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How Al Gore Politicized Climate Science

An Inconvenient Truth turns 20 next month. In the 2006 documentary, former vice president Al Gore argued that human-driven climate change was an urgent, civilization-threatening crisis. The film became a cultural phenomenon, winning two Academy Awards and making climate change one of the defining political issues of our time. I am sure that there will be many retrospectives seeking to relitigate the scientific claims in the film. But the far more important anniversary story is not about the accuracy of any of Gore’s individual claims but rather about what the film helped to unleash in the scientific community: bringing partisan politics into the institutions of science. Gore did not simply make a film about climate change: He implored the scientific community to join him in overt climate advocacy. The fuel that Gore added to the fire of pathological politicization of the climate science community is the most important legacy of An Inconvenient Truth. Almost three years after the film’s release, Gore took the stage at the 2009 annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)—the country’s largest and most prominent scientific organization—and delivered something much closer to a revival sermon than a scientific lecture. Gore told the assembled scientists that they could no longer “in good conscience accept this division between the work you do and the civilization in which you live.” His directive was clear:

Apr 21 • 6:01 PM EDT • Science • thefp.com

Responding to Today's Gaps for Tomorrow's Health Emergencies: 2026 Ready or Not Report

Join Trust for America’s Health (TFAH) for a Congressional Briefing and National Webinar on the latest information on public health emergency readiness and findings from TFAH’s upcoming report, Ready or Not 2026: Protecting the Public’s Health from Diseases, Disasters, and Bioterrorism – releasing May 7th. The past year alone saw the U.S. facing the most […]

Apr 21 • 2:47 PM EDT • Health • tfah.org

Public Health Certification: CPH, CDI and the new CPHN

Please join representatives from the National Board of Public Health Examiners as they summarize opportunities for certification in public health.

Apr 21 • 2:10 PM EDT • Health • apha.org

Visiting Fulbright scholar from Poland joins INL researcher to study actinide physics, unlock atomic secrets

For Adam Piotr Pikul of the Polish Academy of Sciences, there is always more to understand about the basic physics of uranium atoms. That’s why Pikul, a professor at the Institute of Low Temperature and Structure Research in Wrocław, is studying actinide quantum materials at the Idaho National Laboratory (INL) on a Fulbright Senior Award. Actinides are a group of 15 radioactive elements, including uranium.

Apr 21 • 1:13 PM EDT • Science • eurekalert.org

Experience Science City's Brand-New "Jurassic Journey"

Shane and Kerrigan join Floor Lead Travis Brown at Science City to explore their new, interactive dinosaur exhibit.

Apr 21 • 12:30 PM EDT • Science • kctv5.com

Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill endorses Julia Letlow for U.S. Senate

Murrill joins Gov. Jeff Landry and President Donald Trump in backing Letlow. It’s a rare case of prominent Republican officials supporting a challenge against a member of their own party.

Apr 21 • 12:16 PM EDT • Politics • nola.com

3 business owners file lawsuit to end Oceanfront curfew

Five Oceanfront businesses joined together on Monday to file a temporary restraining order in Virginia Beach Circuit Court to block the enforcement of the Virginia Beach City Council’s curfew. The com...

Apr 21 • 11:59 AM EDT • Business • yahoo.com

Former Steelers HC Mike Tomlin reportedly to join NBC as analyst on 'Football Night in America'

Apr 21 • 10:21 AM EDT • Sports • sports.yahoo.com

Shaky political science: using "simulated" elections over real-world elections

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

Apr 21 • 9:31 AM EDT • Science • democracysos.substack.com

Rep. Blake Moore discusses health care affordability

Rep. Blake Moore, R-Utah, vice chair, House Republican Conference and member of the House Ways and Means Committee and its Subcommittee on Health, joined Bill Gassen, president and CEO of Sanford Health and AHA chair-elect, for a fireside chat. While the conversation covered topics including health care access and regulation, the overarching theme was making health care more affordable for both patients and hospitals and health systems.

Apr 21 • 9:19 AM EDT • Health • aha.org

‘Healthy Rounds’: The Silent Success of Public Health

Douglas Brugge, chair of the UConn School of Medicine’s Department of Public Health Sciences, joins Dr. Anthony Alessi’s podcast

Apr 21 • 9:16 AM EDT • Health • today.uconn.edu

Area grade schoolers see money burn (among other experiments) at annual Badin Science Carnival

Hundreds of elementary students from area private schools recently watched, learned and even joined in dozens of science experiments by Badin High School students as part of the school’s annual

Apr 21 • 8:40 AM EDT • Science • journal-news.com

Supreme Court’s high-stakes term could reshape presidential power, immigration, voting rights

The Supreme Court’s term is packed — birthright citizenship, presidential removals, voting rules, transgender sports and more. Constitutional law expert Rod Sullivan joins News4JAX anchor Bruce Hamilton on this week’s episode of Politics & Power to discuss what’s at stake and why it matters to you.

Apr 21 • 8:39 AM EDT • Politics • news4jax.com

Justin Willis joins Valley students advocating for mental health at Sacramento rally

Local mental health advocates including students from the Valley, will travel to Sacramento on Tuesday to attend the annual National Alliance on Mental Illness

Apr 21 • 8:29 AM EDT • Health • kmph.com

Letter to the Editor: We can’t let politics obscure the promise or the peril of psychedelic therapy

Over the weekend, President Donald Trump signed an executive order titled, “ACCELERATING MEDICAL TREATMENTS FOR SERIOUS MENTAL ILLNESS,” intended to hasten access to psychedelic treatments. The signing was certainly a spectacle, as it often is, but so was the heterogenous group in attendance: President Trump was joined in the oval office by MMA-commentator, podcaster, and...

Apr 21 • 8:29 AM EDT • Politics • lsureveille.com

Los Angeles proclaims April 21 as 'Prince Day'

Mayte Garcia joined "Your Morning"

Apr 21 • 8:00 AM EDT • Entertainment • spectrumnews1.com

Including A 20,000-Cap Arena: Live Nation, OVG & Atlético Madrid To Build Entertainment, Sports & Educational Complex In Spanish Capital

Barsento, a joint venture formed by Live Nation, Oak View Group (OVG), and Atlético de Madrid, alongside the Mayor of Madrid, José Luis Martínez-Almeida,

Apr 21 • 7:49 AM EDT • Entertainment • news.pollstar.com

Da Speedwaaagh! begins with two new Ork Detachments

Join Wazdakka’s lads for a high-speed krumpin’ with new Warhammer 40,000 rules.

Apr 20 • 8:00 PM EDT • Technology • warhammer-community.com

Announcement Regarding the Future Business Direction of Sony Honda Mobility

Sony Group Corporation (“Sony”), Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (“Honda”), and Sony Honda Mobility Inc. (“SHM”), the joint venture formed by Sony and Honda, today announced they have reached an agreement regarding the future business direction and positioning of SHM.

Apr 20 • 8:00 PM EDT • Business • shm-afeela.com

Agomo introduced as 15th men's basketball head coach at Westminster College

Agomo joins Blue Jays after four seasons with Depauw.

Apr 20 • 7:56 PM EDT • Sports • komu.com

N.Y. GOP bill responds to board denying Bruce Blakeman public campaign funds

Lawmakers say the board added a joint filing requirement but never notified the candidates of the change.

Apr 20 • 6:00 PM EDT • Politics • spectrumlocalnews.com

Popular 280 bowling entertainment center rebranded, includes new amenities

🎳 Bowlero is now Lucky Strike off 280. Have you visited this bowling joint? Tell us what you like about it! #bowling #entertainment

Apr 20 • 5:08 PM EDT • Entertainment • bhamnow.com

Join Healthy Kids Here in Celebration of Every Kid Healthy Week™

IDEA Public Schools’ Healthy Kids Here program is a proud partner of Every Kid Healthy Week™, an annual national celebration led by Action for Healthy Kids, observed this year during April 20-24, 2026. […]

Apr 20 • 4:39 PM EDT • Health • ideapublicschools.org

WhatsApp Joins Instagram in Selling New Premium Subscriptions

WhatsApp is selling a new premium subscription that includes more custom features, part of a broader effort by parent company Meta Platforms Inc. to build a revenue stream that can complement its core advertising business.

Apr 20 • 3:44 PM EDT • Technology • bloomberg.com

JRC Summer School non-animal approaches in science

The JRC hosts an international biennial Summer School on non-animal approaches in science for post-graduates and early-career scientists, sharing knowledge on cutting-edge non-animal methods, promoting their use in research and regulation, and exploring related career paths.

Apr 20 • 2:48 PM EDT • Science • joint-research-centre.ec.europa.eu

AI in health care: Experts discuss the future of AI practices and policies

Jim VandeHei, CEO of Axios; Marc Boom, M.D., AHA board chair and president and CEO of Houston Methodist; Anne Klibanski, M.D., president and CEO of Mass General Brigham; Jonathan Perlin, M.D., president and CEO of Joint Commission; and Ladd Wiley, senior vice president of global corporate affairs, public policy and advocacy for Epic, all participated in the panel discussion “AI in Health Care: Navigating Policy, Regulation, and the Road Ahead."

Apr 20 • 10:49 AM EDT • Health • aha.org

Trump tells Maria ‘deal will be signed tonight’ as tensions explode in Strait of Hormuz

Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., joins ‘Mornings with Maria’ to debate the escalating U.S.-Iran conflict, clash over oil exports and gas prices, and challenge President Donald Trump’s strategy as tensions surge in the Strait of Hormuz.

Apr 20 • 9:15 AM EDT • Business • foxbusiness.com

Akin, an Elite Global Law Firm

(Chicago) – Akin announced today that Rory Wellever has joined the Chicago office as head of its music practice, bringing deep music industry experience that expands the firm’s media, entertainment &…

Apr 20 • 7:12 AM EDT • Entertainment • akingump.com

High Runner’s High: Marijuana and running in joint use across North Ashland

Running and cannabis use have several similarities. They both challenge a person’s lung capacity, they both generally result in an increased appetite, and they can both be enjoyed indoors or outside. Despite the overlap, the idea to participate in both simultaneously as a community is a relatively new concept. Chicago natives Anakaren Ramirez and Carlos...

Apr 20 • 7:00 AM EDT • Sports • depauliaonline.com

Amwins, Sentry join forces on contractors’ equipment inland marine program

Tie-up gives brokers another specialty option for crane and heavy-equipment accounts

Apr 19 • 9:25 PM EDT • Business • insurancebusinessmag.com

Advancing epidemic and pandemic preparedness through research readiness: SEAR Unity Studies Network Sites chart the way forward in 2026

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

Apr 19 • 8:00 PM EDT • Health • who.int

‘Sport as a Public Good’ talk spotlights gaps in youth sports education, access

There’s little that people enjoy more than play. Unfortunately, when it comes to our youth, we often fail in nurturing that love, former President of the U.S. Tennis Association and Chief Medical Officer of the NCAA Brian Hainline said. On Wednesday, April 15, Hainline spoke at the University of New Mexico Physics and Astronomy Interdisciplinary Science Building and said sports should be a public good to an audience including local sport leaders and athletes. He highlighted what he called an inadequate systemic support for sports in the U.S. Hainline’s lecture was hosted jointly by the UNM School of Medicine and Alumni Association.

Apr 19 • 8:00 PM EDT • Sports • dailylobo.com

OVAC Honors Doug Huff For Contributions To High School Sports

WHEELING – During his storied sports writing career, Doug Huff’s influence on high school sports stretched beyond the Ohio Valley and across the United States. MaxPreps made that clear when it placed him eighth on the list of the most influential people in high school football history. The Ohio Valley Athletic Conference joined MaxPreps in […]

Apr 19 • 8:00 PM EDT • Sports • theintelligencer.net

VP Sports & Entertainment presents: Wheat Kings alumnus McQueen inks deal with Anaheim Ducks

Roger McQueen has officially joined the flock. The former Brandon Wheat Kings centreman has signed a three-year, entry-level deal with the Anaheim Ducks, the NHL club announced Saturday. McQueen’s contract is set to take effect in the 2026-27 season. Anaheim selected the 6-foot-6, 198-pound forward with the 10th overall pick in the 2025 NHL Draft.…

Apr 19 • 1:00 PM EDT • Entertainment • chl.ca

This Week in Missouri Politics - April 19, 2026

Scott Faughn is joined by Budget Chair Dirk Deaton.

Apr 19 • 12:00 PM EDT • Politics • themissouritimes.com

Analysis: Watkins stars to boost World Cup chances

Tammy Abraham's strike was just his third goal for Aston Villa since he rejoined the club from Besiktas in January. Villa need just six more points to ensure Champions League qualification, with Premier League games against Fulham, Tottenham, Burnley, Liverpool and Manchester City still to come. Abraham may have got the winner but the striker he replaced, Ollie Watkins, was Villa's star with two goals and an assist.

Apr 19 • 11:58 AM EDT • Sports • sports.yahoo.com

Gaming Commission Chair Maynard goes 'On the Record' about sports betting, prediction markets

Massachusetts Gaming Commission Chair Jordan Maynard joined WCVB's "On the Record" to discuss sports betting licenses, online casino gaming and the growing debate over prediction markets.

Apr 19 • 11:30 AM EDT • Sports • wcvb.com

Ryan Reynolds on Business Ventures, Blake Lively and ‘Deadpool’

In part one of this Sunday Sitdown Live, Ryan Reynolds joins Willie Geist in front of a packed crowd to discuss the rapid rise of Wrexham A.F.C., his many business ventures like his Maximum Effort, the young audience he’s found at home for his “Deadpool” franchise and what’s next for the superhero. Reynolds also shares support for his wife Blake Lively and reveals how he is feeling about his upcoming 50th birthday milestone. (Sponsored by More to Parkinson’s and brought to you by Acadia Pharmaceuticals Inc. Venue sponsored by City Winery)

Apr 19 • 9:19 AM EDT • Business • today.com

MRN BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT: Pointe D'Vine

On this Business Spotlight, brought to you by the Bank of Springfield, Rita and Jessica Speckhart join Crissie Caccamo to share everything Point D’Vine has to offer. Set on 35 scenic acres, Point D’Vine is known for its stunning wedding venue, a vineyard established in 2011, and a beautifully restored barn that was featured during...

Apr 19 • 8:15 AM EDT • Business • muddyrivernews.com

'Atmosphere inside Stamford Bridge growing quieter with each game'

There were chants of "we want our Chelsea back" during a protest march before kick-off - then the chorus spread to the stands during the second half of the defeat by Manchester United. The frustration from supporters is understandable, given Chelsea have now lost their past four Premier League games without scoring - their joint-longest run since November 1912. Chelsea head coach Liam Rosenior admitted his side face a "mountain to climb" in their pursuit of Champions League qualification, after the latest 1-0 loss to United left them four points off the top five, having played a game more.

Apr 19 • 6:14 AM EDT • Sports • sports.yahoo.com

Four Turbocharged Production Cars Existed In 1978, And Two Of Them Were Buicks

The Buick Regal Sport Coupe and LeSabre Sport Coupe joined a Saab and a Porsche as the only production turbo cars available in 1978.

Apr 19 • 4:25 AM EDT • Technology • jalopnik.com

Inside California Politics

(INSID CALIFORNIA POLITICS) — This week on Inside California Politics, host Nikki Laurenzo is joined by political analysts Rob Stutzman and Andrew Acosta to discuss the latest developments in the g…

Apr 19 • 2:25 AM EDT • Politics • ktla.com

Inside California Politics

(INSID CALIFORNIA POLITICS) — This week on Inside California Politics, host Nikki Laurenzo is joined by political analysts Rob Stutzman and Andrew Acosta to discuss the latest developments in the g…

Apr 19 • 2:25 AM EDT • Politics • fox40.com

Tri-state people in business: New hires, promotions, recognitions

Sarah Arnold joined Medical Associates Clinic of Dubuque’s family medicine department as a physician assistant.

Apr 19 • 2:00 AM EDT • Business • telegraphherald.com

Obama meets Mamdani in New York City before reading to preschoolers

Former President Barack Obama has met privately with New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani before joining together to read to preschoolers at a child care center in the Bronx | 830 WCCO

Apr 18 • 4:21 PM EDT • Politics • audacy.com

Obama meets Mamdani in New York City before reading to preschoolers

Former President Barack Obama has met privately with New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani before joining together to read to preschoolers at a child care center in the Bronx | 100.1 FM and AM 1020 KDKA

Apr 18 • 4:21 PM EDT • Politics • audacy.com

Obama meets Mamdani in New York City before reading to preschoolers

Former President Barack Obama has met privately with New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani before joining together to read to preschoolers at a child care center in the Bronx.

Apr 18 • 4:17 PM EDT • Politics • ksat.com

Justin Verlander injury update: Travel plans to Fenway Park canceled

Right-hander Justin Verlander (left hip inflammation) was planning to travel with the Detroit Tigers to Fenway Park, but he ended up not joining them.

Apr 18 • 3:51 PM EDT • Sports • sports.yahoo.com

Memphis Tigers hope to inspire next generation with Power of Girls in Sports

Hundreds of elementary school-aged girls took part in the Power of Girls in Sports clinic, a joint venture between FedEx and the University of Memphis.

Apr 18 • 2:12 PM EDT • Sports • commercialappeal.com

Downtown Redding draws floral, stained-glass shop. Popular pub closes

This week in the Buzz, downtown Redding is getting another new business, this sports pub plans to close, and a sign is up for a new burger joint.

Apr 18 • 10:01 AM EDT • Business • redding.com

Maya Tea steeps into the mocktail business

The longtime Tucson tea company just released a line of zero-alcohol spirits, joining a growing trend that's found popularity among Gen Z'ers.

Apr 18 • 9:30 AM EDT • Business • tucson.com

‘Cross’: Ethan Embry Joins Cast of Season 3 as Series Regular

Plus, what is in store for the new season.

Apr 17 • 3:02 PM EDT • Entertainment • wyomingnewsnow.tv

K-Pop’s Biggest Labels Join Forces to Plan Coachella-Style Global Festival

A ‘K-pop Coachella’ might be coming. The industry’s biggest players are in talks to launch a massive global event.

Apr 17 • 2:30 PM EDT • Entertainment • charlotteobserver.com

Serie A Liveblog: Inter vs. Cagliari and Sassuolo vs. Como

This page will update live with the latest relevant news, no need to refresh the page!Join us for all the build-up and action as it happens from today’s Serie A games, as Como visit Sassuolo to keep...

Apr 17 • 11:50 AM EDT • Sports • sports.yahoo.com

K-Pop’s Biggest Labels Are Joining Forces to Build a Coachella Rival Called ‘Fanomenon’

K-pop’s Big 4 are considering a Coachella-style event that could launch as early as 2027.

Apr 17 • 11:30 AM EDT • Entertainment • miamiherald.com

The Entertainment Report: Record Store Day, CIVL Fest, and ‘Ted Lasso’

John Dreznes, Beverly Records third generation, joins Bob Sirott to talk about the history of Beverly Records, how they plan on celebrating Record Store Day, and the rising popularity of …

Apr 17 • 11:26 AM EDT • Entertainment • wgnradio.com

AHA, others issue joint statement on workplace violence in health care

Ten national health care provider organizations, including the AHA, released a joint statement April 16 in recognition of Workplace Violence Prevention Month.

Apr 17 • 9:50 AM EDT • Health • aha.org

Fortnite Loses Two Game Modes, But 'Save The World' Goes Free On Xbox & Beyond

Pro Vocals and Pro Drums have also joined Fortnite Festival

Apr 17 • 9:00 AM EDT • Technology • purexbox.com

Whole Hog Politics: A Supreme Court vacancy could remake Senate midterms

[Watch Whole Hog Politics live: Join us today at 9 a.m. ET at TheHill.com as Chris Stirewalt and host Bill Sammon break down this week’s political news and answer questions from a live online audie…

Apr 17 • 8:00 AM EDT • Politics • thehill.com

Politics correspondent examines new California governor's race poll results

Politics and government correspondent Guy Marzorati joined NBC Bay Area’s Raj Mathai to examine the first major statewide poll conducted after Eric Swalwell dropped out of the race.

Apr 16 • 10:17 PM EDT • Politics • nbcbayarea.com

Johnny Gaudreau selected to Philadelphia Sports Hall of Fame

Gaudreau will join 17 other inductees, including gold medal winner Carli Lloyd and Eagles Hall of Famers Hugh Douglas and Jon Runyan.

Apr 16 • 8:56 PM EDT • Sports • fox29.com

Strait of Hormuz blockade ‘working to provide leverage,’ political strategist says

An ‘All-Star’ panel joins ‘Special Report’ to discuss the state of US-Iran negotiations and the impact of the conflict on gas prices and affordability.

Apr 16 • 7:28 PM EDT • Politics • foxnews.com

'It's a pretty transformational time': Broncos President Damani Leech joins Denver sports leaders to discuss future of sports development in Mile High City

"I think a lot of us have an opportunity to do some really, really special things, when we step back and think about what we can really do for this city," Leech said. "… We’re going to play a role in that, and I’m excited about that."

Apr 16 • 5:50 PM EDT • Sports • denverbroncos.com

Mamdani’s Tax Return: $1,600 From Rapping and $131,000 From Politics

In their 2025 joint tax return, Mayor Zohran Mamdani and his wife, Rama Duwaji, reported a combined income of roughly $145,000, including about $10,000 that she earned from art work.

Apr 16 • 5:03 PM EDT • Politics • nytimes.com

AOC, Boebert join calls for sexual misconduct accountability in Congress

Lawmakers who represent leftward and rightward flanks of their parties call for reform after Congress members resign.

Apr 16 • 4:40 PM EDT • Politics • aljazeera.com

KMM Sports Joins Forces With Borchetta Entertainment Group

Kelli Masters' boutique agency KMM Sports has formed a strategic partnership with Borchetta [...]

Apr 16 • 3:16 PM EDT • Sports • musicrow.com

KMM Sports Joins Forces With Borchetta Entertainment Group

Kelli Masters' boutique agency KMM Sports has formed a strategic partnership with Borchetta [...]

Apr 16 • 3:16 PM EDT • Entertainment • musicrow.com

Ella Triunfa Series to Spotlight Women Breaking Barriers in Business a

Join us for an inspiring fireside chat with two powerhouse leaders from L’Oréal and The Campbell’s Company as we celebrate women who are breaking barriers, leading with purpose and shaping the future

Apr 16 • 1:05 PM EDT • Business • shu.edu

Packers name UW Health Official Health Care Partner of the Green Bay Packers

UW Health Gate at Lambeau Field will be unveiled in May; partnership will also feature joint community initiatives and fan-focused events

Apr 16 • 12:05 PM EDT • Health • packers.com

Raskin v Moore: what do the stats say?

Midfielder Nicolas Raskin and on-loan Tottenham winger Mikey Moore have split opinion among fans over who should be Rangers player of the year. Raskin, who was phased out under previous boss Russell Martin, has become a key player in Danny Rohl's team as Rangers continue their push for the league title. Moore, at just 18 years old, has also been impressing since joining on a temporary spell from the English Premier League outfit.

Apr 16 • 11:42 AM EDT • Sports • sports.yahoo.com

Health-E Commerce® to Demonstrate Engagement and Technology Solutions for Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs), Health Savings Accounts (HSAs), and Health Reimbursement Arrangement (HRAs) at WEX® SPARK Partner Conference 2026

Health-E Commerce®, parent brand to FSA Store® and HSA Store®, announced today that it will join benefits industry leaders as a Platinum sponsor of the WEX SPARK Partner Conference 2026, a premier event for health and benefits professionals taking place April 27–29 in Orlando, FL.

Apr 16 • 11:03 AM EDT • Health • finance.yahoo.com

Vermont Natives Provide Entertainment Through Community, Connection, and Headlocks

A Vermont organization has delivered heated rivalries, daring smackdowns, and unique athleticism for decades — and now, it’s back in Barre. Green Mountain Wrestling (GMW) was founded 30 years ago, when Vermont lacked a professional wrestling scene and was rarely the target for major industry events. Launched by Gary Langevin, the group operated out of Newport from 1996 through 2003. During the organization’s early years, Adam Lash began helping with events. A wrestling fan and teenager eager to join the industry, GMW became a career springboard. “As I got older, I became more involved in the broader professional wrestling industry beyond

Apr 16 • 11:00 AM EDT • Entertainment • thebridgevt.org

Jocelyn Miller Joining College of Education as Assistant Professor of Elementary Sciences/STEM Education | College of Education News

Jocelyn Miller will join NC State's College of Education as an assistant professor of elementary science/STEM education, beginning August 16, 2026. Currently, Miller is an instructor of undergraduate science education at Texas Tech University.

Apr 16 • 10:36 AM EDT • Science • ced.ncsu.edu

Entertainment this week: Heritage Celebration, Disco Biscuits and more

Friday, April 17 Tahoe City Heritage Celebration – 11 a.m.-4 p.m., Gatekeeper’s Museum, 130 W Lake Blvd. Join us on Aug. 1 for a special community celebration honoring Tahoe City’s rich history with local museums,...

Apr 16 • 10:27 AM EDT • Entertainment • sierrasun.com

Texas Western's historic 1966 NCAA champions to join Hall of Fame

The 1966 Texas Western men's basketball team, which made history with an all-Black starting lineup, will join the Texas Sports Hall of Fame.

Apr 16 • 10:20 AM EDT • Sports • elpasotimes.com

Ionic Studios Signs Electric Entertainment's ELECTRIC NOW/ ELECTRIC NOW EN ESPANOL FAST/ AVOD APP, Featuring Leverage, The Librarians, and The Ark to Its CTV Portfolio

Ionic Studios, the CTV studio for the open ecosystem, today announced a strategic partnership with Electric Entertainment, the Los Angeles-based production and distribution company, founded by Dean Devlin. Under the agreement, Electric's content will join Ionic serving as brand-level representative across CTV and FAST—merchandising the studio's streaming platforms, ENOW and ENOW EN ESPANOL to advertisers, packaging it into audience-defined offerings, and delivering the buying standards that medi

Apr 16 • 9:00 AM EDT • Entertainment • finance.yahoo.com

Shannon Elizabeth joins OnlyFans after Hollywood 'controlled' her career

Shannon Elizabeth, known for "American Pie," says she joined OnlyFans to take control of her career and show a "more sexy side."

Apr 16 • 8:46 AM EDT • Entertainment • usatoday.com

Chargé Arnold Speech - Implementation Plan of Five-Year Health MOU - U.S. Embassy in Madagascar

Chargée d’Affaires Stephanie Arnold's Speech Discussion on the implementation plan for the five-year health Memorandum of Understanding (…) Colleagues, and honored guests, Good morning, and welcome to the United States Embassy. It is a pleasure to host you today for the second day of this important workshop to discuss the implementation of our bilateral health Memorandum of Understanding on U.S. Government health activities in Madagascar, made possible through the Trump Administration’s America First Global Health Strategy. Today’s focus— discussing a shared vision and developing a preliminary draft for the health MOU Implementation Plan and the terms of reference for the two committees that will steer its implementation—is a decisive step in moving from commitments on paper to concrete action over the next five years. On December 22, 2025, the Governments of Madagascar and the United States signed a five-year bilateral health MOU, with a financial intention of approximately 554 billion Ariary from the United States and This jointly decided MOU intends to strengthen Madagascar’s health system, support lifesaving services, and improve disease prevention and response that matter to both our countries’ health security. For the United States, this means detecting and containing infectious disease outbreaks including malaria, polio, and emerging health threats before they can reach American shores through international travel and trade, protecting American families while reducing the need for costly domestic emergency responses Yesterday, technical experts from the Ministry of Public Health and the U.S. Government worked in thematic groups to draft a preliminary Implementation Plan. Today, your task is to review the shared vision and preliminary draft MOU implementation plan, and the proposed terms of reference for the Joint Steering Committee and the Operational Committee that will guide its implementation. These committees are not just administrative structures. They are the mechanisms that will ensure clear roles and responsibilities, regular dialogue between our two governments, consistent monitoring of progress, and real accountability for the results that will directly benefit the lives of Malagasy citizens. They will also track performance against the benchmarks we have jointly established, which will guide the continuation of U.S. support over the five-year period . Continued U.S. support will be contingent on meeting these performance benchmarks. This ensures accountability to both American and Malagasy taxpayers and guarantees that our partnership delivers measurable results. America First Foreign Assistance means that U.S. support must be strategic, results-driven, and accountable to our taxpayers. It also means we aim to support greater self-reliance and reduced long-term dependence on foreign assistance, with systems that are increasingly financed and led by Madagascar itself. This approach benefits both our nations: Madagascar gains sustainable health capacity, while the United States advances our health security interests and creates opportunities for American health innovations and companies to support Madagascar’s development. In that spirit, I want to recognize the presence of the Ministry’s leadership and the technical directors and program heads responsible for surveillance, basic health services, family health, immunization, countering malaria, laboratories, medicines, and health information systems. Your leadership and technical expertise are essential if this bilateral health MOU is to translate into real and lasting improvements for people in need across the country. Let me emphasize how important collaboration is to the United States in this effort. We can bring American resources, technical expertise, and tools. But this bilateral health MOU can only succeed if it reflects Madagascar’s priorities and if Malagasy institutions lead and maintain its implementation. We see this not as a U.S. project, but as a joint framework under Malagasy leadership, with U.S. support. That is why we are genuinely pleased to host this event here at the Embassy. Opening our doors to you today symbolizes our commitment to work side by side and to remain transparent about how we use U.S. resources in support of Madagascar’s health system. In closing, thank you for your time and your partnership. We are very happy to welcome you here and proud to accompany Madagascar in this next step of implementation planning for our bilateral health MOU. I wish you a productive and focused session. The work you do today will shape how our two governments cooperate on health in the years ahead; it will influence the quality and reliability of health services that Malagasy communities receive; and, most importantly, it will help protect both our nations from infectious disease threats while building Madagascar’s capacity for long-term health system sustainability. Thank you.

Apr 16 • 8:34 AM EDT • Health • mg.usembassy.gov

Arts and entertainment events happening April 16th-19th across the Mid-Ohio Valley

Joe Oliverio joins Daybreak to discuss what’s happening April 16th-19th across the Mid-Ohio Valley!

Apr 16 • 7:48 AM EDT • Entertainment • wtap.com

United States and Madagascar Discuss Five-Year Health MOU Implementation Plan  - U.S. Embassy in Madagascar

United States and Madagascar Discuss Five-Year Health MOU Implementation Plan The United States and Madagascar’s Ministry of Public Health are in the process of developing a plan for implementing the U.S.-Madagascar five-year Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on health cooperation, signed under the Trump Administration’s America First Global Health Strategy. The two-day workshop, at the U.S. Embassy in Antananarivo, brought together technical experts and senior leadership from the Malagasy and U.S. governments to discuss a shared vision through a preliminary draft MOU Implementation Plan and to establish the joint governance structures that will guide U.S. foreign assistance in health over the next five years. The jointly decided bilateral health MOU, signed on December 22, 2025, builds on decades of U.S. global health assistance to Madagascar. The health MOU involves the U.S.’s plans, working with Congress, to provide approximately $134 million (over 554 billion Ariary) and a Malagasy commitment of $41 million (over 169 billion Ariary). It aims to strengthen Madagascar’s health system, improve disease prevention and response, and support services that address health security concerns for both countries, including malaria, maternal and child health, polio, and global health security issues that could reach U.S. shores if not contained at their source. During the recent workshop, technical staff from the Ministry of Public Health and the U.S. Government health team worked in thematic groups to draft detailed implementation plans for the five-year MOU period. On the second day, U.S. Chargé d’Affaires Stephanie Arnold and Ministry of Public Health and Economic and Finance Ministry leadership joined the technical teams to discuss plans and proposed terms of reference for two committees: a Joint Steering Committee and an Operational Committee. These structures will ensure clear roles and responsibilities, regular dialogue between the two governments, consistent monitoring of progress, and accountability for results. The framework includes performance benchmarks that will guide continued U.S. support and track Madagascar’s progress toward self-reliance. “We see this not as a U.S. project, but as a joint framework under Malagasy leadership, with U.S. support,” said U.S. Chargé d’Affaires Stephanie Arnold during the workshop’s opening session. The approach reflects U.S. foreign assistance principles that emphasize strategic, results-driven support that advances American interests while helping recipient countries build sustainable health systems. The framework is designed to build systems that Madagascar will increasingly finance and lead itself, reducing long-term dependence on foreign assistance.

Apr 16 • 7:39 AM EDT • Health • mg.usembassy.gov

Gina Procaccio to be Inducted to the Philadelphia Sports Hall of Fame

PHILADELPHIA—Villanova women's track & field and cross country head coach Gina Procaccio earned a top honor on Thursday morning when she was announced as part of the 23rd inductee class to the Philadelphia Sports Hall of Fame. Procaccio will be recognized along with other top athletes, coaches, contributors, and teams whose legacies have shaped the rich history of Philadelphia sports when the 2026 Inductee Class is celebrated on Thursday, November 5, 2026, at Live! Casino & Hotel Event Center. The public is invited to join in honoring these remarkable individuals and teams.

Apr 16 • 6:38 AM EDT • Sports • villanova.com

Big 4 K-pop agencies pushing for joint venture to launch global festival

South Korea's top four K-pop agencies -- Hybe, YG Entertainment, SM Entertainment and JYP Entertainment -- are working to establish a joint venture, seen as a move toward creating a global music festival.

Apr 16 • 6:02 AM EDT • Entertainment • upi.com

The 2026 International Academicians Hong Kong Forum Held in Hong Kong, Focusing on AI-Driven Innovation in Health and Higher Education

The 2026 International Academicians Hong Kong Forum, jointly organised by the International Alliance of Academicians (IAA) and the Hong Kong Association of Overseas-Returned Scholars (HKAORS), was successfully held in Hong Kong on April 14. As one of the major events of the Business of Innovation and Technology Week 2026, the Forum focused on two core themes: "Aging and Chronic Disease Management: Challenges and Innovations" and "AI and Innovation in Higher Education." It brought together more t

Apr 16 • 1:56 AM EDT • Health • finance.yahoo.com

Health advocates demand lawmakers close AC casino smoking loophole

Health experts and advocates joined dozens of workers on the boardwalk Wednesday, demanding lawmakers close the casino smoking loophole.

Apr 15 • 8:57 PM EDT • Health • 6abc.com

Indigenous Leadership for Health: Virtual Preparatory Webinar to UNPFII 2026

English - French - Portuguese - Spanish - Russian Indigenous Peoples have the right to the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health. WHO invites you to join Indigenous Leadership for Health, a virtual preparatory webinar to the 25th Session of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII 2026), to be held on Thursday, 16 April 2026, from 13:30 to 16:00 CEST, via Zoom. Interpretation will be available in English, French, Portuguese, Russian, and Spanish.This event brings together Indigenous leaders working on health to help shape the forthcoming WHO Global Plan of Action on the Health of Indigenous Peoples (GPoA). It is co-organized by WHO, the Government of Brazil, the Government of the Philippines, and the Johns Hopkins Center for Indigenous Health.The webinar will be divided into two parts, each with a corresponding objective:Part I – Contents of the draft Global Plan of Action. Part I's objective is to provide an update on the process for development of the Global Plan of Action on the Health of Indigenous Peoples, to share important lessons learnt from previous work and inputs received thus far, and to invite participants to send written inputs to the Plan. The linkages to the health topics to be discussed at the forthcoming UNPFII will also be highlighted.Part II – Panel on Indigenous Leadership for Health. Part II's objective is to highlight Indigenous leadership, knowledge systems, and community-driven approaches that contribute to improving the health and well-being of Indigenous Peoples, through the sharing of select country and regional examples.Registration is free and open to all. Register hereWe encourage all Indigenous organizations, communities, partners, and individuals to join us and contribute to this important global process.

Apr 15 • 8:00 PM EDT • Health • who.int

Sen. Ron Johnson weighs in on Iran war, gas prices, Wisconsin state politics

The Republican senator joined WPR’s "Wisconsin Today" as Congress is back in Washington to tackle big issues.

Apr 15 • 5:11 PM EDT • Politics • wpr.org

President Trump joins Maria Bartiromo to discuss key issues

President Donald Trump joins FOX Business' Maria Bartiromo in a sit down interview to discuss key issues facing the United States

Apr 15 • 2:44 PM EDT • Business • foxbusiness.com