think-tank. By 2019, the public ranked immigration as only the ninth biggest issue of concern, according to Ipsos polling. But when the Conservative government liberalised visa routes for students and care workers between 2019 and 2022, that helped net migration to surge. And so, too, did public concern. Today’s Labour government has implemented another sharply restrictive turn in immigration policy. As Kustov and researcher Caitlyn Yates argue, thermostatic public opinion should be a useful check on politicians. Instead it seems to have helped to magnify the pendulum swing in the UK. The government over-interprets and overreacts to a change in public opinion, which reacts in turn, prompting a sudden swing the other way. Source: Financial Times HEY READERS, THANK YOU for opening the Chartbook email. I hope it brightens your day. I enjoy putting out the newsletter, but tbh, what keeps this flow going is the generosity of those readers who clicked the subscription button. If you are persuaded to click, please consider the annual subscription of $50. It is both better value for you and a much better deal for me, as it involves only one credit card charge. Why feed the payments companies if we don’t have to. Subscribe Anna Airy, Shop for Machining 15-Inch Shells: Singer Manufacturing Company, Clydebank, Glasgow, 1918 Racing for a vaccine … we have been here before! The deadly Ebola outbreak in two African countries driven by a virus species with no vaccine has triggered an urgent search for a potential jab, in a test of troubled global efforts to avert threats posed by emerging diseases. A World Health Organization advisory group is due to would meet on Tuesday to recommend candidate jabs to prioritise for clinical trials, the global health body said. It will assess data including an analysis by the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (Cepi), which was set up after failures in the international response to a previous Ebola crisis. The latest Ebola outbreak in Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda has infected hundreds of people and killed more than 80, health authorities say. Cepi’s reaction will be a crucial indicator of its progress towards its wider goal of producing vaccines for pandemic threats in just 100 days, despite steep cuts to international health funding. “If there was ever a time that we could show the world why Cepi is needed and show the world why the 100-day mission is needed, it’s now,” Nicole Lurie, the organisation’s executive director for preparedness and response, told the FT. “We’re happy to accept that responsibility, but obviously we need help from partners — particularly financial help in the long run.” DR Congo and Uganda would make the final decision on whether to press ahead with any vaccine candidates endorsed for clinical trials by the WHO experts, the global health body said. “Other ethical and community acceptability issues will be considered,” said the WHO, which declared the latest outbreak a public health emergency of international concern on Sunday. “This will be important to make sure that the trial, if it happens, will be adequately communicated to the population.” Lurie said Cepi had provided information from a survey of research teams and companies working on drugs that might be effective against the Bundibugyo virus behind the outbreak. The organisation hoped soon to announce partners in the quest for a jab, she added, although she declined to give a timescale for when one might be developed. Cepi’s Nicole Laurie said global health bodies were ‘getting some live-fire drills’ with hantavirus and the latest Ebola outbreak. The hunt for a vaccine should be helped by scientific advances including the use of artificial intelligence to find drugs active against viruses, Lurie said. Existing jabs against the Zaire Ebola virus responsible for many previous outbreaks might provide a basis for tackling the Bundibugyo species, she added. “We’ll see how far and how fast we can get,” Lurie said, adding that Cepi had done preliminary work recently on a possible jab for the rat-borne hantavirus responsible for a recent fatal outbreak on a cruise ship. “Both with hantavirus and now with Ebola, [we] are getting some live-fire drills.” Source: Michael Peel in the Financial Times Dad-chat is coming for dad-books. (By Pamela Paul and Jeffrey A. Trachtenberg in the WSJ) They were the go-to gifts for Father’s Day: a book about some little-known chapter of World War II, the sweeping narrative of a shipwreck, perhaps the latest presidential biography. These days, dad books are a dying breed. Nonfiction book sales have been in decline for the past four years, and are now the most challenged segment of the print book market. Publishers say certain types of books still fare well—including celebrity memoirs and religious titles. But in recent years, print sales in such categories as biography, current affairs and business and economics—what publishers refer to as “serious nonfiction” and which tend to resonate especially with men—have fallen considerably. Sales of nonfiction print titles were down nearly 8% through May 9 this year, and sales of books about politics and current affairs were down 19%, according to book tracker Circana BookScan. Publishing has long been subject to cyclical changes, with trends in format and genre taking over bookshelves in grand sweeps. (Remember the adult coloring-book craze? Or the stratospheric rise of romantasy?) But many in publishing believe the decline in serious nonfiction is more existential. “The trend couldn’t be clearer,” said Jonathan Karp, the former chief executive of Simon & Schuster and publisher of the new Simon Six imprint. “This is a sea change and people should wake up and realize we’re living in a new world.” One culprit for the shift: a new media diet for fans of more serious nonfiction. … Sixty-two percent of men and 54% of women consumed a podcast in the prior month, according to a recent survey by Edison Research at SSRS, up from 46% and 39%, respectively, in 2023. “When we have internal meetings to talk about this problem, it always comes around to podcasts,” said Jonathan Burnham, president and publisher of the Harper Group at HarperCollins Publishers. “The man who wants to read American history is now tuning into one of the many good podcasts about history that lends the quiet attention to a serious subject he’s looking for. It makes the idea of sitting down with a 700-page Ron Chernow book less appealing. You’ve scratched that itch.” Source: Wall Street Journal Remarkable report by Novara from the nationalist rally in London in mid May. Anna Airy, Leopard Moth and Plums, 1915 If you’ve scrolled this far, you know you want to click: Subscribe

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May 23 • 6:45 AM EDT • Politics • adamtooze.substack.com
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Federal judges’ responses vary to immigration authorities’ disregard of orders

Colorado’s U.S. District Court judges have responded in recent days to the government’s violations of or unclear compliance with their orders in immigration detention cases, resulting in directives to immediately free the petitioners. “I’m just struggling to understand how he was removed from the United States even though (the government acknowledges) he could not be […]

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May 22 • 6:40 PM EDT • Politics • coloradopolitics.com
Anti-immigrant protests flare up in South Africa

Authorities have removed hundreds of foreign nationals from a church centre in Durban after days of tension linked to anti‑migrant campaigns. The incident comes amid renewed episodes of xenophobic violence in South Africa.

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May 22 • 1:17 PM EDT • Politics • dw.com
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Lawmakers target hospitals – and Atrium Health in particular

Legislation aims to increase oversight of hospital mergers, cap hospital CEO pay and add more accountability for hospital authorities like Atrium Health.

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May 22 • 4:49 AM EDT • Health • northcarolinahealthnews.org
Ebola case sparks stricter health checks in Goma

Residents entering the eastern Congolese city of Goma from government-controlled areas were subjected to tighter health checks on Wednesday (May 20) as authorities sought to contain the spread of Ebola after one confirmed case was detected in the city, which remains under M23 occupation. Blanch Ancla has more.

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May 21 • 4:54 AM EDT • Health • reuters.com
EPA to rollback PFAS drinking water standards, eliminate filtration requirements

The proposed rule would give water authorities until 2031 to comply with PFOS and PFOA limitations, and eliminate filtration for four other PFAS.

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May 20 • 3:55 PM EDT • Politics • spectrumlocalnews.com
Congressional panel probes Denver, Boulder over ICE cooperation limits

A congressional panel is reviewing Denver and Boulder’s policies, alleging that these cities, along with other “sanctuary” jurisdictions, are declining to cooperate with federal immigration authorities, the body announced Wednesday. Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, who chairs the U.S. House Judiciary Committee, issued letters to the district attorneys, sheriffs and police chiefs of Denver and Boulder, […]

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May 20 • 2:30 PM EDT • Politics • coloradopolitics.com
A Tennessee man was jailed over his Charlie Kirk social media comments. Now he's won a $835,000 settlement

The 61-year-old retired police officer spent 37 days behind bars before authorities dropped the felony charge against him in October.

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May 20 • 1:30 PM EDT • Politics • pbs.org
WHO chief concerned over 'scale and speed' of Ebola outbreak

The World Health Organization top official has expressed concern over the rapid spread of a rare type of Ebola in Congo. Authorities have reported at least 134 suspected deaths and over 500 cases.

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May 20 • 1:36 AM EDT • Health • npr.org
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Political group sues Missouri officials over pressuring county clerks

People Not Politicians is seeking a court injunctive to stop state officials from pressuring county election authorities to use a gerrymandered congressional map.

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May 18 • 7:10 PM EDT • Politics • komu.com
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What to know about the Ebola outbreak now declared a global health emergency

ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) — The World Health Organization declared Sunday the Ebola disease outbreak in Congo and Uganda a public health emergency of international concern. Africa’s top public health body first confirmed a new Ebola outbreak in Congo’s Ituri province on Friday. By Saturday, it had reported 336 suspected cases and 88 deaths. All the cases are in Congo, except for two recorded in neighboring Uganda. Health authorities say the current outbreak is caused by

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May 17 • 5:30 PM EDT • Health • pbs.org
Congolese report constant burials as deaths in new Ebola outbreak reach 80

BUNIA, Congo — At least 80 deaths have been reported in Congo's new Ebola disease outbreak in the eastern Ituri province, authorities said, as health workers raced Saturday to intensify screening an...

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May 16 • 6:53 PM EDT • Health • dailyherald.com
Home health aide accused of stealing from elderly Miami Lakes patient with dementia

A home health aide is accused of stealing from the elderly woman with dementia who she was taking care of in Miami Lakes, authorities said.

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May 15 • 11:28 AM EDT • Health • nbcmiami.com
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Man charged in connection with employee found dead in kitchen of SW Houston business, records show

Authorities said an investigation into the case led to the suspect, who records alleged to have used a hammer in the case.

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May 14 • 2:16 PM EDT • Business • abc13.com
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Vehicle Smashes Into Dunkin' Location In CT, Business Temporarily Closed

The crash occurred Monday afternoon in Salem, according to authorities.

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May 12 • 4:14 PM EDT • Business • patch.com
US officials: Hantavirus risk to Americans 'very low'

US health authorities say 18 Americans from the MV Hondius cruise ship have returned to the US, with one testing positive for hantavirus.

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May 11 • 12:08 PM EDT • Health • bbc.com
US health authorities to give update on American passengers returning from hantavirus-hit ship

Seventeen American passengers from the virus-hit MV Hondius have returned to the US to be evaluated at a quarantine facility in Nebraska, with one confirmed case.

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May 11 • 9:53 AM EDT • Health • bbc.com
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Man who fled to Hawaii nabbed by authorities for large financial fraud in Orlando

'This case exemplifies the reach of our Statewide Prosecutors, who partner with state, local, and federal law enforcement to bring criminals back to Florida.'

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May 10 • 3:17 PM EDT • Politics • floridapolitics.com
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Seattle beer garden employee found fatally shot inside business

Seattle police are investigating a homicide after a man was found dead Saturday morning at a business in the city’s Lake City neighborhood, authorities said.

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May 9 • 2:23 PM EDT • Business • katu.com
Spain readies for evacuations as a hantavirus-hit cruise ship heads for Canary Islands

Spanish authorities are preparing to receive more than 140 passengers and crew members on board a hantavirus-stricken cruise ship headed for the Canary Islands.

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May 8 • 5:29 AM EDT • Health • npr.org
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Hantavirus cruise LIVE: World Health Organization hosts briefing as authorities race to track contacts from cruise ship infections

Thursday, May 7, 2026: The latest news and updates on the hantavirus cluster associated with the MV Hondius. The cruise ship is on course to arrive in Spain on Saturday while health authorities trace contact cases from the roughly 40 people who have already disembarked.

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May 7 • 11:01 AM EDT • Science • livescience.com
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.

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May 7 • 8:00 AM EDT • Science • sciencebusiness.net
Authorities scramble to limit hantavirus outbreak, trace contacts around globe

Dutch authorities said a flight attendant is being tested as the race is on to trace passengers who left a cruise ship and two flights linked to an ill woman.

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May 7 • 6:45 AM EDT • Health • washingtonpost.com
Health Authorities Monitor Hantavirus Cruise Passengers in United States

People in at least three states are being monitored after being on the ship. None have shown symptoms, officials said.

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May 6 • 8:20 PM EDT • Health • nytimes.com
Robbery suspect believed to be hiding in Downtown El Paso business

A suspect in an aggravated robbery is believed to have barricaded himself inside an El Paso business, authorities said.

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May 6 • 6:57 PM EDT • Business • elpasotimes.com
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What doctors know about how the Andes hantavirus spreads

In 2018, health authorities in southern Argentina were scrambling, trying to understand what had caused nearly three dozen people in the tiny village of Epuyen to fall gravely ill. By the end of the outbreak, 11 of them had died.

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May 6 • 4:58 PM EDT • Health • cnn.com
Ex-marketing employee of Hollywood business arrested in $63K fraud scheme, cops say

A former marketing employee of a Hollywood business was arrested in a brazen fraud scheme that bilked the company out of more than $63,000, authorities said.

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May 4 • 12:09 PM EDT • Business • nbcmiami.com
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Mali: Authorities must immediately clarify the fate and whereabouts of lawyer and pro-democracy politician Mountaga Tall

On 3 May 2026, leader of the National Congress for Democratic Initiative Mountaga Tall was abducted by armed and hooded men.

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May 4 • 11:47 AM EDT • Politics • amnesty.org
Science research building at Florida college likely total loss in fire

Authorities are looking into lightning as the cause of the fire as there were strong storms at the time.

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May 4 • 11:40 AM EDT • Science • heraldtribune.com
DOJ unveils West Coast ‘Strike Force’ as new tactic used to tackle healthcare fraud

Federal authorities said the shift to regional “Strike Force” models have been shown to be successful, with 6,200 defendants prosecuted nationwide. The DOJ said this latest unit will take a special interest in Northern California.

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May 3 • 11:28 PM EDT • Health • healthexec.com
Massive fire destroys University of South Florida laboratory building: 'Total loss'

A massive fire broke out at the University of South Florida's Marine Science Laboratory in St. Petersburg, with no injuries reported, authorities said.

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May 2 • 11:15 PM EDT • Science • foxnews.com
Hollywood fire crews extinguish business structure fire

The fire has since been extinguished, according to fire authorities, and crews remained on scene conducting overhaul and ensuring the area is safe.

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May 2 • 10:56 PM EDT • Business • cbsnews.com
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Political violence in the social media age

Authorities are trying to look for clues to what radicalized the suspected shooter

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May 1 • 5:27 PM EDT • Politics • spectrumnews1.com
Britney Spears charged with driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs

Britney Spears was charged in California on Thursday with driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol, authorities said.

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Apr 30 • 5:03 PM EDT • Entertainment • cnn.com
Crime of the Week: Burglary at business in central SF

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) — Sioux Falls Police are trying to find out who’s responsible for thousands of dollars of damage at a local business. Authorities say someone broke into a busin…

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Apr 30 • 2:26 PM EDT • Business • keloland.com
Colorado legislators eye new state requirements for ICE facilities

Colorado state representatives voted along party lines to pass a bill establishing additional inspection requirements for immigration detention centers and expanding civil liabilities related to sharing information with federal immigration authorities. It’s the latest proposal to come out of the state Capitol ,which has embraced so-called “sanctuary laws,” which limit or prohibit cooperation with federal […]

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Apr 28 • 8:44 AM EDT • Politics • coloradopolitics.com
Colorado Democrats eye new state requirements for ICE facilities

Colorado state representatives voted along party lines to pass a bill establishing additional inspection requirements for immigration detention centers and expanding civil liabilities related to sharing information with federal immigration authorities. It’s the latest proposal to come out of the state Capitol ,which has embraced so-called “sanctuary laws,” which limit or prohibit cooperation with federal […]

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Apr 28 • 8:44 AM EDT • Politics • coloradopolitics.com
Investigators Seeking Attacker’s Motive Comb Through an Archive of Posts

Federal authorities are looking into whether Cole Tomas Allen posted on Bluesky as “coldforce,” who wrote and promoted liberal views that did not stand out on the left-leaning platform.

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Apr 27 • 7:11 PM EDT • Politics • nytimes.com
Grievance Propelled Gala Attack Suspect Across Country, Authorities Say

A man who has worked as a tutor and graduated from the California Institute of Technology is being held by authorities in connection with the armed attack at the White House correspondents’ dinner.

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Apr 27 • 5:04 AM EDT • Politics • nytimes.com
Police officer killed in hospital shooting identified, second officer in critical condition

A Chicago officer who was fatally shot by a man receiving treatment at a hospital while in police custody has been identified as 38-year-old John Bartholomew, authorities said.

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Apr 26 • 6:30 PM EDT • Health • wave3.com
Gala Shooting Suspect Was Targeting Trump Administration Officials, Writings Reveal

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

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Apr 26 • 6:11 PM EDT • Politics • nytimes.com
How ‘Storage Wars’ Paid Tribute to Darrell Sheets on Air, 3 Days After His Death

Meanwhile, authorities are investigating the cyberbullying accusations mentioned by ‘Storage Wars’ costar René Nezhoda.

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Apr 26 • 1:24 PM EDT • Entertainment • wyomingnewsnow.tv
How ‘Storage Wars’ Paid Tribute to Darrell Sheets on Air, 3 Days After His Death

Meanwhile, authorities are investigating the cyberbullying accusations mentioned by ‘Storage Wars’ costar René Nezhoda.

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Apr 26 • 1:24 PM EDT • Entertainment • yakimaherald.com
Houston police fatally shoot suspect after business break-in and gunfire exchange

Houston police shot and killed a man late Saturday night after he allegedly broke into cars and opened fire on employees inside a business, authorities said.

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Apr 26 • 11:01 AM EDT • Business • fox26houston.com
President Trump evacuated after security incident

The Secret Service and other authorities swarmed the banquet hall as guests ducked under tables by the hundreds

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Apr 25 • 8:45 PM EDT • Politics • spectrumlocalnews.com
‘Fight federal overreach’: Delaware appeals federal judge’s order to surrender wage records for 15 businesses to ICE investigators

Federal authorities say they have received tips that the businesses are illegally hiring undocumented immigrants.

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Apr 24 • 11:03 AM EDT • Business • whyy.org
Thailand: 44 Opposition Politicians Face Lifetime Ban from Politics

Thai authorities will prosecute 44 opposition politicians for sponsoring a bill to reform Thailand’s lèse-majesté (insulting the monarchy) law, which could result in a lifetime ban from politics.

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Apr 24 • 9:45 AM EDT • Politics • hrw.org
#EarthDay: Protecting Rhinos With Nuclear Science

Poaching remains one of the greatest threats to rhinos — a powerful symbol of our planet’s biodiversity. In South Africa, scientists are addressing this challenge with an innovative approach: using safe radioactive isotopes as invisible markers in rhino horns, enabling authorities to detect and trace them at borders.

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Apr 22 • 8:00 AM EDT • Science • iaea.org
Popular baby food brand hit by 'criminal act' as rat poison found in seized jar

Authorities warn of potentially life-threatening contamination after rat poison was found in a tampered baby food jar likely sold in Europe.

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Apr 19 • 9:45 PM EDT • Business • foxbusiness.com
West Eugene break-in latest in Asian business owner burglaries

Eugene police are investigating a new break-in targeting an Asian American business owner, part of an ongoing pattern of similar crimes in the Eugene-Springfield area, with authorities urging increased vigilance

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Apr 17 • 8:59 PM EDT • Business • kezi.com
Russian Influencers Turn From Cosmetics To Politics, But Don't Mention The War

Russian influencer Victoria Bonya made a personal address to Russian President Vladimir Putin: In a country where political debate and criticism of the authorities is tightly controlled, she brought up problems people face in their everyday lives. Except the war in Ukraine.

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Apr 16 • 11:09 AM EDT • Politics • rferl.org
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Australian authorities launch investigation after Ruby Rose accuses Katy Perry of sexual assault

Actress Ruby Rose accused singer Katy Perry of sexually assaulting her in 2010. Now, Australian police tell CNN that an investigation underway.

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Apr 15 • 7:43 PM EDT • Entertainment • cnn.com
Greenland's prime minister says citizens 'don't feel safe' after Trump's threats

Trump has pushed for the U.S. to take control of Greenland, a semi-autonomous Danish territory, despite being repeatedly rebuffed by Greenlandic and Danish authorities.

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Apr 15 • 12:54 PM EDT • Politics • nbcnews.com
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Cuba: Authorities must now release those detained for political reasons and end repression

Amnesty International warns that recent prisoner releases in Cuba continue to be marked by discretion and a lack of transparency, and demands an end to political repression.

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Apr 15 • 12:06 PM EDT • Politics • amnesty.org
Ye postpones Marseille concert after French authorities say they will seek a ban

The rapper formerly known as Kanye West has postponed his upcoming show in Marseille | NewsRadio 1080 KRLD

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Apr 15 • 4:42 AM EDT • Entertainment • audacy.com
Ye postpones Marseille concert after French authorities say they will seek a ban

The rapper formerly known as Kanye West has postponed his upcoming show in Marseille | KCBS All News 106.9FM and 740AM

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Apr 15 • 4:42 AM EDT • Entertainment • audacy.com
Ye postpones Marseille concert after French authorities say they will seek a ban

The rapper formerly known as Kanye West has postponed his upcoming show in Marseille | 1010 WINS

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Apr 15 • 4:42 AM EDT • Entertainment • audacy.com