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Scientists just found what keeps plant cells from growing out of control
Before seedlings can photosynthesize, they depend on fatty acids—and on peroxisomes to process them. Researchers discovered that the protein PEX11 not only helps these structures divide but also controls their size during early growth. When key genes were altered, peroxisomes grew abnormally large, suggesting internal vesicles normally keep them in balance. Remarkably, a yeast version of the protein fixed the problem, pointing to a deeply conserved mechanism across species.
Mamdani in the hot seat after first veto derails bipartisan effort to combat antisemitism: 'Disappointed'
New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani is vetoing a bill targeting antisemitism that would expand security restrictions on protests at education sites.
Ohio Senate race fundraising points to political headwinds for Republicans
This week, a Bowling Green State University poll found Husted leading Brown by three points, within the poll’s 3.9% margin of error.
Mina the Hollower has gone gold
Mina the Hollower has now gone gold, Yacht Club Games just announced. Typically we don’t post about games going gold. If a title hasn’t been announced and wasn’t cancelled, it’s eventually going to release. However, this is a bit of a special case. For one thing, we’ve been waiting a long time for Mina the Hollower at this point. Originally,...
Foldable 'iPhone Ultra' Could Be Missing These 5 Key Features Despite $2,000 Price Tag
Apple's first foldable iPhone, dubbed the "iPhone Ultra," could be missing at least five key features present on the iPhone 18 Pro models despite its $2,000 price point. Recent images of dummy models shared by Sonny Dickson and Vadim Yuryev seem to reveal two previously undiscussed missing features of the iPhone Ultra: MagSafe and the Action Button.
Breaking Point: Why the Affordable Housing Business Model Is Unraveling
With rising insurance, debt, and operating costs outpacing rents and subsidies, affordable housing is becoming harder to finance.
Mitchell Ryan Zagrodnik Joins Anchor Loans As Business Development Manager
Anchor Loans has appointed Mitchell Ryan Zagrodnik as a business development manager, according to a recent announcement shared on LinkedIn.In the role, Zagrodnik will focus on developing and expanding relationships with real estate investors, brokers, builders, and developers, helping connect them with financing solutions to execute investment projects.
How I booked a $15,000 around-the-world trip in business and first class using points
Learn how to book a round-the-world trip in business and first class using points and miles, including real flight examples, transfer strategies and expert tips.
Social media erupts after Mamdani's far-left supporters turn on him over homeless shelter: 'Oops'
East Village voters who backed Mayor Zohran Mamdani by a 40-point margin are now suing to stop a homeless shelter plan, drawing conservative criticism online.
Women's sports won't save your city's economy. It might do something better.
Thirty years of research says sports mega-events don't drive growth. Newer leagues aren't trying to, and that's the point.
Dueling events at Baylor spotlight growing divide over faith and politics on campus
At Baylor, a Turning Point USA event and the All Are Neighbors gathering reveal deep divides over faith, politics and LGBTQ+ inclusion on campus.
Simply Business taps ChatGPT as new front door for SME insurance
Small business owners can now get guide prices for key covers in ChatGPT using just three data points
Jackson County Small Business Incubator unveils new office space
A ribbon cutting and Chamber after hours event in Moss Point marked a major expansion for the Jackson County Small Business Incubator.
Sigal Chattah addresses criticism, politics after one year leading Las Vegas federal prosecutors
April marks one year that Sigal Chattah has headed the U.S. Attorney’s office for the District of Nevada. Her appointment by the Trump administration as First Assistant U.S. Attorney has been…
How federal health care cuts are affecting Vermont: far fewer people insured
Also in Final Reading: Trading jabs and an education appointment.
2026 draft implications for Saints and Alvin Kamara, Cameron Jordan
The 2026 NFL Draft is a major pivot point not just for the New Orleans Saints, but for veteran players like Alvin Kamara and Cameron Jordan.
Trump’s Disapproval Rating Hits Highest Point of His Second Term
The president’s weakening poll numbers come as the war in Iran has driven up gas prices, and more Americans are expressing concerns about the economy.
Political inflection point? Trump’s approval rating is cratering
Chris Hayes breaks down new polling that shows Trump’s approval rating hitting record lows amid his war in Iran as the U.S. economy falters.
Who Is Niko Mijailovic? ‘Running Point’ Tribute Explained
Learn more about how the dedication came together.
Microsoft gives your Word documents an AI co-author you didn’t ask for
: Also rolls out agentic Copilot in Excel and PowerPoint, letting 21st century Clippy lend a... hand
Chautauqua County touts 'significant economic progress' in new address
During his 2026 State of the County Address, Chautauqua County Executive Paul Wendel Jr. pointed to new economic data as a reason for their success.
TGL’s Business Case Is Starting to Look a Lot More Real
There comes a point when a sports startup stops feeling like a clever experiment and starts looking like a real business. TGL may be getting there. Reuters reported in late March that TGL franchise values had climbed sharply by the end of the league’s second season, with one minority stake deal ...
South Shields won't lose focus in promotion tussle
South Shields go into the final day of the National League North season two points behind leaders Fylde.
No. 13 on the list of Tampa Bay’s Most Powerful Politicians: Darryl Rouson
Lawmakers regularly credit Rouson with mentorship and guidance, pointing to his willingness to help shape the next wave of leadership.
Cityblock Health Appoints New Chief Health Officer to Advance Technology-Enabled Clinical Care Model for Government Programs
/PRNewswire/ -- Cityblock Health, a value-based healthcare provider for Medicaid and dually eligible beneficiaries, announced the appointment of their new...
Microsoft launches ‘vibe working’ in Word, Excel, and PowerPoint
A new Copilot experience is rolling out
Multiple people robbed at gunpoint inside River North business
Police did not identify the business robbed. According to reports, the incident took place inside a popular 24-hour diner.
Mapped: the elections that could deliver ‘unprecedented’ losses for Labour
All signs point to a record low performance for Labour in May in what will be a moment of high jeopardy for Keir Starmer
Palantir: Why its political manifesto is causing a stir
The US tech company has posted a 22-point manifesto on X that goes well beyond typical corporate communications. Critics say it is evidence of "technofascism."
Two Republicans break with party as GOP defeats budget amendment to lower health care costs
Senate Republicans on Wednesday voted against an amendment sponsored by Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (N.Y.) to create a point of order against any future budget reconciliation bill that d…
Youssef Zalal aims to end Aljamain Sterling's 'point-proving streak'
Just days ahead of his first UFC main event, Youssef Zalal can feel he's on the verge of big things in his career.
For the first time, scientists pinpoint the brain cells behind depression
Scientists have identified two specific types of brain cells that behave differently in people with depression, offering a clearer picture of what is happening inside the brain. By analyzing donated brain tissue with advanced genetic tools, the researchers found changes in neurons linked to mood and stress, as well as in immune-related microglia cells. These differences point to disruptions in key brain systems and reinforce that depression is rooted in biology, not just emotions.
Scientists discover hidden forces are warping Earth deep beneath the surface
Scientists have mapped how Earth’s deepest mantle is being deformed—and the results point to long-lost tectonic plates buried thousands of kilometers underground. Using a massive global dataset of seismic waves, they found that most deformation happens in regions where these ancient slabs are thought to reside. The findings confirm long-standing theories but, for the first time, show the pattern on a global scale. It’s a major step toward understanding how the planet’s interior slowly churns over time.
Keldon Johnson wins NBA Sixth Man of the Year after breaking Manu Ginóbili's Spurs record for bench points
The 2020 Draft pick found a valuable role for himself off the bench
Fallout: New Vegas dev says Bethesda slammed the game in a PowerPoint
Former Obsidian dev Chris Avellone dishes on contentious conversations with Bethesda after Dead Money
🚨Simeone rings the changes in Elche
Atlético de Madrid want to put the disappointment of the cup final behind them against an Elche side fighting for some breathing room. Plenty of changes in Atleti’s starting eleven, from goal where...
Supreme Court Permits Gamesmanship in Small Business Lawsuits
NFIB is disappointed by the U.S. Supreme Court's decision in the case Enbridge v. Nessel, which concerns a defendant's right to remove a case to federal court.
Tottenham advertise sport psychologist roles
Tottenham are looking to appoint a lead psychologist for their men's first team after head coach Roberto de Zerbi said they need to "change the mentality".
Genius POS: Best POS for New Businesses
Genius POS is a user-friendly point of sale system that makes it easy to take transactions, along with a range of back office operational tools.
FSU expert explains how FIFA World Cup will be another turning point for sports economics
The upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup represents another significant evolution in how global sporting events are monetized, shifting away from traditional
FSU expert explains how FIFA World Cup will be another turning point for sports economics
The upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup represents another significant evolution in how global sporting events are monetized, shifting away from traditional
Scoot Henderson’s 31-point performance added another …
Scoot Henderson’s 31-point performance added another …
Trump blasted Obama’s Iran deal. Now he faces similar tradeoffs.
As U.S. envoys pursue peace talks, the president confronts persistent sticking points: sanctions relief, enrichment limits and the risk of empowering Tehran.
Spurs 'have more chance than they had last week'
The wisdom of crowds is sometimes overlooked - and it was again on Saturday in a crucial moment during the Tottenham v Brighton game. Up 2-1 in the 95th minute, the ball fell to Tottenham's Kevin Danso in his own box. Danso dithered, Jan Paul van Hecke nipped in, and seconds later two crucial points evaporated on the altar of progressive ideology.
‘The GOP should’ve done more’: Virginia Republicans point fingers after gerrymandering loss
They are frustrated the party didn’t spend extensively and are putting pressure on Florida to give them back an edge.
SDOL school board appoints new Interim Business Administrator
Board members of the School District of Lancaster unanimously voted to appoint Charles Linderman as the district's Interim Business Administrator.
Spurs star Victor Wembanyama leaves Game 2 loss to Portland early, enters concussion protocol after smacking face on court
The Trail Blazers rallied from a 14-point hole in the fourth quarter to stun the Spurs on Tuesday night after Victor Wembanyama entered concussion protocol.
How one disappointing order uncovered a massive ‘ghost cake’ delivery scandal in China
A customer’s complaint about a disappointing cake kicked off a massive investigation that uncovered thousands of “ghost” food vendors in China, resulting in staggering fines for some the country’s largest firms and highlighting the pitfalls of the cutthroat price competition.
Analysis: Fans have turned on Rosenior
It marked radical new low point in a bleak run of five consecutive league defeats without a goal for Chelsea - their worst such sequence in more than a century and one that few supporters have witnessed in their lifetime. Given the club's success over the past 25 years, it is perhaps understandable that patience is thin for a head coach appointed just three months ago from Chelsea's partner club, Strasbourg. There were early signs that the night might not unfold as Rosenior had hoped.
Brighton 3-0 Chelsea: What Rosenior and Chalobah said
Chelsea boss Liam Rosenior, speaking to Match of the Day: "Nowhere near the levels, not even tactical, tackles, duels, intensity, spirit, energy, passion are all lacking and that is the reason we lost." Across each team's last nine games in the Premier League, only Tottenham (2) have won fewer points than Chelsea (5 – W1 D2 L6).
Sharon Tucker Named Orlando Health Endowed Chair in Nursing
The prestigious appointment from the UCF Pegasus Partner will bolster Tucker’s nationally recognized research focused on helping practitioners and patients thrive.
Health care leaders sweat federal Medicaid, Obamacare changes at POLITICO Summit
“At some point or another, folks are going to lose coverage.”
Houston Texans Mock Draft Based Solely On Pre-Draft Visits
Mock draft based on the Texans visits will point you in the right direction
🚨 Line-ups ready: Mallorca and Valencia open the matchday
RCD Mallorca and Valencia CF kick off LaLiga Matchday 33 this Tuesday in a dramatic clash in the battle for survival. Separated by just one point, 14th and 15th in the table face off in one of the fir...
🚨 Confirmed line-ups: Athletic and Osasuna must win
San Mamés opens its doors this Tuesday, April 21 (7:00 PM) for a highly even clash on Matchday 33 of LaLiga EA Sports. Athletic Club and CA Osasuna face off separated by just one point in the standin...
School District of Lancaster board expected to hire interim business manager as it addresses fiscal challenges
School District of Lancaster officials will recommend today that board members appoint Charles Linderman as interim business administrator as they grapple with significant financial challenges.
Mason County Fair announces 2026 entertainment lineup featuring national acts
POINT PLEASANT, W.Va. — The Mason County Fair has unveiled its entertainment lineup for the 2026 event, bringing a mix of contemporary Christian and country music talent to the stage
Just Two Years After Opening, Intermountain Health Primary Children’s Hospital - Miller Family Campus in Lehi is Expanding to Meet Growing Demand for Pediatric Care
Just two years after opening, Intermountain Health Primary Children’s Hospital - Miller Family Campus in Lehi has become a critical access point for pediatric trauma care and specialty services for children closer to home for residents in fast-growing communities in Utah County and Southern Salt Lake County.Since opening in 2024, Intermountain...
Timberwolves climb out of 19-point hole to knock off Nuggets, even first-round NBA playoff series
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
Bournemouth will be in good hands with Rose
Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola says the appointment of Marco Rose to replace him in the summer will leave the club "in very good hands".
Two-sun planets keep disappearing: Here’s why scientists point to Einstein
Science News: The idea of a planet orbiting two suns has long captured both scientific curiosity and public imagination. Popularised by science fiction, such worlds.
Fired former official says he felt political pressure to approve Mandelson as U.S. ambassador
The testimony by former Foreign Office head Olly Robbins turns up the heat on Starmer, who is facing calls to resign over the appointment of a scandal-tainted former politician and friend of Jeffrey Epstein to one of the U.K.’s most important diplomatic posts.
Pens Points: Another No Show
Maybe Pens Points can help make you feel better after last night.
Fired former UK official says he felt political pressure to approve Mandelson as US ambassador
LONDON (AP) — The ex-civil servant behind the decision to approve Peter Mandelson’s appointment as British ambassador to Washington says he felt political pressure to rush through the appointment despite security concerns.
Knicks choked away Game 2 in stunning fashion. Can the Hawks end them?
The Atlanta Hawks erased a 12-point fourth-quarter deficit to stun the New York Knicks in Game 2 of their NBA playoff series.
NBA playoffs: Timberwolves climb out of 19-point hole to knock off Nuggets, even series
Despite a huge start by the Nuggets, the Timberwolves are headed back to Minneapolis tied up 1-1.
Technologist And Media Vet David Dibble Named Vice Chairman Of Sphere
David Dibble, a technologist and former senior executive at Cablevision and Yahoo, has been named vice chairman of Sphere. The appointment by Sphere Entertainment will formalize Dibble’s work helping ...
EPA Adds More Pesticide Industry Reps to Science Board
While most appointees are academic scientists, Administrator Lee Zeldin also named employees of a company that makes forever chemicals.
Predicting every game left in the Premier League title: How Manchester City will edge out Arsenal by a goal
If the two teams are tied on points, goal difference could decide the title, so the score of every match matters
Sphere Entertainment Appoints David Dibble As Vice Chairman
Sphere Entertainment has named David Dibble, a seasoned technologist and business leader, Vice Chairman, Sphere.
Fitbit Air leak points to a May launch and plenty of color options
Fitbit Air could take on Whoop with a one-time $100 price tag.
What is President Donald Trump's approval rating? See latest polls
President Trump's approval rating has long been underwater, spelling trouble for Republicans in the midterms. Iran, high gas prices aren't helping.
Duke C Patrick Ngongba II returning for junior season
Ngongba averaged 10.1 points, 5.8 rebounds and 2 assists last season.
RFK Jr’s podcast has glimmers of his old show – will he address health issues differently?
Secretary Kennedy Podcast so far seems designed to promote Trump administration talking points over any specific public health message
OpenAI Takes Aim at Google with New Image Model
If you’ve been on X or Reddit in recent weeks, you’ve likely seen images created by an upcoming model from OpenAI floating around. Sharp-eyed people have pointed out that the new model is potentially being tested with some ChatGPT users and on leaderboards under code names.The images generated ...
Bridgepoint ramps up business services push with Exponent hire
The private equity group has already inked several deals in the sector this year
Victor Wembanyama drops 35 points in NBA postseason debut to lead Spurs past Trail Blazers
Consider Beijing’s 10-point plan, Taiwan business leaders urge ruling DPP
The island’s government has sparked a row by accusing industry groups of bowing to pressure from mainland China.
April 20 "Colorado Chamber Office Hours": The housing debate from a business lens | The Sum and Substance
A leader in the homebuilding industry and a Senate Republican offer opposing viewpoints on this year's housing package.
Lawsuit filed against Lexington massage business after employee charged with sexual abuse
A lawsuit was filed against a Lexington massage parlor after an employee allegedly sexually abused a customer during an appointment.
Scientists find a new critical point in supercooled water
X-ray experiments provide further evidence that water exists in two distinct phases
Ushio Industry & Entertainment Appoints Takuya Matsumoto as President & CEO and Outlines Strategic Direction for the Next Phase
BERLIN, April 20, 2026--Ushio Industry & Entertainment (Ushio INE GmbH) announces the appointment of Takuya Matsumoto as President and Chief Executive Officer, marking a key milestone in the evolution of the business and its integration within the Ushio Group.
Data center fight hits Georgia politics
Data centers have become a boxy, hulking flashpoint across Georgia and the nation heading into the midterms — and the backlash is spreading fast across red and blue states.
NFL insider 2026 mock draft: What we're hearing around the league
League intel points to trades, a fluid top 10 and a wide-open Round 1 -- with Jermod McCoy falling further than most expect
Health care fight intensifies as Congress weighs GOP-backed insurance changes
Congressional Republicans say they are taking steps on health care — but Democrats counter that previous efforts are already costing Virginians coverage and putting hospitals under strain. Republicans have pointed to measures like the Rural Health Transformation Fund and an association health plan expansion bill that has cleared the House and is headed to the […]
High-ranking Republicans dance around endorsements. What's the point?
U.S. Rep. Tim Burchett posted what one politico called a \
Michigan Democrats seek to mend old divides at contentious convention
The Israel-Gaza war remains a flashpoint within the Michigan Democratic Party, as demonstrated by the ouster of a pro-Israel official on Sunday.
NBA playoffs: Victor Wembanyama drops 35 points in postseason debut to lead Spurs past Trail Blazers
NBA playoffs: Victor Wembanyama drops historic 35 points in postseason debut to lead Spurs past Trail Blazers
Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs now hold a 1-0 lead in their first playoff series since 2019.
Gilgeous-Alexander, Wemby, Jokic finalists for NBA MVP
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Advancing epidemic and pandemic preparedness through research readiness: SEAR Unity Studies Network Sites chart the way forward in 2026
On 25 March 2026, WHO Regional Office for the South‑East Asia Region (SEARO) convened the first meeting of the SEAR Chapter of the Unity Studies Network Meeting in 2026 to take stock of progress and plan next steps for strengthening epidemic and pandemic preparedness across the Region. The meeting focused on reviewing the ongoing adaptation of selected, standard Unity Study methodologies, sharing field implementation experiences from 2025, and identifying key priorities to guide collaborative work in 2026.Held virtually, the meeting brought together representatives from six Unity Studies network sites across five countries (Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Thailand) as well as participants from all three levels of WHO.The meeting took place against the backdrop of ongoing regional efforts in South‑East Asia to strengthen early investigations and studies for epidemic and pandemic preparedness, with a focus on pandemic influenza and other emerging respiratory pathogens with epidemic and pandemic potential. In this context, and as part of preparedness for the rapid generation of evidence, the WHO Health Emergencies Programme in SEAR (WHE/SEAR) encourages Unity Studies sites to adapt prioritized, standardized Unity Study protocols to their national contexts. This approach supports the generation of timely and reliable evidence to inform public health decision‑making during epidemics and pandemics.These efforts are supported through a combination of experience sharing, participation in the global Unity Studies network webinars, capacity‑building of the national public health workforce, and regional collaboration that promotes inter‑country, inter‑agency, and inter‑ministerial action. In parallel, sites are encouraged to explore diversified funding sources to help sustain research preparedness over the long term.Discussions highlighted the importance of WHO’s catalytic financial support through the Pandemic Influenza Preparedness (PIP) Partnership Contributions (PIP‑PC). When combined with national and institutional resources, this support enables countries and sites to maintain continuity of activities at a core level and remain prepared to respond rapidly and effectively to future epidemics and pandemics.Regional and Global Updates: Opening the session, Dr Pushpa Ranjan Wijesinghe, Programme Area Manager, Pandemic and Epidemic Management (PEM) Unit, WHO Health Emergencies Programme, highlighted the progress made in operationalizing the Unity Studies Network across the Region and acknowledged the collaborative efforts of WHO at all three levels, together with country unity studies sites. He emphasized the availability of limited but catalytic funding through the Pandemic Influenza Preparedness (PIP) Partnership Contribution (PIP‑PC) workplan at SEARO to sustain network activities in 2026, while encouraging sites to leverage additional funding sources to expand implementation.Representing SEARO, Dr Ashok Basnet, consultant, Pandemic Influenza Preparedness reported that, at the regional level, the Unity Studies Network currently includes six sites across five countries: Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Thailand. He noted that in 2025, catalytic funding supported protocol adaptation, training, and pilot implementation. In addition, a regional Unity Studies symposium held during the Global Public Health Summit in Sri Lanka strengthened and advocated collaboration between the Unity Studies site, national decision‑making forum, relevant technical units of the ministry of health, WHO and other partners.The symposium also highlighted the role of early investigations and studies as a key component of a multi‑source surveillance system needed at country level to generate a broad range of evidence. It underscored the critical role of country Unity Studies sites and similar research entities in generating evidence to support public health decision‑making during epidemics and pandemics.Participants of the WHO GISRS Unity Studies Sites Network- SEAR Chapter Meeting 2026 (Photo credit- PEM/WHE/SEARO). SEARO also updated participants on ongoing efforts to develop a regional Unity Studies webpage and to promote participation in global knowledge‑sharing platforms, including webinars and the WHO Community of Practice. Priorities for 2026 include supporting the implementation of Unity protocols, strengthening collaboration and experience sharing across sites, documenting and publishing findings, integrating Unity Studies activities as a component of multi-source national surveillance systems, and building workforce capacity.Dr Nickle Boddington of the Global Influenza Programme (GIP) at WHO Headquarters, which coordinates the Unity Studies Network globally, provided updates on global Unity Studies activities, noting that the network has expanded to 16 sites worldwide. New and updated protocols, including rapid clinical severity assessment tools and standardized data platforms, are being developed to support implementation. The global Community of Practice has also been launched to facilitate technical exchange, and continued support will be provided to sites for protocol adaptation, ethical approvals, and readiness for early investigation during outbreaks. Updates from Unity Studies sites in SEAR in 2025Unity Studies sites shared progress and experiences in implementing protocols across diverse country contexts. Sites initiated activities in 2025 using catalytic funding from SEARO, complemented by the mobilization of internal national resources. The Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR), Bangladesh, reported the adoption and piloting of investigation protocols on non‑seasonal influenza and emerging respiratory diseases during recent avian influenza outbreaks, demonstrating a multi‑source funding approach involving government, WHO and One Health partners.The Hamdard Institute of Medical Sciences and Research (HIMSR), New Delhi, India, highlighted the piloting of household transmission investigation studies, the expansion of the national Unity Studies network, and the contribution of study findings to global evidence through published outputs. The All-India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, India, shared experiences from large‑scale seroprevalence studies conducted during the COVID‑19 pandemic, recent efforts to strengthen national Unity network sites through training activities, and plans to initiate multi‑centre studies on respiratory viruses.Similarly, Prince of Songkla University, Thailand, highlighted its experience in developing integrated surveillance and diagnostic protocols for multiple respiratory pathogens, enhancing readiness for targeted investigations of emerging threats. The University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Sri Lanka, reported ongoing engagement with the Ministry of Health and exploration of additional funding sources to initiate studies. Meanwhile, the National Public Health Laboratory, Nepal, provided updates on continued coordination with national stakeholders to initiate implementation, despite delays related to the country context.Across sites, shared experiences underscored the importance of protocol adaptation, multisectoral collaboration, and sustainable funding to operationalize Unity Studies and generate evidence for public health action.Discussions and Way ForwardThe meeting reinforced key priorities for 2026, including strengthening unity studies protocol implementation, enhancing collaboration, knowledge sharing, integrating research as a component of national multi-source surveillance systems, and ensuring that generated evidence informs public health decision‑making. Participants also emphasized the importance of documentation, visibility, and leveraging multiple funding sources, and agreed on the following action points.Unity Studies Sites and WHO Country Offices:Advance adoption and implementation of at least one Unity protocol, continuing activities initiated in 2025 with catalytic funding, supplemented with other sources of funding where feasible.Document site-specific experiences, outcomes, and lessons learned; participate in regional and global knowledge-sharing platforms including WHO webinars and the Community of Practice.Work closely with ministries of health to establish unified national platforms for translating generated evidence into national public health decision-making. WHO Country Offices may facilitate technical support and complementary, synergistic funding opportunities where feasible. WHO Regional OfficeCoordinate with WHO Country Offices to support implementation of core unity studies activities by network sites through catalytic funding and provide technical guidance and virtual engagement opportunities throughout 2026.Facilitate the participation of all Unity Studies sites in the regional meeting on Unity Studies implementation in October 2026, to be held back‑to‑back with the Annual SEAR Regional PIP‑PC Meeting; develop and host a SEAR Unity Studies website; and mobilize support from academic institutions within the SEAR Unity Studies Network to support the development of regional manuscripts that showcase Unity Studies activities to scientific audiences and promote knowledge‑sharing.Explore complementary funding opportunities and partnerships to sustain and expand network activities across the Region.WHO HeadquartersProvide global technical guidance, updated protocols, and toolkits to support the implementation of Unity Studies in SEAR.Facilitate engagement of SEAR sites in global webinars, the Community of Practice, and opportunities to showcase their work.Support joint publications, inclusion of SEAR experiences in global outputs, and identification of additional funding and collaborative opportunities to strengthen Unity Studies activities.
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